(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - MARTINE BESWICK...

My favourite BOND Girl - MARTINE

BESWICK!  A complete, utter, total, and

 thorough darlin'!  I'm hugely in love.

YIPPEEE! PART TWELVE OF SMASH! COVER GALLERY...

Copyright REBELLION

I can't help but wonder if all those SIMON TEST covers 'tested' the patience of readers who might have preferred a rotation of the comic's heroes getting star treatment every week.  I'd have liked to see JANUS STARK and CURSITOR DOOM, etc., each getting a turn now and again, just for the sake of variety.  However, what's done is done, and there's no turning back the clock now.  At least, not from the point of changing anything, but we can for the purpose of pleasant reminiscing.  Ah, happy memories.

'NEW' SUPERMAN COVER GALLERY - PART NINE...

Images copyright DC COMICS

A mix of consecutive and non-consecutive issues for you in this latest instalment of 'new' SUPERMAN covers, folks.  I've included two versions of #123, but I'm unsure whether there were other alternate covers for this ish or not.  These may well be all the issues I have of the title, so this could be the last part of this series.  Rest assured though, if I find any more, I'll post them on this, the best blog in the fevered realms of my imagination, as well as my house.  (I may be delusional, but at least I'm accurate.)

   

BABE Of The DAY - RAQUEL WELCH...

Here's ravishing RAQUEL

WELCH to pick up your pulse,

put a spring in your step and a

 smile on your face.  Sorted.

THIS IS IT - JIM REEVES...

Here's a nice slow number to soothe and relax you, by the

velvet-voiced JIM REEVES.  Better sit or lie down before you

start listening - it's so smooth, you may drop off to sleep!

OOOH! FANTASTIC FREE GIFT SCAR(E)S PARENTS...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

The first issue of FANTASTIC I ever purchased was #7, but the first one I saw was #3.  That was on a trip into Glasgow with my parents and brother one Saturday, but as its free gift was a disgusting piece of 'confectionery' of which I never partake, I wasn't much interested in the comic.  The first I recall being aware of the new title however, was with #2, mainly because of the stushie caused by the free gift.  It perhaps seems ridiculous nowadays, but it certainly made a fuss back in the dark ages of 1967.

Whether it was a genuine story or one cobbled up by bored journalists on a slow news week, I remember Scottish presenter BILL TENNENT doing a 'piece' on the STV news about parents being worried that children who couldn't get the comic and free gift of 'scar' stickers might take to disfiguring themselves with knives in order to create their own set of scars.  Are kids really that stupid?  Some might be, certainly, but I rather think they'd be more likely to draw their own scars and stick them onto their skin than reach for the penknife dad gave them for Christmas.

Bill Tennent was a well-known Scottish TV presenter, and I'm surprised to see that he retired from TV in the late '70s to run the MARIE STUART Hotel in Glasgow.  I was even more surprised to learn that he died in 1993 at the too young age of only 59.  He was such a fixture of television in Scotland that most people around my age will be saddened to learn of his passing if they weren't already aware of it.  Remember the programme TIMESLIP?  For years I thought it was Bill who did the introductory piece at the beginning of the first episode, until I watched it on video in the mid-'90s and saw it was PETER FAIRLEY.  Perhaps Bill did the intro shown in Scotland as he was better-known here?  Anyone know?

Anyway, that's two subjects covered under one banner.  You sure get your money's worth on this blog.  Take a look at the controversial stickers below.  Do they make you want to cut yourself, or merely print out a copy and stick them all over your face and wrists?  Either way, you're a nutter!

JIM REEVES IS A BLUE BOY...

JIM REEVES sounded great singing 'live', but

occasionally he'd lip-sync to his own recordings for

some reason or other on TV shows.  Here's one such

time, but it's still a great song nevertheless.  Feeling

off-colour, Jim?  Then tell us all about it...

BABE Of The DAY - RAQUEL WELCH...

Can't recall if I've used this pic before, but

so what if I have!  When you're as stunning as

RAQUEL WELCH, a little repetition is no bad

thing, right?  Drool cups on standby.

SMASH! COVER GALLERY - PART ELEVEN...

Copyright REBELLION

You begged, pleaded and demanded - but I'm still not going anywhere!  And look what I've got for you!  Another six sizzling covers of the '60s & '70s sensation known as SMASH!  This was the new, MARVEL reprints-free Smash!, yet it had its own charm and is still fondly-remembered by those who read it back in the day.  So relive your youth (or see what you missed if you're a youngster) by copping a gander at these six scintillating covers featuring SIMON TEST.

PART EIGHT OF 'NEW' SUPERMAN COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Another bunch of SUPERMAN covers, from a time when Supes was looking distinctly like a hippy.  Man, are these tales going to look dated when DC get around to reprinting them.  As you can see, they're not completely consecutive, but don't let that spoil your enjoyment.  Anyway, let's forego my usual woeful waffle and get straight into the pretty piccies.  Enjoy.

   

...'cos he wouldn't get his hair cut

ALSO BARKED ZARA THUSTRASIA...

My dog has a fine pair of balls - which belonged to her predecessor

On this very day 30 years ago, my dog ZARA was born.  I brought her home on July 12th, and the first thing she did was take a dump on the living-room carpet.  Took me ages to get her house-trained, but she had a very placid nature.  I could take bones from her without incident and she never bit anyone in her 12 and a half-odd years of life.  I took loads of photos of her over the years so I thought I'd show some of them here to mark her birthday.  She was registered with the Kennel Club under the name of ZARA THUSTRASIA, which was a feminization of the name ZARATHUSTRA, as in 'Also Sprach...'

So enjoy the photos and then give your own dog a pat on the head to show how much you love and appreciate it - just like it does you.

"What did you wake me for?" she's asking

The bold Moonmando and Zara

Ain't she sweet?

An old classmate from primary school gets a warm (but wet) welcome

"What do you mean 'Get down Shep'?  Who's Shep?"

Don't worry about me - I'm winning!

"What're you looking at?"

"Hey, it's snowing!"

Zara, with my old primary school in the background

Zara and me on the family estate.  (Cough!)

Having fun in the back garden

"I'll just pose here for a minute!"

Zara Thustrasia - 1986 - 1998