Forty years ago today - December 1985.

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

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A wise man once said, "We can be heroes."

Clearly, he'd never met me.

But here are some people who can be heroes.

And often are!

From what I can remember, the Avengers hang around on an island, for reasons I don't recall, and Hercules decides to get into a scrap with the Sub-Mariner, in an attempt to cheer up the crown prince of Atlantis.

Speaking of people who need cheering up, the Vulture's depressed because he keeps losing fights with every good guy he encounters.

And that leads to him picking a fight with the man without fear - who he also loses to.

Meanwhile, the Nelson and Murdock law firm has gone bust.

It's an odd story in which the Human Torch decides to quit super-heroing after learning that a boy who idolises him has set himself on fire in an attempt to be like him.

Well, that's not depressing.

I do believe Iron Man spends this issue cleaning up the mess left behind by his fight with Iron Monger.

But what's this? Madame Masque is acting all strange and showing concern for Tony Stark's welfare?

While Bethany Cabe is acting all strange and is plotting his downfall?

Why, if I was a suspicious man, I might think some kind of body-swapping shenanigans are going on.

Sadly, Stark, despite all his experience of super-science villainy, fails to share my suspicions.

Thor and his army manage to spend an entire issue trying to leave Hel.

An attempt that sees a machine-gun-toting Executioner sacrifice himself, in order to save them all.

The world's most socially responsible mutants hit their 200th issue with a double-length tale in which Magneto's put on trial for his various crimes against humanity and he gets to argue his case.

A cover that brings back memories of Spidey's first meeting with Man Mountain Marko tells us we're about to encounter a ruthless fight manager called Manslaughter who loves to mistreat his employees.

Especially Crusher Hogan, the wrestler our hero fought, way back when he first gained his super-powers

Can the wall-crawler come to his assistance and can he convince everyone at the gym that he and Crusher are old pals?

Aunt May's boyfriend, meanwhile, gets hospitalised by assailants who are a mystery to us but are, clearly, well known to him.

Something or other happens involving a sorcerer.

I think a magic pit may also be involved.

And women.

And magic.

The Hulk's back on Earth - and Doc Samson's determined to administer some psychiatric care.

With his fists.

Obviously, this should be a one-sided fight but it seems Bruce Banner's subconscious is actively distracting the Hulk with hallucinations of his myriad foes.

And that gives the slugging psycho-therapist the chance he needs to deliver some knuckle-therapy to his patient's jaw.

Spider-Man's hot on the trail of Sin-Eater - not to be confused with 1980s pop star Sinitta - and it seems he gets his victory over the fiend.

Victory over Sinitta is, of course, impossible.

But, then, Daredevil shows up to tell him he's nabbed an impostor and the real deal's still on the loose.

And now he's about to kill Betty Leeds!

There's a man on the rampage who hates nationalism and has no time for flags.

Obviously, the man who wouldn't have a wardrobe if they hadn't invented flags, and is named after a nation, can't put up with that kind of un-American madness!