May 24th, 1978 - Marvel UK, 40 years ago this week.

The Proclaimers may have claimed they'd walk five hundred miles and then walk five hundred more in order to drop dead but they had nothing on Mavis Hutchinson, 53, who, forty years ago this week, became the first woman to run across the United States. And she didn't even drop dead at the end of it. You see, Proclaimers? That's how you impress people.

But what of the stars of our favourite British comics in that week? Had they gone the extra mile? Or were they merely in danger of losing their way?

I do love the way Marvel get round the danger of being sued for ripping off The Magnificent Seven. They have eight people in the story. Who needs lawyers when you have that kind of cunning?

Other than that, I can shed little light on the contents of this issue. I assume the Star-Lord and Watcher reprints are still ongoing, as it's only about a week since they started.

But, if the internet is to be believed, this issue's Star Wars tale features a villain called Serji-X Arrogantus whose name and appearance were based on that of cartoonist Sergio Aragonés, which all seems a very strange thing indeed. I'm not sure if he should have felt flattered or insulted.

Apparently, the old duffer with the lightsabre, on the cover, is called Don-Wan Kihotay. Roy Thomas, the master of subtle satire.

Hooray! We get the secret origin of Nighthawk. I've read this tale but recall little of it. I think it turns out he had a troubled childhood and there may be a scene where he's stood at some kind of metaphorical crossroads and has to choose the right path.

I have little doubt that he does indeed choose the right path. That's why he's a hero.

Except for when he's a villain.

I'm also convinced there are flashbacks aplenty in this tale, including ones appertaining to his time battling the Avengers and then Daredevil.

It's a nightmare come true, as, robbed of his powers by Hulkified gamma rays, the Thing has to leave the FF and be replaced by Luke Cage.

While I have nothing against Luke Cage, it's madness. You can't replace the Thing in the FF. Ben Grimm is the FF.

That aside, it's intriguing to see the Wrecker show up. I do have a suspicion that he's going to flatten the rest of the FF but Luke Cage will somehow come to the rescue and prove his value to the team. No doubt, this will make Ben realise he's no longer needed and will make him feel very sad indeed.

I don't remember the tale very much but I have a suspicion that firing a ray at the Hulk which turns people into primitives probably won't have any affect at all on him, as he's already fairly primitive.

Also, does Captain Barracuda really think it's a good idea to make the Hulk even more stupid than he already is? Wouldn't that just make him more dangerous?

It looks like Spider-Man's seemingly interminable battle with the Man-Beast is coming to a head. I don't remember anything about what happens inside but that's quite a nice cover by Larry Lieber, which makes excellent use of its white spaces, I feel.