Beware! The Claws of the Cat #5 Reassembled! Well, Mostly.... 2 2

[Spider-Variant]

 

 

I'm not even sure why I started this project, as I have never collected any issue of the Beware! The Claws of the Cat series.  I was a fan of Tigra though, so maybe that is reason enough.

I wanted to see if I could put the entire story together from the unpublished issue #5, written by Linda Fite, drawn by Ramona Fradon, and inked (some pages, maybe not all were inked though) by Jim Mooney.  Had it been published, it would have had a cover date of August 1973.

I own none of the art below and have cobbled the story together from various sources.  Below each page, I wrote out the story, as I didn't know how well some of these scans would show the dialogue.  There are some pages missing, and some pages that only have pencils and are not lettered.  This is everything that I can find so far.

 

Page 1:

Splash:  ALONE AGAIN (NATURALLY), GREER NELSON - - A.K.A  THE CAT - - DOES NOT SUSPECT THAT THE SNARE BEING SET BY A SINISTER SORCERESS WILL SOON MAKE HER…

SPELLBOUND!

Greer thinking “I FEEL SO DOWN TODAY, BUT THERE’S NOTHING TO DO ABOUT THE BLUES EXCEPT WAIT FOR THEM TO GO AWAY.”

Page 2:

No lettered page available.

 

Page 3:
Panel 1:  The Cat thinking “MY FEET CLAWS ARE STRONGER, TOO - - EVERY ACTION IS SMOOTH AND PRECEISE…”
Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “THEY RESPONSE MORE DIRECTLY TO THE MOVEMENTS OF MY MUSCLES AND TENDONS.”
Panel 3:  The Cat thinking “NOW FOR A GOOD TEST - - ”
Panel 4:  The Cat exclaiming “IF ANY OF THIS UNDATED EQUIPMENT IS FAULTY, I’LL FIND OUT - -  --THE HARD WAY!”
Panel 5:  The Cat exclaiming “SUCCESS!”
Panel 6:  The Cat thinking “THINK ILL HEAD OVER TO LOOP.  I’M STARTING TO FEEL BETTER- - NOTHING BEATS EXERCISE FOR MAKING YOU FEEL ALIVE - - 
--EXCEPT FALLING IN LOVE.”
Panel 7:  The Cat thinking “BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY -- WHOOPEE.  IF YOU’RE SO DARN COOL, GREER - - WHY AREN’T YOU DOWN THERE TRIPPING THE LIGHT FANTASTIC?”

Page 4:

Panel 1:  Story Dialogue    A GENT IN BLUE PROVIDES THE ANSWER:

Cop 1 exclaiming “HEY CAL! THERE SHE IS - - THE CAT!”

Cop 2, Cal, responding “OKAY - - LET’S GET HER.”

Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “WHA – THE POLCIEMAN HAS HIS GUN DRAWN!”

Cop 1 exclaiming “COME DOWN HERE! WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU.”

Panel 3:  The Cat thinking “I THOUGHT THEY WERE ON MY SIDE AFTER I ROUNDED UP MAN-BULL.”*

*Editor’s note reads: LAST ISH, REMEMBER?- - R.

Panel 4:  The Cat thinking “BUT THAT GUN TELLS ME IT AIN’T NECESSARILY SO.”

Cop 1 exclaiming “STOP OR I’LL SHOOT!”

Panel 5:  The Cat thinking “MY LORD!  HE MEANS IT!  THOSE BULLETS ARE REAL!”

Panel 6:  The Cat thinking “NO WARNING SHOTS - - NO EXPLAINATION.  WHAT’S THE MATTER WITH THOSE GUYS?”

Panel 7:  The Cat thinking “I DON’T KNOW  - - BUT I’M NOT HANGING AROUND TO FIND OUT.”

Page 5:

Panel 1:  The Cat exclaiming “GADS!  THEY MUST BE PSYCHIC!”

Cop 1 exclaiming “HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! YOU’RE UNDER SUSPICTION- -“ “- - FOR MUDRDER AND KIDNAPPING.”

Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “MURDER?  WHAT’S HE TALKING ABOUT?”

Panel 3:  Cop 2 exclaiming “DON’T SHOOT HER, ORTIZ.  SHE’LL FALL TO HER DEATH…AND WE’LL NEVER KNOW WHERE LAKUYA IS.”

