Forty years ago today - November 1986.

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

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Excitement mounts as Marvel celebrates its 25th birthday!

And a thrilling, action-packed cover tells us that Iron Man's on board with it.

And he's not the only one present, because this issue sees Simon Steel inflict an updated version of the Iron Monger upon no lesser target than Dominic Fortune.

However, as you might expect, Shellhead gets in the villain's way.

But not in time to save Fortune!

Spidey's clearly determined to not be outdone by Iron Man when it comes to boring covers.

But what of his innards?

His innards currently contain the aftermath of Flash Thompson's escape from jail. A feat that sees the whole city trying to track him down.

Jonah, though, still has his mind on the wall-crawler and even recruits X-Factor in a bid to defeat our hero!

And even Conan can't escape The Curse of the Boring Cover.

But, inside, I have no doubt things are far more thrilling when the barbarian seeks out Ybn Lord of Assassins, in a mission to find the boy-king child of someone called Anneka.

I'm assuming this isn't the Anneka of Japanese Boy fame. For some reason, her turning up in a Conan story would give me great pleasure.

Ooh. Hold on. I actually had this one.

I remember Barry Smith drawing it and it involving Daredevil and the Black Widow vs some sort of PTSD Super-Soldier person who needs stopping before he does any more damage.

You'd never guess it from that cover but Avengers drama hits heights it's arguably never reached before, as Baron Zemo and his new Masters of Evil seize control of the Avengers Mansion while the heroes are all out doing other things!

Can Cap's reputation ever recover?

It's starting to look like it never may because, after he gets bad press for killing a terrorist, someone called Super-Patriot steps in to take his place in the hearts of Americans!

Why do I feel like Super-Patriot is going to turn out to be a bad guy?

I'm going to venture that this Incredible Hulk issue sports the weakest of Marvel's covers, this month.

But, within, things are stirring, thanks to a funeral and Zzzax being brought to Gamma Base.

And when the Hulk seems to break out of that selfsame base, SHIELD finds itself up against a new Hulk! One who grabs Bruce Banner and abducts him!

According to the GCD, Peter Parker investigates a gang that's insinuated itself into an apartment building.

I'm not totally sure how you insinuate yourself into a building but they've managed it somehow.

I'm going to venture that, of this month's cover artists, John Romita Jr has done the best job when it comes to trying to make something from the basic theme.

And it's for an issue in which the Marauders cut a swathe of destruction through the Morlocks' tunnels while our favourite mutants try to stop them.

But what's this? Barry Smith too has managed to inject some kind of interest into the cover template.

He also draws some of the interior pages - as do Kerry Gammill, Ron Frenz, Al Milgrom and John Buscema. Just what's going on with this issue?

And why is it 64 pages long?

Regardless, it's a story that sees our favourite super-team battle the Mole Man.

And it sees the Thing reclaim his place among their ranks.

Only 23 pages for Thor, though, as he returns to Earth for some Me Time. But he's soon warned by his friends the frogs that something's amiss underground.

Needless to say, he's not going to put up with that sort of thing.

And that brings him into conflict with the Marauders - and into a crossover with the X-Men.