Hit Comics #7
Hit Comics #7 sits in the middle of one of the most historically significant runs in German comics publishing: the BSV series that introduced Marvel's Silver Age heroes to German-speaking readers for the first time, starting in 1966. By reprinting stories featuring Spider-Man alongside Thor and his Asgardian supporting cast, the issue continued the anthology format that gave German audiences their first sustained exposure to the interconnected Marvel universe. The presence of Mark Raxton (the Molten Man) — a Stan Lee and Steve Ditko creation who debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #28 (September 1965) — means the issue carried one of Ditko's final major villain introductions in the Spider-Man run into a brand-new national market. As part of a run that lasted through issue 153 before splitting into dedicated series, Hit Comics served as the singular gateway through which an entire generation of German readers encountered characters that would define Marvel's global identity.
In "Der Eiserne verrechnet sich!", the Iron Man, newly freed from prison, vows to outsmart his foes with a flawless heist—only to find his plans unexpectedly disrupted by a familiar web-slinger. Written by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, with art and inks by Ditko, this 1966 Hit Comics issue delivers a tense showdown between cunning and vigilance. The cover, a dynamic collaboration by Ditko and Kirby with inks by Brodsky, captures the clash in bold, dramatic strokes.
In "Der Eiserne verrechnet sich!", the Iron Man emerges from prison determined to outsmart his foes with a flawless plan—until the Spider throws a wrench into his calculations. With no scriptwriter or artist credited beyond the translation and lettering, the story unfolds as a tense cat-and-mouse game between two classic foes, each trying to stay one step ahead.
In "Die Stärke des Pluto," Thor, recovering from his wounds, sets out to challenge Hercules—now bound by a contract with Pluto—seeking redemption and justice. The clash of gods and the weight of betrayal loom as ancient powers collide.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
The BSV (Bildschriftenverlag), originally founded in Hamburg in 1956 as Internationale Klassiker, began publishing licensed Marvel material under the Hit Comics banner in 1966 — the same year the publisher was acquired by National Periodical Publications. The series operated under a deliberately eclectic editorial model, combining stories from different Marvel titles and different American publication dates into single anthology issues, giving the German editorial team unusual flexibility in how they assembled each number. When Warner Communications later acquired National Periodical, the imprint was gradually transitioned to the Williams Verlag label, which eventually took over publication outright in 1972–73; Hit Comics itself ran continuously through all of those corporate transitions until its 153rd issue, after which the characters were spun off into dedicated German series.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Hit Comics (BSV – Williams, 1966 series) was the first publication to bring Marvel Comics to German-speaking readers, launching in 1966.
- The series used an anthology format, mixing stories from multiple Marvel titles (Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, etc.) into single issues without strict adherence to original US publication order.
- Issue #7's indexed characters include Spider-Man (Peter Parker / Die Spinne), Mark Raxton, Thor (Thor Odinsohn), Odin, Herkules (Hercules), Seidring, and Der Eiserne (Iron Man), reflecting the multi-feature anthology structure typical of this run.
- Mark Raxton — the Molten Man — was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, first appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man #28 (September 1965); his debut story also featured Peter Parker's graduation from Midtown High School, a key character milestone.
- The Thor-related content (featuring Odin, Herkules/Hercules, and the villain Seidring) draws from the mid-1960s Journey Into Mystery / Thor run scripted by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby.
- The BSV was acquired by National Periodical Publications in 1966 and later became part of the Warner Communications publishing chain; the imprint was renamed Williams Verlag in 1972 following Warner's purchase of DC/National.
- After Hit Comics reached issue 153, the anthology was dissolved and individual characters received their own dedicated German series (Die Spinne, Der Mächtige Thor, Der Eiserne, etc.).
- Hit Comics #1 carried the first-ever appearance of Spider-Man in German-language comics; subsequent issues like #7 deepened that readership's familiarity with the broader Marvel cast.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints The Amazing Spider-Man #35 (1966), Thor #128 (1966)
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