Marvel UK Comics in the 1980s and Toy Advertising

As I delved into the old Spider-man and Zoids comic of yesteryear I noticed strips that I hadn't recalled as back-ups, plus many very nostalgic advertisements. I realised too that this toy tie-in approach wasn't limited to that particular title although it had several interesting examples. So take a trip back with me as I have a look at some examples of how comics were used as part of the promotional material for toy lines, but in doing so also took on an independent life of their own...

[@kieronball8962]

It's a very complicated and bizarre situation regarding UK comic books and their toy comic strips, as Marvel UK was able to publish various titles, with different toylines, from different toy companies.
One of the few independent UK comic book publishers actually got the rights for the M.A.S.K. comic strips and published the M.A.S.K. comic for 80 issues, before cancellation led to it moving over to the Eagle comic book, for another 22 issues.

[@ExcelsiorsDomain]

What makes me chuckle is the sheer cross pollination, you've got Zoids comics advertising Transformers quite frequently for example yet they're from completely different companies. Interesting about MASK, it wasn't a line I was into so I haven't sought any issues out but the Centurions one I tripped across is also very independently done. The Sectaurs strip was a surprise, as again it wasn't a line I'd ever had examples of but I knew of it. I'll do a deeper dive into the Spiderman and Zoids comic another time...