February 1986 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

CGI? Ubiquitous as it is, there was a time when it was a mere twinkle in the eyes of its creators.

But that twinkle grew a little brighter in February 1986 when Pixar was founded by John Lasseter and Steve Jobs.

Elsewhere, President Jean-Claude Duvalier was having a less optimistic future, as he fled Haiti, bringing an end to his family's 28 years of rule.

Up above us, Halley's Comet reached its closest point to the sun, thanks to its second 20th Century tour of the Solar System. The previous one having been in 1910.

Also in the heavens, the Soviet Union launched the Mir space station.

And, strangely, Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was shot dead on his way home from a Stockholm cinema.

When it came to the UK singles chart, there was only one man to watch, and that was Billy Ocean who spent the entire month at the top, thanks to his latest hit When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going. Ironically, neither he nor his song were showing any signs of going.

Also refusing to budge were Dire Straits whose Brothers in Arms album spent the whole of February at Number One on the LP sales rankings.

But what can this madness be?

An era comes to an end when Captain Britain's mag folds, after just fourteen issues!

But does it go out in the style that only the UK's greatest hero can muster?

I don't remember but I do know it exits with Cap and Meggan helping Chief Inspector Dai Thomas find out who's been killing gangsters.

That's followed by the Black Knight in sensational solo action against The Stone Killer, as reprinted from the pages of 1979's Hulk Comic #4 & #5.

Night-Raven's also in reprint action, thanks to Flashpoint. A tale which first appeared in Hulk Comic #13 & #14.

And we conclude the issue and the publication with the Cherubim in Part 4 of Playgrounds and Parasites!

No such doom awaits Doctor Who Magazine which is proving to be as unstoppable as its hero.

In this immortal issue, we encounter a look at villains of the 80s, an interview with writer and script editor Chris Bidmead, an analysis of the serial Logopolis, a look at the role of Production Assistant, an interview with Davros actor Terry Molloy and ponder upon whether Doctor Who is a threat to my morals.

I'm feeling that it probably isn't.

Of course, there's a comic strip - this one being Revelation by Alan McKenzie. And there's a selection of reader's drawings to send us to bed happy.

But I do feel the loss of Captain Britain's book brings us to a pivotal moment in time.

As Marvel UK is now down to just one monthly title - Doctor Who Magazine - and it looks like it won't be launching any new ones until the 1990s, this seems a good time to bring this feature to an end.

Doing it has been an educational experience. Especially when the company was publishing something like 25 titles a month, which taught me never to do anything like that again.

So, goodbye, Marvel UK monthlies. May you rest in peace.

January 1986 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

In January, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, just 73 seconds after takeoff, killing its crew of seven astronauts, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe.

In Britain, meanwhile, unemployment hit 3,204,900. A post-war high that represented 14.4% of the workforce.

It may have seemed, at that point, that the month had nothing going on but doom, gloom and depression.

However, there were some bright spots.

For instance, the United Kingdom and France announced plans for a Channel Tunnel, expected to open by the early 1990s.

And, in Australia, the Gateway Bridge opened in Brisbane, becoming the world's longest pre-stressed concrete free-cantilever bridge.

While, on an even lighter note, the game show Catchphrase was launched by ITV, hosted by Roy Walker along with the computer-generated Mr Chips.

Meanwhile, far out beyond our world, any minds immeasurably superior to ours would have seen the Voyager 2 space probe make its first encounter with Uranus. A fact about which I'm saying nothing.

But what of the art form that hath the power to tame the savage breast?

In the UK, any savage breasts that may have been on the rampage were being tamed by the Pet Shop Boys whose debut hit West End Girls sat proudly atop the singles chart. However, that soon had to make way for A-ha's The Sun Always Shines On TV. I did always feel that title made it clear A-ha had never seen any British television.

On the accompanying album chart, January arrived with Now That's What I Call Music! 6 at the summit before that was then deposed by the return to prominence of Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms.

There's clearly something special going on because this month's edition of the magazine dedicated to the universe's greatest interventionist has no fewer than eight extra colour pages!

Just what that special thing is, I have no idea.

However, as we can clearly see, this issue presents us with the 22nd Season Survey results, a brand new comic strip called Exodus and a look at alien worlds.

I'm assuming those are the alien worlds of Doctor Who but don't quote me on that.

Elsewhere, we encounter an Interview with Victor Pemberton, writer of Fury From the Deep.

And there's a feature titled Growing Up With the Doctor. 

Captain Britain's monthly mag penultimates but does it do so in style?

I'm not totally convinced it does, as this is the issue in which poor old Betsy Braddock is blinded by Slaymaster. A fact which, to be honest, is a development my delicate sensibilities could have done without.

Then, the Black Knight finds himself tangled up in Dawn of the Hellravens, as reprinted from 1979's Hulk Comic #3.

Next, there's A Dream of Night-Raven, reprinted from Hulk Comic #12.

And that's followed by a new five-page yarn titled Captain Granbretan.

And we complete the issue with a five-page Cherubim tale the world knows as Playgrounds and Parasites! Part 3.

December 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

I think we all get excited to discover what's on the Hit Parade in any December, as we home in on Christmas and that coveted Yuletide Number One spot.

If so, I think we'll all be thrilled to learn that December 1985 kicked off with Wham's I'm Your Man atop the UK singles chart. But the duo soon had to make way for Whitney Houston's Saving All My Love For You.

"That's all great," I hear you cry, "But no one came here for that. We all want to know what Britain's Christmas Number One was!"

And I can sensationally reveal it was none other than Merry Christmas Everyone by the Welsh Elvis himself Shakin' Stevens!

Sadly, things were not exactly unpredictable on the neighbouring album chart, with the month arriving with Now That's What I Call Music! 6 hogging the pinnacle before that was replaced by Now - The Christmas Album which was then replaced by Now That's What I Call Music! 6.

Should the intrigued reader wish to explore, further, the matters raised in this post, that year's UK Christmas singles chart can be found here.

While its associated album listings dwell within.

But what of Marvel UK? With the sale of Starburst to Visual Imagination, the imprint was now down to just two monthlies!

And for how much longer could they hold out?

I suspect the good Doctor's periodical can hold out for a substantial amount of time - especially as this month's offering bills itself as a Christmas Merchandise Special!

There's nothing I want more in my life than a merchandise special.

Within, we get an interview with Adric actor Matthew Waterhouse and with Doctor Who artist Andrew Skilleter, as well as the show's Production Secretary Sarah Lee.

We also find a review of Slipback. In all honesty, I have no idea what that is and, so, in the absence of any other evidence, I shall assume it's a novel.

Meanwhile, this month's comic strip is the final part of Frobisher's Tale.

I fear Captain Britain's mag may not prove to be as resilient as that of the good Doctor but only time will tell.

For now, I can tell you our hero's involved in a tale called Alarms and Excursions in which it seems he and Meggan visit ancient Peru to help Gatecrasher escape a predicament.

Next, the Black Knight has a three-page story reprinted from the days of 1979's Hulk Comic #1.

Then, Night-Raven's involved in Big Shot, also reprinted from 1979.

And, following that, he's involved in Midsummer Madness: Episode 3 which appears to be a new story.

But we finish the issue with the five-page offering Playgrounds and Parasites! Part 2 which, we'll all be delighted to know, stars the ever-popular Cherubim.

The 1985 Marvel UK Annuals for 1986.

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

***

We've already taken a look at Marvel UK's annuals of 1975, in a report that's already achieved almost legendary status wherever sentient life flourishes. 

Now let's see what hardback goodness we were getting a full decade later.

But first...

...television!

BBC One, that Christmas Day, was sharing a whole multitude of treats with us. Amongst which were included such gems as Raiders of the Lost Muppet, Roland's Yuletide Binge, The Noel Edmonds Live Live Christmas Breakfast Show, Top of the Pops, The Queen, The Children's Royal Variety Performance, All Creatures Great and Small, Hi-de-Hi!, Only Fools and Horses, The Two Ronnies and Wogan.

Wogan would appear to have involved a special report from the sets of Dallas. Or possibly Dynasty.

I have no list of which musical artistes appeared on that day's Top of the Pops but am aware it was presented by Gary Davies, Janice Long, Dixie Peach, John Peel and Steve Wright, although I must confess to having no recollection at all of just who Dixie Peach was.

When it came to BBC Two, the corporation's less mainstream channel offered up such gems as Pages From Ceefax, The Man in the Santa Claus Suit, Welles Directs Citizen Kane, Film Buff of the Year, Diva and Kiri Te Kanawa at Christmas, among others.

Included in its goodies, ITV bombarded us with Good Morning Britain, Christmas Fraggle Rock, Dangermouse, The Black Hole, Jim Davidson's Top Pop Videos of '85, Moonraker, Minder on the Orient Express, Des O'Connor Tonight and Gregory's Girl.

Channel 4, meanwhile, managed to muster Mister Skeeter, The Marx Brothers at the Circus, Nothing But Pleasure, The Thief of Baghdad, The Mind of David Berglas, Fonteyn and Nureyev: The Perfect Partnership and Mel Brooks Hails Sid Caesar, among others.

Of all those shows, I remember watching Moonraker, Only Fools and Horses, and The Noel Edmonds Live Live Christmas Breakfast Show which was beamed at us from the GPO/Post Office/BT/Telecom Tower or whatever it was called at the time. I seem to remember Feargal Sharkey singing one of his hits on it. Possibly You Little Thief or a Good Heart.

It's great news for those who missed Secret Wars the first time around, because Marvel UK - via Grandreams Publishing - is reprinting a large chunk of it.

Just how large a chunk, I can't say but, as the original ran for 12 issues of normal-sized comics, I'm assuming we're probably not going to get more than half of it.

Anyway, as I'm sure you know, an all-powerful being called The Beyonder has abducted many of Earth's finest heroes and villains, in order to pit them against each other on an alien world. But it soon becomes clear that Dr Doom and Galactus have their sights set on bigger goals...

Where would we be without a Spider-Man annual?

Then again, this would appear to be the first time in years that we don't get anything from Marvel UK that resembles a Hulk annual.

As for Spidey, we kick off with a reprint of his first encounter with Dr Octopus, followed by a six-page text story called Hot Times.

Then there's another six-page text story, called Hammer-Fist and Knife-Slice.

However, this is far too many text stories in one book. If I wanted to read words, I wouldn't buy comics.

And we finish the tome with a reprint of Marvel Team-Up #106 in which our hero and Captain America must battle the Scorpion.

But that's not quite all we encounter, because also in this annual are Spider-Man's Deadly Checkerboard Game! and Spider-Man's Simplistics.

November 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

This month in 1985 was great news if you were an aircraft that was tired of flying round and round over the sea, looking for somewhere to land before your arms got tired.

And that's because it was the month in which the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal was commissioned by the Queen Mother.

Elsewhere, in the UK, unemployment for September fell by nearly 70,000, bringing the total to less than 3,300,000.

When it came to board games, in an all-Soviet match, 22-year-old Garry Kasparov defeated Anatoly Karpov to become the youngest-ever undisputed World Chess Champion.

And there was epoch-making news for computers everywhere when the Microsoft Corporation unleashed the first United States release of Windows 1.0.

When it came to music, November launched with Jennifer Rush's The Power of Love still hogging the Number One spot on the UK singles chart. However, even Jennifer's cast iron lungs weren't enough to save her from an attack by Feargal Sharkey whose A Good Heart managed to depose it, before that track itself had to make way for Wham!'s I'm Your Man.

Things were decidedly more soothing on the accompanying album chart, with the month beginning with George Benson's Love Songs ruling the roost before that was gently dethroned by Sade's Promise which then had to make way for The Greatest Hits of 1985 by those always unstoppable Various Artists. 

After their recent jaunt to Africa, the good Captain and Meggan visit the far cooler climbs of the Russian wilderness in which they encounter legendary folkloric character Baba Yaga.

Up against far more metallic opposition is Abslom Daak who gets caught up in a tale the world knows as The Dalek Killers.

Elsewhere, Night-Raven finds himself in not one but two adventures. The first being Showdown and the second bearing the title Midsummer Madness.

And, then, as far as I can make out, Cap Brit's back for a five-page thriller called Playgrounds and Parasites! 

Jon Pertwee may be on the cover but, inside, the star of the show is 5th Doctor Peter Davison who grants the mag an interview!

And that's appropriate because this issue also contains a look back behind the scenes of his serial Resurrection of the Daleks.

We also encounter a look at some of the strange planets the Doctor's visited, uncover an interview with the show's Production Associate Angela Smith and visit a retrospective of the villains of the 1970s.

But all of this, I'm sure, pales into insignificance before the true highlight of the issue. 

Which is that we get the announcement of the winners of The Doctor Who Songwriting Competition!

If two young lads called Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty don't win it, there's no justice in the universe.

As we may have guessed, from that cover, the UK's Number One source for news of sci-fi, Fantasy and horror is, this month, carrying Interviews with various people involved in the making of Mad Max III.

And they're not the only ones, because we also stumble across a chat in which Ridley Scott talks about the creation of his film Legend.

Speaking of which, a man named Martin Asbury talks about visualising scripts for that film - and for Labyrinth and Greystoke.

For fancy people, there's a look back at Jean Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast.

And there's a retrospective of The Man from Uncle.

But the issue closes with a feature upon which I can shed no light at all; The Filing Cabinet of Dr Sally Gary. Just how Expressionist that turns out to be, I cannot say.

October 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

Sadly, the need to cram in an extra post dedicated to Atlas Comics - plus the way the days have aligned themselves, relative to the month as a whole - means there's no space available for Speak Your Brain, this month. Instead, I'm having to squeeze in our look at what Marvel UK was up to, exactly 40 years ago.

But before that, the charts must be tackled.

In a world filled with super-powers, there was only one power that mattered in October 1985.

And that was the power of love, as the song of that title held the pinnacle of the UK singles chart for the entire month, thanks to the somewhat punishing voice of Jennifer Rush.

There was, however, far more churn occurring on the UK album chart, with Madonna's Like a Virgin, Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, George Benson's Love Songs and Simple Minds' Once Upon a Time all briefly seizing the summit, at some point.

Colin Baker invites us in for a look at the latest activities of the publication dedicated to the universe's greatest saviour!

And, within its hallowed pages, we encounter a look back at the Doctor Who Fanaid Convention, followed by an interview with Jacqueline Hill, best known as 1960s companion Barbara Wright.

Then, we discover the second instalment of the magazine's exploration of the history of comedy in the show, and an interview with Raymond Cusick, designer of the Daleks.

But we should never overlook the fact that we also encounter the comic strips Abel's Story and Enlightenment.

And we should definitely not overlook the fact that, if we buy this issue, we'll get a free Doctor Who bookmark! An event so momentous that it gets a major mention on the front cover!

As we can guess from that cover, Britain's greatest hero's in for an African adventure. 

What might not be so obvious is he's gone there in a bid to uncover the truth about his brother Jamie.

And that brings him into conflict with Dr Crocodile!

That's followed by Abslom Daak having encounters with things that are both Mercuriuser and Curiouser.

Next, Night-Raven finds himself at the End of the Line.

Then, he finds himself in Midsummer Madness, Episode 1.

And the Space Thieves  are still mixed up in the oddly titled serial mankind can only know as PARTS vs. the Universe.

Everybody's favourite periodical devoted to the worlds of the larger-than-life is back and is taking a look at the upcoming resurrections of such old shows as The Twilight Zone, Amazing Stories and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, among many others.

After that, John Boorman tells us of his latest project The Emerald Forest.

Following that, Clint Eastwood tells us about his career as both an actor and director, seemingly in relation to his latest fillum Pale Rider.

And there are also  interviews with Douglas Adams and Gary Busey. Not to mention the magazine's latest news, reviews and viewpoints on the genres of Fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror.

September 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

I bet James Cameron was getting excited, this month in 1985. It was, as I'm sure you know, the month in which a joint French-American expedition located the wreck of the Titanic in the North Atlantic, followed - just days later - by the shooting of the first photos and moving pictures of the boat taken since its sinking, 73 years earlier.

The UK, meanwhile was being stricken by far worse news, as September witnessed a BSE outbreak following the first confirmed case of the disease in British cattle.

Also, riots broke out in Handsworth and Brixton.

But Mexico too was stricken by ill-fortune, its capital rocked by an earthquake that registered 8.0 on the Richter Scale and killed 5,000-45,000 people, injuring another 30,000 more.

Elsewhere, 60-year-old Welsh fashion designer Laura Ashley was injured in a fall at her daughter's home and died from her injuries, ten days later.

And 62-year-old Scotland national football manager Jock Stein collapsed and died from a heart attack, at the end of his team's 1–1 draw with Wales in Cardiff. A draw which had secured his country's place in a World Cup qualification play-off.

But there was at least some good news to be had because the month also saw the opening of the UK's first three Toys R Us stores, and the first Super Mario Bros was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System.

When it came to music, September arrived with David Bowie and Mick Jagger's Live Aid propelled Dancing in the Street atop the UK singles chart before that had to make way for the equally Live Aid propelled Midge Ure with If I Was.

Meanwhile, on the accompanying album chart, the period began with Now That's What I Call Music 5 reigning supreme before it was pushed aside by Madonna's Like a Virgin which was then smashed ruthlessly in the face by the arrival of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love.

But what's this? Starburst gives us a cover reminiscent - to those of a certain vintage - of the frontages which once adorned the the late and lamented TV21 comic.

No signs of any Gerry and Sylvia Anderson inside, however. Instead, our main event is an interview with Roger Moore who talks about his latest cinematic smash A View to a Kill.

We also receive an interview with director Tobe Hooper, as regards his upcoming films Lifeforce and Invaders from Mars.

And, after that, Colin Wilson talks about his novel The Space Vampires, upon which Lifeforce is based.

But there's also an analysis of the failure of the V television series to set the ratings alight.

And we also discover a preview of the Cambridge Animation Festival.

It's a very pleasing cover but is the inside of the book as pleasing as its outside?

Well, as far as I can determine, it seems Giggles has led the offensive by manipulating light energy patterns and that the warp children are being offered refuge at Braddock Manor.

Then we encounter the four-page Thicker Than Water by John Tomlinson and Jeff Anderson.

Next, Night-Raven appears in The Pay-Off.

Following that, Abslom Daak headlines a tale called Instant Harma.

And we conclude the issue when the Space Thieves experience a yarn enigmatically labelled PARTS vs. Everybody.

The front cover may be dominated by Cybermen but our big news is an interview with the show's producer John Nathan-Turner and its script editor Eric Saward. The two men most responsible for the ever-upward trajectory of the show in the mid-1980s.

As if that wasn't enough of a thrill for us, we're also treated to a look at the role comedy's played in the show, and a look at Doctor Who on the radio. Assuming, that is, that you can look at things on the radio.

We also find a selection of readers' drawings, news of the the show's former actors and a look back at the magnificently insane serial Kinda.

August 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

August 1985 was a bad time for all lovers of electric tricycles, because the Sinclair C5 - which had been intended to revolutionise motor transport on the planet Earth - ceased production, after just seven months, with fewer than 17,000 sold.

In fairness, 17,000 in seven months sounds like quite a lot to me but I'm no expert in tricycles.

Sadly, there was far more tragic news when it came to transport, as that August was oddly stricken by air disasters. It saw Delta Air Lines Flight 191 crash near Dallas, killing 137 people, Japan Air Lines Flight 123 crash in Japan, killing 520 people - including Japanese singer Kyu Sakamoto,  55 people killed while trying to evacuate British Airtours Flight 28M at Manchester Airport, and Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 crash in the United States, killing all 8 passengers including high-profile thirteen-year-old peace campaigner Samantha Smith.

On the UK singles chart, the month began with Madonna's Into the Groove at Number One before that was dislodged by I Got You Babe by UB40 and Chrissie Hynde.

While, on the associated album chart, August kicked off with Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms on top before that had to make way for Now That's What I Call Music 5.

As we can tell from that cover, the Stephen King based film Cat's Eye is going to get a reviewing.

But there's more because Tom Selleck talks about his new film Hit and Run in which he must battle out-of-control robots.

Elsewhere, Ursula K Le Guin and David Bedford talk about what seems to be an opera they've written.

I'm assuming that's not David Bedford the long-distance runner but I'm hoping it is because I'd like to see Frank Herbert write an opera with Brendan Foster.

Also, Linda Hamilton talks about Terminator, Jon Abbott takes a look back at Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and there's a discussion on whether music videos are art or not which seems a strange topic to discuss in Starburst.

Not only that but there's a chance to win preview tickets to Ridley Scott's Legend!

Of course, I remember Starburst when it was called Opal Fruits Magazine.

This, no doubt, tumultuous issue presents us with the Captain Britain tale Childhoods End which, judging by that cover, is the one in which they make the mistake of having Meggan lose her monstrous appearance and become a hot babe.

Then, there's a four-page story called The Eye Witness, brought to us by R. Hunter and John Stokes

Then, Night Raven's involved in a case of Secret Identity.

Next, Abslom Daak occupies a tale called Farewell to Draconia.

And we finish the issue with a yarn that goes by the unlikely name of PARTS vs. Zarts, GIA, HF, the Mob, Etc, Etc, and is the creation of Dave Harper and Barry Kitson.

Can it be true?

Yes, it can!

Such is the madness of the world that we get an issue dedicated to The Mark of the Rani!

I think it's what we've all been praying for.

This means there are interviews with the serial's director, writers and designers.

And there's a full-colour poster of Kate O'Mara!

Beyond that epic adventure, we find a conclusion to the comic strip Funhouse, a story-writing competition and a selection of reader's artwork.

July 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

People may often tell you not to count your chickens but, in July 1985, if there was one person in the UK who knew how to count chickens - or anything else, for that matter - it was 13-year-old Ruth Lawrence who, that month, achieved a First in Mathematics at Oxford, thus becoming the youngest Briton to ever earn a first-class degree - and the youngest known graduate of that University.

Also achieving big things was the world of popular music which, on July 13th, staged twin Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia. Events which, thanks to their star-packed status, raised over £50 million for famine relief in Ethiopia.

On the other side of the world, the Greenpeace vessel Rainbow Warrior was bombed and sunk in Auckland Harbour by French DGSE agents.

And what of the pop charts in the time of Live Aid? Just what were they up to?

When it came to the UK Hit Parade, the month began with Sister Sledge's Frankie on top, before that was dislodged by Eurythmics' There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) which then had to make way for Madonna's first UK Number One Into the Groove.

On its associated album listings, most of July saw Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA ruling the roost before, at the month's very end, Dire Straits' Brothers in Arms reclaimed the top spot it had held previously.

Starburst greets us with a face we’ll never forget - especially if we live in Chicago.

It’s true. The nation’s favourite sci-fi mag talks to director Anabel Jankel about none other than Max Headroom himself!

