MARVEL PREMIERE DOCTOR WHO COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY...

DOCTOR WHO copyright BBC TV

It was from a newsagent's kiosk in Portsmouth train station in 1981 that I acquired the above issue of MARVEL PREMIERE (#57) Featuring DOCTOR WHO - that much is definite.  I think I may also have got #59 at the same time, as I strongly associate the two comics with one another.  However, it could be that I obtained the latter in another shop, but regardless, I'm pretty certain I purchased it in Portsmouth or Southsea back in 1981.  It's important that I record the historical events as accurately as I'm able for when they get around to making a big-budget movie of my life.  Excuse me, the medication must be wearing off.  (Just to be clear, that's imaginary medication to which I refer, for the purpose of comedic effect.)

Anyway, I managed to get the missing two issues a year or so later, although it may have been a few years later for all I know.  Fact is, I was merely filling a gap in my collection - in a  rather perfunctory fashion it has to be said - so they never really had much of a chance to impress themselves upon me in the same way as other comics have (and do).  Suffice to say, I've had them for close to 30 years, and that's a long, long time.

So what can I tell all you Crivs about them - apart from their place in the scheme of my personal history?  Not much, to be truthful.  At the end of the story in #58, "CITY Of The DAMNED!" was advertised for next issue.  Nothing strange about that really, as it was the original title of the tale when it appeared in Marvel U.K.'s weekly Doctor Who comic.  However, when the story appeared in MP #59 (and 60), it was retitled "City of the Cursed!", as our American cousins apparently would've been unable to withstand the assault of such vulgar language on their sensibilities - despite CLARK GABLE having paved the way as far back as 1939.

History has failed to record just how those delicate young American readers who'd been exposed to the original title in the previous issue were affected.  No doubt they required many years of dedicated counselling and therapy to help stabilise them and allow the poor souls to re-enter normal society, where they could hopefully lead happy and productive lives.

Anyway, that's enough p*sh from me - I now turn you loose upon the impressive images that lay before you in this powerhouse post.  Feel free to leave a comment if you so desire.

LOVE FOR SALE - DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE...

Here's Canadian crooner k.d. lang with a great COLE PORTER song, LOVE FOR SALE - a true classic.  This gal sure can sing!

FROM CENTS TO PENCE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Spot the difference?  On the cover above, the price is a pre-decimal British 10d, while below, it's the original American 12c.  However, as you can see, at the side of the horned, helmeted head of ATTUMA is a 10d stamp, although it's not the standard THORPE & PORTER one that usually graced U.S. comics sold in this country.

So why was the price on the covers altered to British currency when cents copies were stamped and sold alongside them?  Dunno for sure, but perhaps MARVEL only printed U.K. priced copies in limited numbers and supplemented them with stamped issues to meet a growing demand.  One day I'll have to go through my collection and see what other examples I have of this dual practice, but in the meantime, here's another one for you to consider... 

You'll notice that the second NOT BRAND ECHH cover doesn't bear the T&P stamp, but I assume it's just an oversight, as some comics occasionally slipped through the net (so to speak) without being 'defaced'.  I don't think British collectors would much care which version they'd get when tracking down a particular ish (unless it's to replace one they'd once had, in which case they'd probably want a perfect match to their original copy), but I'd imagine that American collectors would prefer the cents priced issues.  If any Stateside  readers would care to comment on their preference, the floor is yours. 

(Incidentally, regarding the title - 'pence' doesn't just refer to decimal coins, being - along with 'pennies' - the plural of 'penny' in old L.s.d. currency.)

PART TWO Of HOWARD The DUCK COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

American readers of this blog could be forgiven for wondering if the MARVEL covers featured are from 'real' U.S. Marvel mags or British reprints for U.K. buyers.  After all, the banner says Marvel All-Colour Comics, not Marvel Comics Group, and are priced in pence, not cents.  Honestly though, these mags were printed on the exact same presses as the ones sold in the States.

