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

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The dark days of 1980s English football got noticeably darker, this month in 1985 when, in response to the Heysel disaster, just four days earlier, UEFA announced an indefinite ban on all English clubs taking part in European competition, with Liverpool expected to serve an extra three years after other English clubs had been readmitted.

In a more positive sporting vein, the city of Birmingham, England, unveiled its bid to host the 1992 Summer Olympics.

When it came to films, A View to a Kill was unleashed upon an awestruck world, marking Roger Moore's seventh and final appearance as James Bond.

Also waving goodbye to us was Route 66 which was officially decommissioned. Whether that means it's still there but not used, I cannot say.

On the UK singles chart, June sauntered into our lives with Paul Hardcastle ruling the roost, thanks to his track 19. That was then dethroned by the Crowd's You'll Never Walk Alone which, in turn, lost its top spot to Frankie by Sister Sledge.

The associated album chart watched the month begin with the Style Council's Our Favourite Shop in pole position before that was dislodged by Bryan Ferry's Boys and Girls which then had to subside before the might of Marillion's Misplaced Childhood which then had to make way for Bruce Springsteen's Born in The USA!

Drama builds upon tension, and tension builds upon drama, as Captain Britain convinces Technet to return him to the proper world - whatever that is - where his double-crossing doppelganger's attacked Betsy Braddock!

Abslom Daak, meanwhile, finds himself in Daak Alliance.

And Night-Raven finds himself In the Frame.

Mike Collins, however, gives us Part Two of City Snapshot.

And Space Thieves presents PARTS vs. Zarts, though, frankly I have no idea what it is.

Yet again Conan discovers The Devil Has Many Legs!

But does he have too many?

And just how many is enough?

That's followed by Pete Scott's article The Eternal Champion.

Next, Red Sonja learns that While Lovers Embrace--Demons Feed. A fact she'd already learnt in the pages of 1983's Red Sonja #1.

After that, Night-Raven must contend with Time & Tide, this issue's Marvel Showcase sees Mike Jones unveil a four-page yarn called To Win a Maiden's Heart, and King Conan must endure the Red Moon of Zembabwei!

But what's this majestic announcement? If we enter a competition, we might win a Doctor Who record?

Please tell me it's Doctor in Distress. Who wouldn't want a copy of that slamming away on their gramophone?

There's also a gallery of readers' art, a look back at the Davison era story Frontios, a review of The Two Doctors/Mark of the Rani, and an interview with Vengeance on Varos director Ron Jones.

And, if the cover's to be believed, on top of all that, this issue includes all my favourite regular features!

But this is what we all came here for. A look at the making of Return to Oz!

There's also an interview with John Halas but I don't know who he is. So, I'm going to assume he's some sort of animator.

There also looks to be a chat with Jeff "Starman" Bridges.

And there's definitely a retrospective of classic ITC show The Prisoner.