PART TWO Of SECRET ORIGINS COVER & IMAGE GALLERY...

Images copyright DC COMICS

One thing that struck me as I looked through my issues of SECRET ORIGINS in preparation for scanning, is how few of them I've bothered to read past the first handful. However, my 'collector's compulsion' meant I had to buy them all as they came out, whether or not I was interested in each issue's featured character(s).  One day, when I have time and energy, I must sit down, start at #1, and work my way through them all right to the end.

And that's the purpose of this current series - to give all you cavortin' Criv-ites the opportunity of having a taste of this 50 ish run if you missed it back in the day.  Or to remind you of what you once had if you were a regular reader of this titanic title at the time.  So buckle-up, get yourselves comfy, and let's begin the next stage of the tour.  And if you'd like to share your reminiscences of any of the comics on display before you, the comments section awaits your interesting input - so get typing.

BABE Of The DAY - ABI TITMUS...

Here's lovely ABI TITMUS to remind

you that it's great to be alive.  Of course, life

is so much better if you have someone like Abi

waiting for you at home.  (And I don't mean

locked away in your cellar, Melvin.)

FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST - PART FORTY-FIVE: SUPERMAN #296-299 - "WHO TOOK The SUPER OUT Of SUPERMAN?"

Images copyright DC COMICS

Hell's bells!  Has it really been 40 years since I first read these DC comics as a mere callow teenager?  Someone tell me I'm wrong - even if it's an obvious lie.  I obtained replacements of the first two issues a good number of years ago now, but I received the second two mags only this morning.  You may be wondering why it took me so long to get around to it, and the answer is that all four stories are reprinted in The GREAT SUPERMAN COMIC BOOK COLLECTION, a book which was published back in 1981, and which I own.

However, it's great to read through the original comics and see not only the story-pages, but also ads for other mags and various items which reflect the heady days of the '70s.  The story itself is an intriguing if slightly convoluted one (with an obvious plot-hole), and the fourth episode seems to have shoe-horned in a number of classic Superman foes under the guise of being intrinsic to the story's resolution (but is clearly nothing more than an blatant sales ploy).  Would aliens out to destroy Earth really be prepared to wait 30 years to do it, and wouldn't the bad guy have a better plan to ensure his escape?  It all seems rather unnecessary on reflection.

But, as I said, it is intriguing - and, more importantly, thoroughly entertaining.  Written by CARY BATES & ELLIOT S! MAGGIN, and drawn by CURT SWAN & BOB OKSNER, it's an instant classic that every true Superman fan should have in their comics collection.  See CLARK KENT punch STEVE LOMBARD in the mouth!  See Clark snatch MORGAN EDGE's stogie from his gob and extinguish it in his drink while telling him where to get off!  And, what we've all been waiting for, see Clarkie-boy have LOIS LANE swoon with desire for him in a way that she never did for the mighty Superman.

Take it from me - if you don't have these four-issues, you need to get onto eBay right away and track them down!  You shouldn't have to live the rest of your life without them!

SECRET ORIGINS COVER & IMAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright DC COMICS

First, there was a SECRET ORIGINS 80 page one-shot in 1961.  Then, there was a MORE SECRET ORIGINS follow-up ish in 1965.  Eight years later, in 1973, the title was given an ongoing series, but ran for a mere seven issues.  In 1986, DC COMICS had another stab at the concept, and this time it lasted a whole 50 issues, three Annuals and one Special.  There was yet another attempt in 2014, which lasted 11 issues, so you've gotta hand it to DC - they're certainly persistent in pushing an idea for a mag.

Anyway, it's the '86-'90 series we're looking at in the first part of this cover and image gallery, and hopefully you'll all come back for future instalments as they appear.  Now let's go!  And feel free to leave a comment if you so desire.

RECOMMENDED READING: TALES OF THE BATMAN - GENE COLAN...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Here's one I picked up fairly recently.  It came out in 2011 (so it's not a new release) and I already own most of the individual issues of which this book is comprised, but it's always good to have a run of comics in one handy collected edition.  It features the early BATMAN tales drawn by legendary artist GENE COLAN after he jumped ship from MARVEL to rival comicbook-makers DC back in the early '80s.

I haven't read any of these tales since they were first published, but so far, I've enjoyed what I've re-read.  Gene was a superb artist, but unfortunately his eyesight was very poor, and sometimes at this stage in his career, his figure-work was a little off in places.  (Take a look at Batman's left leg in the pic below - it just doesn't look quite right.)  However, instances of this kind aren't too many in the enclosed tales, and there are great visuals on offer between the covers of this hardback tome.

