THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECTION VOLUME SEVEN...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

My laziness is legendary, so you surely don't expect me to tell you anything about this book, do you?  That's why I show you the back cover with the publisher's spiel about the contents and any other relevant info.  One thing I will tell you though, is that it's on sale now at all good comics shops.  That's all I need to say, so buy one while you can.

BABE OF THE DAY - LESLIE BIANCHINI...

LESLIE BIANCHINI can hardly

believe she's actually out on a date with

me.  She keeps glancing over her shoulder

to ensure I'm still here.  Just how insecure

can a gal be, eh?  (Though when you're as

good-looking as me, I suppose it's not

 that difficult to understand.)

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY - MAY 6TH...

Images copyright their respective owners

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY is this Saturday, May 6th, so pop along to your local comics shop and pick up a couple of goodies or so.  Remember though, that while the comics are free to you, the comics store owners still have to pay for them, so as you'll be there anyway, it'd be nice if you bought a little something to help support them in their efforts to cater to your comic book needs.  You know it makes sense.

Here are just some of the comics available on the day.

CRIVENS' CRACKING COVERS - FIREBALL XL5 LITTLE GOLDEN BOOK...

Copyright relevant owner

Just because I like the cover.  There.  Who says intros have to be long-winded?  Although, while I'm here, I might as well tell you all that the vast majority of this blog's all-time visits now hail from the States, so give yourselves a pat on the back, American readers, as you obviously have rare taste and discernment.

RECOMMENDED READING: AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION VOLUME THREE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

I've had this book for almost a week, so I've been remiss in not posting about it before now.  The AVENGERS EPIC COLLECTION Volume 3 is - well, epic.  Just take a look at the goodies contained therein on the back cover below, then pop into your nearest comics shop and buy a copy for yourself.  It's MARVEL's Avengers at their mightiest!

ANOTHER BABE OF THE DAY - SUSAN STORM...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

"If you knew SUSIE like I know Susie..."

I'd be very unhappy, 'cos I thought she was

faithful to me.  What's that?  She's married to

REED RICHARDS?  Nah, that's a SKRULL

impersonating her.  (What's even worse, his

name is ERIC!  Poor ol' Reed, eh?)

THE FANTASTIC FOUR'S HALL OF INFAMY - DOCTOR DOOM!

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

"Infamy, infamy!  They've all got it in for me!" cried KENNETH WILLIAMS in one of the CARRY ON films.  DOCTOR DOOM seems to suffer from the same persecution complex, often wondering why people appear to have it in for him.  Something to do with trying to kill The FANTASTIC FOUR and take over the world perhaps, Doomsy?  That certainly isn't likely to win you any friends.

BABE OF THE DAY - LESLIE BIANCHINI...

Lovely LESLIE BIANCHINI gazes at

me adoringly, and who can blame her?  After

 all, I'm completely adorable.  (Yes I am!)

CRIVEN'S CRACKING COVERS - THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN BOOK...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

I'm not quite sure what PETER PARKER is doing here.  I know what he's meant to be doing (changing to SPIDER-MAN), but it looks more like he's attempting to master the intricacies of a flamboyant dance step, while at the same time trying to scratch an irritating itch on his back, using his shirt like bathers do when towelling themselves dry.  Still, cracking cover though.

******

I think I first saw this book in the Virgin Megastore in Glasgow, around the time (or not too long removed from it) it was first published.  However, my abiding memory of it is from when I saw it on sale in the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth, back in 1981 (or possibly '85).  Funny how my second memory of it seems to be more prominent than the first.

MAKE A DATE WITH THE MIGHTY MARVEL BICENTENNIAL CALENDAR 1976...

Superhero images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Okay, you saw the main piccies from The MIGHTY MARVEL BICENTENNIAL CALENDAR 1976 in our previous post.  Now it's time to check out the pages with the actual dates on 'em.  And remember, though this is the calendar for 1976, it actually went on sale in 1975, so it's even older than it seems.  Luckily, I still look like a teenager, so nobody'd ever believe I was even around back then.

(What?  Why are you lookin' at me funny?) 

CONAN copyright The Estate of R.E. HOWARD

SUFFERIN' SHAD! IT'S THE MIGHTY MARVEL BICENTENNIAL CALENDAR 1976...

Superhero images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Because you demanded it - I've changed my socks.  Meanwhile, on the blog front, here's a mighty MARVEL calendar from over 40 years ago.  If you're around my age, that probably only feels like yesterday - if you're under 40, it must seem like prehistoric times.  Either way, I'm sure you'll all enjoy looking at these pulsating piccies.

CONAN copyright The Estate of R.E. HOWARD

BABE OF THE DAY - VICTORIA VETRI...

Vivacious VICTORIA VETRI

tries out her new invisible high-heeled

shoes for the very first time.  Looks like

one heel might be higher than the other -

either that, or her left leg is shorter than

her right.  (H'm, let's just say it's the

 shoes as she's a sensitive lass.)

CRIVENS' CLASSIC COMIC COVERS - THE FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER #8...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

I first saw this cover on an issue of the British weekly DRACULA LIVES around 1974, but I eventually tracked down the original American issue of The FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER that it came from sometime back in the '90s.  A cracking JOHN BUSCEMA illustration that manages to evoke the spirit of the great BORIS KARLOFF.