Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - official trailer. Warning: potential spoilers!

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

***

Just the other day, I stunned mankind by posting the trailer for the Thor movie that's currently thrilling the cinemas of the world.

However, in the wake of all that, it was pointed out to me that there's another Marvel trailer on the loose.

And that's for Wakanda Forever, the Black Panther movie that, for obvious reasons, is going to have to get by without its titular character.

Can it pull that off?

Judging by the trailer, it looks like it can, with Angela Bassett, in particular, happy to give it some welly.

I must confess I've still not seen the first Black Panther movie yet and, so, can pass no judgment upon either its style or its quality but this one looks like it's going to be highly dramatic and its trailer's noticeably devoid of the flippancy that defined the Thor one.

I'm assuming, from it, that Wakanda and Atlantis are going to find themselves at war with each other. I also assume that'll be down to the Machiavellian machinations of some villain or other.

Either way, it's good to see the Sub-Mariner finally turning up in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, complete with green swimming trunks. And for him to have his trident with him - even if it seems to only have one prong.

Does that make it a unident?

Frankly, I have no idea.

July 28th 1982 - 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. 

***

Fame! I'm going to live forever!

Or at least until the end of this post.

I hope.

But 40 years ago this week, it seemed the whole country had gone Fame crazy.

On the UK album chart, not only was the movie's Original Soundtrack at Number One but, sat supreme at Number Two, were The Kids from Fame with their album The Kids from Fame.

And that wasn't the limit of it, as Irene Cara was simultaneously dwelling resplendent at Number One on the singles chart, with her track Fame. 

After all that celebrity hitting me in the face, it looks like I'm going to have to take refuge in the relative obscurity of whatever it was Marvel UK was giving us that week.

I'm not totally sure what's happening in this one.

From that cover, it looks like Professor X is having one of his legendary mind battles with some villain or other, while Spidey battles a petty crook.

From this, I can only assume it's a tale taken from the pages of Marvel Team-Up. Tragically, the identity of the issue eludes me.

But wait! What's this? Thanks to this book, you can win a trip in a fighter plane?

Hold on. Was that how Boris Johnson swung it?

Elsewhere, we get the first installment of what's described as a fantastic, four-part poster.

I remember The Mighty World of Marvel offering a similar set-up, right at the start of its run. How nostalgic for us all.

And, just to treat us, we get a half-page of readers' drawings of their favourite Marvel heroes.

Judging by that cover, we're about to experience the yarn in which the Leader returns from the dead and convinces Thunderbolt Ross to let him tackle the Hulk.

It's a plan that involves trapping the monster in an indestructible rubber cage while the formidably foreheaded fiend seizes control of the United States' nuclear arsenal.

You do have to wonder how Ross managed to keep his job after that mess-up.

Yet again Onboarder, AKA Mark, has supplied me with a cover to an issue of Scooby-Doo and his TV Friends.

In this one, we get more news from Scooby-Doo's Ghostly Club House and, in a new adventure, the gang must deal with a spectre that's haunting a bank.

I'm assuming he's also stealing its money but I can't officially confirm that.

Speak Your Brain! Part XXXIII. Which comics do you associate with childhood holidays?

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

***

Image by Tumisu
from Pixabay

A wise man once wrote, "Come, muse. Let us sing of rats."

It was Scottish poet James Grainger in his legendary 1762 poem The Sugar Kane. 

But what of us? Will we be singing of rats, today? Or of something else altogether?

Only you can decide because that feature's back. The one in which the first person to comment gets to decide the topic of the day.

