September 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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Who hates Stevie Wonder?

Probably no one on the entire planet.

However, to be honest, in September 1984, I was starting to wish he'd never been born, as his latest single I Just Called to Say I Love You clung on to the UK Number One spot for week after week after week. In fact, it spent the entire month and more in pole position, giving some of us a distinct air of having outstayed its welcome.

Over on the British album chart, an almost equal level of dominance was achieved by Various Artists' Now That's What I Call Music 3 which seemed like it was going to rule the roost forever. But, then, at the very death of the month, it was finally dislodged, by David Bowie's newest offering, a thing called Tonight.

The UK's favourite sci-fi mag surprises some of us by interviewing Michael Douglas about his brand new movie Romancing the Stone.

Much as I may enjoy the film, I can't say I've ever viewed it as fitting into the categories of sci-fi, fantasy or horror.

Elsewhere, this issue reviews new cinematic offering Iceman which I've never heard of, and interviews Laurene Landon, star of upcoming sword and sorcery flick Hundra which I've also never heard of.

Fortunately, I have heard of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Starburst interviews him about his latest gift to the world Conan the Destroyer. 

We also receive a preview of The Philadelphia Experiment and are presented with a review of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Tom Baker once more graces the cover of the only magazine dedicated to Time Lords that any sane man would ever buy.

And he accompanies that cover with an interview about his stint on the show.

We also discover, within, Part 3 of the comic strip the world must call The Voyager.

In keeping with the Fourth Doctor theme of the issue, there's a look at the the life and times of the anti-matter antagonist Omega and a look back at Baker's first-ever story Robot.

But it's not all nostalgia, because we also encounter a look ahead to the return of the Cybermen in whatever story it is they return in. I'm assuming it's the splendidly violent one with Brian Glover and all that shooting in the gravel pits.

Drama hits Steve Does Comics Towers, as we reach the last issue that I ever read of this book.

Then again, it's not far off being the last issue of it that anyone ever read, as the mag will survive for just one more month before folding.

In it, Captain Britain returns to Braddock Manor to do whatever it is he returns to Braddock Manor to do. I think the creation of a computerised butler may be one of the feats he achieves while he's there.

Next, Night-Raven finds himself in a tale called  Pathology III.

Then we discover four-page Marvel Showcase yarn Unicorn on Winchester, as brought to us by Martin Lock and Dave Hartwood.

And we round off the issue with the X-Men and Micronauts still battling an evil version of Professor X who, for some reason, is roaming around dressed like a Roman gladiator.

No danger of the UK Savage Sword of Conan folding imminently. Anyone can tell it's got bags of life left in it yet. Just like its star.

Having sad that, I can't tell you anything about the contents of this one, although I am going to assume pirates are involved and Conan gets to fight them.

No doubt, he kills their captain and then takes over as their leader, as that's what usually happens when Conan encounters pirates.

He'll then lead them into terrible danger in some jungle somewhere and get most of them killed, as that's also what happens whenever he encounters pirates.