August 31st 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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There are those who'll tell us there's a reason for everything in this world.

The Osmonds clearly hoped that was the case because, this very week in 1974, they ascended to the pinnacle of the UK singles chart, thanks to their track Love Me for a Reason.

On the accompanying LP chart, Paul McCartney and his Wings were proving to be a band who were neither on the run nor even moving, as they remained right where they were at the summit, thanks to their career-defining album of repute.

It's a momentous milestone in the history of Marvel UK, as its flagship title hits its 100th edition!

And to celebrate, we get an issue dedicated entirely to the Hulk!

We kick off with a senses-shattering conclusion to his battle with Draxon the dictator in which the brute brings freedom to whatever European land it is he's in and then reveals himself to be a monster of the people by refusing to become its king. 

Next, we get a 3-page recap of that saviour's origin as brought to us by Lee, Kirby and Ayers and recycled from the pages of Incredible Hulk #3.

Following that, there's the shocking tale in which Kang the conqueror sends the Hulk back in time to kill World War One flying ace the Phantom Eagle because that man is an ancestor of Bruce Banner.

Kang's thinking is that such an act would mean Banner could never be born. Therefore, the Hulk will never exist and the Avengers will never come to be 

I think that everyone except Kang and writer Roy Thomas can spot that, if the plan succeeds, the nonexistent Hulk could never go back in time and would, therefore, not be able to kill the Phantom Eagle. Thus rendering the entire plan futile.

Finally, we receive a two-page feature which tells us everything we could ever need to know about the the star of this book.

When it comes to the celebrations, Daredevil and the Fantastic Four are, it  seems, not worthy of mention.

No such landmark status for Spidey's mag, yet, although it's starting to close in on one.

Having stolen a mysterious ancient tablet from the Kingpin, the webbed wonder decides to hide it in his closet.

But how long can it be before the rotund regent of robbery, rough-housing, ranting, raving and rancidly rapacious rascalisation escapes from his prison cell and decides to retrieve it?

Far far away from that, I do believe Iron Man finally manages to defeat the Mandarin and escape his exploding castle.

In the meantime, Happy Hogan's having serious trouble trying to run Stark Industries. Which you'd expect, what with him being neither businessman nor hi-tech wizard.

And the Destroyer's still rampaging around Asgard, thanks to Loki's determination to ruin the local Olympics.

I get the feeling Loki was probably the kid who got chosen last for sports teams in school and had to play in goal.

I bet Thor always got chosen first.

And got to be the centre-forward.

If you want to know why Loki hates Thor, there's your motivation.

Just as Mighty World of Marvel hits its 100th issue, the company's newest mag hits its 50th.

And it does so with everyone's favourite martial artist getting himself tangled up in a tale they call A Fortune of Death!

I remember little of this story but I do believe Shang-Chi visits a restaurant and is promptly attacked by an assassin.

And then he's attacked by the waiters!

After that, he's probably attacked by the bus driver, on the way home.

It really isn't safe for that man to go anywhere.

Discovering the Wasp and Goliath have been abducted by Diablo, the Avengers set out to rescue them.

Only to discover Goliath's reluctantly working for the criminal pharmacist and that they're going to have to go through both he and the Dragon Man to get to their foe.

Dr Strange, meanwhile, finds himself in the realm of Nebulos who, I assume, is not to confused with Nebulon. There, he gets his hands on a stick which'll enable him to defeat Baron Mordo.

Now all he has to do is work out how the defeat far greater threats of Nebulos and the Living Tribunal.