YET MORE CASTEL CRIVENS ACQUISITIONS...

Characters and images copyright relevant and respective owners

September 30th is the 60th Anniversary of Thunderbirds being first broadcast on UK TV so there's quite a bit of merchandise around at the moment - diecasts, model kits, and books, etc.  The tome above, though featuring comic strips that have been reprinted before over the years, is probably the best yet and contains some interesting articles.  Sadly it misnames TV Comic's Bill Mevin as Bill Melvin, and describes TV Century 21's Supercar strip as consisting of one-page, though it was actually one-and-a-half (to begin with anyway).  I've only had a cursory look so far (just arrived this afternoon) so there'll likely be other errors in the text as is usually the case in such publications.  Anyway, still nice to have and roll on volume two. 

Being a lazy buggah, I'm usually inclined to take shortcuts, hence my inclusion of the back cover, above, which gives the publisher's spiel about the contents, saving me from having to go into any detail about them myself.  That should give you a fair idea of what to expect should any of you decide to add this heavy volume to your own collections.  Hefty books come at a hefty price, but it's worth it to recapture a piece of your childhood - if you're as old as me, that is. 

As you'll all know by now, Marvel is reprinting the first dozen issues of The Fantastic Four in Facsimile Editions and the most recent one is #9, above.  I've so many various memories of this tale associated with its different reprintings down through the decades - Wham!, Marvel Collector's Item Classics, The Mighty World Of Marvel, The Complete Fantastic Four, etc., that it's almost like I've lived several lives with which some incarnation of this tale (b&w, full colour, spot colour, Zipatone) is associated.  Yeah, we're all familiar with the story, but it's nice to have in an individual issue fashioned after its original printing. 

The first of the trio of tales included in the fourth issue of Fantastic Four Fanfare is an absolute belter and not to be missed.  And the other two strips ain't bad either so grab it while you can.  Susie is presented as probably the most powerful member of the team - by a long chalk - and that's okay with me as I still fancy her from when I was a lickle kidlet.  Sincerely, don't let this one get away from you.  Well, that's all for now, I'll keep you updated on anything I think you should know about.  Excelsior!

NEW THUNDERBIRD 4 By CORGI...

Copyright relevant owner(s)

Here's the latest 60th Anniversary diecast release by Corgi - Thunderbird 4 in a similar size to that of their TB2.  All they need do now is issue the aforementioned craft in a scale that will accommodate the seagoing underwater vehicle, but it's unlikely as it would cost a veritable fortune to buy.  Next out is TB5, which will allow their TB3 to assume a docking position with it, meaning the forthcoming spacecraft will also be a larger-than-usual model.  Yup, I've pre-ordered it and will show the International Rescue space station when it arrives at Castel Crivens.  Any other Crivvies interested in these collectables or am I the only one?

(No comments so far - guess I am the only one.)

CASTEL CRIVENS ACQUISITIONS...

All images and characters copyright their relevant and respective owners 

Here are a few fairly recent Castel Crivens acquisitions for your perusal, loyal Crivvies.  I know most of you are always looking for recommendations on which to spend your money because you're all rich, so hopefully you'll see something you like the look of and rush out and buy it/them.  Now, I have a confession to make - the two Alan Class Creepy Worlds mags at the bottom of the post I already have, but I decided to buy superior condition copies - even though they cost far more than they're really worth and what I usually like to spend.  However, I got around a £50 discount and I decided to take the plunge, as it's unlikely I'll see such good clean condition copies going cheaper anywhere, now or in the future.

So let me ask of you - which of these publications would you purchase, either for yourself or as a present for someone?  Remember, Christmas isn't very far away - only 3 months in fact.

The interior colours seem too dark, so I'll have to compare with some old Look & Learns as I feel they should be brighter

SEPARATED AT BIRTH...?

The WONDROUS WORLD Of DOCTOR STRANGE SPINS MAD... (Updated)

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

So where were we...?  Ah, yes, the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth, sometime in 1981, which is where I associate two books in particular.  Namely, the Simon & Schuster (Fireside) volumes The Amazing Spider-Man (which we saw in a previous post) and Doctor Strange Master Of The Mystic Arts (above), both originally published in 1979.  I think I was already aware of these books, having seen them in a shop in Glasgow (possibly Second Foundation in Candleriggs or/and the Virgin Megastore in Union Street), but my association is stronger with Portsmouth as I actually leafed through them when I spotted them on, I think, a spinner-rack in a shop in (or alongside) The Tricorn.  I likely saw them again later back home, but I only recently decided to take the plunge and buy them, though there's a story behind the Doctor Strange softcover, with which I may regale you at a future date.

