BABE Of The DAY - IMOGEN HASSALL...

Here's the stunning British actress

IMOGEN HASSALL... holding my staff -

er, my pole - er, my rod - er, I mean my stick.

Heck, why does everything I say sound like a

double entendre?  (And here's me, as pure-

 minded as a new-born bouncin' baby!)

Hey, DON'T BE FLY, MAN! (WINNER Of The MOST CONTRIVED BLOG TITLE Of The MONTH AWARD)...

Images copyright relevant owner

An acquaintance recently gave me these two RED CIRCLE COMICS issues of The FLY (#s 1 & 2), which have nifty front covers drawn by JIM STERANKO, so I thought I'd show them off here.  The two back covers are by RICH BUCKLER and RUDY NEBRES respectively.  Don't they look nice?  If the rumours are true, The AMAZING SPIDER-MAN was based on The Fly, so without the first, we may not have had the second.

Another BABE Of The DAY - NATALIE DORMER...

"Look into my eyes... you are feeling

very sleepy!" says NATALIE DORMER,

gazing deep into my baby blues.  (Hah, the

things some women will do to try and lure

me into bed!  She should just try asking -

 who's ever going to say no to her?!) 

TOYBOX TREASURES Of The PAST: BATMAN MASK SPECS...

BATMAN & ROBIN copyright DC COMICS

A tenuous connection to BATMAN to be sure - and can they accurately be called specs when they have no glass to enable the wearer to see?  Ah, but what about X-Ray Specs you ask - they had no glass either.  True, but they did enable the wearer to 'see' things differently, and at least they looked like specs.  Anyway, I'm sure I had a pair of the above 'specs' when I was a kid.  Did any of the rest of you?  Do tell in the CS.

RECOMMENDED READING: HERO-A-GO-GO! (YUP, THAT'S WHAT IT'S CALLED)...

Images copyright respective owners

If you're a child of the '60s (otherwise known today as decrepit old fart), then you'll probably love MICHAEL EURY's new softcover book (from TWOMORROWS Publishing) entitled HERO-A-GO-GO!  Sadly, I can't open it wide enough to scan without risk of damaging its spine, so you'll have to glean what it's all about from the back cover spiel.  Available now from all good comics shops.  Treat yourself and buy your copy of this titanic tome today.

BABE Of The DAY - BECKY RULE...

Beautiful BECKY RULE enjoyed

being our babe of the day so much, she

requested yet another appearance.  That's

three in a row, but are we complaining? 

Don't be daft - we're not mental!

CRIVENS' CLASSIC COMIC COVERS: The INCREDIBLE HULK #181...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Classic because it's the first appearance of WOLVERINE on a cover.  Who'd have guessed the diminutive mutant would go on to become such a huge star in the MARVEL firmament?  And would HUGH JACKMAN have made such an impact in the X-MEN movies if he'd had to wear that garish looking costume seen above?  Given that Hugh is around a foot taller than the character he plays, I'm surprised Marvel haven't found an excuse to change Wolverine's height in the comics.

RECOMMENDED READING: MARVEL'S I AM GROOT #1...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

For all those Crivs who loved BABY GROOT in the new GUARDIANS Of The GALAXY film (which I haven't seen yet), here's a new comic mag (which I haven't read yet) that you may enjoy.  On sale now at all good comics shops.  (Short and sweet - makes a nice change.)

BABE Of The DAY - BECKY RULE...

All I'll say is BECKY can

RULE me anytime - ANYTIME!

I await your very first command, o

goddess Becky.  (Eh?  Whaddya

 mean "Feck off!" ?  Huh!)

BABE Of The DAY - BECKY RULE...

The bedazzling BECKY RULE

is today's babe, fellas.  She's just the

woman I want for Christmas, so I'm

 putting my order in for her now.

ROGER MOORE REPOST: SHARING A BOND...

ROGER MOORE:

October 14th 1927 - May 23rd 2017

******

Sad news today of ROGER MOORE's passing, so here's an amended repost from a while back in tribute to Big Rog's portrayal of BOND... JAMES BOND (007).

Much has been made of the 'differences' between SEAN CONNERY's and ROGER MOORE's portrayals of BOND... JAMES BOND over the years.  In my view, the way they look and talk aside, there really wasn't much difference at all.  Depending on what you read first, some reports said that the producers 'toughened up' Roger's Bond because he didn't look quite so ruthless as Sean's, hence him slapping women and generally being mean to them. (MAUD ADAMS in The MAN With The GOLDEN GUN for example.)

Other reports claim the writers geared the movies towards Roger's strengths as a 'light comedian' and that there was more humour in them.  Absolute tosh in my opinion.  Bond slapped women on occasion regardless of who was playing him and there have always been fairly large dollops of humour in 007 movies.  These so-called differences tend to be retroactive rationalizations applied after the fact in answer to reporters' enquiries.  If you ask someone what the difference is in something, the mere suggestion that there is one will probably produce an answer that meets the requirements of the question rather than the facts of the case.

