CRIVENS! COMICS & STUFF!: CAPTAIN BRITAIN COVER, SPLASH PAGE & IMAGE GALLERY

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

CAPTAIN BRITAIN COVER, SPLASH PAGE & IMAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

You asked for it! You pleaded for it! You demanded it! But I'm still not going anywhere, so you'll just have to get used to me being around here on Bloggerland for a long time yet! However, don't despair, because here's a post you're bound to like - the first instalment of a fantastic CAPTAIN BRITAIN cover, splash page and image gallery to thrill and astound you!

Just look at the artists on view - BUSCEMA, STERANKO, LIEBER, and, of course, the late, great HERB TRIMPE, who was CB's very first artist when Cap made his debut way back in October of 1976. Wow!! A mere kick in the pants off 40 years ago, when Herb was yet in his mid-'30s and one of the shining stars in the Merry MARVEL firmament. A whole lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, but the good Captain is still around today, something of which Herb would surely be immensely proud!

So prepare to refresh your magical memories of the long-ago days of your youth, as we plunge head first into a pulsatin' plethora of pulse-pounding pictures which you're sure to swoon at. And if by some chance you're seeing these awesome images for the very first time, then I envy you! You're in for a titanic treat that you won't soon forget. But that's enough prattling preamble from me - wonderment aplenty lies ahead and shouldn't be delayed.

Excelsior!

25 comments:

Mondo said...: I'd like to believe Stan wrote the personal message for ish 1 - but somehow, it doesn't have his usual vim about it ('well done lads' - doesn't sound very Bullpen-ish)... ~

But, spotters-badge. There's Neil Tennant, yes, him from Pet Shop Boys in the credits in Stan's message; 15 April 2015 at 14:59
Anonymous said...: Kid, you've finally got around to the CB cover gallery you've been promising since last Summer but with the splash pages thrown in !! The covers I've seen online before but I haven't seen the other pages since the comic was new. It was all so exciting at the time and CB #1 was the first time I got a Marvel comic from the very first issue - in fact I had every issue of CB. By the way, have a listen to 'Fourthought' on Radio 4 tonight at 8.45 - it's about internet trolls, considering you've been accused of that it might be an interesting listen !; 15 April 2015 at 15:12
Kid said...: It doesn't sound entirely like Stan, but perhaps his spiel was edited by Neil Tennant to give it a more British ring, in a nod to the title of the mag. Will we ever know? The truth is out there.

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Don't say you're timing me, CJ? If you're interested in reliving your youth, Panini released a five volume set of Captain Britain softcover books (including the later British stuff) a few years ago. Or you could always buy the Marvel Omnibus volume. They'd all look nice next to the Wind in the Willows book you're going to buy.; 15 April 2015 at 15:22
John Pitt said...: We did ask, plead, beg (with a bowl!) for this series, Col & I, didn't we? And look how we've been rewarded! You have surpassed yourself with this EXCELLENT gallery!
Looking forward to following this series.
THANKS, Kid, - You spoil us!; 15 April 2015 at 15:45
Kid said...: I think you may have missed what I was jokingly referring to when it came to the asking, pleading and demanding, JP. Never mind, I'll work on my delivery. Glad you're going to enjoy this series.; 15 April 2015 at 15:58
Unknown said...: So sad to read that Herb passed away I was never a massicve CB fan but loved Herbs art (especialy on the Hulk of course). Seemingly Tommorrows is publishing a book on Herbs work soon (one I will be buying); 15 April 2015 at 17:59
Kid said...: I think I'll be buying that one myself, McScotty. Hope it's got plenty covers and John Severin inked art. Herb was a great visual storyteller, but JS gave his pages something extra special.; 15 April 2015 at 18:59
Unknown said...: I was (still am) a big fan of John Severins art and his work with Herb on the Hulk is excellent, I liked Herbs own inking as well but for me JS gave it something special. Herb will always be "the" Hulks main artist.; 15 April 2015 at 19:05
Kid said...: Funny that, because, much as I liked Herb's art, I still think of Jack Kirby as the Hulk's 'main' artist. The way Hulk looked in issues #2 & 3 was brilliant. Did you ever see the Hulk/Superman team-up, McScotty. Steve Rude drew it and it was excellent.; 15 April 2015 at 19:10
Unknown said...: Oh I never saw that I'llneed to look it out - I know what oyu mean re Kirbys Hulk, that was good and I liked his idea of the Hulk as more of a "monster" but Herbs version for me was the first I read (I didn't recall the Odhams reprints despite reading them all at the time) so maybe that had a lot to do with it. Have you seen (in fact yo may have had this on here) the Superman v Hulk CGI clips? on YouTube

there is also a cartoon version which I assume is also spliced together for other cartoons (but good stuff - theres loads of these on Youtube of course)
CGI:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvoWwY64S5w

Cartoon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr0MTPMbXEc; 15 April 2015 at 19:38
Kid said...: Yes, I did show the Hulk/Superman CGI clips here - brilliant, weren't they? Haven't seen the cartoon version 'though, so I'll follow that link. I DO remember reading the Odhams Hulk reprints at the time, and it still only seems like yesterday.; 15 April 2015 at 20:07
Dave S said...: I hadn't realised that Herb Trimpe was Captain Britain's first penciler, but those pages are really nice.

