'FAMOUS FIRSTS': THE DEBUT OF KID KONG...

Copyright REBELLION

ROBERT T. NIXON was a fantastic cartoonist, who was right up there amongst the very best that this country ever had to offer.  However, if you're a long-standing fan of comics, you don't need me to tell you how accomplished he was.  Here he is drawing KID KONG from (surprise, surprise) MONSTER FUN #1.  Makes it look easy, doesn't he?

THAT'S A SLINKY LITTLE NUMBER...

SLINKY it was called - and it was (slinky, that is).   It was 1969 and my family were holidaying in Largs for the second year running.  If I recall correctly, we were in a shop with a display of this particular toy in action and, being impressed, my brother immediately bought one.  I still remember, holiday over and back home ('cos our rented holiday abode was a single-storey residence), observing Slinky descending the hall stairs.  It really seemed like a thing alive, so my delicate eardrums were grateful for the absence of COLIN CLIVE's histrionics as this amazing toy performed its perambulations for our entertainment and enjoyment.

Maybe one day new versions of Slinky will be able to make their way up the stairs as well as down.  Should that ever happen, I'll be sure to buy another one.  In the meantime, here's the 'lad' himself.  (A replacement for the one we had in the '60s.)