On This Day: 11 Apr

Overkill (Marvel Comics UK Ltd.) #01 (24 Apr 1992)

The Last American by John Wagner & Alan Grant, Mick McMahon, Phil Felix. (Rebellion; Apr 2017) ISBN 978-1781-08544-8

Births:

George Gordon Fraser (1859); Jane star Christabel Leighton–Porter (1913); Peter O'Donnell (1920)

Deaths:

John Brosnan (2005)

Notable Events:

The first episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue broadcast on in 1972, with Humphrey Lyttleton as chair.
Harry Harrison underwent a quadruple bypass operation in 2000, after visiting hospital for an angiogram.
The Beano Room exhibition, focusing on Leo Baxendale artwork, began at the Mills Gallery in 2005.

On This Day: 28 Mar

Batman (London Editions Magazines) #20 (1990) new look

Tank Girl - Original Soundtrack from the Motion Film (1995)
Nikolai Dante: Honour Be Damned! by David Bishop (Black Flame; Mar 2006) ISBN-10: 1 84416 324 5

First Appearances:

Combat Colin in Action Force (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #5 (04 Apr 1987).

Births:

Dan Lloyd (1931); John Royle (1968)

Deaths:

Jack Butler Yeats (1957); Albert Bernard Hollowood (Hod; Mammon; 1981)

Notable Events:

The Cartoon Museum announced that it was to relocate to 55 Wells Street, due to a rent increase, at the launch of the 50 Glorious Shows exhibition, in 2018. 50 Glorious Shows, running until the second of September, showcases the best of the exhibitions which have taken place at the Museum thus far.

On This Day: 26 Mar

Psycho Gran (Titan) #01 (2014) digital edition

First Appearances:

Davock of Grey Woods in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Roy Fane (Return from Mars) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Smasher (robot) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Nina Coltrane (Shadows) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 672 (31 Mar 1990).

Births:

Tony Crawley (1938); Brian Bolland (1951)

Notable Events:

The Eagle Sportsman of the Year trophy was awarded to Peter May, at the Royal Albert Hall, in 1956.
Grimbledown Down cartoon strip began in New Scientist in 1970, and ended on this day in 1994.
The Disney Mirror 8–page giveaway ended in 1994 with the 160^th issue.
Gorillaz, the band's eponymously–titled debut album, released in the UK in 2001.
Kick-Ass feature film, based on the comic by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr., released in 2010.
Bryan Talbot signed copies of his books at Forbidden Planet, 40-41 Southbridge Street, Edinburgh, in 2011. Later in the day he did a presentation at Plan B Books, 5 Osborne St, Glasgow.
Revolutionary War: Omega (Marvel) #01 (Mar 2014) released in the US in 2014.
Nigel Parkinson was featured in The Guardian's 'Work & Careers' section on this day in 2015.

On This Day: 24 Mar

The A-Team Spring Special (Marvel) #02 (1986).
Fraggle Rock Spring Special (Marvel) #nn (1986).
Get Along Gang Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #02 (1986).
Secret Wars II Spring Special (Marvel) #01 (1986).
Transformers Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #3 (1986).
Zoids Spring Special (Marvel) Collected Comics #01 (1986).
Team Toxic Classic Comic Collection in Toxic (Egmont) #159 (2010).

The Adventures of Meng and Ecker by David Britton. (Savoy Books; 1997)
Horror Panegyric by Keith Seward. (Savoy Books; 2008) ISBN-13: 978-0861301188.

Births:

Malcolm Muggeridge (1903); Glenn Fabry (1961); Steve Pugh (1966)

Deaths:

Ernest Howard Shepard (1976)

Notable Events:

The Greens newspaper strip ended in 1990.
Alan Grant, Simon Jacob, David Roach and John Tomlinson took part in a 2000 A.D. signing session at Forbidden Planet, 5 Duke Street, Cardiff, in 1990.

On This Day: 19 Mar

Tornado (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Eagle (IPC Magazines Ltd.) vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Scream (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (24 Mar 1984).

First Appearances:

The Angry Planet in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Captain Klep in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Victor Drago in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
The Mind of Wolfie Smith in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
Wagner's Walk in Tornado #01 (24 Mar 1979).
The Collector in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Doomlord in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Ernie in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Sgt. Streetwise in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Mick Tempest (The Tower King) in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
Thunderbolt and Smokey! in Eagle vol.21 #01 (27 Mar 1982).
The Dracula File in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Library of Death in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Monster in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Max (The Thirteenth Floor) in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Tales from the Grave in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
The Terror of the Cats in Scream #01 (24 Mar 1984).
Frank Weitz (Armoured Gideon) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 671 (24 Mar 1990).

