SILVER SURFER COVER GALLERY - PART THE FOURTH...

And here we go with the last batch of the original 18 issue run of '60s
SILVER SURFER comic covers. The first five are (I think) by Jaunty
JOHN BUSCEMA ('though, truth to tell, I have my doubts about #17),
and the final one is by Happy HERB TRIMPE, the interior art being by
Jolly JACK KIRBY. Unfortunately, although critically well-received
(and fondly remembered), sales were not as expected on the series
and issue #18 proved to be the last.

Plans had been afoot to change the direction of the series, making
the Surfer much more angry at the injustices meted out to him by the
human race and reacting accordingly, but they never materialised. The
Surfer went on to become a founding member of the 'non-team' THE
DEFENDERS in the '70s, and starred in a one-shot SS issue by JOHN
BYRNE in 1982, before being resurrected in his own ongoing title in
1987. He has also appeared in various graphic novels and limited
series over the years, ensuring that we're not bound to forget the
star-spanning surfer of the spaceways anytime soon.

He was never better 'though, than in his original '60s run, so enjoy
these cataclysmic covers from when comics were far more entertaining
and much better value for money than they are now. A complete story
in a comic (even with continuing sub-plots), as opposed to being spread
across seemingly countless issues and different titles where nothing
much happens and there are too many 'talking head' shots? Methinks
the comic creators of yesteryear were onto something.

  

ANYONE KNOW THE ANSWER?

Whenever I click on Dougie's SOME FANTASTIC PLACE blog, a
message says it's been removed. Does anyone know what's happened?
Is it a temporary malfunction or has Dougie done a runner?

Update: Dougie's blog has reappeared. I'll keep my
eye on it and see if it vanishes into limbo again.

PART THE THIRD OF MICK ANGLO'S PICTORIAL TRIBUTE...

And now the remaining covers from my own collection of SUPER
DC, a British reprint comic which came out in 1969 or '70. There's a bit
of a mystery as to exactly what year it made its debut, and I suspect that
it followed the path of the IPC magazine VULCAN in the mid-'70s. (For
those of you not in the know, Vulcan was first sold in Scotland and
wasn't sold nationally until six months later.)
 

In Super DC's case, I'm unsure in which part of the country it would
have appeared first, but I suspect it may have been England initially,
then Scotland. I have two copies of issue #1, and both are of slightly
different dimensions. Also, the indicia typeset does not match (although
both are copyrighted 1969), suggesting the possibility of being printed
at different times. The dates on the calendar free gift are 1970/'71,
but this could have been an update for a second printing.

Of course, another possibility is that maybe only the first issue was
reprinted, to launch it in Scotland and then get rid of previously printed,
unsold subsequent editions. The fact that every issue had the price of one
shilling on the cover, even after decimalisation, tends to suggest that they
were printed well before distribution - especially as the copyright date of
1969 also appeared on every issue. (If memory serves.) This, of course, is
all speculation on my part, but it would certainly help explain why there
are two different versions of #1. If anybody has a better suggestion (or,
in fact, knows the real reason), feel free to share it here.
 

Incidentally, the ad below (featuring WORLD'S FINEST #180)
appeared on the back cover of every issue of Super DC. Exactly how
they could colour BATMAN's costume correctly on the front cover,
but get it so spectacularly wrong on the back is beyond me.
 

Anyway, enjoy the images - and if you're lucky enough to own the
fourteenth and final issue of this mag, I know someone who'll give you
a fair price for it. Even a scan would be appreciated. So, lift your glasses
to MICK ANGLO, 'creator' of MARVELMAN, and editor of one of the
fondly remembered comics of my boyhood. Here's to you, Mick.
  

Coming soon: The cover of the one and only ('cos there only

ever was one) Super DC Annual.

SILVER SURFER COVER GALLERY (PART 3)...

Continuing with our gallery of SILVER SURFER covers, we take up
where we left off last time, which was SS #7. That means we start this little
session with #8 through #12, with #13 to #18 still to come in the next post
on this subject. Hope you'll join us then, but in the meantime enjoy these
five covers by the mighty JOHN BUSCEMA.



Although Big John only drew the first seventeen issues in the series,

they are clearly superior to the eighteenth and last issue illustrated by

JACK KIRBY, which was intended to be the first in a new direction for the

title. Clearly, then, even with an artist of the calibre of John Buscema on

board, sales of the comic were not considered as good as they could

have been, hence the change in approach. I can only speculate that

the Kirby last issue did even worse in sales, hence the reason why

the planned 'Savage Silver Surfer' plotline never materialised.

After all, why flog a dead horse?

More on this in an upcoming post. Don't miss it!

TERRIFIC COVER GALLERY (PART 3)

Here are some more covers from the ODHAMS PRESS publication of the '60s, the titanically-titled TERRIFIC, plus the back-page pin-ups too. Lasting a mere forty-three issues before being merged with its POWER PACK stable-mate FANTASTIC, it nevertheless retains its place in the fond memories of dreary old farts like myself. 

More to come in a future post. 

