August 2nd, 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. 

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We all know there's no greater pleasure to be had than can be found in a good old dose of ageing horror.

And, therefore, one of my happiest memories from childhood is of watching a Cabinet of Dr Caligari/Quatermass II double bill on BBC Two, one Saturday night.

Friends, that Saturday night was August 2nd, 1975, and it happened in Blackpool!

It's true. I was on that year's summer holiday. And that means it took a coach trip for me to get there.

And what do I recall from that coach trip?

I recall the coach seats having shiny metal ashtrays on the back of them, that you could dismantle and put back together again.

I remember Don Estelle and Windsor Davies singing on the coach radio. I remember The Bay City Rollers singing on the coach radio.

I also recall plenty of Alan Class being consumed on the journey - involving a tale of a man who gets turned into a totem pole, something to do with a Mexican cliff diver, a scientist who's attacked by plants, and something called They Drive By Night.

But, most of all, I recall reading several of the comics below.

I definitely recall reading this one on the coach.

But how could I not? It's the senses-shattering return of the Green Goblin!

And it's the start of the legendary drugs story that changed the history of American comics, as, freshly back from England, Spidey saves a youth who's decided he can fly from rooftops while under the influence!

In South-East Asia, Iron Man's got problems too, when Half-Face summons Titanium Man to do battle on his behalf.

And, then, Thor must confront Galactus, as the huge-helmeted heel makes a bid to swallow Ego.

But never to swallow his own ego.

Bizarrely, I've no memory at all of the Butlin Super-Joker feature and shall, therefore, conclude that I was not a Butlin Super-Joker.

I also have no memory at all of a robot pterodactyl showing up in this week's Avengers tale, nor of a real one appearing in Conan's strip. I, therefore, suspect this cover may be somewhat taking liberties.

As for what does happen inside this mag, I do believe the barbarian's in some tunnels and having to fight a big black dog, as his involvement in the Siege of Makkalet continues.

The Avengers, meanwhile, enter a whole new chapter of their lives, thanks to being introduced to a robust new metal called Adamantium, and the Vision starts to act oddly before disappearing.

Both these strips are drawn by Barry Smith. Only two weeks ago, Dr Strange's strip was drawn by Barry Smith. That's how close we came to experiencing an all-Barry Smith issue of this mag.

Speaking of the strangest of doctors, I do suspect the sorcerously supreme surgeon's still in some caves and on the search for that serpentine scumbag Sligguth.

Unless I miss my ever-loving guess, the newly assembled Defenders complete their first mission when they successfully marmalise Yandroth's Omegatron in a lighthouse.

Daredevil's still trying to smash Captain America's head in, during a charity boxing match but, as a hefty dose of radiation poisoning starts to wear off, the man without fear starts to wonder just what he's fighting for.

Elsewhere, it's a big day for the Fantastic Four when Sue Richards discovers she's pregnant!

But it's not good news for everyone - because a virtual army of FF supporting characters are about to come into conflict with no lesser menace than Psycho-Man!

I know this is meant to be a supremely dramatic cover but Dracula's pose does create the impression that he's having a seriously intense session with his psycho-therapist.

Despite that cover, Dracula and Rachel van Helsing are having to cooperate with each other in order to survive, having been stranded in the frozen Alps.

But, now, they must overcome an attack by the deadliest predator those peaks can throw at them.

A mountain goat!

And, in another clash some of us never saw coming, the Werewolf by Night must survive an encounter with the Hunchback of Notre Dame!

Meanwhile, Frankenstein's Monster and the Berserker are attacked by a veritable horde of little people in the woods - a battle that proves terminal for the Berserker.

Things threaten to get overheated in the latest episode of Beneath the Planet of the Apes due to Brent being subjected to questioning by a bunch of mutants who worship an atom bomb!

Following that, The Day of the Triffids continues.

And we encounter a five-page tale called Hey Buddy, Can You Lend Me a..., as brought to us by Mike Kaluta and reprinted from 1971's Scream Door #1 - a publication with which I could not claim to be familiar.

I do believe the Surfer's still having a not-too-happy reunion with Shalla-Bal.

And, judging by that cover, he's also having a not-too-happy reunion with the military as well!

Elsewhere, Professor X has tracked down Lucifer - the foe who cost him the use of his legs. But things are complicated by the fact that his quarry's heartbeat is rigged to a giant thermal bomb!

And, somehow, this all leads to a fight between the X-Men and the Avengers!