PART FORTY-TWO Of FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST - SHOWCASE #94 (EXPANDED)...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Apparently (if I've got my comics history right), SHOWCASE #94 was originally intended to publish the first appearance of JACK KIRBY's ORION Of The NEW GODS, until DC COMICS decided to give the series its own title.  Because of that, the last issue of Showcase was #93 in 1970.  Number 94 eventually turned up in '77, featuring the debut of The New DOOM PATROL, who also starred in #s 95 & 96.  Incidentally, ROBOT MAN's new body was inspired by JOHN BYRNE's character - ROG-2000.

And now for the eagerly anticipated (cough) personal bit.  On the Saturday I first bought this issue, I was making my way home just as it was getting dark, and took a detour through the grounds of one of my old schools.  On the far side of a putting green adjacent to the school grounds was a small wooded area, the silhouette of which, it seemed to me in the gathering gloom, was the perfect double of the background on the comic's cover.  That's why, even today, I can't look at one without also thinking of the other.

Hard to believe that was very nearly 40 years ago.  My old school is now gone and a new structure stands in its place, but the one I knew yet exists in the evergreen land of memory - especially when I look at the cover of Showcase #94.  Got any memories associated with this ish?  Then get typing, frantic ones.

   

I've had replacements for issues #94 & 96 for years now, but since first writing this, I've acquired #95 to complete the trilogy.  I've therefore added their covers and splash pages to this post so that all three issues are together.  I seem to associate these mags with the same newsagent's I bought #94, so that's more than likely where I originally got them.  Enjoy.

FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST - PART FORTY-ONE: SUPERMAN #251...

Images copyright DC COMICS

At one time, I could've told you in exactly which shop I purchased my original copy of SUPERMAN #251, but now I'm none too sure.  (Maybe it'll come back to me later*.)  What I can tell you with absolute certainty, however, is the precise date on which I bought it - October 7th 1972.  The reason I remember is because that was the very day that The MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL #2 went on sale, which I'd obtained earlier that surprisingly sunny Saturday morning.  A few hours later, I also took possession of TERRIFIC #1 and The SUPER-HEROES #1, two comics from the '60s, which I picked up in a jumble sale in The Old Parish Church Hall in the Old Village quarter of my town.

I've long since acquired replacements for all the comics I got that day, the above one being bought around 1980 or '81 ('82 at the latest), which means that I've now owned it for a far greater period of time than I ever had my original copy.  It should come as no surprise to any of you (mainly because I've said the same thing many times before) when I say that all it takes is one glance at its cover or contents, and I'm magically whisked back to the '70s (wait for it, here it comes) faster than a fart from The FLASH.  I found the 'classic tale' of particular interest, because Superman changes his features (much like the FF's MISTER FANTASTIC can) to resemble his alien foes, and uses 'telepathic will-control' to influence the mind and actions of his captor.

So there you have it!  Yet another of my 'Favourite Comics of the Past'.  Is it also one of yours?  Then why not indulge in a spot of pleasant reminiscing and tell your fellow Crivvies all about it?  After all, why should I have all the fun?  The comments section awaits!

(*It would be one of three places: R.S. McCOLL'S in my neighbourhood shops, the one in my local Town Centre, or a newsagent's named M.B. BARR in the aforementioned Old Village.)