January 26th 1974 - 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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Do you know what's neat?

Tiger Feet!

How do I happen to know this?

Because Mud told me.

An introduction of such quality can only mean one thing. This was the week in 1974 when that band hit the summit of the UK singles chart with the melange of Retro and Glam which spawned the smash hit about possessing the paws of a stripey feline.

To this day, I still don't have a clue what the song's actually about but who am I to doubt the wisdom of the band that Showaddywaddy could only dream of becoming?

Over on the accompanying album chart, Perry Como was being far less cryptic as he sailed serenely to the top of the mountain with his LP And I Love You So. I must confess I've never heard that LP but, given his reputation, I'm going to assume it's a relaxing listen from start to finish.

Can it be true? Has Spider-Man become a criminal and joined forces with the most tentacular terror known to man?

Sort of, because he's lost his memory and the villain's convinced him they're partners in infamy.

Not only that. He's sent him off to steal some top-secret military blueprints.

However, even with his memory absent, our hero's starting to have doubts that he could ever be friends with such a reprobate.

Meanwhile, in his strip, Thor's as much use as a marshmallow hammer, as he stands around watching while Odin defeats the Absorbing Man by sending him and Loki flying off into space.

But the thunder god may soon be needed back on Midgard because, there, a witch doctor finds one of the Norn Stones that have been nothing but trouble lately, and promptly gains super-powers before renaming himself The Demon.

But hold on to your hats, armour lovers! A historic moment has been reached. The comic that's always only ever had two strips (unless you count Tales of Asgard) has suddenly gained a third!

That strip is Iron Man and we're about to discover just how the Avengers star came to be, when arms dealer Tony Stark gets some shrapnel in the heart and is taken prisoner by a Vietcong warlord who wants him to design weapons for him.

And, of course, there's yet another chance to design a hero or villain of our choosing in a contest that could see us nabbing one of those fancy colour TVs I oftimes hear speak of.

Disbanded by the local council, Hawkeye, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch are out of work until they get jobs at a circus.

The Ringmaster's circus!

However, the hypnotic heel tells the police they've tried to steal from him, forcing the trio to go on the run. 

Meanwhile, Captain America's out to bring the Enchantress and Power Man to justice. 

This all leads to the defeat of the villains and the council reversing its previous decision. Thus letting the team reform.

Only for Cap to declare that he's quitting the band.

Elsewhere, judging by that cover blurb, it would seem Mordo is the hunter and Dr Strange is the hunted. Which can't be good news for either humanity or the master of the mystic arts.

But it's not just Spidey's book that's gained a strip. As that frontage makes clear, Daredevil returns to the imprint's flagship title, restoring what I suspect many will see as its classic lineup!

But will he live long enough to enjoy his resurrection?

After all, in the Hulk's strip, the Leader's just fired a nuclear missile at Russia in a bid to start World War 3.

Only the Hulk can stop it but, first, he must defeat the villain's indefatigable Super Humanoid.

Fortunately, a handy volcano offers a solution to that problem.

Next, we're re-treated to the origin of the man without fear but, this time, as told by Stan Lee and Gene Colan in the pages of Daredevil #53.

Finally, we get the arrival of a brand new super-villain when Sue and Johnny Storm's dad turns himself into the Invincible Man! A foe blessed with the powers of the Fantastic Four themselves!

Or does he?

Two of this issue's three yarns feature villains trapped in volcanoes. I can see no significance to this fact but feel I should mention it.