Flex Mentallo

He'll prob'ly ask us to look at a dark picture with a torch.

There's only one person I can think of who could possibly top that story, Richard. And that'd be you.

No, nothing at all, No, I don't regret anything! It's been payed for, swept (away), Forgotten. I don't care about the past! With my memories I have lit the fire! My disappointments, my pleasures, I no longer need them. Swept away are the loves with their trembling, swept away forever! I start again at zero.

As soon as I can bribe my appraisor

Yes, we've all got regrets I'm sure - I tell myself it's character building.

Yes, all in the best possible taste.

I'll be watching you not watching what your watching.

Somebody call a cop!

Yeah, what he said - 'n' makes sure the answer isn't QUALIFIED, neither!

Right there with you, Steve. If I have a grail, this would be it!

I'm getting all mystical now - normally I'd also use the word 'pop' to denote a super saturated cover color palette. In this case, the overall palette is so dark and intense that it kinda sucks you in. It doesn't so much pop as implode. I've tried to scan it and photograph it, but cant satisfactorily convey it. An albatross indeed (thanks kelholt for that appellation - great word!) And its now official - I only really collect alabatrosses.. ..and maybe the odd Frigate Bird. (Puffed up? Me?)

The purple is so dark its almost freakish. I genuinely cant recall seeing that background color in a Fiction House book before. But presumably, that is what the cover was meant to look like, since variations have progressively less. It also sets me wondering about color layers, and alternately, about color substitutions that would be genuine variants rather than progressively washed out cover states. I think I understand it less than I did before!

Could it have anything to do with the chosen shipping method? I've received mine here in the UK about very roughly two weeks after paying, sent via Fedex. So are some packages being collected by Fedex, and others being taken for USPS to the post office and someone is standing in line with a bunch of packages everyday? Writing that, it doesnt make much logistical sense though.

I love Ghost gallery - and Werewolf Hunter even more. It would be great to see them anthologized.

I seem to recall seeing a graded book where the siamese pages were noted on the label, but I have no idea how or if it would affect the grade. I imagine it would since they've been torn, but that is an uninformed guess.

Well, you were a bit premature last time.

That's the odor of sanctity alright.

Ah, well, insults are another matter. I'd never insult someone I didnt like. Just ask Billy.

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet."

Dark dealings from the squadron sinister. And it doesn't come any worse than a name like squadron sinister.

Nope, never would.

As I took them into work on a quiet morning to see the results on our work scanner (actually several scanners bu this li'l Epson was far and away the most accurate), I also re-scanned my vexatious #17. I am certain there area copies out therewith redder backgrounds, but I'm happy enough because this 'un is is a lot darker than average (but maybe not quite as dark as my previous scan suggested...) Let the jury decide.

..and here is a snapshot today of the two copies side by side for comparative purposes...