LITTLE LOST BEAR ON A BEACH...

A small breeze blew in off the sea as I strolled along Portsmouth beach on a mid-evening in March, back in 1981.  Gulls circled overhead, keen eyes peeled for edible tit-bits dropped by careless passers-by, out for an idle wander (like myself) or a bracing 'constitutional' before returning home for a relaxing 'nightcap' prior to bedtime.

Turning my gaze from Neptune's watery domain, I was momentarily startled by what appeared to be a small body lying face down on the pebbles a little ahead of me.  As I got nearer I could see it was a sopping wet Teddy bear which had been washed up by the tide, presumably having fallen overboard from some ship or ferry.

I stopped to observe his drenched and pitiful form and, I blush to confess, found myself (much to my surprise) feeling somewhat sorry for the little chap.  I picked him up, noticing how heavy he was due to his immersion, and squeezed his purloined portion of ocean onto the beach.  Then I sat him in a more comfortable position and studied his bedraggled face thoughtfully.

Was some heartbroken and inconsolable child at that very moment lamenting his loss and praying for his safe return?  Or had poor ol' Ted been cast into the briny deep on the perverse whim of some capricious brat curious to see if he would float or sink?  Who could say?  There was no mistaking, however, that here was a fellow in need of a helping hand if ever there was one.

At some stage in his life Teddy had lost his eyes, whether as a result of his seafaring adventure or some previous misfortune I am unable to say.  As he sat there, I could swear he was aware of my presence, too proud to beg, but listening intently, head slightly cocked, silently hoping that I would not forsake him.  If I ignored this noble bear's unspoken plea, his likely destiny seemed either to be gathered unto the sea once more and consigned to its depths, or to end his span on a refuse tip when those responsible for maintenance of the beach spotted his unauthorised occupation.

A sense of shame fills my soul as I now recall my response to this poor creature's plight.  I hardened my heart and turned my step in the direction of home, telling myself that he was too wet to carry, that my landlady wouldn't allow him on the premises, that I would be unable to find him a new owner on account of his blind and wretched condition.  As I departed with crunching footsteps, I seemed to hear what sounded like a faint, sad sigh behind me.

Just for a moment my resolve weakened, but I managed to hold fast.  However, something told me that this poor bear's existence should not go unrecorded; that there should be some kind of reminder of his short sojourn on Earth when, hopefully, he had once been loved and cherished and validated by the affections of a child whose life revolved solely around him.  So I turned, beat down the nagging voice in my heart, and snapped a photo before abandoning this soggy, sorry, uncomplaining little bear to the encroaching gloom of evening.

Even today, over thirty years later, I sometimes find my thoughts returning to that little lost bear and hoping that a kinder person than myself gave him the good and loving home he deserved, and which I in my selfishness had denied him.  Ashamed of my heartlessness, I seek a small measure of consolation in the hope that, regardless of his eventual fate, he would have understood and forgiven me for not being the good Samaritan that I should have been.

He just looked to be that sort of a bear.

******

(And, by the magic of technology, Ted has now been given a bit of a 'wash' and had his sight restored.  Ahhh.)

SUPERMAN'S AMAZING NEW ADVENTURES - COVER GALLERY...

Copyright DC COMICS

In a previous post (here), we looked at the very first story in DENNY O'NEIL's ground-breaking SUPERMAN run which lasted nine issues, with another two unconnected tales following soon after.  (Issue #233, above, which kicked things off, was dated January 1971, but probably went on sale around October 1970 in the United States.  Though exactly when it hit newsstands in Britain is anyone's guess.)

Anyway, I thought all you Crivvies would probably appreciate seeing the rest of the covers in O'Neil's KRYPTONITE NEVERMORE series, though #239 was a giant reprint issue which had nothing to do with the storyline so I haven't included it here.  However, I have included #s 244 & 253, which ended O'Neil's involvement with The MAN Of STEEL.  (As far as I'm aware, that is.  If anyone knows otherwise, don't keep it to yourself.)

So - sit back and enjoy the accompanying eleven covers, from a time when publishers knew how to grab a potential purchaser's attention with dynamic layouts and intriguing illustrations!

The EAGLE #1 - COMPLETE ISSUE...

