DOGGIE Of The DAY...

Aw, just melts your heart, doesn't it?

HAVING A WEE HOLIDAY...

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I won't be able to do any new posts or answer comments for a few days.  See all you Crivvies on my return.  In the meantime, have a Bear Of The Day.  (I know you much prefer Yogi to women.)

THREE FANTASTIC FACSIMILES...

Copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

I was thinking of having some fun with you all by not mentioning that the above Beano #1 is a new facsimile edition and just leaving you to wonder whether I'd lucked out in locating an excellent condition original, but I resisted temptation.  It's stapled, instead of glued at the spine, but trust me - this is likely to be the best re-presentation of this iconic comic that will ever see the light of day.  It's so good, you won't ever need an original (which is not necessarily to be taken as an admission that I don't have one) and it's at a beano of a price, too.  (£16 inclusive of p&p - and it contains all 28 pages.)  Get over to eBay and type Beano #1 facsimile into its search box.

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Next up (above) is The Fantastic Four #3 Facsimile Edition and it does exactly what it says on the tin.  Indicia in the wrong place again and barcode still on the front cover, but it's still a nice little item to add to your collection, regardless of however many reprints you might already have of this tale.  Apparently, it's Marvel's intention to reissue the first dozen FF's, as well as #s 49-50 (the Galactus Trilogy), so start saving your shekels now, effendis.

Copyright DC COMICS

This one's a game-changer for DC, and I only hope that future facsimiles from them will maintain the same high standard.  Barcode discreetly placed on the back cover, high-quality newsprint-type paper, and - most important of all - every ad brand-spanking new-looking, not faded scans from published comics as in many previous DC facsimiles.  I wish Marvel would print their replicas on the same paper and put the barcodes on the back cover - then they really would be cooking with gas!  Well, watcha waiting for?  Buy 'em now!

SO WHO SCRIPTED FANTASTIC FOUR #1...?

In all three captions, past tense words have been amended
to present tense.  E.g., 'raised' to 'raises', 'flew' to 'fly' and
'flies', 'tried' to 'tries', etc.  Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Something has always niggled the back of my mind about Fantastic Four #1.  The writing, or to be more precise, the scripting.  It doesn't quite seem like Stan Lee's usual style and I wonder if Jack Kirby (or someone else) initially scripted it, only for Stan to redo some segments to imbue his 'voice' into it.  Sheer speculation on my part of course, but I've got to provide something for all you panting Crivvies to read, so I thought I'd indulge myself with this subject.

'Raced' to 'race', 'seized' to 'seizes', 'came' to 'come', 'blazed'
to 'blazes', 'melted' to 'melts'.  Note also the last 4 lines of the
end caption appear to have been altered, suggesting that the
story was perhaps originally intended for  a different mag

Stan normally scripted in the present tense, yet there are quite a few obvious examples of lettering amendments to transform past tense words into present tense ones.  Some past tense words remain in an earlier segment of the tale, but that's a flashback so it's entirely appropriate to have done so.  Take a look at the following examples and see what you think.  The amendments are pretty obvious so I won't spell them all out (except in the 'footnotes') as there's no point in overkill, but I can't help but wonder exactly what happened in this instance.

The 'eyes' have it!  Have what?  Don't seem to have their heads in panel 3

FF #1 is a peculiar issue as it's filled with contrived introductions of the four characters and inconsistences in the art.  For example, Reed has two left hands in one panel (not shown, but see here), and Ben Grimm's attire switches from peaked cap and windcheater-type jacket in a couple of panels (above) to slouch hat and overcoat in others (below).  Note also that in the third panel of the above tier, there's no room for the monster's three heads behind the eyes - it's almost as though they're disembodied and floating in mid air. 

Note Ben has four fingers and a thumb in panel 1, and it's unclear whether a finger has been
added to his right hand in panel 3.  And his left thigh seems far too thin in the middle panel

Am I perhaps being too pernickety, Crivvies?  Then be sure to tell me so in the comments section.  (Incidentally, the lettering amendments will be more noticeable if you click on the images to enlarge and study them.)

ROLL UP, ROLL UP - FF FREEBIE (AGAIN)...

You may remember me wittering on about POWER RECORDS some years back, and their Comicbook and record set of The FANTASTIC FOUR #126 ("The WAY It BEGAN!")  Well, rather than wear out the record by playing it, in 2014 I transferred the audio on to my computer and thence to CD, clever chappie that I am.  I even copied the record label to provide one for the disc, and I'm well-chuffed with it.

Now, here's the good news (maybe).  I did a few trial and error runs on getting the label just as I wanted it and therefore have excess copies of the disc - four to be precise.  If you'd like a free copy, just leave your name and address in the comments section - don't worry, I won't publish them - and I'll send you a copy at my own expense.  Also, your details won't be passed on to anyone and will be deleted from my files once I've addressed the jiffy bag.

The disc contains two versions of the record - the original one, plus one with the page bleeps edited out (no gaps) so that it sounds like a radio play.  If you've bought the mag, but have long-since lost the record, here's a chance to replace it with a brand-spanking new CD.  It's also been processed to reduce the record crackle, so it probably sounds better than you've ever heard it before.  So, it really is that simple - if you want a copy, just let me know.  Remember  though - it's first come, first served, so better be quick!  (UK Crivs only, I'm afraid.)

