AND NOW, AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT...

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CRIVVIES EVERYWHERE!

(And Lang May Yer Lums Reek!)

PERCEPTIONS AND PROJECTIONS DEPT - HOW THINGS ARE, OR HOW THINGS SEEM TO BE?

 

Back in 2014, I published a post that received only one comment (in 2015).  Maybe the football was on telly that night, but I thought it was such an interesting subject I'd have another go.  Why don't you lot have a go at leaving a comment this time, cavortin' Crivs?

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This is going to be a difficult one to express because it's kind of a nebulous concept, but I'm willing to give it a go if you are.  Ready?  Do houses, neighbourhoods and places have a particular 'ambiance' all their own, or does it all depend on the 'eye of the beholder'?

Oh dear, lost your interest already?  I'll persevere.  When I was about 13, the area I lived in had a particular 'feel' about it.  When I moved house in 1972, aged 13 and a half, that 'atmosphere', 'feeling', 'mood' - call it what you will - continued in my new home and street, and I've wondered over the years whether that was something to do with both houses sitting atop a hill.

You see, when I'd come out of either of those houses, I'd stand at the top of a hill and view the horizon in the distance, giving me a feeling of being 'master of all I surveyed'.  As I walked down (literally) either of those streets, the horizon became less visible on the descent, and it's only natural to wonder if my similar experiences of both places is what resulted in my parallel perceptions of them.

Or was it nothing to do with that?  Was it just where I was 'at' in my head at that particular time in my life, and was it me projecting my own subjective perceptions onto both neighbourhoods that accounts for how I regarded them at the time, rather than how they objectively were?  In short, was it how I imagined them rather than how they really were that determined my perceptions?

Had I lived in either of those houses at different times in my life than when I did, perhaps I'd have 'sensed' and responded to those surroundings in another way; perhaps the ambiance, as it appeared to me, would have been different at 19 than it was at 13, who knows?

Perhaps we just 'see', 'sense', 'feel', 'experience', etc., things in particular ways at different times in our lives, irrespective of how things happen to be.  Could it be that we project our own sense of a place onto it, rather than respond to how that place actually is?  All I know is that, these days, whenever I walk down either of the two streets mentioned, although I can remember how things 'used to be', I'm all too painfully aware that they seem different somehow, in ways that I can't fully articulate.

Of course, other contributory factors must be considered, one being that at the foot of the first hill was a school I attended as a boy in the 1960s.  At that time, WHAM! comic was reprinting the adventures of The FANTASTIC FOUR, and on winter afternoons after school I would see the building interiors lit up in the darkness as the cleaners set about their business.

From the top of the second hill (but farther away) I could see another school of a similar design, which, when viewed in the same wintry conditions, reminded me of the school in my previous neighbourhood.  At the time (early '70s), The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL was reprinting those same FF tales, so perhaps the 'deja-vu' type sensation created in my subconscious can hardly be considered surprising.  Then again, maybe not.

   

When we look back on our childhoods much later in life, summers always seem to have been longer, skies bluer, winters whiter, Christmases snowier, etc. - but were they?  Or is it simply the case that's only how we viewed things at the time (or imagined them later), rather than how they actually were?  Time changes all things, alas, but oft-times far too quickly.

Anyone got any thoughts on the matter?  (Presuming, of course, that I managed to express my thoughts in any way resembling a coherent one.)

BABE Of The DAY - DENISE MILANI...

I always make sure the heating is on full

whenever Denise Milani drops in for a visit,

as it doesn't take very long until she gets down

to her underwear to try and cool off a bit.  Am

I a scheming rascal or what, eh?

MARX TOYS IRON MAN... (Updated)

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

I thought I'd shown this Marx Iron Man on my blog before, but I can't find it - though it may be among other toys in a picture of one of my rooms.  I'm posting it now so that McScotty can see it, as he's just posted his own newly acquired one over on his own blog.  So McS, just for you - The Invincible Iron Man, painted by myself.  (Excuse the dust.)  Will you be painting yours?

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Update: It seems obvious that the Marx figure was based on the pin-up below, which later appeared as an iron-on (no pun intended) transfer in the first issue of Terrific, as well as appearing on the cover.  I forget whether the pin-up was taken from the cover or the internals of a US mag or just drawn as a pin-up.  Can anyone remind me?

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL CRIVVIES...

Hope Santa was nice to you all!

THE MAN CALLED FLINTSTONE (THAT'LL BE FRED THEN)...

