BABE Of The DAY - DANA GILLESPIE...

My, what a lovely pair this young lady

has - of sensuous, captivating eyes, designed

to hold you all in her spell.  Crivvies, show your

appreciation for delightful Dana Gillespie

by slobberin' into your drool cups - now.

SUPER DC GIANT #S-24 Presents SUPERGIRL...

Copyright DC COMICS

For a drawing, Supergirl is quite an attractive young woman, wouldn't you say, Criv-Kids?  That's probably why I purchased this 1971 Super DC Giant #S-24 64-page ish (not counting covers), so's I could admire her in that mini-skirted costume.  (Or maybe I'm kidding.)  This comic mag reprints a quartet of tales originally published in Action Comics #s 295 to 298 from 1963, which constitute a complete four-part story from the first to the last.

Modern comics don't do much for me these days, being too dark, too grim, in some cases, too gay (Superman's now got a son who plays for both teams - strewth) and too boring.  There are sometimes exceptions of course, but they're few and far between.  That's probably why I prefer older comics from the '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s, a time when superhero comics weren't trying to be storyboards for movies and weren't pursuing an agenda to influence society to accept the tastes of a militant minority, bent on reshaping civilization to their own often dubious notions.

So, let's take a glance at what comics looked like back in 1963 and '71, when their only purpose was to entertain the young and young-at-heart, eh?  Oh for these days again - or am I the only person who thinks this way?  Feel free to leave a comment if you so desire, especially if, like me, your heart beat a little faster on sight of Supergirl in her skater-like costume when you were a kid.  And did you prefer Jim Mooney's or Kurt Schaffenberger's artistic rendition of the Maid Of Might or were you more of a Curt Swan man?  Tell the world!

SUPERMAN & SPIDER-MAN TREASURY EDITION AVAILABLE NOW...

Copyright DC COMICS and MARVEL COMICS

In 1995, when the 2nd Superman/Spider-Man Treasury Edition team-up (first published in 1981) was reprinted as a standard-sized comic mag (with a gold-trimmed cover), it contained an irritating colour-glitch on several pages throughout the mag; namely, Superman's costume was coloured purple-ish rather than blue.  I can only assume the re-colourist tried to subtly dis-tinguish the blues between Supes' and Spidey's costumes, but the printing process somehow screwed it up in some way.  (It was also printed that way in a softcover collected edition of several DC/Marvel team-ups.)  It surely couldn't have been a deliberate choice, as there are panels and pages where Superman's costume is the correct hue of blue.

So I'm sure you'll all be glad to know the new Facsimile Edition of the John Buscema illustrated team-up is free from such distracting and disappointing visual errors, allowing you to buy it with confidence, with a choice of the original Bob Larkin cover or one by Brian Bolland.  The only niggle I have is the square-bound spines are a bit 'pinched', resulting in the margins between one page and another being almost invisible.  It would've been better had the margins on the righthand and lefthand sides of alternating pages been wider, allowing readers to see the art and lettering next to the spine without having to flatten it out to facilitate a smooth read.  However, that said, this is a must-have for all true fans.

So what are you waiting for?  Get straight 'round to your local comics shop and buy a copy today!

CORGI TOYS JB ASTON MARTIN D.B.5 (1968) REISSUE - Oh, Do Come Along, Double-O-Seven...

Behold - the Corgi Model Club's reissue of The New James Bond Aston Martin D.B.5 from 1968.  As something to look at and admire it's a nice little item, but not a patch on the original toy from back in the day.  So what's wrong with it then?  The ejector seat is nowhere near as powerful and the passenger barely clears the roof; the tire-slashers don't extend anywhere near as far (is that a contradiction-in-terms?) as on the '68 version; the overriders are a bit 'blocky' and lack the finesse of its '60s predecessor; the windscreen is narrower, and there are a couple of other disappointments.  Still, it'll look nice in your display cabinet so don't let little ol' me put you off acquiring one for your collection.  Quick - before Goldfinger bites you on the bum!