Anyone have any idea who the 'M.Stevens' credited as lettering that Buscema FF page is? The name doesn't ring any bells with me at all.; 15 April 2015 at 20:37
Kid said...: Mike Stevens lettered a number of Marvel mags back then, DD, but I don't know anything about him. There was a sign artist called Mike Stevens in the '70s & '80s who wrote several books on sign design, and also articles for sign industry mags. Same guy? Maybe - dunno 'though.; 15 April 2015 at 21:15
Dave S said...: Thanks for the info, Kid- it was a new name for me!; 15 April 2015 at 21:34
Kid said...: Nae tother a' ba', DD.; 15 April 2015 at 21:47
Anonymous said...: It's a pity the first 2 covers were spoiled by the free gift blurbs. I don't remember the boomerang at all - have you still got yours, Kid ?; 15 April 2015 at 21:47
Kid said...: I don't think I've still got it, CJ, but it might be reproduced in one of the Panini books (the mask is), so I could always make myself a replacement. It was only cheap cardboard sh*t anyway. I've still got a later version which was given away with a Spidey U.K. mag.; 15 April 2015 at 21:53
Phil said...: Had it! Drew in it. Colored the black and white pages and cut out the posters. Threw the rest out. Fortunately they never rocketed up in price. Or I would have killed myself now.; 15 April 2015 at 22:53
Kid said...: I remember buying the Annual (which I've still got) from Woolworth's at the end of '77, and it collected the first 7 CB stories, with the b&w pages coloured in. It's not worth much either. Even if it was 'though, I woudn't part with it (nor my replacement issues, because I gave my originals to a pal).; 15 April 2015 at 23:05
John Pitt said...: No, I got what you meant all right, but at first, when all we see is the thumbnail - well that's the bit I'm answering!
Don't worry, your delivery's fine!; 15 April 2015 at 23:05
Kid said...: Ah, good. My stand-up comedy career is still on course.; 15 April 2015 at 23:13
Simon B said...: This was definitely worth the wait, Kid :-)
This brings back memories of how excited I was at the time. A British superhero? From Marvel? I was definitely up for that at the age of 9. I loved the first two issues of Captain Britain ( a colour strip! the FF! Steranko! )and, although I thought the main strip went downhill soon after, I bought every issue.
Thanks for posting. Lovely artwork, great memories, and it's especially poignant after the sad loss of the great Herb Trimpe.; 15 April 2015 at 23:46
Kid said...: Sadly, it was Herb's recent demise that prompted me to dig through a cupboard and find my CB issues, Cer. I knew that other sites would be paying tribute to Herb and showing all the usual (but great) covers and stuff, so I wanted to feature something that American readers might not be quite so familiar with. I suppose that one good thing about Captain Britain was that he didn't obtain his powers through radiation.; 15 April 2015 at 23:56
Phil said...: I would also like to mention this is where I read my Steranko and I think they did a better job coloring than in the U.S. comics.; 16 April 2015 at 00:43
Kid said...: I think they used the original negs that were used for the U.S. comics, Phil. Some of the later U.S. Steranko reprints were recoloured 'though, and they weren't quite so good. (Perhaps that was because of the paper they were printed on.); 16 April 2015 at 00:50

About the artist:

From 1985 to 2000 A.D. (little joke there), I contributed to a variety of high profile comics and magazines for various companies.

For IPC/FLEETWAY/EGMONT, I freelanced as a lettering and logo artist on various weekly comics and monthly magazines, and also as a resize comic artist and spot illustrator on pocket books, summer specials and annuals.

For MARVEL U.K., BLACK LIBRARY, REDAN and USBORNE BOOKS, I again freelanced as a lettering artist, also working as a restoration artist for MARVEL U.S., restoring and re-creating certain pages of JACK KIRBY art for their MARVEL MASTERWORKS editions.

I also lettered the MARVELMAN sample pages submitted to MARVEL U.S. when they were considering acquiring the character, which - as we all now know - they DID.

Supplied comic strips, cartoons and illustrated advertisements for local business campaigns and newspaper publication on a professional basis since the age of 16. Did my first paid art job for publication at 14 or 15 for Lanarkshire Education Board.

Have also made TV appearances as a collector of memorabilia.

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Just some of the titles I worked on are:

2000 A.D. * JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE * DICEMAN * SONIC The COMIC * JUDGE DREDD, LAWMAN Of The FUTURE * CRISIS * REVOLVER * EAGLE * TIGER * BATTLE ACTION-FORCE * BUSTER * WHIZZER & CHIPS * WHOOPEE * NIPPER * SCHOOL FUN * ACE VENTURA, PET DETECTIVE * The REAL GHOSTBUSTERS * DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE * COUNT DUCKULA * RUGRATS * The TRANSFORMERS * DEATH'S HEAD * THUNDERCATS * GALAXY RANGERS * DRAGON'S CLAWS * SINDY * MARVEL MASTERWORKS * The TROLLS * LOADED * INFERNO * WARHAMMER * ROSE BLACK.

Copyright Notice:

Images remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are used here only for the purpose of review, promotion, and nostalgia.

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In the case of images culled from my own collection where copyright of an item isn't mine, I impose no copying restrictions on fellow bloggers.

(Although, if you don't allow copying on your own site, then you really shouldn't be copying from others, should you?)

And while you can credit this blog if you like, it's not mandatory. Who has time to make notes of every casually visited site during an idle browse of the Internet?

In the case of anyone copying images of my own artwork and calligraphy, I affirm my right to be identified as the creator, and any such copying should not be for the purpose of monetary or material gain. (Unless it's mine.)

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Please also note that this blog is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or connected to, any organisation, business, or group, and is wholly independent.