Copyright relevant owner

Well I said I would and now I have - show you my Flintstones comicbook adaptation of the 1966 movie that is.  It arrived yesterday from the States, which now means I have both the Yogi Bear and Flintstones film adaptations in comic strip form - so hooray for me!

Trying to get a decent condition copy of the latter can be difficult as well as expensive, but I bought the best (and least costly) one available on eBay, and then administered some tlc to make it look even better.  I've also digitally tweaked the above scan for maximum effect, so perhaps I've cheated a bit, but I wanted you Crivvies to see it at its finest.

The main thing is I've got a secure copy which isn't going to fall apart at the merest handling.  Now, who'd like to see the story contained within?  Then let me know, effendis, and I'll see what I can do.  Oh, and by the way - Merry Christmas!

CORGI REISSUE OF MATTE BLACK BATMOBILE...

Copyright DC COMICS

Back in 1966 when Corgi Toys issued their TV Batmobile, for around the first 6 months it was matte black (according to Corgi, though other sources claim it was only a couple or so).  The photos supplied to Corgi to start the project had a distinct matte finish, but the TV show's producers decided to make the car glossy just before filming began.  When Corgi execs saw the real car (or one of its doubles) while it was on tour in Britain to promote the new show, they realised the error and gave instructions to their Swansea team that the toy's paint job should be amended to gloss, which it was for the rest of its span.

Corgi Model Club have reissued this version of the car as a members only model, though in actuality it's not really matte, but more of a satin finish (as was the '60s toy).  That's my own car, recently received, and I've now lost count of just how many versions of the '66 car I now own.  I know I've got two originals, three gloss reissues, and now the matte/satin reissue as well.  On top of that, I have a Husky version, a Corgi Juniors, several by Mattel (in various scales), at least a couple by Jada, and quite a few by other manufacturers.  Like I say, I've lost count of precisely how many, but it's, well... many!

Anyway, only the matte/satin version is on show today (not any more, see below), but bear in mind my camera's flash may make it look shinier than it really is.  (As of typing I've not yet taken the photos so I don't know how they'll come out.)  However, there's no denying it's a thing of beauty every Batman fan should have, but you can't - unless you join the Corgi Model Club that is.  (Or know someone who's a member who'll buy one for you.)  So what's stopping you?!  Join up right away!  Meanwhile, in answer to a request from B, here are the the matte and gloss versions side-by-side.  Click to enlarge for a better view.

The AUTUMN LEAVES Of RED And GOLD...

Here's a re-presentation of an old pencil sketch from 1980, which I drew standing up whilst looking down at the subject - who, incidentally, was reading my then-brand-new copy of HOW To DRAW COMICS The MARVEL WAY*.  (Which I got autographed by STAN LEE 11 years later.)  However, lazy me couldn't be bothered drawing the cover, so I blacked it out to avoid having to include any unnecessary detail.  And even though I say so myself, it was a perfect likeness and everybody acquainted with him recognised who it was at first glance.

As you see, the chair is low and the subject rather gangly, so because of the angle I was observing from, it looked as if he was too big for the chair.  Perhaps I should've added some background detail to give a better sense of perspective, but I decided it could wait 'til I'd watched some paint dry.  It was drawn on the blank side of computer print-out paper, but I've cleaned it up to hide the lines of digits showing through the sheet.  Not too bad a pic for 10 minutes work.  In the photo below, you can see he was indeed rather lanky and the chair low, just as described.

Anyway, just learned this very afternoon that the subject passed away in September of this year due to issues associated with Alzheimer's, thereby drawing down the curtain on another aspect of my teenage years and mid-'20s.  Although I hadn't spoken with him since 1986 (he and his wife worked abroad for some years and then resided somewhere in England), it's still rather sad to hear of his demise.  Yet another leaf fallen off the tree, alas.  R.I.P. Paul Farrant.

*The book was actually mail-ordered sometime in 1979, but I received a note from Maya Merchandising (I think) saying they were out of stock and had ordered more in.  It was toward the end of '79 or the start of 1980 when I received a card from Royal Mail telling me it was awaiting collection from the main post office.  They must've tried to deliver it when no one was in.

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM T47...

Christmas is only a week away so it's surely not too early to share this card from T47 with the rest of you Crivvies.  It wasn't intended only for me anyway, but all readers, so it would be remiss of me not to publish it.  I'm sure you'd all like to wish him festive felicitations in return, so feel entirely free to do so in our comments section.

LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN, SHALL WE?