Births:

Achille Beltrame (1871); Sep E. Scott (1879); William Blain (1903); Keith Waite (1927); Richard Williams (1933); Pasqual Ferry (1961); Simon Donald (1964)

Deaths:

Steve Dowling (1986); Johnny Hicklenton (2010)

Notable Events:

Jim Barker took voluntary redundancy to become a freelance artist in 1982.
The Sun published an attack on St. Swithin's Day in 1990. Failed politician Teddy "dial-a-quote" Taylor was on hand to offer his opinion on the comic, though it later transpired he hadn't even read the story.
Revolutionary War: Warheads (Marvel) #01 (Mar 2014) released in the US in 2014.
Cursed Edge – Prog 5 fan film released on YouTube in 2016.

On This Day: 16 Mar

Fury (Marvel) #01
Thundercats (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (21 Mar 1987)
Total Carnage (Dark Horse Comics International) #01 (Apr 1993)

Now! (Fleetway) #01 (1994)

The Batman Movie Sticker Album (Merlin Publishing Limited; 1990)

First Appearances:


Tao de Moto in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 723 (23 Mar 1991).

Births:


Roy Ullyett (Berryman; 1914); G. Freeman Allen (1922); Gino D'Antonio (1927); Chris Foss (1946)

Deaths:


H.G. Hine (1895); Tom Browne (1910); Ian Chisholm (1981); Marcus Morris (1989); Terry Maloney (2008); Steve Moore (2014)

Notable Events:


The Gambols newspaper strip began in The Daily Express in 1950.
Bryan Talbot signed copies of Luther Arkwright and Nemesis Book 6 as part of his Luther Arkwright UK Tour '88 at Exeter University Comics Group, Devonshire House in 1988. Signing appearances continued over the next few weeks at locations across the Britain.
The Comic Relief Charity Pool Championship took place in the Edinburgh Castle public house, in Camden, in 1991. Creators and representatives from Fleetway Publications, Marvel Comics and Stateside Comics PLC took part, with Fleetway winning 12 games and the Championship, raising over £600 in sponsorship for Comic Relief. The teams for Deadline, John Brown Publishing and Titan bowed out in the face of such strong opposition.
Now! replaced Look-In as IPC's teen title in 1994, though it was a title which never quite worked...
Striker newspaper strip became the first newspaper strip to use 3D software in its creation in 1998.
BBC Radio broadcast the first of the six–part Neverwhere adaptation in 2013.

On This Day: 05 Feb

Births:

Basil Cooper (1924); Charles Edmund Brock (1970); George Parlett (1902); John Bernard Handelsman (JBH; 1922)

Character Births:

Daniel MacGregor Dare (1967)

Notable Events:

No End of Blame, a play about Victor Weisz's life, began at the Oxford Playhouse in 1982.
LWT filmed a sequence for Surprise! Surprise! in the Marvel UK offices in 1988, allowing 15 year-old Christopher McRoberts to meet some of the creators.
Comix Creatrix: 100 Women Making Comics exhibition began at House of Illustration, London, in 2016.
Sci-Feb superhero event began at Humber Royal Hotel, Grimsby, in 2017.

On This Day: 04 Feb

Batman: Gotham Central (Titan Comics) #01 (2016)

First Appearances:

Brigand Doom in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 717 (09 Feb 1991).

Births:

Mike Western (1925); Kenneth Mahood (1930); Derek 'Dez' Skinn (1951); Leah Moore (1978)

Deaths:

Sir John Paget Mellor, 1st Baronet (Quiz; 1929); Sydney George Hulme Beaman (1932); Stephen Roth (1967); James Friell (Gabriel; 1997); Dick Millington (2015)

Notable Events:

Bruce Bairnsfather began a tour of his "Old Bill and Me" lecture in 1919, with the first appearance at Hove Town Hall.
Rick Martin newspaper strip began in The Daily Sketch in 1957.
Marvel's Bullpen were present at the comic mart, at the Central Hall, Westminster, in 1984.
The first episode of original superhero sit-com My Hero broadcast on BBC One in 2000.
Neil Tennant was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 2007.
The SWALC micro-arts festival took place, in the Lord Clyde pub, London, in 2012. Bryan and Mary Talbot were in attendance.