It could be art, films, flans, plans, books, bagels, cooks, nooks, crooks, ducks, drakes, pixies, rocks, music, mucous, fairy tales, fairy lights, Fairy Liquid, fairy cakes, Eccles cakes, myth, moths, maths, magic, tragedy, comedy, dromedaries, murder, larders, Ladas, mystery, mayhem, molluscs, Moorcock, May Day, mangoes, bongoes, drongoes, bingo, Ringo, Pingu, Ringu, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Doris Day, Marvin Gaye, Doris Day, Brookside Close, Ramsay Street, Scarlet Street, Dead End Street, the Equinox, parallelograms, rhomboids, androids, asteroids, pomegranates, granite, marble, marbles, maples, staples, fables, stables, sofas, eggs, pegs, legs, dregs, sodas, sausages, eggs, whisky, broth, Bath, baths, Garth Marenghi, Garth Brooks, Garth Crooks, Bruno Brookes, Bruno Mars, Mars Bars, wine bars, flip-flops, flim-flam, flapjacks, backpacks, see-saws, jigsaws, dominoes, draft excluders, dunderheads, deadheads, webheads, flowerpots, flour pots, bread bins, bin bags, body bags, body horror, shoddy horror, doggy bags, bean bags, coal sacks, cola, cocoa, pancakes, pizzas, baking soda, sci-fi, Wi-Fi, Hi-Fi, sewage, saunas, suet, Silurians, Sontarans, Sea Devils, sins, suns, sans, sense, sludge, slumps, sumps, sunshine, slime, soup, sandwiches, Sultanas, Sultans, grapes, grappling or sandcastles.

It may be that and so much more.

Let us retire to our gazebos and see what intrigue unfolds...

Thor: Love and Thunder! With added Lou Ferrigno!

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

***

 

By Heimdall's bushy beard! It's come to my attention that Marvel Entertainment's just released the trailer for its latest masterpiece Thor: Love and Thunder!

Can it live up to the standards of previous Norse adventures?

Who knows? I thought the first Thor movie was OK, I can remember nothing of the second - other than that Christopher Eccleston was in it - and I've still not got round to seeing the third one.

Admittedly, when I say, "just released," it seems the trailer actually came out a full month ago and the film's knocking 'em dead in cinemas, even as I type. But what's this? It seems it's not going down too well with audiences or critics?

Looking at the trailer, it does feel like it's gone a bit overboard on humour, and those fonts do look a bit He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. But who can judge a film by its trailer?

Regardless of any of that, we have solace because, even if the critics prove to be right, we have our memories of a real Thor movie. The one that co-starred the Hulk.

After all, who can forget the first time those two titans met on screen - way back in 1988 - when films were so awesome they didn't need the magic of competent special effects to entrance the public?

Screen Junkies hasn't forgotten it. In fact, right below, is where the channel reminds us how that masterpiece went.

Strangely, in retrospect, the feel of that movie doesn't seem that different from the direction modern Marvel movies are going in. Clearly, it was a work that was ahead of its time.

 

July 21st 1982 - 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. 

***

Nothing that catches the eye of this blog occurred in the worlds of current affairs and entertainment, this week in 1982. I shall, therefore, plunge straight into my look at what Marvel UK was flinging at us in those seven days.

It's back to the thrilling photo covers that all Spidey fans just love to see.

But, inside, I know our hero's conducting his legendary battle with the Juggernaut, after the unstoppable villain's abduction of Madame Web.

That's bad news for him. But the good news for us is we can win a clock-radio-cassette recorder!

It would appear the Watcher's still demanding to know what would have happened had the Hulk retained Bruce Banner's intellect.

And, now, the Fantastic Four have been dragged into it!

That's because Bruce teams up with Reed Richards and Professor X to battle Galactus. In that struggle, the trio lose their powers but the Thing's strength is so enhanced that he becomes as big a threat as the original Hulk was.

It would also appear Iron Man's in space. How he got there, I'm not sure. I suspect he's still having his first encounter with Roxxon's Sunturion and his space station of doom.

As so often in the past, the cover and contents of an issue of Hanna Barbera's Scooby-Doo and His T.V. Friends has eluded me. This time, it's issue #22 that has dared defy my will.

Speak Your Brain! Part XXXII. Staying cool in the heat.

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

***

Image by Tumisu
from Pixabay

I think I know which two things are most on the minds of British contributors, right now but does that mean that's what this post is going to be about?

