CAPTAIN BRITAIN COVER OMNIBUS...

Copyright MARVEL COMICS

A few years ago I posted a 12 part series of Captain Britain Cover, Splash Page & Image Galleries which spanned the entire 39 issue run of the Marvel UK weekly comic from back in the '70s.  This time around I thought I'd publish only the covers, all in one post for your convenience, to save you trawling through the blog in search of a specific cover should you ever be looking for one.

For this post I've used my original copy of #1, which I either kept when I gave them all to a pal back in the '70s, or reclaimed shortly after when I was in his house one night and realised I missed it.  (My memory can sometimes be a bit frayed these days, but it was 'either/or'.)  I did occasionally retrieve comics (with his consent), but it only ever amounted to a handful at most, measured against the many dozens I passed on to him.

(Number 10, along with the first combined issue of Super Spider-Man [#231], are also my original copies, freely given back by him well over 30 years later.)

The remaining issues are replacements obtained from various sources in the early '80s ('83/'84), and it amazes me to think I've now had them far longer than I owned my originals.  Our dog Tara was alive when I (separately) owned each individual set, though she passed in 1986, but I'm glad that my possession of both sets fell within her lifespan.  I got her successor Zara a month after Tara died, though she was born the month before, so again there's a sort of overlapping continuity with the comics and the dogs.

I thought Captain Britain was a great wee comic, though it lost a little of the magic when the colour pages were dropped after 23 issues, probably to cut costs in the face of a declining circulation.  Anyway, enjoy refreshing your memory of the covers and also your youth if you bought the title back in the day.  In fact, why not share your reminiscences of the comic and any associations it conjures up in the caverns of your mind?!  

Might as well show show the cover (below) for the 1978 CB Annual as well, on sale around August/September of '77.  This is my original copy, having been in my possession since purchased in Woolworth's back in the day (along with The Incredible Hulk Annual, though the one I have now is a replacement).  It contains the Cap tales from issues 1 - 7, and the two b&w pages (in #s 2 & 3 respectively) were specially coloured for their reprint appearance in this book.

Apparently, when the comics were prepared, it was forgotten the colour cover would leave only seven pages of CB for colouring, not eight, necessitating the eighth page in those two numbers being in B&W (described as bonus do-it-yourself colour pages).  The first ish contained seven pages of CB, and from #4 up to #23, when the interior colour was dropped, that's how it remained.  (Maybe even after, too.  I haven't checked.)

POSTS From The PAST: For FAWKES' SAKE & PENNY For The GUY...

Copyright REBELLION

Remember, remember - er, wait just a second, I've forgotten.  No, hang on - I've remembered again.  November 5th, GUY FAWKES' NIGHT - BONFIRE NIGHT - GIVE PENSIONERS AND PETS A HEART ATTACK NIGHT - whatever you want to call it.  For all those participating in the firework festivities, here's a cut-out Guy Fawkes mask from a 1997 issue of BUSTER.  I think this was printed in the insides of the comic just about every year, and may even hark back to my own childhood - it certainly looks familiar.  (Although, back then, it would've been a cardboard free gift - with its own elastic - tucked inside the comic.) 

Anyway, take care if you're having a firework display or attending a local bonfire - fingers and skin are handy things to have, so take appropriate steps to ensure that you or your kids aren't parted from them.  REMEMBER THE FIREWORKS CODE!

******

BUSTER had several good artists in his time, but possibly the best remembered (to those of a certain age) is the late ANGEL NADAL, who drew the strip from 1962 to '74.  (REG PARLETT took over when COR!! was merged into the comic.)  This particular page is from an issue dated October 29th 1966, and is relevant because it's all about 'Firework Night'.  (Or 'Bonfire Night' or 'Guy Fawkes Night', or whatever it's called these days.)  This is scanned, panel-by-panel, from the original art, which I own - and very glad am I to have it to be sure.  (And it's not for sale.)

Thanks to PHILIP CRAWLEY for alerting me to where I could find an image of the published page (www.bustercomic.co.uk), but I've now replaced it with a scan from my very own, newly-acquired copy.

SAME SCENE, DIFFERENT ARTISTS - WHICH ONE DO YOU PREFER?

Images copyright relevant owner

A couple of Crivvies said that they liked the cover of the third Fireball XL5 Annual when I posted all four recently, saying it had more of a sense of action about it than the other three.  That being the case, I thought you might like the similar scene from a special edition of TV Century 21 which accompanied the second edition DVD box set of the Fireball TV show.  The above illustration is by Eric Eden, the one below is by Mike Noble.  Anybody got a preference?

THE GALAXY'S GREATEST COMIC IN EMBYRONIC FORM...

Copyright REBELLION

As most of you will already know, 2000 A.D.'s proposed name at the 'dummy' stage was A.D. 2000, which doesn't really have the same flow to it.  I've seen some images online before, but now I own my very own facsimile edition, just recently acquired.  I believe it's a 'giveaway' to those who take out a subscription to the comic, so all those who want one should jump over to the Rebellion website and check out the details and cost.

In the meantime here are a few images to whet your appetite.  Don't say I'm not good to you.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER...

Copyright REBELLION

Should've alerted you to this sooner, but doubtless you've seen it mentioned on other blogs.  I had to wait 'til I received my copy direct from Rebellion as my local WHS didn't get it in.  I was in on the day of release - 6th - but they hadn't heard of it and couldn't say when or even if it was due.  I looked in the comics section, the magazines section, and the bookazines section every other day for a couple of weeks or so, but no joy.

The guy in charge of the periodicals department is totally useless.  He sometimes doesn't put stuff out on the basis that it gets stolen (his excuse, he's probably just too lazy) and he took seven issues (after I'd bought two) of the first Cor!! Buster Special off the shelves after a few days and put them in the back of the shop.  It wasn't until I complained to the manageress that they were put back on the shelves after a period of about two weeks or thereabouts.  Rebellion are paying for shelf space and being cheated.

My own view is that the guy should've been sacked years ago, but who listens to me?  One of the most useless and unhelpful shop assistants I've ever encountered.  Anyway, vent over.  This mag is meant to be on sale until December 1st, so try and grab a copy before then.  Some nice stuff in it, but I think it will appeal more to nostalgic adults rather than kids.