Thursday, 2 July 2015

PART TWO Of POT-LUCK MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL COVER GALLERY... (Updated)

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Welcome back to yet another cover-fest of mid-'70s MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL issues, scanned from my own personal collection.  These are the actual comics I purchased back in the day*, and they're pretty much in the same condition as when I first bought them.  It must be admitted that some of the covers produced specifically for we Brits weren't quite of the same standard as the original U.S. ones used on alternate weekly issues, but they did the job, I suppose.

Got a favourite?  Then don't wait for me to twist your arm - jump over to the comments section and tell us all about it!
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(*Update: Since first publishing this post, I've added a few replacements for issues I once owned when first released, but hadn't kept for some unknown reason.)



In case you're wondering, the blank space in the top left-hand corner of this back cover is one of my
personal address labels with the details digitally blanked out.  After all, I ain't looking for a pen-pal




The HULK story presented in this ish had previously appeared in an earlier issue of MWOM, but
with the SILVER SURFER's appearance edited out.  Which sort of made it a bit of a non-story






THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY...



Remember, it's JIM REEVES week on Crivens!, so here's the great man crooning about the one that got away.  Quick, while your wife's out at the Bingo, who was the love of your life that managed to resist your charms and who you still think of to this day?  All confessions will be treated in the strictest confidence.  (And nobody reads this blog anyway.)

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


Earlier, I asked the lovely CATERINA
MURINO how she was doing these days.
"I'm not feeling myself," she replied.  You
wouldn't know from this pic, eh?  It looks
as if that's exactly what she's doing.

GRIMLY FEENDISH FROM SMASH! #1...


Copyright REBELLION

LEO BAXENDALE's GRIMLY FEENDISH, just like KEN REID's FRANKIE STEIN, appeared for the first time in WHAM! #4 in 1964.  Unlike big Frankie though, who had the luxury of his own strip, Grimly's debut was in EAGLE-EYE, JUNIOR SPY;  he had to wait until SMASH! #1 in 1966 before he was finally awarded a strip of his own, which was in colour on the back page.

And here it is just for you, you lucky Criv-ites!

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME TRAILER...



If I remember correctly, the first four BOND films were released about a year apart, the next five had an interval of around two years between them, and the 10th in the series came out three years after the previous one.  It had also managed to lose one of the producers, in that HARRY SALTZMAN's name was missing from the credits, having sold his share in the franchise due to financial difficulties he'd found himself in.

So The SPY Who LOVED ME bore only the name of ALBERT R. BROCCOLI as the movie's sole producer, which trumpeted itself as the biggest and best Bond of them all.  I loved the MARVIN HAMLISCH theme song, and still have the actual 45 single record and LP soundtrack that I bought way back in 1977.  So what say we watch the trailer and return to the sizzlin' '70s together?  I'm game if you are!

POT-LUCK MIGHTY WORLD Of MARVEL COVER GALLERY - PART ONE... (Updated)

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

This post inaugurates a new approach to the scans you'll see on this blog in future.  Hitherto, I scanned the majority of images at 150%, but I've decided it takes too long and probably also far too much space in my files and folders, so from now on (unless it's a really small image that needs enlarged), I'm going to be scanning most comic images at 100%.  If you're desperate to see it larger, your computer will have a zoom option which you can use to facilitate your desire.  

Right, having dealt with that, my fading memory is now such that I'm sometimes uncertain when it comes to posts I've intended doing for some time, whether I've already done them or not.  If a cursory check fails to find one on the blog, then I assume I've not yet gotten around to it, and go ahead and do it.  This of course leads to the possibility that I might repeat material (aside from the 'Kid Klassics' posts, which are deliberate), and you end up seeing a pile of images that you've already seen before.

When it comes to the current crop of pictures, I know I've featured a few of them in previous posts, but this should be the first time they've all appeared together in one single post.  If not, I'm sure you'll soon let me know.  Looking at the first five* eight covers on display, it's hard for me to grasp that I was yet a schoolboy when these comics first came out and, though they're not the actual copies I bought back in the day, I've had these replacements for far longer than I ever had the originals.

The remaining four cover scans are from my original comics, which I've owned ever since 1975 when I was still a teenager.  Again, it's difficult to accept that a whopping 40 years have passed since I first picked them up (and paid for them, naturally) in newsagents' shops which now no longer exist.  How time flies, eh?  Anyway, if you have any personal reminiscences associated with these Marvel-lous mags, feel free to share!

*Update: I've now acquired #67 (on 21-8-'23), #68 & #69 (on 17-11-'23) and decided to retroactively include them in the post.

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I've just checked, and the size that images display at when clicked on doesn't seem to be affected by the scale at which I scan them.  So everyone's a winner!  Hooray!



 

I recall jumping into a block of flats in the old village quarter of my town, so
that I could sit on the staircase and read this.  I'm a bit more patient now

The mighty JIM STARLIN strikes again


A lovely TRIMPE & SEVERIN cover


Only 50p, eh?  Must be worth a good few pounds by now

JOHN BUSCEMA's brother, SAL, shows he's no slouch in the art department
either.  Didn't always have an inker that played to his strengths though 

Another TRIMPE & SEVERIN triumph

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD A GOBLIN...


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

...'round for tea?  SPLODGE, Last of the Goblins, was a firm favourite of mine when I was younger.  I believe CHARLES GRIGG was the artist, with KEN H. HARRISON taking over when the strip was revived years later.  Here's a beautiful Splodge page for you to enjoy. 

(Anyone got the glow-in-the-dark Splodge mask that was given away in The TOPPER back in the very early '70s [I think]?  If so, I'll buy it from you at a reasonable price.)

Update: Don't worry - I've now got it!

DAVID NIXON WAS NOTHING LIKE THIS (HAND THROUGH GLASS TRICK)...