The truth is, the role of Bond is merely a suit of 'clothes' which the actor slips into and holds up in the shape of himself (more or less) - but the 'suit' (i.e. - the part) is the character rather than any actor playing him.  Had Sean continued as Bond in the movies Roger appeared in, there would've been very little difference in the finished product.  Any evolution in the style or content of the films is more down to the requirements of being bigger and better than the one before than it is in the actor playing the part.

The tone of Roger's first Bond movie in 1973 had been set by its predecessor, DIAMONDS Are FOREVER, which was largely shaped by the participation of the late TOM MANKIEWICZ, who was also involved in LIVE & LET DIE and The MAN With The GOLDEN GUN.  To my mind, Roger's Bond never did anything that I couldn't imagine Sean's Bond also doing, so the only difference between the two actors' portrayals was not in the character of 007, but in the way they looked and sounded.

By the time Connery appeared in Diamonds Are Forever, he was tired of the role - but the role was also tired of him.  He was 41, but looked at least ten years older.  Sean was definitely the right man for Bond in the early to mid-'60s, but it's the lean, mean, hungry-looking Sean we must remember - not the rather puffy, bloated, weary-looking Sean of the later movies.  Moore is actually older than Connery by at least two years, but back in '73 he looked a lot younger than 45, his age when receiving the licence to kill.  Roger was the right Bond for the '70s, just as Sean had been for the decade before.

So, regardless of the actor playing him, Bond is the same man; suave, charming, debonair - and a ruthless killer when required.  In my view, Roger was every bit as good in the role as Sean.  So - here's to Bond... James Bond.  I say again - "Nobody does it better!"

      

FAVOURITE COMICS Of The PAST PART FIFTY-FIVE - 'The GHOSTS Of GREYMOOR CASTLE!'...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

It was in 1981 that I bought this comic in Southsea or Portsmouth.  The story connected to a tale I'd first read in CAPTAIN AMERICA King-Size Special #1 in 1972 or '73, and though only 8 or 9 years had passed since then, it seemed far longer for some strange, inexplicable reason.  (Ah, the myriad mysteries of time, eh?)  What's amazing though, is that the same pal was with me when I bought the second comic as when I'd bought the first one.

I was much taken by the moody, atmospheric art of GENE COLAN, and the fact that the story was a follow-up of sorts to one I'd read as a young teenager (14) resonated with my even-then overdeveloped sense of nostalgia,  The flashback sequence to that earlier tale took me straight back to The NORFOLK Restaurant, wherein I'd first perused the Cap Special mentioned in the previous paragraph.

Now I look at this issue and think of Southsea and Portsmouth, though the earlier association with the 1970s still resides within its four-colour pages.  Perhaps you have your own memories of this mag, which you're welcome to share with the rest of us in the comments section.  C'mon, Crivs, let's have a nostalgia-fest while we're all in the mood.  I'd say there are certainly worse ways of spending your time.

   

BABE Of The DAY - JERI RYAN...

Had to look twice at this pic,

as on first glance, it looks like JERI

RYAN is going vampire hunting.  Or

is she simply holding on to a banister

 rail?  Answers on a postcard...

SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN ANNUAL COVER GALLERY...

Copyright relevant owner

I only ever had the first of these four annuals if I recall correctly (possibly the second also), and going by the contents, it really wasn't all that good.  However, nostalgia is nostalgia, so I'll have to re-acquire it one day, and the follow-up ones as well.  In the meantime, enjoy looking at the covers and reliving your youth if you had these 'bionic' books way back when.  I'll maybe add some of the contents some day - if I ever acquire them.  (Update: Now got all four.)

ANOTHER BABE Of The DAY - NATALIE DORMER...

"NATALIE, I'm going out, may

I have my suit back please?"  (She just

loves wearing my clothes, kinky lady that

she is.  Still, I really shouldn't complain -

after all, I'm wearing her dress.)  Oops,

far too much information!

FIVE BOOKS THAT EVERY COLLECTOR OF NOSTALGIA SHOULD HAVE...

No info on the back of this one, so haven't shown it

The five books on show here should appeal to every child of the 1960s & '70s in particular.  Lots of great photos, details and history that bring the past to life for you to live again.  They're not new books, having been in my collection for years, and for all I know, updated editions may have been released since.  However, I'd imagine that at least some of them are available to order in many bookshops, as well as eBay and Amazon.  Track 'em down today!

No info on the back of this one, so haven't shown it

(BOND) BABES Of The DAY - SHIRLEY, HONOR & TANIA...

Three babes for you today - SHIRLEY

EATON, HONOR BLACKMAN, and TANIA

MALLET - now you're all spoilt for choice.  If you

could have a date with only one (at the age they are

in the photo), which of them would be the woman

you'd choose?  Thinking caps on now.

DELBERT - The FRIENDLIEST DALEK In The UNIVERSE...

