October 14th 1972 - Marvel UK, 50 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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Who doesn't love a good dose of poetry?

I don't.

Because I'm a Philistine. 

However, even I know who Sir John Betjeman was and, thanks to Wikipedia, I know this was the week, fifty years ago, in which his reign as Poet Laureate began.

I do believe the works of Sir John Betjeman were a huge influence on the lyrics of the band Lieutenant Pigeon. How appropriate, then, that in the very week he attained Laureate status, that band was at Number One on the UK singles chart, with its platter that mattered Mouldy Old Dough.

Over on the UK album chart, however, it was 20 All-Time Greats of The '50s by Various Artists that held sway.

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

In a Broken Dream - Python Lee Jackson

Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Slade

Back Stabbers - the O'jays

The Guitar Man - Bread

Virginia Plain - Roxy Music

You Wear It Well - Rod Stewart

America - Simon and Garfunkel

House of The Rising Sun  - the Animals

Sugar Me - Lynsey De Paul

All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople

and 

Layla - Derek and The Dominoes.

Should you wish to investigate the matter further, that week's UK singles chart can be found here.

While the corresponding album chart is located here.

Look out, world, because the country's newest and mightiest comic's back for its second issue!

And we're honoured indeed, as no less a talent than Judo Jim Starlin delivers the front cover.

Granted, this is before Jim becomes the superstar we'll all know and love, and he's clearly still finding his feet but it's always exciting to see him involved in a project.

As for the Hulk, barely does he have the time to get his bearings and threaten Rick Jones and Betty Ross than he's kidnapped by the Gargoyle who promptly betrays Russia for the chance to be a normal man again.

Interestingly, it would appear that Nikita Khrushchev's portrait in this reprint is given a moustache in an attempt to hide his identity from the reader. All part of Marvel UK's attempts to eradicate the Red Menace angle that was so prevalent in early 1960s Marvel stories.

Elsewhere, the Fantastic Four don't have to worry about commies. They're too busy having their first meeting with the Mole Man who's been stealing the Earth's nuclear power plants.

And, finally, Spider-Man saves astronaut John Jameson from certain death but discovers that even that will earn him no gratitude from the man's father, a newspaper publisher called J Jonah Jameson.

And, of course, we get another coupon towards the mystery free gift that we can send off for at some point.