I don't have a clue.

That's because it all depends on the first person to comment below. 

It's true. Once again, we're encountering a Tuesday in the second half of a month. And that can only mean it's the return of Speak Your Brain, the greatest exercise in democracy the human race has - or ever will - encounter.

Today's subject could be art, films, flans, plans, books, bagels, cooks, nooks, crooks, ducks, drakes, pixies, rocks, music, mucous, fairy tales, fairy lights, Fairy Liquid, fairy cakes, Eccles cakes, myth, moths, maths, magic, tragedy, comedy, dromedaries, murder, larders, Ladas, mystery, mayhem, molluscs, Moorcock, May Day, mangoes, bongoes, drongoes, bingo, Ringo, Pingu, Ringu, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Doris Day, Marvin Gaye, the Equinox, parallelograms, rhomboids, androids, asteroids, pomegranates, granite, marble, marbles, maples, staples, fables, stables, sofas, eggs, pegs, legs, dregs, sodas, sausages, eggs, whisky, broth, Bath, baths, Garth Marenghi, Garth Brooks, Garth Crooks, Bruno Brookes, Bruno Mars, Mars Bars, wine bars, flip-flops, flim-flam, flapjacks, backpacks, see-saws, jigsaws, dominoes, draft excluders, dunderheads, deadheads, webheads, flowerpots, flour pots, bread bins, bin bags, body bags, body horror, shoddy horror, doggy bags, bean bags, coal sacks, cola, cocoa, pancakes, pizzas, baking soda, sci-fi, Wi-Fi, Hi-Fi, sewage, saunas, suet, Silurians, Sontarans, Sea Devils, sins, suns, sans, sense, sludge, slumps, sumps, sunshine, slime, soup, sandwiches or sandcastles.

Or it could not be.

Only you can decide.

But will you...?

2000 AD - June 1984.

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

***

If there's something weird in your neighbourhood, who're you going to call?

No one. There's nothing wrong with being weird.

However, in June 1984, there was a whole new option available to the strangeness averse.

That's because it was the month in which Ghostbusters hit our cinema screens.

And it wasn't alone. That June also saw the release of Once Upon a Time in America, Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Gremlins, The Karate Kid, Cannonball Run II and Conan the Destroyer.

I would say Gremlins is the pick of that lot but I do concur that other opinions may exist.

But, while that was going on, what was transpiring in the real world?

Tetris was.

Or it was if you were Russian, because it was the month in which the game was officially released in the USSR, for use on the awesome Soviet super-computer Electronika 60.

Rather more nightmarishly, the Canadian entertainment company Cirque du Soleil was founded.

Up above us, Virgin Atlantic made its inaugural flight.

And, off to one side of us, France beat Spain 2–0 to win Euro '84.

On our record players, the UK Number One belonged to just two singles. They were Wham's Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go and Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Two Tribes.

However, Bob Marley & the Wailers had the peak of the British album chart to themselves, thanks to their compilation Legend which sat proudly at Number One for the entire month.

And is there news of the galaxy's greatest comic?

Too right there is. It was still printing Strontium Dog, Judge Dredd, Tharg's Future-Shocks, Rogue Trooper and Tharg's Time Twisters.

However, there was a hint of new things to come, thanks to Prog 274 featuring a one-page ad for an upcoming strip entitled The Ballad of Halo Jones.

Excitingly, Prog 371 was offering us a Sláine action figure. Whether he was included with the comic or you had to send off for him, I cannot say.

July 14th 1982 - 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. 

***

I doubt many of us want to wake up and find a strange man in our bedroom. But, this week in 1982, the Queen had that very experience, as Michael Fagan evaded Buckingham Palace security and found his way to the chamber where she conducts her equivalent of The Odin Sleep.

Fortunately, no monarchs were harmed during the making of this incident. Nor were any giant, universe-threatening swords unsheathed. I was going to do a joke about Fagan subsequently being released to resume his duties as lead singer of Steely Dan but it turns out that's Donald Fagen and, thus, my joke wouldn't have worked.

