SOMEWHERE, A MOTH IS CRYING - DICK MILLINGTON R.I.P.

Dick Millington.  Photo from The Daily Mail

I've just been alerted by one of cartoonist DICK MILLINGTON's children that the editor of TV COMIC and creator of MIGHTY MOTH sadly passed away at the age of 81 on the 4th of this month.  Richard (Dick) Millington is one of the true legends of British comics and his flame will burn forevermore, undimmed even by death.  I'm sure that all Criv-ites - indeed, all of comics fandom - would like to pass on their condolences to Dick's family and friends (including a certain little moth) at this sad time.

His art style was the first that ever made a big impression on me, to the extent that I recognised it a year or two after first seeing Mighty Moth in a TV Comic Holiday Special.  (In 1962 or '63.)  I didn't recall the name of the comic, but when I was idly leafing through an issue of the weekly in a newsagent's shop one day and saw the diminutive lepidopteran, I purchased it immediately.  Alas, another childhood hero gone.  I so wish I'd had the privilege and honour of meeting him.

Below are some of my favourite Mighty Moth strips by Dick.  (Click to enlarge, then click again for optimum size.)

TOYBOX TREASURES Of The PAST: YOGI BEAR'S CIRCUS BAGATELLE...

Copyright relevant owner

When I was a kidlet, I had two bagatelles - a DALEKS one and a FIREBALL XL5 one.  I think I acquired them in jumble sales, though I can no longer recall whether they overlapped or there was a gap between my possession of them, but they were great little things.  In fact, given that its purpose is to see who can amass the highest score, the Bagatelle could probably be regarded as the precursor to modern computer games with which children today are so fascinated.

Anyway, sad man that I am, in my continual quest to reconnect with my faraway days of childhood, I recently acquired the MARX YOGI BEAR Bagatelle which you see above.  I don't think I ever actually owned this one as a kid, but had I known about it at the time, being the world's biggest Yogi fan, it's just the sort of thing I would've wanted.

Well, I've got one now, so thought you might like to see it.  I assume it comes from around the same time as the HEY THERE, IT'S YOGI BEAR movie from 1964, as it seems to tie in with the circus theme of the film.  Of course, as far as I recall, HUCKLEBERRY HOUND, Mr. JINKS, and PIXIE & DIXIE didn't appear in the cinematic classic (what's a little hyperbole between friends?), but I'm glad they're on the Bagatelle.

Coming next:  My CHERILEA DALEK!

BABE Of The DAY - CANDY LOVING...

Seems I'm not the only one who

loves the stunning CANDY LOVING,

 so here she is again.  Down, boy!