Panel 4:  Story Dialogue  SUCCESSFUL EVADING HER PURSUERS, GREER MAKIES IT BACK TO HER APARTMENT. 

The Cat thinking “MURDER??  AND KIDNAPPING?”  “WHY DO THEY THINK I’M INVOLVED?”

Panel 5:  The Cat thinking “I’LL SHEE IF THERE’S ANY INFO ABOUT THIS ON THE TUBE- -“

TV SET ANNOUNCING “… FEAR THAT LAKUYA HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED.  POLICE ALSO REPORT THAT THE MISSING ANGOLAN ENVOY’S CHAUFFEUR WAS FOUND DEAD NEAR THE CAR, ALLEGEDLY CLAWED AND TORN AS IF BY SOME WILD BEAST.”

Page 6:

No page available.

 

Page 7:  

Panel 1:  Greer speaking “WOW!  THIS HOUSE IS FANTASTIC!  HAVE YOU LIVED HERE LONG?”

Graymalkin speaking “MY FAMILY HAS OWNED IT FOR FIVE GENERATIONS!  WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?”

Panel 2:  Graymalkin speaking “THIS IS MY OWN SPECIAL BLEND... I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.”

Panel 3:  Greer thinking “THIS WOMAN IS NO CRANK - - I SENSE A POWERFUL FORCE AT WORK.” Greer speaking “MMM… IT’S STRANGE - - BUT GOOD.”

Graymalkin thinking “THIS GIRL IS NO MERE GRADUATE STUDENT - - “  Graymalkin asking “NOW, WHAT CAN I TELL YOU, MISS D’AMATO?”

Panel 4:  Greer responding “WELL, I’VE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON THE …THE…I…WANTED TO ASK IF … UNH…”

Graymalkin asking “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT, MISS D’AMATO?”

Panel 5:  Graymalkin words swirling around Greer’s head “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?” “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT??” “ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?”

Page 8:  

Panel 1:  Story Dialogue   GREER’S MIND REELS…HIDEOUS HALLUCINATIONS LOOM BEFORE HER CLOSED LIDS - -

Greer thinking “THE TEA … SHOULD HAVE KNOWN… SO CARELESS…”

Panel 2:  Story Dialogue   QUICKLY GREER LOSES CONSCIOUSNESS - -

Panel 3:  Story Dialogue   ONLY TO AWAKE AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD LATER IN A CLAMMY, VAULTED…

Greer exclaiming “DUNGEON?!”

Panel 4:  Story Dialogue   SUDDENLY A DOOR CRASHES OPEN, AND A WEIRD PROCESSION ENTERS - -

Panel 5:  Greer thinking “IT’S GRAYMALKIN - - AND THE WHOLE COVEN OF WITCHES.  THEY HAVE A MAN TIED UP - - IT MUST BE LAKUYA!”

Page 9 (above):

No lettered page available.

Page 10:

No page available.

Page 11 (above):

No lettered page available.

 

Page 12 (deleted):

No lettered page available.  This page was slated to be deleted per note on top of the art board.

Page 12 (note the number 12 written in pencil over 13 on top of page):

Panel 1:  The Cat thinking “IF IT WEREN’T FOR THIS MASK, I’D HAVE A HARD TIME SEEING, TOO…”

Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “GOT TO SHIFT THIS STONE COVER.”

Panel 3:  Story Dialogue   SLOWLY, GREER PUSHES OPEN AN EGRESS - - AND CLIMBS OUT INTO THE MOONLIT GARDEN.

Panel 4:  Story Dialogue   SWIFTLY SHE GLIDES ACROSS THE SHADOWED LAWN

Panel 5:  Story Dialogue   WITH SILENT STEPS, SHE APPROACHES THE GREAT HOUSE.

Page 13 (note the number 13 written in blue pencil over 14 on top of page):

Panel 1:  The Cat thinking “NO LIGHTS ON DOWN HERE - - ”

Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “AH!  THERE’S SOMETHING - - UP ON THE SECOND FLOOR.”

Panel 4:  Story Dialogue   THE CAT CLIMBS UP WARILY, PEERS IN THE GOTHIC-ARCHED WINDOW - -

Panel 5:  Story Dialogue   - - AND IS STUNNED BY THE LOOMING, HIDEOUS FANTASMS CAVORTING AND CATERWAULING IN THE FIRELIGHT.

