Do you like them?
Do you spend your free time in them?
If so, you'd have loved February 1982 because, in that very month, something was stirring.
Something weird and green and fighty.
No. It wasn't Kermit!
It was The Swamp Thing!
That's right, this was the very month in which the cinematic version of that comic book monster hit our big screens and the world would never be the same again!
Personally, I prefer Return of the Swamp Thing but, for the sake of this post, I'll pretend I don't.
And that wasn't the only legendary film unleashed upon us that month because it also saw the release of Death Wish II and Quest For Fire, neither of which I've ever got round to watching yet.
But what was happening on the UK singles chart while films I'm not that fussed about were being unveiled?
The Jam were happening.
They were celebrating what I believe was their third Number One, with the Motown-inspired A Town Called Malice.
The grumpy trio almost held on for the whole of the month but, in the very last week of it, they were dethroned by Tight Fit's cover of The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
You have to hand it to the early 1980s, it was a musical era that was nothing if not eclectic.
Over on the album chart, things were far simpler, with Barbra Streisand's Love Songs holding the Number One spot for the entirety of the month.
The Jam, Tight Fit and Babs were being highly successful but the following organisations weren't because February saw the collapse of London-based Laker Airways - leaving 6,000 stranded passengers and debts of $270 million - and the DeLorean car factory in Belfast. Now how was Marty McFly supposed to travel through time?
In the pages of 2000 AD, we were still getting Ace Trucking Co, Tharg's Future Shocks, Mean Arena, Nemesis the Warlock, Rogue Trooper, and Judge Dredd's Apocalypse War.
As though those regular features weren't enough to spoil us with, Prog 252 gave us a tale called The Hume Factor but I don't have a clue what it was.
I also have no idea what the cover of Prog 252 has to do with Nemesis the Warlock.
Potential further exploration:
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38 comments:
Steve - Help Charlie out... you are reviewing "38 years ago today" or... in the world of Dredd?
Here in the US of A, in March 1982, the two #1 singles were:
March 6 "Centerfold"
March 20 "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
Good ole Joan Jett... she still performs at County Fairs.
I never thought of Town Called Mallice being Motown inspired but it clearly was now you mention it.
Charlie, I'm reviewing 38 years ago last month. I know it make no sense but it's how things have ended up turning out. Hence, it is February 1982.
Dangermash, I think that, by that point, Weller was making a deliberate attempt to move the Jam's sound towards what he was intending to do with The Style Council and A Town Called Malice was a step along that route.
Wait... does this mean you are skipping over the rest of 1980 and 1981 and just starting with "38 years ago minus a month?"
Surely you are not going to pass on your chance to opine on Caddy Shack??? I've been trembling with anticipation!!! Please don't skip over this land mark film!!!
Not to mention you'll also miss out on Blue Lagoon and Flash Gordon! Please don't skip 1980!
Steve, nobody in the history of Earth has ever seen A Quest for Fire.
I'm not sure whether it was an actual movie or an urban legend.
Either way, we got Rae Dawn Chong outta the deal. Holy shmolies.
If that's what cave chicks looked like, gimme a time machine and a couple cigarette lighters.
M.P.
M.P. may be right about the film "Quest For Fire ". However, I did read the original book when I was a kid (anything prehistoric grabbed my youthful attention). Don't really remember anything about it, other than I enjoyed it. Might have to reread it.
Haven't heard much by the Jam, but as a Motown fan, you've piqued my interest.
I think the 38 years thing is just for the 2000AD posts. I assume Marvel UK will remain 40 years ago and Marvel US will remain 50.
Coincidentally having two Jam numbers ones has to be a good thing.
DW
Yes, the 38 years and one month thing is purely for 2000AD and is how I've always done it for 2000AD. Everything else is for forty and fifty years.
Wow Steve... You might start rolling in the dough soon! I just noticed when I read your blog that at the bottom there were numerous Amazon links to watch Swamp Thing 1 and 2 (DVD or Stream). If I were to watch it would you get a commission?
