Marvel #2
Marvel #2 (Editions Lug, May 1970) is a historically significant artifact of Marvel's very first wave of French-language publication. It arrived in the direct aftermath of the censorship-forced shutdown of Lug's pioneering Fantask magazine, representing publisher Marcel Navarro's determined second attempt to bring Stan Lee's superhero universe to francophone readers at a time when the French censorship commission was actively hostile to the material. The issue delivers the French-language introduction of several key American storylines simultaneously — including the Captain Marvel origin mythology with the Mar-Vell/Walter Lawson identity swap and Carol Danvers' earliest appearance — making it a foundational document in the reception history of Marvel Comics outside the United States. Its small-format, two-color (bichromie) presentation required drastic recutting of original American pages, making it a fascinating case study in the editorial and visual transformation Marvel characters underwent to survive French regulatory and production constraints.
In "Prisonniers du Pharaon," Mar-Vell must navigate a dangerous deception after Walter Lawson's death, assuming his identity to infiltrate Cap Canaveral. With Yon-Rogg's schemes unfolding in the shadows, Mar-Vell faces a sudden threat when an ancient Kree sentinel is reactivated—its awakening now jeopardizing the base. Written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Gene Colan, with inks by Paul Reinman, the cover by Gene Colan and Vince Colletta captures the tension of this pivotal 1970 issue.
In "Prisonniers du Pharaon," the Fantastiques journey to ancient Egypt in search of a cure for Alicia's blindness, only to cross paths with Rama-Tut, a time-traveling pharaoh from the year 3000. As the team navigates the mysteries of a forgotten era, they find themselves entangled in a perilous game of power and deception.
In "L'Araignée face au Docteur Fatalis," the web-slinger finds himself outmaneuvered when the cunning Doctor Fatalis schemes to trick him into helping defeat the Fantastic Four. When Spider-Man refuses, the villain turns his attention to Flash Thompson, who’s dressed as the hero for a prank—only to be captured in the mistaken identity. The real Spider-Man must now act fast to rescue his friend before the trap closes.
In "Quand s'avance la Sentinelle !", Mar-Vell, now posing as the deceased Dr. Walter Lawson at Cap Canaveral, must navigate a dangerous double life as Yon-Rogg's schemes escalate. When the military uncovers an inert Kree sentinel, it’s reactivated by the enemy — and now the base faces a threat that could expose Mar-Vell’s secret.
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Editions Lug, the Lyon-based publisher founded in 1950 by Marcel Navarro and Auguste Vistel, began translating Marvel comics in 1969 with Fantask, which was shut down after only seven issues by French censorship authorities. The Marvel series launched in April 1970 as a direct successor, running to thirteen issues before again falling victim to censorship — reportedly because of the Commission's concerns about the 'horrific' appearance of the Thing (La Chose). Issue #2, dated May 10, 1970 and published in a small digest-like format, was produced under the editorial direction of Claude Vistel (Auguste Vistel's daughter, who had convinced Navarro to license Marvel material after a 1968 trip to New York), with the cover art credited to Roger Médina, who drew it inspired by Fantastic Four #59 and a page from The Amazing Spider-Man #62. The first seven issues of the series were printed in duotone (bichromie) rather than full color, a cost and format compromise that forced substantial page rearrangement of the original American artwork.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published May 10, 1970 by Editions Lug (Lyon, France); directeur de publication Claude Vistel; printed by Imprimerie Martel, Givors.
- The issue reprints — in reworked and recolored form — Captain Marvel (Marvel, 1968 series) #1 (May 1968), written by Roy Thomas with pencils by Gene Colan and inks by Vince Colletta, giving French readers their first exposure to the Mar-Vell origin story.
- Captain Marvel #1's story depicts Colonel Yon-Rogg's schemes against Mar-Vell, the death of the real Walter Lawson, and Mar-Vell assuming Lawson's identity and posting at a nearby military base — all key early beats of the Kree hero's mythology.
- The issue also contains Carol Danvers' introduction to French readers: she appears here as a U.S. Air Force Security Chief who encounters 'Dr. Walter Lawson' (actually Mar-Vell in disguise), the role she occupied before her eventual transformation into Ms. Marvel nearly a decade later.
- A Fantastic Four story, 'Prisoners of the Pharaoh,' is included — a French-language reprint of Fantastic Four #19 (Stan Lee/Jack Kirby, October 1963), featuring Rama-Tut and the full cast of Les Quatre Fantastiques, as well as a cameo by Docteur Fatalis.
- A Spider-Man story pitting L'Araignée against Docteur Fatalis is also included, continuing the multi-strip anthology format Lug used throughout the Marvel series.
- The cover of Marvel #2, drawn by Roger Médina, was later reused as a Captain Marvel poster included in a collected album edition (Rec01, collecting issues #1–4, published July 1970), to mark the transition from small to large format.
- The entire Marvel series (all 13 issues) was printed in duotone for issues #1–7, then shifted to a larger 17×24 cm format from issue #8 onward; the series was ultimately banned and shut down by French censors, with counterfeit 'issues' #14–16 later circulating among collectors.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints Fantastic Four #19 (1963), The Amazing Spider-Man #5 (1963), Fantastic Four #20 (1963), Marvel Super-Heroes #13 (1968), Marvel's Space-Born Superhero! Captain Marvel #1 (1968), Strange #5 (1970), Marvel #3 (1970)
Reprinted in Marvel #1 (1970), Strange #5 (1970)
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