Fifty years ago today - August 1976.

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

***

Let's have some more nostalgia.

It's a, "Spectacular 150th anniversary special!"

It's amazing to think it means that, with this issue, the Avengers had been around for a hundred and fifty years. At the time, it must have seemed like barely more than ten.

It's just a shame the cover tells us nothing of what happens inside such a landmark publication.

But it doesn't need to.

Because, by crikey, I can tell us!

I can sensationally reveal that many are the comings and goings within the ranks of the Avengers, with Captain America taking over the leadership and Hawkeye, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch all rejoining.

However, because this is a team and not a legion, departing the gang are Thor, Iron Man, Giant-Man, and the Wasp.

All I know about this month's Cimmerian scramblings is that the battling barbarian battles the fearsome fury of the fang-flinging Feathered Serpent.

It can only be down to fate that Captain America celebrates his two hundredth issue in the year of his homeland's two hundredth birthday.

And it's bad news for that nation's enemies, wherever they may lurk, as Cap puts a stop to both the Elite and William Taurey while the Falcon destroys the Big Daddy Madbomb in Philadelphia!

Things are not looking good for everyone's favourite crime-fighter when the Jester pulls off the unlikely feat of faking a Presidential newscast in which Gerald Ford tells the public to kill all superheroes!

Logically, such an event would cross-over into all other Marvel super-hero comics, this month, but, to my knowledge, it doesn't.

It's building up to the fight we've all been waiting for - Galactus vs the High Evolutionary.

But, before that, the Fantastic Four try to find a planet to sacrifice, so that Galactus won't eat Counter-Earth.

But, surely, this quest is doomed.

After all, what kind of world would volunteer to be eaten?

Jarella's back!

And that's pretty much all I recollect of this epic.

However, the Internet informs me that this month's villain of the month is the God of the Mountain. A name that rings no bells, either for or with me.

Iron Man's still having trouble with the Blood Brothers.

But not to worry, because Daredevil takes a break from trying to avoid being killed by the public, and turns up to help out.

Apparently, the Controller's also in this tale.

I can only assume this all connects with Thanos in some manner.

Spidey remains at odds with Doc Ock and Hammerhead. The latter of whom is, clearly, no longer a phantom.

These are thrilling times for me because this issue was my first-ever exposure to the New X-Men!

I didn't have a clue who these people were or what was going on in it but I knew at once that I loved them in a way that I could never love the original X-Men.

That aside, it's a landmark 100th issue and the new gang find themselves having to fight the old one on a satellite, with a damaged space shuttle being the only way out of there.

One that lacks the shielding needed to exclude the deadly radiation that only space can inflict upon you.

Determined not to be left behind by the Avengers, Captain America and X-Men, yet another Marvel hero celebrates a landmark issue.

And it's his 250th!

Not that he has much to celebrate. I think this is the third time Mangog's been on the loose - and the third time he's tried to draw the Odinsword!

You'd think he'd have come up with another plan by now. Like getting his hands on the Cosmic Cube or the Infinity Gauntlet or both or something.

But, hold on. What would happen if someone with the Cosmic Cube got into a fight with someone who had the Infinity Gauntlet? Who'd win? And why has no one ever asked this question before?