TO BE HE, OR NOT TO BE HE? THAT IS THE QUESTION...

I see a once popular comics writer has announced he's 'transitioning' and becoming a woman.  His business, although as he's insisted on sharing the news with the world (or at least his fans and followers on his blog and FB site), then perhaps I'll be forgiven for wondering about a few things pertaining to his situation (and that of others like him).

Does this mean that his life up to now has been a lie?  Is his openly admitted long-suffered depression a result of him agonising over the years about which gender to identify with?  Does his wife and children feel betrayed in discovering that he's not quite the 'man' they thought he was?  As he's in his 70s, wouldn't he be better just continuing whatever time he has left as he is, instead of facing such a life-changing event in old age?  Or is it, as one commenter speculated, merely a publicity stunt to draw attention to himself and his plans to write a trans character comicbook?  Time will tell, I guess.

I know of someone who transitioned, and without giving any clues as to who it is, they give a strong indication of now regretting ever having done so.  My own belief (for what it's worth) is that compulsions to change genders are more than likely as a result of some form of mental illness, and should be treated as such and not indulged.  Some people think they're John The Baptist, or Napoleon, or some other character from history, and some people think they were born into the wrong body.  Shouldn't they all be regarded as different manifestations of the same psychological disorder?

What bothers me somewhat is the willingness of others to welcome this sort of decision as though it's a wonderful thing, rather than a worrying symptom of an underlying medical condition.  The very thought of losing the 'little chap' fills me with horror and I simply can't wrap my mind around anyone deciding to willingly divest themselves of their own lifelong companion.  It actually makes me feel queasy.

The writer is known for being quite an angry person, who has no truck with anyone who doesn't see things as he does.  (Admittedly, though, this may only be a blog persona he adopts to conceal a sensitive side, which he'd prefer not to reveal.)  Once he's past the point of no return, will he be a nicer, kinder, more polite individual than he often appears to be?  Again, time will tell.

My own advice, which he wouldn't countenance for a second, would be "Don't do it!" and that advice would be the same for anyone in his situation, so I'm not picking on him.  I just hope that, should his current thinking be down to some psychological delusion, he'll come to his senses before it's too late.  He appears to believe in God, so to paraphrase the sentiments of the late comedian Dave Allen, may his God go with him!   

ACTION COMICS #1050 - ALEX ROSS VARIANT...

Copyright DC COMICS

Do you know what I love?  (Aside from Susan Storm, Salma Hayek, and myself - though not necessarily in that order.)  New versions of classic comicbook covers, such as this one by Alex Ross of Action Comics #1, which recently arrived at Castel Crivens.  I couldn't recall whether I already owned it or not, but decided not to take any chances (when I spied it on eBay) in case I didn't and it suddenly shot up in price.  I've browsed the contents and they seem interesting, so hopefully I'll enjoy reading it when I eventually get around to it.

Do you like this sort of thing, Crivs?  Then say so in our comments section.

******

And do you know what I hate?  (Aside from pompous, pretentious posers, and [sometimes] myself - though again, not necessarily in that order.)  A third of a comics page being given over to credits that few people are even going to read.  Bring back traditional splash pages to comics is what I say - and do it right away!

Let's now take a look at another new version of a classic comicbook cover (below), again by Alex Ross.  Lovely, innit?  Y'know, the boy's not a bad artist - what think the rest of you?

The FANTASTIC FOUR #2 FACSIMILE EDITION (Updated)...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Here's one I meant to show you last week - The Fantastic Four #2 Facsimile Edition.  Indicia in the wrong place (should be under the inside cover's ad), though it's got the 'Continued After Next Page' lines, which adds to its 'archival authenticity'.  Here's a few images to whet your appetite Crivvies - it'll look good sitting next to your facsimile of FF #1.  I wish Marvel would do FEs of all the Lee/Kirby FF issues - that'd be awesome.

At the story's end, one of the Skrulls disappears, meaning Jack perhaps intended him to have died when his rocket-pack exploded after colliding with Johnny, or a page was omitted for reasons of space.  If the former, maybe Stan wanted to avoid casualties, hence there being no reference to any demise.  Four Skrulls are shown tied up in one panel, but unless a page was cut, one Skrull might've been added by another hand to make up the numbers, before Stan decided just to explain the absentee with a hastily-contrived (and inadequate) remark from Reed.  

Below is the cover as it was originally produced, before being amended for publication at the behest of Stan (in all likelihood).

Note that when the speech balloons were removed, part of the tail (pointer) of Johnny's was missed.  Where are the proofreaders when you need them?

