ANOTHER BABE Of The DAY - NICOLA BRYANT...

NICOLA BRYANT is so happy,

she's jumping for joy, assisted by actor

COLIN BAKER, who can't believe his

luck.  Nor can the photographer in fact,

as he's got a much nicer view than Col

 has, poor old soul that he is.

BRITISH ADS FOR MAJOR MATT MASON...

Characters copyright MATTEL Inc.

Those of a certain age will recall MAJOR MATT MASON, MATTEL'S MAN IN SPACE, and the ads that appeared in U.S. comics at the time.  However, it appears that the U.K. had their own series of ads, which I've never seen reproduced anywhere else before.  Which doesn't necessarily mean they haven't been, just that I've not seen them.  So, without claiming that the following ads are comprehensive (there may have been more), here are the ones which appeared in SMASH! in 1969.  No doubt they appeared in other U.K. comics as well.

Did you have any Major Matt Mason toys, readers?  Why not reminisce about them to your heart's content in our scintillating comments section?  And if you want to see just a few Matt Mason items from my own collection, you can make yourself jealous by clicking here.

And below are two ads which appeared in U.S. comics...

IT TOOK 33 YEARS - DID I SMASH A RECORD?

Copyright REBELLION

A staggering 33 years ago, in a shop in Edinburgh, I laid a claim on 73 issues of the relaunched version of SMASH!, 13 years after it had ceased being published as an individual weekly periodical.  (It was merged into VALIANT, as all readers of a certain age know.)  I took #1 home with me that night, and the rest were either posted to me, or I picked them up when the seller later came through to a Glasgow comics mart (or a bit of both).

There were 22 issues missing from the set I purchased, and it took me over 30 years to finally track them all down.  To be fair to myself, though, it wasn't really until the latter few years of that period that I actually attempted to find them in any determined way, but eventually I did.  I found the last one I needed only a year or two ago, completing the set.

Anyway, last year, I decided to finally read them, and worked through the first 12 issues before tucking them away again.  A couple of weeks back, I dug them all out once more and continued from where I'd left off. I'm now up to #30, but I'll be giving them another rest for a while soon, as I don't want reading them to become a dreary chore rather than a pleasure.

But that's mere incidental detail I suppose.  The thing that astounds me is that it took me so long to finally get around to reading them.  Having said that, it sometimes feels like that day in Edinburgh was only a little while ago, as opposed to the 33 years it actually is.  Time really has flown, and it seems as if I did a 'RIP VAN WINKLE' and fell into a deep sleep that lasted even longer than his 20 years.

So readers, that prompts a question.  Do any of you ever look at some item in your possession that you remember buying with such clarity that it seems not too long ago, only to be amazed when it suddenly hits you that it was 10, 20, 30, or even 40 years ago?  How does that realisation affect you, if at all?  Go on, share all with your fellow Criv-ites.

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - JULIE EGE...

The temperature's still a bit uneven and there's a

bit of a 'nip' in the air today (in more ways than one).

When it's chilly, JULIE tends to forget her name, so

I put it on the back of her chair to remind her.

PART FIFTY Of FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST - SUPERMAN'S GIRL FRIEND LOIS LANE #105...

Images copyright DC COMICS

I well remember the day I purchased the above mag (along with various others) from a local newsagent's, and sitting on a bench in the Old Village quarter of my town to read it.  If it wasn't on a Saturday I bought it, it would've been on a week-day during the school summer holidays, and I find myself annoyed at now no longer being able to recall with my customary precision.  Once, I could also have told you what other comics I got along with it, but, alas, no longer.  I have a notion that an issue of MISTER MIRACLE might have been among the pile, but I could be mixing two different days together, as I often sat in the same spot to peruse my comics when I got them.

It goes without saying, of course (but I'll say it anyway), that I immediately fell in love with The THORN.  It might have been her skimpy leather outfit, but she fully captured my adolescent adoration and was instantly added to the lengthening list of my favourite fantasy 'comicbook cuties'.  The newsagent's shop where I bought this four-colour treasure exists only in memory these days (like so many hallowed haunts of my youth), but in my mind, I'm still able to revisit its cool interiors and relive happy moments from the past.  If there's an afterlife, perhaps all our cherished places will be there waiting for us, like old friends we haven't seen in an age.

Does this mag hold any memories for you, dear reader, and does it take you back to a moment in time you'd love to live again?  If so, share your pleasant reminiscences with all your Crivvie chums in our eagerly-awaiting comments section.  A memory shared is a memory spared from oblivion, so get your typing fingers tapping now.  We look forward to your input.