SHRIIIEEEEEK!!! THE MUMMY'S HAND...

Copyright relevant owner

Here's a nicely drawn adaptation of The MUMMY'S HAND, which appeared in MONSTER WORLD #2, 1965.  Illustrated by RUSS JONES & JOE ORLANDO, it's a follow-up to the previous issue's Jones & WALLY WOOD version of The MUMMY.  I'll get around to posting that strip one day.

******

(Oops!  Typed 'Heath' when I meant 'Jones'.  Now fixed.)

And below is the cover for all you completists out there.

BABE OF THE DAY - LYNDA CARTER...

Here's the wondrous LYNDA CARTER, who's got me hog-tied on the other end of her lasso.  You can tell by the pull on the rope that I'm not putting up any kind of serious resistance.  Would you?

BONUS: SECRET ORIGINS COVER GALLERY EXTRA...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Let's take a little detour from our regular SECRET ORIGINS series and cop a gander at the covers of the original mags from the '60s that started the ball rolling. First up (above) is the SPECIAL GIANT ISSUE from 1961, followed by the 80 PG. GIANT #8 (below) which, despite its numbering, was the second issue in the 'Origins' series and which was released in 1965.

A new series appeared in 1973 and lasted seven issues, and you can see the covers by clicking this link.  At the foot of this post are the replica editions of the two comics shown above and below, the first from 1998 and the second from '99. DC COMICS issued a follow-up issue in the style of the two '60s mags in 2003, and I've included that for good measure so that you've got all three.  I'm not one to do things by halves, as you can see.

Anyway, have fun comparing the two original covers with their replicas, and leave a comment if you have any interesting thoughts, theories, or observations you'd like to share.

   

OOPS! I DID IT AGAIN...

MOONMANDO tipped me off about this group/

band/orchestra, or whatever they are.  Get a load of

this BRITNEY song, sung in the style of MARILYN

MONROE.  It ain't bad at all.  Give it a listen.

PART TWO OF SECRET ORIGINS COVER & IMAGE GALLERY...

Images copyright DC COMICS

One thing that struck me as I looked through my issues of SECRET ORIGINS in preparation for scanning, is how few of them I've read past the first handful. However, my 'collector's compulsion' meant I had to buy them all as they came out, whether or not I was interested in each issue's featured character(s).  One day, when I have time and energy, I must sit down, start at #1, and work my way through them all right to the end.

And that's the purpose of this current series - to give all you cavortin' Criv-ites the opportunity of having a taste of this 50 ish run if you missed it back in the day.  Or to remind you of what you once had if you were a regular reader of this titanic title at the time.  So buckle-up, get yourselves comfy, and let's begin the next stage of the tour.  And if you'd like to share your reminiscences of any of the comics on display before you, the comments section awaits your interesting input - so get typing.

BABE OF THE DAY - ABI TITMUS...

Here's the lovely ABI TITMUS to remind you that it's great to be alive.  Of course, life is even better if you have someone like Abi waiting for you at home.  (And I don't mean locked up  in your cellar, Melvin.)

FAVOURITE COMICS OF THE PAST - PART FORTY-FIVE: SUPERMAN #296-299 - "WHO TOOK THE SUPER OUT OF SUPERMAN?"

Images copyright DC COMICS

Hell's bells!  Has it really been 40 years since I first read these DC comics as a mere callow teenager?  Someone tell me I'm wrong - even if it's an obvious lie.  I obtained replacements of the first two issues a good number of years ago now, but I received the second two mags only this morning.  You may be wondering why it took me so long to get around to it, and the answer is that all four stories are reprinted in The GREAT SUPERMAN COMIC BOOK COLLECTION, a book which was published back in 1981, and which I own.

However, it's great to read through the original comics and see not only the story-pages, but also ads for other mags and various items which reflect the heady days of the '70s.  The story itself is an intriguing if slightly convoluted one (with an obvious plot-hole), and the fourth episode seems to have shoe-horned in a number of classic Superman foes under the guise of being intrinsic to the story's resolution (but is clearly nothing more than an blatant sales ploy).  Would aliens out to destroy Earth really be prepared to wait 30 years to do it, and wouldn't the bad guy have a better plan to ensure his escape?  It all seems rather unnecessary on reflection.

