October 19th 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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Sad, sweet dreamer. It's just one of those things you put down to experience.

How many times have I uttered those immortal words?

Thinking about it, probably never. However, I feel like I should have, as they seem packed to the gills with the kind of wisdom that only I can impart.

And those words were serving the band Sweet Sensation well, this week in 1974, as the song from whose chorus they're drawn hit the top of the UK singles chart.

Hitting the top of the UK album chart was, on the other hand, Rod Stewart who smashed straight in at Number One with his brand new LP Smiler, a record I've never heard of in my whole life. Looking at its Wikipedia listing, I can't say I recognise any of the tracks on it and I also have to say that Smiler is a terrible name for an album.

Having said that, it entered the listings at Number One. So, I can only assume the failing must all be on my part.

You wouldn't know it from that cover image but this issue sees the start of the tale in which the Leader decides to pit mental projections of the Hulk's deadliest foes against him in an attempt to give the brute a lethal heart attack.

Amazingly, despite the villain's reputation as a scoundrel of the highest order, Glenn Talbot and Thunderbolt Ross agree to help him with this.

Fortunately, Jim Wilson is on hand to provide the voice of common sense and sabotage.

The Hulk may be having to contend with many foes but Daredevil has plenty of them on his plate too.

That's because he's forced to battle the Tri-Man who's three different criminals merged into one. 

It can only mean the Gladiator and Masked Marauder have hatched their latest plan and it's all being done in a bid to gain control of the Maggia.

Or Hydra.

Or AIM.

Or the Kingpin's mob.

Or someone.

And I do believe the Fantastic Four have found the climax of their first encounter with Galactus. One which sees the Human Torch return to Earth with the Ultimate Nullifier, thus putting the wind up the big space galoot and leading to a pledge from him to never threaten our planet again.

Our pal Sal gives us his second consecutive Spider-Man Comics Weekly cover while, inside, the hero's at odds with the police, the Maggia have the Terrible Tablet, the Maggia have Curt Connors, and the Maggia have Connors' wife and son.

Can things possibly get worse?

I suspect they will.

Thor, meanwhile, must thwart the intentions of the Growing Man, an android which belongs to Kang the Conqueror and insists on getting bigger every time you hit him.

Some of us might think the solution to that problem is to stop hitting him.

But that solution would never occur to any self-respecting Marvel hero. Therefore, how can even the god of thunder hope to defeat such a foe?

I suspect he'll probably pull a brand-new super-power out of his backside, like he always does whenever his familiar powers turn out not to be of any use.

The sharp-eyed will have noticed there's no sign of Iron Man in this week's issues. Can it be curtains for the canned clobberer of criminals, counterfeits, catastrophisers, communists and counter-insurgent co-conspirators?

Iron Fist is still invading Harold Meachum's office and still encountering the myriad deadly booby traps you'd expect when doing such a thing.

But, even if he gets past all of those obstacles, can he survive an encounter with the man they call Triple Iron?

And just who is this mystery ninja who keeps appearing and disappearing?

Elsewhere, the Avengers conclude their Central Park tussle with the Super-Adaptoid, by the straightforward tactic of all ganging up on him.

And we end with a retelling of Dr Strange's origin, as recounted by Roy Thomas and Dan Adkins.

But, before we depart the scene, I should add that I do suspect this week's Marvel UK books contain ads for two new comics which will be appearing in our newsagents, next week.

But what are they?

And will we like them?