The Marvel Lucky Bag - March 1986.

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

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Thrills, spills and life-changing shocks. That's what I expect when I enter a cinema.

And that's just from eating a choc ice.

But what of the films that were awaiting us as we entered the place of which Elvis Costello once remarked that stars are only painted on the ceiling above?

March 1986 was a month which saw the unleashing of such gems as The Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation, Highlander, Crossroads, Police Academy 3: Back in Training and The Money Pit.

I must confess I don't think I've seen any of those - not even The Care Bears Movie II - but I'm going to have a guess that Highlander is the best of the bunch, as I've actually heard people talking about it, unlike the others.

However, there is always the possibility that I could be wrong in my assessment.

In other news, seeing that list has made me realise that - whenever I see the words, "Care Bears," - inside my head, I'm seeing Ewoks.

The fight-happy puritan continues to sustain his own comic and, in this issue, he's, somehow, among a shipful of slaves delivered to the Caliph Abu-Ben Ar.

It sounds bad for our hero... ...but, perhaps all is not lost, as Caliph Abu-Ben Ar's son is a man who wants to do away with slavery!

Marvel's sprawlingest-ever epic reaches its, no doubt, senses-shattering conclusion, with the Beyonder in a quandary because he's vowed to destroy all of existence but fears he might miss it when it's gone.

That in mind, he, for some reason, sets out to create a machine which will recreate him as a mortal - but with a portion of his power intact.

Now what are our heroes supposed to do?

And how does the Molecule Man fit into it all?

I don't know if the world was ever crying out for a Wonder Man comic but it's got one anyway, and one that's destined to last for a whole single issue!

In that one single issue, Simon acquires and - loses - employment as a security guard for Cordco Delta Lab 3.

And, as if that wasn't enough to keep us enthralled, we also get a reminder of his origin story!

I've not looked at Web of Spider-Man for a while on this feature but the Grand Comics Database tells me the brother of one of the punks from the previous issue is out to murder Peter Parker!

Sadly, as I've not read that previous issue, I can shed no light upon who those punks might be. Possibly, the Sex Pistols but I feel the UK Subs are also acting mightily suspiciously.

And, now, Firestar outdoes Wonder Man by getting her own mini-series.

One in which her powers show themselves for the first time, triggered by the demise of her grandmother.

Needless to say, it's not long before she gets noticed  - and is recruited by the White Queen!

And it's all thanks to Tom DeFalco and Mary Wilshire.

I've no idea at all what happens in this one but I do know it's the last issue, that the tale within it is called Eyeteeth Part III: Army In the Pocket and is brought to us by the mighty talents of Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy.

And, finally, for this month, as far as I can make out, more of the expected fun occurs when Sage becomes a king - only for Groo to turn up.