Fifty years ago today - March 1975.

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

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The Past. No one knows where it resides but everyone knows where to find it.

Right here.

Holy shooting heck, we're about to get the shocking reveal of just who Mantis's dad is!

And he's one of the Avengers' naughtiest foes!

And the Celestial Madonna Saga still isn't over!

Red Sonja's back but there's no sign of her on the front cover.

That's because she isn't in the main tale. Instead, she has an adventure all of her own. One in which she's captured by someone called Vincentius before escaping and giving him the good killing he's asking for.

The issue's main story, however, is called The Rats Dance at Ravengard! and adapted from Gardner F Fox's Kothar and the Conjurer's Curse.

I've definitely read this tale but can't remember anything that happens in it.

The internet, however, informs me that Nomad fights Gamecock, Roscoe dies and Steve Rogers again becomes Captain America.

Seriously? There's a Marvel character called Gamecock?

The Crusher's back!

Wasn't he from Cuba or somewhere?

Or am I thinking of someone else?

Either way, it doesn't matter because this isn't the real Crusher.

Instead, this is a boxer from the gym where Daredevil's dad used to train. One who's somehow managed to acquire the powers of the original Crusher.

Is this the one with the imitation Shalla-Bal being used in some mad plot by Dr Doom to control the Silver Surfer?

And then it turns out she's actually the real Shalla-Bal?

But the Surfer never discovers that?

I must confess I'm struggling to remember exact details about it or of just how it is that Shalla-Bal manages to end up in Latveria.

Thunderbolt Ross manages to get his hands on his own equivalent of the Spider-Slayer.

Needless to say, such a wobbly-looking contraption proves to be no match for the Hulk.

But it does have a satellite dish. So, at least he'll be able to watch Sky News while he's inside it.

I am 100% certain I've never read this book. And I'm 100% certain I don't know what happens in it.

But I do note that it's tagged, "Fury in a Far-Off Land," which does make me wonder just how many Marvel stories have managed to use that tagline over the years?

And is it more or less than the number that have proudly declared, "Lo, There Shall Be an Ending!"?

How can you not love a cover like that?

Though I suppose the fact we all know Mysterio's a master of illusion does somewhat lessen its ability to stun the senses.

Let's face it, if it had been Aunt May who was removing her own head, that'd be a whole other matter.

But, of course, just as this month's Crusher isn't the real Crusher, this month's Mysterio isn't the bona fide deal either. In fact, he's an old friend of the allegedly deceased villain, who's merely adopted his act.

Nope. No idea what happens in this one.

It looks like bad news for Midgard, though.

Thus are Marvel's greatest heroes disposed of.

But what of that company's greatest rival?

For purposes of context, let us visit a random sampling of what DC comics was offering which bore the same cover date.

We're well and truly into the Mike Grell era and encountering a tale in which the Legion of Super-Heroes discover that foul futuristic fiend filled with felonies, fury and fighting finkdom Universo has escaped.

This brings them into contact with a Science Police officer called Dvron.

But will he help them apprehend Universo?

Or will he hinder them?

That's followed by Lightning Lad's Day of Dread in which the tale's titular character honours the first anniversary of his parents' death by visiting the place where they died.

But, there, he encounters his crime-loving brother Lightning Lord...

Do I detect a Nick Cardy tribute to the cover of Flash #123?

I suspect I do.

Inside, from what I can recall, the Superman Revenge Squad are out to kill our hero but he thwarts them by using the services of an actor who plays him in a TV show.

That's followed by a yarn titled Find Black Canary, Dead... or Alive!

From memory, I'm going to assume that's the one in which the heroine's been kidnapped and the Green Arrow has to rescue her.

Everyone knows I love a good horror comic. And I have no doubts at all this'll prove to be such a beast.

Having said that, I recall nothing of the tales in this one.

I do know we kick off with a chiller called Almost Human which is followed by a thriller called The Lottery.

And that's followed by nothing at all because it seems there are only two tales in this issue, rather than the usual three.

I've never read this one but the Grand Comics Database assures me the five spine-tinglers in it are called When You Were Alive!, The Girl in the Grave!, My Dolly Is the Devil!, Send Us Your Dreams and It!

All of them are 1950s reprints and a number of them are the handiwork of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Frank Robbins' stint on the strip continues but the cover's by Joe Kubert.

Within, we find The Night of the Falling Death! in which the hat-wearing hero must thwart a bout of smuggling at Niagara Falls.

But just how are the miscreants doing that smuggling?

And how does it involve a stuntwoman who likes to impress the crowds by going over the falls in a barrel?

And, because we have an insatiable appetite for the character, there's also a two-page history of the Shadow's appearances in various media.

Jim Aparo creates another memorable cover but it's Gerry Talaoc who illustrates the insides.

As far as I can remember, a man determined to revive his dead wife abducts the Phantom Stranger, in order to transfer his life force into that woman.

Needless to say, it all goes wrong for the man, and the Stranger lives to lecture us all another day.

That's followed by a Black Orchid tale called Operation Frame-Up! in which a villain uses a super-computer to plan his crimes.

Until the Orchid's access to X-rays, rubber masks and robots puts a stop to it.