Copyright relevant owner

The EAGLE was Britain's brightest, boldest, biggest and best comic of the 1950s.  Created partly in response to the growing tide of unrest over American crime and horror imports, MARCUS MORRIS's and FRANK HAMPSON's 20 page photo-gravure-printed publication was an immediate hit, selling close to a million copies a week in its heyday.  Star of the comic was undoubtedly DAN DARE, originally envisioned as a space chaplain, but evolving into an interplanetary pilot of the future before first seeing print on or around April 7th, 1950 in Eagle #1.  (Cover-dated April 14th.)  Although originally registered with the G.P.O. as a newspaper (a tradition of the times), the periodical was a comic, pure and simple.  Costing three old pennies (thru'pence), it was published by HULTON PRESS Ltd., and printed by ERIC BEMROSE Ltd.

But whence came the name Dan Dare?  Legend has it (and it may well be true) that the space hero's alliterative appellation was derived from the phrase "Dare to  be a Daniel", in reference to Daniel in the lion's den as recounted in The BIBLE.  (Marcus Morris being a clergyman at the time.)  However, he wasn't the first action-adventurer of that name - a Dan Dare had appeared in WHIZ COMICS back in 1939/'40, sharing the pages of perhaps the greatest hero of them all - CAPTAIN MARVEL.  However, no one much remembers the U.S. counterpart these days, whereas the British incarnation continues to appear in brand-new adventures in every issue of SPACESHIP AWAY, a deluxe, three times a year publication available through mail order and specialist comic shops.  (Click here for details. And if you're a fan of the original Eagle, click here.)

As a special treat, generous moi has decided to show the complete first issue of The Eagle from 1950.  The pages are reproduced from my own personal copy of this legendary landmark and, therefore, any imperfections on the actual pages will be visible in the accompanying images.  And, before you ask, no - it's not for sale!  (Sharp-eyed readers will no doubt spot that another famous character also made his debut in this iconic issue.  I bet when you spot him, you won't be able to stop whistling the theme tune of his later TV show.)  Enjoy.

     

Click on images to enlarge - when they pop up in another window, click again for optimum size.  

MOONMANDO'S MELLOW MAGIC...

  

It's Sunday, which is commonly regarded by many as the 'day of rest'.  (Though, historically speaking, from the Jewish perspective I believe it's actually a Saturday.)  Never mind, it's time to relax and chill out; to recharge our batteries for the week ahead before plunging back into the maelstrom of life.  With that in mind, here's the titanically-talented MOONMANDO, playing an appropriate musical melody to soothe your troubled soul and touch your heart with peace and tranquillity.  Enjoy!

(Incidentally, the original video disappeared, so I replaced it with a more recent one, hence the disparity in the dates.)

BUSTER & THE BIG ONE - 1965 ISSUE - PART ONE...

Buster's Diary: Art by Angel Nadal.  Images copyright relevant owner

Sometimes I'm astounded by my generosity.  I mean, who else would bestow upon his loyal readers a complete, 1965 issue of BUSTER & The BIG ONE?  Some other blogs might be content to tease their members with one or two panels from a page, or a couple of pages at most, but I believe in occasionally going the whole hog and presenting the complete issue, adverts and all.  (No, don't thank me - that's what I'm here for.)

The Big One came out on October 10th, 1964 (cover-dated 17th) and only lasted for nineteen issues before it was merged with Buster.  Some sources claim that The ASTOUNDING ADVENTURES Of CHARLIE PEACE started in the short-lived comic, but he actually first appeared in a special preview in VALIANT the week before beginning his regular spot in Buster Capp's popular publication.  I understand, though, that some of his strips were reprinted in The Big One during its brief run.

This is the first instalment in a three-part series.  Hopefully, you'll find something interesting in the contents - or perhaps even revive a few half- forgotten memories from your childhood.  For Part Two, click here.

Maxwell Hawke: Art by Eric Bradbury

Our Great Grandpa: Art by Trevor Metcalfe

Whacko with Claude & Cuthbert: Art by James Malcom

Son of Sherlock: Art by Stan McMurty or Graham Allen

Toys of Doom: Art by Solano Lopez

The Astounding Adventures of Charlie Peace: Art by Tom Kerr

WOW! FANTASTIC COVER GALLERY PART TEN...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Presenting yet another phantasmagorical panoply of Power-packed pictorial delights - I give you FANTASTIC #s 55-60, published by ODHAMS PRESS back in the late '60s.  I could wax eloquent all day about these MARVEL masterpieces, but it wouldn't be fair to hold you back from passing your peepers over the pop-art productions which follow.  So let's not waste another second - dive right in, the water's lovely.