Over in Italy, that week, it was also no joke, as West Germany defeated Italy 3–1 in Spain and, thus, won the World Cup.

But what was occurring on the UK music charts while all this was afoot?

On the singles front, Irene Cara soared to triumph, thanks to her track Fame hitting the top spot.

While, on the album listings, ABC held sway via their offering The Lexicon of Love. 

Among the songs I approved of on that week's singles chart were:

Abracadabra - the Steve Miller Band

Happy Talk - Captain Sensible

Now Those Days Are Gone - Bucks Fizz

Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners

Torch - Soft Cell

Tiny Children - The Teardrop Explodes

House of Fun - Madness

And

Only You - Yazoo.

For those who wish to pursue the matter further, that week's British singles chart may be found here.

While the album chart is located here.

The aforementioned Teardrop Explodes were, famously, named in honour of a panel from an old issue of Daredevil. And mention of a Marvel hero can only invite us to discover what the British wing of that organisation was up to, that week.

It turns out that wing is still plundering the pages of What If, in order to find material it's not previously used.

This time, it's demanding to know what would have happened had the brute retained the brain of Bruce Banner.

Obviously, we don't need to ask, as the US Hulk tales we've covered lately have indeed had him retaining the scientist's intellect.

But what's this? Yet again, the company's demanding to learn whether I know the Fruitgum Secret?

How many times do I have to tell them that I don't? Do they think I'm that bloke in The 39 Steps or something?

Still, at least I can win an Apocalypse board game.

Here's a story I can't help feeling I've recently encountered somewhere else.

As far as I can recall, Black Tom's sent his mate Juggernaut to kidnap Madame Web, for reasons that are unclear to me.

Fortunately, Spider-Man's on hand to stop him.

Or, possibly, not that fortunately, as the web spinner has no way to prevent the helmeted heel from completing his mission.

Once more, Onboarder, AKA Mark, has provided me with a Scooby-Doo cover.

And he's also uploaded the full issue to the Internet Archive. This means it can be found by clicking here. He's also uploaded a number of other comics, including the 1983 Top Cat summer special. Those comics can be found by clicking here.

But, in this week's offering, Yogi has a Robin Hood adventure, the Jetsons get their own board game, Scooby shows us how to make a space rocket from a washing-up liquid bottle, the Scooby gang has an Arctic adventure, and we can fulfill our lifelong ambition by winning a Worzel Gummidge lunchbox, 

There's also a demonstration of how to make a strange table football game where you can replace cartoon characters' legs with your fingers.

The Marvel Lucky Bag - July 1982.

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

***

A number of moderately well-known films were unveiled in July 1982 but by far the most famous release that month was Tron, Disney's effects-packed tale of something or other.

Come to think of it, although I've, "seen," it on several occasions, I'm not sure I've ever managed to keep my attention on the thing all the way through, leaving me with very little idea of what it's actually about.

It's a long time since I last visited the Micronauts in this feature but I must confess that's a cover which would make me liberate this book from its spinner rack.

Apparently, this issue features Computrex and Professor Prometheus. Not that I have the vaguest inkling of who they are.

And now I pay a rare visit to Moon Knight's dark domain.

It would seem our hero's in Haiti where he teams up with Brother Voodoo to take down a terrorist who can raise the undead.

The Grand Comics Database informs me that, this issue, Moon Knight, "Speaks in numerous contractions and jive," which is a thing I've always wanted to hear.

We also get a second Moon Knight strip, titled Murder by Moonlight.

Marvel was never going to refuse the chance to adapt the Conan movie rocking the world's cinemas.

And it hasn't.

Inevitably, it's drawn by John Buscema but, perhaps shockingly, there's no involvement from Roy Thomas in the writing stakes.

Instead, we have the likes of John Milius, Oliver Stone, Ed Summer, John Buscema and even Michael Fleisher credited as authors.

