PART TWO OF SOMETHING EXTRA FOR 1965...

 

 

Here are three more stories from the TV CENTURY 21 SUMMER

EXTRA from 1965 that we didn't cover last time 'round. The free gift

that came with this issue recently sold on eBay for nearly £90, which

is close to what the comic commands by itself these days, depending

on condition. Just think, you've now got most of that comic through

the auspices of this blog - and it didn't even cost you a penny! (A

heart of gold I have and no mistake, cor blimey, guv'nor.)

 

I well recall the warm summer early evening I bought this Special

from my local newsagent's, and the thrill of owning such a bumper-

sized comic containing all my television favourites. Of such moments

are memories made, memories that last forever and warm us with the

glow of long-ago summers in the autumn and winter of our years.

 

However, that's enough of waxing lyrical - now plunge right in to

the following adventures in the 21st century - and one in 1965.

 

(Incidentally, the LADY PENELOPE strip is illustrated by

no less celebrated a personage than the creator of DAN DARE,

FRANK HAMPSON. His signature is on the page below.)

 

FAB!

 

(Click here for Part One.)

 

1st ISSUE CLASSICS: TV CENTURY 21 #1...

 

 

TV CENTURY 21 was an instant success when it hit newsagents'

shelves back in January of 1965, and no British comic since has come

anywhere near to matching its circulation at its height. I well remember

walking home with the first issue in my schoolbag after my brother had

managed to secure it from a pal, having been too late to purchase one

from the shops a day or two before as they were sold out.

 

I also recall taking it out to look at on the way home and being

startled to discover that STEVE ZODIAC was dead - I was instantly

hooked, and the images from that FIREBALL XL5 story (illustrated

by GRAHAM COTON) was burned into my young mind forever. As

was the back page DALEKS strip, drawn by RICHARD JENNINGS,

whose Daleks were probably more sinister-looking than even the

television incarnations.

 

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been in on such

a comics phenomenon from the very beginning, and - feeling in a

generous mood - I thought I'd share the experience with those of you

who are too young to have been there at the time. Or, if you were

there, now you can relive the thrill of discovery that was yours

nearly 50 years ago.

 

Comic fans everywhere - I now present to you the complete

1st issue of TV Century 21 from 2065. Enjoy!

  

PART SEVEN OF FOOM COVER & IMAGE GALLERY...

 

 

And here we are with another whistle-stop-tour through two issues of

F.O.O.M. - this time #s 15 & 16, the latter of which features an interview

with Mirthful MARIE SEVERIN, sister of JOHN and power-packed

penciller and inker in her own right.

 

As you can see, there's not a lot of images from #15, but, truth to tell,

some later issues of MARVEL's Magazine for fans don't really have too

much that's worth posting (in my opinion), so it's going to be a bit of a

mixed bag, contents-wise, in future instalments of this series.

 

However, as there are only 6 issues to go before you've seen all 22

mags anyway, I'm sure we'll find something of interest to make up a

post or three. Keep watching!

    

THE DEMON COVER GALLERY - PART ONE...

 

 

I never had too many issues of THE DEMON when it was originally

published back in the '70s. I remember buying the first one from a news-

agents in the old village quarter of my town, and I may have had a few of

the later mags, but I never had the complete run. In fact, as far as original

issues go, I still don't - 'though I do have the collected edition that DC

COMICS issued a few years back.

 

However, I've also got the first five original comics, acquired many

years ago from some forgotten source or other. (At least, I'm not sure

where I bought my replacement of #1, but I think I got #s 2-5 from the

late PETE ROOT's place in Glasgow, when he rented space in the super

FORBIDDEN PLANET store in Buchanan Street.) So these five covers

are from the actual comics - and, depending on whether I can scan from

the book without cracking the spine, any future covers in the series

will be from the collected edition.

 

In the meantime, let's just enjoy some atmospheric JACK KIRBY

cover art, from a time when his sojourn at DC hadn't yet soured.

 

TREASURES REUNITED...

 

 

Here's a question for you: If, on a visit home to your parents one day,

they opened a cupboard and showed you every toy and comic you'd ever

owned as a child right up to your teenage years, and said: "We thought

we'd keep them to remind us of when you were young - and just in case

you should ever want them!", what would your response be?

 

Would you be delighted at being reunited with all your childhood

treasures; would you pick out one or two items and tell them to give the

rest to the local charity shop - or would you grab everything and sell it

all on eBay? And, if the latter, would you split the profits with your

parents or keep all the dosh for yourself?

 

Spill all in the comments section - honest injun now, no porkies.

******

If you're parents are no longer around, just imagine you found a
letter from them, revealing where all your goodies from childhood
were safely stored. Obviously splitting the cash wouldn't apply in
that scenario, but what would matter most to you - the financial
or the nostalgic aspect of your wondrous windfall?

CAPTURED - ONE OUTLAW!

 

I recently acquired both of these JUST WILLIAM Annuals on

eBay - for next to nothing too, which naturally warms the cockles of

my frugal Scottish heart no end. I know I originally had the 1978 book

(issued in '77), but no longer recall whether I had the next one or not.

Never mind, I've got it now.

 

Being a huge fan of RICHMAL CROMPTON's series of books
(which I started reading at around 11 years of age - or close to it), it

was natural that I also watched the '70s television show based on the
rebel schoolboy's antics, so having the Annuals connects me to that
particular point in my past and brings it all back to me with

startling clarity.
 

 

As I've said before, when engrossed in a book or comic that you

read years ago as a youth, when you lift up your head from its pages,

it's often surprising not to see everything around you exactly as it was

when you first read it - especially if you now live in a different house.

(I'm still in the same one, but I did wonder what had happened to

all our old furniture for a split-second.)

 

Anyway, these Annuals, by WORLD DISTRIBUTORS, are

interesting curios from an age now long past (in a different century

to boot), but are well worth having for fans of that eternal 11 year-old

schoolboy who, somehow, speaks to all boys everywhere - even older

ones who should have grown up years ago, but didn't. (And never

shall if they can help it.)
 

 

If you were a fan of the TV series back in the day, these Annuals

are nice to have - although obviously nothing  really compares to
the original books by Richmal Crompton.

Anyone else out there who wishes they were 11 again?