The Marvel Lucky Bag - November 1985.

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

***

Just how moving were the moving pictures that came out in November 1985?

Here's where we find out.

Were we to venture into our local bug hut, in that very month, we would be confronted with such new releases as Death Wish 3, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2, To Live and Die in L.A., Target, King Solomon's Mines, White Nights, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, Rocky IV and Santa Claus: The Movie.

Tragically, the only one of those I've ever seen is King Solomon's Mines which is rubbish and, therefore, I can't with clear conscience declare it to be my Movie of the Month. I shall, therefore, leave it to those better informed than I to decide just which of those films is the cream of that crop.

Marvel's determined to inflict yet more new comics upon me. And so it is that we encounter the first-ever issue of Nightcrawler.

It would appear the shadow-loving rogue's practising in the Danger Room when he, somehow, gets yanked into another dimension where he begins a swashbuckling adventure!

All I know beyond any reasonable doubt is that this story is both written and drawn by Dave Cockrum. 

What's this? Rom's comic is not only still going but is suddenly guest-starring Rick Jones who appears to have Hulked himself up to some degree?

It all happens when the Beyonder arrives at a cabin occupied by Rick, Brandy and Cindy, gives them super-powers and sends two of them into Limbo to retrieve Cindy's parents!

But, hold on, where does Rom fit into all of this?

Mike Kaluta's cover heralds the arrival of an issue in which something or other happens.

All I know about that something or other is it's a yarn called Big Mombo and is the product of Mike's pencils and Elaine Lee's words.

Marvel's latest multi-part epic crossover hits its fifth issue when the Beyonder dismantles a train upon which is riding a young mutant on her way to Professor X's school.

The Beyonder agrees to take her the rest of the way but, once they arrive there, the X-Men attack him and, somehow, this all leads to him beating up the Celestials!

At last, it's the storyline we've all been praying for, as Mary Jane Watson becomes Spider-Man!

Or does she? 

Alistaire Smythe seems to think so.

Seeking revenge for the death of his father, he's out to get rid of the web-spinner.

However, he, bizarrely, comes to the conclusion that Mary Jane is that very web-spinner.

Even though she's clearly not a man.

It's exactly what we've all been praying for, as Marvel gives us its stunning adaptation of the Red Sonja movie that did its best to keep us awake.

I would say we're all familiar with the plot but I've seen the film at least three times and still couldn't tell you what the plot is.

Apparently, this version is written and drawn by Mary Wilshire. 

After years of being Thor's sidekick, Balder finally lands a comic of his own and would seem to be doing so by crossing over with the thunder god's book, as he too journeys to Hel, in a bid to liberate those who don't deserve to be there.

The Fantastic Four's 19th annual sees the gang team up with the Avengers, for reasons I'm not familiar with.

However, it does seem the Infant Terrible puts in an appearance!

Forty years ago today - November 1985.

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

***

1985.

November.

Let's see what it's got to throw at us.

I do believe the Avengers - with able assist from the Skrulls and the Beyonder - finally manage to bring an end to Nebula's interplanetary reign of piracy.

However, that occasion does see the departure of Starfox who's been reminded, by it all, that there's a universe out there to explore.

There's not a pterodactyl safe when Conan's around.

But, come to think of it, does this story even involve a pterodactyl? I believe it involves a cult leader who cynically exploits his followers, and a whole bucketful of rain.

Oh, the veritable meta of it all. Steve Rogers only goes and gets a job at Marvel Comics, drawing the adventures of...  ...Captain America!

But, through that act, he becomes aware of a letter to the editor which claims there's something strange going on in a barn.

Needless to say, Captain America's not the type to ignore a strange barn and, so, he goes there.

Only to find it's guarded by the Mad Thinker's Awesome Android!

It's going to be a hot night for the man without fear, as a small-time crook accidentally gets his hands on Sunturion's suit of armour and sets out to bump off his old gangland boss.

