EVEN ROCKS ERODE OVER TIME, BUT NOT SO YOU'D NOTICE...

Copyright DC COMICS

I've got several issues of the above SGT. ROCK Special series, but for some unknown reason, issues 4 & 6 eluded me at the time.  I'm not sure exactly how many issues of this series there were, but, without digging through a filing cabinet to check, I think the last one I bought was either #8 or 9.  (Update:  Just checked and I only had 1-3 & 5, four issues.  Strange, I was sure I had more.)  After 30 years, I've finally acquired 4 & 6 on eBay, and it's hard to believe that it's been my intention to track them down for three decades now.  It seems like only yesterday since they were first published, but it was - gasp - half my life away.  Can someone explain to me just how that's possible?  I'm sitting typing this at the same table in the same room where the issues I do own have been since I first bought them, and I have absolutely no sense of the immense gulf between then and now - it just seems so recent.

Another example of the complexity and perplexity of time, which never ceases to amaze me.  Now all I have to do is find out how many more issues I need to complete the set.  Anyone know?

MIGHTY MARVEL COLLECTED EDITIONS CHECKLIST - ON SALE NOW!!!

DEADPOOL UNLEASHED #6

Copyright MARVEL COMICS.  Published by PANINI

76 pages of Marvel's hottest hero!

New story!  Deadpool takes on the world's greatest secret agent!  His name is Burns... Jace Burns!  By Christopher Hastings & Salva Espin!

Deadpool goes universe-hopping and meets General America... and Lady Deadpool!  By Victor Gischler & Rob Liefield!

Featuring material first printed in Secret Agent Deadpool #1-2 and Prelude to Deadpool Corps #1.

On sale NOW!

£4.99.

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ESSENTIAL X-MEN #20

76 pages of mutant mayhem!

Magneto wants Emma Frost dead - and the only thing in his way is the X-Men's Blue Team!  By Cullen Bunn & Jorge Molina!

At last!  The wedding of Kitty Pryde and Peter Rasputin!  By Marc Guggenheim & Gerald Borges!

Featuring material first printed in X-Men: Gold #30 and X-Men: Blue #30-32.

On sale NOW!

£4.99.

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MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL #21

76 pages of Marvel Universe Adventure!

'The Infinity Wars' saga continues!  Gamora rewrites the entire Marvel Universe, with shocking results for Loki!  By Gerry Duggan & Mike Deodato Jr.!

Featuring material first printed in Infinity Wars 1-2.

On sale NOW!

£4.99.

DOCTOR, I'M A LITTLE WEEKLY - DOCTOR WHO COMIC 40TH* ANNIVERSARY...

Dr. WHO copyright BBC TV.  DALEKS copyright
BBC TV and the Estate of TERRY NATION

DOCTOR WHO has appeared in comic-strip format from practically his earliest days.  First in Polystyle Publication's TV COMIC, then in COUNTDOWN, followed by TV ACTION (when the former changed its name), and then back to TV COMIC.  However, in 1979, under the helm of editor DEZ SKINN, the time-travelling titan was awarded his very own British MARVEL magazine in the shape of (unsurprisingly) Doctor Who Weekly.

The first issue was cover-dated October 17th (meaning it would've come out the week before) and lasted in its weekly format until issue #44, when it then became a monthly.  Essentially a children's adventure comic originally, with the change to monthly publication it gradually became more of a geeky, anorak-type title aimed primarily at diehard fanatics.  (Does anyone really need to know that the un-credited 'extra', third from the left in the background of a scene in UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS was also on view for all of two seconds in a 1976 episode of Doctor Who?  Some people can't survive without such information, apparently.)

As well as original strips, the comic also featured reprints of various U.S. Marvel stories (from their mystery, suspense and Marvel Classics titles) with a TALES From The TARDIS logo and illustration of TOM BAKER pasted onto the splash page of each tale.  So, here's a select few pages from that premiere issue from all those years ago.  Apparently, the magazine is now listed in the GUINNESS BOOK Of RECORDS for being the longest-running TV tie-in publication in the history of everything.  What can I say?  Timeless.  

One more thing: Back then I had no way of knowing that, nearly 25 years later, I would be a freelance contributor to several issues of the mag - at least one of which reprinted a back-page DALEKS strip from TV CENTURY 21.  It gave me a strange sense of connection with my childhood days to see a page I'd read as a kid presented alongside contemporary work that bore my name.  A very TWILIGHT ZONE-ish moment indeed. 

Click on image to enlarge, click again for optimum size.

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*Oops!  I typed 50th Anniversary in the post's title instead of 40th.  Blame Whizzer & Chips for being 50 and confusing me!  Now sorted.  (Actually, I published this post from ten years in the future when me and the Doctor - the real one, a man - were visiting Gront-el III, so it really was 50.  However, obviously you'd never believe that, which is why I never said.  Oops - just did.)

CRIVENS! IT'S WHIZZER & CHIPS 50TH ANNIVERSARY - COMPLETE 1ST ISSUE...

Copyright REBELLION

"Two comics in one, double the fun!", but WHIZZER & CHIPS was really just one comic with two names.  However, it was a good idea to make readers think that they were getting more bang for their bucks.  (Or in this case, more pages for their pennies.)  I recall seeing WHIZZER & CHIPS upcoming launch advertised in a centre-spread insert in SMASH! and being instantly fascinated by a picture of the friendly ghost from HARRY'S HAUNTED HOUSE.

On sale on 11th October 1969 (cover-dated 18th), I was up around 7a.m. and across like a rocket to the newsagent's over the road from me, eager to immerse myself in this new comics experience.  The title lasted for one week past its (un-celebrated) 21st birthday before being merged with stablemate BUSTER, thereby ensuring that at least a few W&C characters survived a bit longer.  I bought a copy of the last issue in the same shop that I had purchased the first, even though I no longer lived in the area.

Y'know, sometimes I think that any point in my past life is as near to me as 'over the road' was then, but it's a short-lived feeling that soon dissipates when I realise that all my yesterdays are quite a bit farther removed than that.  Anyway, that's enough melancholy introspection - enjoy the 'Whizzer' section to start with, and we'll be back right after it with its companion paper 'Chips'.  (Were you a Whizz-kid or a Chip-ite?  Don't be shy now. )

And below is the CHIPS section to help you recapture a long-vanished slice of your childhood - if you were a child back in 1969 that is.  It's hard for me to believe I originally bought this comic when it first came out 50 years ago, but yes - I really am that old, despite my youthful good looks and full, luxuriant head of hair.  I've even got all my own teeth - and I don't mean the kind that are kept in a glass of water at night.  However, before this starts to read like an ad in a dating agency, I'll shut up and let you get on with reading the following strips.  I could then end by saying "You've had your Chips!", but that would be too obvious a pun, wouldn't it?

BONUS: Here are a couple of flyers from SMASH! comic (it probably also appeared in other IPC titles) for the new weekly WHIZZER & CHIPS.

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