But, as I said, it is intriguing - and, more importantly, thoroughly entertaining.  Written by CARY BATES & ELLIOT S! MAGGIN, and drawn by CURT SWAN & BOB OKSNER, it's an instant classic that every true Superman fan should have in their comics collection.  See CLARK KENT punch STEVE LOMBARD in the mouth!  See Clark snatch MORGAN EDGE's stogie from his gob and extinguish it in his drink while telling him where to get off!  And, what we've all been waiting for, see Clarkie-boy have LOIS LANE swoon with desire for him in a way that she never did for the mighty Superman.

Take it from me - if you don't have these four-issues, you need to get onto eBay right away and track them down!  You shouldn't have to live the rest of your life without them!

SECRET ORIGINS COVER & IMAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright DC COMICS

First, there was a SECRET ORIGINS 80 page one-shot in 1961.  Then, there was a MORE SECRET ORIGINS follow-up ish in 1965.  Eight years later, in 1973, the title was given an ongoing series, but ran for a mere seven issues.  In 1986, DC COMICS had another stab at the concept, and this time it lasted a whole 50 issues, three Annuals and one Special.  There was yet another attempt in 2014, which lasted 11 issues, so you've gotta hand it to DC - they're certainly persistent in pushing an idea for a mag.

Anyway, it's the '86-'90 series we're looking at in the first part of this cover and image gallery, and hopefully you'll all come back for future instalments as they appear.  Now let's go!  And feel free to leave a comment if you so desire.

RECOMMENDED READING: TALES OF THE BATMAN - GENE COLAN...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Here's one I picked up fairly recently.  It came out in 2011 (so it's not a new release) and I already own most of the individual issues of which this book is comprised, but it's always good to have a run of comics in one handy collected edition.  It features the early BATMAN tales drawn by legendary artist GENE COLAN after he jumped ship from MARVEL to rival comicbook-makers DC back in the early '80s.

I haven't read any of these tales since they were first published, but so far, I've enjoyed what I've re-read.  Gene was a superb artist, but unfortunately his eyesight was very poor, and sometimes at this stage in his career, his figure-work was a little off in places.  (Take a look at Batman's left leg in the pic below - it just doesn't look quite right.)  However, instances of this kind aren't too many in the enclosed tales, and there are great visuals on offer between the covers of this hardback tome.

It shouldn't be difficult to track down a copy, so if you have a bit of spare cash, begin the process right away.  Now you'll have to excuse me - I want to get straight back to reading my own valiant volume of these 14 dazzling and dynamic Dark Knight Detective doozies.  Sometimes life is just so good!

And hey - who else prefers that DC emblem on the cover to the current one?  It surely can't be just me?

BABE OF THE DAY - ROMOLA GARAI...

ROMOLA GARAI puts the 'oo' in oomph!  What a cracker.

In fact, I'd love to find her in one at Christmas.

GUIDE DOGS - "EVERY PENNY COUNTS"...

This dog and her two pups were featured in my local newspaper recently. The 'doggy-bank' has sat in my neighbourhood chemist's for many years, possibly even going as far back as the '50s or '60s.  The shop occupies larger premises than it did originally, having moved a few units along in (I think) the early '70s, into what used to be a cafe.

It's probably older than me, and I certainly remember it from my early teenage years, but to think it goes all the way back to my childhood (or beyond) is a startling thought.  I must remember to deposit a coin or three the next time I'm in - after all, every penny counts.  My eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, but I'm grateful for what I've got and don't take it for granted.  Next time you see one of these 'banks', make a deposit.

 (I'm sure you would anyway.)

TWELFTH & FINAL PART OF THE INCREDIBLE TRI-MAN...

Copyright relevant owner

Well, it's the end of the road for TRI-MAN, SMASH! fans, as we present the final two episodes of his weekly adventures.  After imitating the SPIDER-MAN formula for most of its run, the strip now seemed to be borrowing an element from SUPERMAN, with TODD BLACKER determined to prove JOHNNY SMALL's superhero alias, much like LOIS LANE trying to expose CLARK KENT's secret identity.

However, it never happened!  Tri-Man was only seen once more in the pages of the Smash! Annual for 1971 (on sale in 1970), in a RON TURNER-illustrated tale which, in all likelihood, had been completed before the superhero's final weekly story recounting Todd's discovery of JS's secret.  You can read that full-colour Annual adventure by clicking this link.  Th-th-that's all, folks!  Bid Johnny goodbye.