The Marvel Lucky Bag - July 1984.

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

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The 1980s had never been more 1980s than they were in July of the year made famous by George Orwell.

Why, one merely had to visit a cinema to see that, with the month unleashing the release of such films as The Last Starfighter, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Electric Dreams, The NeverEnding Story and Purple Rain.

I think the only one of those I've ever seen is The Last Starfighter. Therefore, my opinion about the merits of them all is not only irrelevant but non-existent.

I could claim to have encyclopedic knowledge of the contents of this one but I know nothing.

However, the internet leads me to believe it features tales with such titles as High No One and The Djinn. The latter of which being drawn by Steve Ditko.

We find ourselves confronted with the last issue of this book and it's one that waves goodbye to us with a stylish cover by Mike Kaluta.

The tale inside is drawn by Bo Hampton and it would seem that, plotwise, a sorcerer called Zohar is out to resurrect Marc Spector's father.

Whether that's a good thing or a band thing for our nocturnal nobbler of nefarious ne'er-do-wells, I'm not altogether sure.

It's another one whose contents I know little of but I do know the main story stars the Thing in sensational solo action and is brought to us by Barry Smith who's also in sensational solo action, having both written and drawn the tale.

Then again, it's not that solo, from the Thing's point of view, because the Human Torch is also in it.

But there's a second tale in this issue.

And that stars Daredevil who's involved in a yarn its creators have dubbed Crimson Ash.

A thrilling new mini-series smashes its way into our lives.

And I can tell you nothing about it, other than it's brought to us by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy and that this issue's instalment bears the name Phase 1 Phaedra.

In a wave of intrigue and plotting, Marvel's most ambitions project continues with the Wasp cosying up to Magneto, the Hulk concerned that his intellect is fading, and Spider-Man single-handedly defeating the X-Men.

Dr Doom, meanwhile, is still working on whatever scheme he has in mind, while Thor and the Enchantress head off together for a chat.

It's practically the law of the jungle that there always has to be a Tarzan comic out there somewhere.

And so it is that we're treated to the launch of a brand new limited series dedicated to the wildest posh bloke of them all.

It seems to be an origin story for our hero and would also appear to be reprinted from 1983's Marvel Super Special #29.