Sunday 23 October 2022

October 1982 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon
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As you know, one of the most popular features on this site is when I declare it to be the fortieth anniversary of the introduction of the compact disc. I must have done it at least a dozen times and have no doubt I'll be doing it on even more occasions to come. Surely, no piece of technology can have been introduced to the world on quite so many separate occasions.

However, it's alright owning a compact disc but, at some point, you need to have something to play it on. And the good news is that in October 1981 we did have something to play it on because Sony was, at that very moment, launching the first consumer compact disc player.

That was brand spanking new but something far older was also making the news.

That was the Mary Rose, flagship of Henry VIII, which famously sank in 1545. It was making headlines all of a sudden because what was left of it was raised from the Solent, in a big metal cradle that some of us can never forget.

Rather more sombrely, it was also the month of the Luzhniki Stadium disaster during a UEFA Cup match between Spartak Moscow and HFC Haarlem, at which 66 people died in a crush.

Also in Eastern Europe, the Polish government banned the Solidarity trade union after having already suspended it in December 1981. Who could have known, back then, the sequence of events that act would lead to?

On the UK singles chart, October began with Musical Youth's Pass the Dutchie at Number One but, by the second half of the month, that had been dethroned by Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? the song that had introduced Culture Club to the world and made gender-bending quite the fashionable pursuit.

Slightly less pretty than Culture Club were Dire Straits but they didn't care. The compact disc player had been introduced and now nothing could stop them.

Thus it was that they spent the bulk of that month at Number One on the UK album chart, thanks to their new LP Love Over Gold. However, the juggernaut that was Fame soon reasserted itself, as Kids from Fame by the Kids from Fame reclaimed the top spot as the month reached its ending.

Marvel Superheroes #390, the Avengers

From what that cover's claiming, it seems the Avengers must face an assault on a Mind Cage!

Or perhaps they're the ones doing the assaulting.

Is this the story in which the Wasp discovers a psychiatric hospital's secretly a front for the Taskmaster's operation? And is this the Taskmaster's first appearance?

What isn't making its first appearance is the mag's insistence that I tell it the Fruit Gum Secret.

I refuse to tell it.

We're also presented with a four-page gallery of Spider-Man's Most Famous Foes.

Meanwhile, in his strip, Iron Fist's been framed by Chaka for the murder of assistant DA Bill Hao. Meaning Misty and Colleen must try and clear his name.

Finally, Night Raven gets four pages of, no doubt, thrilling adventure from Alan Moore and Mick Austin.

Doctor Who Magazine #69, Peter Davison

What a delightful cover. I do believe it references Black Orchid which, as we all know, was the last Doctor Who "Historical" to not feature any aliens.

Apart from the Doctor and Nyssa, of course.

There's also a look back at Curse of Peladon and Genesis of the Daleks, as well as an interview with the show's script editor Eric Saward.

For those who demand there be comic strips in their Marvel mags, we're presented with the latest installment of the tale the world knows as Stars Fell On Stockbridge.

Blake's 7 #13

That was Doctor Who but what of his stablemates Blake's 7?

Tragically, I can only share that the magazine devoted to them is still going. The exact contents of this month's publication are difficult to unearth, however.

Marvel Madhouse #17

I do believe Marvel Madhouse hits its last-ever issue.

And does so by introducing Howard the Duck to the Incredible Cookie Creature.

Star Wars Monthly #162

It's an intense cover, and no mistaking.

Slightly undermined by yet another demand to know if we know about fruit gums.

Still, at least Luke's the colour of a fruit gum on that cover. So, I suppose that's appropriate.

From what I can gather, in this issue's main tale - Pariah - we can read of the torment in Luke's mind.

It's probably his lack of fruit gums that's setting him off.

Elsewhere, Rom's still battling the Dire Wraiths.

And we conclude the issue with a tale entitled I Saw a Martian, as brought to us by Lee and  Ditko.

The Savage Sword of Conan #60

Perhaps to no one's surprise, Marvel UK's longest-running monthly makes the most of the new Arnie movie, in order to drive up sales.

To be honest, that's all I can say, as I'm otherwise uncertain as to the contents of this month's issue.

Rampage Monthly #52, the X-Men vs the Hellfire Club

Unless I miss my ever-loving guess, the X-Men are having their climactic battle with the Hellfire Club. The one which finally unleashes the full force of the Dark Phoenix.

When it comes to the Thing's strip, I do believe Benjy's teaming up with Triton and Stingray to thwart the schemes of the Serpent Squad, as regards the Serpent Crown.

As if that's not enough for any reader, we also get a history of comics, written by Frank Plowright.

And, for some reason, we get Steve Ditko pin-ups of the Enforcers and Kraven the Hunter.

Monster Monthly #7, Conan

Monster Monthly hits its penultimate issue.

And does so by also trying to cash in on the Arnie Conan movie.

But man cannot live by Conan alone. And, so, we get a look at Hammer's Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, and there's a poster for The Mummy's Ghost, a film I cannot claim to have ever heard of. 

We also get an installment from Marvel's Frankenstein strip, as brought to us by Doug Moench and Val Mayerik.

