Forty years ago today - February 1974.

Forty years ago this month, the UK election produced a hung parliament, meaning no one was in charge of the country. Oh how we all miss the good old days of being able to hang Parliament.

But were our favourite Marvel heroes of forty years ago being as indecisive as the British public?

Or were they instead too busy hitting their opponents in the Marginals to care?

Only a trip on the Steve Does Comics Swingometer can tell us.

Everyone's favourite psychotic gunman makes his debut, as the Jackal convinces the Punisher to try and kill everyone's favourite wall-crawler.

Zodiac are back - and giving the Avengers far more trouble than they really should be.

Is this the one where Zodiac have a gun that kills everyone of a certain star sign? I'd love to know exactly how that gun knows what people's star signs are.

I had this issue a few years back but never got round to reading it before selling it on.

However, my razor-sharp senses tell me things are looking bad for our hero.

Gil Kane? Conan? Sword? Monster? Cowering Blonde? This is like the quintessential Conan cover isn't it?

I think I've read this one in the last few years. Doesn't Dr Doom create some sort of super-powerful lackey or something? And doesn't the Silver Surfer turn up?

The Hulk and the Juggernaut team up to smash up Thunderbolt Ross's beloved Hulkbuster Base.

Needless to say, it's not long before they're then trying to smash each other up.

I've never read this one but I really don't fancy Iron Man's chances.

Are we still on that planet with all the giants on it?

I must confess we're on the threshold of a Thor era of which I know little.

Only eight issues to go now before the New X-Men make their debut.

But who needs that when quality villains like the Blob and the Vanisher are back?