October 11th, 1975 - 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. 

***

On October 11th, 1975, Model World made its first appearance on BBC television. In it, man of the people, Robert Alexander Baron Schutzmann von Schutzmansdorff showed us all how to make a model railway from bits of paper and cardboard.

Believe it or not, this was the most interesting thing that happened in the world on that day.

There was only one thing for it! We were going to have to take refuge in the thrills and spills of Marvel UK, as never before!

But, before that, what of those vital UK charts?

When it came to the singles listings, David Essex was still ruling the roost with Hold Me Close.

While, on the LP rankings, Rod Stewart stood supreme with Atlantic Crossing.

Hold Me Close is, of course, a classic but there were other tracks that gained my approval on that week's Hit Parade. Among them were:

Sailing - Rod Stewart

SOS - ABBA

Moonlighting - Leo Sayer

The Last Farewell - Roger Whittaker

Space Oddity - David Bowie

and

Love Is the Drug - Roxy Music.

Should one wish to study the matter in further depth, that week's UK singles chart can be discovered here.

While the accompanying album chart dwells within.

The Avengers tackle the team who'll become the Invaders, in what my razor-sharp senses tell me can only be Blackpool.

But, first, I do believe Conan finally discovers the truth about the Living Tarim whose existence has been the main cause of all the unpleasantness of the past few months.

Then, the Black Knight finds himself drawn into the Grandmaster and Kang's chess match, even as Yellowjacket, Cap and the Vision find themselves confronting a trio of 1940s super-doers.

And Shang-Chi's still having an adventure in the back of Groucho Marx's taxi.

Despite what that cover might imply, the king of vampires hasn't decided to enter the world of show business.

Instead, he's spending the night in a haunted house possessed by the spirit of an Aleister Crowley like character.

Elsewhere, I do believe Jack Russell gets his hands on a ring which enables him to keep his human mind, even while he's in the form of a werewolf.

And that's good news because he's going to need all the smarts he can summon when he comes up against the bludgeoning bulk of Baron Thunder.

And I do believe the Living Mummy's hanging around in a desert, for reasons I'm not sure of.

We're still escaping from the Planet of the Apes.

Although "escape" may be the wrong word because our chimpanzee adventurers find themselves in a cage at the zoo and having to pretend they can't speak, in order to preserve their safety.

Next, I do believe Captain Marvel must confront the Sub-Mariner, for reasons I can't recall. AND he has to put up with the malevolent Yon-Rogg watching his every move for signs of treason!

And it would appear Adam Warlock's still having trouble with Counter-Earth's version of Reed Richards - also known as The Brute!

Drama can't get more dramatic than this because not only does Spider-Man wake from a dream, to discover he now has six arms, we also get our first encounter with Morbius the living vampire!

Well, Spider-Man may have six arms but AIM have three Iron Mans.

It's true. Those badly behaved beekeepers have managed to make three duplicates of Tony Stark's armour!

And I think we can assume they're not going to use them for the betterment of mankind.

Elsewhere, I think Thor's still looking to beat up Him for trying to steal his girl.

If we don't count that cover from the other week, Tiger Shark makes what I believe to be his Marvel UK debut.

And it all happens when Bruce Banner heads to Niagara Falls after discovering Betty and Glenn are honeymooning there.

Quite what he expects to do when he gets there, I don't know but what he actually does get to do is launch into a scrap with the fin-foreheaded fiend who thinks the Sub-Mariner must have sent him.

Following that, Daredevil's fists engage in vigorous political debate with the Stilt-Man's face when the telescopic terror is hired to kill Foggy Nelson, in the mob's ruthless attempt to prevent him from becoming District Attorney.

And the FF have problems when the Silver Surfer decides the best way to unite mankind is for him to become its deadly enemy!

It's terrible news for Giant-Man fans, as the crane-sized crime-clobberer gets literally rubbed out by the Living Eraser!

That's followed by the senses-shattering conclusion of the Cat's origin.

