SPECTACULAR SPLASH PAGES #15...

Image copyright relevant owner

This story is interesting in that there was once a TRIGAN EMPIRE strip with essentially the same plot.  One day I'll get around to checking which tale came first, but in the meantime, let's just enjoy this spectacular splash page by JACK KIRBY & JOE SIMON.  Now that's what I call activity!

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Oh, wait a minute, what was I thinking?  FIGHTING AMERICAN was published in the '50s, The Trigan Empire in the '60s, so I guess that settles the matter.

THE MEANING OF C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S. ...

JIM REEVES spells out the meaning of

Christmas.  Listen to him hold that crystal-

clear note at the end of the song.  Lovely.

BABE Of The DAY - EMILY PROCTER...

There was a knock on my door last week and

when I opened it, there stood EMILY PROCTER.

"Come on in and make yourself at home" I said to her.

Well blow me down with a twirly straw, she did!  I like

my guests to be comfy, but Emily is taking me a tad too

literally, as you can see from the above photo.  (And

 she eats like a horse, lemme tell ya.)

RECOMMENDED READING: X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION VOLUME TWO...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

There's nothing I like more than a good bit of X.  In fact, it could be said that I'm very highly Xd, but I don't like to brag.  Given my strong X drive, it's hardly surprising that this new book is right up my street.  It's seriously Xy, so you're bound to love it too.  MARVEL's X-MEN EPIC COLLECTION Volume 2 is in your local friendly comicbook store now!

PICK A COLOUR - WHITE OR BLUE...?

What colour of Christmas do you think you're going to have,

Criv-ite chums?  As far as I know, there are only two choices -

white or blue - and neither of them is mutually exclusive.

SSSSHHH! The EMPEROR Has A SECRET...

The DALEKS copyright BBC TV and the Estate of TERRY NATION

If you're a doddery old fart fogey like me, you'll recall when the golden DALEK EMPEROR was challenged by ZEG, the red Dalek, to a duel for supremacy, as recounted in the pages of TV CENTURY 21.  Although red is my favourite colour, I cheered on the Emperor and was glad when he won.  Well, now you lucky peeps are in for a rare treat, for here's a four-page tale about the very chappie, from the pages of The DALEK OUTER SPACE Book.  Enjoy!

BABE Of The DAY - VICTORIA VETRI...

This sure looks to me like VICTORIA VETRI

hatching from an egg.  I've been misinformed about

the facts of life.  (I thought when the stork brought

 them, they were pre-hatched and ready to go.)

SPECTACULAR SPLASH PAGES #14...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Continuing our Crivens super series of spectacular splash pages, now ain't that a kick in the head?  CAPTAIN MARVEL gives it to The CONTROLLER, big-time, in a no holds barred, no punches spared, and no kicks left out fight-fest that's sure to have left at least one of them with a headache.   A JIM STARLIN (pencils) and AL MILGROM (inks) power-packed presentation.

YOGI PLAYS SANTA...

Images copyright HANNA-BARBERA Productions, Inc

Here's the bold bruin YOGI BEAR in a Christmas adventure from 1962/'63, when he was regularly appearing on TV.  He's still a major cartoon (and big-budget movie) star today, so not only is he smarter than the average bear, he's longer-lasting, too.  Let's see what he and his furry friend BOO BOO are up to...

And below is the cover to the tale you've just read.

BABE Of The DAY - LEE MERIWETHER...

Here she is, fellas - the cat's pyjamas.

None other than the alluringly lovely LEE

MERIWETHER playing CATWOMAN in

the 1966 BATMAN movie.  (I'd give her a

 saucer of milk any day of the week.)

RECOMMENDED READING: SUPERMAN IN THE '70s...

Images copyright DC COMICS

SUPERMAN In The '70s is one in a series of books covering different decades in the Man of Steel's comicbook career.  It was published in 2000, but may well still be in print.  If not, eBay or Amazon might be able to accommodate you, should you decide you just have to add it to your collection.  Check your local comicbook store first, though, as they may still have copies in stock.  Give 'em a try!

  

HAVE YOU GOT AN OLD CHRISTMAS CARD?

Christmas is the season for sentiment, and

you can't get more sentimental than this particular

song.  So sit back and relax, and let the man whose

voice is like the echo of a whisper wash away your

troubles with this soothing little number.

