DC'S BATMAN #251 FACSIMILE EDITION...

Copyright DC COMICS

I know I had this comic back in the '70s because I remember the story, and in particular a full-page shot of BATMAN running across a beach in pursuit of The JOKER (out-of-frame).  Curiously, however, in memory I didn't automatically associate the contents with the cover, so for many years, whenever I saw it pictured anywhere, I was never quite sure whether I'd read the issue or not.  Until I saw it reprinted somewhere back in, I think, the '80s (or perhaps later).

And now it's been reprinted again - this time as a FACSIMILE EDITION, complete with original ads and all.  You surely don't need the hard-sell on this one?  It's Batman, it's NEAL ADAMS, and it's a reminder of your youth at the same time. What's not to like?!  Funnily enough, I saw a huge framed reproduction of this cover in a charity shop a few days ago, going for a tenner.  I was tempted, but I simply don't have anywhere to hang it, so I passed.

However, don't you pass on this ish.  Get straight round to your local comics shop now and buy it before it sells out, or get it on eBay - I'm not fussy 'cos I get my percentage either way.  (That's 0% in case you were wondering.)

A WHOLE LOTTA HULKS GOING ON...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

First up, above, is MARVEL's The INCREDIBLE HULK #1 Facsimile Edition.  Again, without the COMICS CODE stamp, the absence of which (in my view) compromises its integrity as a true facsimile - I do wish they'd just leave it where it's meant to be.  This ish contains the same ad as in the AMAZING FANTASY Facsimile Edition, wherein an image was omitted, presumably for 'politically correct' reasons.  Also, the proofs used for this issue are the same ones as in MASTERWORKS, OMNIBUS, and EPIC reprints, and show signs of 'word de-smudging', as well as a page (17) that has been horizontally separated in two at some stage and rejoined, resulting in an ever-so-slightly larger than normal gap between a couple of rows of lettering.  That apart though, as most of these things are only noticeable to pedants like me, it's still a mag worth having.  Next up... 

The OTHER HULKS contains a couple of tales of two characters christened 'The Hulk', before BRUCE BANNER's alter-ego inherited the name.  STAN LEE was certainly into recycling long before it became fashionable, wasn't he?  For some curious reason there's a wobble on the top of the speech balloon on the JACK KIRBY/STEVE DITKO cover, which isn't on the reproduction of the original cover within.  The furry and metal creature above was eventually reintroduced into the Marvel Universe in the '70s, but referred to as XEMNU The TITAN (instead of Xemnu The Hulk) to avoid confusion.  And the next contestant is...    

The above TRUE BELIEVERS mag features the return of the grey Hulk, from around the mid-'80s.  I remember buying the original ish (which I still have) as though it were only last week, which scares the bejabbers out of me.  I mean, where did my life go?!  The cover has been cropped to allow for the True Believers banner at the top, but thankfully, the original cover is reproduced inside.  (Surely Marvel could reduce the image slightly, so that the TB crop isn't so severe?)

Anyway, three great mags for you to add to your collection, so - if you haven't already got this trio of titanic treats, go and buy them now!