Marvel #4
Marvel #4 (Éditions Lug, July 1970) represents one of the earliest French-language printings of several cornerstone Marvel Silver Age stories, introducing francophone readers to Electro, the Super-Skrull's clash with Mar-Vell, and the full supporting casts of both Spider-Man and the nascent Captain Marvel series. Because the Lug Marvel title folded after only thirteen issues under pressure from French censors, this issue belongs to a short-lived but historically significant bridgehead that preceded the long-running Strange magazine in bringing Marvel's universe to France. As the final issue published in the original small ("petit") format before the series shifted to the larger 17×24 cm album size, it also marks a quiet production turning point in the French Marvel reprint era.
In "Le mystère de l'Enfant Terrible," Stan Lee and Steve Ditko deliver a tense, character-driven tale as Electro orchestrates a jailbreak to assemble a rogue crew for his next scheme. With Aunt May hospitalized and the city under threat, Spider-Man must juggle personal duty and superheroics in a story that pulses with urgency and emotional weight. The cover by Gene Colan and Vince Colletta captures the moment’s high stakes with striking flair.
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After French censorship authorities shut down Éditions Lug's first Marvel vehicle, Fantask, after just six issues in 1969, publisher Yves Navarro relaunched the Marvel line in 1970 with two new titles: Strange and Marvel. The Marvel series launched on 10 April 1970 under editor Claude Vistel and printed its stories in bichromie (two-color) rather than full color. Issue #4 appeared in July 1970 and was the last of the small-format issues; from issue #5 onward the title switched to the larger format. The entire Marvel run lasted only thirteen issues, with censorship reportedly targeting the monstrous appearance of Ben Grimm/La Chose as a contributing factor in the title's cancellation.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Published 10 July 1970 by Éditions Lug (Lyon), edited by Claude Vistel; one of only 13 issues in the series before cancellation.
- Final issue in the original small (petit) format; from issue #5 the series switched to the larger 17×24 cm format.
- Contains the French-language premiere of Amazing Spider-Man #9 (Feb. 1964) — 'L'homme appelé Electro!' — the first appearance of Electro (Max Dillon), created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
- The Spider-Man story also marks the French debut of the Enforcers (Fancy Dan, Montana/Le Toro, Jackson Brice) and features a guest appearance by Daredevil/Matt Murdock.
- Reprints Captain Marvel #3 (July 1968, written by Roy Thomas, art by Gene Colan/Vince Colletta) — 'Venu de l'espace voici… le Super Skrull!' — bringing the Super-Skrull, Carol Danvers, Colonel Yon-Rogg, Una, and the Skrull royal court (Emperor Dorrek VII, Princess Anelle) to French readers for the first time.
- Two Fantastic Four stories (written by Stan Lee, art by Jack Kirby) anchor the issue, featuring the full FF roster plus Namor and Diablo (Esteban Corazón de Ablo).
- Cover artwork is by Roger Médina, Lug's in-house cover artist, rather than being a direct reproduction of any American cover.
- The series (and this issue) were printed in bichromie rather than full US-style color, reflecting both cost constraints and the two-color printing norms of the French pocket-comics market of the era.
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Reprints
↩ Reprints The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (1964), Fantastic Four #24 (1964), The Amazing Spider-Man #10 (1964), Fantastic Four #27 (1964), Marvel's Space-Born Superhero! Captain Marvel #2 (1968), Marvel's Space-Born Superhero! Captain Marvel #3 (1968), Strange #7 (1970), Marvel #5 (1970)
Reprinted in Marvel #3 (1970), Strange #7 (1970)
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