(This is the gold grille & bumper edition, the silver grille & bumper version will be arriving soon.)

Another CASE For The MAN From U.N.C.L.E. ...

Some of you may recall me previously mentioning a cardboard Man From U.N.C.L.E. attache case I received one Christmas from an aunt and uncle (npi) back in the late '60s.  Well, I've recently bought a replacement for it and am awaiting its arrival from Japan.  When I was a kid, I owned an Uncle badge, my brother had an Uncle fountain pen, and we both had Uncle ID cards, and it's great to be able to say that, with the purchase of this case, I now own all of them again.  Hooray for me!  Enjoy looking at a trio of the seller's pics until the item actually arrives.  Just can't wait.  Did you have this item in your youth?  Then reminisce to your heart's content.  (Forgot to mention I also have the Corgi Toys 'Thrushbuster', bought around 25/30 years or so ago.)

Update: Amazing!  I ordered the case on the 3rd of this month, it was posted on the 4th, and it arrived today on the 9th.  All the way from Japan in under a week - not bad going at all, eh?

THOSE WERE THE DAYS, MY FRIEND...

Images copyright relevant and respective owners

I often wonder just how many people in the world are as happy or satisfied with their present circumstances and experiences as they are with past ones from their childhood, teenage, and early adult years.  Things usually change (not always for the better) as time gradually unfolds, and there are places, people, and periods from my past I wish I still had access to - in reality as opposed to merely memory.  Let me tell you about one of them.

When my family moved into a new (to us, though truth to tell, it was only two or three years old) house in 1965, a new church was in the process of being built across the road.  Once completed, after a few years when any jumble sales or church fayres were held, I could often be found the night before as the tables were being set up (more on that in a moment), looking for second-hand toys, annuals, and bagatelles that probably wouldn't have been affordable to me brand-new, but certainly fell within my budget as 'pre-used' items.

We lived in that neighbourhood for 6 years and 7 months, and when we moved to my present domicile, I would still stroll along to see what goodies could be had to add to my stash of possessions that other people had relinquished.  My mother still attended that church even after we'd flitted and she continued to receive requests from organisers for tins of food, unwanted bric-a-brac and the like, as donations to any upcoming jumble sales or fayres.

She would give them to me in a carrier bag to take along to the church building, which I was only too happy to do as it gave me unquestioned access to other contributions, and those in attendance who were arranging the presentation of said items had no objections to selling me any comic, book, or toy that took my fancy.  These events invariably occurred on a Saturday, so I'd plod along on a Friday evening with some donations and then take my pick of what was on offer and thereby beat the Saturday melee, though I'd usually still attend that just to soak up the atmosphere.

Even when we flitted again in 1983, I continued this custom, and I yet own quite a few things today that were obtained in this fashion.  When we returned to my current house in '87, the practice continued for a few years until the church was demolished and a new one erected in its place.  Again, I still attended with a carrier bag of donations two or three times a year, until someone from the church started calling at our front door for them after a suitable advance warning/request for any unwanted goods.  ('Twas the same for every member, not just us.)

And so my advance visits came to an end, but I have many happy memories of such occasions and wish I could yet indulge myself - even though the reality of being able to do so might no longer afford the same excitement and satisfaction (and hoard of goodies) as was once the case.  (I miss the original building, demolished over 30 years ago.)

And what about you Crivvies?  Do you have any moments from your past that have expired over time that you wish you could resurrect and once again experience a cherished, halcyon period from your childhood or teenage years?  If so, let's read all about them, and maybe be reminded of our own long-gone days of yesteryear.  The comments section awaits.

The above Shazam! book and Knockout Annual (a replacement for my original '70s copy) are two of the items I acquired this way over the years.  These two were obtained circa 1984 or '85.  Another item bought at the same time is a Coca Cola mirror and small table, not counting (or showing) various books, ornaments, and records.