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Like its Spider-Man, Captain America, and Fantastic Four companion volumes (the latter two already in my possession when I saw Spidey and the Doc publications), this is a relatively slim book, though it has some nice stories contained within. My favourite one is probably 'The Wondrous World(s) Of Doctor Strange', which I saw for the first time in the 1968 (Smash! Pow!) Fantastic Summer Special given to me by a classmate around 1969. The Special presented the tale in a resized b&w format more appropriate to its larger dimensions, so the book was the first time I'd seen the story in colour. It had been newly coloured and didn't reproduce the original pallette (apart from the main two protagonists' costumes, obviously) and it looked very atmospheric. Update: Contrary to what I feared when I first published this post, I was able to scan the splash pages from the book and have now replaced the previous images.
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I later mildly regretted not buying the books in 1981, but the Spider-Man and Doctor Strange team-up reappeared in an issue of Marvel Tales around the mid-'80s, so I obtained the story that way. Then there were Marvel Masterworks and Omnibus editions, etc., which also reprinted it over the years, so I've got it several times over now. The other story that's worth having is the Barry Smith illustrated 'While The World Spins Mad!', though it never particularly impressed me at the time. Like the other one, I now have various reprints of that tale too, one at least in an individual issue (Marvel Milestones) and also in various collected editions. At that time (1972) it was the last Doctor Strange story ever scripted by Stan Lee (plot was by Smith) and what follows after the pics is what he had to say about it in his introduction.
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'It marks the very last Dr. Strange story that I ever wrote. As a matter of fact, I had already stopped writing the awesome adventures of our peerless prestidigitator a few years earlier, but for some reason, I very much wanted to script this particular yarn.' In 2006, Stan returned to Doctor Strange for an issue of a limited series called Stan Lee Meets, wherein he met several Marvel superheroes, each new tale scripted by Stan himself, with a reprint of an earlier tale by Stan as a back-up. The Smith-plotted and illustrated tale was the back-up in the Strange issue, so if you want the last two Doctor Strange stories scripted by Stan (in one issue too), that's the one you need to seek out on eBay if you don't already own it. The new Stan Lee Meets stories were reprinted in a collected edition, though not the back-up tales.
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Anyway, Crivvie chums, I rabbited on for longer than I intended so I'll take my leave of you for now. As ever, don't forget where the comments section is if any of you have something interesting to say - and even if you don't. (Hey, when have I ever let it stop me?!)
13 comments:
Hope you are keeping well my friend, you seem/sound in good form! Those Fireside books were advertised in late 1970's Marvel comics and they looked highly desirable.Over the years I have had them all and enjoyed them immensely.At the time there were no Masterworks so this was as good as it gets.Loved Barry Smith artwork on Conan etc and he was an admirable fit for Dr.Strange.Beautiful looking comic.As an aside my favourite Smith comic would be Avengers 100 especially the first few pages as the Avengers gather, though Ironman 47 is gem of a comic.Great post as always and stay well.
Hi, Triple F, good to hear from you, as always. I feel I could be better in regard to my health, but I daresay everyone in my age group would say the same. The Fireside books weren't always reproduced as well as they could or should have been, but like you say, they were as good as it got at the time. Thanks for dropping by and look after yourself.
I don't have anything interesting to say but glad we're still both alive.
Actually, now that you've mentioned it, what software do you use for scanning and 'touching up' (if I'm allowed to say that without being thrown in prison)?
I use an A3 Epson scanner for scanning, and I used to use Picasa 3 for digital manipulation, but now I use Media Impression 2, M.
I've got an A3 Brother scanner and I use the Brother Utilities software for scanning and GIMP for manipulation but I'm looking for better options. I've been scanning my comic collection for the past 15 years for reading on my 10" tablet.
I once had a Brother scanner in between Epsons, but I found it useless as I had to reboot it every time I used it. Returned it after a very short time and bought another Epson.
I bought the Captain America volume when it came out way back when. I never even saw the others. This was during a time when comics were disappearing in my area and there were only the occasional paperback volumes (pre graphic novels) that I ran across in book stores.
As you said, pretty slim, but the content was rock solid.
I had (and still have) the Cap America and FF ones, G, which I got not long after they first came out. I had problems getting a decent copy of the Doc Strange one I bought recently and had to buy three in the end (and return one). It's telling that they were all first print copies and seemed to be remaindered stock, so that volume at least doesn't appear to have sold well. Either that, or it had too large a print run.
As far as I know, there was never a newsagents inside the Tricorn, Kid, but the newsagents opposite it was J W August, which always had a great selection of comics. You'll find a photo of the shop shortly before demolition on my blog at https://superstuff73.blogspot.com/2022/11/searching-for-comics-in-portsmouth.html Let me know if it stirs any memories.
Wasn't a newsagent's, B, 'twas a bookstore, if memory serves. I'll take a look at that link right now and be back here in a few minutes.
Took a look, nothing rings memory's bell, though I notice I commented on that post. Let's see if I can describe things how I remember them. There was a sort of lane running through or next to The Tricorn. On The Tricorn side was a bookshop and maybe some other shops. Entrance to The Tricorn could be made from this side, from the end of the row of shops, I think. On the opposite side of the lane were more shops, with a cafe at one end. I have a vague idea that this cafe was shown in a series called Going Out in 1981 or '82. I'll see if I can see it on YouTube when I have time to sit through the series.
I don't have memories of a bookstore, Kid, but most of my frequenting of the Tricorn and Charlotte St (the narrow road that ran along side it) took place in the period up until 1978 or so, although I must have gone there in the 1980s from time to time, but have no vivid memories of those later days. I'll try to locate some photos of the Tricorn on FB groups to refresh my memory.
I suppose it's always possible my memory is condensing locations in my mind, B. For example, I might've been in the cafe I spoke of, then went into a nearby bookshop, then went into The Tricorn, but all these years later I recall them as being nearer to one another than they actually were, simply because they made an impression on me. Sigh! And my memory used to be so good. Then again, maybe it's exactly as I remember it.
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