Terrific Comic

First Issue: 15th April 1967
Last Issue: 3rd February 1968
Copyright: Odhams

In the 1960s, publishers Odhams obtained the rights to reprint Marvel superhero characters in their five ‘Power’ comics which were ‘Pow!,’ ‘Wham!,’ ‘Fantastic,’ ‘Terrific’ and ‘Smash!’ The stories in the first issue of Terrific introduced the British comic reading public to ‘The Avengers’ which was reprinted from the American comic ‘Avengers’ previously published in 1963. The Avengers were ‘The Invincible Iron Man’, ‘The Mighty Thor’, ‘Giant-Man’, ‘Wasp’ and ‘Captain America’.

Also in the first issue was ‘Dr. Strange – Master of the Mystic Arts’ (from ‘Strange Tales’) who was the once famous surgeon, Dr. Steven Strange. ‘Dr Strange’ was the creation of Stan Lee and told the story of how the surgeon had travelled to India in search of a cure for his nerve damaged hands. Whilst there he came across an ancient mystic who made him his pupil and armed him with the power of white magic to fight evil.

Other stories that ran in Terrific comic were ‘Sub Mariner’ (‘Tales to Astonish’) and ‘Giant-Man’ (‘Tales to Astonish’). ‘Sub Mariner’ appeared in the first issue of Marvel comics in 1939 and twenty eight years later re-emerged before a British audience. Terrific lasted ten months before merging with Fantastic comic on 10th February 1968. All the ‘Power’ comics were eventually merged with each other leaving only ‘Smash’ comic which itself was incorporated by ‘Valiant’ comic (10th April 1971.)

Terrific Comic First Issue

15th April 1967

First Combined Issue of Fantastic and Terrific Comic

10th February 1968

British Comics – A Cultural History
by James Chapman
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