Needless to say, our hero is more than up to the task of stopping him, with a climax that suggests to me that Sunturion was always intended to be Marvel's answer to DC's ERG-1/Wildfire.

Will the drama never end? In a sub-atomic realm, the Fantastic Four are helpless prisoners of the Psycho-Man who's keeping them harmless, with his emotion-controlling devices.

But they may be able to find a little help from a princess they've not seen in a long time...

Also, this is the issue in which Sue Storm stops calling herself the Invisible Girl and officially becomes the Invisible Woman!

That's a very Alex Nino-esque cover from Mike Mignola.

Inside, at an alien crossroads, the Hulk's body, now separated from Bruce Banner's spirit, is possessed by the soul of Walter Langkowski who I think used to be Sasquatch but is currently deceased.

And that all leads to the Hulk being brought back to Earth, by Alpha-Flight!

Spider-Man's managed to arouse the wrath of the normally even-tempered Firelord and must find a way to survive the issue.

But, as that cover makes clear, he not only survives, he thrives!

Then again, we already knew that because we saw the climax of this fight in last month's Avengers comic.

The wall-crawler's quest to bring Jean DeWolff's murderer to justice leads him into conflict with the Sin-Eater who's also killed a judge friend of Matt Murdock.

Our hero, however, finds the villain's not so easy to contain when there are innocent onlookers getting in the way.

Thor and his army descend upon Hel in a bid to liberate those who don't belong there.

But it's not long before he and his army begin to get distracted by the shades of those they care about.

And then Hela shows up and tears Thor's face off.

Tony Stark finally has his big showdown with Obadiah Stane who's got himself a suit of armour and is now calling himself Iron Monger.

Seriously, that's what he's calling himself.

With super-villain instincts that bad, it's no wonder it doesn't take Stark long to completely clobber him.

As that cover suggests, Rachel Summers decides to become the Phoenix, for reasons that completely elude me.

But there are other concerns, as well, because no sooner has he reformed and joined the X-Men than Magneto gets arrested by the government!

November 8th, 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. 

***

Who's up for a good gob?

I'm up for a good gob.

And that's a good thing because, this week in 1975, the world saw the first public performance by the Sex Pistols. A concert so epoch-making that 50% of all human beings who've ever lived have claimed to have been there.

That was all very vigorous, I have no doubt, but things were rather more spaced-out when it came to the UK singles chart because that week saw David Bowie's Space Oddity float to Number One, a mere six years after its first release.

When it came to the accompanying LP chart, things were rather more traditional with Jim Reeves' 40 Golden Greats retaining the top spot it had seized several weeks earlier. Clearly, only time would tell whether it would be Jim Reeves or the Sex Pistols who would dominate the UK music scene from that point on.

Space Oddity is, of course, a timeless classic and a masterclass in how to get away with having a Stylophone on your record but there were other tracks I also approved of on that week's Hit Parade. Among them were:

Love is the Drug - Roxy Music

SOS - ABBA

Hold Me Close - David Essex

No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley & the Wailers

Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale

You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate

and 

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen.

For any brave soul who wishes to investigate that week's British singles chart further, it can be found right here.

While its associated album chart resides within.

But, now, a tale of tragedy because, as explained last week, we've entered a time period in which most of Marvel UK's legendary mags vanished, with neither trace nor explanation, from the shelves of my local newsagent.

Needless to say, I'm still scarred by the experience.

I will, however, bravely soldier on like the indomitable hero that I am.

Hooray! Here's a comic that was available in my local newsagents. 

And I know that because I had it!

As we can plainly see, the Inhumans find themselves confronting the mendacious menace of the Mandarin!

And it's all because the villain is after some sort of sci-fi type eye-thing that's buried somewhere or other.

Elsewhere, Subby's still trying to find Neptune's trident, while Krang holds lady Dorma captive in preparation for marrying her!

Nick Fury has problems of his own, with Hydra deciding to launch a daring raid on SHIELD's barber shop.

I think Captain America may be having his first encounter with the Red Skull.

