'ETERNALLY YOURS, JACK KIRBY' - COVER GALLERY PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

JACK KIRBY was back - and The ETERNALS were with him!  Unfortunately, the comics buying public weren't - at least not in any great numbers, as the mag folded after 19 issues and one Annual.  Similar to the theories of ERICH VON DANIKEN, the premise also echoed elements of DC COMICS' earlier NEW GODS, in that two races (The Eternals and The DEVIANTS) were at war with one another - with human beings caught in the middle.

It wasn't JK's worst moment, but neither was it his best.  At the time, readers could be forgiven for thinking events took place in a separate universe to MARVEL's, apart from a grudging nod in its direction by the use of some generic S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and a 'cosmic-powered' HULK android.  Jack seemed to be doing his best to keep the MU at bay, and it was left to other hands to fully incorporate his concepts into the rest of the line once he'd left 'The House of Ideas' for the second and final time in his career. 

Anyway, Jack Kirby's always worth a look, so let's start the ball rolling with the first ten covers of his longest-lasting 1970s (new) mag for the place he'd helped build, but seemingly no longer had room to accommodate either him or his unique talents.

Don't miss Part Two!

"The WARLORD & The WITCH!" PART TWENTY-EIGHT Of FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

From the vast and vaunted vaults of Castel Crivens, comes yet another example of an original comic and its reprint.  This time 'round it's The AVENGERS (no longer mighty it would seem, according to the cover) #75, first acquired on holiday in Largs, unless I'm very much mistaken, in 1971.  (In fact, I also seem to recall getting #76 on that same holiday, come to think of it.)  Oh, but look - the Avengers have been restored to mightiness on the splash page.

You know, having just typed that, I also seem to associate the issue with CORSON'S, a local shop from which I bought a lot of U.S. comicbooks.  (It sometimes takes a while for my memory to warm up.)  So it may well have been #76 I bought in Largs, but, being a two part tale, my mind would've jumped back to when I read #75, hence my connecting the earlier issue with the same place I bought the later one.  The more I think of it, the more certain I am that I got #75 from Corson's in my home town, and #76 in Largs.  I can't be bothered retyping  it all though - so you'll just have to live with it.  (As if you care.)

Down below somewhere (4th image) is the 1981 reprint in MARVEL SUPER ACTION #36, but I can no longer recall exactly where I got it (Glasgow or Southsea/Portsmouth), though I'm pretty sure I bought it the year of release as I've had it for absolutely ages.  Once again, the reprint comes from the time Marvel had increased the page count in their mags, so it also included the double-page pin-up shown at the foot of the post.  I love comparing these type of mags and I'm reasonably sure that the rest of you do, too.  Why else would you put up with me?

(The above question doesn't really require a response if you were thinking of being rude, by the way.)