On This Day: 29 Jan

Beeb (Polystyle) #01 (29 Jan 1985-04 Feb 1985)

First Appearances:

Dumpy Dan, the Sauce Pan Man in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #50 (03 Feb 1962).
Sub-Lieutenant Ken Kennedy (Convoy Pilot) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #19 (01 Feb 1975).

Births:

Ted Holmes (1916)

Deaths:

Joshua Charles Armitage (Ionicus; 1998)

Notable Events:

Bruce Bairnsfather gave a lecture entitled "Old Bill and Me," at the Queen's Hall, London, in 1919.
Wes Slade newspaper strip began in The Sunday Express in 1961.
Steve Bell appeared on The Today Programme on BBC Radio 4 in 2013.
Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon (Marvel) #01 (Jan 2014) released in the US in 2014.
Kingsman: The Secret Service feature film released in the UK in 2015.

On This Day: 17 Jan

Marvel Comic (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #?? ().
Spider-Man Comic (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #311 (24 Jan 1979).
All-Action Monthly (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (Feb 1987).

Births:

Compton Mackenzie (1883); David Thomas (Tom Cain; 1959)

Deaths:

Percy Cocking (1964); Malcolm Judge (1989)

Notable Events:

The Marvel Revolution PHASE 2 (overseen by Dez Skinn) began in 1979; restructuring of the weeklies was undertaken, new names for the Spider-Man series and The Mighty World of Marvel, plus the use of photographs on Star Wars Weekly was implemented.

On This Day: 15 Jan

Bunty (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01 (1958).
Sparky (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01 (1965).
Joe 90 (City Magazines) #01 (18 Jan 1969).
Look and Learn (Fleetway Publications Ltd.) #01.
Blue Jeans (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01.
The Astonishing Spider-Man (Panini UK) vol.5 #01 (28 Jan 2015)

Greatest Hits #01 (1981)
LM (Newsfield) #01 (1987)

Births:

Ian Dickson (1905); Robert Geary (1931); Michael Daley (1944)

Deaths:

Alfred Edmeades Bestall (1986); Andrew Hutton (2015)

Notable Events:

A cutting of a Ronald Niebour Daily Mail cartoon, published in 1944, was found in the ruins of Hitler's Chancellery.
Look and Learn went on sale in 1961, amid the most thorough promotional launch given to such a title.
The Beano–Dandy Story, the third episode of the 11th season of documentary series Arena, was broadcast in 1988.
The lawsuit between Fox and Warner Bros. was resolved in 2009, allowing the Watchmen film adaptation to be released.
The first episode of original television series Utopia broadcast on Channel 4 in 2013. The series owed a great deal to comics in both its' narrative and visual style.
Revolutionary War: Dark Angel (Marvel) #01 (Jan 2014) released in the US in 2014.

On This Day: 08 Jan

Look-In (Independent Television Publications Ltd.) vol.1 #01 (09 Jan 1971).
Topper and Buzz (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #?? (1975).
Avengers Unconquered (Panini Publishing) #01 (04 Feb 2009).

First Appearances:

Major Eazy in Battle Picture Weekly (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #[45] (10 Jan 1976).
Harry Angel (Angel) in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 95 (13 Jan 1979).

Births:

Lilli Ursula Barbara Victoria Davidson (Victoria; 1915)

Character Births:

Robert Neal Cassady McDowell (Zenith; 1968) according to press released by his agent.

Notable Events:

Smash Hits (EMAP National Publications Ltd.) Vol.3 #01 (08 Jan 1981 - 21 Jan 1981) brought The Nutty Boys comic to the attention of those who might have missed the title's presence.
ZZZap! The Television Comic began its first series in 1993.
Revolutionary War: Alpha (Marvel) #01 (Jan 2014) released in the US, heralding a (brief) return to print for Marvel UK characters.

On This Day: 06 Jan

Draw the Marvel Way (Hachette Partworks) #01 (2016)

Births:

Ivy Russell (1909); Gerard Jerome Melling (Ged; 1934)

Deaths:

Arthur Catherall (1980)

Notable Events:

Randolph Turpin was presented with the Eagle Sportsman of the Year trophy by Marcus Morris at the Schoolboys' Own Exhibition in 1952.
Mandy Capp newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1997.

Future Tense #4

Britain's Chilling New Science Fiction Weekly

26 Nov 1980; Cover price 14p.
32 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.

One of Marvel's Big Ones!

Edited by Paul Neary.

Cover p: UNKNOWN.
r: UNKNOWN.

