BEHOLD - GUARDIANS Of The GALAXY...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY looks like it's going to be the blockbuster hit of the Summer, so I thought you might like to see where they got their start.  Behold the cover and a few pages from MARVEL SUPER-HEROES #18, dated January 1969 (on sale from around October '68), which is when they made their debut.  There's no real point in telling you anything about it, because (going by the stills I've seen) I very much doubt that the movie bears more than a superficial resemblance to the comicbook which inspired it.  (Also, I'm far too lazy to be bothered reading up on it.)

So, don't worry about the details, just sit back and enjoy Genial GENE COLAN's awesome art.

BONUS: The Guardians popped up again as an ongoing series in MARVEL PRESENTS #3 (dated February 1976, but on sale in November '75). Here's the cover and a few pages to please and appease your popping peepers!

TOPPS 1966 BATMAN CARDS - PART ONE...

Images copyright DC COMICS and TOPPS

Remember the TOPPS BATMAN cards from the '60s?  The cards came with a vile piece of 'confectionery' (which I immediately discarded), and were released on the back of the popular TV series of the time.  There were three sets of cards in all, and the originals are highly collectable in certain quarters, commanding quite tidy prices from Batman aficionados.

Topps re-released the cards in a deluxe boxed edition in 1989, to coincide with the TIM BURTON/MICHAEL KEATON movie, and they're also highly regarded by collectors.  They're almost identical to the originals (might be slightly larger and on better card stock, though I'm not sure), the main difference being that the copyright is accredited to DC COMICS, rather than NATIONAL PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS, Inc. (as they were then known).

Incidentally, it amazes me that the deluxe edition came out 25 years ago, which is a longer period of time than the one between them and the originals.  It just doesn't feel like it to me.

  

Anyway, have a look at the first half dozen, and if you'd like to see more, let me know in the comments section.

BABE Of The DAY - JANET LEIGH...

It's actress JANET LEIGH again,

in what I suppose is a publicity still from

a movie - though I don't have a clue as to

which one.  Anyone know?  Anyway, she

certainly is one 'hot' babe, yessirree!