           

                                             

                                                       Delbert Dalek was an oddball,

                                                       simply just did not belong.
                                                       Wouldn't answer to the shrill call,
                                                       thought 'extermination' wrong.

                                                       Delbert's Dalek-heart was loving,
                                                       such a gentle, friendly soul.
                                                       Didn't go for people-shoving -
                                                       cosmic conquest not his goal.

                                                       All the other Daleks plotted,
                                                       didn't want him in their ranks.
                                                       With his single eye he spotted
                                                       their approach from all four flanks.

                                                       Although Delbert was a softie,
                                                       he got quickly off his mark.
                                                       Never mind pretens'ons lofty,
                                                       scarpered off into the dark.

                                                       As he cowered all a-tremble,
                                                       hidden by concealing rocks,
                                                       something started to assemble -
                                                       an imposing big blue box.

                                                       Doctor Who had come to rescue
                                                       Delbert from the Dalek throng.
                                                       Del had not and never would do
                                                       anything remotely wrong.

                                                      "Quickly, Delbert, I will save you,
                                                       jump in to my time machine."
                                                       So he did and off they both flew,
                                                       rescue's seldom been so clean.

                                                       Delbert now lives down in Southsea,
                                                       has a cottage all his own.
                                                       In his garden he sips green tea,
                                                       green tea he himself has grown.

                                                       All the neighbours really love Del -
                                                       wave when passing his front gate.
                                                       When the postie rings his doorbell,
                                                       it chimes out "Exterminate!"

 
                                                       So for Del a happy ending,
                                                       let's give credit where it's due:
                                                       It's all thanks to that time-bending,
                                                       Dalek-saving Doctor Who.

OO-ER! IT'S DOCTOR WHO & THE DIABOLICAL DALEKS...

                                                 Doctor Who was in his TARDIS,

                                                 which can move through time and space.

                                                 Thought he'd go and tease The Daleks,

                                                 self-appointed 'Master-Race'.

                                                 Off he went to Planet Skaro,

                                                 spinning through the endless void.

                                                 Righting wrongs while facing danger

                                                 were the things he most enjoyed.

                                                 When he landed he soon noticed

                                                 what a fearful place it was.

                                                 But the Doc was used to walking      

                                                 into danger's gaping jaws.

                                                 Off he marched to find their city,

                                                 when he got there, no surprise -

                                                 Daleks soon had him surrounded,

                                                 ray guns waving, stalks for eyes.

                                                 But the Doctor, nothing daunted,

                                                 (did you know he's got two hearts?),

                                                 had a lethal secret weapon

                                                 known as Gallifreyan farts!

                                                 Stuffed his face before he landed

                                                 with a dozen tins of beans.

                                                 Knew he'd need a huge advantage

                                                 to defeat those Dalek fiends.

                                                 Popped off farts in all directions -

                                                 My!  Did those guffs really rate.

                                                 Solid objects?  Easy targets!

                                                 Farts they can't "exterminate".

                                                 Soon the Daleks were in turmoil,

                                                 trapped within their metal shells,

                                                 There was simply no escaping

                                                 nauseating farty smells.

                                                 He was soon back in the TARDIS,

                                                 showed those Daleks he was smart.

                                                 They'll give him a wide berth next time -

                                                 now they know Time Lords can fart.

                                                 As he travelled in his TARDIS,

                                                 put his feet up, drank some tea.

                                                 That's the way it really happened -

                                                 just as he told it to me.

(BOND) BABE Of The DAY - HONOR BLACKMAN...

Here's HONOR BLACKMAN, seemingly bragging about something.  Well, she's not wrong, is she?  In the 1964 movie GOLDFINGER, legend has it that SEAN CONNERY's's original scripted response to Honor's "I'm Pussy Galore" was "So I see, but what's your name?"  It was changed to "I must be dreaming."

If the story is true, then Honor's line must've been changed as well, because in the movie, she says "My name is...", which doesn't really lend itself to the purported original reply.  Maybe the story is only apocryphal, but it's one that deserves to be true.  

RICH BUCKLER PASSES AWAY... (Updated)

Images copyright relevant and respective owners

It's been reported that comicbook artist RICH BUCKLER has passed away.  He was an artist that could imitate the styles of others, but he was pretty good in his own right too, especially as a painter.  Another great artist gone, alas, aged only 68.

PULSATING PIN-UPS: BATMAN & ROBIN...

Images copyright DC COMICS

Above is the back cover of BATMAN #1, featuring the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder, below the same pair on the front cover of the same issue.  Two pin-ups for the price of one - what more can you ask for when it's not costing you a penny?

PULSATING PIN-UPS PART SEVEN: THE SENSATIONAL SILVER SURFER...

Image copyright MARVEL COMICS

Here he is - NORRIN RADD.  Or as he's generally known -

The SILVER SURFER!  His surfboard looks a bit too narrow

and I'd say there's a little problem with the left leg, but it's still

a great drawing from JACK KIRBY & JOE SINNOTT.