BABE Of The DAY - JANE RUSSELL...

Okay, I admit it - I'm in love with

JANE RUSSELL.  Though it's nowhere

near as embarrassing as being a train-

 spotter or a SIDNEY DEVINE fan.

BEOWULF DRAGON SLAYER...

Images copyright DC COMICS

I assume BEOWULF was a belated attempt by DC to mine the 'sword and sorcery' vein dug by MARVEL's CONAN mag, but it only lasted for six issues.  CLAW The UNCONQUERED (see ad) was a similar attempt which lasted twice that, but still lacked the comics longevity of the Cimmerian barbarian.

Beowulf has resurfaced in the DCU in the last few years, but I missed those mags, so can only show you the covers and select internal pages from the first three issues from 1975.  (The first ish is another of those comics that I recall reading while sat on my grandparents red bed-settee on one of our Sunday visits.)

Maybe one day I'll track down the remaining three issues and complete the set, in which case I'll be sure to post the covers on this, the best blog in the depths of my fevered imagination.  Did you buy Beowulf at the time?  Let's hear all about it, chums.  First, however, enjoy the art and ads on view for you.

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(Incidentally, I first saw the '1st DC Issue' blurb on the cover of TARZAN #1 when DC took over publication from GOLD KEY.  However, as far as I'm aware, there never was a prior Beowulf title, so why it didn't just say '1st Issue' I don't know.  Any suggestions?  The blurb also appeared on the covers of other first issues by DC.)

(Update: You can now see all six covers here.  I might add them and the splash pages to the ones below at some stage.

STAIRWAY To SKARO (EARTH BRANCH)...

The DALEKS copyright BBC TV, the Estate of
TERRY NATION, and DALEK Enterprises

Remember that old story about DALEKS not being able to climb stairs?  It was, of course, a lie, as this candid photograph of my Dalek pal gliding up the stairs on his way to bed clearly demonstrates.  The truth is that Daleks only pretended not to be able to climb stairs for the purpose of drama in the BBC TV series Dr. WHO.

They concluded that the most efficient way of conquering the universe was to infiltrate every planet's entertainment broadcasting system and to establish a following amongst viewers , young and old.  TERRY NATION was their agent on Earth, and the Daleks are now all millionaires and known all over the universe as superstars.

See?  That's the way to do interplanetary conquest!  Take note.

LEO BAXENDALE GOES DOWN THE PLUGHOLE...

Images copyright LEO BAXENDALE

I bought this booklet back in 1995 (21 years ago - wow!), so it's certainly not a new publication and many of you may already have it.  However, for those fans of LEO BAXENDALE who don't, it's an entertaining little read and well-worth adding to your collection.  I'd imagine that it's still readily available from REAPER BOOKS, the link to which can be found in my blog list.

This 40 page softcover booklet features BABY BASIL, his big brother WILLY The KID, and all their pals.  Go on treat yourself today.  Leo will even autograph it for you.  (Update: Sadly no longer possible as Leo has passed away since I first published this post.)

BABE Of The DAY - ANGIE HARMON...

ANGIE HARMON is

a 'babe' and she's here today.

So let me see then - that surely

makes her 'Babe of the Day'.

Right - sorted.

PART TWO Of The CHAMPIONS COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Here's one of semi-regular commenter CJ's all-time favourite super-teams - second only to the original X-MEN, who he's likewise a big fan of.  (I got that right, Col, didn't I?)  Kidding aside, we now turn our attention to the final fab nine covers in our gallery of MARVEL's The CHAMPIONS.  Any further comment by me would be superfluous - so let's just look at dynamic art.

However, if you'd like to reminisce about when you first read these issues, the comments section awaits your input.

KID KLASSICS: PAST IMPERFECT, BUT WELCOME NONETHELESS...

Here's a curious tale which I can't actually recall if I've recounted before or not, although I've meant to for a while now.  Back in August of 1999, myself and a young lady were spending the day in Glasgow and decided to drop in to the Gallery of Modern Art in Royal Exchange Square. One of the exhibits we looked at was a 'kinetic sculpture' by EDUARD BERSUDSKY, entitled An Autumn Walk in the Belle Epoque of Perestroyka (Meta-Tinguely).

It was scheduled to begin at a certain time, but with a dozen or so people seated and expectant, the minutes crept past the anointed hour without the demonstration of the complex contraption commencing.  The girl I was with (who, for the purpose of this tale we'll call Sally) went off to enquire about what was happening, only to find out that it had been cancelled due to some kind of technical fault.  (A sign at the entrance informing us of the fact would have been appreciated.)

Anyway, disappointed, we filed out to look at other exhibits and soon forgot about what we'd missed.  Not long after, Sally returned to her own country for a while, although I saw her again on two more occasions when she was back in Scotland some time later.  However, she doesn't feature in the rest of this story, so exit Sally, stage left.  Well, in an odd kind of way, that's not quite true, but let's take each step as it comes.  (The best way to take steps, I believe.)

Eduard Bersudsky's 'kinetic sculpture'

A year later to the very day, I was in Glasgow and decided to revisit the Gallery once more.  Much to my surprise, the exhibit that had been out of order twelve months before was still on display - and just about to begin.  I entered the room and, believe it or not, the exact same two seats at the far end of the row that Sally and I had occupied were empty, so I parked myself on the very one I had sat on previously.

