DC'S OLD BLACK MAGIC CREEPY COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Back in the early to mid-'70s, DC COMICS published a 9 issue run of a comic called BLACK MAGIC, which reprinted strips from the 1950s PRIZE COMICS mag of the same name.  Some of the art was revised in places to look less dated (and also to meet then-current Comics Code requirements) and, overall, the reproduction wasn't quite as good as it could (and should) have been.  However, it was a noble attempt to present older tales to a then-modern readership, so here are the covers to all 9 issues of this short-lived but interesting revival of a SIMON & KIRBY classic.

Looking at these covers takes me right back in time.  I still remember the shop from which I bought the first issue, though it's so long since I've been there that I'm unsure whether it still exists or not.  I suspect the latter.  Also, I don't think I had every issue at the time, just the first three or four perhaps.  However, I've got 'em all now, even if it did take me 40 years to own the complete set.  Did you buy this mag back in the day, and if so, what are your memories of it?  

(Interestingly, the fourth issue featured a version of a hitherto unused cover originally intended for the first issue of the title's initial 1950s run.)

The RETURN Of The KILLER ROBOT - PART FIVE Of An AMAZING JOHNNY FUTURE ADVENTURE...

Copyright REBELLION

  

It's time once again to turn back the clock to the 1960s, when comics still topped the list of what any self respecting boy would spend his pocket-money on in those pre-decimal days of 'free love' and black and white TV.  In fact, here's an interesting experiment for all those who lived through the '60s and are approximately the same age as me.  Cast your mind back to watching BATMAN as a kid and I bet'cha you think you saw it in colour.  Am I right?  My parents didn't get a colour telly until the early or mid-'70s, yet so familiar am I with those colour episodes from later repeats, that when I think back to 1966, my memories of watching the programme seem to be in vivid TECHNICOLOUR!

 

Talking of Batman (which we were), has anyone else noticed how similar JOHNNY FUTURE's costume and cape are to those of the DAYLIGHT (as he was on telly) DETECTIVE ?  It's almost as if artist LUIS BERMEJO was using ADAM WEST's outfit as a template for JOHN FOSTER's own little superhero number.

 

Anyway, that's more than enough obligatory preamble from me.  Time to turn you loose on the pretty pictures.  Go to it, Tiger!

 

("Tiger" ?  I can't believe I just typed that.)

The ASTOUNDING ORIGIN Of JANUS STARK...

Copyright REBELLION

Long after the weekly SMASH! had shuffled off this mortal coil, JANUS STARK continued to thrill and amaze readers in the pages of VALIANT & SMASH!, as well as a few more annuals of his original comic's title.  He was extremely popular abroad, and zee Frenchies had a licence to produce their own adventures of the character - some of which were re-lettered into English and published over here in the mid-'80s.

However, here is how he first began, way back in March 1969.  As far as I know, this strip has only been reprinted once before - in a book called ALBION ORIGINS back in 2007.  The pages which follow are scanned from my own first issue of the 'new' Smash!, and are presented here for your very own delight and delectation.  (Which are essentially the same thing, but you know how I love alliteration.)

The awesome art is by the prolific SOLANO LOPEZ.

AND DOOM COMES CALLING! KALAK The DWARF - PART ONE...

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Way back in the 1960s, so legend (and GIL PAGE) has it, there was going to be a new FLEETWAY/IPC weekly comic called BLACKJACK.  However, management decided not to proceed, and consequently the material produced for it was eventually used elsewhere.

CURSITOR DOOM and (eventually) The PILLATER PERIL were two strips that ended up being published in a new incarnation of SMASH!, relaunched in 1969.  I don't know at this point what other strips intended for Blackjack turned up in Smash!, but the unpublished comic's loss was the revamped weekly's gain.

For those of you who were avid Smash! readers, here's the first episode of Cursitor Doom, drawn in the mean, moody and menacing style of the incredible ERIC BRADBURY.  Want to see further instalments?  Then let me know in the comments section.

