PART TWENTY-FOUR Of COMIC COVERS 'SNAP'!

 Ground Control To Colonel Nick...

Images copyright respective owners

 

Time yet again for another entry in our occasional series of Comic Covers 'Snap'!, wherein we compare covers with the very ones they're based on.  This time it's Nick Fury getting ripped-off by Superman, but if Nick's not going to complain about Supes pinching the layout of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6's 1968 cover then neither am I.  Sequentially, the third cover on show here was actually published between the two above it, when it was reused on the second issue of a two-part reprint limited series in 1983.  The Superman version is from 1989.   

NO TRICKS, HERE'S A REAL TREAT (I HOPE YOU'LL AGREE) - (Updated)

 Things That Go Bump In The Night...

Getting back to the Hallowe'en theme, here's a couple of Aurora model kits I built and painted some years ago (approximately 1983 and '96 respectively), followed by two I built and painted for someone else two or three years back.  Plus, two versions of the same drawing of the Frankenstein Monster that I drew around '82 or '83.  The first one is the inked version of the head, followed by a photocopy of the original pencil version.  Not too shabby, eh?  (He said, fishing for compliments.)

SEAN CONNERY PASSES AWAY...

 But Legends Never Truly Die...

Well, that's it now, isn't it?  Just about all the celebrity heroes we considered family friends when we were growing up are gone, aren't they?  Leslie Crowther, Peter Glaze, Johnny Morris, Rodney Bewes, Adam West, John Noakes, James Garner, Roger Moore, Bobby Ball, and a whole host of others... which sadly now also includes Sean Connery, the big screen's first James Bond.

When Big Tam first played Bond, he was in his early 30s; when he gave it up, he was in his early 40s - and when he reprised the role one more time, he was only 53 or so, several years younger than I am now.  And yet each of these landmarks in my life seem like only the recent past to me, so how can the man who was Bond... James Bond, seemingly only a short time ago, be old enough to have died?

I'll leave it to others to cover his life and career; I just didn't want to ignore his passing as Sean's Bond was, and I'm sure it's the same for many others, a fixture of sorts in my life for the last 48 years.  Think I'll play a Bond soundtrack and make believe that Sean's still around - which, in so many ways, he still is and always will be.

CONAN MINI-COVER GALLERY...

 Conan The Savage...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS and CPI

Conan The Savage was a 10 issue series by Marvel Comics, published in 1995-'96.  I own the first 5 issues, but not only had I forgotten I had them, I'd also forgotten the mag ever existed 'til I found them in one of my cupboards while looking for something else.  Well there are no flies on me (apart from of the zip variety), so I immediately thought "Hey, I should scan them and do a mini-cover gallery!" so that's exactly what I've done.  Aren't you lucky I'm so full of great ideas? 

The HALLOWE'EN GUY...

 

Images copyright relevant owners

Here's a question for all your cavortin' Crivvies - what age were you when you last went out guising at Hallowe'en?  I guess I was about 10, though it may just have been to a Boys' Brigade party (I was a member) in the church hall over the road from me.  That means that it's been over 50 years since I was an active participant in the Hallowe'en tradition, which seems strange to me as I can remember those dark nights of my childhood as if they were far more recent than that.  I've never been to an adult Hallowe'en party, but I'm sure many of you have, which means you got to dress up annually for many more years than I ever did.  Except for weekends and only to unwind - but that's another story.  (Joking.)

Incidentally, I hate Hallow'en parties for grown-ups (any parties in fact) - let the kids have their fun for goodness' sake without trying to imitate them.  Seeing adults making tits of themselves while dressed up in ridiculous costumes and smashed out of their brains makes a mockery of the innocent pleasure that should be the sole province of children (apart from the getting drunk part obviously).  If you must have a party, then have a party (though I'd advise against it, as I hate seeing people enjoying themselves, especially when the ensuing noise encroaches on my peace and quiet), but you shouldn't be copying kids in order to get your jollies.  Grow up!  (Says the man who still buys toys and comics!)

Ah, I feel much better now, doctor - can I be discharged?  Anyway, as it's Hallowe'en tonight, I though I'd share with you a few relevant images of the age-old tradition, culled from Whizzer & Chips #3 back in 1969 (which was actually a Guy Fawkes issue, though it came out before Hallowe'en, probably on October 25th).  I won't tell anyone if you decide to click on the image of the mask and print out your own copy.  In fact, I've included another couple of masks just in case they'll float your boat as well.  Just don't wear them to any parties if you're over 10!