I'm just hoping Fleisher manages to inject some of his Iron Jaw magic into proceedings.

Not content with giving us a special based around Arnie, Marvel also gives us one based around Annie.

It's true. The 1980s' greatest musical gets the comic book treatment, even though, as I've commented in the past, it does seem a strange idea to do comic book adaptations of musicals, bearing in mind the impossibility of capturing the tunes on a comic book page.

I dread to think what the lyrics to Annie's songs look like on the page. They probably seem like the dark rites of some nightmarish doomsday cult.

The 2nd issue of Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions smashes its way into our newsagents. And the first punch-up involves DD, Talisman and Darkstar vs the Invisible Girl, Iron Fist and Sunfire.

The second contains She-Hulk, Captain Britain and Defensor vs Iron Man, Sabra and the Arabian Knight Bizarrely, the latter of those two teams wins. I can only assume Iron Man did all the fighting for them.

Rom's comic's still going strong - and will do for several more years to come. 

It would appear our armoured astronaut has to tangle with the combined power of Mystique, Rogue and Destiny but not before the usual confusion over who's the good guy and who's the bad guy.

Forty years ago today - July 1982.

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

***

Right now, the nation basks in sunshine. But not for us the joys of sunbathing. Better, by far, to bask in what Marvel Comics was giving us forty years ago.

Now that the Avengers are back on Earth, they need to get their membership list sorted out.

But, first, the female contenders for the job must deal with the mind-numbing return of the Mechano-Marauder and his unconquerable suit of armour.

Which they quickly conquer.

As far as I can recall, this all leads to She-Hulk joining the team.

One can only hope she hangs around for longer than Hellcat and Tigra did.

Holy plot contrivances, Batman! Captain America's current girlfriend turns out to be an obsessive wrestling fan but when she and he see the masked wrestler known as Mr X kill another fighter in the ring, it's time for the star-spangled super-doer to intervene and bring the aggravating grappler to justice.

But is all as it seems?

And how is the legendarily principled ex-wrestler King Arthur involved in all this?

Given Mr X's tactic of winning fights by leaping all around the ring, I was hoping he'd turn out to be the Kangaroo but, sadly, he doesn't.

If I remember rightly, Matt Murdock's lawyering skills get a man off a murder charge.

Only for it to turn out he's guilty!

Now Daredevil and the Punisher hunt him down. But will DD go against his principles and shoot the villain?

The cover says yes. I'm going to say no.

All I can recall of this issue is that Frankie Raye becomes Galactus' new herald.

Is it a decision the flame-flinging female will come to regret?

I suspect she will. After all, all of Galactus' previous heralds have.

Having put Madame Web in hospital, Juggernaut's still on the rampage, and Spider-Man's out to stop him.

But, as we all know, nothing can stop the Juggernaut.

In fact, it turns out wet cement can stop the Juggernaut.

I'm not sure wet cement should be able to stop the Juggernaut.

Remember Mendel Stromm, the employee who once had a run-in with Norman Osborn before being shot dead by a mystery sniper who turned out to be Osborn himself?

Well, now he's back.

Except he isn't - because he's dead.

However, his robot duplicate's still very much with us and, now, Spidey must deal with his deadly robots of lethal death.

The fairly duff story, in which Thor must work out what to do with a bunch of weird Asgardians who've accidentally taken possession of some Midgardians, continues.

I'm struggling to remember how it all concludes but I'm sure all's well that ends well.

It's the story we thought we'd never see, as the world's mightiest mutants have to thwart the power of Dracula.

I'm not sure if he's the same Dracula we're used to in Marvel comics, because he doesn't really look like him.

But, whoever he is, he takes a shine to Storm and starts helping himself to her blood, as she falls more and more under his control.

From that cover, you've probably already guessed that Bill Sienkiewicz draws this issue.

Conan finds himself holding the baby, as he's lumbered with the task of delivering it safely to its father.

There's just one problem. A river monster's out to get it off him.

And, when that's despatched, so is another one.