For the next several minutes, the audience sat in rapt attention as the display went through its preordained mechanical repertoire.  When it had completed its revolutions, I instinctively turned to Sally to ask her opinion of what we had just witnessed - only to be surprised for a split-second to find her chair empty.  Then reality kicked in and I realized my mind had automatically jumped back a year, momentarily duped by the near perfect re-creation of the previous year's events.

Bizarre I know, but for a moment I had experienced something extremely akin to time-travel - even if it was only in my mind.  Has anyone else ever had a similar experience?  Feel free to share.

THAT YOGI BEAR SURE HAS AN INFLATED OPINION OF HIMSELF...

Just had to show this pic, even though I don't think it's the exact same inflatable YOGI BEAR I had as a kid.  However Yogi Bear is Yogi Bear, and that's a good enough excuse for me to indulge in a bit of childhood nostalgia.

MISTER MACHINE IS A MAN...

MISTER MACHINE/MACHINE MAN copyright MARVEL COMICS

Following our MACHINE MAN EPIC COLLECTION post, let's now take a look at the covers of the first three mags he appeared in when he was called MISTER MACHINE, way, way back in 1977.  Created by JACK 'King' KIRBY for his 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY mag, MM appeared in the last three issues of the ten-ish series, before being awarded his own comic.

And if you'd like to read the stories, ATOMIC KOMMIE COMICS blog has all three issues for you to read, which you can do by clicking on this link to part one.

KID'S AWESOME AURORA MODELS...

I've shown my AURORA models before on this blog, but now comes the time to show them again in an 'omnibus' post, mainly 'cos I can't think of anything better to write about.  Don't despair though, 'cos if you haven't seen them before then they're all new to you, and if you have, then what the hell - they're well-worth seeing again anyway.  All built and painted by myself, it should go without saying (but I said it anyway, so sue me).

First up, above, is the FRANKENSTEIN kit from 1961.  I've got four of them, but this is the only one I assembled, back in 1983 or '84.  (Wait a minute - tell a lie.  I built the LUMINATORS version as well in the late '80s or early '90s.)  Below is the SUPERMAN kit from 1964.  I've got an un-built one still tucked away in its box, which I really must build and paint one day.  I've also got the MONOGRAM, MPC, and REVELL reissues.

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Below is the GIGANTIC FRANKENSTEIN kit from 1965, also known as BIG FRANKIE.  This is a superb kit, and I want to have its babies.  In an abstract, figurative manner of speaking of course.  You think I'm some kind of weirdo?

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Next up (below) is the BATMAN kit from 1965, just in time to meet the demand generated by the '66 TV show.  The camera-flash has slightly washed-out the colours, but don't let that deter you from swooning in awe and envy at my modelling skills.

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From 1966 comes The FORGOTTEN PRISONER of CASTEL-MARE (which means 'Castle by the sea').  See what happens when you put GROUP 4 in charge of prisoners?

  

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Next (below) is the 1974 reissue of SUPERMAN.  The 'S' emblem outline of the first version had been removed from the costume and cape, and stickers (water-slide decals in subsequent reissues) supplied - but I painted them on by hand for a superior finish, 'cos I'm a perfectionist I am.  Also, the nameplate was omitted from this version, so I used a spare '65 one.

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Below is the 1974 reissue of the BATMAN kit, which was ever-so-slightly modified.  First, the name was deleted from the tree, as was the circular 'bat' emblem, which was replaced with an oval sticker.  The little owl was also omitted, but I acquired a spare one from a '65 kit to 'complete' the model.  Bought, built and painted in 1983, owl obtained, painted and added in 2007.

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Finally, the SUPERBOY and KRYPTO kit, reissued in 1974.  Like the other '70s reissues, the nameplate which accompanied the original '65 release was omitted, so I made one myself.  (A half-hearted one admittedly - so much for being a perfectionist, eh?)  The 'S' emblems are reduced copies of ones from the 1984 MPC reissue of the Superman kit, as I acquired the model without its original stickers.  I've also got a reissue with the nameplate, but it's still in its box.

I've got other Aurora kits (some of which are later reissues by other companies), but I haven't got 'round to assembling and painting them yet.  Maybe one day, I hope.  Now, I know you're all dying to tell me how wonderful I am, so I won't hold you back from expressing your admiration for a moment longer.

BABE Of The DAY - GABRIELLE 'TRIVAGO' MILLER...

Here's cutie-pie GABRIELLE MILLER

looking like LARA CROFT, so that's two Babes

in one.  I'm spoiling you lot, I really am!

The CHAMPIONS COVER GALLERY - PART ONE...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Having teased you with the MARVEL MASTERWORKS volume of The CHAMPIONS, let's now have a cover gallery to show you just what you're missing if you haven't yet bought yourself a copy.  The first eight covers to start you off, the remaining nine to follow as soon as I get around to scanning them.  So enjoy part one, and don't dare miss part two.  Any recollections of this titanic title?  The comments section awaits you, effendis.

Oh, lookee here - a JACK KIRBY cover (though Iceman might be by someone else)