BORN AGAIN - FRANK MILLER & DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI'S DAREDEVIL - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

When DAREDEVIL #227 hit the newsagents' spinner-racks and comicbook shelves back in 1986, readers sat up and took notice.  Over the course of seven issues, the story of MATT MURDOCH's complete professional and psychological disintegration at the scheming hands of The KINGPIN unfolded in a taut, suspenseful superhero action thriller that demonstrated just how comics of this kind should be written - and that FRANK MILLER was just the man to write them.

DAVID MAZZUCCHELLI's art was moody and magnificent, and is a perfect example of the heroic heights that the medium of sequential art is capable of attaining.  Apparently, there have been a couple of attempts to raise interest in a movie adaptation of this classic series, but nothing ever materialised and the film rights have now reverted back to MARVEL STUDIOS.  We can all only live in hope that a blockbuster movie of this epic adventure will one day reach cinema screens and be a massive hit like The AVENGERS.

In the meantime, you'll have to console yourselves with our two part cover and image gallery scanned from the original comics.  The series was released in a collected edition back in 1987 and again only a few short years ago, so you should yet be able to pick up a copy from your local comicbook store - or eBay, even.  If you don't have these classics in your collection, then you're really missing out, man - do something about it today!

See you in Part Two!

STAN LEE MEETS - COVER & SPLASH PAGE GALLERY...

All images copyright Marvel Comics

STAN LEE and MARVEL are inextricably linked in the minds of most comicbook readers of a certain age.  Hard to believe, then, that Stan's Soapbox (which started in 1967) disappeared from the pages of Marvel mags around 14 years ago, as did the tagline 'Stan Lee Presents'.  Apparently, Marvel was trying to disassociate itself from its leader, who, along with JACK KIRBY, STEVE DITKO, DON HECK and others, was responsible for laying the foundations for the 'House of Ideas' back in the early '60s.

It was therefore refreshing to see Marvel embrace Stan to its bosom again in 2006, when a series of five special mags entitled STAN LEE MEETS was issued to the comics-buying public, "commemorating 65 years of Stan Lee at Marvel".  Each issue featured Stan meeting a different Marvel character (written by himself), various back-up stories in a similar vein (written by others), plus a collectors' item classic from Marvel's back-catalogue.

Here, then, is a cataclysmic cover and splash page gallery of the first and last tale in each magazine.  A hardback collected edition was later issued, containing the complete five issues, so if you have a bit of dosh to spare, you might want to consider treating yourself or a loved one to a copy.  After all, Christmas isn't too far away - and Stan is 'The Man'.  All together now - "Hang Loose, Face Front, Excelsior"   (Not forgetting " 'Nuff Said!")

      

MAN IN A SUITCASE...

One of my favourite programmes as a kid was

MAN IN A SUITCASE, so I thought I'd give you the

opporchancity to hear the theme tune.  I think the show

was retitled Man With A Suitcase for American TV -

can anybody confirm whether this was so or not?

BABE Of The DAY - ELIZABETH TAYLOR...

A few years ago, I'd arranged to

meet a young lady named Elizabeth in

a Glasgow cafe one afternoon.  We were

getting on fine until I called her 'Liz' (as I do

another lass of the same name whom I know).

"My name is Elizabeth!" she scolded in a frosty

tone.  "And my name's outta here, along with the

rest of me!" I replied, heading for the door.  So,

ladies, "Know your place!"  ELIZABETH

TAYLOR would never have spoken to me

like that - if only 'cos she'd never have

 spoken to me.  That's life, alas.

PART TWO Of The EXPLOITS Of SPIDER-MAN COVER & IMAGE GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

As mentioned in part one, The EXPLOITS Of SPIDER-MAN lasted for forty 100-page monthly issues.  I've got the first twenty-nine, plus the last one, so should I ever decide to complete the set, I only need ten to do so.  Don't think I'll ever bother to be honest, as I only bought it for the LEE/DITKO tales and the free posters of classic MARVEL #1s.  Once they stopped, so did I, as strips like SPIDER-MAN 2099 didn't really ring my bell, and I'd previously bought a good number of the original U.S. editions of the other strips featured in the mag.

In fact, I didn't even need to buy it for the '60s stories, because I already had them all in issues of MARVEL TALES and volumes of MARVEL MASTERWORKS, so I guess I was merely buying them out of habit and as a throwback to my early teenage years when I used to faithfully purchase SPIDER-MAN COMICS WEEKLY in the early '70s.  You see, even then I was trying to re-live my past, as I've done from about the age of 5 up to the present day.  Now, you may think that's kind of sad, but actually everybody indulges in the same thing to a greater or lesser degree, and let me explain just what I mean.