And I do suspect the X-Men have to prevent Magneto from making clones of the Worthington family!

But an oddity does strike me.

Which is that all the heroes on this cover will go on to be replaced, in their roles, by someone else.

The original X-Men will be replaced by the New X-Men, Greer Nelson's Cat will be superseded by Patsy Walker's Hellcat, and Hank Pym will be replaced, as Ant-Man, by Scott Lang and, as Goliath, by Clint Barton and Bill Foster.

Fifty years ago today - October 1975.

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

***

Comics.

They need no introduction.

In a shocking twist capable of wrenching a man's sanity from his very brain, the Vision carries out a manoeuvre that's known in the trade as The Reverse Neal Adams.

I seem to recall this all being down to the aftermath of  a fight with the Whirlwind and, possibly, our hero having grown too tall too fast.

My memories of this one are fuzzy but I do believe it includes a battle between a giant scorpion and a killer shadow. I'm going to assume that fight was set up by Conan - and that it leads to the salvation of a city.

No shortage of Kirby Krackle on that cover from Gil Kane, while, inside, Cap and the Falcon must thwart Deadly Nightshade's plan to gain control of SHIELD's male agents, as part of her bid to conquer the whole of the United States. 

This issue's victory for common sense sees the Falcon regain his Sam Wilson persona!

A brand new villain makes his debut!

In fact, two of them do! Because there are no less than two villains called the Torpedo making their first appearance, in this tale.

Sadly, for one of those villains, it's also his last appearance. For no sooner has he started fighting Daredevil than he's crushed by a falling wall!

Fortunately for the world of crime, there's an insurance salesman called Brock Jones who just can't wait to take his place.

It's the moment we've all been waiting for, as Gaard shows up!

But doesn't he turn out to be Johnny Storm?

Regardless, I've no doubt that, next issue, the FF will find themselves up against the deadly threat of Wikketkeeper.

And, the issue after that, they'll be battling the terrifying menace of Centralholdingmidfielder.

Iron Man finds himself confronting a pair of foes I've never heard of but it seems they're called Professor Kurarkill and Quasar.

All I know is I'd stay away from any hill called Murder Mountain. I can't help feeling someone's trying to tell me something.

At last we reach the conclusion of the Jackal saga - and the truth about the return of Gwen Stacy.

Not to mention the launchpad of a Clone Saga everyone will love.

It all happens when our hero must fight another our hero, in order to rescue Ned Leeds from the clutches of Professor Warren.

But, when the scrap's over, how does our surviving hero know he's really our hero and not just a perfect copy of him?

Isn't this the story where, for some reason, Odin decides to do to himself what he usually does to Thor and banishes himself on Earth, with no memory of his true identity?

I have no doubt that, by doing so, he needlessly endangers the whole universe and then, after Thor's sorted it all out for him, decides to punish him for it.

In other news, I do believe Egyptian gods turn up in this one

The Ani-Men may not be able to beat Daredevil but perhaps they'll have more luck against the all-new X-Men.

Then again, they probably won't.

Either way, one of our superstars is going to be dead at the end of it all, thanks to his determination to thwart the evil plans of Count Nefaria.

Hooray! The Hulk comes up against the Loch Ness Monster!

Tragically, for reasons unknown, the tale never admits it's the Loch Ness Monster. Instead, labelling it The Loch Fear Monster, as the green one must endure the jealousies and rivalries of the not-at-all-stereotypical Black Jaimie MacAwber and Angus MacTavish.

That's enough of Marvel's big hitters. In order to see their activities in context, we need to know just what the competition was up to at the same time.

And that means it's vital we peruse a random sampling of DC comics which bear the same cover date.

Drama's piled upon drama when the Avenger finds himself battling the menace of The Monster Bug! which I think is a virus that turns people into murderous fiends.

But who's behind the evil scheme?

And can the putty-faced crime-fighter put a stop to it in his penultimate issue?

My knowledge of this one is especially hazy but I'm led to believe that, while planning the Justice League's next adventure, Cary Bates and Elliott S! Maggin enter Carmine Infantino's office, find a Cosmic Treadmill and accidentally activate the thing.

