BABE Of The DAY - SUPERGIRL...

Copyright DC COMICS

Ah, Supergirl, wotta darlin' you are!

You're stunning enough to be eligible as my

next girlfriend and, what's more, the fact you're

only an illustration makes me equally eligible as

a prospective new boyfriend.  (Well, it's better

 than nowt I guess, so it'll have to do.)

FINALLY - The 'REAL' SWAMP THING #88...

Copyright DC COMICS

My thanks go to reader McSpotty McScotty for alerting me to this one.  (Update: Oops, my mistake - it was Baggsey!)  A hitherto unpublished Swamp Thing #88, featuring the presence of Jesus Christ, presented as it would've been had it seen the light of day back in 1989, is a very nice read indeed.  I had reservations about it in advance, but Christ is presented in a totally respectful way, with not even a hint of anything to cast doubt on the New Testament's claims about Him.  It's the first of a four-parter and there'll be a collected edition before too long. 

Criven's verdict?  Definitely one to have in your collection.

(Incidentally, sad to learn that McS's Keir Starmer lookalike venture isn't doing very well, but if nobody wants the real Keir, an impersonator is hardly going to pull in the crowds.  Now if only he looked like me, his business would be thriving.)

BARRIE TOMLINSON (Was A Comic Book Hero)...

Copyright relevant owner

Who'da thunk receiving a book would be such a slow process?  I oordered the above book via Amazon on April 24th, a few minutes after ordering the 'Real Roy Of The Rovers Stuff' via eBay - both by Barrie Tomlinson.  The eBay book arrived 3 days later, but there was no sign of this one.  A full week after purchase, I signed in to Amazon to check the book's progress and guess what?  It still hadn't been dispatched!  I promptly cancelled and ordered one from eBay (April 30th), and though it was sent within a couple of days, it only turned up today (May 8th).  So though I mentioned this book around a fortnight ago and had hoped to feature it long before now, circumstances conspired against me.

Anyway, if you were a comics reader in the '70s and '80s (to name but two decades), you'll probably find this book about all the comics Barrie worked on throughout his 50 year career an interesting read, and it may well add an extra dimension to your own childhood and teeanage years, learning about what was happening in the world of Fleetway/IPC at the time.  He discussess a lot of comics, 2000 A.D. included, and there's some fascinating info to be learned about his involvement with them.  Honestly, you could spend your dosh on far less worthy items, so straight on to eBay or Amazon with you!  Both books are now out-of-print, so grab 'em while you can - you might not get another chance.

The SAVAGE SWORD Of CONAN REFORGED #4...

CONAN characters copyright CPI

Still on the theme of Conan, thought I'd show you some images from the latest issue, newly arrived today, Crivvies.  This was a difficult ish to procure for some reason, as the first seller I advance-ordered it from eventually said his source wasn't able to supply him with sufficient numbers to fulfil his orders, so I had to buy it from elsewhere.  Regarding the cover (variant B), I've had a poster of this Neal Adams illo on one of my walls since around 1975*, which came free in #1 of the UK weekly SSOC (not to be confused with the later UK monthly edition).  I may well call it quits with this issue, given the difficulty in obtaining it, though it's a real treat to see these formerly b&w tales sensitively coloured for a new (and not-so-new) readership.

If you have any thoughts on these images being 'colourised' then feel free to share.  After all, it's always good to get 'mail'.  (McS - did you hear?  I said Neal Adams!)

(*To be more precise, it's a replacement I acquired around '84 or '85, my first one being damaged in '83, though it's still an original UK poster from '75.)

By CROM And MITRA! PART FOUR Of MARVEL'S CONAN SAGA COVER GALLERY...

CONAN characters copyright CPI

Roll up, roll up, Crivvies, for the fourth and final part of Conan Saga Cover Gallery, consisting of 16 astounding pieces of painted artwork for your attention and appreciation.  There were 97 issues of this particular series, though I have only the first 64 of them, meaning you're going to have to wait until I buy the remaining 33 - if I ever do (which is doubtful) - or look them up on eBay to see what you're missing.

There are some exquisitely rendered pieces of artwork here and I have no hesitation in saying that the majority of them wouldn't look out-of-place in some prestigious gallery or museum.  (Hey, I've seen far worse in my time.)

Anyway, got a favourite or three?  Then be sure to let your fellow Criv-Kids know which and why.  It's no fun if you don't join in so give your typing fingers a workout now! 

REAR Of The YEAR...

 This pic doesn't need any words - just enjoy!

ANOTHER LEGEND PASSES AWAY - GERRY CONWAY R.I.P.