PART TWO OF A PICTORIAL TRIBUTE TO MICK ANGLO...

Here are some more covers from my collection of SUPER DC,
the TOP SELLERS reprint title from the late '60s, early '70s. Also
shown are the free gifts from issue #1. Traditionally, British comics
had free gifts in the first three issues, but that was usually only with
weeklies. Perhaps because it was a monthly publication, editor MICK
ANGLO decided to put all three giveaways in the 1st issue - or it could
have been that, individually, they weren't much to write home about,
hence the 'quantity' rather than 'quality' approach.

If anyone has issue #14 of Super DC (if it exists) and wants to
sell it to me, get in touch. Then I can feature it on a future post.
 

With two or three exceptions (where interior panels were enlarged

for the purpose), Mick Anglo is believed  to have drawn the covers,

using images from various DC sources as reference. If anyone knows

anything different, I'd appreciate you letting me know.

Look out for the third and final part soon. 

IMPORTANT - CALLING ALL BLOGGERS...

Sometimes, when I click on an image on someone's blog to enlarge a picture for closer scrutiny, the image appears same size or smaller against a black background. This means one can't appreciate the image at a larger size, which often renders featuring it in the first place a bit redundant.

If you go into 'settings' - then 'formatting' - and disable the lightbox facility, it will enable readers to enlarge images for closer study.

Go on, it's much better. 

A PICTORIAL TRIBUTE TO MICK ANGLO - PART ONE...

As reported on other sites (TERRY HOOPER's COMIC BITS

ONLINE being the first), MICK ANGLO, creator of MARVELMAN

died recently. To be honest, as Marvelman was merely an imitation of

FAWCETT's CAPTAIN MARVEL, I'm not sure if 'creator' strictly

applies in ol' MM's case, but I don't have an axe to grind over it.

Mick was also the editor of SUPER DC, a British monthly magazine
which featured resized reprints of various superheroes from the stable
of NATIONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS (now DC COMICS)
back in 1969/'70, and I have very fond memories of the title.

Now that MARVEL own the rights to Marvelman, Mick can be

regarded as having been associated with Marvel and DC - no mean feat

for any British comics person. In memory of Mick, I've decided to focus on

Super DC, as I was never really into Marvelman when I was a kid. Although,

ironically, I later lettered the sample pages submitted to Marvel when they

were in negotiations for the character. No doubt it was my fantastic hand-

lettering which clinched the deal. Harrummmphh! (Sorry, there

seems to be something stuck in my throat.)

I seem to remember the mighty DEZ SKINN saying somewhere that
Mick, as well as his duties as editor, also drew the covers for Super DC.
If anyone can confirm that, feel free to do so in the comments section. If
it wasn't him and anyone can identify the artist, let me know and I'll be
sure to give him a credit.

According to the late comics collector and historian  DENIS GIFFORD,

there were fourteen issues of Super DC. However, he also said there were

91 issues of FANTASTIC when, in fact, there were only 89, so I'm unsure

of the exact number in the case of SDC. I have the first thirteen issues, so

if anyone has the elusive fourteenth, sell it to me or kindly send me a

scan of the cover so I can feature it in the second part of this tribute.

 

MAURICE ANGLOWITZ, born on June 16th 1916, died on October

31st 2011, aged 95. In his time, he worked as an editor, writer and artist -

a one-man team supreme you might say. He could probably letter as well.

Obviously he was at the front of the queue when talent was being handed

out. (Despite BATMAN's stunted left leg on the cover of issue #2.) 

Look out for Part Two soon.

GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SNICKERS...

The world as I knew it no longer exists. It seems I've been kidnapped by
aliens and transported to an alternate dimension where things are almost
the same - but not quite. In this bizarre doppelganger planet, TREETS are
called M&Ms, OPAL FRUITS are named STARBURST, OIL OF ULAY is
known as OIL OF OLAY, JIF is christened CIF, KITKATs are made by
NESTLE'S, not ROWNTREE'S - and MARATHONs are titled SNICKERS.

AAAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! I'm trapped on a world I never
made. Beam me up, Scotty!

(But while I'm waiting for the transporter to lock onto me, cast your
eyes over the images on this page -  a comforting reminder of when
all was right with the world and it was a saner place to be.)

TERRIFIC (PART 2)...

Here's the second instalment of TERRIFIC covers (plus their back-page pin-ups) from the '60s for you to cast your perceptive peepers over, you lucky POWER PACK perusers of perfection.

Anybody old enough to remember these iconic issues produced by 'the Garret' is getting on a bit by now, so just take your tablets from the nice nurse and lose yourself in yesteryear. Your telegram from the Queen will be along before you know it. 

Remember to come back for part three in a few posts from now. You wouldn't want to miss the treats in store from 'The Floor of 64', would you?

TWO ANNUALS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE...

For a limited time only, WH SMITH's have a 'two-for-one' offer on at the moment - buy one annual, get another absolutely free. Thought you'd like to know. (This obviously supersedes their previous 'buy one full price, get another for a £1' offer.)