PART SIX - DOUBLE HELPINGS Of JOHNNY FUTURE...

Copyright REBELLION

Why prolong an agony of waiting by serving up only one helping at a time of FANTASTIC's JOHNNY FUTURE, when I can give you double helpings in a single post?  Why deprive you of the awesomeness of the mighty LUIS BERMEJO's impressive illustrations for a moment longer than is necessary, when you're clearly pining for your POWER PACK fix?  I'm nothing if not generous (and modest with it), so here, just for you, are six-and-a-half palpitating pages of action and adventure!

(And, just to give you a taste of the era, I've thrown in a bonus ad showing you three of the Annuals available in 1967 for '68.)

PART TWO Of MARVEL FLASHBACK COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

There's no point hanging around - here's the second part of our MARVEL FLASHBACK cover gallery.  Ten titanic images from 1997 to thrill and amaze you. Got a favourite?  Feel free to share in the comments section.  Personally speaking, I love that DAREDEVIL one by GENE COLAN - it's pure '60s.

MARVEL FLASHBACK COVER GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Back in July of 1997, MARVEL released a series of 'first' issues featuring untold tales relating to the origins of several of their most popular characters, in an event they called FLASHBACK month.  HEROES REBORN titles (like IRON MAN & The FANTASTIC FOUR) weren't included, but those that were had a retro '60s look to the covers and letters page logos that was good to see again for long-time Marvelites who remembered how Marvel mags used to look.

Didn't get them all, but I got a fair number, so I thought I'd share the covers with you here.  Part two is coming soon, so don't forget to look in again or you'll miss them.

The NEARLY 50 YEARS LATER AFFAIR...

Characters copyright relevant and respective owners

I first laid eyes on the very first TV CENTURY 21 Annual for 1966 in the CO-OP's KRAZY-KUTS (a shop in my home town) towards the end of 1965.  I got it as a present for the first Christmas in our new home, but because I had initially seen it while still living in our old one, I tend to associate it with both, though more the former than the latter (former in the sequence of that sentence, I mean - not in the actual history of events).

I managed to obtain a replacement for my childhood copy more than 30 years ago, and have since acquired another two, making, er... (where's my fingers?) three copies in all in my possession.  The most recent one I acquired for a mere fiver on eBay - in great condition too - while other sellers were asking up to £75 for the same book, none of them being one whit better than the copy I bought.

Sean Connery's twin in this pic, but a Steve Zodiac clone on the next page (not shown)

I have very fond memories of this Annual, and I remember a couple of my pals also having it way back when, but one thing I realized only recently is that I never bothered reading any of the text stories or features (with, I think, the exception of the one about the VASA) contained within its RON EMBLETON illustrated covers (at least, the front cover was - the back was blank apart from the TV21 logo).

So, unfinished business I thought, and promptly sat down to read them (and all right they were, too).  It may have taken me almost 50 years (48 years and eight months, to be precise), but I've now finally finished reading the Annual I first got as a young boy most of my lifetime away.  Know what?  It feels good to complete something, however long it may have taken me.  One day I may even get 'round to finishing the room I intended to start decorating almost 27 years back.

What's that they say about procrastination?  I'll tell you tomorrow - maybe!

Incidentally, there are quite a few text stories and features in the Annual (as well as picture strips) - these are just some of them.

COULD I BE FALLING IN LOVE?

Believe it or not, some people think the

legendary JIM REEVES sang only C&W songs,

like BIMBO and MEXICAN JOE, not realizing he

was a romantic balladeer whose rich, velvet voice

caressed a lyric as no other singer before or since.

Here's an example.  Phasers to 'swoon'!

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'.)