April 10th, 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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If it's true that nature abhors a vacuum, so does politics.

And, so - as Colin Jones pointed out the other day - with Harold Wilson gone, the week in question saw James Callaghan take over as Labour Party leader and become the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Also ruling the roost in Britain were the Brotherhood of Man whose Save Your Kisses For Me remained Number One on the singles chart.

But there was change afoot on the album rankings, as the pinnacle was suddenly grabbed by Rock Follies, the Original Soundtrack from the TV show of the same name. How we thrilled as Rula Lenska, Julie Covington and the other one were propelled to stardom, before our very eyes, in a drama series about the highs, lows and excesses of the music business.

But what else was going on?

Clearly, all human beings were enchanted by the Brotherhood of Man but, amazingly, there were other tracks on that week's UK Hit parade that I appreciated even more.

Among them were:

Fernando - ABBA

I'm Mandy, Fly Me - 10cc

Yesterday - the Beatles

Hey Jude {1976} - the Beatles

I Love to Love - Tina Charles

Paperback Writer {1976} - the Beatles

Get Back {1976} - the Beatles With Billy Preston

Strawberry Fields Forever - the Beatles

Riders on the Storm {1976} - the Doors

Arms of Mary - Sutherland Brothers and Quiver

S-S-S-Single Bed - Fox

Lazy Sunday {1976} - the Small Faces

All by Myself - Eric Carmen

and

Help! {1976} - the Beatles.

All I can say is it's obvious nostalgia was ruling the roost on UK turntables at the time.

But I do find it Interesting that Emmylou Harris's cover of Here, There and Everywhere and Diana Ross's version of Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To?) were both on the chart simultaneously, given the two songs' strong melodic similarities.

Also interesting that not only did the Beatles have a zillion tracks in the Top 50, Mary Hopkin and Hot Chocolate were also there, both of whom started out as acts on the Beatles' Apple label. Truly, it was like the 1960s had never ended.

Regardless, should one wish to investigate that singles chart in greater depth, it can be found here.

While the accompanying LP rankings lurk within.

Despite what it says on that cover, it's the Squadron Supreme - and not the Squadron Sinister - who put in an appearance, this week.

And it happens when the Avengers find themselves on an alternate Earth where the characters who they normally know as villains, are Justice League style heroes.

But, before that, Conan finds himself in the desert, getting bitten by a snake and suffering a severe shortage of water. 

I've no doubt, however, that he'll be up on his feet in no time and be all set to battle a giant crocodile for the love of a good woman.

As for Iron Fist, he has to thwart Radion, following the villain's bad-mannered destruction of the Post Office Tower.

And the Phantom Eagle's still in this book and still doing World War One things.

II must confess I had little tolerance for the giant brains in goldfish bowls that turned up in the Jason and Alexander stories, as such a thing seemed too B-movie and far-fetched for a Planet of the Apes story.

In the where of else, Shanna and Ka-Zar continue to have problems with the Red Wizard and his desire to sacrifice them for the benefit of the Savage Land.

And the Black Panther gets to ride on a giant pterodactyl - and polishes off Salamander K'Ruel, into the bargain!

Maybe I'm just imagining things but I've always assumed this cover to be an homage to that of The Incredible Hulk #3.

It seems a strange thing to pay homage to in a Dracula comic but such is life. Not that Dracula is alive.

Although I know little of the Drac tale contained within, I do believe he decides to hijack a fighter jet.

Elsewhere, Jack Russell's furry alter-ego's still grappling with Moon Knight who's trying to deliver him to the Committee.

And I do believe the Man-Thing helps out when a bus crashes into his swamp.

The Cobalt Man's still causing trouble - especially for Australia because, as far as I can remember, he's hatched a plan to destroy the city of Sydney!

In the United States, Daredevils' still got his hands full, trying to put a stop to Death's Head.

And suspicion is starting to fall upon the butler...

And the Fantastic Four have headed to the Great Refuge, in a bid to dethrone Maximus the Mad who's, yet again, found himself in control of the place.

It's exciting times for me.

After months of Spider-Man's comic being noticeable by its absence from my local newsagents, it's now been available there for two consecutive weeks and, my future self can report it will continue to stay that way.

Truly, the Marvel UK distribution drought is over!

And what a way for it to end, as the Smasher tries to subvert New York democracy by setting out to kill squeaky-clean Mayoral candidate Richard Raleigh!

I've no doubt the webbed wonder won't stand for that kind of thing.

But, first, he has to make sure a ceiling doesn't collapse on everyone at a big political shindig.

Elsewhere, there's more trouble for Thor when Loki uses his magic to swap bodies with the thunder god.

Dr Strange, meanwhile, enters Clea's mind, in a bid to stop Silver Dagger. And that's when things go a bit Alice in Wonderland...

Iron Man's still up against the Mandarin.

And, at the issue's climax, Dr Strange is back again.

But, this time, he's teaming up with the Thing in an adventure titled ...The Spectral Shower! An adventure I possess zero recollection of.

At last, the X-Men get to meet the representatives of Factor Three who turn out to be a small cadre of their old foes in alliance with a character called the Changeling and the mysterious Mutant-Master.

And they plan to put the heroes on trial for their crimes against mutantkind!

Captain America's up against Batroc the Leaper who's been, how you say, hired to nobble him, by Hydra, but then turns against that organisation when he decides they lack the necessary level of honour to impress him.

After that, the Sub-Mariner finds himself up against the awesome power of the Plunderer.

And salvation's at hand for all lovers of good comics, as Jim Starlin takes over the pencilling duties on Captain Marvel.

My knowledge of that adventure is vague but I do believe Rick Jones goes to visit someone called Professor Savannah.

Only to discover the man's been killed!

But, hold on. Isn't there a major character called Dr Sivana in the adventures of the Shazam version of Captain Marvel?

Professor Savannah?

Dr Sivana?

I suspect this cannot be mere coincidence.