PART TWO OF T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS REVISITED...

Images copyright relevant owner

Now here's a surprise!  When I did my first post on DELUXE COMICS' WALLY WOOD'S T.H.U.N.D.E.R. AGENTS, it was intended only as a one-off.  However, I revised what is now part one, adding images to it and moving some from there to here - alongside new images in this second instalment.  So check out the first post again at this link - either before or after you read this one - because I'd hate for you to miss anything.  (Yes, I really am that caring!)

The good thing about the short-lived Deluxe Comics series was that, art-wise (in the main), the stories looked as if they could have come from the original TOWER COMICS issues.  I wasn't wild about KEITH GIFFEN's artwork on LIGHTNING - I'm not convinced that his style is best-suited to a character with super-speed - and there was simply far too much blank space on some of his pages.  However, DAVE COCKRUM's art, inked by MURPHY ANDERSON, really hit the spot.  I could've done without the swearing and 'sex' scenes (nothing graphic, but completely unnecessary in my view), but overall, I'd say that the 5 issue run is the best revival yet of the '60s super-agents.

Incidentally, the cover illustration (by GEORGE PEREZ) for #3 was also used as the 'next issue' visual on the back cover of #2, but a change was made after the fact.  Did any of you Crivs spot it?  Jump back to part one to compare and see whether or not you make a good Sherlock.

Like what you see here?  Might be worth visiting eBay then, and adding them to your own collection.  Go on - do it now!

PART TWO Of The MAN CALLED NOVA COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY...

Another poor Kirby cover.  Copyright MARVEL COMICS

"IN THE MARVELLOUS TRADITION OF SPIDER-MAN!" said the first cover of THE MAN CALLED NOVA - and Spidey himself eventually showed up on the cover of #12, bringing things full circle as far as my limited collection of the title goes.  I'll have to re-read them some day and refresh my memory as to their contents, but the fact that I recall little about them suggests that they were far from memorable.  Not all comics can be instant classics, of course, but there seems to have been fewer of them during the '70s than in the '60s.  In fact, now that I think about it, there hasn't been as many in any subsequent decade either, come to that.

So, while I ponder what I'm going to hit you with next, I'll leave you to enjoy the following covers and splash pages.  Can you recall what you were doing when you first set eyes on these images so very long ago?  (Apart from reading the comicbooks they come from, obviously.  No need to be a wise-guy, Charlie!)

FIREBALL XL5 - IN COLOUR...

One fateful day the powers-that-be who make such decisions will eventually get around to colourizing GERRY ANDERSON's early black and white programmes and give SUPERCAR and FIREBALL XL5 a new lease of life as far as TV broadcasting goes.  The above link gives us a little taste of what the result would look like.  "Okay, Venus?"