And Captain Marvel's in a bind. Yon-Rogg's ordered him to unleash a deadly virus in a town on Earth!

And then things get even worse for him when Quasimodo shows up!

I never had this one but I do believe Conan's in a jungle and paying his first visit to the lovely land of Zembabwei.

And that can only mean we're on course for a clash with a giant man-ape!

When it comes to the Avengers, the Black Panther's been captured by the Sons of the Serpent who've announced, to the whole world, that he's a threat to good, honest, clean-living Americans everywhere!

And it's starting to look like they might be right - as a man dressed as him is soon seen embarking on a crime spree across the city!

Meanwhile, Dr Strange is back and, I think, paying yet another visit to Stonehenge, in the latest instalment of his seemingly never-ending attempts to get one over on Shuma-Gorath.

It's another issue I've never read but I do believe Hannibal King is on the streets of London and on the lookout for a vampire who's been bumping people off.

And that, inevitably, leads him to a clash with Dracula himself.

Jack Russell, meanwhile, is about to have an encounter with a hideously deformed actor who calls himself Atlas and is out for revenge against those in Tinseltown who he thinks have wronged him.

And the Living Mummy is battling the evil Elementals on the streets of Cairo.

This is one of the comics my newsagent did have.

In it, Cornelius and Zira tell people called Dixon and Branton just what happened in the first two movies. and a man called Hasslein tries to explain time travel, to a TV audience.

That's followed by a three-page article about the much-loved POTA TV series.

And that's followed by Tim Conrad and Otis Adelbert Kline's short tale A Vision of Venus which I must admit to having no recollection of at all.

And the Man-Gods From Beyond the Stars encounter a sabre-tooth tiger that's no match for their force-fields but is more than a match for the local cavemen and women!

It's another one I never had but I can plainly tell that a brand new villain makes his debut.

One who bears a remarkable resemblance to a very old villain.

It's true. The Gremlin, son of the Gargoyle, turns up.

And it's all because the Hulk's search for Betty has led him to the frozen north.

Daredevil, meanwhile, is having a rematch with Starr Saxon's robot.

One which ends the same way as the first, with him spark-out unconscious.

And, in the Fantastic Four's strip, the Silver Surfer's busy mithering about the prospect of Galactus returning in a bid to recruit him, once more, as a herald.

It's another one I never had, but I am aware that, within its hallowed pages, Spider-Man and the Lizard set out to intercept Morbius, in an attempt to reduce Spider-Man's arms supply.

Someone had better alert Chic because Iron Man is still having trouble with the return of the Freak.

And it's not just the Silver Surfer who's feeling anxious about the whereabouts of Galactus, this week, because, exiled by Odin, Thor's been sent off in search of the planet-eater.

But, perhaps he should have waited a while. After all, back on Earth, a hostile land has created the robotic Thermal-Man and dispatched him to wreak havoc upon the cities of the United States!

That's all good and gripping but what I want to know is just what is The Parker Principle that the front cover refers to ?

And I didn't have this one either but I do believe a miracle has occurred which is that Giant-Man finally manages to defeat the Human Top!

Mostly by waiting until the villain gets tired of spinning around, and, then, hitting him. Once again, clumsy mediocrity has triumphed over genius.

Elsewhere, the Cat is fighting Captain Kraken in a tale drawn by Patty Cockrum.

And the X-Men are having trouble with Lucifer who wants to conquer mankind, on behalf of his alien masters!

The Marvel Lucky Bag - November 1975.

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

***

It takes money to see a film at the cinema.

But what if someone were to let us sneak in through a fire door?

Then we could see as many films as we liked!

But what would we like?

Well, we might like some of the films that were released in November 1975, such as The Sunshine Boys, Stardust (if we lived in America), A Boy and His Dog and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

The only one of those films I've ever seen is Stardust and the only things I recall of it are that it stars Adam Faith and David Essex and closes with the song of the same name. However, I'm going to assume it doesn't end happily for the protagonist, as it's a 1970s movie about the music business, and we all know how those always end.

