December 16th 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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It was a case of no change on the UK singles chart, forty years ago this week, as the Human League again survived the challenge of Cliff, to retain the Number One spot, with Don't You Want Me?

But of course we wanted them.

And you know who else we wanted?

ABBA.

And that was beyond all doubt because, on the British album chart, their LP The Visitors had just smashed straight in at the very top. The sensational Swedes may have reached the twilight of their career, having run out of bandmates to marry and divorce but that wasn't going to stop them.

Yet.

Gasp, as the UK version of Marvel Classics Comics #7 hits the newsagents of Britain.

Though just what it is we're gasping at, I've no idea, as I can't unearth a single bit of information about it on the whole of the internet.

I'm sure it's magnificent, though.

Things get sci-fi when Spidey teams up with the Guardians of the Galaxy in a tale written by Chris Claremont and drawn by Bob McLeod.

I can say little of what happens in it, other than it involves Spidey chasing after Nikki who's in a taxi.

Elsewhere, we get a full-colour pin-up featuring Iron Man (as drawn by George Tuska) and Spider-Man (as drawn by John Romita).

And, in an example of how times have changed, the back cover gives us the chance to buy some bullets as lucky talismans, for £1.95 each. Somehow, I can't see them letting children buy bullets these days.

But, for those who don't want to festoon themselves with ammo, there is, apparently, the chance to win a copy of Heroes of the Spaceways.

I don't have a clue what that is.

I shall use the power of Googlé to see if I can find out.

I have now Googled.

It seems there was a 1981 book of that name by a man called Bill Harry which covered such characters as Barbarella, Quatermass, Flash Gordon, Doctor Who and a whole slew of others.

I shall assume that's what we're being given the opportunity to win.

Speaking of me being clueless, what Daredevil's up to, this week, is anyone's guess.

As are the activities of Captain America.

From the cover, however, it's obvious we've reached that point where Thor's still mithering about the creation of the New Thor, and Loki's sentenced to the Place of Punishment for his role in launching Ragnarok. 

Meanwhile, the aforementioned New Thor takes Sif to a distant land, to make her his queen.

And, if that doesn't sound like action enough, it also turns out Hela and her horde of Trolls are preparing to storm the rainbow bridge.

Blimey. Thor's going to need a holiday after all that lot.