February 8th, 1978 - Marvel UK, 40 years ago this week.

All of a sudden, it seems like nothing more than a bad dream. Just six months ago, Marvel UK was reduced to publishing a mere two titles a week, and death for the whole venture was surely close at hand.

And, yet, here we are, in early 1978 and, suddenly, the company has comics coming out of its ears. Not content with recent launches for Rampage, the Complete Fantastic Four and Savage Sword of Conan, we suddenly get its most significant event ever.

Star Wars has come to Marvel UK!

I can't claim I'm that excited. I've never been that big a Star Wars fan. It's alright but there's other stuff I'd rather watch.

Still, it's a well repeated claim that Star Wars saved the US version of the company from bankruptcy and, by all accounts, it performed the same feat for its British offshoot. So significant was the book that, when US Marvel tried to sell Marvel UK to IPC, Star Wars Weekly was the only title the British comics giant wanted, as that was the only one it saw as being commercially viable.

I do wonder, though, just what were the back-up strips in the early issues of Star Wars Weekly? I can easily remember the early issues of Marvel UK's Planet of the Apes giving us Ka-Zar and Gulliver Jones reprints but, of the early supporting contents of Star Wars Weekly, I recall nothing.

However, huge as that event might have been, Star Wars wasn't the only big thing going on that week.

Because, on this very day in 1978, BBC One broadcast the first ever episode of Grange Hill.

How we thrilled as Tucker Jenkins, Benny thingy, that girl, Alan Somebody, Trish Someone and that other boy battled to survive the nightmare horror that is secondary school, all accompanied by a catchy theme tune and a sausage on a fork.

I'm sure there are experts in the field of Story who can tell us that there are major parallels between the narrative themes of Star Wars and Grange Hill but I can't think of any. So, instead, I shall take a look at just what our favourite comics were up to, even as all that was transpiring.

Hooray! I had this issue!

Even more excitingly, I had the cardboard X-Fighter too. It was certainly more appealing - and appropriate - than the plastic commercial aircraft Marvel UK was normally in the habit of giving away in this era.

Tragically, I don't remember how good it was at flying but I always liked the look of it, regardless.

But how accurate is that cover boast that it's a, "Valuable First Issue?"

I've just checked, on eBay and, last month, a copy, complete with X-Wing, sold for £79.

I can only conclude that that cover boast is indeed the ever-loving truth.

The Wrecking Crew are up to no good.

Then again, when are they ever not up to no good?

I can't answer that question because I don't think I've ever read any story that involved them. I gather that they each basically had the same power as the Wrecker, which doesn't sound very promising. I mean, if we already have one Wrecker, what do we need any others for?

Jack of Hearts is still battling the Incredible Hulk.

And, after hours of dogged research, I can confirm that this is indeed the tale in which the stage magician Kropotkin the Great makes his debut.

Was he named in honour of the Amazing Kreskin, who I remember filling chunks of early afternoon television in the 1970s, usually before Paint Along With Nancy came on?

As for Kropotkin, I don't really remember him ever actually doing anything, so I'm not sure what he was there for. Was he in the strip for long? Was he a mere flash in the pan? Who can know? Not me but I shall continue to look into the topic, diligently.

I couldn't claim to have a clue what's going on on that cover, when it comes to the Spider-Man panel.

Then again, I'm fairly fuzzy about the whole tale. Obviously, the Molten Man is in it and still looking for a cure but, other than that, just what is underway?

Does the tale conclude with Molty trapped in a house that's on fire and containing Liz Allen, before he's forced to jump into the river to try and retrieve the bagful of chemicals that is his only hope for survival? An act that, in itself, seemingly causes his doom?

Or am I just making things up?

I believe that Mahkizmo is still causing trouble for our manly heroes.

I believe that Medusa isn't really going to abandon them.

I believe that that is all I know.