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. 

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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.