YIPPEEE! PART TWO Of The INCREDIBLE TRI-MAN...

Copyright relevant owner

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.

'CONAN' BOWS OUT - LONG LIVE THE 'NEW' CONAN...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS and CPI

I've shown this splash page before, I'm sure, but it's now come time to revisit it.  Mainly because its twin, taken from an issue of CONAN The BARBARIAN #6, has been affixed to my wall since 1979.  Like BILBO BAGGINS, it was also there and back again (regular readers will know what I'm alluding to), but it's now faded and rippled, and its retirement fast approaches.  I've already printed out an actual-sized replacement to fill its spot on the wall, but it's kind of sad to have to say farewell to something that's been with me for 37 years.

True, its clone (a more pristine, vibrantly-coloured clone admittedly) will assume its predecessor's place, but it's a bit like leaving your wife for a younger woman who's the double of your missus as she was 30-odd years ago.  I feel extremely hard-hearted in jettisoning the original pic after its many years of faithful service, but my room could sorely do with a splash of colour to restore it to what it once was, poster-wise.  Sadly, several more 'old friends' will be taking their final bow before too long, to be replaced by doppelgangers waiting to step into their vacated shoes.

I'll do the deed tonight, and feel like a murderer.  Perhaps, if inanimate objects have any kind of 'sentience', it will view its demise as a welcome release, as people and pets in pain do when their final moment comes and they enter that eternal sleep which is the fate of us all.  Alas, there's no resisting entropy.  If only such were not the case, eh?  Maybe one day - hopefully.

Anyway, at least the situation allows me to show you a nice BARRY SMITH pic. That's surely worth a little bit of maudlin sentiment, don'tcha think?  (It oughta be.)