Anyhow, I suspect you may do better financially than Red at BitBA. At his site I am getting bracketed by ear-wax removers.
I would indeed get a commission, Charlie. And if anyone ever forks out the $907 for that Return of the Swamp Thing DVD, I'd get a very big commission. Somehow, I'm not holding my breath.
Redartz, the Jam are definitely worth hearing more of. They started off as a kind of post-Punk mash-up of the Who and the Kinks and then, towards the end of their existence, started gravitating towards Soul.
MP and Red, it's nice to know I'm not alone in never having seen Quest for Fire.
Been trying to contact you but Skype is proving to be useless. Hope you are safe and well. xx
Interesting times we are living in. Lucky us. Drop me a line some time; I worry about you.xx
Happy Mothers' Day, Mrs Walker. Hope you're OK.
Steve - get on the phone!
Dangermash, I'm sure she'll love you thinking she's my mother. :)
Mystery anonymous person, I've sent you an email. I'm currently suffering from an eccentric phone that doesn't always let people talk to me. Hopefully, I've fixed it now.
Steve - if they want you to wire $10,000 to get someone out of jail in Nigeria who has like $14,000,000 in a French bank account that they'll share with you, let me know. I'll gladly put in 50%!
I actually went to an theatre to see Quest For Fire, on its original run.
Stayed for the whole film.
That could probably be interpreted as a sign of insanity.
I was the only one in the theater.
It's weird because I remember it getting a lot of media coverage at the time, so I assumed it was a successful film.
My brother and I saw Tron in the theater!
We're among the twenty-odd people who did.
That spawned a decent arcade game, I must say. Ah, the Eighties.
M.P.
Spring is sprung
The grass is riz
I wonders where the flowers is.
M.P.
Apologies in advance for a boring comment about the comics Steve.
The bonehead on the front cover of prog 252 is Torquemada without the helmet, inquisition/nazi regalia and - more to the point perhaps - drawn by Spanish artist Jesus Redondo.
For all that he did good work - notably on Return to Armageddon - but wasn't suited to fill in for the brilliant Kevin O'Neill on Nemesis (a tall order for any artist really).
This was a bit of a weird period for the progs, as the fairly continual upward curve of quality since the beginning flatlined somewhat... we might be seeing the start of a regular problem for Tharg, as Brian Bolland and then Dave Gibbons began working for DC comics later in the year.
On the plus side though, Alan Moore's work started to appear more regularly, with a fair few Future Shocks in these issues.
His first series began with the debut issue of SezDez' Warrior mag in March '82; thats not 2000AD (obviously) but it seems relevant, and may be worth covering in this feature next month.
Erm... not that I'm trying to tell you how to write your blog or anything...
-sean
There was nothing boring about that comment, Sean.
It did, however, fill me with dread, as it reminded me that, next month, I have to add a whole bunch of new Marvel UK mags to the roster - and getting reliable dates for when any of them came out is nigh-on impossible. I fear a comics cataclysm is coming for me.
MP, I still haven't seen Tron all the way through, even after all these years.
Oh, it must be the fortieth anniversary of the first Marvel UK Pocket Books next month. Good luck with that Steve.
There were quite a few other short lived titles started up in 1980 - Valour, Future Tense, stuff like that which no-one read - but it seems most of them came later in the year.
On the off chance you haven't already seen it maybe you'll find this helpful -
https://michaelowencarroll.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/marvel-uk-70s-80s-leftovers-timeline/
No specials or one-offs, but otherwise along with the MWOM/Spidey timeline it seems like a fairly reliable overview.
(Uh-oh - looks like the Chillers pocket book should have appeared in your Marvel UK feature at the start of this month. Still, if you're quick, you can squeeze it in this Thursday and no-one will notice; if you don't tell, I won't...)
-sean
Thanks for the link, Sean. I hadn't seen that post before.