Contents:

 2 Britain's Most Exciting Science Fiction Weekly! (half page) text introduction by Paul Neary. / The Concise History of the Galaxy (half page) UNTITLED [Fresh Brains] w: Tim Quinn; a: Dicky Howett. / Indicia

 3 The Micronauts Divided They Fall, part two, w: Bill Mantlo; p: Pat Broderick, i: Armando Gil, lettering by John Costanza.

r: Micronauts (Marvel Comics) #19 (Jul 1980).

12 Meet the Micronauts, part three, Bug w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

13 Seeker 3000! The Dying Sun!, part four, w: Doug Moench; a: Tom Sutton, lettering by Denise Wohl.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #41 (Apr 1978).

18 BMX - The Hottest Thing on Two Wheels! advertisement for Halfords.

18 Star-Lord Windhölme, part four, w: Chris Claremont; p: John Byrne, i: Terry Austin, lettering by Tom Orzechowski.

r: Marvel Preview (Marvel Comics) #11 (Summer 1977).

23 Paladin In Manhattan, They Play for Keeps, part four, w: Don McGregor; a: Tom Sutton, lettering by Gaspar Saladino & Bruce Patterson.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #43 (Aug 1978).

27 Warlock And Men Shall Call Him... Warlock!, part four, w: Roy Thomas; p: Gil Kane, i: Dan Adkins, lettering by Sam Rosen.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #01 (Apr 1972).

32 Science Fantasy in Television, Cinema and Graphics in-house advertisement for Starburst.

As we got to press this week, the big news is that we have got Star Trek for you, and its scheduled to begin in issue 7! We will be printing the Marvel authorised comic strip version of the recent film, and then getting into new adventures... untold stories of the crew of the starship Enterprise!

If the current roster of material was stronger then the announcement of a further two issues wait might have been bearable, but with the interminable "adventures" of the Micronauts, Star-Lord and Paladin to look forward to, this is not an announcement that is pleasing to read. But there is some news which has piqued my interest:

Also we might just have a few photographs of our recent Marvel Convention for you!

This is more like it. I'm a sucker for behind-the-scenes material, and any record of the convention has to be better than the strips. There must be a wealth of information on the Marvel Convention awaiting publication...

The brief appearance by Ant Man at the end of the current Micronauts story, leading into a full appearance in the next issue, shows that this is not, however it is marketed, an SF story, but merely another tired, predictable superhero story, with all the scientific curiousity of a cocker spaniel. The fact that it is a superhero story isn't an immediate mark against the series, but, because of it being marketed as SF, the superhero elements are a drawback.

The Seeker 3000 makes the jump intact, triumphantly blazing though an eternity of warped time and space!

For thr first time in man's history, infinity is at hand, the vast cosmos within grasp...

...and it took this to accomplish it: the death of the sun!

In one searing instant of cosmic hell, Earth's reality is... vaporised.

Every planet, every moon and asteroid, every man, woman and child in the solar system dies...

...save these precious few aboard a warp-streaking ark named Seeker-3000. They gather now, in mingled jubilation and grief...

The main problem with the warp sequence in Seeker 3000 is its glorious celebration of something which, elsewhere in the title, is treated as a relatively easy accomplishment, undermining the difficulty of the process, and making the characters look like idiots for not figuring out an easier way of accomplishing what others have done with far less destruction. It isn't even depicted with the strength of an average Star Trek or Star Wars FTL sequence, which further cuts away at the melodrama on show.

Thankfully a brand new story is promised for the next issue.

In Chinese Legend, it is told that Buddha died on a bleak new year's day...

On that dying day, Buddha supposedly summoned all living creatures to his side. Twelve responded, and he rewarded each with a year of homage on the lunar calendar.

The moments of interest in Paladin are largely unconnected with the battle which the titular character is involved in, and when he starts talking any tension evaporates. Paladin is a wooden, two-dimensional walking plot point, with dialogue so corny and hackneyed that I actually laughed out loud when reading his utterances:

You killed Marsha. She was sensitive... alert... vibrant.

You ended all her moods and excitements.

That makes me smile every time I read it. How, given the number of people involved in the creation of the strip, could such awful lines get through the entire creative process to see print? No comic strip of this type should turn the death of a character into prime comedy material.

#03

Future Tense

#05

Future Tense #3

Britain's Newest Science Fiction Weekly!

19 Nov 1980; Cover price 14p.
32 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.

Edited by Paul Neary.

Free 'Build Your Own Spaceship' piece, part three, designed by Rahid Khan.

Cover p: UNKNOWN.
r: UNKNOWN.

