*Marvel: This week’s entry in our ‘Slab Happy’ event is Iron Man #55, from 1973, in which Thanos, enemy of all that lives, made his debut under the auspices of Mike Friedrich and Jim Starlin. A major antagonist in the Marvel Universe, Thanos rapidly evolved into their equivalent to DC’s Darkseid, and dominated a succession of cosmic events in which universes were destroyed, reshaped or reborn. This issue not only features the first appearance of Thanos, but also the debuts of several other major Marvel characters: Drax the Destroyer (not quite as seen in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies!), Eros (who would later become Starfox and join the Avengers), Mentor, Kronos, and the villainous Blood Brothers – not a bad bargain for 20c! Decades later, of course, it will cost you a wee bit more; this CGC Universal Blue Label (unrestored) 9.2 (NM-) is being offered for £925.