Thanks to this, Bates appears on Earth-2, as a super-villain. Whereas Maggin appears on Earth-1, in the company of the JLA!

I've picked this one purely for the Joe Kubert cover but I'm sure the insides are just as splendiferous, being filled, as they are, with stories bearing such titles as Old Soldiers Never Die, Twice Dead and The Year 700 After The Bomb! [Part 1]. I'm assuming Part 2 of that thriller must be appearing next month?

It's the first issue of a sensational new comic that will last for just one issue.

But what an issue. Not only is it drawn by Walt Simonson, it features two tales of mystery, intrigue and riddle-solving.

The first such tale is an adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's The Final Problem which, no doubt, involves an appearance by the legendary Reichenbach Falls.

And the second is an adaptation of The Adventure of the Empty House. The details of which elude me but I suspect an empty house may be involved.

As if all the Batman goodness we've encountered over the years hasn't been enough for us, we're set to get even more of it because Batman Family #1 enters our lives!

In our first thrilling tale, Batgirl and Robin must unite to keep British mega-patriot Benedict Arnold from taking over the United States!

Then we get The Origins of Batgirl and Robin the Boy Wonder.

Next, Alfred the butler finds himself battling The Great Handcuff King!

Following that, a crook once caught by Commissioner Gordon uses the detective to lure Batman into a trap!

Now, we encounter a reprint of Batman's first-ever encounter with the Man-Bat!

And, a one-page feature tells us how Alfred became Batman's butler, and of his time as the villain the world could only know as The Outsider!

Atlas/Seaboard September 1975.

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

***

It's a calamity worthy of Atlas Comics themselves!

As Sean rightly pointed out; last month, I forgot to look at the September comings and goings of the greatest comics publisher of 1970s!

But, right now, is where I put that right!

The company's best barbarian reaches his fourth and final issue, with what looks to be a dramatic battle with something or other.

I do know this tale's called Death-Night in the Darkling Forest! and it's brought to us by the nocturnal majesty of Mike Friedrich and Jim Craig.

But, apparently, they're not the only ones involved, because the story has four inkers; Dan Adkins, Pablo Marcos, Frank Giacoia and Aubrey Bradford. I can only assume that's because it's so awesome that only the combined power of four delineators could possibly restrain it.

Regardless, it's followed by the single-page Larry Lieber editorial What's Happening With Atlas!

I've not read that but, having encountered the contents of earlier such articles, I suspect it'll be about the great plans the company has for the future as it soars to ever greater heights.

The GCD informs me that 267,000 copies of this issue were printed, including 15,000 for the UK market. All of this month's Atlas comics seem to have had the same size print-run.

Unlike Wulf, Tiger-Man hasn't yet reached his fourth issue.

Like Wulf, however, he has reached his last issue.

And he does so by battling a mad psychotherapist who uses his powers of hypnosis to make his patients kill themselves.

Fortunately, his attempts to do the same to our hero completely fail. Mostly due to dumb luck rather than any traits that hero actually has.

With all these deaths of short-lived titles, one might think it's all doom and gloom for the company.

But it's not.

Even as we experience the demise of those other mags, a brand new contender appears to steer the company towards a safe, secure and thrilling future.

That mag is Demon-Hunter and, thanks to the work of Rich Buckler and David Anthony Kraft, its titular star finds himself up against The Harvester of Eyes! which, from that title, sounds like a relaxing tale.

I know little of the contents of this one but I do know it'll be the only issue of this comic ever produced.

Or will it?

Or will Kraft and Buckler sneakily transfer the character across to Marvel Comics by renaming him Devil-Slayer?

October 4th, 1975 - 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. 

***

This week in 1975, lovers of quality music were in for a treat and a half because there were no fewer than two versions of Fattie Bum Bum and two versions of Una Paloma Blanca on the UK singles chart at the same time. With news like that, how did we ever survive the 1970s with sanity intact?

