April 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. 

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They always say, "If it's not broke, don't fix it."

And how well the Coca-Cola company learnt that lesson when, in April 1985, it dumped its familiar recipe and unleashed the unstoppable powerhouse that was New Coke onto the market.

So bad was the response to it that the original version was back in the shops less than three months later.

Having far more success were Philip Bailey and Phil Collins who were top of the UK singles chart, as the month arrived, thanks to their platter Easy Lover. However, that was soon deposed by USA for Africa's We Are The World which then had to make way for Phyllis Nelson's Move Closer.

So, in the space of just four weeks, the UK top spot had been held by Phil, Phillip and Phyllis. Strangely, no one with any variation of those names seems to have appeared on We Are the World, unless you count keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. 

Over on the accompanying album chart, only one LP topped the listings, that April. And that was Hits 2 by Various Artists.

The nation's favourite sci-fi, fantasy and horror mag takes a look at the hot new film we're all talking about. And that's 2001 sequel 2010.

There are also inspections of Brazil and the films of Wes Craven.

And we learn of a brand new New Zealand film called Death Warmed Up which I must confess to never having heard of but it stars Michael Hurst who will go on to find fame as Iolaus in the TV show Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

From that cover, I assume we'll be getting a glimpse at Attack of the Cybermen which features Sarah Greene as an ice-cold space alien.

We're also treated to an interview with the original Romana - Mary Tamm. 

There's a chat with Christopher Barry who's no relation to the Red Dwarf star of the same name but is, instead, the man who directed The Brain of Morbius.

We also visit the set of the legendarily disastrous serial Timelash. While, elsewhere, the mag looks back at The Stones of Blood and at 1984's Chicago Convention.

I'm assuming that's a Chicago-based convention dedicated to Doctor Who. Not a convention held to celebrate the works of soft-rock band Chicago.

I do believe we're about to read the Captain Britain tale that owes absolutely plenty to the first Quatermass adventure, by giving us a man who transforms into a hideous monstrosity and goes on the rampage in the streets of London.

I have no doubt Britain's favourite hero will stop him.

If not, he'll probably fail miserably and have to stand around watching while someone else does it, like usually seems to happen in his adventures.

Following that, Abslom Daak is involved in a Suicide Gambit.

Night Raven encounters Retribution.

We discover Episode 4 of Paragon of Painthorpe Street.

And the Freefall Warriors find themselves entangled in Mission Improbable.

In this week's thrilling epic, we explore more of Marvel's take on Conan the Destroyer, in which our hero escorts Jehnna to retrieve the horn of Dagoth but Taramis plans to sacrifice her in a ritual that will restore Dagoth to life!

Then there's the four-page article Sword, Sorcery and Celluloid.

From that title, I'm going to assume it's about Sword and Sorcery's penetrations into the field of cinema. I am, therefore, expecting plenty of Harryhausen.

In this month's slice of Magik, Illyana defeats Belasco and becomes ruler of Limbo. Hooray!

Next, Marvel Showcase brings us John Erasmus' A Peace of His Mind.

Then, Night Raven encounters Part 2 of The Visitor.

How ironic that, just before starting work on this post, I was listening to ABBA's The Visitors. Truly, fate works in strange and mysterious ways.

And King Conan is up against The Black Sphinx of Nebthu.