BRONZE AGE MINUTE: Marvel Team-Up #41

Marvel; January 1976
Cover by Gil Kane and Dan Adkins

Title: “A Witch in Time!”
Synopsis: Cotton Mather uses Doctor Doom’s time machine to bring the Scarlet Witch to Salem of 1692 – for a burning!

Writer: Bill Mantlo
Penciler: Sal Buscema
Inker: Mike Esposito

Review: Multipart epics were still pretty new during the Bronze Age, especially stories that lasted six issues. But this tale – hailed on its opening page as “one of the weirdest adventures ever” – is unquestionably a product of its era. When else could Cotton Mather – yes, that Cotton Mather – use Doom’s time machine to capture the Scarlet Witch, and somehow drag Spider-Man and the Vision back to 1692, as well? The opening salvo to this Bill Mantlo epic has logic flaws and plot problems galore, but the fast pace and crazy fun make it a worthwhile ride. Looking forward to part two!

Grade: B

Cool factor: Cotton Mather’s flame-shooting cross!
Not-so-cool factor: Mather slapping Wanda around (he’s lucky she didn’t whisper “No more Mathers”).

Collector’s note: Beware, this issue contains Marvel Value Stamp (Series B) #14.

Character quotable: “That cross-wielding fanatic almost killed me – and he’s gonna pay for it!” – Spider-Man (Mather’s flame-shooting cross is likely to make anyone a little intolerant!)

Back to previous page