PART FOUR OF TOPPS 1966 BATMAN CARDS...

Images copyright DC COMICS & TOPPS

Those who've commented on this sizzlin' series so far have all been in favour of seeing more cards, but to be honest, they don't seem to have caught on with the majority of all you cavortin' Criv-ites.  These TOPPS BATMAN cards from 1966 are highly sought-after collectors' items, and were reissued in a deluxe set in '89 (from which these scans come), so chances are that if you had them back in the '60s (or '80s), you'll enjoy seeing them again.  Just one thing though - let me know if you do, will you, so that I'm not wasting my time scanning them for an ever-diminishing, uninterested audience.  Good lads. 

"MENACE At 1000 DEGREES!" PART THIRTY Of FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST...

Images copyright DC COMICS

'Twas a warm sunny afternoon in 1972, perhaps in July (in which case, it could've been during the school holidays, though possibly a weekend), that I purchased the above comic mag in one of my local R.S. McCOLL's.  I'd already read the start, finish, and several in-between issues of the KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE/SAND BEING saga a few months before, but not this particular one.  Comics distribution in the U.K. was hardly an exact science back then, resulting in them not always being sold in sequence or even in the year of issue.

The way I remember it now, all these years later, I'd gone into the NORFOLK RESTAURANT (just along from the newsagent's) to blag a seat and read my comic, but a guy at the next table with his wife and daughter, upon hearing that the upstairs bar had just opened, asked me if I wanted his cup of COKE, which he hadn't yet touched.  Never one to look a gift horse in the mouth, I gratefully accepted his kind offer, as he deserted his family and headed upstairs in the direction of a cool pint.

I'd finished my drink and was still perusing my comic, when a girl in my class at school sat down in front of me and declared "Oh, Superman!" (the comic, not me) and looked for all the world as if she was going to lift it from the table and pore through it.  I was having none of it, so I lifted the issue post haste and made a swift exit.  Besides, this girl had never spoken to me before, so, aside from me being devastatingly attractive to the opposite sex (he said, with a straight face), I couldn't quite figure her sudden familiarity.

Now, here's where things suddenly become a little fuzzy.  I definitely associate the cover with the above events, but, equally, also the contents from the previous issue.  How can this be?  I assume I bought #237 & 238 not too far apart, and must've repaired to the Norfolk on each occasion, resulting in both sets of similar memories becoming entwined in my mind.  I was a creature of habit and frequented the Norfolk Restaurant (which was really only a cafeteria) regularly, so it seems the most likely explanation.

However, none of that need concern you.  Your pleasant  task is merely to appreciate the stunning SWANDERSON art and lose yourself in your own recollections of this classic issue.  If only comics were as good as this today, eh?

  

BABE Of The DAY - ALEXIS SMITH...

While I continue to recover

from a minor illness, here's a pretty

face to keep your pulses racing - the

awesome ALEXIS SMITH.  (Ta

to DSE for identifying her.)

5 - 4 -3 - 2 - 1 - THUNDERBIRDS INTRO...

Relive the happy days of your youth by watching the

introduction to the very first episode of THUNDER-

BIRDS.  Go on, you'll feel better for it.  F.A.B.

BABE Of The DAY - ADRIENNE BARBEAU...

Appeared in SWAMP THING

and loads of other films that I've never

seen and probably never even heard of,

but ain't she a babe!  It's the stunning

ADRIENNE BARBEAU.

STANDY BY FOR ACTION - STINGRAY INTRO...

Right, action lovers - here's the intro

to GERRY ANDERSON's 1964 TV show,

STINGRAY.  The explosion at the start was

later re-shot in colour, but here's the very

 first version to set your pulses racing.

BABE Of The DAY - SHARON STONE...

SHARON STONE!  Apparently,

she's got a far higher than average IQ.  If

so, why hasn't she been smart enough to

 call and ask me out on a date yet?

CRIVENS! CRIKEY! BLIMEY! JINKSY JILL & HANDSOME BILL COMIC STRIP RESULTS...

First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who supplied a script idea, and hope they'll all forgive me for not choosing any of them.  I simply had to go with one I suggested (stole it from somewhere) because I find the word 'bum' funny.  I also hope it won't deter you from joining in these comps in the future.

CJ's two ideas were probably the best, so I'll award him a consolation prize.  If you send me your address, CJ (don't worry, I won't publish it), I'll send you a facsimile of BADTIME BEDTIME STORYBOOK #1 in about a week or so.

Incidentally, I produced the whole strip with a UNI-BALL eye needle micro pen with a fine point, with the exception of the words 'Jinksy' and 'Handsome', which I did with a BEROL black colour pen.  All my drawing and lettering pens are lying in a state of neglect and I couldn't be bothered cleaning them for use.

Maybe I'll even colour it up one day - stay tuned.  (Oh, and look - here it is!  Comments welcome!)

ROY THOMAS On CONAN The BARBARIAN...

Like CONAN THE BARBARIAN?  Then you're

bound to enjoy listening to ROY THOMAS talk about

ROBERT E. HOWARD's Cimmerian hero's MARVEL

comicbook adventures.  (A link to part two appears at

 the end of the clip if you'd like to see that as well.)

