The THING Is BIG BEN COVER & IMAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

It lasted a mere 18 issues before being merged with SPIDER-MAN #595 (a U.K. weekly), but way back in 1984, The THING Is BIG BEN hit the shelves of newsagents across Britain.  The main Thing stories were taken from MARVEL TWO-In-ONE, and back-up strips came in the form of IRON MAN and CAPTAIN AMERICA - plus the zany DONALD DOGFLY by the talented HUNT EMERSON.

To be honest, Donald was probably the best strip in the mag, and it's a shame it only appeared in the first dozen issues before being consigned to comic strip limbo.  Time for a comeback I think - where are you, Donald?  While I'm waiting for him to reply, the rest of you can get on with appreciating all the lovely piccies I've generously bestowed upon you.  Don't forget to return for the second instalment.

(Incidentally, I've still got the free gifts which came with the first two issues [none in the third], but can I remember where on earth I've stashed them?  [The answer's no, in case you were wondering.]  Whenever I find them, I'll add them to this post - but that could be a long time.)    

UPDATE: Here's the free gift from #1 - I'll add the one from #2 when I dig it out.

KID & MOONY GO TO UNI...

While wandering around the West End of Glasgow on Sunday afternoon, me and musical maestro MOONMANDO took some photos of some of the iconic architecture which graces the city.  Here are some pics of Glasgow University (the 4th oldest in the English-speaking world) which I took.  MORSE and LEWIS wouldn't look out of place in these surroundings, eh?

Want to see The Botanical Gardens next?  Let me know.

PUSSY & The PIGEONS - Or: FELINE FINE...

The time: Sunday afternoon.  The place: Otago Lane, in Glasgow's West End.  The person: The intrepid MOONMANDO, snapping a freshly-painted door drying in the sun (that might be a lie).  The pussy: A friendly tabby, who nonchalantly wandered over and sat itself near Moony as he clicked away.  Pussy posed for several pictures before allowing us to give her chin a tickle as she sprawled on the ground, quite uninterested in the nearby pigeons - who were as equally indifferent to (nor frightened of ) her.  She was so friendly and docile that I almost wanted to adopt her, but her pigeon pals would've missed their feline friend, so, with one final pat, we left her to laze in the sun.

(I'm reminded of that old saying about putting the cat amongst the pigeons, but it doesn't seem to be having the usual result in this instance, does it?)

     

MAN, INFINITY IS FOREVER, PEOPLE...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Fans of all things pertaining to JACK KIRBY will already have picked up this interesting new mag from DC COMICS, but being a 'Johnny-come-lately', I only acquired my copies today.  I haven't had a chance to read these first two issues yet, but they certainly look as if they're oozing Kirby-spirit from every KEITH GIFFEN & SCOTT KOBLISH page.  For those who haven't yet seen this new publication, here's a selection of images to give you a taste of it - and perhaps even persuade you to give it a try the next time you're in your local comics shop. 

The BATMAN/GREEN HORNET ad?  It's here just because it's a fantastic piece of art, don't you think?