RECOMMENDED (MOSTLY) READING...

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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 placed in 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), 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!