TOYBOX TREASURES Of The PAST: A CASE For The MAN From U.N.C.L.E. ...

Look at the LONE STAR (I think) MAN From U.N.C.L.E. attache case I had as a kid, given to me by a paternal aunt and uncle for Christmas in the late '60s.  There were at least a couple of versions, of which this one was the cheapest as the case was only cardboard.  Not that I cared one whit about that, 'cos, to me, it was brilliant.

 

The case and contents eventually faded into the limbo that claims most childhood toys, but I still possess one of the bullets from the gun.  At least, it's a bullet I associate with the gun, which, in my memory, didn't fire caps as one would expect, but actual plastic bullets.  Perhaps my recollection is confused, not that it matters much, as whenever I look at that bullet, the above case is what comes to mind.

Ah, such happy days.  What tremendous fun it was to be an agent of U.N.C.L.E. back in the '60s.  Do kids today have anything similar to such a great toy, or is it all computer games, mobiles, and iPads they go for nowadays?

Their loss.

******

Update 2026: I now have the attache case (acquired in February) and was surprised to find that the gun is indeed a cap gun, leaving me to wonder where my bullet comes from.

RAMPAGING REPOST: ROBIN In The BATCAVE...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Let's now travel back in time and space to a dark winter's eve in Glasgow in 1967 or '68.  The precise location is under a bridge (now gone) in Stockwell Street, where I'm gazing through a shop window at the cover of a BATMAN colouring book (above) which was simply crying out to be mine.  The shop was shut, so my mother promised to buy the book at a later date for my fast-approaching birthday.  And she did, though I've no idea whether she purchased it from another source or had to return to that particular shop to obtain it.

I recall once taking it to school and colouring various bits in during the break, and letting ROSS CAMPBELL colour-in one of the pages in return for allowing me to do the same in his different Batman colouring book.  His book may well have been the other one featured here - but then again, may well not have been - so don't go betting your house on it.  You wouldn't want to have to live in a cave, would you?  (Unless it was the BATCAVE of course.)

Ah, many happy hours of innocent fun, to be had from the mere application of some coloured pencils or wax crayons - why aren't kids today so easily pleased?

BABE Of The DAY - JANE RUSSELL...

Okay, JANE - I can take a hint.

I'll give you some dosh for new clothes.

After all, we can't have you gadding about

in your underwear.  (H'mm, though now

that I think about it...)

BATMAN - FULLY PAID-UP MEMBER Of The WORLD ADVENTURE LIBRARY...

BATMAN copyright DC COMICS

While my computer's in for repair (I'm using someone's spare one at the moment) I'm rather limited in my choice of images for use on the blog, but I figure you can stand a little repetition for a couple or so days 'til things are back to normal.  So until then, here are the front and back covers of the first two BATMAN! World Adventure Libraries from the swinging '60s.  Bring back any memories at all?

JIM REEVES - O LITTLE TOWN Of BETHLEHEM...

As it's getting near to Christmas, here's a nice relaxing

Yuletide-themed song to start the ball rolling.  This'll take you

back to your old school hall when you and all your classmates

sang such yuletide hymns at Christmas.

BABE Of The DAY - RAQUEL WELCH...

Brrrrrrr!  It's freezing today, so here's

a pic of ravishing RAQUEL WELCH to warm

the cockles of your heart.  Any other body parts

affected are purely a pleasant bonus.  Aren't I

good to you, Crivvies?  (O yes I am!)

RECOMMENDED READING: AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION VOLUME TWO...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Not long now 'til Christmas, so if you're looking for an idea for a prezzie for a loved one (in my case that's me), you could always buy this zing-zang-zowie AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION Volume Two.  Who cares if your girlfriend or wife doesn't read comics - it kills two birds with the one stone by fulfilling your spousal duty to give a gift, while at the same time providing you with something to read.  Result!  So rush around to your local comicbook store and buy your very own copy today.  (No reading it 'til Christmas Day mind - when she flings it back at you 'cos it isn't chocolates or jewellery.)

WARLORD #1...

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

By all rights I shouldn't have bought WARLORD.  I wasn't into war stories, and it must purely have been the fact that it was a new comic I could collect from number one which appealed to me, rather than the theme of the comic itself.  (It was the same with football: I was never into it, yet I bought SHOOT, SCORCHER, and SCORE when they first came out as well.)  Launched in September 1974, it survived until 1986, and inspired IPC to publish their own version, called BATTLE PICTURE WEEKLY.

Warlord was first though, so for all of you who bought it at the time, here's a little pictorial reminder of the debut ish to whisk you back to the days of your childhood faster than you can say "Hey, where did my life go?"  Feel free to share any reminiscences in our ever-lovin' comments section.  After all, it's what it's there for.

BABE Of The DAY - TIA CARRERE...

The beautiful TIA CARRERE wakes up and wonders -

"Who pinched all the blankets?"  (Hee-hee, it was me!)

SPECTACULAR SPLASH PAGES #13...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Why is this a spectacular splash page?  Because it's by JIM STARLIN, it features WARLOCK (formerly known as HIM), and, er - because it's got a hot babe with a body to die for.  What?  Me, sexist?  Perish forbid.

The STRANGE WORLD Of STEVE DITKO...

Read an extremely interesting article  about SPIDER-MAN and Dr. STRANGE co-creator STEVE DITKO the other day.  I accessed it via a link on MARK EVANIER's blog, and it was such an eye-opening read that I thought I'd link to it here as well, so you can all see it for yourselves (if you haven't already).  Click here.

The WIZARD RETURNS...

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

Now here's a blast from the past.  The WIZARD #1 from February 1970.  I was yet a primary school pupil when I first bought and read the comic 46-odd years ago.  Today, I acquired this replacement, and although I haven't yet re-read it, I plan to before I get very much older.  It's always nice when a little piece of the past pops up in the present.

The comic was, in actual fact, a revival - in name at least - of a story paper that first saw the light of day in 1922.  Amazingly, it survived until 1963 - a staggering 41 years.  The revived title didn't manage quite as long as that, bowing out for the final time in 1978.  Note that publisher D.C. THOMSON still weren't calling the weekly periodical a 'comic', preferring to refer to it as a 'picture story paper for boys'.

Want a taste of the contents?  Be my guest.

And, below, is the cover to #1 of the first incarnation from 1922.

BABE Of The DAY - DANA GILLESPIE...

Dynamic DANA GILLESPIE again,

but this time without the annoying bloke

in the beret (I'm very happy to say).

RECOMMENDED READING: Dr. STRANGE MYSTIC APPRENTICE #1...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

I'll keep this short, 'cos if you hurry, you may still have time to race around to your nearest comicbook store and purchase this great one-shot comic.  It has a brand-new story, plus reprints of Dr. STRANGE's debut and origin (two separate tales), and you'll absolutely love it, hug it, and call it 'George'.  (Don't worry about me - the meds will kick in soon.)

SPECTACULAR SPLASH PAGES #12...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Another cracking splash page to amaze your awestruck orbs, faithful ones.  This is the first one by STEVE DITKO to feature in this series, but it was well worth waiting for, I'm sure you'll agree.  The first titanic team up between SPIDER-MAN and Dr. STRANGE, it's a page that promises much in a tale that delivers even more.  Feast your eyes, effendis, on the work of one of the all-time comicbook greats, and don't forget to return for more of the same soon.