Tuesday 21 October 2014

October 26th, 1974 - Marvel UK forty years ago this week.

 Holy Tunbridge Wells, Spider-Man! Inspired by my post the other day about it being the fortieth anniversary of Marvel UK's Planet of the Apes and Dracula Lives comics, I've been motivated to launch a brand new feature.

Admittedly, I'm not sure how long this feature will last, as it partly replicates a certain feature where I look at what the American Marvels were doing exactly forty years and fifty years ago but I shall give it a go and see how it turns out.

Late October 1974 was a time when Marvel UK was only a couple of years old and still expanding - though it still only had five titles to its name.

But what titles they were.

Marvel UK Avengers #58, Iron Fist

The comic might be called The Avengers but it's obvious who the editor thought was the star attraction, as Iron Fist meets a man with nunchucks.

Even more excitingly, it claims that Ant-Man is back!

And it's because I demanded it!

I assume this is the Avengers tale where the Whirlwind shrinks Hank Pym down and traps him in a deadly ants' nest without his ant-controlling helmet?

We also get a re-telling of Dr Strange's origin.

Truly this was an issue to treasure.
Marvel UK, Mighty World of Marvel #108, Hulk

The Hulk's up against Leader-created replicas of his deadliest foes.

And it looks like the FF have hit the Galactus Trilogy.

As to what Daredevil is up to, the cover furnishes us with no clues.
Spider-Man Comics Weekly #89, Silvermane

Silvermane learns that it's not always a good idea to keep taking the tablets, as he seeks the key to eternal youth.

I've no idea what the Thor and Iron Man stories were.
Marvel UK, Dracula Lives #1

It's the launch of Dracula Lives, as documented right here.
Marvel UK, Planet of the Apes #1

And it's the launch of Planet of the Apes, as also documented right here.

I don't like to drag the tone down but that is the Joy of Sex Man, isn't it?

I mean, that is what strikes me every single time I see that cover.

It's not just me, is it?

4 comments:

Aggy said...

It was the '70s... even Action Man had a Joy of Sex man

John Pitt said...

Steve - a GREAT idea for a new regular feature! Hope you get loads of hits & look forward to following it!

Anonymous said...

And I quote, "Please Sir, I want some more".

Gotta love a classic, in what ever it's form.


The Prowler (the police in new York city they chased a boy right through the park).

Dougie said...

As you know, I call him the Joy of Sex Man too.

From memory, I think that the Thor episode may be that oddball Kirby Replicus story, where the mobster's mother resembled Mrs. Brown.

The Daredevil story might've been the first Ka-Zar/Plunderer sequence, where Parnival put on a costume.