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When WHAM!, SMASH!, and POW! reprinted MARVEL strips, the pages were re-sized two U.S. pages to one U.K. page, which was more in keeping with the panel-count of home-produced strips. Therefore, if TRI-MAN had been an American comic, all 44 pages (well 43 and a half to be exact) would've been 88, meaning that, at 22 pages per issue, a U.S. Tri-Man mag would've lasted for only four issues. So, bit of a failure then, eh?
However, the strip was not without charm, even if the formula was a blatant rip-off (or 'homage' if you prefer) of the SPIDER-MAN/PETER PARKER set-up in Web-head's own mag. I have fond memories of reading the incredible adventures of JOHNNY SMALL's alter-ego back in 1969/'70, and the character even made a return in GRANT MORRISON's ZENITH.
Who knows - perhaps he'll make another comeback one day. Anyone like to see that? Or should Tri-Man remain in comicbook limbo and never return? Make your thoughtful feelings known in our ever-lovin' comments section.
YIPPEE, indeed! I'm already hooked. This could easily BE a Marvel comic!
ReplyDeleteWhat do those henchmen want with the Prof? Gotta stay tuned....
If I could hook a few more people to read this strip, I'd be happy, JP. I think we're the only two who're interested.
ReplyDeleteWhat it is, Kid, is we're the only two actually SO BLOODY OLD to be interested!
DeleteThese young 'uns don't know what they've missed!
Their loss! Should have gotten themselves born earlier!! :-)
McScotty's old too, but he's obviously too busy out chasing women on his zimmer.
ReplyDeleteIt's a well done strip, but maybe fans saw no need for a variation on Spider-Man when they already had the real thing.
ReplyDeleteWhile that's probably true to an extent, TC, I think the strip was a response to those who were complaining about the jettisoning of the Marvel superhero strips, and Spidey wasn't available at that time in a U.K. weekly comic. A British 'stand-in' was therefore considered the next best thing to placate the superhero fans who read Smash!
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ReplyDeleteLol had a laugh at that comment about my age kid, but sadly I have to agree with you I am now an old git , where did the time go it just seems like yesterday I was a teenager now I’m preparing to retire in a few years’ time.
I am also enjoying reading this strip as well (I have just been traveling with work so not had time to comment). I used to get this comic almost every week and my recollection of this strip is really sketchy, which is strange as it is just the type of thing I like now, and liked as a kid back in the day. I would have thought this would be a bit of a cult classic if reprinted for todays "kids" maybe add some needless brutality, a rape and kill of a few of the supporting characters and any joy the strip may contain and voila an instant Marvel or DC comic for the 21st century.
Yeah, I dunno why comic companies assume that all adults are into brutality, rape and murder these days, PM. I'd still be buying Smash! today if it was available, rather than a lot of the current 'serious' stuff. Being an old git, I've just woken up to take my sleeping pill - back to sleep for me.
ReplyDeleteHey, this particular old git likes his comics just like that - aimed at the kids!
ReplyDeleteI found a lot of the "adult" comics (e.g. Marshall Law ) too boring for me! Perhaps I might understand them when I grow up?
Yeah, JP, I found Marshall Law tedious in the extreme. Pat Mills doesn't like superheroes and looks down his nose at them, but I find some of his stuff tediously preachy. I lettered his 'Third World War' in 'Crisis' and it was a chore. Nothing against him personally, but I can't think of any of his strips I liked. (Not that I've read them all.)
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