May 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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As so often, May 1985 saw both triumph and tragedy imposed upon the world, in equal measures.

When it came to triumph, the 30th Eurovision Song Contest in Gothenburg found itself being won by Norwegian act Bobbysocks! and their offering La Det Swinge.

In sport, Everton - fresh from winning their first Football League title in fifteen years - picked up  the European Cup Winners' Cup, thanks to a 3–1 win over Rapid Vienna in Rotterdam.

But the sport also found disaster when 56 people were killed in the Bradford City stadium fire.

And, only days after that, 39 more fans died in Brussels' Heysel Stadium disaster at the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool.

When it came to music, Dire Straits released their new album Brothers in Arms which would go on to become the first compact disc to sell over one million copies.

Rather more ominously, May 1985 saw scientists from the British Antarctic Survey announce they'd discovered a hole in the Earth's ozone layer.

When it came to the UK singles chart, only one track ruled the roost that month. And that was Paul Hardcastle's Vietnam commentary 19.

Over on the accompanying album chart, the month began with Various Artists' Hits 2 atop the pile before that was deposed by the aforementioned Brother in Arms.

The nation's favourite sci-fi mag gives us an odd cover that would look more at home on the front of The Fortean Times than on the nation's favourite sci-fi mag.

That's down to it taking a look at Dennis Potter's upcoming film Dreamchild which appears to be based upon the life and works of Lewis Carroll and involves the Muppet people in some capacity or other.

And because even that's not enough for readers as demanding as us, there's also attention being paid to such fare as Ladyhawke and Buckaroo Banzai.

It's not just the TV show that's been going on for a long time. So has the magazine dedicated to it.

And so it is that the publication hits its 100th issue by taking a look back at the development of the character and his various incarnations over the decades.

It also takes a look at the history of the Timelords.

And there's an interview with writer Robert Holmes.

Not to mention a colour poster of Peri and the Doctor!

It looks like bad news for the hero who never seems to win a fight, as he now has to battle his evil twin Kapitan Briton!

Elsewhere, Abslom Daak finds himself in a thing called The Battle Joined.

Next, we encounter Episode One of a new serial called City Snapshot by Mike Collins. I have no knowledge of that strip at all.

And that's followed by The Coming of the Space Thieves.

It's just another day at the office for the battlingest barbarian of his age when Conan discovers The Devil Has Many Legs!

That seems a bit non-specific. Personally, before fighting the Devil, I always insist on knowing exactly how many legs he has.

In the latest instalment of Magik, Illyana defeats Belasco and becomes ruler of Limbo before returning to Earth and, I would assume, the X-Men.

That's followed by The Ride starring Night-Raven.

And then we discover a Marvel Showcase tale called Forest.

But we conclude our delve into the month's offerings when King Conan encounters the Red Moon of Zembabwei, adapted from the story of the same name by DeCamp and Carter.