But what's this?

It's that rare thing, a sighting of Conan drawn by Jack Kirby.

A sight that, I suppose, brings back memories of Barry Smith's early, Kirby-inspired, days on the strip.

Speaking of which, in the following action-packed 68 pages, Conan reprints his way to glory, as he encounters Elric of Melnibone for the first time, thanks to the pencils of the aforementioned Barry.

But that's not all, because we also encounter The Blood of the Dragon! as first seen in Conan the Barbarian #12 and drawn by Garrulous Gil Kane.

Iron Fist finally gets a comic of his very own!

But he'll be lucky to survive to the end of the first issue, due to having to combat Iron Man; after breaking into Stark Industries, in search of Colleen Wing.

Does he find her?

No. He finds Misty Knight.

To be honest, I'd settle for finding Misty Knight instead of Colleen Wing.

Unfortunately, he also finds Shellhead's knuckles, which are rather less appealing.

Erik Killmonger may have been finally disposed of - but now the Panther must deal with Erik's upset girlfriend Madam Slay who likes to kill people...

...with leopards!

Red Sonja leaps into her very own regular series, thanks to the launch of Marvel Feature.

Two stories make up this sword-shattering issue.

In the first, our heroine enters a temple and is promptly attacked by Satyrs!

In the second, she delivers a tiara to someone called King Ghannif but soon learns her reward is to become part of his harem!

That tale is, of course, reprinted from Savage Sword of Conan #1.

Is it the first story ever to feature her scale-armour bikini?

I have a feeling it may be.

There's a coincidence. Mere days ago, I remarked upon this month's launch of DC comics' Hercules series and, now, Marvel's version of the prince of power also gets his own solo outing.

And one in which he must take on the might of Typhon!

As we all know, a Treasury-sized adaptation of The Wizard of Oz was the first collaboration between Marvel and DC.

This time, however, we encounter an all-Marvel extravaganza, as something or other happens.

Whatever it is that happens, it takes up a massive 75 pages. So, it must be fairly substantial.

And it's brought to us by Roy Thomas, Alfredo Alcala and Mary DeZuniga .

As Iron Man and the Thing quickly discover, Prester John's back - and has been driven mad by an evil magic stone that's making him want to take over the whole world!

Fifty years ago today - November 1975.

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

***

Can November already be upon us? Mere weeks after the year began?

Yes it can.

And it was upon us in 1975, as well!

The Squadron Sinister is back - and, no doubt, causing as much trouble as ever!

Although I must confess I'm struggling to recall just how and why this reunion has occurred.

I suspect that this tale contains all the elements we expect from a Conan story.

For instance, it would appear the barbarian and his friends are on their way to the city of Messantia when they decide to rescue a beautiful girl who's been kidnapped by a bat-monster!

I can only assume a wicked sorcerer can't be far behind.

We encounter a tale of mutual misunderstanding, as the new Torpedo tries to prevent his deadly costume from falling into the wrong hands but Daredevil assumes he's up to no good and attacks him. An act that leads to the destruction of a suburban home. And an act that makes the two men realise what a pair of wallies they've been.

Do my eyes detect a Jack Kirby cover?

Yes, they do!

I must confess I have little knowledge of the Crusader but I do know his uncanny resemblance to Marvel Boy is more than mere coincidence.

We can only hope he doesn't retain his old predilection for nuking people.

Doc Samson is back!

And, erm, that's all I can recall about this tale.

However, I do believe this issue to be the end of Herb Trimpe's long, long run on the strip. One that began way back in 1968!

And I detect another Jack Kirby cover!

Sadly, I know nothing of this issue's contents, other than that it features not only the Black Lama but, also, Firebrand, Baron Rockler and Baroness Rockler!

I have no idea who Baron and Baroness Rockler are.

I do believe this is the one where Spidey's getting all hot and bothered over whether he's a clone or not.

Fortunately, he soon realises he can't possibly be, and that's the end of the matter and it's never heard of again.