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American readers may find the strip seems a little familiar to them.  That's because it was published under the name of AMADEUS WOLF in a U.S. sized colour comicbook called SPELLBINDERS (produced circa the mid-80s in the U.K. by DEZ SKINN's QUALITY COMICS).  As far as I know, it was available in both Britain and the States.

The very 1st issue of the 'new' Smash!

CALLING 'FANTASY INK' BLOG...

Every time I click on the FANTASY INK site, my computer freezes and I get a message saying 'Blogspot not responding'.  Any ideas as to how I can resolve the matter?  This is the only site this happens with, so is the problem at my end or the other?  Great site, but I can't see it.  And does anyone else have the same difficulty with access?

SPACE PATROL In TV COMIC...

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Simply because I like to spoil you all with awesome acts of unselfish generosity, I now present some scans of a pair of comic strips from the TV COMIC Annual for 1966 (which means it came out at the end of '65).

SPACE PATROL was a show made in '62 (broadcast in '63) which had obvious similarities to GERRY ANDERSON's FIREBALL XL5.  ROBERTA LEIGH wrote and also produced the programme, and ARTHUR PROVIS was responsible for the cinematography.  Both of them had previously worked with Anderson, Leigh on TORCHY The BATTERY BOY (her creation) and Provis as his business partner in AP FILMS.

As you can see from the endpapers, the uniform colours weren't replicated in the strips, the artist probably being supplied only with black and white photos for reference.  In fact, the colours are more like the outfits of the Fireball XL5 crew, and perhaps the artist mistook one space strip for the other.  Who knows?!

Anyway, enjoy a trip back in time to the '60s as we go on patrol in outer space.

(Incidentally, to avoid confusion in the U.S. with a show of the same name, the programme was renamed PLANET PATROL for American consumption.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TV COMIC ANNUAL - FIREBALL XL5...

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Due to the generosity for which I'm justly renowned, I herewith present a classic FIREBALL XL5 strip from the 1964 TV COMIC Annual.  Drawn by NEVILLE MAIN, it's obviously aimed at a younger readership than the classic MIKE NOBLE illustrated adventures in TV CENTURY 21, but it's still worth seeing nonetheless.  I love that cover, and it's great to see good ol' MIGHTY MOTH, who has always been one of my favourite comic characters.

PART FOUR Of FANTASTIC JOHNNY FUTURE THRILL-FEST...

Copyright REBELLION

   

I really do think that I should get some kind of award - a BLUE PETER badge at least.  "What for?" you may ask.  I'll tell you.

 

Do you realize just how difficult it is to write the intros to these JOHNNY FUTURE episodes and not repeat myself?  I'm not talking about the basic info that JF appeared in a comic called FANTASTIC back in the '60s, or that it was published by ODHAMS PRESS and drawn by the amazing LUIS BERMEJO.  No, that's the easy part.

 

The hard part is in 'dressing up' it up so that you rollickin' readers don't feel you're simply being subjected to the exact same introduction each and every strip.  I couldn't bear to think of any of you getting the idea that I'm a lazy loafer who merely regurgitates the same ol' copy you read last time.  Or the time before that, and the time before... well, I'm sure you get the picture.

 

And talking of pictures, here are the ones you've just waded through pant-loads of piffle to get to - so I won't hold you back any longer.

 

 

 

YIPPEE! PART TEN Of The MIGHTY MARVEL COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

As we emerge from our very own Time-travelling cosmic craft, we are met by yet more magnificent MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL cover images and pin-ups from 40 years ago.  By this time, the comic had only four full-colour pages, and that would be reduced to a mere two (front and back cover) before very long.  The early issues of MWOM had something special about them which later ones sorely lacked, but I persevered with the comic for the duration of its run - and what a run it was!

If you were there back in the heady, halcyon and hallowed days of Marvel at its best, then you're sure to appreciate seeing these pages again and reliving your long-vanished youth.  If not, don't fret, as the pictorial treasures presented upon this post are just as capable of transfixing the 'newbies' amongst us as those who are renewing the acquaintance.

So - let's enjoy them together, shall we?