The Marvel Lucky Bag - April 1986.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

Cinemas!

What films were making their debuts within them, during this month in 1986?

These films were: Critters, A Room With a View, Absolute Beginners, Wise Guys and 8 Million Ways to Die.

Of those, I've seen the whole of Critters and some of Absolute Beginners and, Reader, I can declare Critters to be the better of those two features.

I pass no judgement upon the other films.

The Eternals revival is still going and I've no idea what happens in this issue.

However, I do know the Arctic may be a location.

We all love to see a brand new comic send our local spinner racks into a spin, and that means we'll, no doubt, be thrilled to find Droids appearing there.

My razor-sharp senses tells me it's some sort of spin-off from Star Wars and that, this issue, on the planet Dodz, our beloved robots help unseat a greedy governor.

Despite the popularity of Star Wars, I do believe this mag will last for just eight issues.

Having already lasted three times that long, Dreadstar hits its 24th edition - and does so with someone called Monalo defeating someone called Willow and taking her prisoner.

However, this series only has two more issues left in it.

Displaying far more staying power is Dr Strange who hits the 76th issue of his current book - and does so by talking on Iuriale who's a siren, despite looking suspiciously like a gorgon on that cover.

Assuming, of course, that that's her and not someone else entirely.

But it would appear this mag has just five more issues left in it.

Clearly, the death of the Sphinx was nothing but a mere inconvenience to the villain, as he's back again!

I know little of this adventure but I do know Evil Hyperion is killed by Good Hyperion!

I anticipate plenty of action, as the Punisher tries to put a stop to the Trust and their army of Punisher clones!

Holy Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer, Batman! Shades of DC's early 1970s Manhunter revival!

I couldn't claim it's a sight we've never seen before when an article in the Daily Bugle sends Spider-Man over the edge and he sets off on a revenge mission against its publisher.

And I know nothing of events in this one. Other than that the tale within is titled Counterpane and brought to us by J. M. DeMatteis and Jon J. Muth

Forty years ago today - April 1986.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

Plunge with me into the past, using my patented Steve Does Comics Time-Plunger, guaranteed to never fail.

Now Loki's in trouble.

Thor's back in Asgard and out to get him for turning him into a frog.

But it's actually Volstagg who turns out to be the hero of the day by finding the late Surtur's sword and using its magic to break the spell!

Speaking of trouble, Blastaar is back.

And so is Annihilus!

I've read this story.

And I have absolutely no recollection of anything that happens in it.

But I do have a feeling Nightcrawler might be in a mood because his recent stint as an inter-dimensional swash-buckler is over.

Then again, I could be totally wrong.

It's chewed fingernails all round, as the gang of thugs Ernie Popchik shot at, in the subway, turns up at May's boarding house to claim its revenge.

I believe this is another of those periodic stories where Peter decides to give up being Spider-Man, only for circumstances to force him to change his mind.

Bruce Banner's put together a crack team of cracked scientists in a bid to destroy the now-mindless Hulk, while Doc Samson's still out to track down the beast and give him a good chinning.

And what's this? Betty agrees to marry Bruce?

Well, we all know how that always ends.

As we all remember, the Armadillo is a man who became a deformed monster, in order to save the life of his beloved.

But now it's all gone wrong because he's found that self-same beloved is cheating on him!

There's only one thing for it.

He's going to have to go on a rampage!

The battle with the Beyonder may be out of the way but it's only gone and torn a great big hole in some mountains, leaving a huge gash in the Earth's crust that'll cause the planet's destruction within hours.

There's only one man can save the day.

And that's the Molecule Man.

But will he be willing to do it?

Matt Murdock's still blundering around feeling sorry for himself, now that the Kingpin's ruined his life.

And then he gets stabbed by a mugger.

There's only one thing for it.

He's going to have to get help from Sister Maggie.

You know?

Sister Maggie?

The one who's been there, right from the very birth of Daredevil?

You know? Along with Stick and Elektra?

You know? As featured in Daredevil #1 and Sons of Origins of Marvel Comics?

Conan arrives in town to warn some king or other of impending doom but ends up climbing a tower, to prove his worth - and, therein, finds a rather important prisoner....

Just when we'd all forgotten about the Hobgoblin (well, I had, anyway), he's back.

And so is the Rose who I'd also forgotten about.