"I've been paid to murder you, hero-- --and the Stilt-Man never fails!"

A bit of false advertising there, I think.

Regardless, the Falcon faces criminal proceedings over his previous mob-related activities and this leads his former gangland boss to send the Stilt-Man to silence him before he can blab to the authorities!

And mine eyes do detect another Jack Kirby cover!

They also detect that someone's probably been watching Jason and the Argonauts.

Regardless, inside, I think the thunder god's still up against a bunch of Egyptian deities.

That's Marvel's output scrutinised but what of that other company? The one we only know by two letters?

Just what will a random sampling of its comics that bear the same cover date reveal?

It'll reveal that we need to get our one dollar ready to hand over because it's Superman's turn to get the Limited Collectors' Edition treatment.

And, in this pulse-pounding publication, he stars in such thrillers as Autograph, Please!, The Juvenile Delinquents From Space!, Zigi and Zagi's Trap for Superman!, The Mxyztplk-Susie Alliance! and Superman's Day of Doom!

There's also a look at Superman's Young Friends On Film and Curt Swan's guide to How to Draw the Superman Family!

And, of course, as we all expect of such books, there's a 3-D diorama for us to cut out, assemble and keep!

You know what I want to know?

I want to know how all my favourite super-villains got their powers. 

But I don't have Bring On the Bad Guys handy. So, I'll have to read this instead.

Join DC, as it gives us the Joker in The Man Behind the Red Hood!, and the tale of How Luthor Met Superboy! Not to mention the origins of Captain Cold and Dr Sivana, 

And there's also The Origin of Terra-Man whoever he is.

Apparently, he's something to do with Superman.

There's also a one-page look at super-heroes and their enemies, plus a two-page Rogue's Gallery of Super-Villains.

Sixty-eight pages of drama await us when Earth Shaking Stories enters our life.

In the first of those shakers, interplanetary criminal Grax defeats Brainiac before visiting Earth to plant an awesome bomb on Superman. One that threatens to destroy the whole world!

Next, a new villain manufactures disasters in order to commit his crimes - and only Hal Jordan and Barry Allen can stop him.

Or can they?

Next, E. Nelson Bridwell introduces us to Great Disasters of History.

And, finally, Captain Marvel seeks to halt the Atomic Fire!

As you may have suspected, most of these offerings are reprints.

We've all experienced Marvel's take on Hercules.

Now we get the chance to see how DC handle him!

It's World War Three and our hero finally manages to liberate himself from a rock he's been chained to for centuries.

Upon befriending a blind boy, the musclebound maestro vows to introduce his fists to the face of Ares who's to blame for all the fighting that's going on in the world.

You can say what you like about the 1970s but it loved to bring us brand new comics.

And here's another one, all set to to expand our brains and send our senses reeling.

In this issue, we get three big action tales.

In the first, Superman and Jimmy Olsen pit their crime-fighting skills against those of Batman and Robin. But, as the heroes indulge in various contests of skill, their respective Revenge Squads are out to scupper their efforts!

In the second, the Teen Titans battle a would-be villain who manages to defeat them twice!

In the third, the Flash sprains his ankle while rescuing citizens from a fire. And that's the worst possible time for him to be attacked by Captain Cold and Heat Wave!

As you may know, all of these masterpieces are reprinted from the 1960s.

Deadman's back!

And, from the looks of that cover, he's on his back!

However, I suspect he's not set to meet his final doom, just yet, as, from this issue onward, he's going to be co-starring in the book, alongside the titfer-topped tormentor of tyrants, troubadours, thieves, time wasters, temperamentalists, troublemakers and scoundrels.

I've not read this one but it seems someone called Sensei teleports Cleveland Brand to his sanctuary, in an attempt to kill Deadman.

The Black Orchid, meanwhile, has a far more minor problem on her hands when one of her fans is invited to join a group of women who reveal they are all, secretly, the Black Orchid.

However, is all as it seems?