******

To reiterate - there really is no catch, hidden or otherwise.  Your name and address won't be used for any other purpose, won't be shared or passed on to any other parties, and won't be stored by me for future use in relation to anything else.  I delete the info right after I address the envelope.  Honest, you have absolutely nothing to lose and a free CD to gain.

(Update: All now gone, alas.  You were too slow!)

The FORGOTTEN BIRTHDAY CARD...

Regular readers may remember me mentioning living down in Southsea in Portsmouth for 3-4 months back in 1981.  I was there in response to the invitation from a friend to visit him for an indefinite stay, but when I got there he stayed well-clear, and apart from me seeing him for around 10 minutes at his naval base (HMS Vernon) the day after my arrival, and again for maybe 15-20 minutes in a canteen at Haslar Hospital in Gosport the week before I returned home, the only other time our paths crossed was when I spotted him by chance on his Moped one day and waved him down for a few minutes of chat.

His birthday was on February 17th so I'd bought him a card, but held on to it assuming I'd see him before his 'big day' and give it to him in person - alas, 'twas not to be.  (I'd arrived in Southsea towards the end of January and purchased the card at the start of February.)  Like I said, things didn't pan out that way, but it's just as well I didn't post it because he wouldn't have received it anyway as he was no longer living in navy married quarters (as I learned when I last saw him), but either on the base in Gosport or HMS Vernon.  I never spoke to him again and only learned in September of 2023 that he died in January of 2013.

As for the birthday card, it came home with me and lay forgotten in a box for 44 years, but I recently thought of a way whereby it could finally fulfil its purpose (sort of) by placing it on my mantlepiece in February of this year.  Sure, its intended recipient never got to see it, but I felt kind of sorry for it and wanted it to have its moment of 'glory' by being the object of attention in my living-room on the date it would've celebrated back in 1981.  This way, things have come full circle (again, sort of) and the forgotten card at long last has done what it was purchased for so many decades ago.  That's a happy ending (sort of), isn't it?

THE GREATEST RACE OF ALL TIME! (Except for when me and wee Jimmy Jones raced to see who'd reach the bathroom first before wetting ourselves.)

Copyright DC COMICS

I don't know why I do it, but I do!  I've already got the original version of this new Facsimile Edition of Superman Vs. The Flash, but simply had to have this one when I saw it was available.  Enjoy the few images on display here, then run out and buy one for yourself.  You can hug it, and love it, and call it George - or any other name you like, though personally, I'll continue to call it Superman Vs. The Flash, 'cos I'm not a weirdo.  Did you have this issue back in the day?  Feel free to share your thoughts and memories of it in our ever-lovin' comments section.  (Incidentally, it also contains some pages of Neal Adams artwork, but you'll have to buy your very own copy to see them.)  Did you hear what I said, McS?  NEAL ADAMS!

WE ARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH - STINGRAY...

Copyright relevant owner

Those of a certain age (as in decrepit old farts like me) may well remember the above ad (drawn by Ron Embleton) for the Stingray inflatable which appeared in TV Century 21 - and maybe even other comics as well, back in the '60s.  I always assumed it was a buoyancy aid to help keep kids afloat in the swimming pool or the sea, but there's actually no mention of that in the ad, so perhaps it was simply intended as a 'toy' so that kids could play at being Stingray.  Will we ever know?  Do we even care?

Anyway, subconsciously, I guess I fancied this piece of merchandise in my youth, so when the chance to obtain one recently presented itself, I took the plunge (figuratively speaking - no jumping off diving boards for me) and bought it.  I haven't inflated it and may never do, but there it is below laid out on my carpet for your perusal, followed by some of the seller's pics of the item in its inflated state.

Completely useless to me of course as I'd never fit in it, and it'll probably live in a box somewhere for the rest of it days.  However, considering I never owned one way back when, it's strangely still nice to have after all this time.  Anything you ever wanted (or wouldn't have minded) but never had when you were much younger, Crivvies, that you'd love to own today?  The comments section awaits your valued contributions so kindly get typing!

DAREDEVIL #1 FACSIMILE EDITION...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Another nice new Facsimile Edition that every true Marvel fan should have, so buy yours while they're available and before they shoot up in price on eBay.  Would've been better with the barcode box on the back cover (same as DC) and as you can see below, the indicia is in the wrong place as it would've been under the ad on the inside cover when originally published back in the '60s (hence the space under the ad next to the splash page)*.  That aside, it's still worth having, but I can't help but wish they'd print it on a high quality newsprint paper (again, like DC) as opposed to the slightly glossy paper they use.  At least they've included the 'Continued After Next Page...' lines, which help capture the feel of the period.  Can't wait 'til they do Journey Into Mystery #83.

(*Incidentally, Marvel eventually moved the indicia to under the splash page in their mags, but at this time it was still placed under the interior cover ad.) 

And look below - my original copy of issue #1, and below that, both issues side-by-side.