RECOMMENDED READING: CAPTAIN MARVEL - THE 'COMPLETE' COLLECTION...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Okay, strictly speaking, this new MARVEL softcover collected edition of CAPTAIN MARVEL isn't really complete, in that it doesn't reprint every Captain Marvel story ever published.  It does, however, contain all the issues produced by JIM STARLIN, which is nothing to be sniffed at.  Just read the spiel on the back cover, then get yourselves straight over to your nearest comicbook store and buy one today!

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(Incidentally, the quality of reproduction in this volume is far superior to that of the 1990 softcover book, The LIFE And DEATH Of CAPTAIN MARVEL, so it's worth buying for that fact alone.  Well, just what're you waiting for??!)

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - JULIE EGE...

"C'mon in, the water's lovely!" says divine

JULIE EGE.  She's not fooling me though - she

only wants me to find the soap and then scrub her

back.  Er, wait a sec - that's hardly a chore, is it?

"Okay, count me in - make room, Julie!"

The POWER Of The DALEKS...

DR. WHO copyright BBC TV.  The DALEKS copyright BBC TV and the Estate of TERRY NATION

Someone I know very kindly gave me the new DOCTOR WHO DVD, The POWER Of The DALEKS recently.  The master tapes were wiped in the '60s & '70s, but the soundtrack to each episode somehow survived.  Cue some bright spark suggesting utilising animation to resurrect the episodes for modern-day viewing.  Great idea, woeful execution, alas.

Sadly, the animation isn't much better than an episode of CAPTAIN PUGWASH. So far I've watched the special features disc and the first episode of the actual serial, but the BBC should really have put more money into the project as it's painfully obvious that it was produced on an extremely limited budget.  So just what's wrong with it?

What isn't?  The accompanying booklet is riddled with typos that render some sentences gibberish, and, on screen, there's no consistency between the sizes of POLLY and BEN.  Sometimes Ben is taller than Polly, sometimes it's the other way around, and sometimes they're both the same size.  You can actually see through the DOCTOR's coat to his shirt and braces underneath, and in one scene his left hand is several times the size of his right and can be seen through his body.

The animation is basic and jerky, the backgrounds static, with characters often facing in the wrong direction to what's supposed to be occurring the other way.  The animation in SCOOBY DOO is better, so that should give you all an idea of just how bad it is.  In one scene, the Doctor and his two companions are being kept in a room, and Ben and Polly are seen in"suitable clothing" - which hasn't yet been given to them at that point in the story.

Anyway, I'll persevere with the remaining episodes when my masochistic tendencies kick in again, but I may just book an appointment with the dentist instead.  Not quite one to avoid, because the documentary on the making of the programme is interesting, but don't expect PIXAR quality animation or you're bound to be disappointed.  Marks?  Only four out of ten, sadly.  Should've been  much better.

LINKS, CHAINS, AND PAINS...

The attitude of some people often astounds me, and the following story is a perfect example of just what I'm talking about.  Almost ten years back, I worked in a watch repair shop.  At one time, after I'd left its employ, myself and a friend were in negotiations to buy the business, but eventually pulled out of the deal as the incompetent owners couldn't get their act together (though I'll bet that's not what they told the person they eventually sold it to).  But I digress.

One day, a women I knew came into the shop looking to have links removed from a chain bracelet of some kind.  The standard charge for this particular procedure was £7.99, but because she was a member of a church I'd once attended when younger, I decided to do her a favour.  After I'd completed the task, she asked me how much she owed and I smiled and told her just to give me two quid.

The manageress was in that day observing proceedings, so I was quite prepared to make up the £6 discount from my own pocket simply to do the woman a good turn.  She looked taken aback, and grudgingly started to reach for her purse.  Noticing her scowl, I asked her why she didn't seem too happy.  "I think you've got a cheek asking for that" she responded.  It was now my turn to be taken aback.  I explained that I was letting her off with six quid and therefore didn't understand her attitude, and to remember that it was a business and not a charity. 

Anyway, she paid up and left, but the experience dispirited me.  Had she expected me to do it for nothing merely because we were acquainted?  If I'd worked in Asda, would she have expected me to wave her through the checkout with a box of biscuits without charging her?  Who goes into a shop looking for goods or services without expecting to pay?  I'm still staggered by her attitude.

