THE ADVENTURES OF BOB HOPE #104...

Images copyright DC COMICS

As far as I can recall (which is usually pretty far), this is the only BOB HOPE comic I've ever read.  It's certainly the only one I've ever owned, acquired sometime back in, I think, 1982.  Bob himself doesn't turn up in the tale until page 12 and seems to be merely a supporting player throughout the yarn, rather than the main 'star of the show'.  Illustrated by BOB OKSNER and most likely written by ARNOLD DRAKE, the story features four 'fearsome' creatures - The FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER, DRACULA, The WOLF MAN, and also The MUMMY (in likeness at least, if not exactly in name).

Surprisingly, the title lasted for 109 issues over the course of 18 years, with NEAL ADAMS taking over the art chores for the final four issues.  The comic has its own charm I suppose, with some pleasing art, but to be entirely honest, I found the ads more interesting than the strip.  I've included a couple so that you can make up your own minds.  What kids wouldn't have loved to own a full-sized GEMINI Spacecraft, eh?

Why I didn't take this comic with me for Bob to autograph when I first met him in 1984 (and again in '94) I'll never know.  That said, I've got his signature about 7 or 8 times, so I don't suppose there's any need to be greedy.

BABE Of The DAY - LEE MERIWETHER...

That's what I call a bod!  All I need

now is a CATWOMAN costume and a

woman to fill it.  Meantime, I'll just have

to be content with ogling the lovely LEE

MERIWETHER.  (Trust me, it's no

 hardship.)  Drool cups on standby.

RECOMMENDED READING: MORE MARVEL EPIC COLLECTIONS...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Well, I could wax eloquent and lyrical about these masterful and massive MARVEL EPIC collected editions, but why bother?  If a mere glance at these great covers doesn't make you want to rush out and buy them, then nothing I say will convince you.  And we all know you're smart enough to see how good they are without me having to give you the ol' hard-sell.

So do yourself a favour - trot right along to your local comics shop or bookstore and treat yourself to an early Christmas present today.  You'll be glad you did.

BABE Of The DAY - GILLIAN DUXBURY (AGAIN)...

GILLIAN DUXBURY so enjoyed

being Babe of the Day yesterday, she

wants to do it again.  So who am I to deny

her?!  Drool cups at the ready - mass

 salivating begins now!  (I'll lead.)

RECOMMENDED READING: AMAZING - FANTASTIC - INCREDIBLE - STAN LEE...

Images copyright SIMON & SCHUSTER and MARVEL COMICS

Now on sale at your local friendly comicbook store is this great new 'graphic memoir' by STAN LEE, PETER DAVID and COLLEEN DORAN, all about Mr. MARVEL himself, Stan 'the Man'.  Recounting major flashpoints of his life and career, it doesn't shy away from some of the more personal aspects of his past, as touchingly portrayed in the page below.

There are some great classic covers incorporated into the pictorial narrative, and Stan's collaborators receive generous coverage as well.  If you're a fan of Stan Lee, you won't want to see this book sitting on a shop shelf when you can liberate it for a paltry amount and take it home with you to live happily ever after.  Run along to your local comics shop and buy a copy right away.  You'll be glad you did.  (And so will Stan.)  Go on - make yours Marvel today!

BABE Of The DAY - GILLIAN DUXBURY...

One of my favourite

Page 3 pin-ups of the '70s -

 GILLIAN DUXBURY.

PART TWO Of TALES To ASTONISH COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Sometimes I wonder if it's just me.  I mean, look at these covers.  Don't they make you want to pick up the comics to read what's going on inside?  I can't remember the last time a cover of a modern mag made me feel like that.  Anyway, here are another ten captivating covers from our TALES To ASTONISH series.  A nice mixture of JACK 'King' KIRBY and GENE 'the Dean' COLAN awesome art, two of Mighty MARVEL's legendary luminaries who made comics in the 1960s and '70s so thoroughly entertaining.

Got a favourite, or a reminiscence about having any of these issues when you were a kid?  Then let's hear all about it, O true believers.  You all know your way to the comments section.

TALES Of SUSPENSE COVER GALLERY - PART THREE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

It might sometimes seem like it takes forever, but I eventually get around to things I said I'd do - and this is one of them.  So, at last, here's part three of the TALES Of SUSPENSE Cover Gallery for you to paste your pulsating peepers 'pon.  We'll start with issue #59, in which the mighty CAPTAIN AMERICA received his own series.  I suspect the figures were repositioned to allow for the lettering blurb above Cap's bonce, because he's too low down and far too small in relation to IRON MAN, who's introducing him.  Artist JACK KIRBY could sometimes be a little bit elastic with perspective, but this time it may not have been his fault.  Anyway, enjoy these 5 covers and keep an eye out for the next instalment in this stupendous MARVEL series.

