January 31st, 1976 - 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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Mamma Mia?

Here I go again?

You bet I do.

And, more importantly, so do ABBA because, this week in 1976, their single of that same name became their second UK chart topper, keeping Midge Ure's Slik off the top spot.

While that was going on, the adjacent LP listings saw The Best of Roy Orbison seize the crown from Queen as he ascended to the throne.

Now the Avengers are in trouble - because it looks like the Vision, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America are going to, somehow, have to overcome the unstoppable power of Red Wolf!

And his pet dog!

But, before that, Conan still seems to be having trouble with those seven wizards he's been having trouble with for ages.

However, none of the above is the big news of this issue.

The big news is that - because I demanded it - we're seeing the return of Iron Fist!

Admittedly, I don't remember demanding it but, now that he's here, I'm not going to complain about it.

Having said that, I don't actually know what he's up to but, whatever it is, I'm sure his flaming fist of fury's bound to get used at some point. I wonder if there's ever been an Iron Fist story in which he doesn't use his neon knuckles and manages to win just by using his martial arts skills? You know, like Shang-Chi routinely manages to do?

From that cover, I'm going to assess that our hero's still having to clean up the mess caused by whatever it was Flash Thompson was up to in Vietnam.

Not to worry, Spidey's got the help of Dr Strange!

Meanwhile, Iron Man continues to battle the Gladiator and his paymasters the Maggia.

And Thor must endure The Carnage of the Crypto-Man!

And let's all remember that Crypto can be very volatile.

I remember little of this tale - and of its antagonist - but can't help feeling it contains echoes of earlier adventures involving Thermal-Man and Replicus.

Ken Barr gives us a cover we'll never forget, as Conquest reaches its newest stage.

And I do believe we've reached the section of the movie in which Ricardo Montalbán is interrogated by the authorities.

I must confess I got all over-excited, for a moment, misreading the cover blurb as saying, "Apeslayer gone berserk!" Oh, the happy memories that brought back for me.

Meanwhile, a whole new challenge begins for Ka-Zar who, on SHIELD's Helicarrier, spots Gemini running off with the super-soldier serum and heads off in pursuit of him.

And, thanks to his fight with Baron Macabre, the Black Panther encounters King Cadaver and discovers Killmonger's been looting the official Wakandan armoury!

That's a very strange portrayal of the Bi-Beast. In fact, other than him having two faces, it bears no resemblance to him at all.

But, of course, what matters is what happens inside the book.

And what happens is Betty Ross abducts the Hulk and accidentally flies him to that floating city of dead bird-people once made famous by Red Raven!

And, now, they have to deal with the Bi-Beast and the forces of MODOK!

Far below that but still somewhat elevated, Daredevil continues to sit on a rooftop, reminiscing about his origin.

And he doesn't even mention Elektra!

Does the man have amnesia or something?

And comic book history's made when the Fantastic Four travel to Wyatt Wingfoot's ancestral home, in order to tackle the towering terror of Tomazooma the titanic totem pole!

But what a coincidence that we should get Red Wolf and Wyatt Wingfoot adventures in the same week.

And what of Marvel UK's newest publication?

The Mimic is back to, again, perplex the X-Men.

But, this time, the Puppet Master's lurking in the background!

And Daredevil's not the only one waxing nostalgic, this week, because Capt America too is in a retrospective frame of mind. In his time off, he remembers once meeting a mysterious young female Resistance leader in World War Two, and wonders what happened to her.

He is, however, unaware that, in the present, she still lives!

It's bad news for the leader of the Secret Empire because his plot to get the Sub-Mariner to kill the Hulk has failed so miserably that, now, it's he himself who faces demise at the hands of the brute.

And it's great news for music lovers everywhere, for this is the issue in which Rick Jones first gets up on stage and wows the world, with his vocal talent, thus landing a deal with impresario Mordecai P Boggs.

But there's to be no sweet music for Nick Fury and SHIELD, as the Fixer encounters Mentallo and the deadly duo agree to unite against the counter-espionage agency.

I do believe the Thing and Iron Man manage to polish off Thanos' Blood Brothers, before parting company.

Following that, I divine that we discover more of the origin of Bloodstone who, as we all know, was a prehistoric man who, by means I have no recollection of, became immortal and now dresses like a big game hunter.

And Giant-Man and the Wasp continue their battle with Spider-Man, before the power trio realise they need to join forces and bring to justice the true villain of the piece -- Egghead.

I don't know what's going on on that cover but I do know that, inside this thrill-packed issue, the world of politics enters the fray when Dracula threatens members of the UK Parliament.

What he threatens them with, I'm not sure but I suspect it won't be anything nice.

Following that, Jack Russell must confront The Darkness From Glitternight.

And the Man-Thing finds himself Where Worlds Collide. A tale of which I know nothing, other than that it's brought to us by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik.