Forty years ago today - May 1985.

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

***

The beckoning fingers of The Past signal for me to step forward and see just what I find there.

Drama piles upon drama when Conan and Fafnir must combat a god of death that goes by the handle of Kx'Ulthuum. A character whose name was clearly born when writer Michael Fleisher's cat tripped over and fell on his keyboard.

As always - and possibly thanks to a magic sword - our barbarian is triumphant.

However, the ever-hapless Fafnir bites the bullet!

Not literally, of course. Bullets haven't been invented yet.

I do, of course, mean he dies.

I feel like this is the third time he's done that.

Conan must be wondering how come he always comes back and Bêlit never does.

It's serious trouble for the X-Men in an issue that is, for some reason, double-sized.

In it, we see Thunderbird's brother try to avenge the death of his sibling, by abducting Banshee and forcing the gang to invade NORAD.

Needless to say, the X-Men survive that bid and Thunderbird's brother learns the error of his ways.

As does Firestar who's also involved. Apparently, this is her first-ever appearance in a Marvel comic.

Behold an odd little story in which the Jester busts out of prison, purely so he can show off his acting skills in front of a theatre audience.

Upon realising the fiend is actually good at acting - and not the irredeemable ham everyone always assumed - Hornhead decides to let him get on with it.

Can it be?

Can Marvel's two most patriotic captains be at each other's throats?

No. It can't be.

In fact, Modred the Mystic has stolen the UK hero's costume, in order that he can do something or other. 

Whatever that something or other is, I can't help feeling the combined power of the two crime-smashers will prove too much for him.

I struggle to recall details of this one but I do know Xeron and Captain Cybor's latest pursuit of Klaatu proves to be as disastrous as their previous one, leaving the Hulk and Puffball Collective back where they started from.

From what I can remember, Thor goes off in search of the presumed-dead Odin but quickly gets squished by an avalanche.

Fortunately, for him, some old bloke pulls him out from under it all and nurses him back to health.

As they get to know each other, our hero starts to suspect that man may be Odin in disguise.

But, no, unknown to the thunder god, he's actually, Odin's dad!

I think.

If not, he's someone else.

Peter Parker meets a woman on a train. Not long afterwards, she's killed by a hit-and-run driver and needs a replacement kidney from her brother.

So, Spidey sets out to find him but, along the way, accidentally bumps into Killer Shrike who thinks the hero's come looking for him and decides to get his retaliation in first.

Life's never simple for the web-faced wonder. This time, he discovers an old man's going to be kicked out of a nursing home because he's officially dead and, while travelling around town, trying to get New York's bureaucrats to sort out the problem, he keeps being attacked by a wannabe super-doer who's decided it'd be fun to have a series of scraps with the wall-crawler.

Sometimes it seems like Rhodey can't get a break. He goes to see Hank Pym about his headaches and is promptly attacked by a crook who causes all three of them to fall into another dimension. One that Rhodey has to get them all back out of!

Also notable, is that this issue sees the first appearance of Scourge when he kills a character who seemed like he was going to be the main villain of the piece.

Remember that early story in which Dr Doom tried to kill the Fantastic Four by launching their HQ into space - with them inside it?

Well, now he's decided the only reason that plan failed was because the Sub-Mariner was there and messed it all up for him. Therefore, he might as well try it again. But, this time, without Subby's help!

Then again, is it really Doom?

Or is the truth even more senses-shattering than even that?

Captain Marvel, having been sent on a wild goose chase by the Vision, lands on one of Thanos' abandoned bases, deep in the depths of deepest space.

But is it really abandoned?

And just how far can she trust the other people who've also found their way there?

May 10th, 1975 - 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. 

***

The pinnacle of the UK singles chart was in no mood for change, this week in 1975.

And that meant Mud retained the top spot they'd seized the week before, thanks to their single Oh Boy.

The summit of its parallel album chart was also becalmed, with the Bay City Rollers' Once Upon a Star retaining the dominance it had already established.

Filled with admiration for the oeuvre of Mud as I am, I must confess to not feeling Oh Boy was up there with their timeless classics Tiger Feet, The Cat Crept In, Lonely this Christmas and Dyna-Mite.

However, there were songs I did approve of on that week's Hit Parade. Amongst them were:

Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton

Hurt So Good - Susan Cadogan

Honey - Bobby Goldsboro

Love Me, Love My Dog - Peter Shelley

Fox On the Run - The Sweet

Stand by Me - John Lennon

Autobahn - Kraftwerk

The Israelites - Desmond Dekker

and

Imagine Me, Imagine You - Fox.

Should one wish to investigate the matter further, that very singles chart can be found right here.

While its accompanying LP chart dwells within.

It's a tentacular spectacular as 'orrible Otto Octavius continues his ample-armed assault on Spider-Man amidst the rooftops and skylights of New York City.

And could it be that George Stacy knows the truth of Peter Parker's secret?

Following that, the Mandarin's once more making plans for the destruction of Iron Man.

And I think this may be the start of the knuckle-clencher in which Happy Hogan fills in for the ailing Tony Stark when it comes to wearing his armour in public.

And, of course, Mandy promptly mistakes him for the real deal and kidnaps him!

An even bigger crisis awaits Thor and the Warriors Three who'll soon, no doubt, be the Worriers Four, as they've been sent off, by Loki, to battle Mangog and prevent him from reaching Asgard, in Odin's absence.

As we can all see, this is the week in which Yellowjacket makes his homicidal debut. The one in which he shows up from nowhere, claims to have killed Hank Pym and declares he's going to marry the winsome Wasp!

I'm proud to announce I guessed his shocking secret almost from the moment he first appeared.

Regardless, before encountering that shocker, we find Shang-Chi and his Secret Service pals visiting the Natural History Museum in London, receiving a hint that Dr Petrie may still be alive, and then getting attacked by a bunch of cavemen.

And, after the Avengers tale, we see Dr Sanders (for that is his name now) discover the servants of his friend Kenneth are, in fact, demonic minions of the evil Undying Ones!

Looking at that cover, I do feel like, from now on, I should end every statement I make in the real world by adding the words, "...WITH YOUR DEATHS!"

I'm sure that'll go down well.

I do believe we've entered the second part of The House That Screams which doesn't sound like the sort of house I'd choose to enter. Regardless, others are clearly braver than me and, although I know little of the tale, I believe it involves a scrap between Drac and Blade.

Next, the nightly werewolf's still up against Sarnak who's unleashed a horde of mutant monstrosities upon the streets of Los Angeles.

And I suspect we're getting more of the origin of Brother Voodoo.

Drama hits heights never before seen in human history, as the captured Apeslayer faces experimental brain surgery!

Fortunately, Sandra Simian's having none of it and, while no one's looking, releases all the captured Freemen.

Not so fortunately, before our hero can be rescued, he gets tortured!

Next, we encounter an interview with Marvin Paige in which Susan Munshower talks to the casting directer of the Planet of the Apes TV show.

Elsewhere, on the High Evolutionary's asteroid, Adam Warlock's still battling to prevent the Man-Beast from making a total mess of the creation of Counter-Earth.

And we finish with a seven-page reprint of Doorstep, as sourced from the pages of 1973's Worlds Unknown #2.

I'm struggling to know just which tale this is but am wondering if it's the one in which a flying saucer lands in the United States, the US military manages to kill its monstrous inhabitant and then discovers it was only a baby and its parents have left a note which asks them to look after it until they get there.

The Silver Surfer there, engaging in his favourite pastime of taking a break from bemoaning that humans fear and distrust him, in order to engage in his second-favourite pastime of flying around, trying to terrorise them. 

Then again, is it the Silver Surfer?

Or is it an evil lookalike created by the equally evil Dr Frankenstein?

And can the real Surfer possibly hope to stop it?

Next, with Professor X's mental powers gone, Magneto abducts the Angel and whisks him away to Asteroid M.

But what's this? at the end of it all, Xavier reveals his power loss was a just ruse to test his students?

What a leader.

I mean, genuinely, what a leader.

Every man deserves his day in court and it looks like the Hulk's included in that.

Not only that but a whole heap of super-heroes turn up to testify on his behalf.

But not before they've had a fight with him, of course.

After that, Daredevil's kidnapped by Dr Doom who has a brilliant plan to swap bodies with him and gain entrance to the Baxter Building while disguised as the man without fear.

The reader possessed of a strong memory will recall that, only last issue, the Trapster also tried to gain access to the Baxter Building while disguised as the man without fear.

Yet again, the Fantastic Four's strip is absent.

I do believe this is the one in which Conan's friend gets hanged by the neck for some crime or other. Which is quite a powerful thing to put in a comic and, therefore, a good thing to put in a comic.

Needless to say, our favourite barbarian sets out to avenge him. 

And that can only spell trouble for any bull-gods who happen to be in the vicinity.

And, of course, despite what the cover claims, there's no sign of Ka-Zar in this comic.

There is, however, much sign of King Kull whose in serious conflict with the Demon-Hordes of Thulsa Doom!

The Marvel Lucky Bag - May 1975.

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

***

Movies! I love 'em!

Especially ones I've heard of.

And, this month in 1975, the filmic releases I've heard of included such gems as The Day of the Locust, The Eiger Sanction, French Connection II and Return of the Pink Panther.

Of those, the only one I can remember actually having seen is Return of the Pink Panther. Therefore, I shall go against all conventional wisdom, every Oscar nominations committee and all human reason and nominate that as my film of the month.

Conan's had his own monochrome mag for some time now and, at last, his perennial bridesmaid, Kull gets one too.

Shall it wow the world like the Cimmerian's book has?

That, I cannot say but I can announce it'll go on to last for just three issues before disappearing from our lives, which does suggest the US public may not be in the mood to take it to their hearts with mad abandon.

Inside, we find A King Comes Riding! from Roy Thomas, Ross Andru and Wally Wood, which sounds an intriguing combination.

There's also The Shadow Kingdom and The Valley of the Worm! Both of which - shockingly, for a first issue - are reprints.

There is, however, some new material, including King Kull: A Retrospective Review and Hail the Barbarians!

Forget Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. This is the one we've all been waiting for, as the greatest martial arts scrapper of them all - Roger Moore - hits the front cover of our favourite fighting mag.

And he hits the insides, as well, thanks to a 13-page Don McGregor review of The Man With the Golden Gun which he titles The Man with the Golden Gun Shoots Blanks!

I get the feeling that may not be a positive review.

I do have to say, though, that only Dauntless Don could stretch a review of that film out to thirteen pages.

Elsewhere, we encounter Shang-Chi in Blood of the Golden Dragon and the Sons of the Tiger in The Crack of the Whip!

And Kull isn't the only pulp hero to gain a first issue, because the savagest doctor of them all lands his own Giant-Size mag which largely consists of The Man of Bronze! as first published in 1972's Doc Savage #1.

That's followed by Master of the Red Death! reprinted from Doc Savage #2.

We also discover a 5-page article about the great man, delivered by Bob Sampson.

Tragically, but perhaps not to anyone's great surprise, this is the only issue ever published of this title.

As we, no doubt, know, the Sons of the Serpent are causing chaos on the streets of New York and, somehow, despite just being blokes with sticks, they manage to capture Dr Strange, Valkyrie, Yellowjacket and Nighthawk, as well as putting the Hulk out of action!

Arrgh! #3 hits our newsagents and I must confess I included it purely because of that Alfredo Alcala cover.

That's not to say the insides aren't also redoubtable but I don't know what they contain, other than that they're likely to be of a humorous bent and that not all of them are reprints.

The man who doesn't know how lucky he is to not have to face talking apes is back!

And he's in impending lumber because the more-than-miffed Martian Masters send the High Overlord to get him!

But hold on!

Drop everything!

History's being made before our very eyes when a whole new bunch of X-Men hit the scene and do so in a full-length thriller that sees the old, boring, team captured by a living island, and Professor X has to hastily construct a new group to rescue them!

And that's not all - because that epic's followed by reprints of the Werner Roth mini-strips in which we get to learn more about the abilities of Cyclops, Marvel Girl and Iceman.

I can't speak for anyone else but, to me, it all sounds worth 50 cents of anyone's money.

Can even the crown prince of Wakanda survive a fall from a pterosaur?

Yes, he can.

But can he also survive an assault by Salamander K'Ruel the human cactus?

I've no idea what this one involves but it's called A Book Burns in Citrusville! I shall, therefore, assume it's a warning about the dangers of setting fire to books and of the sort of people who do that sort of thing.

I possess no doubt the Man-Thing, as an avid reader of all things literary, takes immediate action to prevent such cultural vandalism and then helps the local kids build a new library.

Fifty years ago today - May 1975.

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

***

Marvel Marvel Marvel.

That's my introduction to this post.

It's a terrible introduction.

Let's hope the post is better.

I do detect yet more of the seemingly endless Celestial Madonna Saga.

And a chance to uncover the truth, at last, about the origin of the Vision!

Much as I love Gil Kane, I must confess this has to be the sorriest excuse for a monster he's ever placed on the cover of a Conan comic.

Regardless, the story within is called The Dweller in the Pool!

And I have no doubt the monster will seem more impressive when we see it in action.

I'm fairly certain I've never read this one. But I do know Foggy must decide whether to join SHIELD or not.

Call me overly-critical but I don't really see why the world's most high-powered counter-espionage agency would want Foggy Nelson amongst its ranks.

And it has even more woes to come because, as that's going on, it's subject to an attack by Hydra.

And Daredevil and the Black Widow completely fail to prevent the Dreadnaught from kidnapping the District Attorney!

It's another one I've not read.

And it's one whose plotline I can't even begin to guess at.

Except that, apparently, it involves invaders from the 5th Dimension.

But here's one I have read.

And it's a yarn I thoroughly approve of, as Bruce Banner sets off to Russia, in a bid to rescue the captive Glenn Talbot from the clutches of the Gremlin.

According to the blurb, it's the battle I demanded!

Which is total rubbish, as the battle I demanded was between Charles Hawtrey and Barney the Purple Dinosaur. And still, after all these years, Marvel hasn't given me it.

Regardless, I'm getting the feeling, from the front cover, that this one involves MODOK getting into a scrap with the Mad Thinker - and Iron Man getting caught up in the middle of it.

It's good news for some because a certain person returns from the dead.

Or does she?

I'm struggling to recall a single thing about this one but it's clear that Kamo Tharn's involved.

And so is Hercules.

And so is Thor.

As we can see, the Red Skull has shocked us all by returning.

But there may be a far greater surprise in store for us - because this would appear to be the issue in which it's revealed that, all along, the Falcon's been a minion of that self-same villain!!!

And thus is my look at Marvel's big-hitters complete.

But we should never forget the company isn't the only scallop on the beach and that, where it goes, DC travels also.

I therefore suggest we scrutinise a random selection of its titles which likewise bear that May 1975 cover date.

But can it be?

That Kamandi lives in the same universe - and on the same Earth - as Superman?

It would appear so.

And it would appear  that Supes was active at the time of the Great Disaster.

Which does raise the obvious question of what he did during it and of what happened to him afterwards.

After eight billion appearances in other people's books, the clown prince of crime finally lands himself a comic of his very own.

And what a comic it is, as he gets up to something with Two-Face, although I don't remember what it is.

I do remember, though, that they soon fall out and fail at whatever it is they were trying to do, and that both end up back in the slammer.

DC jumps on the martial arts craze a little late in the day when Richard Dragon leaps into action to deliver his eight knuckles of justice to the cheekbones of Villainy.

It's not a book I've previously encountered nor even heard of but the internet informs me that he and Benjamin Turner visit Afghanistan in order to thwart a slavery ring run by someone called Aki.

Move over, Conan because a brand new sorcerer-stabber's in town and I have no doubt every nubile young damsel on Earth will be glad of it!

I've never read this issue but it seems The Curse of Castle Hrothgar involves a distant past. One in which men live in the shadow of the god of fate - and in fear of Satan, Dragon-Lord of the Underworld!

That's not quite how I remember the story of Beowulf going. I can only assume my schoolteachers lied to me.

Mike Kaluta creates another cover but, this issue, ER Cruz replaces Frank Robbins when it comes to the series' interior artwork.

I'm struggling to recall exactly what happens in this one but I think it involves a Bonny and Clyde type pair of robbers, a corrupt official, an autogyro and a weak bridge.

As always, a fatal plunge from a great height probably awaits the wrongdoers.

A whole new level of terror smashes its way into our lives when Secrets of Haunted House #1 arrives to literally melt our local spinner racks and leave our brains torture-wracked.

Three tales of dread await us within, including the one about the family who find a mysterious baby sea creature and take it home with them.

Only for it to grow up to be a mind-controlling sea monster drawn by Alex Niño!

May 3rd, 1975 - 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. 

***

Drama was much in evidence, this week in 1975, thanks to the Vietnam War coming to an end with the Fall of Saigon when North Vietnamese forces seized the city, forcing a mass evacuation of American troops and South Vietnamese civilians. As the capital fell, South Vietnam surrendered, unconditionally, to be taken over by a provisional government.

On a slightly smaller scale was West Ham United's triumph when they won the FA Cup by defeating Fulham 2–0 at Wembley.

Also victorious, that week, were Mud who reached the pinnacle of the UK singles chart, thanks to their single Oh Boy.

And matching that were the Bay City Rollers who seized the summit of the accompanying LP chart, with their smash hit album Once Upon a Star.

As we can see from that cover, Spidey's still battling Doc Ock in a tale that seems to have been going on for months.

And I do believe this week's instalment climaxes with Ock all set to fling our helpless hero from the top of a skyscraper!

Elsewhere, Iron Man frees Pepper Potts from the Titanium Man's paralysis beam - and then goes on to defeat him on live television, gaining the admiration of the entire nation.

Even that of Senator Byrd!

But, of course, there's big trouble in store for Thor and his gang, thanks to daft old Ulik having unintentionally unleashed the unbelievable terror of Mangog!

From the presence of Captain America on the cover, I'm expecting the launch of the tale in which the Hulk's captured at an airport and put on trial. Thus, presumably, inspiring the legendary TV movie that sees the Hulk team up with a spectacularly badly-dressed Daredevil.

Speaking of whom, Hornhead's still out to thwart the Trapster, thanks to the glue-loving villain's attempt to invade the Baxter Building. And I think this may be the part of the adventure in which Dr Doom finally shows up.

And armed with a remarkably similar plan to that of the Trapster.

I do have reason to believe the Fantastic Four's strip is missing. I can only put that down to their presence in the Hulk and Daredevil yarns.

Here's a cover so creepy that I'm not sure a mind as impressionable as mine should even be exposed to it.

Inside, Iron Fist is, for now, gone from the comic, supplanted by the return of Shang-Chi who has what I think to be his first encounter with British government agent Clive Reston.

More pressingly, he and Reston also have an encounter with a gang of Phansigars who dramatically smash their way in through a bunch of windows.

Next, we're treated to more of the shocking origin of the Vision - and of Ultron who turns out to have been created by Hank Pym!

It all ends with the Avengers deciding to let the Vision join their ranks, and the revelation that even an android can cry.

Back to our cover star, and Dr Strange - now called Dr Sanders - pays a visit to his old friend Kenneth Ward.

But something is amiss in the Ward residence.

Something that I'm sure will have strange echoes of the writings of HP Lovecraft.

As is immediately apparent, Apeslayer's still having trouble with those pesky simian tripods.

Within the book, he discovers LaGuardia Airport is a major supply and weapons depot for the apes, and decides to launch an attack on it. But, like the Hulk in his strip, he and his Freemen are quickly taken captive.

That's followed by an 8-page article that reveals how Roddy McDowall gets transformed into an ape whenever he shows up at work.

But, perhaps far more excitingly than even that, a momentous occasion's arrived for us all - because Adam Warlock's only gone and landed a strip of his very own!

It's the one in which the High Evolutionary decides to create a replica of Earth, on the far side of the sun, and the Man-Beast decides to ruin it for everyone.

Needless to say, the man from the cocoon has a few things to say about that.

Sadly, I know little of this week's Dracula tale but am aware that it's called The Night of the Screaming House!

Elsewhere, I do believe Jack Russell's hairy alter-ego's trapped in a pit, thanks to the machinations of a man called Sarnak.

But what's this?

We now encounter a brand new strip?

And that strip is Brother Voodoo?

And we discover his origin?

And that he used to be a psychiatrist?

Or was he a psychologist?

And now he's a voodoo expert?

Conan and Jenna are the guests of a mountain tribe but the gaffe-prone prostitute's kidnapped by a mysterious winged creature that takes her to a tower surrounded by flesh-eating flowers!

It seems like its curtains for her but, fortunately, Conan just happens to have a herd of woolly mammoths to hand.

And, speaking of men who know how to use a mammoth, what's Ka-Zar up to?

He's up to nothing because, despite what it says on the cover, he's nowhere in sight.

Instead, we're presented with Kull and his encounter with The Death-Dance of Thulsa Doom!

This is one of only two issues of The Super-Heroes I ever owned, although I seem to have acquired it two years too late, as I recall first reading it while - on television - people were lighting beacons on hilltops to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

Call me a dirty, treasonous, commie republican if you like but I must confess I found the Silver Surfer story more gripping than any mere bout of mass bonfire-lighting could ever hope to be.

Anyway, as we can see, the shiny nincompoop encounters the descendant of Frankensten who's determined to learn from history and totally repeat his ancestor's mistakes.

As for the X-Men, they suspect a gifted long-jumper on TV may be a mutant.

But when they try to recruit him, they discover he's actually the Toad in disguise and that his TV appearance was all part of whatever Magneto's latest plan may be!