Ever seen those guys old enough to know better (adults I'm talking about) who hang about underpasses in groups drinking their carry-outs?  They're trying to re-create that moment when they had their first alcoholic drink in the company of their pals, many moons before.  Even many of those who regularly frequent pubs are, without ever realizing it, trying to recapture the heady feeling they first had when they managed to pass themselves off as old enough to buy a pint in their local.  Or someone else's local, in fact, where there was less chance of being spotted by someone who knew that they weren't of legal age to be served.

Many of our pursuits are attempts at re-experiencing earlier moments in our lives - usually in conjunction with other factors, admittedly, and perhaps even subconsciously.  However, most of us are trying to re-live the past to some extent, the only real difference being that I'm aware of it and others might not be.  If you like something, it's entirely natural to want to perpetuate it, not only for its own sake, but also because of the echo of a half-forgotten memory of pleasant times from so very long ago.

However, that's enough of my philosophical ramblings - I now unleash upon you some sensational Spidey shenanigans for your leisurely reading pleasure.  'Nuff said!

BABE Of The DAY - DALIAH LAVI...

DALIAH LAVI appeared in DEAN

MARTIN's first of four MATT HELM

films, The SILENCERS in 1965.  Doubtless

she's appeared in a good deal more than that,

but you'll have to look up the info for your-

 selves 'cos I'm too busy swoonin'.

The COMPLETE FANTASTIC FOUR COVER & IMAGE GALLERY - PART FIVE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Y'know, I almost feel envious of those of you who haven't seen these captivating covers and pulsating pages before.  For you, the thrill of being presented with some iconic images for the first time; for me, the pleasant sensation of having some magical memories stirred, like ripples in a stream when a pebble is tossed in.  As to which is the greater experience is open to question I suppose, but first impressions are usually the most vivid.  

Anyway, that's enough of my philosophical speculations, let's turn our attention to the fifth instalment in this series of The COMPLETE FANTASTIC FOUR, one of MARVEL U.K.'s better weekly comics from the 1970s.  The main attraction for me was the reprints of LEE & KIRBY's classic tales from the '60s, but I also enjoyed the later stories, some of which I'd read before in their full-colour American mags.

If you have any recollections of these particular issues, you can reminisce to your heart's content in our Crivens comments section.  Go on, jump right in - it's good to share!  And remember to return for part six in this super series of pulse-pounding picture-presentations.

When this page appeared in MWOM in 1972, it was renamed "Attack of the Deadly Duo!"

This has got to be one of my all-time fave FF stories - love it!

When I first read this part of the tale in Wham! back in 1967, I used to place the comic (open
at this page) on the floor next to my chair as I sat and had my dinner, totally transfixed by the
stunning Sue Storm.  Yes, you're right - what a furtive little perv was I! 

"BLISTERIN' BARNACLES!" HURRICANES, MAGGOTS & MARINES...

Copyright relevant owner

CAPTAIN HERCULES HURRICANE was a Royal Marines Commando who debuted in VALIANT #1 in 1962 and appeared right through to the last issue in 1976.  Accompanied by his batman MAGGOT MALONE, he was almost the British equivalent of the United State's 'super soldier' CAPTAIN AMERICA - but without the colourful costume and written in a more humorous vein.  Whenever he lost his temper in a "ragin' fury", he became imbued with an almost superhuman strength - much like POPEYE when he downed his spinach.

This particular full-colour tale comes from the Valiant Annual for 1974 (issued near the end of '73) and is typical of the type of World War II adventures in which Herc and Maggot became embroiled.  CHARLES ROYLANCE was the regular artist in the weekly comic and these pages certainly look like his work, though I'm unsure if he also provided the colour or it was done 'in-house'.

I should point out that, in the following strip, the Captain indulges in a few racial insults that would be considered unacceptable nowadays.  However, without endorsing such language, the tale appears as originally published and reflects not only the time in which it was written, but also the period in which it was set, and shouldn't be regarded as representing the general attitude of most Britons today.

Anyway, for all those who thrilled to his adventures as boys, here's another chance to enjoy Captain Hurricane at his rip-snortin' best.

BABE Of The DAY - SALMA HAYEK...

Thought you might like to see a

photo of one of my girlfriends - but

I've only got a pic of SALMA HAYEK

so she'll just have to do.  Sorry for the

 disappointment.  (Yeah, right.)