April 3rd, 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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It's hard to believe there was a time when apples didn't exist.

But there was.

There was a time when the fruit hadn't yet evolved, the record company hadn't yet been launched and the computer firm hadn't yet been created.

But, by this week in 1976, the third of that mighty triumvirate had come into existence, thanks to Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak's formation of the Apple Computer Company in California.

But who was the apple of the British public's eye?

It was none other than the Brotherhood of Man whose smash-hit offering Save Your Kisses for Me was not only still Number One on the UK singles chart, it also, that very weekend, won the Eurovision Song Contest for us, as well.

Meanwhile, on the accompanying album chart; no less popular, in their own way, were Status Quo who retained their top spot, thanks to their latest LP Blue for You.

It's the battle of the flying horses, as the Black Knight takes on Arkon. But, before we can get to that, I do believe Conan must confront the horror of Lilitu the were-woman.

Next, the Avengers invade Arkon's world and finally get him to see through the Enchantress' trickery.

And, Iron Fist is up against Radion.

And I don't mean the washing powder.

I mean the one who's in the habit of going all nuclear on you.

It's a fact that can only spell curtains for the Post Office Tower!

Looking at that cover reminds me I was always struck by the ease with which human characters in Planet of the Apes movies, TV shows and comics could beat up gorillas. In response, I demand the BBC stages a fight between a man and a gorilla to see if it really is that easy.

Inside, I do believe Jason only has a chimpanzee to contend with, as he gets into a fight with one called Grimaldi, over the affections of a girl called Malagueňa.

Maybe it's just me but I'm not sure i'd seek out the affections of a girl who can't decide whether she wants a human or a chimpanzee.

Meanwhile, in the Savage Land, it could be the start of a beautiful friendship when Ka-Zar and Shanna the She-Devil get themselves independently captured by the Red Wizard.

And the Black Panther encounters Killmonger's latest assassin Salamander K'Ruel in the Forest of Thorns.

And that cover is a perfect example of why you should never go drinking and driving. Will Dracula never learn?

Inside, I think he's still bumping people off, on behalf of a fashion designer who can give him information about the whereabouts of Dr Sun.

Meanwhile, Moon Knight captures the Werewolf by Night, on behalf of the Committee.

And the Man-Thing gets into a fight with Wundarr who thinks the swamp monster is his mother!

As we can plainly see, the Cobalt Man's still causing trouble for our hero.

And he's doing it at sea!

Following that, naughty old Death's Head defeats Daredevil and then dresses him up as Death's Head, in the hope that the police will shoot him on sight!

Following that, Crystal's decided she should get the permission of the other Inhumans before she goes through with her plan to join the Fantastic Four.

Unfortunately, in a shocking and unprecedented twist, Maximus the Mad has gained control of the Great Refuge!

And, this time, he has the Alpha Primitives on his side!

But we complete the issue with a Lee/Kirby/Ditko short called I Fought the Molten Man-Thing! in which no one fights Ted Sallis's alter-ego but humanity is threatened by a monster from a volcano.

If it's Dr Strange's final battle with death, as the cover claims, does that mean he'll never have another one and is now immortal?

And, speaking of people who never seem to get round to dying, Aunt May's showing her usual sound judgement.

In the midst of a war between Dr Octopus and Hammerhead, she decides she'd best shoot Spider-Man!

After that, Thor's on the Stranger's home planet and having to ask Who Can Stop the Abomination?

As it turns out, Thor can.

With one punch.

We then get an article called Into Battle With Herb Trimpe which I shall assume to be about Herb Trimpe.

Following that, I do believe Dr Strange wraps up his fight with Silver Dagger.

Then, we encounter a two-page article labelled Spider-Man in Brighton.

Iron Man finds himself confronting The Statues of Doom! in a story with something or other to do with the Mandarin.

And Dr Strange and the Thing must work together when a mysterious woman's struck by a subway train and magic is involved.

I have no doubt the X-Men have plenty to worry about when they discover Mekano Lives!

As seen, last week, Captain America has captured the Adaptoid.

But that merely gives the antaganistic android the chance to absorb the powers of the Avengers, turning it into the Super-Adaptoid!

In his latest campaign against the surface dwellers, the Sub-Mariner gets himself captured by a ruler of a small nation.

But is he really the ruler?

And what does a character called the Gnome have to do with it all?

Nick Fury and his SHIELD agents attack the secret base of Them and come to the conclusion that Them and AIM are the same organisation.

And Captain Marvel's still battling Dr Mynde and Madame Synn who want to get their hands on the Pentagon's hidden stash of weapons.