HOPE SPRINGS 'ETERNO'...

Copyright REBELLION

Almost exactly 40 years ago, Crivs, I purchased LION & THUNDER HOLIDAY SPECIAL for 1972.  Unfortunately, I didn't have it for very long before a relative relieved me of its ownership by devious means.  I may only have had it for a day, in fact (two or three at the most) before it passed out of my hands, seemingly never to be seen again.  I don't think I even got to read it properly before it met its fate.  (For the details behind this tale, click here.)

Because of this, it never had much chance to make any great impression on me (which suggests it may have been bought the same day we parted company), so over the years its predecessor from 1971 was the one I remembered, the cover being instantly familiar to me whenever I espied it in some comics catalogue or Internet site.  I therefore sometimes pondered whether it was the '71 Special which had been swindled from me by my unscrupulous kinfolk.  (You'll know what I'm talking about if you've read the above link.)

However, on reflection that seemed unlikely.  For a start, it's doubtful whether I still had it at the time in question.  Secondly, I'm pretty sure that the comic 'stolen' from me was purchased after I had acquired the THUNDER ANNUAL for 1972, bought in December of '71.  (For that tale, click here.)  I also remember trying to keep the comic 'good' because it was new.  Therefore, by means of level-headed logic and analytical acumen (unless my memory is playing tricks on me), the '72 Holiday Special must have been the dimly-remembered comic from my past.

Anyway, not long after relating the story on this very blog, I saw it on eBay and made a bid for it - and won.  It's strange (but rewarding) to see it again, because I don't remember much about it apart from the cover.  One pic jumps out at me though - an illustration from a SPELLBINDER text story, which seems to confirm that this was indeed the very comic lost to me all those years ago.

To celebrate being reunited with my long-lost 'pal' from yesteryear, I've decided to share some of its pages, so that you too can rejoice in this special occasion.  Let's hope I've got at least another 40 years in front of me, in order to make up for our long separation.  It's always good to welcome back an old friend; now all I need do is track down the '71 and '73 Specials and I'll have a full set*.

*Update: Now done!

(Click on images to enlarge, then click again for optimum size.)

The RETURN Of TV COMIC...

Characters copyright relevant owner

As most comics enthusiasts of a 'certain age' will know, the real TV COMIC shuffled off this mortal coil with issue #1697, cover-dated June 29th 1984 after a span of nearly 34 years.  Apart from an annual and two holiday specials, that was the last that was seen of it.  It was mourned by former readers who had enjoyed the publication as children, and then took its place in the hallowed halls of memory.

Ten years passed.  Then, one day, on the newsagents' shelves, appeared - what's this?  Could it possibly be?  TV COMIC - The WOMBLES SUMMER SPECIAL, including The SHOE PEOPLE, HUXLEY PIG and NELLIE The ELEPHANT.  Published by NEWSSTAND PUBLICATIONS (nope, I've never heard of them either) in 1994, future issues were promised, but if they ever appeared I never saw them.

This new TV Comic was aimed at a much younger readership than its illustrious predecessor - more of a nursery comic in fact.  (Though, interestingly, when the title was first launched back in the '50s, it too was aimed more at toddlers.)  With an average of four panels per page, the strips had no speech balloons, instead having a block of text under each panel, just like comics of the '20s and '30s, or the RUPERT BEAR strip in The DAILY EXPRESS.

It's hardly surprising that it was so short-lived.  It could never have matched the popularity of the original, the genuine, the only - TV COMIC.

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To read about the original TV Comic, click here - and here.