Luckily, it turns out the second one is the child's father. So, when it gets its tentacles on the tyke, it's a case of mission accomplished.

The Hulk still has Bruce Banner's brain - and Bruce is determined to use his power to help people.

Therefore, when he finds some farmers being harassed by aliens, he doesn't hesitate to give the aliens a thrashing.

That's when he discovers the beings were friendly and had been trying to end starvation on Earth. And now they won't.

Oops!

The Serpent Squad are back but, sadly, I always get them mixed up with Salem's Seven.

Whoever they are, I've no recollection of what their plan is or why they turn up in Iron Man's life.

But I've no doubt he makes quick work of them.

July 7th 1982 - 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. 

***

Disappointment swept through the land of the Angles, this week in 1982, as England crashed out of the World Cup, thanks to a 0–0 draw with hosts Spain. Shortly afterwards, Ron Greenwood stepped down as team manager, to be succeeded by Ipswich Town boss Bobby Robson.

No such disappointment for Sheffield's very own ABC who tightly gripped the very pinnacle of the UK album chart, with The Lexicon of Love. In doing so, they saw off the challenge of Robert Plant's Pictures at Eleven which entered the chart at Number Two.

Over on the associated singles chart, it was all plain sailing for Captain Sensible, still at Number One with his catchy cover of Happy Talk.

Can it be? Can it be the death of Jackdaw?

Yes, it can.

And not only that but the whole world's gone mad and the British government holds Captain Britain and Saturnyne personally responsible.

Thus convinced, it activates the super-hero-smashing robot the world knows as The Fury.

Elsewhere, the Avengers find themselves entangled in the Steel City Nightmare! which, despite its title, doesn't involve Sheffield United in a Wembley play-off final but seems to involve Wonder Man fighting in a Pittsburgh steel mill.

That's followed by a three-page tale called Keep Your Coffin Dry, Nevada but I've no idea what that's about.

And we finish with This is the Valiant One, Signing Out which I remember being a Don McGregor tale from Monsters Unleashed. One that involves a giant Komodo Dragon going on the rampage in the streets of America

Chiller hits its last-ever issue but I can't say whether it goes out in style, as I don't know what happens in it.

However, it does look like the Man-Thing's found himself in the big city, which is hardly a natural environment for him to be in.

Roy Thomas and John Buscema are still giving us the tale of King Thoth-Amon which would appear to be adapted from the L Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter novel Conan the Buccaneer.

We also get Notes on Various People of the Hyborian Age as detailed by Robert E Howard.

And because even that's not enough for us, there's also an 18-page Bran Mak Morn epic Kings of the Night.

The magazine that's proud to boast of featuring Britain's best-loved sci-fi hero is back and unleashes a look at the legendary Cyberman story Earthshock which features one of the most celebrated endings in the history of the show.

At least, I know I was celebrating...

I don't know too much about the contents of this month's issue but I do know it contains a comic strip called Prey, written and pencilled by Jerry Paris.

But, perhaps even more excitingly, we can win an Atari video game.

Not that I know which one. 

Spider-Man takes on the Kingpin. And this time, it's for keeps.

At least, I think it is.

Anyway, what it really is is part two of the story that asks just what would have happened had Spider-Man's clone lived.

It would appear he would have fought the Kingpin.

The Inhumans also have an adventure in this issue. As far as I can make out, it's the tale of how Attilian found its way from the Andes, to the Himalayas. And it would seem the Eternals are involved...

There's also a poster featuring Captain Britain and Captain America hanging around the Statue of Liberty.

And there's even more because we're also given the chance to win a Kodak camera!

It's bad news for the Hulk when the Sandman and Mandarin team up against him.

Then again, it's worse news for the Sandman, as I do believe this is the story in which the silicon sinner falls into a vat and gets turned into glass.

Iron Man, meanwhile, is in orbit, facing the menace of Sunturion and a satellite-mounted death-ray that can destroy whole cities.

