The ESSENTIAL SHOWCASE 1956-1959...

Copyright DC COMICS

Back in 1992, DC COMICS released a nice little softcover edition called The ESSENTIAL SHOWCASE 1956-1959, and it's a right little cracker.  Containing milestone issues, it features the first appearances of FIREMAN FARRELL, the Silver Age FLASH, CHALLENGERS Of The UNKNOWN, ADAM STRANGE, plus LOIS LANE in her first solo magazine adventures, which later led to her own long-running title.

Incidentally, I've only shown the splash pages of the first story in those issues that contain more than one, so there's actually more content than you'd think from a glance at the images which follow.  The book is a nice little collectors' item and chances are you'll be able to track one down on eBay should you feel so inclined.

While you're thinking about it, you can pore over the power- packed piccies that I now present for your personal perusal within the peaceful perimeters of your own home.  Nice, ain't I?

BABE Of The DAY - SALMA HAYEK...

Dribble-flibble parfle-harfle slobber-

dobber gibber-flibber - SALMA HAYEK.

(You expect sense with Salma around?  You

gotta be crazy!  Look at that... smile!)

PART FOUR Of DON STARR In "The LIVING DOLLS"...

Copyright relevant owner

Right, hands up all those who've been following TERRIFIC's DON STARR in The LIVING DOLLS?  Not enough of you it seems, as no one noticed a little boo-boo that inadvertently slipped in.  Yup, your genial host managed to miss out a couple of episodes, so obviously I wasn't paying too much attention either.  Anyway, I've gone back and fixed things, so check out previous instalments and be sure to read each part in its proper sequence, then devour the up-to-date offerings in this post.  Are you enjoying the strip so far?  Then why not say so in the comments section?  (It's always nice to feel appreciated.)  See you all next time, Criv-ite chums.

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - SHIRLEY EATON...

Believe it or not, SHIRLEY EATON once

had her own comic strip in TV FUN.  She also

appeared with ROGER MOORE in the very first

episode of The SAINT - before she was cast in

GOLDFINGER with SEAN CONNERY.

FRANCIE & JOSIE... FAREWELL, CHINAS...

I used to watch the FRANCIE & JOSIE TV show back in the 1960s.  They were massive superstars in Scotland at the time, and even when they amicably went their separate ways, the duo were held in high esteem and fond affection by the Scots public for years afterwards.  In the '80s & '90s, they got back together for a couple of 'farewell' performances, the final one being from which this extract comes.  It's in the tradition of music hall acts of a bygone age, but no less funny for that - so enjoy!

BABE Of The DAY - JANE RUSSELL...

Here's a new feature I'll be running on

a daily basis - BABE Of The DAY!  We start

with jaunty JANE RUSSELL - 'cos I've fancied

her since I was a lad.  (And she does have some-

thing on under her nightie.)  If you're a single gal,

under 45, and look just like Jane, then 'phone my

receptionist and book an appointment - there's

 something I'd like to talk to you about.

"SURE, JOSIE, SURE, JOSIE - SURE, SURE, SURE..."

Right, here's the set-up: FRANCIE (Jack Milroy) is playing the girl and JOSIE (Rikki Fulton) is playing the guy at the dancing in Glasgow.  That's all you really need to know.  Take it away, chinas...

Ms. MARVEL MINI-COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

One look at the costume and it's obvious that, back in the '70s, comics were still aimed mainly at teenage boys (of which I was one).  There's no way in real-life an actual superheroine would ever wear a costume that revealing to fight criminals and superpowered robots and the like.  That said, the scanty costume fulfilled its purpose because that was the only reason I bought the mag - for the 'good girl art'.  The first ish is the one I bought way back then, the subsequent three I acquired many years later (early to mid-'90s maybe)  just because they came my way at a very reasonable price.  These are the only four I have.

Ms. MARVEL, eh?  It's obvious that feminism still extended its influence into mainstream culture at the time, otherwise it would simply have been 'Miss' Marvel.  Ironic how feminism is the very thing that caused women to lose (or discard) their femininity and embrace the 'ladette' lifestyle which pervades society today.  Is there such a thing as an elegant, sophisticated, softly-spoken, well-mannered, lady-like woman anymore?  If so, someone found and married her before I got the chance.  All I see are hordes of screaming, shouting, itching, scratching, alcohol-swigging, belching, farting, swearing harpies (some nice-looking ones admittedly) wherever I go - and those I can well live without.  (Though, to be fair, they'd feel the same about me.)

