December 27th, 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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If you like your ear drums smashed to a pulp, this week in 1975 was your lucky break, as it saw the foundation of heavy metal outfit Iron Maiden, in London.

But what of other forms of music?

The Christmas Number One slot is a prized possession in the British record industry - and it was seized, that year, by Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody which had already been top of the pile for several weeks, at this point.

The unlucky runner-up was Greg Lake whose I Believe in Father Christmas had to settle for the Number Two spot.

And there was also triumph for Queen on the accompanying album chart, with their A Night at The Opera still ruling the roost.

Should one wish to investigate matters further, that week's UK Christmas singles chart can be found here.

While its associated LP rankings dwell within.

My knowledge of this week's Conan adventure's a little vague but I do believe he battles his own shadow.

Following that, there aren't many Avengers tales I don't like, from this era but, somehow, I've never been able to warm to the Cornelius van Lunt storyline. I think have a need for super-villains in an Avengers tale.

And, if that cover's to be believed, Dr Strange must battle the rather fancily-named Cagliostro.

It looks like we're in for it now, what with all those monsters coming for us!

But, inside the comic, I do believe Drac's got crises of his own. And that's because the current owner of the statuette he's been searching for is using its power to torment his enemies.

I'm not at all sure what Jack Russell's up to in his strip.

And the Man-Thing's series begins with the muck monster up to something or other.

In a swamp, I should imagine.

Once more, Cornelius finds himself confronting people who took shooting training from the Star Wars Storm Troopers.

That aside, we reach the tragic climax of Marvel's adaptation of Escape From the Planet of the Apes in which our heroes find nothing but the ultimate escape.

Next, it would seem the Black Panther's got his mittens full when Malice (of whom I have no recollection) attacks his palace, seeking to liberate Venomm.

Elsewhere, while pledged to watch over the stricken Dr Calvin, Ka-Zar finds himself in New York City, rescues a pusher from a street gang and gets caught up in a turf war!

Now Peter Parker's got a pickled pack of prickly problems. Professor Smythe has discovered his secret identity - and he's the type to use it against him!

However, our hero is not a man without resources and, so, he quickly knocks up a life-like rubber mask that will trick the villain into thinking he's not really Peter Parker.

Iron Man's still in the future and trying to bring down his own computer that's taken over the world.

And, somewhere in the vicinity of a hospital, Thor's tangling with the Wrecker!

Hooray! It's the tale in which the Hulk's strip goes completely mad and MODOK turns Betty Ross into a demented harpy!

Or is it?

Once inside the comic, we find no sign of the head of AIM.

Instead, we encounter Part 2 of Jade Jaws' first encounter with Zzzaxx.

In Daredevil's strip, the Black Panther goes in search of the missing Man Without Fear, although, in his current, delirious, state, he's more the man without marbles.

And Starr Saxon is still holding Karen Page prisoner!

Meanwhile, Psycho-Man is tangling with the Fantastic Four, as the Silver Surfer conducts a fateful rendezvous with Galactus!

It's a living nightmare for Giant-Man and the Wasp when their greatest-ever foe the Human Top escapes from jail and returns to his life of high-speed crime!

The X-Men must overcome the menace of the Locus, a man dressed as a grasshopper who controls an army of giant grasshoppers.

And the Scarecrow's battling demons who've leapt out of the painting he inhabits.

Things aren't going well for the Inhumans who manage to get themselves captured by Magneto. Is this to be their moment of doom?

And Prince Namor has plenty on his plate, as well. Not only has he been made to rob a bank - by the Puppet Master - a huge sea-monster called the Behemoth has burst into life, after centuries in hibernation, and is on course to trash Atlantis.

And, now, Warlord Krang thinks he sees a way to gain control of the beast!

In SHIELD's strip. Hydra are still threatening to destroy us all, with a giant bomb.

And it's looking grim for Captain America, as he suddenly realises it's 20 years to the day since the Red Skull told him his deadly Sleeper robots would awaken exactly 20 years from the moment at which he was talking.

In other words, that means the Sleepers are about to burst into life!

And Subby isnt the only one having problems with the Puppet Master, because Captain Marvel has trouble with a giant robot that's being controlled by him.

And, then, he has trouble with Iron Man who's now also being controlled by him!