November 16th, 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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Clowns to the left of me? Jokers to the right?

Well, this week in 1974, one of those clowns was stood right in front of you, serving you burgers because it was the week in which McDonald's opened its first UK restaurant, in London's Woolwich neighbourhood.

Granted, I've no evidence that Ronald McDonald was, himself, actually serving customers in that venue but I shall assume he was, for purposes of having a memorable opening to this post.

Elsewhere, the radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory, Puerto Rico, was busy beaming an interstellar message at Messier 13 in the constellation of Hercules. For those breathlessly awaiting news as to whether it received a reply, that message won't reach its destination until sometime around the year 27,000 AD. So, don't build up your hopes.

That signal may have been aimed at a star but, on that week's UK singles chart, twinkly-eyed heartthrob David Essex was boasting he was gonna make you a star.

It's true. That very week, his song of that title hit the toppermost of the poppermost to give him his first British Number One.

While, over on the corresponding album chart, the Bay City Rollers were still riding higher than anyone, thanks to their LP Rollin'.

I'm impressed by how the Lizard always has a lab coat on, even in stories where Curt Connors is nowhere near a lab when he transforms into him.

Of course, in this story, he was near a lab when he transformed. Therefore, he does have an excuse.

But things are looking grim for Iron Man.

As if it's not bad enough for him that he's been captured by the Mandarin, he now has to endure the ring-happy windbag recounting a self-regarding and unlikely life story which incorporates everything from communist revolutions to dragons from outer space.

To finish off the issue, Thor wins his battle with the Super-Skrull.

But other matters are afoot when Odin sends Sif and Balder to find the three Evil Enchanters.

Roy Thomas' unique brand of social satire hits its peak when the Hulk finds himself entangled in the up-to-the-minute world of Radical Chic.

It's that one in which the verdant violence generator finds himself at a party in New York and, somehow, ends up having to fight the Valkyrie who's inhabiting the body of a young women's libber.

And, of course, Tom Wolfe turns up.

After that, if I'm not mistaken, Daredevil takes a flight to jollie olde Englande where Ka-Zar's been charged with murder.

Can it be true? Can the jungle lord really have turned into a bounder?

Or is his caddish brother behind it all?

And Daredevil's not the only one dropping in on foreign climes, because, upon accepting an invitation to visit a mysterious African kingdom, the Fantastic Four find themselves attacked by a man known only as the Black Panther!

I do believe I spot an Iron Fist cover that's been repurposed into a Shang-Chi one.

Inside, our issue begins with Quickliver and the Scarlet Witch falling into a trap set by Magneto who wants to re-enlist them into his battle against humanity.

That is, of course, an Avengers tale.

"Quickliver," was a typo but I like it. Therefore, I'm keeping it.

Next, Dr Strange teams up with Victoria Bentley in an attempt to find out where Clea is and rescue her from whatever fate it is she's enduring.

And, finally, Shang-Chi and Sandra Chen are on a flight when they're attacked by a whole planeful of assassins.

Needless to say, those assassins go the same way as do all assassins foolish enough to attack the master of kung fu.

I should point out, at this juncture, that I've recently become aware that, "kung fu," simply means any pastime which requires patience and skill to master. Which means Marvel could literally have launched a comic about a man who does nothing but flower arranging, every issue, and got away with calling it Master of Kung Fu.

Drac's back with a modified version of an old Neal Adams cover.

Inside, I do believe Frank Drake's still having problems with his vampiric girlfriend wanting to kill him. However, I suspect he quickly turns the tables on her.

Elsewhere, I suspect Jack Russell's hairy alter-ego's having problems with a bloke who's trying to strangle him to death for reasons I can't recall.

To be honest, I'm not sure I want to read the adventures of a werewolf who can be strangled to death by normal people. I do like my werewolves to have at least a modicum of super-strength.

And Frankenstein's Monster's in a romantic mood, as he forces his creator to build a mate for him.

However, as I'm sure you'd expect, it doesn't end happily for her.

I'm sure all music lovers remember Randy Hanzlick's classic song I'd Rather Have a Bottle in Front of Me Than a Frontal Lobotomy.

Sadly, our hero's going to have to settle for the second of those options.

That is, unless he can escape captivity.

And he does.

And has a run around Ape City.

And is then recaptured.

In his strip, Ka-zar's getting to know the Petrified Man better, as he and he travel to the Savage land where a woman called Zaladane heads a cult devoted to the stone-faced sailor and is inciting her followers to wage war on other tribes in that realm.

Gullivar Jones, though, is still on Mars, now drawn by Ross Andru and having to contend with a giant red water-monster reptile thing.