Tuesday, 21 October 2025

The Marvel Lucky Bag - October 1985.

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

What's that?

It's a cinema!

And, if I enter it, what shall I find within?

Assuming it's a sizeable one - and it's in the habit of only showing films released in October 1985 - I shall find such delights as Commando, Dreamchild, Jagged Edge, A Zed & Two Noughts, Re-Animator and I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later.

Of those, I shall, of course, name Re-Animator as my Film of the Month, as it's the only one I've ever seen, although I have heard A Zed & Two Noughts being spoken of in hushed whispers. Mostly on Channel Four which I seem to remember being quite keen on showing it, during the station's more pretentious era.

West Coast Avengers #1

For a long time, some of us have wondered how come all of America's super-powered people seem to live in New York City.

Now, at last, that's about to change, as the West Coast Avengers gain their very own monthly and prepare to fight whatever villains turn up in that part of the world.

And it seems some seriously serious villains do turn up, because this 39-page monster sees our heroes' HQ being attacked by both Ultron and the Lethal Legion!

The Vision and the Scarlet Witch #1

Far away from that, everyone's favourite married couple also receive a new mag of their own. One destined to run for twelve issues and, in which, the pair appear to be having trouble with Nekra, Black Talon and the Grim Reaper!

Secret Wars II #4

Secret Wars II is almost halfway through its run and it's time for the Beyonder to explore the human concept of desire. For this purpose, he selects the Dazzler who, I assume, he must have decided is the most desirable woman on Earth.

However, all his attempts to win her over fail and he quickly gives up on that idea.

Savage Tales #1

Fans of barbarian and jungle action will be pleased to learn that Savage Tales is back from the grave!

Or perhaps they won't, as there's no sign of the book's previous stalwarts Conan and Ka-Zar.

Instead we get tales which bear such titles as The Nam 1967, Marla, Avenger, A Pizza and Across the Rio Grande from such talents as Michael Golden, Herb Trimpe, John Severin, Will Jungkuntz and Gray Morrow.

Despite some venerable names being on that list, it would appear that none of these tales are reprints.

The Savage Sword of Conan #117

Yes, I have included this one purely for a very odd Michael Golden cover that looks almost like a parody.

Inside, the mag's mostly dominated by a 50-page adventure in which an ageing Queen sends Conan in search of magical springs that can restore her lost youth.

It also delivers a 10-pager in which the barbarian refuses to abandon an arm-wrestling match, even though soldiers are out to get him.

Eternals #1

Their original book didn't last for an eternity but, now, those determined dwellers of isolated peaks and out-of-the-way places are back for a limited series, starting with a thriller called A Mirror for Mortality!

After that, we encounter a four-page yarn which I do believe relates the origins of the Eternals, Humans and Deviants, for any who may have missed the explanation the last time round.

The Avengers Annual #14, Skrulls

The East Coast Avengers receive their fourteenth annual and do so with a 40-page epic that I'm assuming ties in with their monthly book, as that is also currently featuring plenty of outer space Skrull action.

Alien Legion #10

Chris Warner produces a cover I think we'll never forget - no matter how hard we try - while, inside the book, our favourite legion from the cosmos enters a story called Desperate Measures. Of which, I know nothing.

That's followed by a short adventure called Disaster Signal. Of which, I also know nothing.

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