But it's a rather unpleasant tale with Flash hitting both his girlfriend Sha Shan and Ned Leeds, before the Hobgoblin takes the poor woman hostage.

I'm struggling to recall anything that happens in this one but I have the feeling MODOK's corpse is under the remote control of someone at AIM who's out to gain command of the organisation.

April 10th, 1976 - Marvel UK, 50 years ago this week.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

If it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, so does politics.

And, so - as Colin Jones pointed out the other day - with Harold Wilson gone, the week in question saw James Callaghan take over as Labour Party leader and become the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Also ruling the roost in Britain were the Brotherhood of Man whose Save Your Kisses For Me remained Number One on the singles chart.

But there was change afoot on the album rankings, as the pinnacle was suddenly grabbed by Rock Follies, the Original Soundtrack from the TV show of the same name. How we thrilled as Rula Lenska, Julie Covington and the other one were propelled to stardom, before our very eyes, in a drama series about the highs, lows and excesses of the music business.

But what else was going on?

Clearly, all human beings were enchanted by the Brotherhood of Man but, amazingly, there were other tracks on that week's UK Hit parade that I appreciated even more.

Among them were:

Fernando - ABBA

I'm Mandy, Fly Me - 10cc

Yesterday - the Beatles

Hey Jude {1976} - the Beatles

I Love to Love - Tina Charles

Paperback Writer {1976} - the Beatles

Get Back {1976} - the Beatles With Billy Preston

Strawberry Fields Forever - the Beatles

Riders on the Storm {1976} - the Doors

Arms of Mary - Sutherland Brothers and Quiver

S-S-S-Single Bed - Fox

Lazy Sunday {1976} - the Small Faces

All by Myself - Eric Carmen

and

Help! {1976} - the Beatles.

All I can say is it's obvious nostalgia was ruling the roost on UK turntables at the time.

But I do find it Interesting that Emmylou Harris's cover of Here, There and Everywhere and Diana Ross's version of Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?) were both on the chart simultaneously, given the two songs' strong melodic similarities.

Also interesting that not only did the Beatles have a zillion tracks in the Top 50, Mary Hopkin and Hot Chocolate were also there, both of whom started out as acts on the Beatles' Apple label. Truly, it was like the 1960s had never ended.

Regardless, should one wish to investigate that singles chart in greater depth, it can be found here.

While the accompanying LP rankings lurk within.

Despite what it says on that cover, it's the Squadron Supreme - and not the Squadron Sinister - who put in an appearance, this week.

And it happens when the Avengers find themselves on an alternate Earth where the characters who they normally know as villains, are Justice League style heroes.

But, before that, Conan finds himself in the desert, getting bitten by a snake and suffering a severe shortage of water. 

I've no doubt, however, that he'll be up on his feet in no time and be all set to battle a giant crocodile for the love of a good woman.

As for Iron Fist, he has to thwart Radion, following the villain's bad-mannered destruction of the Post Office Tower.

And the Phantom Eagle's still in this book and still doing World War One things.

II must confess I had little tolerance for the giant brains in goldfish bowls that turned up in the Jason and Alexander stories, as such a thing seemed too B-movie and far-fetched for a Planet of the Apes story.

In the where of else, Shanna and Ka-Zar continue to have problems with the Red Wizard and his desire to sacrifice them for the benefit of the Savage Land.

And the Black Panther gets to ride on a giant pterodactyl - and polishes off Salamander K'Ruel, into the bargain!

Maybe I'm just imagining things but I've always assumed this cover to be an homage to that of The Incredible Hulk #3.

It seems a strange thing to pay homage to in a Dracula comic but such is life. Not that Dracula is alive.

Although I know little of the Drac tale contained within, I do believe he decides to hijack a fighter jet.

Elsewhere, Jack Russell's furry alter-ego's still grappling with Moon Knight who's trying to deliver him to the Committee.

And I do believe the Man-Thing helps out when a bus crashes into his swamp.

The Cobalt Man's still causing trouble - especially for Australia because, as far as I can remember, he's hatched a plan to destroy the city of Sydney!

In the United States, Daredevils' still got his hands full, trying to put a stop to Death's Head.

And suspicion is starting to fall upon the butler...

And the Fantastic Four have headed to the Great Refuge, in a bid to dethrone Maximus the Mad who's, yet again, found himself in control of the place.

