The MIGHTY THOR COVER GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

I've always liked THOR.  Or, to be more precise, I liked the "star-kissed" DON BLAKE concept of Thor, as opposed to the "casual creation" of an all-wise ODIN version. When ODHAMS PRESS reprinted the early Thor tales in FANTASTIC in the 1960s, I was hooked; when MARVEL reprinted them in SPIDER-MAN COMICS WEEKLY in the '70s, I was hooked again.  So, in the '80s, I was ripe for a publication devoted solely to reprinting tales of the titanically-talented Thunder god in his own weekly title.  After all, how could it fail?

Well, for a start, how about messing up the colour every issue so that it's almost never in alignment with the line-art, resulting in a kaleidoscope of visual chaos and confusion?  Then why not cut the Thor content by half and add a strip that doesn't really fit the mood of the mag, like CAPTAIN AMERICA?  Yeah, that ought to do it!  It was almost a relief to see Thor and the X-MEN titles merge around four months later, because it resulted in a mag akin to the late, lamented Fantastic from 16 years before.  It's just a shame they didn't add IRON MAN to the mix and revive Fantastic's name and logo - I'd have been as happy as a pig in - well, I'm sure you catch my drift.

But you can't fault Marvel's intentions - it was a good idea, even if it never quite caught on.  So, here's the first part of a look-back at the covers from a time when Britain had its very own Thor mag.  Will we ever see such a thing again?  You never can tell, but let's hope they do it right next time - if there is one.  (Are you listening, PANINI?)

Anyway, feel entirely free to record your readers' reminiscences in the comments section, and don't forget to come back for part two.  You'd kick yourself if you missed it, so see you soon (hopefully).  Excelsior!

The HOUSE Is HAUNTED...

You'll have heard me mention The GROSVENOR CAFE in Glasgow's famous Ashton Lane before (not the cafe that now bears the name, but the one owned by the original owners).  Sadly, it closed its doors in 2001, but I have fond memories of the place.  I recall myself and a friend being surprised to find it open later than usual one evening, and jumping in for a coffee and to enjoy the ambience.

They weren't normally open at that hour, so I think it may have been a trial run to see what kind of business they could attract in the evenings, if any.  I have an idea that they'd laid tablecloths and put a few candles around the place, but perhaps I'm imagining that.  My friend and I were the only two customers, and the staff (two girls) were kind enough to play my CD of MEL TORME which I had bought earlier from BORDERS, another now-vanished city-centre establishment.

Anyway, whenever I listen to that CD today, I can't help but think of The Grosvenor Cafe (and Borders) in all its glory, and give a little sigh for times past.  Here's one of the songs that was on that particular CD album - I'm fairly sure you'll enjoy at least as much as I do.