The Marvel Lucky Bag - November 1974.

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

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It is time, once more, for us to enter the cinemas of 1974 and discover just what lies in wait for us, therewithin.

Therewithin, we encounter Blood for Dracula, Confessions of a Window Cleaner, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Earthquake, The Tamarind Seed and The Land that Time Forgot.

A cynic may argue it's a "unique" kind of month when The Land that Time Forgot is the pick of the crop but, then, even the maddest of fools knows The Land that Time Forgot would be the pick of the crop in almost any month in human history.

The Celestial Madonna saga rumbles on, with the death of the Swordsman and other, no doubt, shocking unfoldings. All brought to us by the sturdy pencil of Dave Cockrum.

But that's not all - because this issue also contains a reprint of the Fantastic Four's first-ever encounter with Rama-Tut. The one in which they go back in time to Ancient Egypt, seeking a cure for Alicia's blindness -  only to discover the land is ruled by Kang the Conqueror's earlier incarnation.

The most startling swamp creature of all is back. And back in a tale I don't think I've ever read and have no knowledge of.

Still, I can at least say that's a dramatic cover, if nothing else.

I'm led to believe, by the internet, that Dracula pursues a magic statue and this causes him to be captured by an unknown opponent.

And that, dear Reader, is why I never pursue magic statues.

Gabriel the exorcist makes Bob Larkin's front cover. But what occurs inside?

Mostly, we get Satana stories titled This Side of Hell and Doorway to Dark Destiny.

There's also a chiller called Fright Pattern, starring a woman called Mary Jane. I'm going to assume it's not that Mary Jane.

And, of course, we close with Gabriel in To Worship the Damned. 

Panther's Rage takes another step forward when T'Challa infiltrates Killmonger's lair but is knocked out cold by Sombre who dumps him in the snow-filled Land of Chilling Mists, on the assumption he'll be killed by passing wolves.

Needless to say, he won't be.

We also get a two-page map of Wakanda, overlaid with images from the serial so far. That means we can now know exactly where each story's taken place, should anyone ever ask us.

It's the clash that had to happen, as Kraven decides it's about time he got to beat up a werewolf.

I assume he fails in the task, although I've no doubt at all that he'd easily vanquish Werewolf by Night.

It's a very Conanesque tale, as the jungle lord gets to tackle a giant river reptile in a thriller drawn by John Buscema and Alfredo Alcala.

But forget all that. This is what we came here for, as the Giant Superhero Holiday Grab-Bag smashes its way into our lives!

It's not one I ever had but I do know it contains such sights as Spider-Man and the Human Torch in Have Yourself a Sandman Little Christmas!, Daredevil In Mortal Combat With... Sub-Mariner!, the Black Widow in ...And to All a Good Night, and concludes with the Hulk vs the Thing from Fantastic Four #25 & #26.

Drama hits ever-higher levels when the High Overlord sends the Death Breeders after Killraven and his gang.

I think this might be Craig Russell's first issue as artist but don't quote me on that.

There's also a three-page sci-fi reprint from 1956's Journey into Unknown Worlds #47. That reprint is called The Strangers and is brought to us by the potent pencil of Happy Herb Familton.