Okay, for those few Crivs who may be interested, I decided not to add photos of my living-room last Christmas (2023) to the earlier festive post, but just do a new one in case they were overlooked among the previous pictorial display.  My decorations in 2023 were pretty much as they'd been for several years, but I couldn't put them all out again this year as there was less room on account of new, non-yuletide ornaments taking up space the Christmas themed ones had previously occupied on a yearly basis.  You'll spot quite a few you didn't see last time, so have fun comparing between then and now. 

BABE Of The DAY - DENISE MILANI...

 You've gotta hand it to dishy Denise - even

when she slips on a banana skin and inadvertently

does the splits (thereby demonstrating the origin of

the term 'banana-splits'), she manages to keep a

 smile on her face.  She sure is some woman! 

CASTEL CRIVENS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS...

The paper streamer hanging from the ceiling is from around the '50s or very early '60s 

You asked for them, you pleaded for them, you demanded them (well, okay - four of you expressed a mild interest), so here they are - many of my Christmas decorations for this year.  Starting at the back of the living-room and working our way around to the TV, here's a brief pictorial panoply to show you how I celebrate the festive season.  I'll include footnotes in each pic if there's anything I think you might like to know.

Sharp-eyed Crivs will spot I now own two Fireball XL5 Bagatelles, as well as my Daleks one

This ornament lights up and plays Xmas tunes as Santa's 'flying' sleigh revolves overhead

Last year (as in previous ones) I had tinsel stars and bells hanging from the ceiling

That's another small tree in front of the MWOM picture.  It lights up when switched on

The streamer over the wall-plate is 40 years old.  The big piccie is Glasgow's Park Circus

You can see part of another Xmas tree to the left of the pic.  The central one is fibre optic

I used to put more Xmas things on the display cabinet, but there's not enough room now

The main Xmas tree, which is older than I am (and probably in much better shape)

The red crepe-paper globe above the 'sunburst' clock is as old as the main Xmas tree

Four '80s traditional Santas from Woolworth's hang from the distinctly '70s looking clock

The mice in my house are enormous - perhaps I should hide the cheese somewhere

MATTEL OR McFARLANE TV BATMOBILE - WHICH DO YOU PREFER? (Updated)...

Copyright DC COMICS

Before I get around to showing some of my Christmas trees and decorations for a few (four, to be precise) interested Crivvies, I thought I'd share a couple of early Christmas treats I bought for myself only recently.  (Well, who else is going to?)  First up is the Mattel Batmobile from a few years ago, followed by the more recent McFarlane Toys version.  I acquired the McFarlane Batman & Robin figures separately, having had the Mattel Batman for a few years now, but I need to track down a Mattel Robin figure.  The one in the photos is by McF - he unceremoniously jettisoned his McFarlane buddy, who understandably is a bit miffed.

The Mattel Batmobile is a thing of beauty (approximately 18 inches long), very well detailed and a pleasure to the eyes, and while the McFarlane version is a bit more basic and around 2-and-a-half inches shorter (size isn't everything, remember), it's not without a certain charm.  At least it has the (unlabelled) 'Emergency Bat-Turn Lever', in contrast to the Mattel car, which hasn't - even though it's labelled on both sides of the 'arch' on which the Bat-Siren sits.  I received a brand-new unopened item (in each case) and I checked pics of several others of the same model on eBay, but none of them had it either, so I'm unsure as to why the makers dispensed with it.

Mattel Batman is just over 6 inches tall, McFarlane Bats is just under (with fewer points of articulation, but not by many) so they both qualify as 6 inchers (oo-er, missus).  I've also got McF's Catwoman, Joker, Riddler, and Batman in boxer shorts (moulded onto his costume), but only Catwoman has been let loose, the others remaining in their bubble-packs.  Given the size of the figures, the cars are huge and extremely impressive, though that applies more to the Mattel one than its rival.  Unfortunately, in the McF car, Batman sits too high in his seat, with his head quite a bit above the windscreen, as did Robin before he abandoned it for the larger model.

So, Crivs, if you wanted a big Batmobile but could only have one of these cars, which one would it be?  (For a better look, click to enlarge, and in the case of the 'vertical' photos, click again for optimum size.)

To give you a clearer sense of size, I've included the 267 Corgi Toys Batmobile alongside the Mattel one in the photo below.  This is the 1:50 scale model with front chain-slasher and rear missiles and flame exhaust, not the much smaller Corgi Juniors or Husky version.

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(Update:) And don't go feeling sorry for McF Bats being on his lonesome since Robin jumped ship.  He soon picked up another 'passenger' in the shape of the delectable Catwoman.  I know which one I'd rather have so who's got the last laugh now, eh?