Alas, prolific comics and TV writer Gerry Conway has passed away at the age of 73.  He wasn't just a prolific writer, he was also a good one and comics could well do with someone like him around today.  Too many Marvel and DC legends dying these days, terribly sad, though their work remains.  Here's to Gerry, and condolences to his family, friends, and many fans.

RECOMMENDED (MOSTLY) READING...

All images copyright relevant & respective owners

Lots of goodies arrived at Castel Crivens recently, though I have cut back - honest.  Best way to attract your attention is not necessarily with the best cover, but one with a scantily-clad babe on it.  To be honest, I only bought it for the cover, don't think I'll be getting any future issues.  However, if it's your kind of thing, feel free.  Having now had time to study this cover, is it just me, or does 'Sonja's' face seem a bit trans?  (Relax, the lady's name is Rachel Hollon.)

Next up is a 'Golden Age'-sized facsimile of Wonder Woman #1, though the page margins inside seem a bit too large.  Interestingly, I don't think any of these GA-sized mags have had the same-sized margins from one issue to another.  It would be nice if DC could show some consistency.  I've already got standard-sized facsimiles of this issue, but it's nice to have a larger one.  (I'm sure all men say that - not about their comics though.)

World's Finest next, and though Superman and Batman appear in the 'correct' sequence on the cover, inside it's plain that Batman is now considered to be a bigger property than Superman, going by the amount of pages in which Supes is shunted off to the side, where Robin once would have been playing second-fiddle to Bats.  How times have changed, eh?

Above, the second issue of Silver Surfer, part of a seven ish facsimile series of the Sky-rider of the Spaceways, and very nice it is, too.  Square-bound like the first printing, with original ads and whatever else it contained.  I've got all 17 Lee/Buscema issues (plus Kirby's single ish), as well as two Masterworks reprint volumes and the Omnibus edition, but this facsimile is simply too good to pass up.  Buy yours as soon as possible before it sells out.

Daredevil #183 has already been published as a facsimile (back in 2023), but this is a newer one for reasons I'm not quite sure of.  Perhaps the first one was an instant sell-out and Marvel decided it could stand another outing.  Doesn't have any 'Continued After Next Page' taglines before the ads (neither did the '23 printing), which is disappointing, but not everyone is as fussed about these things as I happen to be.  (They're all weirdos though.)

Above, a lovely 'homage' to the cover of the first DC/Marvel Superman/Spider-Man team-up (1976), with an all-new main story inside (plus 7 new back-up tales).  I believe there are a few variant covers (of which this is one), but I won't be knocking myself out trying to acquire the full set.  I just don't have the space until I finally get around to having a clear-out of stuff.  Will I ever accomplish the task?  Time may tell - but then again, maybe it won't.

Well, I suppose you can't have a Supes/Spidey team-up without also having a Spidey/Supes team-up, so that's it above.  With one main tale and 8 back-ups, I imagine it'll likewise have various variant covers, though this one will do for me.  (Unless I see one I really like, that is.)  Below is a new Supergirl series, but again, I don't think I'll be following it, much as I like the Maid Of Might.  Krypto now seems to be Supergirl's pet canine, not her cousin's, though cute as he is (the dog, not the cousin), it's a shame he wasn't left 'exploring outer space' like Denny O'Neil established back in the '70s. 

Gotta be honest, only bought the one below for the cover as well, as the gorgeous Gal Gadot is a genuine goddess, even when she appears only in an illustration.  I'll probably read it at some stage, even though I'm not 'up-to-scratch' with DC's modern take on the history of their more popular characters.  How many times has DC reshuffled its continuity now?  I just can't be bothered trying to keep up - anyone else feel the same?

Below, the first of two books by the recently-deceased Barrie Tomlinson.  I described this one as an autobiogrphy in an earlier post, and in a way it is, in that the author recounts some events concerning himself and his career, but I suppose it's even more of a biography about the 'career' of Roy Of The Rovers and Barrie's hand in it.  I'm still awaiting a second book by Barrie (Comic Book Hero), which I'll show you when it arrives.  I've included the back cover of the one shown here so's you can read the spiel.

Okay, Crivvies, that's it for now, but be sure to keep an eye out for future posts, just in case there's something that might be of interest to you.  It's not altogether improbable, is it?  And if any of you have any comments you'd like to make which might help distract me from watching a spider crawling across my ceiling, the floor is now yours!

IPC'S 'TIGER' MAN BARRIE (Big Bar) TOMLINSON SADLY PASSES AWAY AGED 88...

