Sunday 20 December 2015

December 20th, 1975 - Marvel UK, 40 years ago this week.

Big-time Brummie Santa-botherer Roy Wood once sang the immortal words, "I wish it could be Christmas every day."

But, if it were Christmas every day, it'd always be December the 25th.

And that means it'd never be December the 20th.

And that'd mean I'd never have the chance to find out what Marvel UK were up to on that day in 1975.

What kind of maniac is that man? Is he trying to ruin the 38th best blog in Sheffield?

I ought to have him hunted down and eaten by a rabid reindeer.

And, trust me, I have the terrifying power to arrange it.

Marvel UK, Avengers and Conan #118

I genuinely don't have a clue what the Avengers story is in this issue, as I can recall no Avengers tales from this era that feature giant robots.

I also don't have a clue what the Conan story is, as I don't remember any Conan stories ever that don't feature evil wizards.

Marvel UK, The Titans #9, Captain America

Cap and Bucky are dangling from a missile-type thingy as it soars ever upwards.

I don't like to be negative but that sort of thing rarely ends happily for them.

Marvel UK, Dracula Lives #61, Legion of Monsters

I initially misread the speech balloon on this cover as, "Stay back, folks! So commands Dracula, lord of vampires!" I now can't imagine Dracula talking like anything other than a duff working men's club entertainer.

Marvel UK, Planet of the Apes #61

We're still escaping from the Planet of the Apes.

I don't have a Scooby what happens in the back-up strips this issue but I do know that's a very nice cover depicting what was the most tear-inducing moment in cinema history until that robot got run over in Silent Running.

Mighty World of Marvel #168, Hulk vs Zzzax

It's news that all monster fans should celebrate, as Zzzax makes his electrifying debut.

As with the last few weeks, I never had this issue but had already read the Hulk story in the 1975 Marvel Annual, a review of which can be found by clicking this very link.

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #149, Thor and Iron Man

It's that rare thing, a Spider-Man Comics Weekly cover that's dominated by Iron Man and Thor.

Marvel UK, The Super-Heroes #42, the X-Men

The X-Men are still up against a pleasingly unlikely Pick & Mix of menace.

4 comments:

Dougie said...

Never saw that issue of The Super Heroes. It seems I missed at least one weekly every week that autumn - into - winter.
Think the Conan story is 2nd half of Hand of Nergal. Venomm in Black Panther - snaky villain, looked like Deathlok. Possibly gay?

Dougie said...

The Avengers are dealing with Cornelius Van Lunt and the Split-Second Squad. Not sure about any robots.

Anonymous said...

The last few weeks' covers seem to feature all of the characters, rather than the title feature (even the FF were featured on last week's MWOM). Perhaps it was conscious decision by the editorial team.

DW

Anonymous said...

Ultron, during this period, once appeared in giant-robot form to menace the Avengers, Inhumans and the F.F...all at once! Ornery bastard, that Ultron.
That doesn't look much like him, though. Who knows. Could be just a poor rendition of him.
M.P.