The weekly schedule and anthology format of the early Marvel UK
titles meant that a certain level of editing had to take place when
reprinting the original American source material.
Stories would be
spread across two or three weeks, depending on the page count, and this
at times required the creation of new splash pages to act as titles for
the latter parts of the story.
It is these new splash pages that make the Marvel UK books so unique.
Multiple stories within a single weekly title meant that page count was an important factor in the editing process.
Panels would be removed and the page format adjusted, whilst in extreme cases whole pages would hit the editing room floor.
Due to the UK page size, slight cropping from the top or bottom of panels was a regular feature.
Editing of the text and images was also a regular undertaking.
Dialogue would be changed from a heavy American bias to a more British phrasing, suited to a younger readership.
Pencil work would be adjusted to fit changes to the panel format or embellished with topical British characteristics.
Spotting these editing changes can be great fun, so let's, with a focus on Splash, cast our eyes over the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #1.
The Amazing Spider-Man's first self-titled book was reprinted in issues 2, 3 and 4 of "The Mighty World Of Marvel".
"Freak! Public Menace!".
In MWOM #2 we see the opening chapter of the story.
Not much has changed here aside from the cropping at the bottom of the page and a slight re-format of the hype box.
"Part 2".
MWOM #3 opens with our first real action for Spidey.
Panel 1 has been cropped at the bottom, the "Part 2" icon has been amended due to the weeks break and the header box provides an update of what has gone before.
Panels
2 and 3 are slightly cropped at the bottom of their panes.
"Part 3".
No real changes here apart from the slight cropping of the height in all three panels to re-format for the UK's page size.
"vs. The Chameleon!".
MWOM #4 sees major changes to this splash page from the second story from ASM #1.
The main splash is edited in half and three story panels added. This has been done to reduce the page count of the reprint.
The hype box and creators are repositioned, no problem, but in doing so we loose the "Extra Bonus Extra!!" proclamation of Spidey's tie-in with The Fantastic Four.
One bonus of this editing is that we don't quite notice that The Chameleon is a giant behind the city skyscrappers.
See you at the Week End.
