2000 AD - August 1985.

Thanks to Charlie Horse 47 and Killdumpster for their sponsorship of this post, via the magic of Patreon .  *** A ugust 1985 was a mixed month, to say the least, for aviation. On the plus side, it saw the selection of  Takao Doi, Mamoru Mohri and Chiaki Mukai to be Japan's first astronauts. On the downside, there were not one but three airplane disasters. The first was the crash of Japan Airlines Flight 123 which killed 520 people including Japanese singer Kyu Sakamoto, making it the worst single-aircraft disaster in history. Days later, at Manchester Airport, the left engine of British Airtours Flight 28M caught fire while on its takeoff roll, causing 55 people to die while trying to evacuate the vehicle. And, just days after that, Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 crashed in the United States, killing all eight on board, including thirteen-year-old American celebrity schoolgirl Samantha Smith. Meanwhile, the cinemas of the world were being introduced to a whole slew of new movies. Among the most well-known of which were Fright Night, Weird Science, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Return of the Living Dead and Teen Wolf . Of those, I believe I've seen Fright Night, Weird Science and Return of the Living Dead . The latter of which being the one I recall enjoying most. When it came to music, August kicked off with Madonna ruling the UK singles chart, thanks to her dancerrific Into the Groov e. But, before the month was out, it had been deposed by the rather more sedate  I Got You, Babe from UB40 and Chrissie Hynde. On the British album chart, the month began with Dire Straits'  Brothers in Arms on top before that was forced to make way for  Now That's What I Call Music 5 , back in the days when NOW albums were allowed on the official chart. "That's all well and good," I hear you cry, "but what of the galaxy's greatest comic ?" It has to be said there wasn't a lot new on offer from it, with the book containing the usual fare of Strontium Dog, Tharg's Future-Shocks , Judge Dredd, Ace Trucking Co, Rogue Trooper and Sláine - a lthough Prog 430 did feature a brief six-page return for Nemesis before that particular space warlock disappeared again, the following week.