January 20th, 1973 - 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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This week in 1973 was a good one for two men who would be king.

Or at least President.

It was, after all, the week in which Ferdinand Marcos became President for Life of the Philippines, while Richard Nixon was sworn in for a second term as President of the United States.

I can exclusively reveal that, despite whatever ambitions they may have had, neither of them went on to spend the rest of their lives as President.

When it came to music, Little Jimmy Osmond's Long-Haired Lover from Liverpool was still at Number One on the UK singles chart.

But perhaps more intriguingly, the Number Two and Three slots were taken by the Sweet's Blockbuster and David Bowie's The Jean Genie, giving us a battle to see which of two singles using the same riff could triumph over the other. My money's on the Sweet because their record had a siren on it and you can't go wrong with a siren.

Over on the UK album chart, there was no question about who'd triumph because, that week, Back to Front by Gilbert O'Sullivan ascended to the top of the pile, even toppling the mighty Slade, in the process.

I do believe we get the tale in which the Hulk fights one of the Leader's indestructible humanoids, atop a speeding train. Somehow, this all leads to Bruce Banner being charged with treason.

I also believe the Chameleon's involved in it all but I fail to recall in what way.

And, while that's going on, Spider-Man finds himself battling the Vulture who's escaped from jail and gone on yet another crime spree. I think this might be the tale that sees the feathery fiend invade the Daily Bugle's printing presses.

In another part of New York, the Fantastic Four are having their first-ever encounter with the Puppet Master who's concocted a deadly plan involving his stepdaughter and her remarkable resemblance to Sue Storm...