2000TH POST - DENNIS The MENACE...

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

Wow!  2000 posts!  (2000 too many, some might say.)  So, as a special treat, here are five DENNIS The MENACE strips from the very first DTM book, published in 1955 (for '56).  These pages are drawn by DAVEY LAW, who was the regular Dennis artist in The BEANO until his death in 1971.

I'm sure they'll provide a chuckle or two as you sup a glass of lemonade in celebration of CRIVENS! reaching its 2000th 'issue'.  Here's to the next 2000!  (And the 2000 after that.)

BABE Of The DAY - ADA DAWSON...

Here's a Babe that less handsome Crivs

than myself may have more of a chance of

pulling - ADA DAWSON.  I think she might

be related to LES DAWSON, but not sure

 in exactly what way.  Sister, maybe?

FABULOUS FLASHBACK - The DANDY #2000 (Including The Very First DESPERATE DAN Strip)...

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

Do you remember when The DANDY was good - before the awful abomination it became in the last few years of its existence?  Can you recall when well-drawn comic strips were the norm and not the exception, and the artwork was clear and didn't induce a headache while trying to discern what you were looking at?  When the lettering was legible and not an ugly scrawl that made your eyes hurt?  Then you'd have loved the 2000th issue that hit the shops in 1980, and which was typical of the high-standard to which the periodical was produced week after week for many years.

And now, due to the fact that I took possession of the issue today, you can now peruse perfect examples of strip art at its finest, when The Dandy was still a name to be reckoned with in the days when Britain had a comics industry to speak of; before the title became a shadow of itself that drove readers away in their many thousands and those responsible for hastening its demise denied any culpability and behaved like prima-donnas who deserved sainthood rather than the blame which was so rightly theirs.

Of course, we're all trying to forget that dreadful period of the comic's history - some folk for different reasons than others.  So enjoy these humorous, well-drawn pages from a time when talented and experienced cartoonists who knew what they were doing regularly entertained their readers, and The Dandy was held in high esteem by kids and parents alike.

Wanna argue?  The comments section awaits.

  

DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL EDITION...

Copyright BBC TV and PANINI

You may already know about this DOCTOR WHO SPECIAL, but I only picked it from WHS today, so I've no idea how long it's been on sale.  Its title?  Well, you can see that for yourself, and rather than me wittering on telling you all about it, just read the spiel on the back cover.  If you're a fan of the good Doc, you'll want this in your collection.  Only £5.99 - and well-worth every penny!

HALLS Of HORROR - BRIAN LEWIS SPECIAL...

All images copyright QUALITY COMICS

I first enjoyed the amazing art of BRIAN LEWIS in the pages of SMASH! back in the mid-'60s, on a strip called CHARLIE'S CHOICE.  I didn't learn his name until many years later, when I discovered he was also extremely adept at illustrating all types of straight action and adventure strips.  Brian died in 1978 at the far too young age of only 49, and readers of comics were denied further examples of great art from this talented individual, whose career had begun in 1959 on LONE STAR.

He worked on various comics over the years, such as LION, TIGER, BOYS' WORLD, EAGLE, WHAM!, SMASH!, COR!!, TV21, VAMPIRELLA, COUNTDOWN, TV ACTION, LOOK-IN, STARBURST, 2000 A.D., and many other publications.  He was also involved in animation, working on YELLOW SUBMARINE, as well as providing art for The MUPPET SHOW.  In 1982, QUALITY COMICS issued a HALLS Of HORROR Special, reprinting seven strips that Brian had drawn for them.

Here, then, is a quick jaunt through that Special, just to remind you of what a loss Brian's untimely demise was to comics and magazine publishing.  One of the greats, whose legend lives on to this very day, nearly 40 years after he laid down his pen and brush for the final time.

BABE Of The DAY - DALIAH LAVI...

Today's Babe of the Day is DALIAH

LAVI - there's a joke in there somewhere, but

 I'm too much of a gentleman to go there.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN COVER, SPLASH PAGE & IMAGE GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

You asked for it!  You pleaded for it!  You demanded it!  But I'm still not going anywhere, so you'll just have to get used to me being around here on Bloggerland for a long time yet!  However, don't despair, because here's a post you're bound to like - the first instalment of a fantastic CAPTAIN BRITAIN cover, splash page and image gallery to thrill and astound you!

Just look at the artists on view - BUSCEMA, STERANKO, LIEBER, and, of course, the late, great HERB TRIMPE, who was CB's very first artist when Cap made his debut way back in October of 1976.  Wow!!  A mere kick in the pants off 40 years ago, when Herb was yet in his mid-'30s and one of the shining stars in the Merry MARVEL firmament.  A whole lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, but the good Captain is still around today, something of which Herb would surely be immensely proud!

So prepare to refresh your magical memories of the long-ago days of your youth, as we plunge head first into a pulsatin' plethora of pulse-pounding pictures which you're sure to swoon at.  And if by some chance you're seeing these awesome images for the very first time, then I envy you!  You're in for a titanic treat that you won't soon forget.  But that's enough prattling preamble from me - wonderment aplenty lies ahead and shouldn't be delayed.

Excelsior!