Fifty years ago today - August 1975.

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

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Here we are, once more looking at what Marvel Comics could throw at us, as a fabled decade passed its halfway point.

And, Reader, I can announce that one of this month's issues would prove to be a momentous moment in the history of the company. An event that would affect the future of Marvel and its universe for decades to come.

But can you guess which one it is before I get to it?

It's certainly not this issue.

Not unless the revelation of the Stranger's supremely disappointing secret - and how it links him to the Toad - is still haunting you after all these years.

But, hold on! What's this? There's no cowering blonde on the cover of a Conan comic!

How will my sanity survive such egregious omission?

More to the point, how will Conan survive an attack by the Brothers of the Blade?

In other news, Tara kills someone called Clawfoot!

I'm totally unfamiliar with the Alchemoid. All I do know is that, on that cover, he looks suspiciously like Marvel's version of Quasimodo.

However, the Grand Comics Database informs me the main villain of the piece is the Druid and that the Falcon wakes from a coma I didn't know he was in.

Unlike the Alchemoid, I am familiar with Copperhead but am struggling to remember too much about the actual story.

I do know, though, that this is the issue in which the Black Widow breaks up with our hero!

Bah! I like to think the Thing could easily flatten a mere tyrannosaurus, even with one hand tied behind his back.

In fact, I know he can. I remember that time when he decked just such a creature, with just one punch.

Sadly, this is another story I have scant knowledge of.

I do know, though, that it seems to involve an alternate dimension version of our favourite team.

After more than a decade, the Toad Men make their long-awaited return!

Admittedly, I was probably the only one long-awaiting it but I was always a great admirer of their work and still am.

It's also, as far as I can make out, the first appearance of Glorian and the overdue return of the Shaper of Worlds!

This one promises us The War of the Super-Villains which sounds exciting, as I was previously unaware of any such conflict.

It would seem this issue features the Mad Thinker, the Black Lama, the Yellow Claw and Firebrand. Therefore, I shall assume those are the villains who are involved in it.

And, from the cover, I shall assume the Mad Thinker is the ultimate victor.

The Tarantula's back and, if memory serves me correctly, working for the Jackal for reasons I struggle to recall.

Nope. No idea at all as to what happens in this one, other than to garner, from the cover, that Ulik and a big sea serpent are involved.

But, at last, we've reached it, the comic that signals a brave new direction for our favourite book about mutants - and one that will  see it go on to become Marvel's best-seller before reshaping the whole future destiny and direction of the company.

A new team of X-Men have arrived and, good God above, I even know what happens in it, as Count Nefaria takes over NORAD, giving him control of America's nukes!

Now, the randomly assembled group must tackle his gang of Ani-Men, in order to put a stop to his mad plans!

So much for what Marvel's up to.

But what of its main rival?

And I don't mean Atlas/Seaboard.

Just what was a random serving of DC comics that bore the same cover date up to?

It's up to this. The Fleisher/Aparo Spectre hits the end of its road!

And shall it do so in style?

I can't say, as I've not read this issue. But I do know that Jim Corrigan - having been restored to life, last issue - is gunned down by gangster Ducky McLaren. An act that turns our hero into the Spectre again.

And that means him wreaking his ghastly revenge upon the entire McLaren gang!

Elsewhere, the Seven Soldiers of Victory continue their quest for whatever it is they're on a quest to find. This time, the Crimson Avenger is in action, thanks to the words of Joe Samachson, and pencils of Mike Grell.

The Avenger is up against the Sky Walker.

And I don't mean Luke.

My memories of this one are a little vague, but I feel like there's a man with an invisible plane who's shaking skyscrapers to pieces, with his big gun.

Why he's doing this, I have no idea. I suppose that, even in the 1930s, a man has to have a hobby.

There's also a one-page Allan Asherman article that looks into the practicalities of making a Justice Inc movie.

DC have clearly decided readers can't possibly be content with having just one version of the Manhunter in this era. And, so, we get the return of the original when Jack Kirby revives him for the pages of 1st Issue Special.

Having said that, I'm only assuming he's the original Manhunter. For all I know, he might be a brand new one who just happens to look like the old one.

My knowledge of Korak being rudimentary, I have little knowledge of the contents of this one, but I do know the jungle-japing juvenile finds himself confronting the Gods of Destiny!

Following that, he finds himself caught up in The Deadly Motion Picture!

At last, a comic I actually know something about!

While practising zapping things, Lightning Lad accidentally reanimates a long-fallen soldier who can materialise any kind of weapon he needs. Now, the Legion must convince him his war is over, so he can properly, and finally, pass away as nature intended.

And, following that, we get the origin of Karate Kid when the crime fighter learns who killed his father.

I do believe our protagonist has a dramatic makeover in this one, as Mike Grell draws him looking exactly like Bruce Lee.

The Apocalyptic adolescent gets a giant-sized issue of his own, and does it by meeting gorilla commandos and a thing from outer space!

As the keen-eyed will have also spotted, we then encounter a look at the life of Jack Kirby, written by Steve Sherman.

And there's a reprint of Kamandi issue #1, for the benefit of those who missed that epic the first time round.