October 4th, 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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This week in 1975, lovers of quality music were in for a treat and a half because there were no fewer than two versions of Fattie Bum Bum and two versions of Una Paloma Blanca on the UK singles chart at the same time. With news like that, how did we ever survive the 1970s with sanity intact?

We survived because we had the world's greatest comics company to restore our equilibria.

But, before we get round to that, we should acknowledge that, despite those two songs' logic-defying achievement, neither of them was top of the pops.

No.

That honour was reserved for David Essex who was currently at the UK summit, thanks to his demand that we, "Hold Me Close."

And the LP chart too saw a fresh new Number One, thanks to Pink Floyd's latest smash Wish You Were Here now ruling supreme.

Also feeling supreme, that week, was Muhammad Ali who defeated Joe Frazier in the Thrilla in Manila. A fight which was watched live by over 100 million people, worldwide.

Speaking of which, Spider-Man's definitely in need of some equilibrium restoration as he hits Hallucination Mode this week, encountering a whole host of imaginary foes, thanks to having drunk a potion designed to rid him of his super-powers.

But, as we know, it only means he's going to end up with six arms instead.

A man who could probably do with six arms, right now, is Iron Man who continues to be up against the Maggia on their gambling ship.

Frankly, he's making a bit of a meal of it. He seems to have been on that boat for several years now. Still, at least AIM have showed up to sink it. So, he might finally get away from the place.

If he survives...

Elsewhere, Him's leapt out of his cocoon and taken a shine to Sif.

And that means a punch-up with Thor!

"The master of kung-fu begins his wildest adventure yet!" the cover breathlessly informs us.

And I do believe that signals we're being introduced to the yarn in which Shang-Chi teams up with a New York cabbie who looks and talks like Groucho Marx.

I must confess the details of just how that team-up occurs elude my memory.

As does any explanation for the man's appearance. 

But, of course, before that, we get to read the latest instalment of Conan's life when he must survive The Murderous Mirrors of Kharam Akkad. Not to mention the atavistic attentions of his tentacled monster!

When it comes to the Avengers, I think Thor's in combat with the seemingly unbeatable Hyperion who the thunder god makes surprisingly short work of, while Goliath makes a complete and total meal of dealing with the Whizzer.

If Aubrey Bradford's cover doesn't make you want to rush out and buy this comic, you must have no pulse.

Then again, if you had no pulse, you wouldn't be buying this comic. You'd be starring in it.

But the big news is that Dracula Lives has confounded the sceptics by hitting the Big 50.

And I do believe the book's star celebrates by standing around having an argument with his daughter Lilith before returning to a haunted house.

Meanwhile, the Werewolf by Night helps Tigra and friends escape the clutches of Hydra.

I'm sure the Living Mummy's up to something.

And we finish the issue with a Neal Adams tale about two teenagers who encounter a noise-powered cavemen.

That Ken Barr cover can only mean one thing. Marvel UK's simian weekly celebrates reaching fifty issues, by launching into its adaptation of Escape From the Planet of the Apes!

Part One, of course, sees a trio of apes emerge from a crashed spaceship.

And we all know what happens next...

Following that, Captain Marvel's still battling the Super-Skrull - and I do believe this is the week in which he finally wins.

Next, a four-page Chris Claremont article takes a look at Our Martian Heritage which I suspect of discussing movies and TV shows that have featured beasties of that inclination.

And Adam Warlock's fighting the Brute who's trying to drown him.

Despite a cover that reveals little of this week's contents, I do believe the Hulk is in the process of clobbering the Abomination, following that character's recovery from his recent coma.

I believe that Daredevil has his work cut out protecting Foggy from the attentions of the Stilt-Man, following his friend's announcement that he's going to run for election as District Attorney.

And I believe the Fantastic Four are yet again struggling with the Mad Thinker's latest android in a storyline that's definitely been going on for too long now.

Happily, introducing that android to the Negative Zone, via the medium of flinging him through its doorway, soon brings an end to the tale.

The Silver Surfer's gone - and the Cat arrives to take his place!

Granted, she can't be taking it for very long, as her American book only survived for four issues before biting the dust.

But with the Cat and the original X-Men headlining it, how can this comic possibly fail?

Especially when they're joined by the adventures of Giant-Man?