We survived because we had the world's greatest comics company to restore our equilibria.

But, before we get round to that, we should acknowledge that, despite those two songs' logic-defying achievement, neither of them was top of the pops.

No.

That honour was reserved for David Essex who was currently at the UK summit, thanks to his demand that we, "Hold Me Close."

And the LP chart too saw a fresh new Number One, thanks to Pink Floyd's latest smash Wish You Were Here now ruling supreme.

Also feeling supreme, that week, was Muhammad Ali who defeated Joe Frazier in the Thrilla in Manila. A fight which was watched live by over 100 million people, worldwide.

Speaking of which, Spider-Man's definitely in need of some equilibrium restoration as he hits Hallucination Mode this week, encountering a whole host of imaginary foes, thanks to having drunk a potion designed to rid him of his super-powers.

But, as we know, it only means he's going to end up with six arms instead.

A man who could probably do with six arms, right now, is Iron Man who continues to be up against the Maggia on their gambling ship.

Frankly, he's making a bit of a meal of it. He seems to have been on that boat for several years now. Still, at least AIM have showed up to sink it. So, he might finally get away from the place.

If he survives...

Elsewhere, Him's leapt out of his cocoon and taken a shine to Sif.

And that means a punch-up with Thor!

"The master of kung-fu begins his wildest adventure yet!" the cover breathlessly informs us.

And I do believe that signals we're being introduced to the yarn in which Shang-Chi teams up with a New York cabbie who looks and talks like Groucho Marx.

I must confess the details of just how that team-up occurs elude my memory.

As does any explanation for the man's appearance. 

But, of course, before that, we get to read the latest instalment of Conan's life when he must survive The Murderous Mirrors of Kharam Akkad. Not to mention the atavistic attentions of his tentacled monster!

When it comes to the Avengers, I think Thor's in combat with the seemingly unbeatable Hyperion who the thunder god makes surprisingly short work of, while Goliath makes a complete and total meal of dealing with the Whizzer.

If Aubrey Bradford's cover doesn't make you want to rush out and buy this comic, you must have no pulse.

Then again, if you had no pulse, you wouldn't be buying this comic. You'd be starring in it.

But the big news is that Dracula Lives has confounded the sceptics by hitting the Big 50.

And I do believe the book's star celebrates by standing around having an argument with his daughter Lilith before returning to a haunted house.

Meanwhile, the Werewolf by Night helps Tigra and friends escape the clutches of Hydra.

I'm sure the Living Mummy's up to something.

And we finish the issue with a Neal Adams tale about two teenagers who encounter a noise-powered cavemen.

That Ken Barr cover can only mean one thing. Marvel UK's simian weekly celebrates reaching fifty issues, by launching into its adaptation of Escape From the Planet of the Apes!

Part One, of course, sees a trio of apes emerge from a crashed spaceship.

And we all know what happens next...

Following that, Captain Marvel's still battling the Super-Skrull - and I do believe this is the week in which he finally wins.

Next, a four-page Chris Claremont article takes a look at Our Martian Heritage which I suspect of discussing movies and TV shows that have featured beasties of that inclination.

And Adam Warlock's fighting the Brute who's trying to drown him.

Despite a cover that reveals little of this week's contents, I do believe the Hulk is in the process of clobbering the Abomination, following that character's recovery from his recent coma.

I believe that Daredevil has his work cut out protecting Foggy from the attentions of the Stilt-Man, following his friend's announcement that he's going to run for election as District Attorney.

And I believe the Fantastic Four are yet again struggling with the Mad Thinker's latest android in a storyline that's definitely been going on for too long now.

Happily, introducing that android to the Negative Zone, via the medium of flinging him through its doorway, soon brings an end to the tale.

The Silver Surfer's gone - and the Cat arrives to take his place!

Granted, she can't be taking it for very long, as her American book only survived for four issues before biting the dust.

But with the Cat and the original X-Men headlining it, how can this comic possibly fail?

Especially when they're joined by the adventures of Giant-Man?