Page 14 (note the number 14 written in blue pencil over 15 on top of page):

Panel 1:  The Cat thinking “MY LORD!  GRAYMALKIN DIDN’T LIE! THERE’S LAKUYA - - ”

Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “- - CONNECTED TO A CAT BY SOPHISTICATED EQUIPMENT.”

Panel 3:  Story Dialogue   THE FRENZIED CRIES INSIDE BECOME MUFFLED AND CONCENTRATED IN AN UNITELLIGIBLE CHANT.

Panel 4:  Story Dialogue   ONE MACBRE FIGURE REACHES FOR A LEVER, AND - -  

 

Page 15 (note the number 15 written in pencil over 16 on top of page):

Panel 1:  Story Dialogue   - - THE CAT CRASHES THROUGH THE WINDOW!

Panel 2:  The Cat asking “WHAT’S WRONG HAZEL?  NO QUICK SPELL TO STOP A RIGHT FIST?”

Panel 4:  The Cat saying “SORRY TO STOP THE AUDITION.  YOU WERE SINGING SO NICELY, TOO”  The Cat thinking “EACH OF THESE CREATURES IS FEROCIOUS - - AND LETHAL.”

Page 16:

Panel 1:  The Cat saying “IF I EVER PRODUCE A ROCK OPERA OF MACBETH, I’LL CALL YOU.”

Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “UNCONSCIOUS!  CAN’T ESCAPE NOW - - I MUST FIND GRAYMALKIN!”

Panel 3:  The Cat thinking “SO MANY OF THEM - - THEY SEEM TO SPRING FROM NOWHERE.”

Panel 4:  The Cat stating “THIS SHOULD MAKE YOU HARPIES COOL DOWN A WHILE.”

Panel 5:  The Cat thinking “THEY APPEAR TO BE …SHRINKING?”

Panel 6:  The Cat saying “WHA - - ? OH NO!”

Page 17 (note the number 17 written in pencil over 18 on top of page):

Panel 1:  The Cat exclaiming “THE ASPCA WOULD NEVER APPROVE OF THIS - - EVEN IF I TOLD THEM THESE AREN’T ORDINARY CATS!”

Panel 2:  The Cat saying “I TRUST YOU FELINES HAVEN’T USED UP YOUR QUOTA OF LIVES.”

Panel 3:  Story Dialogue  WITHOUT WARNING, THE CATS THEMSELVES SEEMED TO CHANGE - - INTO TOWERING BEASTS…

Panel 4:  Story Dialogue  …BEASTS OF FICTION, NIGHTMARE CREATURES, MENACING AND

TERRIFYING.

Page 18:

Panel 1:  Story Dialogue  NOT TRUSTING HER EYES, GREER IS FORCED TO BELIEF BY THE DEADLY COLD TOUCH OF A SCALY TALON.

Panel 2:  Story Dialogue  A SHOCK WAVE OF FORCE SLAMS GREER AGAINST THE WALL - -

Panel 3:  The Cat thinking “IT - - IT’S OPENING!”

Panel 4:  The Cat exclaiming “GRAYMALKIN!  YOU’VE CREATED THESE MONSTERS SCIENTIFICALLY!”

Panel 5:  Graymalkin exclaiming “KEEP AWAY!  MY SYSTEM TOOK YEARS TO PERFECT!”

Panel 6:  The Cat exclaiming “YOUR SYSTEM…ILLUSIONS?  HOLOGRAMS?  WHAT?  WHATEVER THOSE MONSTERS ARE MADE OF - - I’M GOING TO STOP THEM!”

Graymalkin exclaiming “NO! NO!  YOU MUSTN’T RIP AT THOSE WIRES - - THE BALANCE IS TOO DELICATE!”

Panel 7:  Story Dialogue  THE DAMAGE DONE TO THE EQUIPMENT HAS A STRANGE EFFECT ON THE PUPPET-MONSTERS...

Page 19:

Panel 1:  Story Dialogue  THEIR ELECTRO-STRINGS ARE FIGURATIVELY CUT, AND THEY ATTACK THEIR CREATOR - -

Graymalkin yelling “AIEEEE!”

