On your marks, get set...

Yesterday I had a free afternoon (ostensibly to return a faulty stairgate) obviously I used it to go comic shopping instead. First stop Gosh for a pleasant chat with Mr Salmond and co-workers about Batman: Arkham Asylum, Hellblazer, digital comics, Alan Moore and Ghost Rider. Picked up Vol 5 of Drifting Classroom before hitting Forbidden Planet and grabbing Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which is next up for reading on my list of great SF novels I've never read. From there by tube to Fantastic Realm in Finsbury Park where I found Boss Man Tim in exasperated mood. Trying to run a struggling comic shop is a stressful business. Credit to him he had all of the books on my list from last week - including Fantastic Four 571 which most UK shops didn't get (Another piece of Diamond fuckwittery). Then home and out in the evening only to find that son had puked all over sofa and rug while in grandparents care. Can't get stink of vomit out no matter what I try. The joys. Read FF 571 and have to report - IT'S FUCKING ACE! Free minute for updating finishes. Apologies for lack of paragraphs. LLC out!

The Spirit of 2000AD distilled in two thought balloons

Scan from M.A.C.H.1 as featured in 2000AD prog 54, March 4th 1978

Read R.E.B.E.L.S.

R.E.B.EL.S. from DC is the best space opera you're not reading. It's got Braniac 2, The Omega Men and Starro, who is without doubt the coolest villain in the history of American comics - intergalactic mind-controlling starfish FTW!

Snappy writing from Tony Bedard, beautiful Moebius-type pencils from Andy Clarke AND lovely colours from the fella who makes Conan look so pretty, Jose Villarrubia. It's a fucking spacey treat so it is...

Ten Salicrups - LOL!

Brief bits

I'm now well into my second week as a stay at home dad and I have to tell you chums, it's proper fucking hard graft!

Obviously the fact that I am supervising a two-year-old for most of the day has eaten into my comic reading time, but I have read a few bits and bobs - Batman and Robin #4, which is still top notch even without Frank Quitely. Blackest Night #3, which was utter tosh, but enjoyable tosh all the same. Volumes 1-3 of 20th Century Boys, which doesn't hit the spot in the way that Drifting Classroom or Uzumaki did, but which is still good enough to make me think that I want to read a lot more manga. I am Legend the novel by Richard Matheson, which is one of those books which I always meant to read and now have. Hard to believe it was written over 50 years ago - high quality horror. I've gone and downloaded a copy of the Will Smith film to compare. No doubt it will be terrible.

No shopping lists lately as getting to the comic shop has become a bit haphazard. I'm aiming to pick up some stuff on Tuesday. When I'll actually get the chance to sit down and read it is another matter entirely.

From the disco to the outer limits of space!

Now that's an ad! I demand you click it to experience it in all its late '70s intergalactic glory.

Oh, and just because the makers of the Warrior's Battle Jacket never mentioned Battlestar Galactica, doesn't mean Glen Larson didn't have every right to sue the fuck out of them!

Scan from the back of The Rook #2, February 1979

For Fuck's sake, not more black and white scans!

Oh yes my imaginary chums - MORE! MWAHAHAHA!

Lifted from the calcifying pages of the July 1988 issue of Speakeasy, here's a nice selection of ads for London comic shops of the time...

DEAD

DEAD. They just closed the megastore too.

? Quality Comics were the publishers of Warrior. Apparently they also had their own shop. Anyone know what happened to it? Perhaps it still exists. My nose starts bleeding when I go south of the river so I don't know.

ALIVE. Looks exactly the same today as it did then.

ALIVE. This ad is great - Gosh about to go LARGE!

ALIVE. Although, of course, FP has moved again since 1988. This is another great ad marking the merging of Forbidden Planet's two shops, and the sad death of the historic Denmark Street property

? Is this the site of the Murder One bookshop or the place which Comic Showcase moved to before turning up its toes? Maybe it still exists as a bookshop. I dunno do I?! Cany you believe the opening hours? Open til 9pm, even on a fucking Sunday!

DEAD. Ah, now, this shop holds a special place in the hearts of many an ageing comic collector. Never went there myself, but I remember the ad. Funny.

DEAD (I presume). Never heard of it.

ALIVE! They even have a WEBSITE

My dad lives aht East, so I'll have to check this gaff out next time I'm in that neck of the woods

ALIVE! WEBSITE HERE!

Charity Shop Comics - Smash Annual 1976

Picked up for £1 in a Stoke Newington junk shop...

It's bog standard stuff inside, but oh...that cover!

Artist unknown, but I have a feeling some George Best photo reference might've been involved. Whatever, it's a great piece. Click it for HIGH KARATAY!

For previous charity shop finds, click the tag below.