June 24th 1981 - Marvel UK, 40 years ago this week.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

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On this day in 1981, we were, presumably, stirred but not shaken, as the latest 007 epic hit the big screen.

That epic was For Your Eyes Only which Wikipedia tells me was the fifth of Roger Moore's seven Bond films and the final one to be distributed solely by United Artists. I think it was also the first Bond film to feature the theme tune's singer in the opening titles.

An event that would, I'm sure, be of interest to Bond, that week, was the launching of the new HMS Ark Royal. I have total certainty that, even as he heard of it, 007 was planning to sail it into some far-flung corner of the world and make full use of its plane-launching capabilities, in order to bring justice to some megalomaniac or other.

But if aircraft carriers were on James Bond's mind, meat was very much on the minds of the nation's sports lovers, as BBC One broadcast the British Meat Games from Crystal Palace, an event which pitted Great Britain, West Germany and Poland against each other. You just don't get sporting events with names like, "The British Meat Games," anymore.

You do, of course, still get music charts and, on the UK singles chart, that week, Michael Jackson was reigning supreme with One Day in Your Life which I have the notion was a re-release from the early 1970s.

Over on the album listings, far less gentle fare ruled, as Motorhead's No Sleep Til Hammersmith smashed its way onto the chart, at Number One.

I know nothing of this one, other than that Thor's battling the Destroyer who is, presumably, still possessed by the spirit of Balder, Dr Strange is fighting for his life and the Human Torch would appear to be in sensational solo action.

Daredevil's not happy about Starr Saxon knowing his secret identity.

And that leads to a round of horn-headed soul-searching, mostly based around him sitting about, recounting, to himself, the story of his origin, thanks to Roy Thomas and Gene Colan.

Elsewhere, it looks like the Panther's still having trouble with King Solomon's pesky Frog.

It looks like Conan's still confronting that city of short people who worship a giant killer bear. It's a tale that seems to be dragging on forever.

ROM, Captain Marvel and the Micronauts are also in this issue but I cannot say just what activities it is that they're engaged in.

He may, once more, be denied the cover of his own book but Cap does, at least, manage to bump off Baron Blood, thanks to a quick dose of decapitation.

Unfortunately, the Baron's not the only one popping his clogs in this tale. So does Union Jack, although, in his case, it's from natural causes.

Elsewhere, Tony Stark's in Asia, investigating a string of murders at his Hong Kong facility, only to have a great big dragon show up and get homicidal on everyone's asses. This sounds like a job for Iron Man if anything does.

But doesn't it involve demonic possession of a computer, or something?

Back in New York, the Dazzler's activities are a mystery to me.

The Blue Shield's up to something or other.

And, in their quest to return home, the Defenders have entered the citadel of Xhoohx. However, now, it seems, they must face the menace of the Unnameable.

Didn't the Unnameable feature in an HP Lovecraft story?

If so, is it the same Unnameable?

Or just someone with the same... ...erm... name?

As the cover makes clear, Spider-Man's still up against the Tinkerer.

And that means he's still up against Toy.

And that can only mean it's time for Toy to get his comeuppance.

Which means the Tinkerer's about to lose his best friend and finest creation.

In what I think is her second adventure, the Cat finds herself battling the Owl in a tale I'm certain has only come about as a nod to The Owl and the Pussycat.

But let's fling ourselves into space because it seems Spidey and Adam Warlock must overcome the power of the Stranger.