Marvel; November 1983
Cover by Ron Frenz and Al Milgrom

Title: “Down Deep in Darkness!”
Synopsis: When the kids she’s babysitting are snatched by Morlocks, it’s Kitty Pryde to the rescue – with some help from Spider-Man.

Writer: Bill Mantlo
Penciler: Ron Frenz
Inker: Mike Esposito

Review: Full disclosure: This reviewer’s love of Kitty Pryde probably scored this issue a higher grade than it otherwise would have earned. Still, this is a perfectly serviceable late Bronze Age Marvel comic. Bill Mantlo’s story scoots along at a tight pace, hitting the requisite notes of then-current characterization for both of the headlining characters. Not everything works, but the story feels connected to the larger Marvel Universe of its time. The Ron Frenz art – obviously influenced by Sal Buscema – seemed a bit anachronistic at the time of publication, but now certainly feels of the Bronze Age. An unspectacular-but-solid outing.

Grade: B

Cool factor: Kitty Pryde. ❤

Not-so-cool factor: Since when do the Morlocks have high-tech, underground “magne-cars”?

Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a 75¢ Canadian variant of this issue. According to MyComicShop.com, there is also a Mark Jewelers variant.

Character quotable: “Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!” – Kitty Pryde, a better superheroine than babysitter

Copyright ©2026 Off the Wahl Productions, all rights reserved. Each week, T. Andrew Wahl offers up a Bronze Age Minute for Scoop. For more reviews like this one, check out Wahl’s website, offthewahl.com.