Elsewhere, Steve Moore looks at Chinese mythological beings and there's a profile of actor Tod Slaughter.

Starburst #50

Starburst hits its fiftieth issue - and does so by reviewing Blade Runner, Poltergeist and The Thing.

I do remember The Thing getting terrible reviews upon first release. Will Starburst get it just as wrong as all the other critics did?

There's also a look back at some of the films whose impending production's been heralded in previous issues of Starburst but which never went on to see the light of day.

15 comments:

Matthew McKinnon said...

That Star Wars cover is surprisingly good. It’s Simonson, I’m guessing? Does anyone know if it’s a direct reprint of a US cover?

Is Blake’s 7 still a show at this point?

(Checks Wikipedia)

No. The brutal final episode was broadcast 21st Dec 1981. What Christmas gift for fans. I guess they bought the mag for another year as solace.

Starburst 50! New design (very striking and slightly intrusive design, especially in the interiors where stills were sliced into little slivers). There’s an amusingly snotty letter about it next month, I think.

What a year 1982 was for SF and fantasy films. I think I saw this mag just before or after I went to see Blade Runner. The massive coverage Starburst gave it shows what an impact it made on SF fans, if not the world at large.

I think The Thing was cautiously liked…? The main problem people had - which is fair - was that intentionally or otherwise you lost track pretty quickly of who might or might not be a Thing. Having rewatched it very recently, I like it a lot for the craft and atmosphere but I still feel it’s a bit wonky: the showstopper scenes are upfront and because a big setpiece reveal of the monster at the end didn’t work in execution and was cut around, it feels a bit anticlimactic.

Poltergeist is huge fun. Just watched that again on Friday.

McSCOTTY said...

Matthew, the Simonson cover is from Marvels Star Wars comic issue 62

Colin Jones said...

Boris Johnson has pulled out of the Tory leadership race because he obviously didn't have enough backers whatever pathetic spin he puts on it - rejoice! rejoice!

Today (October 24th) is exactly 40 years since ITV showed Star Wars on Sunday, October 24th 1982. It was the first time Star Wars had ever been broadcast on British TV.

Matthew McKinnon said...

I remember that. Or at least, I remember ITV taking out billboard ads across the country advertising it.

Anonymous said...

Even though I don't recall that particular Starburst cover I remember them being quite positive about The Thing too, Matthew.
And so they should have been. John Carpenter's films were often appealing in theory while somehow a bit disappointing to actually watch, but The Thing is the one where he really got it right.

That Dr Who cover reminds why I definitely stopped watching during the Davison era. Mind you, to be fair I think that was probably my age - dipping in and out of old episodes during the Twitch stream a few years back I have to agree with... I think was it was DW here, who said the stories were quite strong, and actually better than the earlier Baker era ('Genesis of the Daleks' was particularly disappointing viewed from a middle-aged, twenty-first century perspective imo).

Still, Davison just wasn't convincing in the part, and the companions were mostly annoying. Although Janet Fielding was quite easy on the eyes. Not sure about the wisdom of bringing her back though...
Did you enjoy the last Jodie Who story then, Steve?

-sean

Anonymous said...

Colin, at the current rate I expect Penny Mordaunt will be prime minister by Christmas.
And Larry the cat in the new year.

-sean

Steve W. said...

Sean, there was so much going on in the Doctor Who ep that I'm going to have to watch it again to be able to formulate an opinion about it.

Matthew, Colin and McScotty, thanks for your comments too. :)

Anonymous said...

Culture Club rocked this house!

Colin Jones said...

Apparently Rishi Sunak is a huge Star Wars fan but does he identify with the Rebellion or the Empire?

Anonymous said...

I loved The Thing, and I enjoyed Carpenter's In the Mouth of Madness.
Yeah, it's pretty cheesy, but the film does seem to have a sense of mounting dread. to it.
Same with Prince of Darkness. They try for the same level of existential terror and sheer horror as The Thing, but never quite get there. Still, sometimes a goofy B-level horror movie is just what the doctor ordered. Beer helps.
The deal with The Thing is, every time I watch it I'm sure all those tough, experienced, smart guys are gonna figure out how to stop the alien.
But they never do. One by one they go down (horrifically), and I'm somehow still surprised when they do.
Man, that movie had the perfect ending, didn't it.
The prequel wasn't too bad.

M.P.

Steve W. said...

I've now re-watched the Doctor Who special and am still of the opinion that there was so much going on in it that I'm unable to formulate an opinion on it

Colin Jones said...

MP, 'The Thing' was based on the short story 'Who Goes There' by John W Campbell. The first film version was 'The Thing From Another World' but 'The Thing' is much more faithful to the original story.

Anonymous said...

Colin - When my late father was young, John W Campbell (as Editor of Analog/Astounding) was his hero. Nowadays, of course, Campbell is a more dubious figure.

Phillip

Anonymous said...

* Astounding/Analog * !

Phillip

Anonymous said...

I find Dr Who too hectic generally Steve. I think they like to have a lot going on so you don't have anytime to think about the preposterous plots, which don't make a whole lot of sense.
On the other hand, the old twentieth century ones now seem way too slow moving... Some people are never happy, eh?

-sean