KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: The INCREDIBLE HULK #1...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

The INCREDIBLE HULK is still with us today, which is surprising considering that his own mag was cancelled after only six issues.  However, Gamma-irradiated creatures are hard to kill, and ol' Jade-Jaws survived as a guest star in other mags before eventually being awarded a spot in TALES To ASTONISH.  He even found time along the way to become a founding member of The AVENGERS.  After 101 issues, TOA was renamed after its green-skinned goliath, who went on to star in a '70s TV series and in relatively recent big-budget movies.

Sob!  I love a happy ending, don't you?

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: KAMANDI #1...

Image copyright DC COMICS

The Statue Of Liberty gives it away, I suppose.  KAMANDI was DC's response to PLANET Of The APES, as well as being JACK ('King') KIRBY's longest-lasting comicbook for the Distinguished Competition.   There were 59 issues of Kamandi in all, of which Kirby drew #s 1-40, but wrote only the first 37.  Then it was back to MARVEL for a few years, where, sadly, he faced equal disappointment in his endeavours.

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: BOYS' RANCH #1...

Copyright relevant owner

Don't be fooled by the title - it doesn't refer to a paedo's paradise (thank goodness), but is the title of a SIMON and KIRBY comicbook which, given its short span of six issues, is surprisingly one that is held in high esteem by those who read it back in the day.  Perhaps it's just me, but I often thought that when Kirby drew Westerns, the guy in the saddle looked as if he'd be taller than the horse when he dismounted.  Anyone else ever notice that, perchance?

ANOTHER BABE Of The DAY - RAQUEL WELCH...

RAQUEL WELCH.  Now is she a

woman, or is she a woman?  No, I mean

it - I don't want to make the same kind of

mistake a friend once made.  (Boy, was he

surprised.)  She is a woman?  Phew, thank

goodness for that.  You just can't be too

careful these days, eh?!

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: NEW GODS #1...

Image copyright DC COMICS

NEW GODS for old, seemed to be writer/artist JACK KIRBY's philosophy when he came up with this idea.  It's not unlikely that he realized the constant threats of RAGNAROK in THOR would eventually become old hat to readers, so he planned to reveal what would happen after it finally, inevitably, occurred.  It could so easily have been a MARVEL comicbook instead of a DC one, and doubtless would have been if events hadn't precipitated Jack's defection to the 'Distinguished Competition'.  But this was a drama decreed by the fates to be acted out!  Nothing could stop it!  Nothing could change it !  We watched and we saw!

It lasted for 11 issues before facing a Ragnarok of its own, though echoes of its concepts still reverberate throughout the DC Universe to this day.

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: TALES Of SUSPENSE #39...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

"He lives!  He walks!  He conquers!"  Brilliant stuff.  This is another of my favourite origin issues, and again, much of its appeal is due to scripter LARRY LEIBER's undoubted talent when it comes to his mastery of words, although DON HECK's evocative art was also a major factor in the tale's success.  (The cover is by KIRBY, inked by Heck.)

KLASSIC KIRBY KOMIC KOVERS: JOURNEY Into MYSTERY #83...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

This is probably my favourite MARVEL origin story of all time.  The art is by KIRBY & SINNOTT, so what's not to like?  True, Jack still demonstrates flashes of his famous inconsistency throughout the tale (THOR The MIGHTY's helmet changes design, and the thongs on his boots go from many to a few between panels), but it's a great little read, due mainly to the scripting of LARRY LIEBER, who created the name DON BLAKE and the word 'URU'.

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - JILL ST. JOHN...

Ah, the lovely JILL ST. JOHN.  As you

 can see, she likes to keep abreast of things.

EDGAR ALLAN POE'S The RAVEN - READ By BASIL RATHBONE...

Now you're in for a treat.  Have a listen to this, and

hear how a classic poem should be read.  Scratch that -

performed is a more accurate description.

MIGHTY MARVEL COMICON POSTER...

Art by JOHN BUSCEMA.  Copyright MARVEL COMICS

If you're British, you've seen this poster before of course, as a free gift in The TITANS #1, way back in 1975.  However, here it is in its original (and sharper) form as the poster for the MIGHTY MARVEL COMICON, also in '75.