SEAN CONNERY ON WHAT'S MY LINE...

WHAT'S MY LINE?  Surely the answer to that is "My name's Bond... James Bond!"?  Take a look at this clip - it's pretty obvious that the panel knew who it was all along, as there's nothing 'Big Tam' says that gives his identity away in the slightest.

DON'T GET ON MY NERVS - PART ONE...

Copyright REBELLION

From the first combined issue of SMASH! & POW! (#137), September 14th 1968, comes The NERVS by the late KEN REID.  Every U.K. comics reader of a certain age knows who Ken is, and recognises his immense stature and prominent position in the pantheon of great British cartoonists and illustrators.  If you're a 'newbie' who is unfamiliar with Ken's work, before you now lies the joy of discovery of something truly precious.  Enjoy! 

SUPERMAN'S BOY FRIEND, JIMMY OLSEN...?

Image copyright DC COMICS

You're looking at a corner cover icon that JACK KIRBY drew for DC's JIMMY OLSEN magazine which, for some reason, was never used.  It's natural to wonder why, and being the inquisitive soul that I am, I did.  After all, icons were used for other Kirby DC mags, so why not this one.  (A SWAN & ANDERSON icon appeared in its place.)

Could it be that, when reduced, it kind of looks as though Jimmy is trying to grab his pal's hand as they skip gaily side-by-side?  Perhaps DC bigwigs felt that the image was just a tad too 'camp' for their greatest superhero and his best buddy, but whatever the reason, it was never used at the time, only turning up in print years later in, I think, a TWOMORROWS publication.

Of course, nowadays, in an age when some prat in pursuit of an agenda dares suggest that Supes should be turned gay or bisexual so that certain minorities can feel good about themselves, it may well yet see service if such a thing should ever come about.  Let's hope not, eh?  Not even a nice bit of Kirby art is worth messing with a legend.

(And let's face it - CLARK BENT doesn't have quite the same ring to it.)