Panel 2:  The Cat thinking “I HAVE TO WORK FAST!  THE ONLY WAY TO DESTROY THE BEASTS IS TO DESTROY THE SYSTEM.”

Story Dialogue  SUDDENLY - - SILENCE!

Panel 3:  Story Dialogue  THE MONSTROUS SHAPES, WITCHES, CATS’ CARCASSES, AND ALL THE TRAPPINGS OF SOCERY - - ALL GONE!

The Cat thinking “NOTHING … NOTHING AT ALL.  THE SYSTEM BLEW - - AND EVERYTHING WENT WITH IT.  BUT HOW?  GRAYMALKIN MUST HAVE ESCAPED.”

Panel 4:  Story Dialogue  GREER HURRIES OVER TO LAKUYA’S INERT BODY. 

The Cat thinking “HE’S WEAK AND EXHAUSTED, BUT HE’S FINE.  I’LL CALL THE POLICE FROM A PHONE BOOTH AND TELL THEM WHERE HE IS - - ANONYMOUSLY.”

Panel 5:  The Cat thinking “LAKUYA’S STORY WILL CLEAR THE CAT WITH THE AUTHORITIES.”

“AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO LOCATE GRAYMALKIN - - IF SHE’S AROUND.”

Panel 6:  Story Dialogue  THE DUSKY DAWN STREETS OF CHICAGO HOLD NO CLUE IN THE MYSTERY OF A NOW EMPTY MANSION - -

WHERE THE CAT DANCED LAST NIGHT WITH DEATH AND THE DEVIL.

THE END

Edited April 25, 2023 by Spider-Variant
Added Page #5.

[Spider-Variant]

Could this have been the planned cover for Beware! The Claws of the Cat?  Preliminary by Gil Kane, unidentified superheroine.   Note how similar it is to the cover he drew for Ghost Rider #2, published in Oct. 1973.

[ADAMANTIUM]

Interesting ! 

I skimmed it, because I did own #1. Mostly the art really shows the change to me through the 70s. I'm not sure why it is so polarizing , and I dont think that I paid attention to the artists:

Cat is similar to hero for hire, but then you get the likes of moon knight and or firestorm and other 1974-76 bronze 1sts explosions. I've always wondered the reason for the "change" in art and writing. 

Even bronze spider woman has a similar art and vibe. I mention the art, but I mean the writing too.

Anyway, the "project" was fun, in that it can show the thought process to story boards. To think expounding on those, whew, I don't have the capacity Doh!

I'm not sure I've hit the tone of the thread either, so if a bunch of gibberish  please ignore.

TLDR they'd hire you in the 70s @Spider-Variant

 

Edited November 12, 2022 by ADAMANTIUM

[Spider-Variant]

Thanks @ADAMANTIUM!  Not sure I really had a tone per se.  I read on another board someone said they would like to see the book put back together, so I thought I would give it a shot.  I don't think I would have exactly enjoyed this story, but hard to tell without some of the missing pages and dialogue. 

I like the Fradon/Mooney combination, and I enjoyed Ramona's new take on the Cat's costume design as well.  Would have been interesting to see what color it would have been.  Ramona has drew it apart from this issue and colored it red.  Hmmm.....

[Metarog]

Very cool to see this almost complete. I’ve heard it was worked on but didn’t  know how close. Thanks for all your efforts buddy… been a long time.👋

[Spider-Variant]

On 11/13/2022 at 7:59 PM, Metarog said:

Very cool to see this almost complete. I’ve heard it was worked on but didn’t  know how close. Thanks for all your efforts buddy… been a long time.👋

Sure has my friend.  Miss the days of the Variant Mafia.

[Get Marwood & I]

Nicely done, Reggie, as always. I wonder if we should have a competition to write the missing dialogue for page two? It looks like one of those 'maybe a bit of web-swinging will banish the blues' type pages when Spidey was down in the dumps due to his life being a pile of it. Although the 'blues' on this occasion may have been more of the monthly type, if you catch my drift?

What's the betting the dialogue was along the lines of 'I'll put on my special claws" then "My mask will keep my identity secret" etc. etc.

[Spider-Variant]

On 11/14/2022 at 12:54 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

Nicely done, Reggie, as always. I wonder if we should have a competition to write the missing dialogue for page two? It looks like one of those 'maybe a bit of web-swinging will banish the blues' type pages when Spidey was down in the dumps due to his life being a pile of it. Although the 'blues' on this occasion may have been more of the monthly type, if you catch my drift?

