Fifty years ago today - May 1975.

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

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Marvel Marvel Marvel.

That's my introduction to this post.

It's a terrible introduction.

Let's hope the post is better.

I do detect yet more of the seemingly endless Celestial Madonna Saga.

And a chance to uncover the truth, at last, about the origin of the Vision!

Much as I love Gil Kane, I must confess this has to be the sorriest excuse for a monster he's ever placed on the cover of a Conan comic.

Regardless, the story within is called The Dweller in the Pool!

And I have no doubt the monster will seem more impressive when we see it in action.

I'm fairly certain I've never read this one. But I do know Foggy must decide whether to join SHIELD or not.

Call me overly-critical but I don't really see why the world's most high-powered counter-espionage agency would want Foggy Nelson amongst its ranks.

And it has even more woes to come because, as that's going on, it's subject to an attack by Hydra.

And Daredevil and the Black Widow completely fail to prevent the Dreadnaught from kidnapping the District Attorney!

It's another one I've not read.

And it's one whose plotline I can't even begin to guess at.

Except that, apparently, it involves invaders from the 5th Dimension.

But here's one I have read.

And it's a yarn I thoroughly approve of, as Bruce Banner sets off to Russia, in a bid to rescue the captive Glenn Talbot from the clutches of the Gremlin.

According to the blurb, it's the battle I demanded!

Which is total rubbish, as the battle I demanded was between Charles Hawtrey and Barney the Purple Dinosaur. And still, after all these years, Marvel hasn't given me it.

Regardless, I'm getting the feeling, from the front cover, that this one involves MODOK getting into a scrap with the Mad Thinker - and Iron Man getting caught up in the middle of it.

It's good news for some because a certain person returns from the dead.

Or does she?

I'm struggling to recall a single thing about this one but it's clear that Kamo Tharn's involved.

And so is Hercules.

And so is Thor.

As we can see, the Red Skull has shocked us all by returning.

But there may be a far greater surprise in store for us - because this would appear to be the issue in which it's revealed that, all along, the Falcon's been a minion of that self-same villain!!!

And thus is my look at Marvel's big-hitters complete.

But we should never forget the company isn't the only scallop on the beach and that, where it goes, DC travels also.

I therefore suggest we scrutinise a random selection of its titles which likewise bear that May 1975 cover date.

But can it be?

That Kamandi lives in the same universe - and on the same Earth - as Superman?

It would appear so.

And it would appear  that Supes was active at the time of the Great Disaster.

Which does raise the obvious question of what he did during it and of what happened to him afterwards.

After eight billion appearances in other people's books, the clown prince of crime finally lands himself a comic of his very own.

And what a comic it is, as he gets up to something with Two-Face, although I don't remember what it is.

I do remember, though, that they soon fall out and fail at whatever it is they were trying to do, and that both end up back in the slammer.

DC jumps on the martial arts craze a little late in the day when Richard Dragon leaps into action to deliver his eight knuckles of justice to the cheekbones of Villainy.

It's not a book I've previously encountered nor even heard of but the internet informs me that he and Benjamin Turner visit Afghanistan in order to thwart a slavery ring run by someone called Aki.

Move over, Conan because a brand new sorcerer-stabber's in town and I have no doubt every nubile young damsel on Earth will be glad of it!

I've never read this issue but it seems The Curse of Castle Hrothgar involves a distant past. One in which men live in the shadow of the god of fate - and in fear of Satan, Dragon-Lord of the Underworld!

That's not quite how I remember the story of Beowulf going. I can only assume my schoolteachers lied to me.

Mike Kaluta creates another cover but, this issue, ER Cruz replaces Frank Robbins when it comes to the series' interior artwork.

I'm struggling to recall exactly what happens in this one but I think it involves a Bonny and Clyde type pair of robbers, a corrupt official, an autogyro and a weak bridge.

As always, a fatal plunge from a great height probably awaits the wrongdoers.

A whole new level of terror smashes its way into our lives when Secrets of Haunted House #1 arrives to literally melt our local spinner racks and leave our brains torture-wracked.

Three tales of dread await us within, including the one about the family who find a mysterious baby sea creature and take it home with them.

Only for it to grow up to be a mind-controlling sea monster drawn by Alex Niño!