Ken Aldred

Quite possible. I saw loads of those caps, several designs, being worn around the London comic shops that summer.

That's a fair decision, under the circumstances.

Pretty much what I was going to say. It presents as a much lower grade copy, despite what the 9.8 sticker, or the seller themselves, might claim. Yup. I’d look at the situation from the opposite perspective; as overpaying for a 9.0 or such by $1000s, not receiving a 9.8 at a price reduced by $1000s below GPA. Misdirection, not a ‘bargain’, especially if the seller failed to provide Nick with a back cover scan and full disclosure. Difficult to believe that anyone who owns an UHG, extremely expensive key would've been unaware of this when they thought about consigning the book to an auction site.

Excessive for a 9.8 A small, colour-breaking crease, maybe. Not a crunch, like that.

Yup. Fond memories of going several times each month to the local bus station newsstand to look at the often rainsoaked, well, okay, slightly-dampened T&P stamped, Marvel All-Colour Comics or pence-stickered DCs, back in the 70s. The frequently-miserable weather in the Manchester area couldn't kill my enthusiasm for these fascinating, imported treasures from the States.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, I'd rate Marcos Martin quite a bit higher than Larsen. He's done some really nice art for this particular character.

That's Photoshop, though. He's reading a Showcase reprint from the 2000s.

I had a similar experience the day 428 was released in the UK as distributed copies. A guy in London's big Forbidden Planet store claimed, with the weepiest-sounding voice, that so few had got into the country that they had to charge £8-50 each. Despite the tragic sob story, I knew that stacks of them were available around the corner at another comic shop, at cover price, 50p. The last time I bought from FP, unsurprisingly.

Yup. The one I'd considered posting. A man with taste, reading the UK's greatest-ever humour comic.

That's impressive. I have two.

If they've been stored poorly then they might've also lost a lot of cover gloss. Taking a chance at that price.

Having thought a bit more about my ideal version of a Skyrim-based Bag of Holding, I realised that one essential item was missing from it; a holder on the outside, for quick and easy access to a Canister of Extreme Deodorisation, which would be capable of removing 100 points of stench per spray from any noticeably ripe, unwashed, unshowered attendee within one metre.

The bicycle courier or laptop satchel style bag is a good choice. I have a Samsonite version.

Yup. Her pies and coffee were amazing.

You should check out Agnetha Fältskog’s one-off progressive doom metal album. Quite scary.

I admit, I was surprised myself.

I hadn't noticed that the swimming trunks or underwear are missing. He's obviously much more disinhibited these days. It's not the 1950s anymore.

I'd thought about that character, but maybe he'd just be seen now as a bit of a Godzilla clone? More interesting also to have an invasion by a group of the alien monsters from those 50s / 60s comics.

Yup. I’d hope they’d follow the really classic dark, surreal, Spirit of Vengeance template we saw in the early More Fun issues, and during the great Fleisher and Ostrander series. Thematically very different to Dr Strange, and it could be made to look quite incredible.

The costume would need a significant redesign. Very dated-looking now.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_set_around_Halloween

The Promethian Giants. One of my favourite Kirby splash pages. Great choice.

Good choice. It is very creepy. Definitely mood-setting.

Keith Pollard is very underrated. He did some really nice artwork during his run on Thor.