Okay, rant over.  No doubt I'll be accused of being a male chauvinist pig, but as I always say, it's better than being a woman who won't do as she's told.  Who's with me lads?  Shout "Aye!"

H'mm.  Kinda quiet around here, isn't it?  You guys must be married.

KIRBY'S CAPTAIN AMERICA - SUPER SOLDIER AT WAR...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Here's a limited-edition print that JACK KIRBY did for MARVEL COMICS to celebrate the 50th Birthday of CAPTAIN AMERICA in 1990.  I have to be honest and say that it's not quite JK at his best, but he was near the end of his life at this point, and age and illness had doubtless taken their toll on his artistic talents.  At least the much-maligned Marvel were still trying to put a bit of work Jack's way, though no doubt their critics will claim they were merely trying to exploit him.  Can't win, eh? 

PART FOUR Of The THING COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Bashful BENJAMIN J. GRIMM is back to share with us another six covers and splash pages from his own mag published back in the early and mid-1980s.  The THING lasted for three dozen issues before being discontinued, but it was an entertaining enough mag while it lasted, though certainly not the earth-shattering experience I would've hoped for.  The first few stand-alone issues were probably the best, but once the stories became continued, they kind of slipped down the pole a little.  However, there are plenty of nice images to drool over, so I'll cut my prattling short and let you do just that.  Enjoy, true believer!  

JACK 'KING' KIRBY DOCUMENTARY - PART ONE...

It's possible that there are people out there who are

too young to have ever heard of JACK KIRBY.  This

is for them.  Incidentally, I won't be posting links to the
following four parts, because the next instalment can
be accessed at the end of this one, a pattern which
repeats at the end of parts two to four.

"ABOUT THAT, I NEVER WAS WRONG..."

Who needs words to describe a song that speaks for itself?  If you don't enjoy this, you should worry -you're probably dead.

The BIRTHDAY BOOK For BOYS 1972...

Images copyright relevant owner

Ooh, look what that extremely nice TWO-HEADED BOY (from Two-Headed Thingies) sent me recently.  The BIRTHDAY BOOK For BOYS 1972, featuring strips and text stories from various comic periodicals that were available way back then.

Interestingly, the interior copyright date of 1972 suggests that perhaps it wasn't a Christmas Annual because, as all British readers know, the copyright date is usually that of the year an Annual is issued, not the year it's for.  (So, Annuals cover-dated 1972 for example, went on sale in August or Septermber of '71, and usually carried the year of issue inside.)

The purpose of the Annual was obviously to entice readers to hunt down the weekly comics which featured the particular stories they'd enjoyed and thereby increase circulation.  It would be interesting to learn whether the project ever bore fruit, but as far as I'm aware, the experiment wasn't repeated, so I think we can safely draw our own conclusions as to the results (or lack of them).  I'm bound to say that I think they missed a trick by not including ADAM ETERNO.

    

Anyway, take a look at a few of the contents and refresh your memories of your long-ago youth.  If you happen to know whether this book was issued at the end of '71 or sometime in '72, feel free to enlighten me in the comments section. 

I DON'T GIVE TWO HOOTS - SO HERE'S THE THIRD...

Images copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

I suppose I'd better make it a 'hat-trick' and show the third issue of HOOT in my collection - #3, appropriately enough.  So, why did the D.C. THOMSON title only manage to survive a mere 53 issues do you think?  Did the strips fail to tickle readers' funny bones, or was the name simply not inspiring enough?  Any thoughts or theories, leave 'em in the comments section and astound the rest of us with your amazing insight and wisdom.

(I've just noticed that issue #4 also had a free gift - an unusual occurrence - so I'll have to acquire that too.  Hoots, mon!)

******

UPDATE:  I've now acquired #s 4, 5 & 6, giving me seven issues in all (including #10, the Christmas number, which I got back in 1985).  Maybe one day I'll complete the full set.

RELAX - ALL YOUR STRESS IS ABOUT TO BE EXTERMINATED...

Hee hee!  This is funny!