COMICS GREAT, MURPHY ANDERSON, PASSES AWAY...

Sad news to report - MURPHY ANDERSON, one of the finest talents ever to grace the comics medium, has passed away at the age of 89.  SUPERMAN, GREEN LANTERN and The FLASH never looked better than when Murphy was adding the finishing inks to the pencils of CURT SWAN, GIL KANE and CARMINE INFANTINO.  Also a fantastic penciller in his own right, Murphy could do just about anything, artwise.  The world of comics is poorer for his passing, as is the world on a broader scale, as Murphy was renowned for being a gentleman and all-round fine human being.

Below are a few examples of Murphy's work over the years.

Below is a Kirby pencilled page side-by-side with the inked result.  As you can see, Murphy managed to capture the 'official' Superman look without drastically altering Jack's rendition.  The only thing that's really any different is Supes' 'S' emblem and hair; Jack was never consistent in keeping the parting on the correct side.  Everything else on the page was inked by VINCE COLLETTA.

  

And below is the book that every true Murphy Anderson fan should have.

ANYONE REMEMBER CALLAN...?

Me and my bruv used to watch CALLAN back in the late '60s and early '70s.  In fact, my older sibling once wrote to THAMES TELEVISION to enquire whether there was going to be a new series, the then-current one having just ended.  He was ecstatic to receive a reply saying that there would be.

I loved the opening credits and theme tune, so here they are for your potential enjoyment also.

PART TWO OF WALTER SIMONSON'S ORION COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Sobering thought though it is, I know that you don't visit this bombastic blog to read my winsome words of wisdom or inspiring insight into the world of comics - or anything else for that matter.  So there's really no point in me spending long seconds typing my profound preambles to these pulsating posts if you're not going to marvel at their 'mazing magnificence.  (Yes, I've had my alliteration pill today.)  That being the case, I'll now shut up and let you leer at the iconic images that lay before your awestruck orbs.  Mr. Considerate, that's me!

  

BABE Of The DAY - KIM KARDASHIAN...

Say what you all like, but I certainly

wouldn't kick this lovely lass off the couch

for dropping biscuit crumbs.  Crivs - allow

me to present... KIM KARDASHIAN.

The MARVEL LEGACY Of JACK KIRBY (EXPANDED)...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Here's a nice 'little' tome I picked up in a local comicbook store recently - The MARVEL LEGACY Of JACK KIRBY.  An exploration, month by month, of all the stories and covers Jack produced for TIMELY, ATLAS, and MARVEL (almost a trinity of sorts - three in one) over his lengthy career at the 'House Of Ideas'.  With a plethora of pulse-pounding pictures, plus personal reminiscences from industry stalwarts, this is one slip-cased titanic tome that belongs on the shelves of every Jack 'King' Kirby fan.  "Don't ask - just buy it!"

THE AUTUMN LEAVES...

Ah, Autumn - probably my favourite time of the

year.  Here are The MILLS BROTHERS to sing

you a song about this most atmospheric season.

LITTLE STAR COVER GALLERY - PART THREE...

Images copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

Well, bought 'em, so gotta use 'em.  I don't really recall any covers past #s 1-3 (and maybe one or two others), so I'm now wondering if I bought only the first three issues (seen in part one) because of the free gifts and then gave up on it.  I had a paper round at the time and only spotted the comic when it first came out because I was in the newsagent's early in the mornings collecting my papers for delivery.

As LITTLE STAR was a nursery comic, it really fell outside my interest as a 13 year-old, but the lure of a new comic with free gifts was always hard to resist for me.  I'd even bought the first and early issues of SHOOT, SCORCHER, and SCORE - and I had absolutely zero interest in football.  Having said that, there was some nice art in Little Star, by the likes of TOM KERR and BILL RITCHIE.

So let's take a look at another five covers that perfectly capture the wonder and innocence of youth.  If only such qualities stayed with as as we grow up, the world would be a much better place.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ME - ONE MILLION PLUS...

I see from my Blogger stats, that visits to this site have now

exceeded ONE MILLION.  If only I'd received £1 for each visit,

eh?  Just think of all the comics and toys, etc., I could buy.