Hit Comics #24
Hit Comics #24 delivered the first German-language printing of X-Men #19 (April 1966), the issue that introduced Calvin Rankin — the Mimic — as the first character added to the X-Men after the original five and the first X-Man who was not actually a mutant. Paired with a concurrent Tales to Astonish Sub-Mariner story featuring Lady Dorma and Warlord Krang, the issue gave West German readers their earliest encounter with a cluster of Silver Age Marvel characters who would remain fixtures of the Marvel universe for decades. As one of the earliest vehicles for Marvel's mutant mythology on the continent, it occupies a small but genuine place in the international spread of the Silver Age superhero genre.
In "Der Mimic tritt auf," Bobby und Hank face off against the enigmatic Calvin Rankin, who effortlessly copies their powers to gain the upper hand. When Rankin realizes he’s up against the X-Men, he tracks Jean home and pleads for her to join him—only to seize her after absorbing their combined abilities. The team pursues him into a forgotten mine, where the Mimic activates a machine built by his father, a device that could permanently grant him their powers. Written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Werner Roth with inks by Dick Ayers, this 1967 issue features cover art by Werner Roth and Marie Severin.
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BSV (Bildschriftenverlag), operating out of Aachen, launched its Hit Comics anthology series in 1966 to repackage licensed Marvel Silver Age material in German translation for the West German market. The publisher became affiliated with the Williams imprint around the same time and would later rename itself Williams Verlag in 1972 following Warner's acquisition of DC. Hit Comics #24 appeared in 1967, roughly one year after its source stories were published in the United States, following the typical lag of the era. The in-house editorial team — which included translators and editors such as Lutz Reinecke and Reiner Taubert — rendered character names into German equivalents (Zyklop, Halk, Wundermädchen, Eismann, Tiermann, Engel) that would remain standard in German Marvel publishing for years.
Trivia · 8 facts
- Contains the first German-language reprint of X-Men #19 (cover-dated April 1966, on sale February 1966), the first appearance of Calvin Rankin, the Mimic.
- Mimic was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Werner Roth (credited as Jay Gavin), with inks by Dick Ayers; he debuted as a villain who could duplicate any nearby person's abilities, powers, and physical traits.
- Mimic is historically notable as the first character added to the X-Men after the original five-member lineup, and — as originally depicted — the first X-Man who was not a mutant (a status revisited by later writers).
- The issue also reprints a Tales to Astonish Sub-Mariner story featuring Prince Namor, Lady Dorma, and Warlord Krang, written by Stan Lee with art by Gene Colan.
- All character names appear in German translation: Zyklop (Cyclops), Halk (Hulk), Wundermädchen (Marvel Girl), Eismann (Iceman), Tiermann (Beast), and Engel (Angel) — a localization convention BSV-Williams maintained throughout its run.
- Published by Bildschriftenverlag GmbH (BSV), Aachen, as part of the Hit Comics anthology series (1966 series), priced at 0.50 DEM in line with other early issues of the run.
- BSV began its Marvel licensing relationship in 1966, making Hit Comics one of the very first ongoing vehicles for translated Marvel superhero content in the German-speaking world.
- The X-Men story reprinted here was also the final X-Men issue written by Stan Lee before Roy Thomas took over the scripting duties on the series.
Cast · 19 characters
Full credits
Full plot ⚠ may contain spoilers
▸ Reveal full plot — may contain spoilers
Bobby und Hank ringen mit dem geheimnisvollen Calvin Rankin, der sie besiegt, indem er ihre Kräfte nachahmt. Als er erkennt, dass er es mit den X-Männern zu tun hat, folgt Calvin Jean nach Hause und bittet sie, sich ihnen anzuschließen. Nachdem er alle ihre Kräfte absorbiert hat, kämpft er gegen sie und nimmt Jean gefangen. Das Team folgt ihm zu seinem Versteck tief in einer alten Mine. Mimic nutzt seine Kräfte, um eine Maschine zu entdecken, die sein Vater gebaut hat und die es ihm ermöglicht, die kombinierten Kräfte für immer zu behalten...
Plot details indexed by the Grand Comics Database (CC BY-SA).