PART THREE Of FANTASTIC COVER GALLERY...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Heads up, you lucky people.  Here we have the next instalment of cracking covers (Gromit) from the ODHAMS PRESS periodical FANTASTIC, first published in the late '60s.  I believe any new back-page pin-ups were either by BARRY WINDSOR SMITH or STEVE PARKHOUSE (husband of 2000 A.D. letterer, ANNIE PARKHOUSE), and these were alternated with reprints of U.S. pin-ups or illustrations adapted for the purpose.

So without any further ado (must remember to pick up a fresh supply when I'm out), let's get started.

Don't know about all you Crivs, but I just love that pin-up of SUE STORM, originally printed in FANTASTIC FOUR #10.  Tune in again soon - for further Fantastic covers from yesteryear.

LOO MUG - WHAT A THUG...

Interesting to see that a certain comics contributor was accused of bullying tactics on a U.K. comics forum relatively recently (and no - not by me), with people threatening to leave because of his supercilious, patronising manner.  Considering that the character for whom he is best known is a bit of a brainless thug, I find the situation rather ironic to say the least.  Life imitating 'art' perhaps?

And now, in a show of 'solidarity', one his pals has banned me from his site for responding to what I saw as a provocative comment from the first individual, implying that my offer to supply pages and identify their correct source amounted to nothing more than "hassle".  As the site owner had already revealed himself as a disingenuous back-pedaller with no regard for accuracy, I must confess to regarding his actions as not much of a surprise.  Certain types tend to stick together, don't they?   

The UNEXPURGATED BEANO NUMBER ONE...

Images copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

Recently, over on another blog, someone posted scans of the first issue of D.C. Thomson's The BEANO.  Unfortunately, he used an abridged replica edition of the comic given away with The SUNDAY POST a couple of years or so ago.  I politely pointed this out, but he disputed it, saying several experts had confirmed it was the full comic. I sent him some scans of the missing pages, whereupon he grudgingly admitted I was right, but was clearly none-too-pleased about being mistaken, claiming such things weren't all that important.  He strikes me as being a surly, ungracious, immature and slightly unbalanced individual, so I won't be wasting any more of my time trying to help him again in the future.

Anyway, so that Beano fans aren't deprived of seeing the complete first issue, I'm going to post all 28 pages in two parts.  Here's the first one.  Click here for Part Two.