June 1984 - 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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Even as I type this deathless prose, the European Football Championships are going on, with England and Scotland crushing all before them, like vast rolling pins of awesomeness. However, history is doomed to repeat itself and, exactly forty years ago, the continent was witnessing Euro 84. That tournament was won by France when they bested Spain 2-0 in the final.

Not doing quite so well as the French and Spanish national football teams was the British economy. In fact, it was doing so badly that UK unemployment hit a record high of 3.26 million people.

However, even at the worst of times, some people have reason to celebrate and, amongst them, that June, were Wham! whose Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go began the month by sitting pretty atop the British singles chart.

Even more however, it then found itself confronted by an absolute behemoth of a record, as Frankie Goes to Hollywood's Two Tribes swept it aside to claim the top spot and grant the Merseysiders their second British Number One - and their first to enter the charts in the top spot.

Over on the accompanying album listings, only one LP ruled the roost, that June. And that LP was Legend by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Brand new Doctor Colin Baker makes the cover, with his convincingly American companion Peri but, inside, we're treated to Part Two of the comic strip the whole wide world knows as The Shape Shifter.

When it comes to articles, there's a retrospective upon the 1970s villain Morbius - a foe who definitely would not be caught declaring, "It's Morbin' Time!" - and an interview with Lis Sladen, plus critiques of Frontios, The Awakening and Resurrection of the Daleks.

I must confess to knowing nothing of this month's contents.

I do believe, though, that that striking and memorable cover is by none other than Joe Jusko.

As the Alan Moore era winds down - following the death of Mad Jim Jaspers - Brian, Linda and Opal are brought to Otherworld to stand around, attending the funeral of Merlyn.

Following that, we're gifted a four-page Showcase tale called Right Foot Backwards: Looking For Osker as created by Mike Collins and Chris Buckle.

Next, Night-Raven finds himself confronting The Bells of Hell.

And, then, there's a three-page Showcase called Dragon, brought to us by Kevin Hopgood.

But what's this? The X-Men replace Cloak and Dagger in the book, when they encounter the Micronauts and must thwart the menace of Baron Karza and an evil Professor X?

It's good news for all lovers of Canadian horror because the nation's favourite sci-fi mag interviews David Cronenburg about his brand new film The Dead Zone.

Meanwhile, Joe Dante's interviewed about various of his movies, there's a preview of the film Sword of the Valiant which I've never heard of, and a look at Doctor Who.

As if that wasn't enough for us, there's an overview of dinosaur movies - and a chat with John Sayles, the man who wrote the cinematic masterpiece that is Battle Beyond the Stars.