BABE Of The DAY - CATWOMAN...

Copyright DC COMICS

Yeah, only a 'drawing', but she sure is a hottie!

The UNTOLD LEGEND Of The BATMAN...

Copyright DC COMICS

Here's a 'little' beauty that's just been delivered into my eager mitts - The Untold Legend Of The Batman.  I have the original 3-issue series from 1980 (which is how long I've owned it), a standard-size paperback book containing all three stories, and an audio dramatization with reprints of the original comics, but with cardboard covers.  And now I've got a 'treasury size' limited edition for good measure.

What's interesting about it is that it doesn't appear to be a facsimile of a previously published Special, it's more of a 'what if' presentation - y'know, like a 'Lost Annual'.  Some ads from the period are included, but they're likely taken from other '80s mags and included here to give it a touch of authenticity.  Anyway, allow me to show you some pictures from it... and once you've savoured them, feel free to comment.

F.O.O.M. STANDS FOR WHAT...?

Back in 1972/'73 when F.O.O.M. was being prepared, according to commenter Gene Phillips, Marvel asked readers if they could come up with their own ideas for what the initials might stand for, other than Friends Of Ol' Marvel.  I don't know what the result was, but it seems like a great idea to me.  So, Crivvies, what can you suggest might have been a better name for the Marvel club known as F.O.O.M.?

I'll start us off:  Fantabulous Organisation of Marvel.  Or: Far-out Organ Of Marvel.  Or: Followers Of Outright Magnificence.  Or: ???  The floor's now yours. 

THE SECRET UNKNOWN WORLDS OF ALAN CLASS - WELL, NOW YOU CAN KNOW...

Copyright relevant owner

Arrived yesterday at Castel Crivens, two items celebrating publisher Alan Class's 30 year career from 1959 to 1989, with Mr. Class still very much around at the ripe old age of 87.  I'm too tired (and lazy) to scan my own copies so have used the images from the Gosh! Comics website - hope they won't mind.  And I hope you won't mind the reflection of the camera flash on Creepy Worlds #250, but it's not my fault so don't blame me.

They could be sold out by now, but it wouldn't hurt to try and obtain them if you were a reader of Alan Class mags back in the day.  The 'Secrets Of The Unknown...' tome has some very nice colour cover reproductions to prompt your memory of bygone days from your comics-reading youth, and also contains an interview with Mr. Class himself.

As for Creepy Worlds #250, it contains some nice 'public domain' comic strips, plus a couple of brand-new ones produced (I think) specially for this anniversary number.  Definitely worth having, especially if you happen to own the preceding 249 issues (and even if you don't).

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT - SPIDER-MAN COMICS WEEKLY #1...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

In just over a week it'll be 52 years since the very first issue of SMCW went on sale.  If you were around back then and are anything like me, you'll probably find that hard to grasp as it only seems like a few years ago at the most.  Looking at the above cover reminds me of family and friends who are now gone, as well as places that either no longer exist or have changed beyond recognition.  However, while perusing this mag, for a few seconds at least, everything is at it was, and in the back of my mind, still is.  Long may it be so, eh, Crivvies?  Feel free to comment.

******

February 10th 1973 was the day SPIDER-MAN COMICS WEEKLY #1 went on sale (and the secret of FOOM was revealed to the waiting world).  After sharing the first 19 issues of The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL, the web-spinner was awarded his own mag, backed up by The MIGHTY THOR, with ol' Shell-head, The INVINCIBLE IRON MAN, joining them in issue #50.

A week this coming Monday, is the 52nd anniversary of this collectors' item classic, so I thought I'd treat you to a selection of covers and images from SM's very first pulsating periodical in the U.K.  He'd previously appeared in POW! back in the '60s and then TV21 at the start of the '70s, but this was the first British weekly that presented full, uncut adventures in a publication with him as the title star.

So feast your eyes on the pics that follow, and indulge yourself in warm recollections of when you first laid eyes on them 52 years ago.  (And dig that dynamic JIM STARLIN illo on the back page.  Terrific stuff, eh?)  Okay, ready for your trip back in time?

Then let's go!

It was exactly one day short of six years since this story had appeared in FANTASTIC #1.  Nowadays,
six years seems like only a fart in the wind to me, but back then it felt like half a lifetime away.  In fact,
considering I'd not long turned 14 when SMCW #1 appeared, it practically was.

This Starlin illustration was also used as the cover of MWOM #20

And below is the paper bag mask given away with this first issue.  Were any readers happy with this free gift I wonder?

(This is a slightly revised post of one first published on Tuesday, February 5th 2013.)

