May 4th 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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This week in 1974 saw Eurovision work its continental magic, as, coming from nowhere, ABBA claimed the top spot on the UK singles chart, with their track Waterloo. A spot they would go on to claim on nine separate occasions, over the course of their career, making them, surely, the biggest chart act of the 1970s in Britain.

On the accompanying album chart, pole position was still being held by the Carpenters with a compilation the world could only know as The Singles 1969-1973.

I do believe I never owned this issue but I do know it features the Hulk's first encounter with the Absorbing Man. And it all happens when Bruce Banner agrees to fly an experimental aircraft for reasons I can't recall.

For reasons I also can't recall, Crusher Creel, somehow, finds himself attached to the outside of that aircraft -  and the inevitable punch-up ensues.

But how can the Hulk hope to defeat a foe who's every bit as strong as he is - and even smarter?

As far as I can remember, he can't. 

And doesn't.

One man who doesn't have to worry about fights, this week, is Daredevil who, for some reason, appears not to be present in this issue. 

However, the Fantastic Four are more than present and we are, thus, treated to what I think is their second punch-up with the Frightful Four. An encounter that climaxes with the villains literally nuking our heroes.

Fortunately, Sue's invisible force field proves up to the task of protecting them from such a thing.

But at what cost to the team?

And to their careers as super-heroes?

If that cover's to be believed, it looks like the game's up for everyone's favourite master of the martial arts, as he must take on the power and attitude of Black Jack Tarr.

I do believe this is the issue in which Shang-Chi convinces Denis Nayland Smith that he's changed his spots and is now a battler against evil.

From what I understand, the Avengers finally overcome the Sons of the Serpent - and make the shocking revelation that the ourobouros inclined offsprings of ophidiousness have been led, all along, by none other than their supposed target for assassination General Chen!

And I do believe that, in his strip, Dr Strange is busy mithering himself about the fate of Clea who Dormammu's banished to somewhere or other for her annoying habit of giving aid and support to the good doctor.

The two vultures are still battling it out in the skies of New York to decide which of them is top dog.

Not that either of them will gain that title if Spider-Man has his way.

Having only just completed the job of stopping the Crimson Dynamo from trying to sabotage his plant, Iron Man now has to deal with the Melter trying to do the exact same thing.

Only weeks after Jack Frost tried to do it!

But, this time, it's real trouble for our exoskeleton-loving entrepreneur, as he meets the one foe his armour's powerless against.

Meanwhile, Thor's still on a mission to rescue Hercules from Pluto's Underworld.

I do believe this causes the thunder god to have a run-in with Cerberus who, for some reason, isn't depicted as the three-headed dog we all know him to be.

Meanwhile, above ground, Jane Foster's flatmate with the unfeasibly large head is turning out to be an alien!