PART SIX Of JOHN BYRNE'S FANTASTIC FOUR COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

It sure was fun while it lasted, but, alas, nothing lasts forever, or so they say.  (Who exactly 'they' are, I'm not quite certain.)  Anyway, such was the case with JOHN BYRNE's stellar run on The FANTASTIC FOUR.  Ish #293 (appearing next post) was the last one that Byrne both wrote and drew, though he plotted #294, which was scripted by ROGER STERN and drawn by JERRY ORDWAY & AL GORDON.  Number 295, by STERN, ORDWAY & GORDON, credited him with a "Special thanks to John Byrne" in the credit box, but Byrne was already hard at work over at DC COMICS, revamping their flagship title - SUPERMAN!

And so ended an era!  But we're getting ahead of ourselves, so be sure to join us for the last post in this series as we tie up all the loose ends and pack everything tidily away!  Coming soon.

The FANTASTIC JOHNNY FUTURE - PART FIVE...

Copyright REBELLION

LUIS BERMEJO - surely one of the finest artists ever to grace the medium of comicbooks.  In these pages you can see why, particularly in the third one, which has no background in any of the panels, but doesn't suffer from the lack thereof.  Often, the secret of being a great pictorial storyteller is knowing what to leave out as much as what to put in - and Luis certainly knows how to tell a story.

Incidentally, for those who are counting, there are only eight more episodes to go before the series concludes, so be sure not to miss any, in this, the absolutely greatest blog in the whole universe - for blowing its own trumpet and making totally unsubstantiated claims in regard to itself.  (If I can't impress you with my blog's status, I can surely do so with my frank and open honesty!)

PART TWO OF A SUPER-SMASHING EASTER TO ALL CRIV-ITES...

Copyright REBELLION

As promised, here's the second part of our Easter post, wherein are presented pages which reflect the time of year from SMASH! #61, cover-dated April 1st 1967.

In case you're wondering, SMASH!'s DANGER MOUSE came first, long before the TV cartoon of the same name which saw such success sometime in the '80s.  The issue from which these pages come had more strips than I've shown in this post and its predecessor, but not all of them had an Easter theme, whether they were British characters, or DC and MARVEL reprints.

Well, that's your lot!  Be sure to drop in again for the best of U.K. and U.S. comics, in this, the brightest, biggest and best blog in Britain!  (As voted by my pals when I bought them all a pizza in exchange for their 'unsolicited testimonials'.)

EASTER FROLICS WITH FRANKIE STEIN...

Copyright REBELLION

As a special 'egg-stra' Easter treat (ho ho, I'm so funny), here's the FRANKIE STEIN strip from WHAM! #44, cover-dated April 17th 1965, as drawn by the inimitable KEN REID.

A SUPER-SMASHING EASTER TO ALL CRIV-ITES!

Fear not, fellow frantic ones - your humble host hasn't forgotten that

it's Easter. To prove the point, here's the first in a two-part piece that looks

at all the Easter-themed strips in SMASH! #61, cover-dated April 1st 1967.

It's strange, but when I think back to comics of my childhood which featured

stories with Easter eggs, I invariably first think of RONNIE RICH before any

other. Must be because it was an Easter Ronnie strip that I first saw, although

whether it was the one below or not is lost in the myriad mazes of my mind.

Anyway, enjoy a glimpse into yesteryear - and be sure to join us again

for part two - coming soon.

SMASH! COVER GALLERY - PART SEVEN...

Copyright REBELLION

With the relaunch of SMASH! in March 1969, a new feature appeared on the cover every week which effectively numbered each issue.  WARRIORS Of The WORLD started at #1 from the first new edition and continued right up 'til #41.  The Christmas-themed cover was actually #42, but later collectors could be confused by the fact that the 43rd issue continued with WOTW #42, perhaps giving them the impression that they've got an unbroken run when they might actually be missing an issue.

So, unless you've got that Christmassy covered comic nestling between WOTW #41 & 42, then your collection is incomplete.  Better get on eBay right away and start tracking it down.

The good thing about that Christmas cover is the fact that it conjures up memories of the old Smash!  In fact, if it weren't for the new masthead, it would fit right in with the ODHAMS PRESS incarnation of the comic.  To think that I was a mere primary school pupil when these six comics first went on sale is mind-boggling - it seems like only yesterday, not 45 years ago!

Tempus fugit right enough!

NEAL ADAMS' BATMAN COVER GALLERY - PART THREE...

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS.  Copyright DC COMICS

Time now for part three in this groovy gallery of CAPED CRUSADER covers, which has proved extremely popular going by the number of hits the first two parts have received.

Although I have some of the comics featured in this sensational series, I've taken the covers from the first volume of BATMAN ILLUSTRATED By NEAL ADAMS.  Comparing them with the individual issues I own, the cover reproductions are mainly faithful, although in some instances the date and price are missing.  That's probably due to the issue having been previously reprinted - with the original cover - as an individual comicbook (like the Millennium Editions for example) and the date, number and price being omitted* and then not restored for subsequent collected editions  (*Can't have a three or four dollar mag being sold for a mere 12 cents, now can we?)  Sometimes, however, it's simply an oversight.

The books have been recoloured (with extra depth) and in some cases Neal has replaced sound effects and logos with new ones, and tweaked the art here and there. Overall though, they're very handsome volumes and a 'must have' for all fans of  Mr Adams' power-packed pencilling (and inking). 

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks officially credited to NEAL ADAMS, although it seems
more likely to have been pencilled by CURT SWAN to my eyes

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Layout CARMINE INFANTINO, inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

ISBN:  1-4012-0041-9

PART TWO Of A POST PERTAINING To The X-MEN...

Art by Paul Ryan & Al Williamson.  Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

You've seen the covers and splash pages to the first three issues of The OFFICIAL MARVEL INDEX To The X-MEN, so there's no point in keeping you waiting for the remaining titanic trio.  Nor is there any need to detain you with any prattling preamble from me, so here you are - enjoy!  Oh, and Happy Easter!

Splash page art by Paul Ryan & Al Williamson

Cover art by Javier Saltares & Al Williamson

Splash page art by Javier Saltares & Al Williamson

Cover art by Jim Valentino & Bob Layton

Splash page art by Jim Valentino & Bob Layton