What's the betting the dialogue was along the lines of 'I'll put on my special claws" then "My mask will keep my identity secret" etc. etc.

I bet you are correct on all fronts Steve.  That page 2 does have a Parkeresque feel to it, no doubt.  

I've seen some of these pages identified with different numbers, but for the most part, I think I have it correct.

[Get Marwood & I]

On 11/14/2022 at 2:00 PM, Spider-Variant said:

I bet you are correct on all fronts Steve.  That page 2 does have a Parkeresque feel to it, no doubt.  

I've seen some of these pages identified with different numbers, but for the most part, I think I have it correct.

It's a great piece of research Reggie - the kind of thread I wish we saw more of around here - threads from people like you who love comics and who are inquisitive and inventive 

[Spider-Variant]

Thanks for the kind words Steve.     As you and I have discussed before, the problem with the thread format is that this post will eventually reach the bottom of the bin, never to be looked at again.  The data, like all your research, would be better served in a permanent gallery, where others could find it more readily.

 

[Get Marwood & I]

On 11/14/2022 at 3:03 PM, Spider-Variant said:

Thanks for the kind words Steve.     As you and I have discussed before, the problem with the thread format is that this post will eventually reach the bottom of the bin, never to be looked at again.  The data, like all your research, would be better served in a permanent gallery, where others could find it more readily.

Indeed. Funnily enough, I did a bit of comic pottering just this morning and found an old exercise in a file that I'd forgotten all about. They soon get buried, when you post about things in long threads. I was hoping the Journal / Gallery functions here might serve that purpose - creating accessible static records of key stuff - but it doesn't look promising as I can't get anyone at CGC motivated enough to do something about the issues and lack of visibility. Still, it's their site, they pay the bills and we participate freely so you can't complain too much I suppose.

I've been threatening to make my own website for years but I don't think I'll ever get there now. Too much going on really. Never mind. Look at the STL - who'd have thought all that info would bite the bullet. I used to like posting new Spidey printing errors there. It all goes in the end though, doesn't it. 

 

[Spider-Variant]

I'm going to bump this thread occasionally with the hope of finding a few more of the missing pages.  

[Spider-Variant]

On 1/30/2023 at 11:21 AM, Spider-Variant said:

I'm going to bump this thread occasionally with the hope of finding a few more of the missing pages.  

[Giant Ant]

Just saw this thread and joined to share this.
I have no idea where I got this scan, but I had it saved as page 5

[Spider-Variant]

On 4/24/2023 at 3:18 PM, Giant Ant said:

Just saw this thread and joined to share this.
I have no idea where I got this scan, but I had it saved as page 5

Yes, definitely looks like page 5.  Thanks so much for sharing.  If I can edit my original post, I'll sequence it in.  

[Spider-Variant]

On 11/11/2022 at 1:28 PM, Spider-Variant said:

Could this have been the planned cover for Beware! The Claws of the Cat?  Preliminary by Gil Kane, unidentified superheroine.   Note how similar it is to the cover he drew for Ghost Rider #2, published in Oct. 1973.

Someone posted this on another forum, no idea of the origins of the piece.

But if it is real, then the prelim sketch by Kane would have the plan for this cover.

 

 

[Spider-Variant]

Hmmm, wow, almost looks exactly like my thread....

https://tombrevoort.com/2023/04/29/the-claws-of-the-cat-5-the-lost-issue/

 

[Get Marwood & I]

On 5/6/2023 at 7:04 PM, Spider-Variant said:

Hmmm, wow, almost looks exactly like my thread....

https://tombrevoort.com/2023/04/29/the-claws-of-the-cat-5-the-lost-issue/

 

What a coincidence!

[Spider-Variant]

On 5/6/2023 at 2:08 PM, Get Marwood & I said:

What a coincidence!

Yes, it seems my stuff has a way of making it to other platforms.  I guess I should feel flattered. 

[Get Marwood & I]

On 5/6/2023 at 8:30 PM, Spider-Variant said:

Yes, it seems my stuff has a way of making it to other platforms.  I guess I should feel flattered. 

You could, yes. It may be a genuine coincidence. If not, what would you have done, if the roles were reversed?