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.

The cover wasn't in the S&S book, I threw it in as a bonus.  The splash page is from the book

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.

This cover wasn't in the book either (another Crivens bonus).  The splash page is from the S&S book

'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.

Anyway, Crivs, I rabbited on longer than I intended so I'll shut up now.  As ever, don't forget where the comments section is if you have something interesting to say - and even if you don't.  (Hey, when have I ever let it stop me?!)

SPECTRUM IS STILL GREEN...

Just had to show all you mad, mental Crivvies another of my recent acquisitions - a life-size Captain Scarlet pistol that looks great.  It's only a display model and doesn't fire any bullets (a bit like myself these days), but I love it.  In fact, I'm going to hug it and love it and call it George, and might even have its babies.  Anyway, remember - Captain Scarlet is indestructible - you are not!  So whaddya think, Crivs - would you like one of these guns?  Then straight to the comments section with you and tell us all why.

Update 9-9-'25: There's one currently on eBay so get over there right away by typing 'Captain Scarlet Spectrum Pistol - Gun' into eBay's search box - bidding ends on Wednesday at 18:38. 

DOCTOR STRANGE & CONAN - An Unlikely Mix - (To Say Nothing Of The AVENGERS & SHANG-CHI, MASTER Of KUNG FU)...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS and relevant parties

Decided to buy a handful of Avengers weekly comics from eBay recently, just so's I could show you the covers, Crivs.  (After all, can't publish any posts if I've nothing to illustrate them with.)  The second last one (#95) is the first combined ish of The Avengers and The Savage Sword Of Conan weekly, which was merged into the older mag after 18 issues in its own series.  Obviously, UK kids weren't much into sword and sorcery at the time, but I suppose the subsequent success of the monthly mag of the same name suggests they developed a taste for it before too long.  If you recall any of these issues, feel free to share your memories of them in our comments section.

Conan's legs are seriously dodgy on this cover, particularly his right one

HERE COMES TONI, RINGING HIS BELL...

Long-time regular readers may remember my post about my Tonibell Miniball, which I inadvertently left in the loft when I moved house back in 1972.  19 years later, I gained access to the loft of my old home and recovered my Miniball, thereby settling a mystery in my mind once and for all.  Y'see, I didn't know for certain whether the ball was actually there, it was just a suspicion, but one that turned out to be well-founded.  I've now had it back in my possession for 34 years, far longer than I originally owned it, or the time I was without it.  (If you're interested, you can read that post here.)

Anyway, for some reason I've developed an interest in Tonibell memorabilia, and recently acquired three model ice cream vans sporting the Tonibell name and logo.  I'd never heard the name before I bought my first and only Miniball around 1967 or '68, though I believe the company still operates today.  Which is my cue to show you my three vans, plus an original badge from many years ago.  There are other vans in the series (made by Oxford Diecast), which I may decide to collect in the future.  The ones on show here are all different scales, from tiny to medium to large, but they're great collectables.

Do any of you recall Tonibell ice cream, Crivvies, and are there any vans that still come round your neighbourhood today?  Or have you seen their ice cream sold in shops recently?  Do tell in our lonely little comments section.

Update: And, below, is the above badge alongside its new pal, just acquired.

The COMPLETE 1st ISSUE Of BUSTER...

Copyright REBELLION

If you're of a certain age, it's hard to think of Buster comic without strips like Charlie Peace, Galaxus, Fishboy, Leopard From Lime Street, etc., but none of them appeared in the first issue, consisting of a mere 16 pages for 4d.  However, it was around the size of a tabloid newspaper and slightly larger than TV Century 21, and managed to survive for just short of 40 years, changing size, page count, and frequency of publication over the decades.  The final issue came out at the end of 1999, but as the comic was a fortnightly by then, it was dated into 2000 - and had it lasted until May, it would've celebrated its 40th Anniversary.

Anyway, I recently acquired the very first collectors' item issue and thought it only right and proper to share its comic strip contents with you adoring and adorable Crivvies (don't worry, CJ, you're included too), so without any further ado ('cos all my ado is done), here are all 16 pages for your palpitating perusal and pleasure.  Don't ever say I'm not good to you all 'cos it would be a danged lie, though there's no need to feel guilty as you can thank me for my ginormous generosity in the comments section.  Before that, however, enjoy the pulsating pages laid before you.  And remember to click on them to enlarge, then click again for optimum size.

(Update 13-9-'25:) Incidentally, I note someone is currently selling one on eBay at an asking price of £800.  Well, what're you all waiting for?  Crack open that piggy bank. 

And below, for completists, is the first issue's free gift.