The Marvel Lucky Bag - December 1982.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon. 

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Film-goers had more options than they could shake a stick at when they looked at the cinema listings in December 1982.

Why, if you were willing to shell out the money, you could experience 48 Hrs, Gandhi, Airplane II, Sophie's Choice, The Dark Crystal, Tootsie, The Trail of the Pink Panther and The Year of Living Dangerously.

My pick of those would, inevitably, be Airplane II, even though I don't remember it being very good.

I am fascinated, however, to see that The Year of Living Dangerously featured Australian actor Bill Kerr, best known in Britain as Tony Hancock's slow-witted sidekick in Hancock's Half Hour. It does always seem strange to see him turn up in other things, especially serious dramas.

It's 37 pages of history being made, as Monica Rambeau becomes the new Captain Marvel!

I've not read this one but, according to the Grand Comics Database, Monica causes a fancy new weapon to explode and it gives her super-powers.

Weeks later, stricken by excess energy, she visits the Baxter Building to get Mr Fantastic's help but, upon learning he's away, tries the Avengers Mansion and recruits Iron Man's help, instead.

All of which poses the obvious question of where's Spider-Man in all of this, bearing in mind it's supposed to be his annual?

Now it's time to get excited.

Because Adam Warlock gets his own, brand-new, comic!

Granted, it's not that new, being made up entirely of reprints from his mid-1970s run in Strange Tales.

But you're never going to complain about a second chance to read those classics.

And it's not just Warlock who's getting his own comic this month.

So is Kull!

And the tale it contains really is new!

And it's 48 pages long!

From what I can make out, while rebuilding his city, after an earthquake, Kull breaks open a previously buried tomb that's covered by serpent-men symbols.

I think we can all guess that that's going to lead to nothing but trouble...

But the big news of the month is the Smurfs have their very own Marvel comic! I can't wait to see Roy Thomas' attempts to integrate the Smurfs into the Marvel Universe.

Sadly, Roy has no involvement in this mag. Instead, the writing is credited to a man called Peyo who also draws the tales contained within.

Marvel's most speculative mag asks what would have happened had the Fantastic Four not gained their super-powers?

Sadly, I can't tell you what would have happened, as I've never read it but, given how What If tales tend to turn out, I'm going to guess it would have spelt disaster for humanity, especially when Galactus shows up.

The back-up tale, on the other hand, asks us what would have happened had Nova not given up his powers.

And I can't answer that question either.

The Avengers get their 11th annual and it's another one whose contents are a mystery to me but it seems to involve a crossover with the Defenders and a battle with Nebulon and his mystery girlfriend.

I'm always happy to rush to the defence of Al Milgrom but even I can't defend that total mess of a cover.