BABE Of The DAY - RIHANNA...

To be honest, I don't think I've

ever heard any of her music - or if I

have, I don't remember it - but she's

 certainly a babe.  RIHANNA.

JINKSY JILL & HANDSOME BILL - COMPETITION...

A few years ago, during an idle moment, I drew a few roughs of a comic strip I thought might be fun to do.  I soon lost interest and the idea has since languished in limbo.  Recently however, I drew one of them to a fairly decent standard (though it still needs a polish), but decided to leave out the original dialogue, which I'd originally just made up as I went along.  The original rough is below so that you can compare with the (almost) finished strip.

So, here's where you Criv-ites come in.  See if you can come up with some funny (but clean) dialogue for the pictures you see before you, and I'll letter the best submission and publish it here on the blog.  Not much of a prize, I grant you, but it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.  Thinking caps on now!

(And if you'd like to see the other roughs, click here.)

And below is the finished strip after lettering and colouring.

BLIMEY! The THING Is BIG BEN COVER & IMAGE GALLERY - PART FIVE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

As I trot tantalisingly about town spreading joy and happiness amongst my fellow Caledonians (by virtue of my fair and friendly countenance and beaming disposition), I still sometimes can't help but wonder if I do enough to alleviate all the pain and suffering in this wide world and whether it might just be possible to do more.  Then I remember this bombastic blog and realise what a herculean effort I put into making this planet a far better place, and feel foolish for doubting my awesome altruism.  In fact, I get so embarrassed about being such a wonderful person, that I very often feel like punching an orphan just to attain some kind of balance in my everyday life.

Anyway, enough of the problems of veritable sainthood - you're not concerned with such minor matters, I'm sure.  Instead, let's focus on the final four issues of MARVEL U.K.'s weekly periodical from the mid-'80s, The THING Is BIG BEN, which shuffled off this mortal coil with its 18th issue.  I've also included the Summer Special to complete the collection, as I just can't help but give, give, give!  ('Scuse me while I polish my halo.)

So, all you cavortin' Criv-ites, I've done my part, 'tis now time for you to do yours - by savouring the varied visuals which I've laid out before you.  Should you then wish to leave a comment thanking me for my genial generosity and bountiful benevolence, I'll read them with my customary modesty at what a super human being I happen to be.  Although, it's hard to be humble when you're as magnificent as I am, as I'm sure you can all appreciate.

      

BABE Of The DAY - SCARLETT JOHANNSON...

When is black red?  When the

BLACK WIDOW is played by SCARLETT

JOHANNSON.  Yeah, I know it's feeble, but

it's the best I've can do.  So sue me - or start

 writing your own ruddy captions.

D.C. THOMSON ANNUALS ON SALE NOW...

All images copyright D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd

My local WHS has just put a selection of Annuals on display, so, tempted as I was to wait 'til nearer Christmas when the price comes down, I snapped up the two you see before you in case they sell out.  At the moment, if you buy one, you get the other for £1, which works out at only  £7 each - quite a good buy.  No doubt there will be other competitive offers elsewhere, and the price is bound to decrease even further at Christmas and the New Year (supplies permitting) if you'd prefer to wait a bit.  Anyway, let's consider THE BEANO & DANDY volume first.

It's satisfying to see that the pages are presented simply, with- out all the 'dressing up' that DCT's designers usually over-apply, but I still have a few quibbles.  The colours on most of The Beano covers seem bright and vibrant, whereas The Dandy ones seem pallid by comparison.  It's as if one set of covers have been boosted, but the other set haven't.  Despite that, it's a nice little collection, even though, following the mix-up of printing the same page twice in the recent Dandy Summer Special, Thomson's compound that error by printing the last two pages in the book out of sequence.  (You can see the correct order above, just below the cover.)

The OOR WULLIE & THE BROONS book is a delight, being presented in full colour for the first time, and there's a great selection of art by KEN H. HARRISON, DUDLEY D. WATKINS and even two examples by ROBERT N. NIXON.  The colouring gives the pages a whole other dimension, though there are at least a couple of instances where greater thought could have been put into its application.  In the two small images above, Wullie's hair is delineated quite clumsily, with it growing from behind his ears in the first, and over his forehead and temples in the second. 

However, these small but annoying quibbles aside, DCT are to be commended for at least trying to do the right thing.  Once they actually manage to produce their output free of clumsy errors, I'll be a very happy man.

CLASSIC U.K. COMIC STRIPS: RAVEN On The WING...

Images copyright relevant owner

RAVEN On The WING was a very popular strip that appeared in VALIANT (published weekly by IPC MAGAZINES from 1962 to '76) for many years, featuring the adventures of a young gypsy boy who happened to be an amazingly gifted footballer.  Drawn regularly by the talented and prolific Argentinian artist FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ, this particular tale was published in the 1972 VALIANT & TV21 Summer Special.  Enjoy a taste of yesteryear - today! 

BABE Of The DAY - RAQUEL WELCH...

Ah!  Ravishing RAQUEL WELCH -

words fail me.  That being the case, you'll

 just have to think up your own.