It's seeing all those zillions of 1980s books that reminds me just why my original plan was to abandon the feature once we hit the SezDez Revolution.
Well, at least you don't have to worry about the 90s for quite a while yet, Steve (;
Fwiw, I think you did the right thing covering the SezDez era - its been entertaining! - and if you're up for it I hope you'll at least continue through to the Moore/Davis Captain Brexit revival...
-sean
PS Oops, meant to add a note of thanks there - your efforts are appreciated Steve.
-sean
Whilst also thanking Steve for his continued efforts, I second any feature on the Moore/David Captain Britain era Marvel UK, perhaps in parallel with Warrior and 200AD. I rather like the randomness of 38 years and one month time lapse. I think most of us had probably abandoned most of the Marvel UK output at the time currently being reviewed but will have a bit to say about the 82 to 84 era.
DW
Steve, I too want to echo Sean and DW for your efforts. Frankly, riding out this corona thing is kind of boring and I enjoy reading your writing and the comments. They provide a much needed bit of enjoyment and levity during the day!
Also, on behalf of the United States of America, Charlie wants you to know that your Prince Charles is in our thoughts and prayers as he confronts the challenges of having a case of the C-19.
No doubt everyone here was relieved to find out Prince Charles isn't showing serious symptoms. Seemed odd that he had a test anyway, even though doctors at risk every day who suddenly develop a cough or sore throat can't get them, let alone anyone else.
But apparently there were "clinical reasons"...
You might think that sounds petty and mean Charlie, but the UK isn't like America where I hear anyone who wants one of the beautiful tests you have for the hoax can get one, and everything will likely be back to normal by easter.
Hmmm, my decision to stick to only commenting on the comics here didn't last long. Oh well, never mind.
DW, hope you're doing ok - it must seem particularly insane over there with this virus business following on so soon from the fires...
-sean
Sean - you are pretty funny!
Hey - UK guys! We need your input at BackintheBronzeAge.blogspot.com! Yesterday's subject has morphed to the UK authors! Who better than you to opine?
On the Corona side, the best thing going is that Trump and his troglodytes are now saying "The cure is worse than the disease and that old people should consider sacrificing themselves so that the young can go back to work and save the economy." Gotta love it!
And thank you all, for all your thanks. :)
Charlie, I shall get over there and comment, fifthwith.
Thanks Sean, and likewise to you and everyone here.
Yes, it certainly has been a challenging year in Oz.
DW
A challenging year... and its still only late March!
-sean
Steve-um! That Amazon DVD for Return of the Swamp Thing is $907 now! What do you say I buy it and then me and you split your commission?
Although, given the age of your readership, I suspect you would make more aligning with nose hair and ear wax removers... :(
Brilliant Charlie - how can you possibly lose out?
I can only assume your sharp business sense comes from closely studying The Art Of The Deal...
-sean
Sean! I admire your persistence!
But if you think I'm going to say that our Prez Bonespur who, along with his thoroughly pro-life, Republican troglodytes are floating the idea that "it would be patriotic if the old and sick died from C19 so that the economy keeps humming" is thoroughly disgusting... it ain't gonna happen! Pro-life indeed!
This is a comic book blog! I ain't goin there!
Hey - can you think of anything in US comics or UK comics like Asterix or Tintin? A one-off run of 20 - 30 in-depth stories with the one/pair of creators doing the entire run?
Come to think of it, Charlie's idea does have potential. If he bought Amazing Spider-Man #1 for $100,000, I'd get $10,000. If I gave him half of that, he'd have got the comic for $95,000 and I'd get $5,000 for doing nothing.
As for the Asterix and Tintin thing, nothing immediately comes to mind.
On the subject of comics (I can do that), and Asterix in particular, the mighty Albert Uderzo passed away a couple of days ago.
As for a run of in-depth stories - allowing for differences in format, theres Dave Sim's Cerebus books.
Mind you, they were Canadian...
-sean
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