It shouldn't be difficult to track down a copy, so if you have a bit of spare cash, begin the process right away.  Now you'll have to excuse me - I want to get straight back to reading my own valiant volume of these 14 dazzling and dynamic Dark Knight Detective doozies.  Sometimes life is just so good!

And hey - who else prefers that DC emblem on the cover to the current one?  It surely can't be just me?

BABE Of The DAY - ROMOLA GARAI...

ROMOLA GARAI puts the 'oo' in

oomph!  Wotta cracker.  In fact, I'd love

to find her in one this Christmas.

GUIDE DOGS - "EVERY PENNY COUNTS"...

This dog and her two pups were featured in my local newspaper recently. The 'doggy-bank' has sat in my neighbourhood chemist's for many years, possibly even going as far back as the '50s or '60s.  The shop occupies larger premises than it did originally, having moved a few units along in (I think) the early '70s, into what used to be a cafe.

It's probably older than me, and I certainly remember it from my early teenage years, but to think it goes all the way back to my childhood (or beyond) is a startling thought.  I must remember to deposit a coin or three the next time I'm in - after all, every penny counts.  My eyesight isn't as good as it used to be, but I'm grateful for what I've got and don't take it for granted.  Next time you see one of these 'banks', make a deposit.

 (I'm sure you would anyway.)

TWELFTH & FINAL PART Of The INCREDIBLE TRI-MAN...

Copyright relevant owner

Well, it's the end of the road for TRI-MAN, SMASH! fans, as we present the final two episodes of his weekly adventures.  After imitating the SPIDER-MAN formula for most of its run, the strip now seemed to be borrowing an element from SUPERMAN, with TODD BLACKER determined to prove JOHNNY SMALL's superhero alias, much like LOIS LANE trying to expose CLARK KENT's secret identity.

However, it never happened!  Tri-Man was only seen once more in the pages of the Smash! Annual for 1971 (on sale in 1970), in a RON TURNER-illustrated tale which, in all likelihood, had been completed before the superhero's final weekly story recounting Todd's discovery of JS's secret.  You can read that full-colour Annual adventure by clicking this link.  Th-th-that's all, folks!  Bid Johnny goodbye.

  

The PERILS Of eBay - SELLER STUPIDITY Or SMALL-MINDED SPITE?

Save us from some eBay sellers.  Saw a comic, described as VF+, which I needed to fill a gap in one of my collections, and bought it for a paltry sum.  I could see from the photo that it matched the description, but the seller despatched it in a thin 'padded' envelope with no cardboard backing - result?  A bent and crumpled comic that had been reduced from its 30-year-old VF+ condition to a far lesser category.

This is surely incompetence.  How someone can send a single comic in a thin envelope and expect it to arrive in an undamaged state is simply beyond comprehension.  Writing 'Please Handle With Care!  Please Do Not Bend!' is not what I'd consider adequate steps to properly protect fragile contents.  Packages of this sort travel in sacks with all sorts and sizes of other mail sitting atop them, so the chances of surviving the rigours of transport undamaged are slim to non-existent.

Was the seller annoyed that my winning bid (out of two) was a mere £1.89 (plus £1.50 p&p) and decided to extract a spiteful revenge?  (After all, at such a low price, it's hardly worth the bother of returning the item for a refund.)  Or is it simply that he's a numpty without a clue, and shouldn't be trading on eBay?  What think the rest of you?

And if any of you Crivvies have similar tales of such stupidity, vent your frustrated feelings in the comments section.  You'll feel much better for getting it off your chest. 

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - MADELINE SMITH...

MADDIE slipped on the grass, and when

I reached out my hand to help her up, she said:

"Why don't you join me down here, big boy?"

Rock on, Tommy!

BUTTONS 'N' BOWS...

Now this is what I call entertainment.  BOB HOPE, ROY ROGERS, and (wow) JANE RUSSELL.  TRIGGER's parked outside the saloon, so don't go worrying about him - he's fine.

HOW TO PHIL A BLOG POST...

Just to clear things up, this is PHIL, a fairly regular commenter.  What I want to know is, is this the Phil who's still commenting nicely (as I assume), or is it the Phil who's sending me abusive comments because I suspected someone else was impersonating him in order to get comments published?  (I'd be surprised if it is.)  Whoever is sending rude remarks has blotted their copybook on this blog - forever.  How some people using the same first name as others expect me to tell between them is beyond me.  (Use surnames as well perhaps?)