Any reminiscences you'd care to share?  Feel free!

BABE Of The DAY - KATE MOSS...

It's said a rolling stone gathers

no moss; if so, MICK JAGGER's

unlikely to have been out on a date

with crackin' KATE then, eh?

BY THUNDER, IT'S THE STEEL COMMANDO - I AIN'T 'LION' TO YOU...

Copyright REBELLION

A promise made is a debt unpaid - and I always pay what I owe (eventually).  So here, as promised, is a STEEL COMMANDO story from the LION & THUNDER Holiday Special from 1971.  Old 'Ironsides' was one of the more popular strips in Thunder and its combined incarnation, and had a decent run until L&T merged with VALIANT in 1974.

Like to see more from this Special?  Then let me know, Criv-ites!

BABE Of The DAY - VERONICA CARLSON...

If anyone's thinking of sending me a

Christmas present this year, a hot babe like

VERONICA CARLSON would most certainly

be greatly appreciated.  Remember to put holes

in the wrapping, though, as I don't want her

suffocating in transit.  1st class, mind.

MORE DARE-A-DAY DAVY By KEN REID - PART FOUR...

Copyright REBELLION

The previous DARE-A-DAY DAVY strip went down so well with you, I thought I'd hit you with another.  Marvel at the unbridled lunacy of KEN REID, one of Great Britain's finest cartoonists at the very top of his game.  If only today's comics had an artist of a similar calibre, they'd be much better publications.  Anyway, this page is from POW! #4, cover-dated February 11th 1967.

BABE Of The DAY - ALIONA VILANI...

Those eyes, those lips, that waist, those hips - yup, it's

STRICTLY COME DANCING's ALIONA VILANI.

YIPPEE! KEN REID'S DARE-A-DAY DAVY - PART THREE...

Copyright REBELLION

The mad, mental and manic DARE-A-DAY DAVY returns to entertain you all, in this KEN REID-illustrated strip from POW! #3, cover-dated February 4th 1967.  Who said I never give you anything?  Punch 'em!

LET'S TOUCH BASE - CORGI D.B.5 #271...

In May of 1978, CORGI TOYS issued their third version of JAMES BOND's ASTON MARTIN D.B.5, this time in 1:36 scale.  As you can see, the two zeros of the 007 logo on the base are very roughly finished and, frankly, amateurish in appearance.  That apart, it was a very nice looking car, and is still on sale today at regular intervals.

When production shifted abroad, the 'Made In Gt. Britain' line was removed and, with the reintroduction of the Corgi dog, the logo was moved to where the country of manufacture used to be.  There may have been a version with the '78 Corgi logo still at the top, but with no country of manufacture at all; however, I can't be bothered going through every Aston Martin I've got to check, so we'll forget about that possibility for now.

Back in the mid-'90s, I brought the two inferior zeros to the attention of the then-managing director, CHRIS GUEST, suggesting they should either be re-done or removed.  I guess it was cheaper to remove them, because the next issue of the car looked as you can see in the pic below.

I also pointed out that, as the D.B.5 was the car with which the company was most associated, a little more care should be taken with its production.  At that time, the gap around the roof hatch was very uneven, and the paint finish extremely poor, being more of a pale grey than the traditional silver birch.  I suggested a deluxe version, with richer paint job, wing mirrors, wipers on the windscreen, and spoked wheels with rubber tyres.  And guess what?  The next release of the model looked just like the one below, but with the above base.

I eventually contacted Corgi again (by this time owned by HORNBY), and congratulated them on their much improved product, saying that the only thing requiring amendment was the positioning of the Corgi logo on the base, and suggesting that it would look better occupying the space where the 007 used to be. Imagine my surprise and delight when the very next Aston Martin I purchased had that very change instituted.  Although I suspect Corgi may have arrived at the same conclusion independently as not too much time had elapsed between me making the suggestion and it being implemented.

So there you have it.  My part in Corgi's restoration of its 271 model of James Bond's Aston Martin D.B.5 to its former glory - surpassing it in fact.  And friends - the story is true.  I know, because I was that soldier.