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT - FANTASTIC #1...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Assuming that Fantastic #1 went on sale a full week before its February 18th cover-date (as was usually the case with many UK comics), it'll be 58 years on the 11th of this month since the weekly periodical first landed on newsagents' shelves - so let's have a party!  Well, maybe not, but let's at least look back and remind ourselves that there once was an actual UK comics industry in this country.  Don't worry if you weren't around back then, you're allowed to look at and enjoy these pulsating piccies as well.  (And even leave a comment if you want to.)

******

Likely launched on Saturday, February 11th 1967, it's been 58 years since Fantastic #1 first appeared on newsagents' counters all across the country.  Published by Odhams Press, it was the next stage in the evolution of comic titles like Wham!, Smash!, and Pow!, which featured UK humour strips among Marvel reprints.  (Or vice versa.)  Unlike its companion papers though, the contents of Fantastic weren't resized to fit a British comic's page, instead being granted the privilege of appearing (more or less) in their original format - albeit in a slightly larger size and in black and white.

Credit boxes were omitted, and US spellings, references, and speech patterns were routinely altered ("I ain't" to "I'm not" for example), but just seeing the artwork of Jack Kirby, Don Heck, and Steve Ditko in all its crisp, cataclysmic glory, was what mattered to young readers back in the day.  Not forgetting, of course, the power-packed scripting of Stan (The Man) Lee, Larry Lieber, and also Roy Thomas.

The  periodical was edited by Alfred Wallace and Robert Bartholomew, aka Alf & Bart.  Along with Albert Cosser (Cos), they oversaw the five weekly Power Comics until, like the song's ten green bottles sitting on the wall, there were none left.  Fantastic contained some home-grown produce in the form of an occasional humour page, as well as The Missing Link/Johnny Future strip that appeared for 51 issues, drawn by Spanish artist Luis Bermejo.

 

It lasted only 89 issues, a Summer Special and 3 Annuals, but Fantastic remains one of the more fondly-recalled comics of the '60s by those who were fortunate (and discerning) enough to have bought and relished it at the time.  Tell you what - let's now take a look at why it was just so... Fantastic!

******

(I obtained my first replacement of this ish towards the end of 1980, just over 13 years after it was first published.  Amazing to think that more than 45 years have passed since then.)

  

The MISSING LINK copyright relevant owners

And if you'd like to read the complete episode, click here.

The free pennant-wallet

Below, trade and newspaper ads for the comic's launch. Note that the first one says the comic comes out on Monday 13th February, whereas the second 'says' it's Saturday 11th.  No wonder kids often missed a new comic, if they were looking for it two days after it first went on sale.  The comic came out on a Saturday, not a Monday - despite what the cover said.

(This is a slightly revised post of one first published on February 1st 2011.)

GIANT SUPERMAN ANNUAL #7 (1963) - SILVER ANNIVERSARY ISSUE (Updated)...

Copyright DC COMICS

"Look... up in the space above... it's a bird... it's a 'plane... it's a comicbook!"  I've fancied owning this mag for a while now and finally managed to obtain one at a reasonable price.  John Byrne gave this mag a 'nod' when he drew the 'final' choice of cover for Action Comics #600, the Golden Anniversary issue.  I bought two or three of them at the time, and I thought it would be nice to acquire the Silver Anniversary ish to keep them company, so that's precisely what I did, Crivvies.  (I'm sure you all approve.)

Tell you what, let's cop a gander at the splash pages contained therein.  No, don't try to talk me out of it - nothing's too much trouble for my faithful readers.  All I ask is that you leave a comment in return - now that's surely not too much to ask, is it?  Remember that all images can be enlarged by clicking on them, then clicking again for optimum size.

******

Incidentally, 'The Origin Of The Superman-Batman Team!' demonstrates just how 'elastic' DC was with continuity*.  In this strip, Bruce Wayne's parents are still alive (the Waynes having moved to Smallville) and Bruce is a similar age to Clark Kent, not the younger kid he was at the time of Thomas and Martha Wayne's death.  Bruce also displays an 'amazing mind' and is a 'walking encyclopaedia', as well as possessing an 'amazingly athletic body' (his own, natch) - attributes which weren't developed (over a period of years) until after his parents were shot, not before.  (Interesting that the mothers of Bruce and Clark share the same first name.)

(*There are at least three different versions of how they first met, though when one was later reprinted, some lettering was amended to change the story into how they first discovered each other's secret identities.) 

And below is the John Byrne cover from Action Comics #600 (1988) - the Golden Anniversary issue, clearly inspired by Giant Superman Annual #7...