As well as all the usual features, we also encounter an interview with screenwriter Richard Carpenter who talks about the Robin of Sherwood TV series - which I’m going to assume he’s involved in writing, or it would be fairly pointless for the magazine to interview him about it.

We're getting plenty of interview action this month, with both Patrick Troughton and Mark Strickson sharing their thoughts on their work on the show.

And there's a full-blooded review of both Revelation of the Daleks and Timelash.

In the publication's regular comic strip, meanwhile, the Doctor and Frobisher find themselves trapped in a diabolical funhouse!

My memories of this issue's main tale are fuzzy, but I do know it involves Mastermind reappearing to help get Braddock Manor back in tip-top shape - and to mentor Captain Britain.

From what I recall, I do believe that Mastermind is the Captain's very own AI.

That's followed by Mike Collins' City Snapshot: Episode 3.

Which is followed by Night Raven entering an adventure in which he encounters the Ace of Ravens.

Then there's Abslom Daak in Kill Wagon which I misread as Kill Your Wagon, when compiling this post, and assumed it was an angry sequel to Paint Your Wagon.

And we finish off the issue with an 8-page Space Thieves tale from Dave Harper and Barry Kitson.

What's this?

Can it be?

That Marvel UK's longest-running monthly title has come to a crashing end, at a time when the battling barbarian's profile in this land has never been higher?

It can indeed.

Which is all the stranger, as the US version of the mag will continue to go from strength-to-strength for another decade before entering Valhalla - or wherever it is that Cimmerians go when they kick the bucket.

Regardless, our hero bows out in style by giving us a Thomas/Buscema yarn in which the bruiser strengthens the Bamula tribe by helping them conquer other tribes.

Then, we get 28 pages of Red Sonja action in While Lovers Embrace - Demons Feed, as reprinted from 1983’s Red Sonja #1.

Then we get King Conan in Red Moon of Zembabwei!

Then there's a 6-page Marvel Showcase tale from Simon Jacob. One called There’s a Demon in Wardour St.

Which is followed by Conan encountering The Bride of the Vampire!

June 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

The dark days of 1980s English football got noticeably darker, this month in 1985 when, in response to the Heysel disaster, just four days earlier, UEFA announced an indefinite ban on all English clubs taking part in European competition, with Liverpool expected to serve an extra three years after other English clubs had been readmitted.

In a more positive sporting vein, the city of Birmingham, England, unveiled its bid to host the 1992 Summer Olympics.

When it came to films, A View to a Kill was unleashed upon an awestruck world, marking Roger Moore's seventh and final appearance as James Bond.

Also waving goodbye to us was Route 66 which was officially decommissioned. Whether that means it's still there but not used, I cannot say.

On the UK singles chart, June sauntered into our lives with Paul Hardcastle ruling the roost, thanks to his track 19. That was then dethroned by the Crowd's You'll Never Walk Alone which, in turn, lost its top spot to Frankie by Sister Sledge.

The associated album chart watched the month begin with the Style Council's Our Favourite Shop in pole position before that was dislodged by Bryan Ferry's Boys and Girls which then had to subside before the might of Marillion's Misplaced Childhood which then had to make way for Bruce Springsteen's Born in The USA!

Drama builds upon tension, and tension builds upon drama, as Captain Britain convinces Technet to return him to the proper world - whatever that is - where his double-crossing doppelganger's attacked Betsy Braddock!

Abslom Daak, meanwhile, finds himself in Daak Alliance.

And Night-Raven finds himself In the Frame.

Mike Collins, however, gives us Part Two of City Snapshot.

And Space Thieves presents PARTS vs. Zarts, though, frankly I have no idea what it is.

Yet again Conan discovers The Devil Has Many Legs!

But does he have too many?

And just how many is enough?

That's followed by Pete Scott's article The Eternal Champion.

Next, Red Sonja learns that While Lovers Embrace--Demons Feed. A fact she'd already learnt in the pages of 1983's Red Sonja #1.