What happened is that the mags for America and Canada were printed first, the cover plates then adjusted and the issues for sale in Britain run off.  Marvel U.K. sold weekly black and white mags at that time, so the Marvel Comics Group line was replaced with Marvel All- Colour Comics to underscore the difference to anyone who wasn't already aware of it.  That apart, they're exactly the same as the American versions in every way, including the indicia.

Now that I've explained that (in case you didn't already know), you can relax and enjoy the second part of our HOWARD The DUCK cover gallery, secure in the knowledge that it contains the 'real deal' - not second-rate forgeries.  Only the best for you, fellow frantic fans.  And I've even thrown in the '77 Annual.

ARTHUR DALEY - The NAME To TRUST...

Copyright relevant owner

For many years, my father used to drive a RELIANT ROBIN.  Everyone's no doubt heard the jokes about them, such as: "What's the difference between a Reliant Robin and a sheep?  It's much less embarrassing being seen getting out the back of a sheep!"  Or: "Did you hear about the bank robbers who used a Reliant Robin as their getaway car?  A passerby managed to get the chassis number and the police traced them to their hideout!"

Anyway, around 30 years ago, I saw the above item and thought it would be ideal for my dad's Reliant Robin.  He never used it, and a good number of years after he died, I discovered it tucked away in a drawer and reclaimed it.  It hangs on the wall of my room as a reminder of a great TV programme and my dad's car - no doubt it'll be a much sought-after collectors' item one day.  It's bound to fetch a fortune - after all, it's only ever had one careful owner.

It also reminds me that, back then, just as Arthur would say, the world was my lobster.  I often find myself wishing that it still was, but it passed me by when I wasn't looking.  Now, if only that lobster had been driving a Reliant Robin, eh?

Oh, for the good old days.

The MAN CALLED NOVA COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Looking back, it seems to me that the sizzlin' '70s was a great time to be a teenager.  Great movies, great programmes - and great comics.  Whether NOVA was one of them, I'll leave you to make up your own mind, but it sure is one which conjures up images of long, hot, seemingly never-ending summers in the myriad mazes of my memory.  Surprisingly, Nova, created by MARV WOLFMAN & LEN WEIN, first debuted in a fanzine called SUPER ADVENTURES back in 1966, before his MARVEL COMICS appearance ten years later.

JOHN ROMITA Sr. tweaked the costume design, though it was JOHN BUSCEMA who performed the art chores for the first two issues.  RICHARD RIDER, Nova's teenaged alter-ego, bore similarities to SPIDER-MAN, although his origin appears to have been 'borrowed' from GREEN LANTERN.  The comic lasted for 25 issues, of which I have the first dozen, so let's now wallow in nostalgia for our lost youth as we gaze again upon the cataclysmic covers and sensational splash pages of - The MAN CALLED NOVA! 

See you in Part Two - coming soon!

Not one of Kirby's best, it has to be said...

...nor is this one.  Jack had lost his magic, alas

HOWARD The DUCK COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

He had a 'walk-on' part in a MAN-THING tale in ADVENTURE Into FEAR #19 in 1973, appeared next in a couple of back-up stories in GIANT-SIZE MAN-THING #4 & 5, and was then awarded his own comic mag in 1976.  Created by STEVE GERBER & VAL MAYERIK, he eventually underwent a slight revision in appearance when DISNEY (who ironically now own MARVEL) objected to the character on the grounds that he was too similar-looking to DONALD DUCK.

The rest, as they say, is history - and it's a history we're now about to re-live by looking at the covers and splash pages of the first dozen issues (in two parts) of his own magazine.  Incidentally, I'll have to re-read these mags again as I don't recall too much about them - apart, that is, from #3, which is an absolute classic in comicbook entertainment.  A word to the wise - track one down on eBay right away - you'll be glad you did!

See you in Part Two - coming soon!