It's exciting times for me.

After months of Spider-Man's comic being noticeable by its absence from my local newsagents, it's now been available there for two consecutive weeks and, my future self can report it will continue to stay that way.

Truly, the Marvel UK distribution drought is over!

And what a way for it to end, as the Smasher tries to subvert New York democracy by setting out to kill squeaky-clean Mayoral candidate Richard Raleigh!

I've no doubt the webbed wonder won't stand for that kind of thing.

But, first, he has to make sure a ceiling doesn't collapse on everyone at a big political shindig.

Elsewhere, there's more trouble for Thor when Loki uses his magic to swap bodies with the thunder god.

Dr Strange, meanwhile, enters Clea's mind, in a bid to stop Silver Dagger. And that's when things go a bit Alice in Wonderland...

Iron Man's still up against the Mandarin.

And, at the issue's climax, Dr Strange is back again.

But, this time, he's teaming up with the Thing in an adventure titled ...The Spectral Shower! An adventure I possess zero recollection of.

At last, the X-Men get to meet the representatives of Factor Three who turn out to be a small cadre of their old foes in alliance with a character called the Changeling and the mysterious Mutant-Master.

And they plan to put the heroes on trial for their crimes against mutantkind!

Captain America's up against Batroc the Leaper who's been, how you say, hired to nobble him, by Hydra, but then turns against that organisation when he decides they lack the necessary level of honour to impress him.

After that, the Sub-Mariner finds himself up against the awesome power of the Plunderer.

And salvation's at hand for all lovers of good comics, as Jim Starlin takes over the pencilling duties on Captain Marvel.

My knowledge of that adventure is vague but I do believe Rick Jones goes to visit someone called Professor Savannah.

Only to discover the man's been killed!

But, hold on. Isn't there a major character called Dr Sivana in the adventures of the Shazam version of Captain Marvel?

Professor Savannah?

Dr Sivana?

I suspect this cannot be mere coincidence.

The Marvel Lucky Bag - April 1976.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

How many films have I seen that came out in April 1976?

None.

Am I going to let that prevent me from mentioning them?

Why would I let it do that? After all, among those movies were such imperishables as The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox, The Bad News Bears, All the President's Men, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, Eat My Dust! and Hollywood Boulevard.

Based on my zero experience of them, I'm going to assume the best of that bunch was All the President's Men.

But what of comics?

Laughing Bob Larkin gives us a cover we'll never forget, as Planet of the Apes hits its 19th issue.

And it does so by presenting us with the twin adventures Demons of the Psychedrome and The Savage is King! I believe that at least one of those tales involves Jason and Alexander.

But this is a magazine. And that means it also gives us articles. And that means this issue presents us with The Written Worlds of the Apes in which Jim Whitmore reviews several paperbacks linked to the franchise.

And what's this?

A devil-hound? Loose on the moors?

It can only be a job for Sherlock Holmes, as unleashed upon us by Dashing Doug Moench and Vivacious Val Mayerik.

You may have thought The Invaders was all the Golden Age heroic action you needed from Marvel but it turns out you were wrong because the Liberty Legion turn up to do something or other, fashioned by the fingers of Roy Thomas and Don Heck.

I must disgracefully admit I've never seen the movie version of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

In fact, the only time I've ever encountered Captain Nemo on celluloid is in Mysterious island.

Fortunately Otto Binder, Romy Gamboa and Ernie Patricio are here to let us know just what happens in the book, thanks to their thrilling adaptation of it.

Come to think of it, I've never seen any movie version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame either.

But, yet again, Marvel has come to my rescue, as Naunerle Farr and June Lofamia give us their version of events.

I have, however, seen the Time Machine.

In fact, I've seen both film versions of it and can declare I prefer the first.

But here's another stab at the beast. This time, delivered by Otto Binder and Alex Niño, in which a Victorian scientist travels to the far future and has an adventure upon which the fate of what's left of humanity must rest.

Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was, indisputably, not a patch on Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde but it did its best.

And you know who else are doing their best? Kin Platt and Nestor Redondo, as they bring us their vision of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of potions gone wrong.

Not content with that, Marvel brings us its adaption of Tarzan.

I mean, The Land that Time Forgot.