RECOMMENDED READING: DARWYN COOKE'S 'DC: THE NEW FRONTIER'...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Sometimes I'm late to the party.  Case in point - I didn't know about The NEW FRONTIER until relatively recently, when someone recommended it to me.  Even better, he gave me a copy of this brand-spanking-new edition, which I've just finished reading.  As you'll know, not that long ago, DARWYN COOKE succumbed to cancer at the far-too young age of 53, which means that the comics-buying public is denied any new epics from this supremely-talented creator.  (And, sadder yet, his family and friends no longer have the living presence of someone they dearly loved.)

But his work endures, and I feel obliged - nay, privileged - to readily recommend this superb superhero extravaganza to all you eager Criv-ites out there who yearn for something truly satisfying to read.  Trust me, this is no mere hype - you'll absolutely love this tale, especially if you recall with fondness the SILVER AGE DC titles to which this awesome epic pays affectionate homage, while at the same time being entirely suited to the tastes of a contemporary audience.

Sadly, Darwyn is off exploring the real 'final' frontier, but he blazed a trail through this one with his fine works of comicbook (and animation) excellence.  Do yourself a big favour - rush right 'round to your local comicbook store and plonk your paltry pounds into the palm of the purveyor of this most worthy and valiant volume.

Honest - you won't regret it!

PART TEN Of KIRBY 'KOCK-UPS' - A THUNDERING 'THOR' HEAD...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

It's arguable where the 'Kock-Up' is - is it in this page or the ones that followed it in JOURNEY Into MYSTERY #83?  You see, JACK KIRBY drew one kind of helmet on the splash page, but a different kind in subsequent pages.  Take a look - a helmet with a fin, above, one with a point, below.  Still wonderfully drawn though, with great inking by JOE SINNOTT. 

BABE Of The DAY - CINDY CRAWFORD...

CINDY CRAWFORD's an optimist.

It's a dreich day, yet there she is out in my

back garden, wearing only a skimpy bikini.

(Not that I'm complaining.)  Well, whaddya

know - the sun has just come out.  Someone

must've tipped her off - or maybe she's

 psychic.  (I wonder which it is.)

HEY, WHERE'D THE TIGER GO?

Copyright relevant owner

Let's start the day with a laugh, shall we?

KIRBY 'KOCK-UPS' PART NINE - CAP'S STAR DOES A 'LEE MARVIN' (GOES WANDERIN')...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

So what's wrong with this cover that it constitutes a KIRBY 'KOCK-UP' you may well be wondering.  Take a good look at the prostrate figure of CAPTAIN AMERICA - he's got an 'A' on his chest instead of a star!  How did Jack get that wrong?  He co-created the character for gosh' sake.  That aside, it's still a brilliant cover - inked by WALLY WOOD no less.

The INCREDIBLE TRI-MAN - PART ELEVEN...

Copyright relevant owner

And now, the penultimate part of The INCREDIBLE TRI-MAN for all you slavering SMASH! fans who thrilled to the exploits of the U.K.'s first superhero back in the 1960s.  Catch the fantastic double-episode in the final instalment of this super series - coming soon!

  

PART EIGHT Of KIRBY 'KOCK-UPS' - HULK & RICK In 'The NICK'...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Take a look at this piccie.  If you were to draw in the rest of RICK JONES' and The HULK's figures, Rick would be far taller than ol' Greenskin.  Yet another JK inconsistency, which I get a kick out of calling a Kirby 'Kock-Up'.  (I do so love alliteration!  Don't you?)

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - LANA WOOD...

Not quite as famous as her big sister

NATALIE perhaps, but LANA WOOD is

 a big hit in my pants house.  (Oops!)

KIRBY 'KOCK-UPS' PART SEVEN - The HULK ISN'T 'HULKING' ENOUGH...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

The final panel of The AVENGERS #1.  Look at The HULK, standing up straight between IRON MAN and THOR - and he's smaller than them.  Great as JACK KIRBY was, he was never entirely consistent with characters' sizes in relation to each other.  So clock up another Kirby 'Kock-Up'!

And hey - a wasp is much bigger than an ant, so if ANT-MAN is ant-size and The WASP is wasp-size, then how come HANK (and his ant) is still bigger than JAN?