Okay, this is an old one by now, but it's still pretty
impressive.  So - prepare to be impressed!

MY JUANITA...



Here's C&W balladeer JIM REEVES yet again (it's Jim Reeves week here on Crivens!, remember), to soothe and relax you, and make all your troubles melt away.  Take it away, Jim - we're listenin'!

BABE Of The DAY - RAQUEL WELCH...



It's gonna be a warm day today, so
perhaps it's a mistake to feature a photo
that's likely to make you even hotter.  But,
hey - it's RAQUEL WELCH, man!  So
 sit on some ice or something.

SO WHY DIDN'T HE JUST EAT HIM...?



Here's a bizarre little tale sung by JIM REEVES.  Perhaps it's a warning against same-sex partnerships, but then again, maybe I'm just being facetious.

NEAL ADAMS' BATMAN COVER GALLERY - PART NINE...

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS.  Copyright DC COMICS

Congratulations Crivvies!  You've all waited patiently for the next part in the NEAL ADAMS' BATMAN cover gallery, and your patience is now rewarded with yet another instalment in this scintillating series.  I could wax eloquently about the amazing artistry of one of the greatest comicbook illustrators of all time, but why delay you from perusing the pulse-pounding piccies that await your gaping gaze?

I knew you'd see it my way.  Go to it, tiger!  (Did I really just type "tiger"?  Hell's Bells!)

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils by NEAL ADAMS, inks by DICK GIORDANO

Pencils by NEAL ADAMS, inks by DICK GIORDANO

Pencils by NEAL ADAMS, inks by DICK GIORDANO

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Pencils & inks by NEAL ADAMS

Tuesday, 30 June 2015

REMEMBER WALNUT WHIPS?



Not too long ago, I realized I hadn't had a WALNUT WHIP in many a year, so I promptly bought one.  I was a little disappointed to see the chocolate covering was no longer the rough-hewn, twirly, seemingly individually poured masterpiece (above) I remember from my youth, but a smooth, characterless, mass-produced, mould-formed coating that was less appealing to my eye.

Sometimes they're right - you can't go home again.  Not unless you've got photographic evidence of where you lived.  Oo-er, that's a bit too abstract - even for me.  Do any of you recall these tasty treats - and when did you last have one?

CORGI TOYS' BATMOBILE...



Here's an ad from the pages of TV CENTURY 21 featuring CORGI TOYS' BATMOBILE. Following hard on the heels of the ASTON MARTIN DB5, this cemented Corgi's reputation as the premier diecast toy company in Britain, with DINKY trailing a close second.  Can you remember the excitement of when you first acquired this fantastic toy?  Then let's hear all about it, Bat-fans - the comments section awaits!

YOGI & HIS TOY...


Copyright relevant owner

I happened to mention YOGI & HIS TOY in a response to a comment a while back, and someone asked me what it was.  Here's the cover to the very first issue in case whoever asked wants to see it.  I think it's obvious as to what the comic was all about without me having to spell it out - anyone ever buy it?

If you want to read the complete first ish, click here.

WALTZING ON TOP OF THE WORLD - SPOT THE DIFFERENCE...


I'm declaring this JIM REEVES week, so every day, I'll be posting at least one of Mr. Velvet's songs on this 'ere blog.  Jim also recorded a slightly longer (at least, it had more verses), raw country version of this song, but this is a later, softer rendition from when he'd become more of a balladeer.

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Oh, look - I've found the earlier Country version.  Listen to the one above first, then give this one a spin for a couple of verses - what a difference!

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - DIANA RIGG...



Oh, DIANA - you are
naughty!  What would Mr.
STEED say?  (Most likely
"Phwoaaaarr!!")

HEY, LET'S REVISIT TAHITI...



Here's the double-language version of this ultra-soothing
song by JIM REEVES.  Check out the previous post for the
same song by Jim sung completely in South Afrikaans.

EVER BEEN TO TAHITI...?



This is an interesting little song.  The version here is in English and South Afrikaans, but there's also another version all in South Afrikaans - both sung by the mighty JIM REEVES.  Enjoy.

CAROLINE NIN - ONE FOR MY BABY...



A woman I knew attended the Edinburgh Festival in 1999 and recommended a singer she'd seen at The Gilded Balloon - CAROLINE NIN.  The next year, myself and two friends went through to Edinburgh to watch her perform at a different venue in the city.  I enjoyed her performance so much that I bought her CD, which was available at the end of the show.

And she even posed for a photo with me.  (I'm the one on your right, in case you were wondering.)

Monday, 29 June 2015

ANOTHER (BOND) BABE Of The DAY - MARTINE BESWICK...


Go on then, Crivs - feast your
eyes on the magnificent MARTINE
BESWICK.  It's every red-blooded
 man's duty to look.  (Yes it is!)

ARE YOU GOING TO SCARBOROUGH FAIR...?



Did you know that ANDY WILLIAMS was JIM REEVES favourite male singer?  True!  So here's Andy with SIMON & GARFUNKEL with a little song I'm sure you'll all enjoy.

GOODNIGHT IRENE...



JIM REEVES sings GOODNIGHT IRENE.
(What more do you want for free?)

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - DIANA RIGG...



Look - it's Christmas!   So
here's your present - delicious,
delectable, and delightful Dame
DIANA RIGG!  (Whaddya mean
it's not Christmas?  It's June, the
shops will have the decorations
up!  They usually do!)

BOOKS ON COMICBOOKS (& THEIR CREATORS)...


Images copyright their respective owners

There have been quite a few books on comics written over the years, and I have some of them in my collection.  If you've read any of them, feel free to share any thoughts or observations you may have about the sometimes controversial contents some of them contain.

If not, just enjoy looking at the covers.