September 1st 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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Everyone knows the greatest film ever made is The Eye of the Tiger.

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger.

So great was it that it was released on a double bill, in 1977, with the Spider-Man TV movie that wowed the world.

But there was another movie called The Eye of the Tiger. And, scandalously, it didn't feature rubber monsters, Patrick Troughton or even Jane Seymour!

But it did feature Sylvester Stallone.

Then again, it wasn't called The Eye of the Tiger. It was called Rocky III.

Regardless, that film was responsible for what happened on the UK singles chart, this week in 1982.

And that is that the movie's theme tune, as sung by Survivor, hit the Number One slot, right then and there.

Over on the British album chart, things were holding steady, because the Kids From Fame were still at Number One, with their self-titled album.

I do believe we get a look at the 4th Doctor story the Masque of Mandragora, while, in this week's thrilling Dalek strip, the Skaro supremacists are at war with the not-at-all-similar Mechanoids.

There's also an interview with the show's producer John Nathan-Turner but you can pretty much always take it for granted that there will be.

I do believe that, this month, we enounter the Avengers' day off.

I struggle to recall exactly what that entails but I do remember us discovering that, in his spare time, Wonder Man works as a custard pie recipient on a children's TV show.

We also get a story called Bleeding Stones reprinted from Monsters Unleashed #7 and a tale called Blind Man's Bluff reprinted from the same comic.

There's also A Short History of Britain which seems to be a short history of Captain Britain.

And Night Raven has a four-page adventure that will, no doubt, linger long in the minds of all who read it.

That's a lively cover by Steve Dillon.

But what of the insides?

It would appear our hero teams up with the X-Men in a battle with the Lords of Light and Darkness.

I don't know much about the tale - or who the Lords of Light and Darkness are - but I do know it appears to take place in Russia and gives Sal Buscema a chance to draw the mighty mutants.

Meanwhile, if the cover's to be believed, this issue demands to know, "Are you one in 10 trillion?"

As there are only a few billion people on Earth, I would suspect not.

Apparently, it's decision time for Soolin. She must decide whether to sacrifice herself or condemn Vila and Avon to death.

Personally, in her shoes, I'd choose to condemn Vila and Avon to death.

Especially Avon.

And, for some reason, Marvel UK books are still going on about the Fruitgum Secret.

All I know of this issue is it features Kull the Conqueror in a tale called A King Comes Riding. And I only know that because it says so on the cover.

I do know, though, that that woman looks a bit too 1970s for my liking.

It's one of my Hulking favourites, as the green grappler takes on Mogol and then befriends that stooge of Tyrannus before discovering he's a robot and murdering him.

Given such harsh treatment, I can't help feeling Mogol deserves to make a comeback.

Elsewhere in this issue, it would appear we get yet more adventuring from the Ghost Rider.

And, if the cover's to be believed, my drawing might be inside.

Which is good news, as I was wondering where it had got to.

Howard the Duck must confront the Cellar Sinister. While we must confront the adventures of Teen-Hulk.

The UK's best magazine dedicated to monsters hits us with an issue that covers the myths of Frankenstein and the activities of famous robots.

It would appear we also get a look at Amicus' Tales From the Crypt, that famed compendium based upon the works of EC Comics. It is, of course, most memorable for treating us to the sight of  Joan Collins being menaced by Santa Claus.

I can shed no light upon the contents of this issue but I do see that it too is determined to learn whether I know the Fruit Gum Secret.

I dread to think what Darth Vader will do to me if I give the wrong answer.

It looks like it's trouble for the Hellfire Club, as Wolverine invades their domain.

But will he be in time to thwart the White Queen and her evil schemes?

Confusion reigns supreme because this may the very last issue of Worzel Gummidge's monthly magazine.

Then again, there may be another three issues to go. It depends which website you believe.

However, whatever the case, I do know the scarecrow will be back in March 1983 when Marvel UK hands him his own weekly comic. One that will clock up 23 issues before merging with the company's Rupert Bear weekly.

Hooray! The nation's favourite sci-fi mag takes a look at the return of Mr Spock, thanks to the arrival of Star Trek II!

Why that's more worthy of celebration than the return of any of the film's other characters, I cannot even speculate.

For those who like their thrills a little more Earthbound, the issue also casts its gaze upon the 19th James Bond convention.

But perhaps even more intriguingly, there's a report on the making of a brand new Ridley Scott film called Bladerunner.

It's the news all educationalists have been crying out for because Scooby-Doo goes back to school!

And I've no doubt it'll prove to be haunted.