I mean, its tale of Ka-Zar having a fight with a pterodactyl over the streets of London, thanks to Klaw and his new business partner from another dimension being up to no good. 

It's all drama drama drama for our hero.

After Radion blows up the Post Office Tower, I Ron Fist has to find a way to stop the nuclear nincompoop before he does even more damage to London's skyline.

Fifty years ago today - April 1976.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

Well, it's heady days indeed because I can start this post with a thrilling announcement. 

And it's that, because I'm no longer covering the Marvel UK monthlies - what with them no longer existing - space has opened up on this site for a new feature.

But a new feature is what any old website would do. Here at the House of Steve, we like to do things differently.

And, so, in that slot, I shall be doing the random DC summaries I've previously been doing as part of this feature. This will help streamline site workflow, increasing reader permeability to actualise gains in efficiency and help fully multi-scale the bootstrapping of a whole new paradigm shift.

Or something.

That, of course, means this feature will not include them.

But it will, of course, continue to include all your favourite Marvel heroes.

And Iron Man.

At last, Conan takes on his deadliest foes yet.

Moths!

And it all happens when Bêlit is captured by giant ones!

It may sound like just another day at the office for the dynamic duo, but it turns out to be a moment of great significance, as this is the tale in which we get to meet Amra himself!

It had to happen! It's the one in which Captain America and the Falcon find themselves in a deadly skateboard derby!

And I have a feeling that means it's the one in which our hero loses his shield and has a complete and total meltdown over it!

It has always struck me that it's not a very dignified response to something that happens to him almost every time he sets foot out of the house.

I can only assume all that skateboarding has, somehow, damaged his mind.

I think I might have had this one, as a youth.

Which would make you think I can remember something about it.

Sadly, I can't.

But the Grand Comics Database does tell me that Bullseye trounces Daredevil before the man without fear returns the favour.

Looking at that cover, I do wonder if the villain's devoted any thought at all as to what he's going to do when gravity kicks in and he has to start coming down after being fired from that cannon.

I assume this is the issue in which Power Man replaces bashless Benjy in the Fantastic Four?

However, I can share no thoughts upon the matter, as I don't think I've ever read any of the Power Man-related Fantastic Four stories.

At last, it's a comic whose contents I have proper familiarity with.

As far as I can recall, Hulkie and Man-Thingie tackle the Collector and, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of the Captain Omen story, it has a not-altogether-happy ending for some of its participants.

I don't think I've ever read this one but, from that cover, it would seem Happy Hogan's no longer just the Freak.

He's an exploding Freak!

In other news, I'd love to know what the promised dramatic new change is for Iron Man's armour.

It's not him getting rid of his nose-piece, is it?

Spidey does the Ellery Queen routine as he turns super-sleuth.

I remember watching the first episode of the 1970s Ellery Queen TV show and - when they stopped the show to challenge you to work out who the murderer was - I concluded that Ellery Queen was the murderer.

In my defence, I didn't realise it was a series and that, therefore, the protagonist wasn't likely to be the killer.

Unlike Murder She Wrote, where we all know Jessica Fletcher was always the murderer.

Anyway, I'm proud to announce that, when it comes to this comic, I did successfully guess who the killer was.

I must confess that Firelord's high on my list of annoying Marvel characters. His head may be on fire but he's never seemed to be too hot between the ears.

As for the adventure contained within this masterpiece; beyond the stuff that's on the cover, I have no idea what happens in it.

Hooray! The Sentinels are back, in a tale that gave me much pleasure, as a youth, even if the X-Men probably didn't enjoy it as much as I did.

Needless to say, the towering terminators are out to abduct various mutants, and our heroes have to stop them.

But, more importantly, is this the one that features cameo appearances by both Stan and Jack?

I do, of course, mean Lee and Kirby. Not Stan and Jack from On the Buses. I know Chris Claremont was born in England but I find it hard to believe even he'd throw in a tribute to those two.

The Assassin's still up to no good, even though I have no recollection, whatsoever, of the character.

Nor of whatever it is he or she's up to.

April 3rd, 1976 - Marvel UK, 50 years ago this week.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

***

It's hard to believe there was a time when apples didn't exist.

But there was.

There was a time when the fruit hadn't yet evolved, the record company hadn't yet been launched and the computer firm hadn't yet been created.

But, by this week in 1976, the third of that mighty triumvirate had come into existence, thanks to Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak's formation of the Apple Computer Company in California.