Speak Your Brain! Part 111.

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

***

Image by Tumisu
from Pixabay

What can it be?

That thing that's rapidly approaching us, like a thing with a mission?

Why, it can only be our old friend the last day of the month.

And that means there's just time to squeeze in another visit from the feature that just doesn't know when to stop visiting and wouldn't stop visiting even if it did know how to stop visiting.

It can only be the one in which you The Reader get decide just what the topic of debate shall be.

It may be something that's only just occurred to you or something you've been tortured by for many decades but, whatever it is, you can register it for discussion in the comments section below.

September 1985 - 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. 

***

I bet James Cameron was getting excited, this month in 1985. It was, as I'm sure you know, the month in which a joint French-American expedition located the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, followed - just days later - by the shooting of the first photos and moving pictures of the boat taken since its sinking, 73 years earlier.

The UK, meanwhile was being stricken by far worse news, as September witnessed a BSE outbreak following the first confirmed case of the disease in British cattle.

Also, riots broke out in Handsworth and Brixton.

But Mexico too was stricken by ill-fortune, its capital rocked by an earthquake that registered 8.0 on the Richter Scale and killed 5,000-45,000 people, injuring another 30,000 more.

Elsewhere, 60-year-old Welsh fashion designer Laura Ashley was injured in a fall at her daughter's home and died from her injuries, ten days later.

And 62-year-old Scotland national football manager Jock Stein collapsed and died from a heart attack, at the end of his team's 1–1 draw with Wales in Cardiff. A draw which had secured his country's place in a World Cup qualification play-off.

But there was at least some good news to be had because the month also saw the opening of the UK's first three Toys R Us stores, and the first Super Mario Bros was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

When it came to music, September arrived with David Bowie and Mick Jagger's Live Aid propelled Dancing in the Street atop the UK singles chart before that had to make way for the equally Live Aid propelled Midge Ure with If I Was.

Meanwhile, on the accompanying album chart, the period began with Now That's What I Call Music 5 reigning supreme before it was pushed aside by Madonna's Like a Virgin which was then smashed ruthlessly in the face by the arrival of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love.

But what's this? Starburst gives us a cover reminiscent - to those of a certain vintage - of the frontages which once adorned the the late and lamented TV21 comic.

No signs of any Gerry and Sylvia Anderson inside, however. Instead, our main event is an interview with Roger Moore who talks about his latest cinematic smash A View to a Kill.

We also receive an interview with director Tobe Hooper, as regards his upcoming films Lifeforce and Invaders from Mars.

And, after that, Colin Wilson talks about his novel The Space Vampires, upon which Lifeforce is based.

But there's also an analysis of the failure of the V television series to set the ratings alight.

And we also discover a preview of the Cambridge Animation Festival.

It's a very pleasing cover but is the inside of the book as pleasing as its outside?

Well, as far as I can determine, it seems Giggles has led the offensive by manipulating light energy patterns and that the warp children are being offered refuge at Braddock Manor.

Then we encounter the four-page Thicker Than Water by John Tomlinson and Jeff Anderson.

Next, Night-Raven appears in The Pay-Off.

Following that, Abslom Daak headlines a tale called Instant Harma.

And we conclude the issue when the Space Thieves experience a yarn enigmatically labelled PARTS vs. Everybody.

The front cover may be dominated by Cybermen but our big news is an interview with the show's producer John Nathan-Turner and its script editor Eric Saward. The two men most responsible for the ever-upward trajectory of the show in the mid-1980s.

As if that wasn't enough of a thrill for us, we're also treated to a look at the role comedy's played in the show, and a look at Doctor Who on the radio. Assuming, that is, that you can look at things on the radio.

We also find a selection of readers' drawings, news of the the show's former actors and a look back at the magnificently insane serial Kinda.

September 27th, 1975 - 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. 

***

Everest. It's not just a brand of double-glazing. It's also a mountain.

And, this week in 1975, it was a newsworthy one because it was a week which saw Dougal Haston and Doug Scott become the first Brits to climb it.