The Fantastic Four Pocket Book hits its last-ever issue and does so by, somewhat oddly, recycling the cover of issue #1.

Sadly, I can't say for sure what this issue features but, as last month's reprinted the tale in which the fabulous foursome battle the Maggia for control of the Baxter Building, I'll assume this one reprints the tale in which the Sub-Mariner and Magneto team-up to cause all kinds of trouble for mankind.

If that's the case, I suppose it's fitting that the book should terminate with the end of Jack Kirby's run on the strip.

The pocket books may have hit the buffers but Marvel Madhouse continues unabated.

And does so by offering us another dose of Howard the Duck.

This time, he gives us When the Sleeper Wakes which I'm going to assume isn't a story about yet another of the Red Skull's left-over World War 2 robots.

Apparently, this story introduces us to someone called Winky-Man. I'm assuming that's him on the cover. I'm also assuming he's based on Wee Willie Winky.

Hold on to your lightsabres because a brand new magazine hits our eyeballs!

Admittedly, it's not that new. It is, after all, issue #159 of the publication that started life way back in 1978.

However, it does, at least, have a change of title, reverting to the one it used before that fancy Empire Strikes Back came out.

And it does so while giving us a free poster and the chance to win an Atari.

According to the cover, we can also win ten fan club memberships.

Thrilling stuff indeed.

Plus, there's Alan Moore's yarn Blind Fury! starring Luke Skywalker and someone called Rur.

There may also be a Tale of the Watcher but don't quote me on that.

The demise of the pocket books continues unabated, as Spider-Man's digest series also unleashes its final issue.

And how does he do it?

I'm going to guess he does it by reprinting Amazing Spider-Man #50 in which the webbed wonder decides to retire from super-heroing, until his encounter with a robbery makes him realise a man with his powers has no choice but to help those who can't help themselves.

Admittedly, I could be totally wrong about that but, given the contents of the previous issue, that would not seem to be an unreasonable guess.

And yet another pocket book kicks the bucket.

I do believe the terrific teens must face the Changeling - and his boss the Mutant Master. The villains aiming to fill the void left by Magneto, by recruiting the services of Unus, the Blob and the Vanisher.

Their name may be in big letters at the top of the cover but, below that, the X-Men have to make way for Iron Fist who stars in an escapade entitled The Dragon Dies at Dawn.

I do believe the mutants are battling the Hellfire Club and its plans to gain control of Jean Grey. But to do it, they need the help of the Dazzler.

Elsewhere, the Thing and Starhawk get mixed up in Counter-Earth shenanigans, as they go in search of the kidnapped Alicia Masters.

Monster Monthly hits its sensational fourth issue by taking a look at the Abominable Dr Phibes.

And we even get a poster of him!

Which is what you'd expect. After all, who wouldn't want a huge big photo of Dr Phibes on their wall?

Sadly, I can't say anything else about this issue's contents, as there seems to be no information available online and, in a feat of marketing genius, the cover text is all but unreadable.

Britain's favourite scarecrow celebrates his tenth issue.

And we get the chance to win a Worzel doll!

I think we'd all love to have that watching over us as we try to get to sleep at night.

But even that's not enough for Marvel UK, because the mag also gives us the chance to build and colour its Country Caravan.

I must say it's a bit of a shock to discover Marvel UK has a Country Caravan but it's nice to know Dez, Paul and the two Alans have somewhere to spend their summer holidays together.

The UK's top sci-fi mag gives us an issue dedicated to Fantasy thanks to a look at The Cat People and Conan.

But that doesn't mean there's not space for a look at The Thing and Swamp Thing.

There's also coverage of films called Heartbeeps and Parasite, neither of which I've ever encountered in my movie-watching activities.

But, wait a second. None of that matters. All that really matters is this issue features a retrospective dedicated to classic TV serial Timeslip!

Now we're talking!

Once again, the contents of an issue of Scooby-Doo and his TV Friends must remain a mystery to us. 

And, this time, it's issue #20 that eludes all signs of detection.