Contents:

 2 Welcome to Issue Three (half page) text introduction by Paul Neary. / The Concise History of the Galaxy (half page) UNTITLED [Uncle Frank] w: Tim Quinn; a: Dicky Howett. / Indicia

 3 The Micronauts Divided They Fall w: Bill Mantlo; p: Pat Broderick, i: Armando Gil, lettering by John Costanza.

r: Micronauts (Marvel Comics) #19 (Jul 1980).

11 Meet the Micronauts, part two, Princess Mari... Marionette w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

12 Seeker 3000! The Dying Sun!, part three, w: Doug Moench; a: Tom Sutton, lettering by Denise Wohl.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #41 (Apr 1978).

16 Marvel Back-Issue Bonanza! in-house advertisement.

18 Star-Lord Windhölme, part three, w: Chris Claremont; p: John Byrne, i: Terry Austin, lettering by Tom Orzechowski.

r: Marvel Preview (Marvel Comics) #11 (Summer 1977).

22 Paladin In Manhattan, They Play for Keeps, part thee, w: Don McGregor; a: Tom Sutton, lettering by Gaspar Saladino & Bruce Patterson.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #43 (Aug 1978).

25 Contact! w:/a: Tom Sutton; lettering by Tom Sutton.

r: Son of Satan (Marvel Comics) #08 (Feb 1977).

27 Warlock And Men Shall Call Him... Warlock!, part three, w: Roy Thomas; p: Gil Kane, i: Dan Adkins, lettering by Sam Rosen.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #01 (Apr 1972).

32 Science Fantasy in Television, Cinema and Graphics in-house advertisement for Starburst.

Before you think that the quality has dipped so low as to negate any possibility of salvation, The Concise History of the Galaxy contains a classic moment of comedy, with more than a hint of 2001: A Space Odyssey being lampooned. While I may be alone in seeing a slight resemblance, the Captain Caveman styling present is greatly appreciated.

With the immensely original title of Divided They Fall, this issue's Micronauts tale strikes out in a bold new direction, with Bug being spooked by a dog's appearance, then engaging in dramatic battle with a chicken, before being capture by a bespectacled amateur scientist who refers to himself as "Odd John." Would anyone actually call themselves such a name? Strips this bad are rarely seen, so to see this in a Marvel title is plain embarrassing.

Star-Lord gets a sentient ship, called (in another startling leap of originality) "Ship". Honestly, why do I bother tormenting myself with possibilities that the quality of this title might rise to the level of... mediocre, perhaps. A lot of the strip's charm has evaporated as the story has progressed, though the appearance of reptilian aliens provide a brief jolt of excitement.

A highlight of the issue is Contact!, which - although the punch-line has been used time and time again - manages to raise a smile thanks to clever writing, some lively art, and a sense of the ridiculous which is entirely appropriate. Unfortunately, yet predictably, things return to normal with Warlock's mangling of science, in a speech so idiotic that even readers possessing no scientific knowledge whatsoever are likely to utter a sigh of despair at how moronic the notion is.

There is word of Star Trek strips forthcoming in the editorial, though I doubt even as tasty a promise as this is likely to have ensured readers' attention through so much of the poor material slapped together for this title. Had the Star Trek material been present since the start it might have held more immediate appeal, though I can't help thinking that the only way for the title to distinguish itself was to opt for original strips.

#02

Future Tense

#04

Future Tense #2

SF from Here to Eternity!

12 Nov 1980; Cover price 14p.
32 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.

Edited by Paul Neary.

Free 'Build Your Own Spaceship'.

Cover p: Dave Cockrum, i: Joe Sinnott.
r: recoloured cover from Marvel Premiere (Marvel) #41 (Apr 1978).

Contents:

 2 Future Tense ...Second Great Issue! (half page) text introduction by Paul Neary. / The Concise History of the Galaxy (half page) UNTITLED [Heavy Sunspots] w: Tim Quinn; a: Dicky Howett. / Indicia

 3 The Micronauts Child Eyes!, part two, w: Bill Mantlo; p: Howard Chaykin, i: Al Milgrom, lettering by Irving Watanabe.

r: Micronauts (Marvel Comics) #18 (Jun 1980).

12 Meet the Micronauts UNTITLED, part one, w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

13 Warlock And Men Shall Call Him... Warlock!, part two, w: Roy Thomas; p: Gil Kane, i: Dan Adkins, lettering by Sam Rosen.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #01 (Apr 1972).

17 Seeker 3000! The Dying Sun!, part two, w: Doug Moench; a: Tom Sutton, lettering by Denise Wohl.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #41 (Apr 1978).