No doubt when relating her version of events to her friends, I was painted as the bad guy.  It brings to mind the old saying - "No good deed goes unpunished."

Too true, mate - too bleedin' true.   

BING'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS...

Continuing our Yuletide theme, here's BING CROSBY letting us all

know that he'll be home for Christmas.  Wonder if it'll be a white one?

RECOMMENDED READING: Dr. STRANGE - The OATH...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

You all know the drill by now - I let the official spiel on the back cover speak for itself.  Suffice to say that if you're a Dr. STRANGE fan, then you're sure to love The OATH - no sweary words involved.  By The Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth, race right 'round to your nearest friendly neighbourhood comicbook store and buy this book today!  (Or The Omnipotent Oshtur will bite you on the bum!)

BABE Of The DAY - TIA CARRERE...

Wotta pout, wotta bod, wotta

babe.  It can only be the lovely TIA

CARRERE.  (And should anybody be

wondering, the strap over her shoulder

belongs to her newspaper delivery

bag.  It's a part-time job.)

The LIGHT In The WINDOW...

Do you remember, as a youngster, making your way home on a dark evening after a day out adventuring, and, as you caught sight of your house, glimpsing the amber glow of the standard lamp in your living-room, penetrating the curtains like a beacon to light your way home?  Do you recall the sudden surge of renewed energy that infused your weary limbs, egging you on as you realised you'd soon be warm and comfy in  familiar surroundings?

So do I!  In fact, a whole 33 years ago, after my family had moved to a new house in another neighbourhood, I'd sometimes pass my former domicile on dark nights and trying to recapture that feeling, as I hadn't lived long enough in our new residence to have re-created the experience.  I'd see the light emanating from my previous home and imagine for a moment that I still lived there.  Then the moment would pass and I'd set course for my new abode some distance away, warmed and fortified by memories of earlier times.

Nowadays, I reminisce fondly about that magical experience whenever I pass one of my former homes on a dusky evening, and as I've said elsewhere before, I sometimes feel that I could wander up the path of any of my previous houses, put my key in the lock, and walk in to find everything just as it used to be.  You'll find that it doesn't matter how much you enjoy going out, holidaying abroad, or travelling the world - nothing compares to that sudden electric thrill of recognition on catching that first sight of home and hearth when you return.

Dulce Domum indeed.   

The CLASSIC LIBRARY Of HORROR...

Copyright relevant owner

Here's a trio of books from 1978 that you might want to add to your collection if you're into such things.  They're novelisations of three classic UNIVERSAL horror movies, and are faithful to the films that inspired them.  They likely pop up on eBay from time to time, so if you'd like to own them, that would be the place to start.

I started reading The BRIDE Of FRANKENSTEIN on a coach trip to Portsmouth in 1981, but I got this three paperback set from a jumble sale in a church (now demolished) across the street from one of my old houses in the early '90s ('91 I think).  Great little reads, and worthy additions to any bibliophile's personal library.

Hunt them down now!

I LOVE THAT CHRISTMAS FEELING - DO YOU?

Here's Der BINGSTER with a nice little Yuletide song

for all you Christmassy-Crivvies.  Sing up at the back now.

RECOMMENDED READING: BATMAN, GREEN HORNET & The MAN From U.N.C.L.E. ...

Characters copyright respective owners

Here's a couple of books I came home with recently that are sure to be of interest to all you cavortin' Criv-ites who look back on the 1960s with great fondness.  BATMAN Meets The GREEN HORNET and The MAN From U.N.C.L.E. are sure to delight and entertain you, and hey - that's what comics are all about.

Both publications are collected editions of six individual issues of each title, and would make nifty additions to your already straining bookshelves, so get yourselves around to your nearest comicbook store and buy them both today!

I HEAR THE SOUND OF - SILVER BELLS...

Tomorrow's the first day of December and the

CHRISTMAS Season really begins in earnest.  So,

as you'll all no doubt be counting down the minutes

until SANTA's arrival, here's a cracking little JIM

REEVES Yuletide number to set the mood.

BABE Of The DAY - TIA CARRERE...

Tell you what, Crivs - TIA CARRERE

may be a 'looker', but she's not much of a

dancer, is she?  My parrot can dance better

than that - and I don't even have a parrot!

(????????????????)