June 7th, 1975 - Marvel UK, 50 years ago this week.

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

***

This week in 1975 was a great one for people who wanted to go on a narrowboating holiday in Egypt, because it was the week in which the Suez Canal reopened, following its closure for the Six-Day War.

But it wasn't such good news for people who like summer to be summer.

It was, after all, the week in which snow showers struck across the UK. And they struck to such an extent that even London experienced the phenomenon. The first time that had happened in June since the long-gone days of 1761.

But there was great news for lovers of European integrations, as the week saw 67% of British voters choose to remain in the EEC, thanks to a referendum that would put the matter to bed forever.

And what of the charts?

The nation gained a brand new Number One when Windsor Davies and Don Estelle's evergreen cover of Whispering Grass hit the top of the UK Hit Parade.

While, on the accompanying LP listings, The Best of the Stylistics maintained the dominance it had first achieved several weeks earlier.

"Thor vs Mangog!" boasts the cover! "Iron Man battles Moleman!"

I think I know which of those two contests is more likely to get my pulse racing.

But the main attraction is, as we can see, a clash between Iceman and Spider-Man when the world's greatest boyfriend decides it'll be a great idea to terrorise Gwen Stacy, so she'll never suspect he's really Peter Parker.

Fortunately, the Popsicle powerhouse is on hand to put a stop to that sort of thing.

His life of danger takes Shang-Chi and friends to Egypt where Fu Manchu's daughter is out to get her hands on a golden beetle whose power she could potentially use against her father.

Needless to say, daddy dearest isn't going to take that sort of thing  lying down.

The Avengers, meanwhile, find themselves in Wakanda and captives of the Man-Ape who wants to take over the kingdom.

And he doesn't care who he has to squish to do it.

And Dr Strange is taking a noticeable backseat, as a combination of the Hulk's obduracy and Barbara Norris's self-sacrifice sees the master of the mystic arts liberated from the clutches of the Undying Ones, meaning he can return to Earth and resume his life as a normal, everyday citizen.

The FF vs the Sentry? The Hulk vs the Silver Surfer? How could anyone not want to read this comic?

The Surfer is, of course, trying to knock some sense into the Hulk's thick head and convince him he can't transport him to another planet where men will leave him alone.

The Sentry is, on the other hand, trying to rid his island of the Fantastic Four, on behalf of an alien race called the Kree.

And I do believe Daredevil's still struggling with the Ani-Men who've been recruited by the Exterminator to do whatever it is he's recruited them to do.

Mostly, robbing people at parties, I think.

Mark Twain's still ruling the roost, as, upon landing on an island, Derek is confronted by an ape in shining armour.

It's Sir Gawain, who then takes him to a medieval castle inhabited by apes and talking humans where Derek must kill a dragon!

I'm still not totally sure this is an improvement on Apeslayer.

After that, we're treated to a 10-page article populated with facts about Pierre Boulle, his ideas and consequences.

Following that, Adam Warlock's up against it, as we have to question whether even his power can prevail against the might of Pih-Junn.

Who, I think, turns out to be a pigeon.

Things are looking up for the newly-deceased Dracula because a preacher's out to impress his followers by reviving him, in order to prove that God can resurrect the dead.

I can't help feeling he might have chosen a better subject for the demonstration.

Elsewhere, Jack Russell's furry alter-ego, finishes off his scrap with the Hangman.

And Brother Voodoo has plenty on his plate when he's kidnapped by AIM. It turns out the renegade gang of boffins are creating an army of mind-controlled zombies and can't wait to inflict the same treatment on him!

From the looks of it, Conan's going to be having spider trouble!

But, first, he has to put up with being delirious in a desert.

Elsewhere, Thongor's imprisoned by the Demon of Zangabal.

This, somehow, leads to him breaking a mirror and freeing someone who's lumbered with the name Aqquoonkagua.

As is instantly apparent, it's yet more Mephisto mayhem for Norrin Radd.

And it's an odd tale that sees the dread lord of all sinners free our hero from the limitations of Galactus' space barrier - only to kidnap Shalla-Bal in order to blackmail him into attacking SHIELD.

Quite what Mephisto has against SHIELD, I have no idea.

As for the X-Men, they're fighting the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in an abandoned industrial building and it all leads to the Blob getting fed up of both teams - again - and - again - returning to his preferred career as a carnival entertainer.