21 Paladin In Manhattan, They Play for Keeps, part two, w: Don McGregor; a: Tom Sutton, lettering by Gaspar Saladino & Bruce Patterson.

r: Marvel Premiere (Marvel Comics) #43 (Aug 1978).

26 Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in-house advertisement for Star Wars Weekly.

27 Star-Lord Windhölme, part two, w: Chris Claremont; p: John Byrne, i: Terry Austin, lettering by Tom Orzechowski.

r: Marvel Preview (Marvel Comics) #11 (Summer 1977).

32 Science Fantasy in Television, Cinema and Graphics in-house advertisement for Starburst.

This may be one of the most unappealing covers to appear on a Marvel title, with the crew of Seeker 3000 rendered as plant people, or really bad Green Lantern cosplayers. The interior is, mercifully, black and white, so further artistic desecration is limited to the truncation of the strips rather than rendering them entirely unappealing through ham-fisted colouring.

The Concise History of the Galaxy isn't quite as funny (yet) as other Quinn and Howett strips, though I'm holding out hope that it improves. As it is the sole beacon of originality within the pages of Future Tense, and with the remainder of the contents struggling for definition and differentiation in the issue, it is a strip which really should be more energetic.

The Microship Endeavour has escaped from the Microverse and has landed on an unknown planet! They see amongst the giant vegetation, a house which they recognise to be in the style of a dwelling from planet Earth... But it is much too small! Two of the Micronauts - Space Glider and Marionette - approach the curious structure from the air...

If, like most intelligent readers, you will have guessed that Marionette and Arcturus are looking at a doll's house, then you are smarter than any of the characters in this story. The sole concession to some semblance of originality are models capable of movement, though as the notion of living toys dates back to the myth and legend we shouldn't rush to congratulate the script - the creepy girl, whose powers animated the toys, is not necessarily a villain in events, but merely a child wishing to play.

To have such an unusual cast of characters, with the unique selling point of being the same size as their action figures (on sale in all good toy shops, circa 1980), but delivering such a predictable tale with them, makes this is massive disappointment. The wasteful tale is mercifully wrapped up quickly, and followed by a single-page introduction to the characters. It is a feature which really ought to have appeared before the strip in the first issue, and is utterly useless here.

Warlock really is an abysmal story with which to tease in an SF audience, with its recap highlighting everything which is wrong with the strip:

The High Evolutionary has in the past created a race of animal-men who revolted, and nearly destroyed him! He now lives in a hollow asteroid spaceship with his companion animal-man Sir Raam! Raam has summoned his master to examine a strange cocoon found floating in space...

Why is the High Evolutionary in space? More pertinently, how did he get there?

Actually, I don't care. The awful writing and mediocre art can hardly encourage empathy with any of the characters.

Seeker 3000 continues to plunder Star Trek for everything not nailed down, is one of the most shameless comic strips in Marvel's retinue. The idea of telepaths being marked so that they are easily identified is a brief moment of sense in what is largely a forgettable story.

Paladin boasts some impressive cityscapes, though is mostly a rehash of better material, while Star-Lord stands as the sole strip which does something interesting with its main character - until, that is, it turns into a superhero strip more suited to The Mighty World of Marvel than an SF title. The plot nudges the story into becomming one of the most disappointing strips of the issue, and, given the undistinguished strips which it shares space with, must be seen as quite the accomplishment.

#01

Future Tense

#03

Indiana Jones Annual 1990

[1989] Annual. Original price £2.99.
NA pages. Full colour contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.

Edited by Louise Cassell.
Designed by Rebecca Owen.

Photo cover (Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones)

Features by Patrick Mulkern & Louise Cassell

Contents:

 2 UNTITLED endpaper by Luigi Stefanelli / Gina Hart.

 6 Raiders of the Lost Ark - The Story: A Photo Tribute

 9 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom - The Story: A Photo Tribute

12 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

13 Gateway to Infinity! w: David Michelinie; p: Ron Frenz i: David Bulanadi, colouring by Bob Sharen.

r: Indiana Jones (Marvel Comics) #04 (Apr 1983)

35 The Making of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

40 The Harbingers w: David Michelinie; p: Ron Frenz i: David Bulanadi, colouring by Bob Sharen.

r: Indiana Jones (Marvel Comics) #05 (May 1983)

After two hardback annuals with beautiful painted covers, this is - at first appearance - something of a letdown.

Recaps of Indy's big-screen adventures are entirely perfunctory, serving as little more than set-up for the cinema release of The Last Crusade. The problem with much of Indiana Jones' comic-book material is the focus on merchandise and (naturally enough) the films, missing a great opportunity to get readers interested in aspects of history which underpin the character, or escapades which he becomes involved in.

