INDIANA JONES COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright LUCASFILM/DISNEY

Likely spurred on by the success of their STAR WARS comic series, MARVEL decided to go down the same route with INDIANA JONES.  In 1981, they released a three issue adaptation of RAIDERS Of The LOST ARK, and there were also adaptations of The TEMPLE Of DOOM and The LAST CRUSADE, published in 1984 and '89, respectively.

However, never one to do things by halves, Marvel gave Indy his own monthly title at the end of '82 (first issue cover-dated January '83) called The FURTHER ADVENTURES Of INDIANA JONES, which lasted until #34, cover-dated for March '86 (which means it probably went on sale around December '85).  Got all that?  Good - now forget it.

What we're here to look at today is the British Marvel Monthly called simply INDIANA JONES, which ran for eleven issues and a Christmas Special between the cover dates of October 1984 and August '85.  (They were probably dated a month in advance, at the very least.)

So that's all you really need to know as you sit back and prepare to peruse the dozen covers that await your attention.  To be honest, some of them are pretty lacklustre, which probably accounts for the monthly mag lasting for less than a year.  Nevertheless, a trip back in time is usually worth the journey, so strap yourselves in and let's go!

BABE Of The DAY - GRACE LEE WHITNEY...

GRACE LEE WHITNEY being

'goosed' by GEORGE TAKEI - before he

decided women just weren't for him.  Well,

his loss is our gain - "Beam him up Scotty."

I mean "Beam him up, Scotty."  (Amazing

 the difference a comma can make.)

INDIANA JONES & The MISSING ISSUE...

Copyright relevant owner

Got it at last!  A whole 30 years after I failed to find this ish in my local shops back in 1985, I finally managed to track down a copy on eBay last night and am currently awaiting delivery.  It wasn't a particularly great series, but the collector's mentality insists on filling the gaps so I had to have it.  There were only 11 issues of this monthly, and having just pulled out my collection of them from a cupboard, I see that #11 is also missing.  Drat!!!  I was sure I had it, so has it simply become separated from the others, or is it yet another one I also missed?  I thought my mission to complete the set was finally at an end, but it looks like the journey isn't over yet.  Back to eBay then - one final stage of the task yet remains.

(Update: And you'll all no doubt be thrilled to learn that I've now managed to obtain that elusive #11, as well as the Christmas Special mentioned in the comments section.) 

BABE Of The DAY - CATRIONA SHEARER...

Today's weather will see

temperatures rising, and there'll

be several warm spells along with

an invigorating atmosphere.  At

least, there will be whilst bonnie

babe CATRIONA SHEARER

is here.  Things are looking

much brighter already.

QUEEN Of The SEAS By KEN REID...

Copyright REBELLION

More KEN REID you said, Crivs, so more Ken Reid you get.  Revisiting old territory for Ken (the seafaring theme first witnessed in JONAH), we now turn our attention to the very first appearance of QUEEN Of The SEAS, as published in SMASH! #1, cover-dated February 5th, 1966.  For those who only know Ken's art from his much later, and, it has to be said, more stiff and sedate work in the '80s, it may come as a revelation to see that his earlier pages were more alive, vital, spontaneous, manic, crowded and teeming with detail.

But why take my word for it?  The pleasure of discovery (or rediscovery for older readers) now lies before you.

PART FOUR Of The TITANS CENTRE-SPREAD POSTER GALLERY...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

Waheyyy, another six centre-spread posters from MARVEL U.K.'s weekly periodical, The TITANS, from the faraway-but-not-forgotten days of the 1970s, when life seemed cleaner, keener, lighter and brighter than it so often does today.  (At least, it does in my mind 'cos I was there.)

As far as I know, these posters were never reprinted in any Marvel mag, either here in Britain or over in America, so our Stateside readers have probably never seen them before.  Whether you have or not though, take the time to luxuriate in the awesome aura of Marvel at its mightiest - in ambition if not in actuality - as you cast your gaze upon these panoramic pictures.

Got a favourite?  Feel free to share.

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - CATERINA MURINO...

CATERINA MURINO.  It's me she's

looking at, not you.  No point arguing, I

 always know when a gal fancies me.

I CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU...

Probably the best version of this song

you'll ever hear.  JIM REEVES sings I

CAN'T STOP LOVING YOU.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN COVER, SPLASH PAGE & IMAGE GALLERY - PART THREE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Time again to turn back the clock to 1976 and gaze once more upon some iconic images from the pulsating pages of CAPTAIN BRITAIN, as published by The Merry MARVEL U.K. Bullpen.  Okay, the comic was actually prepared Stateside, but 'twas printed over here and had some input from the British editorial team, minor as it was.

Looking at the comic now, it has to be said that it was quite a slick publication, considering that some of the other U.K. Marvel weeklies often had a makeshift appearance to them.  Apart from his origin perhaps, there was really nothing original about the good Captain's tales, which were fairly generic superhero fare, but Marvel has to be given credit, at least, for trying to give us Brits a hero of our own.

Okay, peeps, don't forget to return for part four.

BABE Of The DAY - CARLA GUGINO (AGAIN)...

Oh, go on then - let's have another babe.

Once again - CARLA GUGINO.  Drool!

KEN REID'S LAST EVER FRANKIE STEIN...

Copyright relevant owner

KEN REID, the original artist of FRANKIE STEIN, returned to the character one more time, a whopping 17 years after having last drawn him in WHAM! back in 1967.  The six page strip appeared in the MONSTER FUN Annual 1985 (issued in '84), and it's odd to think that many readers, more used to Frankie from his 1970s revival as drawn by ROBERT NIXON, may well have been disappointed by Ken's version and hankered after what they saw as the 'real' Frankie.

Sadly, Ken's art was no longer as vital and spontaneous as it had once been, so it's even possible that those brought up on his original incarnation may have thought the same thing.  However, Ken Reid at his 'worst' is still better than many other artists at their best, so I thought it was worthwhile showing his final Frankie strip for anyone who may not have been aware of it before.

And below is the captivating cover of the Annual itself...

BABE Of The DAY - DIANE YOUDALE (AGAIN)...

DIANE YOUDALE - looking like

every man's fantasy.  (Unless that man

is Graham Norton or Alan Carr.)  A

different babe nearly every day.  I'm so

fickle, but hey - who's complaining?

CANDY'S THUNDERBIRDS...

Here's an odd one for your consideration.  From CANDY #14, April 22nd 1967, published by CENTURY 21, comes THUNDERBIRDS as you've never seen them before.  (Unless you bought the comic back in the day, that is.)  Candy was a nursery comic, and at 9d, seems rather expensive for a 20 page periodical.  I must confess to being surprised that it managed a 154 issue run, as well as numerous Annuals and storybooks.