Fifty years ago this month - May 1968.

May, 1968, was a momentous month for all lovers of popular music - because it was in that month that a man called Reg Dwight changed his name to, "Elton John," and history was made. It's a little known fact that, on that self-same day, a man called Elton John changed his name to, "Reg Dwight," convinced it would boost his career and launch him on the road to mega-stardom. I can exclusively reveal that only one of those men turned out to have made a wise decision.

As if that wasn't enough excitement, the Beatles' Apple Records was also launched that month.

It's easy to think of it as just being a vehicle for the Fab Four's attempts to get their financial affairs in order but it should never be forgotten that, without it, we might never have heard of Mary Hopkin, Badfinger, James Taylor, Billy Preston or Hot Chocolate, all propelled to various levels of fame by the label.

All this in mind, could the Marvel comics that bore that month's cover date possibly compare to those events, when it came to historical significance?

There's only one way to find out.

And while we're trying to figure out what that way is, we might as well endure my clueless ramblings on the subject, instead.

It's two epic occasions for the price of one. Not only do we get the first appearance of the Grim Reaper but we also get the Black Panther in solo action, as he saves the book's stars and, by the end of the tale, has become their newest member. It's not just a great event in its own right, it's an event which signals that my favourite era of the strip is about to begin.

Speaking of the Panther, what of the man who told him to join the Avengers in the first place?

I may not hold Captain America's strip in the same high regard that I do the Avengers but this is one of my favourite Kirby Cap tales, as the seemingly unstoppable Sleeper is revived from its slumbers.

I have said it before but, given their near invincibility, you do wonder why the Red Skull didn't activate all his Sleepers in World War II, instead of leaving them lying around in case he might need them. You never know, the Nazis might actually have won if he had.

It's bad news for all DD fans, as the crimson clobberer finds himself catapulted into a different time-phase.

Fortunately, his hyper-senses mean he's probably the only man alive who could get himself back into the right time-phase. There's luck for you.

Galactus may have vowed to leave the Earth alone but that's never stopped him coming back and bothering it whenever he feels like it.

This time, he wants the Silver Surfer back - and nothing's going to stop him getting him.

I must confess that, such are the vicissitudes of childhood memory, that there was a time when I always got the Space Parasite mixed up with the Space Phantom and, so, was highly confused when the latter showed up in The Avengers and bore no resemblance to the three-fingered, one-eyed, Hulk foe that I remembered him being.

I do, though, recall the Space Parasite dying at the end of this tale. Has he ever been revived since? I did always view him as one of the more striking Hulk foes of this era.

The Marvel Explosion continues, as the ferrous felony-fighter gets his own mag.

If I remember right, this is the one where he's having trouble with the Maggia and Whiplash on their water-logged boat. It's not a happy way to make your debut.

The Kingpin's determination to get his hands on the tablet that bestows eternal youth upon whoever can decipher it, leads to yet more conflict with Spider-Man.

Other characters might be getting their own titles right now but Dr Strange and Nick Fury are going to have to wait that little bit longer.

It's probably for the best. I really don't know what's going on in this issue.

Having seen off the threat of the Sif-powered Destroyer, Thor's now out to sort out Karnilla and Loki for their treachery.

I have a feeling this all leads to the unleashing of Mangog. There's never a quiet day when you're a thunder god.

It's the first X-Men comic I ever owned, and one of the very very very first American comics I ever owned, as the Angel escapes Magneto's lair, only to find himself in a battle with Red Raven who may or may not be determined to revive the long-defunct Bird-Men.

As I've mentioned elsewhere on this site, the spectacle of two red-and-yellow-clad men with wings was highly impressive when I was eight.

PS. Don't forget to come back on Tuesday for the senses-shattering sequel to this post.