Rather more interesting than the synopses is the feature on the making of The Last Crusade, though this too suffers from a lack of elaboration. Split into paragraphs about the main players, there isn't room to delve into the numerous aspects of production which might have been more interesting. Special effects, perhaps - given some elaborate set pieces - might have been a worthwhile addition, or location scouting.

The two-part strip reprinted from Marvel's Indiana Jones series is less detailed and sketchier than the film adaptations, suffering from a poor likeness of Harrison Ford, some awkward compositions, and a story which doesn't reveal anything about the character which would make it essential reading. A strange choice for this annual, and it sits uncomfortably with the previous ones.

1985

Indiana Jones Annual

2009

The Real Ghostbusters Annual 1990

[1989] Annual. Original price £3.99.
64 pages. Full colour contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.

Cover by Andy Lanning, Dave Harwood & John Burns.

Contents:

 2 Endpaper a: Bambos & John Burns.

 4 "This Book Belongs To" a: Bambos & John Burns.

 5 Contents Page

 6 Ghostbusters: The Fact Behind the Fantasy! text feature by 'Cal Hacker'.

 9 Bustman's Holiday! w: John Carnell; a: Anthony Larcombe, lettering by Glib, colouring by Steve White.

11 The Dexter's Chainsaw Massacre! text story by Ian Rimmer; illustrations by Martin Griffiths, colouring by Stuart Place.

16 Roller Ghoster! w: John Carnell; a: Brian Williamson & Dave Harwood, lettering by Hel, colouring by Lynn White.

20 The Classification of Spooks text feature.

24 The Green Ghosts! text story by Richard Alan; illustrations by Anthony Williams, colouring by Steve White.

29 'Phone Phantom! w: John Carnell; a: Anthony Lancombe, lettering and colouring by Zed.

30 Spengler's Spirit Guide text feature by Dan Abnett.

31 Stonehenge Revenge! w: John Carnell; a: Phil Elliott & Bambos, lettering by Bambos, colouring by Stuart Place.

36 Winston's Diary! A Day in the Life of Winston Zeddmore text story by Dan Abnett; illustrations by Tony O'Donnell & Dave Harwood, colouring by Steve White.

40 Dear Janine

42 Spengler's Spirit Guide text feature by Dan Abnett.

43 Dead and Breakfast! w: John Carnell; a: Dougie Braithwaite & Dave Harwood, lettering by Hel, colouring by Chris Matthews.

46 The Demon Bowler! text story by John Freeman; a: Andy Wildman & Dave Harwood, colouring by Steve White.

50 Make Your Own Slimer cut-out feature.

52 Blimey! It's Slimer! w:/a: Bambos, colouring by Hel.

53 The Loch Ness Monster! w: John Carnell; a: John Geering & Dave Harwood, lettering by Hel, colouring by Euan Peters.

58 Sloop That Spook! 'snakes and ladders' board game.

60 Equal Frights! w: John Carnell; a: Anthony Larcombe, lettering by Glib, colouring by Steve White.

1989

The Real Ghostbusters Annual

1991

Captain Britain Annual 1978

[1977] Annual. Original price £1.35
64 pages. Full color contents.
World Distributors Ltd.

SBN: 723504563

Contents:

 5 Captain Britain w: Chris Claremont; p: Herb Trimpe, i: Fred Kida, colouring by Marie Severin.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #01 (13 Oct 1976)

12 The Avengers full-color pin-up. p: Jack Kirby, i: Frank Giacoia.

r: Marvel Treasury Edition (Marvel) #07 (1975)

13 From the Holocaust… A Hero! w: Chris Claremont; p: Herb Trimpe, i: Fred Kida, colouring by Marie Severin.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #02 (20 Oct 1976)

21 Captain Britain full-color pin-up; a: UNKNOWN.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #01 (13 Oct 1976)

22 Mayhem on a Monday Morning! w: Chris Claremont; p: Herb Trimpe, i: Fred Kida, colouring by Marie Severin.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #03 (27 Oct 1976)

30 Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. full-color pin-up. a: Jim Steranko.

r: recolored cover to Strange Tales (Marvel) Vol.1 #167 (Apr 1968)

31 Hour of the Hurricane! w: Chris Claremont; p: Herb Trimpe, i: Fred Kida, colouring by Marie Severin.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #04 (03 Nov 1976)

38 Marvel Team-Up... full-color pin-up; a: John Romita.

r: Marvel Treasury Edition (Marvel) #09 (Sep 1976)

39 Captain Britain Has Been Beaten! w: Chris Claremont; p: Herb Trimpe, i: Fred Kida, colouring by Marie Severin.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #05 (10 Nov 1976)

46 Dr. Strange full-color pin-up; p: Bob Budiansky; i: Dan Adkins.

r: UNKNOWN.

