scans_daily: "Have Yourself a Sandman Little Christmas!"

Flint Marko (

scans_daily,
@ 2010-05-29 05:25 pm UTC

Entry tags:

char: human torch/johnny storm, char: sandman/flint marko/william baker, char: spider-man/peter parker, creator: ross andru, creator: roy thomas, series: sandman's redemption, title: marvel team-up

"Have Yourself a Sandman Little Christmas!"

This is from Marvel Team-Up #1, by Roy Thomas and Ross Andru.

It's Christmas Eve, and Peter is at the beach getting some photos of the "Polar Bear Clan" (a bunch of people who go the beach in the winter) when suddenly the Sandman emerges from the waters (his last appearance, in Incredible Hulk #138, had him getting sucked into a whirlpool the Hulk had created when the two were fighting underwater).

While the cops unsuccessfully try to arrest Sandman, Peter changes into Spider-Man and attacks.

But Sandman merges with the rest of the beach and disappears.

Not wanting to miss his date with Gwen, Spidey seeks out the Fantastic Four at the Baxter Building to tell them that the Sandman's back (at the time, Sandman was actually more a Fantastic Four rogue than he was of Spidey's) but the only one there is Johnny Storm, who explains that he's alone because he's got girl problems.

The two decide to look for the Sandman together, and their only lead is that he might be in New Jersey (the first time the Human Torch ran into the Sandman he was crossing the George Washington Bridge from New Jersey, and Spidey says that he first ran into him near the bridge as well).

After stopping a mugging and a truck that was sliding out of control on the ice, the two finally find the Sandman.

The two rush towards him, unaware that he had made himself paper-thin and was standing in front of a brick wall.

Johnny manages to flame on and destroy the rope, freeing them. He tells Spider-Man that it's "too bad the Sandman's long gone by now" but Spidey says he has a strong hunch that he isn't, and that he thinks the Sandman wanted them to escape from the water-tank.

char: sandman/flint marko/william baker, title: marvel team-up, creator: roy thomas, creator: ross andru,char: human torch/johnny storm, char: spider-man/peter parker

(9 comments) - (Post a new comment)
(Flat) (Top-level comments only)

	no subject bradhanon 2010-05-29 09:54 pm UTC (link)
	Nice. Reminds me of the old "Christmas Spirit" stories Eisner used to do. (Reply to this)

	no subject icon_uk 2010-05-29 10:03 pm UTC (link)
	A similar theme echoed in the Batman Adventures Holiday Special, Paul Dini penned Mr Freeze story where he breaks out of jail just to ensure that there's snowfall on Nora's grave because it's their anniversary (Reply to this)

	no subject thanekos 2010-05-29 10:16 pm UTC (link)
	Seeing Sandman in a suit, I can almost begin to understand Chapter One's "Norman Osborn and Flint Marko are distant relatives" (Reply to this)

no subject

hatman
2010-05-29 11:35 pm UTC (link)

Nice little story. Thanks for sharing. :)

Meantime, though, I had to raise my eyebrows in a few places.

Spidey thinking about losing Gwen (he was rather more than "humbug" about it, but then, he lost her in the worst sense of the word).

Sandman turning "HARD." (See what you've done to me, S_D?)

Kind of funny that Sandman thought of and provided them with the solution to their bind when Torch was the last one to figure it out. (Actually, I'm still trying to figure out how getting his face to flame on helped him burn the ropes around his wrists - especially without burning Spidey.)

That costume Sandman is in... I just don't have the words for how dumb that looks. It actually makes his traditional striped shirt look decent.

Spidey - "Got to dope this out in a hurry..." What does that even mean?

Spidey was getting a matronly brooch for Gwen? (Sweet of him to give it like that, but I wonder how he'll replace it. Or what he'll say to Gwen. Also, how'd he hide that box in his tights?)

(Reply to this) (Thread) (Hide 1 comment) (Show 1 comment)

	no subject nezchan 2010-05-29 11:38 pm UTC (link)
	Doping something out is old slang for figuring things out. Given that this was early 70's Marvel, it was probably outdated even then. (Reply to this) (Thread from start) (Parent)

	no subject nezchan 2010-05-29 11:36 pm UTC (link)
	Okay, Flint. You gotta ask yourself one question. Just one question. Spiderman's wearing skin-tight spandex. WHERE WAS HE KEEPING THAT PRESENT? (Reply to this)

	no subject jlroberson 2010-05-30 02:00 am UTC (link)
	An example of the kind of story Spidey is meant for. Nice. (Reply to this)

	no subject pyrotwilight 2010-05-30 02:23 am UTC (link)
	My first thought was...shouldn't Torch be able to beat Sandman pretty easily? I mean if he heats him up he'd turn into glass. (Reply to this)

	no subject filkertom 2010-05-30 05:08 am UTC (link)
	I've always loved this. Also, the mugging scene was the first appearance of Misty Knight. (Reply to this)

(9 comments) - (Post a new comment)
(Flat) (Top-level comments only)