The Marvel Lucky Bag - August 1972.

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Numerous were the movies which entered our lives and cinemas in August 1972.

For instance, we found ourselves treated to The Magnificent Seven Ride, And Now for Something Completely Different and Snoopy Come Home which I'm sure are all fine films.

But it was within the field of horror that the month truly excelled, thanks to the release of Blacula and The Last House on the Left.

Admittedly, I say, "excelled," but I don't think I've ever seen either of those films and must, therefore, assume that they're good, on the grounds that I've heard of them, and that means they must be good.

Something else I've heard of is Alice Cooper's School's Out. And that's because it started August 1972 at Number One on the UK singles chart before having to make way for Rod Stewart's You Wear It Well in the second half of the month.

There was no such tussling when it came to the British album chart. Indeed, only one LP reached that listing's pinnacle in the whole of August, and that was 20 Fantastic Hits by those Various Artists that I have posters of on my bedroom wall. But, you know what? I can never decide which Various Artist is my favourite. In all consideration, it's probably Ken.

Speaking of Ken, here's Kevin.

Ka-Zar, with the assistance of AIM, manages to capture the Man-Thing who quickly escapes from the lab he's been taken to and follows our hero and Bobbi Morse as they go off in search of the abducted Dr. Calvin.

After their successful try-out in Marvel Feature, the Defenders get their very own comic.

Not that they have much time to enjoy it, as that naughty Necrodamus only goes and tries to sacrifice Subby to the Nameless One.

I don't recall too much about this story but I'm aware that Luke dispenses with the man who framed him and sent him to prison.

Apparently, that man is Diamond-Back.

A legend is indeed born, as the Ghost Rider leaps over a hundred buses to land on our spinner racks.

To save the life of his mentor, Johnny Blaze has made a deal with the devil and is transformed into the spirit of vengeance.

So big an impact does the character make that he ends up being played, on screen, by Nic, "Not the bees!" Cage. Truly, no 1970s character can aspire to more.

Subby finds himself in Japan and up against the world's most annoying character Sunfire but I don't have a clue why.

But the big news of the month is that, not only do the Defenders get their own comic and Ghost Rider get his own series but Adam Warlock gets his own book as well!

I don't remember too much about this issue but I do know the-artist-formerly-known-as-Him must confront the blood-curdling menace of Pih-Junn who's an evil pigeon.

With villains of that quality, it's hard to believe the book is only destined to last for just eight issues.