47 Havoc at Heathrow! w: Chris Claremont; p: Herb Trimpe, i: Fred Kida, colouring by Marie Severin.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #06 (17 Nov 1976)

54 Fantastic Four full-color pin-up; w: (uncredited). a: (uncredited).

r: Fantastic Four (Marvel) Vol 1 # (?)

55 Wind of Death! w: Chris Claremont; p: Herb Trimpe, i: Fred Kida, colouring by Marie Severin.

r: Captain Britain (Marvel) Vol.1 #07 (24 Nov 1976)

While it is nice to have the (colored) pieces of the original Captain Britain saga collected, it is a shame that there isn't more made of the Britishness of the character in supplementary material - all of the room left over being padded with pin-ups is a bit of a cheat. Even a crossword puzzle or a wordsearch would have made the title more engaging, but… That really doesn't matter.

For the longest time, this was the only place to read those early stories unless a reader wanted to track down all the original issues. For that reason alone it deserves recognition. While far from a definitive edition, this is an attractive repackaging of the first Captain Britain story, on far better paper than Marvel had access to.

One should be thankful that there isn't a feature on the proper way to make tea.

Spider-Man And Hulk Omnibus

Collection (1983).
136 pages. Full color.
Marvel Comics / Grandreams, Ltd.

Cover (uncredited).

Contents:

  6 Spider-Man Vengeance is Mine – Sayeth the Sword! w: Ralph Macchio; p: Jim Mooney, i: Mike Esposito, lettering by Joe Rosen, colouring by Petra Goldberg.

r: The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics) #2 (1980).

 38 Spider-Man Blight of the Bluebird text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics International Ltd. / Grandreams, Ltd.) 1983.

 44 Hulk Again, the Glob! w: Roy Thomas; a: Herb Trimpe, lettering by Sam Rosen.

r: Hulk (Marvel Comics) vol.2 #129 (Jul 1970).

 61 Hulk Caged text story (uncredited); illustrated by David Lloyd.

r: Hulk Annual (Marvel Comics International Ltd. / Grandreams, Ltd.) 1982.

 66 Spider-Man Starngore the Superb text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics International Ltd. / Grandreams, Ltd.) 1983.

 72 Hulk Shadow on the Land! w: Len Wein. a: Herb Trimpe, lettering by Artie Simek, colouring by Glynis Wein.

r: Hulk (Marvel Comics) vol.2 #184 (Feb 1975).

 88 Spider-Man Murder by Machine text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics International Ltd. / Grandreams, Ltd.) 1981.

 94 The Secrets of Spider-Man w: Stan Lee (uncredited). a: Steve Ditko (uncredited).

r: The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics) #1 (1964).

101 Spidey's Spider-Senses! w: Stan Lee (uncredited). a: Steve Ditko (uncredited).

r: The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics) #1 (1964).

102 The Secrets of Spider-Man's Mask w: Stan Lee (uncredited). a: Steve Ditko (uncredited).

r: The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics) #1 (1964).

103 Hulk A Hostage for the Hulk text story (uncredited); illustrated by David Lloyd (uncredited).

r: Hulk Annual (Marvel Comics International Ltd. / Grandreams, Ltd.) 1982.

108 Spider-Man The Grin of the Goblin text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Spider-Man Annual (Marvel Comics International Ltd. / Grandreams, Ltd.) 1981.

114 Hulk Mogol! w: Roy Thomas; a: Herb Trimpe, lettering by Sam Rosen.

r: Hulk (Marvel Comics) vol.2 #127 (May 1970).

This amply illustrates one of the major problems in collecting Marvel UK titles from the eighties.

Here are strips which were originally serialized in the weekly titles, before being published in annuals, then finally (third time being the charm) brought together for this collection. No strip, of course, was merely used three times - Marvel liked to re-use reprints as a back-up for newer stories, repackaging things again and again.

The prose stories, unlike the strips, were only published once before, but so close to the original publishing date of the annuals makes for very repetitive reading. This isn't all bad news for people who want complete collections of character's appearances, as the production values are higher than used for Spider-Man and Hulk's respective annuals, and there aren't any of the notorious edits marring the strips.