Almost as historical was the opening of the National Railway Museum in York, making it England's first national museum outside London.

This claim does lead me to want to discover just when the National Pencil Museum opened in Keswick, Cumbria.

I have now checked, and the Internet informs me it opened in 1981.

I do believe this is the launch of the six-armed saga that's long divided fandom.

Personally, I loved Spidey having six-arms and think he should have kept them.

As for Tony Stark's opinion on the matter, I cannot say and, right now, he's probably too busy to express a preference, as he's still lumbered with Whiplash on the Maggia's gambling ship which may now be under attack by the forces of AIM and under imminent danger of submersion.

And Thor is about to have his first encounter with Him whom has taken a shining to Sif. A decision that's in danger of getting a hammer wrapped around Him's head.

We encounter a pivotal moment in the life of Conan the Barbarian, as John Buscema takes over from Barry Smith on the pencilling chores, in order to unleash a thriller called The Mirrors of Kharam Akkad!

The Avengers, on the other hand, find themselves dispersed to the four corners of the world, in a bid to prevent the Grandmaster's Squadron Sinister from destroying such landmarks as the Statue of Liberty, Big Ben, the Taj Mahal and the Egyptian pyramids!

And Dr Strange finds himself up against the horror of Dagoth thanks to the words of Gardner F. Fox and the pictures of Craig Russell.

While it's nice to be treated to so much concentrated Lovecraftian goodness, it is hard to avoid the feeling that this Shuma-Gorath-related serial is starting to grow a little repetitive.

It sometimes seems like life is one long, non-stop fight, for the Hulk who arrives back from Counter-Earth - only for the Abomination to finally recover from his plunge from space - during the Klaatu storyline - and be instantly recruited for Thunderbolt Ross' latest doomed scheme to tackle the Hulkster.

Daredevil concludes his encounter with Willie Lincoln, by helping the blind ex-soldier to thwart the evil intentions of Biggie Benson and his henchman Whitey Barton.

This involves both a court case and a punch-up. Whether Whitey is any relation to Clint and Barney Barton, I cannot say.

The Thing, meanwhile, has finally overcome his desire to be evil.

But it will it be in time to save Sue from an attack by one of the Mad Thinker's androids?

I assume this is a reprint of the Drac adventure that owes more than a small debt to The Legend of Hell House, with added Aleister Crowleyness thrown in for good measure, which sees he and a young woman having to survive a night in a domicile that wants them dead.

Elsewhere, the Living Mummy concludes his fight with the Living Pharaoh. Strangely, he seems to have less difficulty against the Kemetic committer of criminal misdeeds than the X-Men did.

Werewolf by Night gives us the origin of Tigra, revealing her to have once been the super-heroine the world would have known as the Cat had she been around for long enough for the world to have known of her.

And we wrap up the issue with a short tale called The Monster in the Mist! followed by the single-page yarn Peter Snubb: Werewolf!

It seems we're still aboard that Tom Sutton pencilled apes-on-a-ship tale and about to meet a man called Alaric who just can't wait to lead the local humans into conflict with their ape masters.

Elsewhere, fresh from his encounter with Counter-Earth's heroic version of Dr Doom, Adam Warlock now has a meeting with its incarnation of Reed Richards.

Only to discover he's a monstrous villain called the Brute!

And Captain Marvel's still battling the Super-Skrull!

This cover does look weirdly like it was coloured in with a felt-tip pen. I suspect, though, that that was not the case. Even Marvel UK's ofttimes idiosyncratic approach to reprinting probably didn't extend that far.

Rather more importantly, I have a suspicion this may be the Surfer's last appearance in this book.

Also in danger of making their last appearance are the X-Men. Thanks to their clash with the Sentinels, Hank and Bobby are hospitalised, while the others find themselves attacked by a mysterious stranger at their mansion.

It's only when the Angel's parents drop in for a visit that we discover the mysterious assailant is none other than that ferrous-fondling felon Magneto!