Sad to learn that Barrie Tomlinson died on Tuesday 21st, aged 88.  Barrie, as Boys' Sport And Adventure Group Editor for IPC Magazines, was the man responsible for launching the Roy Of The Rovers comic in 1976, the new Eagle in 1982, and Scream! in 1984, plus loads of other stuff.  On at least a couple of occasions on my weekly jaunts down to London, I visited Barrie in his office to talk about the Death Wish strip he wrote under the name of D. Horton (though it was Eagle editor Dave Hunt who supplied me with the scripts and art), and which I lettered under the name of... o-er, can't quite remember as I used a few pseudonyms in my time.  Anyway, sad to hear he's passed away and I feel proud to have interacted with him on occasion and worked on one of his strips.  He probably wouldn't have remembered me, but I'll sure remember him.  Rest In Peace, Barrie, and condolences to family, friends, and fans.

******

Incidentally, Barrie wrote two autobiographical books, Real Roy Of The Rovers Stuff (2016) and Comic Book Hero (2017), which are yet available via eBay and Amazon.  I've just bought them, and if you ever read any of the comics Barrie was responsible for when you were a kid, I'd suggest you might want to consider doing so too.

The 30-Plus YEARS 'EVOLUTION' Of My MARX TWISTABLE BATMAN..

Bats with first replacement emblem, cape, belt, & bat-a-rang.  Excuse
the fuzziness, but this is enlarged from a tiny section of a bigger pic 

Okay, Crivs, I'm surely going to try your patience by publishing yet another post on my first replacement Marx Twistable Batman figure - not to be confused (that would never do) with the Marx Poseable Batman figure - as there's been some interesting (to me anyway) recent developments since the last time I featured him on the blog.

As you may recall me mentioning, around 30-odd years ago when I first acquired him, he was missing his utility belt, bat-a-rang, and chest emblem.  He had his cape, but it was stained and grubby, so I made a replacement out of felt, using the original cape as a template.  I made the first belt also from felt, the second was an actual utility belt from a different Batman figure, and the newest one is made from a card printout of a scan of an actual Marx belt.

Bats with third replacement emblem, second cape, and second belt 

My first bat emblem utilised the official DC bat symbol from the '80s and '90s (see first photo), the second was modelled after the moulded emblem on the Aurora Batman model kit (see photo below), and the latest (see fourth and final photo) is a copy of an original Marx symbol from a second (and recent) Marx Batman figure.  So, more than 30 years after obtaining my first replacement, he now looks practically as he did when he was new back in the '60s.

For some reason his cape was always a tad darker than the blue of his cowl, gloves, and boots, so after quite a few years I made another one of a slightly lighter blue, though it was still darker than his plastic parts, but the contrast wasn't so pronounced.  I still have his original stained and worn cape and seriously thought about restoring it to the figure, but it was just too tatty-looking so I abandoned the idea, though it would've been nice had it been good enough to use.

The Aurora emblem.  I don't seem
to have a pic of it on the Marx BM

Oddly, there's a slight difference in the blue hue of the plastic between my first and second Batman figures, but I suppose that's just down to the vagaries of mass-produced items.  Also, the second figure is a few millimetres taller than the first, but as they were hand-assembled in a factory in Hong Kong, it's likely quite a common divergence between the thousands or millions of them manufactured back in the day at the height of the 'bat-craze'.

Anyway, I thought I'd remind you of how he's looked down through the years via photos from previous posts and show you how he looks now.  When you've perused them, you can leave a comment telling me what an incredibly gifted and talented individual I am.  Hello... anyone there?  (Yeah, I know you're not interested, McS, but force yourself.)

Finally... looking much more like he did when first made in the '60s

SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN #115 Facsimile Edition...

Copyright DC COMICS

It has to be said, if this issue is going to be the usual standard of DC Comics' Facsimile Editions from now on, they've stolen a march on Marvel's replica releases, nice as they are.  With DC, no unsightly barcode boxes compromising the aesthetic appearance of the front covers, similar paper to the newsprint that comics used to employ before switching to a 'higher' quality, and crystal clear ads that don't look like poor-quality scans taken from tanned and faded published originals, which have blighted quite a number of previous DC facsimiles.

If only Marvel would adopt the same type of paper and move barcodes to the back covers, they'd be practically perfect.  Even just reducing the boxes and not bleeding them off the covers, would be a huge improvement as they're far too prominent the way they're done now.  Incidentally, contrary to popular belief, the paper Marvel currently uses is not actually 'glossy' in itself (check out the margins and gutters), but the printed images do have a bit of a shine to them.

Anyway, enough waffle from me, rush out and buy this mag at the earliest opportunity.