After that, Night-Raven must contend with Time & Tide, this issue's Marvel Showcase sees Mike Jones unveil a four-page yarn called To Win a Maiden's Heart, and King Conan must endure the Red Moon of Zembabwei!

But what's this majestic announcement? If we enter a competition, we might win a Doctor Who record?

Please tell me it's Doctor in Distress. Who wouldn't want a copy of that slamming away on their gramophone?

There's also a gallery of readers' art, a look back at the Davison era story Frontios, a review of The Two Doctors/Mark of the Rani, and an interview with Vengeance on Varos director Ron Jones.

And, if the cover's to be believed, on top of all that, this issue includes all my favourite regular features!

But this is what we all came here for. A look at the making of Return to Oz!

There's also an interview with John Halas but I don't know who he is. So, I'm going to assume he's some sort of animator.

There also looks to be a chat with Jeff "Starman" Bridges.

And there's definitely a retrospective of classic ITC show The Prisoner.

May 1985 - Marvel UK monthlies, 40 years ago this month.

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

***

As so often, May 1985 saw both triumph and tragedy imposed upon the world, in equal measures.

When it came to triumph, the 30th Eurovision Song Contest in Gothenburg found itself being won by Norwegian act Bobbysocks! and their offering La Det Swinge.

In sport, Everton - fresh from winning their first Football League title in fifteen years - picked up  the European Cup Winners' Cup, thanks to a 3–1 win over Rapid Vienna in Rotterdam.

But the sport also found disaster when 56 people were killed in the Bradford City stadium fire.

And, only days after that, 39 more fans died in Brussels' Heysel Stadium disaster at the European Cup final between Juventus and Liverpool.

When it came to music, Dire Straits released their new album Brothers in Arms which would go on to become the first compact disc to sell over one million copies.

Rather more ominously, May 1985 saw scientists from the British Antarctic Survey announce they'd discovered a hole in the Earth's ozone layer.

When it came to the UK singles chart, only one track ruled the roost that month. And that was Paul Hardcastle's Vietnam commentary 19.

Over on the accompanying album chart, the month began with Various Artists' Hits 2 atop the pile before that was deposed by the aforementioned Brother in Arms.

The nation's favourite sci-fi mag gives us an odd cover that would look more at home on the front of The Fortean Times than on the nation's favourite sci-fi mag.

That's down to it taking a look at Dennis Potter's upcoming film Dreamchild which appears to be based upon the life and works of Lewis Carroll and involves the Muppet people in some capacity or other.

And because even that's not enough for readers as demanding as us, there's also attention being paid to such fare as Ladyhawke and Buckaroo Banzai.

It's not just the TV show that's been going on for a long time. So has the magazine dedicated to it.

And so it is that the publication hits its 100th issue by taking a look back at the development of the character and his various incarnations over the decades.

It also takes a look at the history of the Timelords.

And there's an interview with writer Robert Holmes.

Not to mention a colour poster of Peri and the Doctor!

It looks like bad news for the hero who never seems to win a fight, as he now has to battle his evil twin Kapitan Briton!

Elsewhere, Abslom Daak finds himself in a thing called The Battle Joined.

Next, we encounter Episode One of a new serial called City Snapshot by Mike Collins. I have no knowledge of that strip at all.

And that's followed by The Coming of the Space Thieves.

It's just another day at the office for the battlingest barbarian of his age when Conan discovers The Devil Has Many Legs!

That seems a bit non-specific. Personally, before fighting the Devil, I always insist on knowing exactly how many legs he has.

In the latest instalment of Magik, Illyana defeats Belasco and becomes ruler of Limbo before returning to Earth and, I would assume, the X-Men.

That's followed by The Ride starring Night-Raven.

And then we discover a Marvel Showcase tale called Forest.

But we conclude our delve into the month's offerings when King Conan encounters the Red Moon of Zembabwei, adapted from the story of the same name by DeCamp and Carter.