The Marvel Lucky Bag - July 1976.

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

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It's July 1976 and there's a record-breaking heatwave going on.

I know; I'll take refuge in a cinema. It's always cold in cinemas. Just like it's always cold in any hotel room I find myself in.

But what shall I see in that cinema?

I may see one of the following, as they're all films released in that very month. Cannonball, Gus, The Opening of Misty Beethoven, The Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars & Motor Kings, A*P*E and St. Ives. I'm sorry. Are these actual real films? They all sound like they were created by a random name generator.

Fortunately, there were some films with sensible titles released that month. Films I've heard of. Films that actually turn up on TV. And amongst those were At the Earth's Core, Futureworld and Squirm.

I must confess to never having seen Squirm, as it seems like the sort of film I wouldn't enjoy watching, but I have seen Futureworld and At the Earth's Core and, of course, approve of them both.

Of the pair, I think I shall nominate Futureworld as my Steve Does Comics Film of the Month, simply because I feel it's an unfairly dismissed movie and someone has to speak up for it at some point.

No bear is safe with Red Sonja around!

Not even the ones that are gods.

Not when she spots the chance to pick up a financial reward from the people of a nearby town.

It's great news for all lovers of Erich von Däniken when a brand new book hits our lives and Jack Kirby delivers his take on the Ancient Astronaut theory and reveals that Earth isn't only the domain of humans but is also the playground of Eternals and Deviants, and that giant space gods are coming back to, literally, stand in judgement on us all!

People may be aware I'm not the greatest Invaders fan - especially with it being blessed by the quirky art of Frank Robbins - but how can I ignore this issue when it features what I assume to be the first appearance of none other than Baron Blood himself?

And I've never been a huge fan of Deathlok either but I must confess that's an eye-catching cover by Rich Buckler who's clearly decided to demonstrate he can be Jim Steranko as well as Jack Kirby.

As for the story, it would appear that our hero fights and defeats the first Luther Manning clone!

Following that, he runs into someone called Godwulf. An event that causes people to think our protagonist is dead!

Deathlok may not be dead but this comic is, as I have to announce this would appear to be the last issue of the current run of Astonishing Tales.

The Thing battles the Basilisk in the Savage Land before they get teleported to New York where Spider-Man shows up and joins the fight against the villain who's getting ready to destroy the city.

Spider-Man appearing in the Thing's team-up book does, of course, open up the way for a neat idea. Which is for the Thing to appear, simultaneously, in Spider-Man's team-up book!

And that means yet more battling with the baffling Basilisk!

I was never into the Black Panther/Ku Klux Klan story line but even I must admit that's a dramatic cover by Rowdy Rich Buckler.

From what I can gather, inside this epic, Monica Lynne's mother tells her about a Klan attack during the Reconstruction era and, for some reason, the singer re-imagines it with the Panther involved.

Satana gets to hog this month's Marvel Preview - and does so thanks to a tale in which four sorcerers trap her in an hallucination that causes her to think she's a fully-human woman called Judith Camber.

For some reason, every time I proofread this post, I misread that as, "Judith Chalmers," which, for British readers, would give the story a whole other vibe.

Elsewhere, the mag also gives us The Sword in the Star!: Stave 2: Witchworld!

I have no idea what happens in that one.

And Daredevil celebrates his fourth-ever annual by getting into a scrap with the Black Panther and Sub-Mariner during a drama I remember being reprinted in one of the Marvel UK annuals.

Sadly, I recall little of the tale itself, other than extortion being involved and it being called The Name of the Game is... Death!