But who was the apple of the British public's eye?

It was none other than the Brotherhood of Man whose smash-hit offering Save Your Kisses for Me was not only still Number One on the UK singles chart, it also, that very weekend, won the Eurovision Song Contest for us, as well.

Meanwhile, on the accompanying album chart; no less popular, in their own way, were Status Quo who retained their top spot, thanks to their latest LP Blue for You.

It's the battle of the flying horses, as the Black Knight takes on Arkon. But, before we can get to that, I do believe Conan must confront the horror of Lilitu the were-woman.

Next, the Avengers invade Arkon's world and finally get him to see through the Enchantress' trickery.

And, Iron Fist is up against Radion.

And I don't mean the washing powder.

I mean the one who's in the habit of going all nuclear on you.

It's a fact that can only spell curtains for the Post Office Tower!

Looking at that cover reminds me I was always struck by the ease with which human characters in Planet of the Apes movies, TV shows and comics could beat up gorillas. In response, I demand the BBC stages a fight between a man and a gorilla to see if it really is that easy.

Inside, I do believe Jason only has a chimpanzee to contend with, as he gets into a fight with one called Grimaldi, over the affections of a girl called Malagueňa.

Maybe it's just me but I'm not sure i'd seek out the affections of a girl who can't decide whether she wants a human or a chimpanzee.

Meanwhile, in the Savage Land, it could be the start of a beautiful friendship when Ka-Zar and Shanna the She-Devil get themselves independently captured by the Red Wizard.

And the Black Panther encounters Killmonger's latest assassin Salamander K'Ruel in the Forest of Thorns.

And that cover is a perfect example of why you should never go drinking and driving. Will Dracula never learn?

Inside, I think he's still bumping people off, on behalf of a fashion designer who can give him information about the whereabouts of Dr Sun.

Meanwhile, Moon Knight captures the Werewolf by Night, on behalf of the Committee.

And the Man-Thing gets into a fight with Wundarr who thinks the swamp monster is his mother!

As we can plainly see, the Cobalt Man's still causing trouble for our hero.

And he's doing it at sea!

Following that, naughty old Death's Head defeats Daredevil and then dresses him up as Death's Head, in the hope that the police will shoot him on sight!

Following that, Crystal's decided she should get the permission of the other Inhumans before she goes through with her plan to join the Fantastic Four.

Unfortunately, in a shocking and unprecedented twist, Maximus the Mad has gained control of the Great Refuge!

And, this time, he has the Alpha Primitives on his side!

But we complete the issue with a Lee/Kirby/Ditko short called I Fought the Molten Man-Thing! in which no one fights Ted Sallis's alter-ego but humanity is threatened by a monster from a volcano.

If it's Dr Strange's final battle with death, as the cover claims, does that mean he'll never have another one and is now immortal?

And, speaking of people who never seem to get round to dying, Aunt May's showing her usual sound judgement.

In the midst of a war between Dr Octopus and Hammerhead, she decides she'd best shoot Spider-Man!

After that, Thor's on the Stranger's home planet and having to ask Who Can Stop the Abomination?

As it turns out, Thor can.

With one punch.

We then get an article called Into Battle With Herb Trimpe which I shall assume to be about Herb Trimpe.

Following that, I do believe Dr Strange wraps up his fight with Silver Dagger.

Then, we encounter a two-page article labelled Spider-Man in Brighton.

Iron Man finds himself confronting The Statues of Doom! in a story with something or other to do with the Mandarin.

And Dr Strange and the Thing must work together when a mysterious woman's struck by a subway train and magic is involved.

I have no doubt the X-Men have plenty to worry about when they discover Mekano Lives!

As seen, last week, Captain America has captured the Adaptoid.

But that merely gives the antaganistic android the chance to absorb the powers of the Avengers, turning it into the Super-Adaptoid!

In his latest campaign against the surface dwellers, the Sub-Mariner gets himself captured by a ruler of a small nation.

But is he really the ruler?

And what does a character called the Gnome have to do with it all?

Nick Fury and his SHIELD agents attack the secret base of Them and come to the conclusion that Them and AIM are the same organisation.

And Captain Marvel's still battling Dr Mynde and Madame Synn who want to get their hands on the Pentagon's hidden stash of weapons.