But there are other comics too.
Ones we should never forget.
And this is one of them. Wanted #8 features not just the Flash fighting the coolest villain since Mr Freeze, but also Dr Fate vs the only super-villain in the world who thinks he can get away with a cravat.
Granted, I think we've all always wanted to be the sort of man who can get away with a cravat but, outside of Scooby-Doo's Freddie, no such man exists.
Actually, to be honest, even looking at the cover now, I have no idea what happens inside that comic. But I do recall that it was one of my favourite DC issues when I was a kid, which makes it all the more mysterious that I'd totally forgotten I ever owned it until I accidentally chanced across its cover online.
It all goes to show that being remembered and deserving to be remembered are not the same thing. After all, I suspect that just one look at the word "Wanted" reminds all Brits of the Dooleys' dreadful 1979 hit of the same name. But who amongst us remembered the mighty Contempt before their shock reappearance on Top of the Pops 1977?
See? I told you so. Even with two members of the Justice League on this page, there's still no justice in the world.
I had a few issues of Wanted, but I'm pretty sure I never had this one. I do seem to remember one in which the Flash fought both Captain Cold and Heat Wave.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the distribution of DC comics in the UK in the '70s. There was no DC UK and my local WH Smith's sold Marvel comics only, they absolutely did not sell DC - I'd certainly have noticed otherwise ! The only thing I knew about DC were the TV shows, I honestly thought Batman was supposed to be a joke and not a 'real' super-hero ! To this day I find it impossible to care about Batman/Superman films as there was no childhood connection with those characters. By the way Steve, I loved the Dooleys' "Wanted" and "The Chosen Few"!
ReplyDeleteIt was always easy to find DC titles in Sheffield. There were a couple of stalls down the indoor markets that spcialised in comics. They had more DC comics than you could shake a stick at; also Charlton, Gold Key, Atlas, Dell and others.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it helped if you lived in a city! You got all those various brands of comics from market stalls though, not WH Smith's which shows that it was only Marvel that was seriously targeting the UK market with their products in mainstream newsagents(or that's how it seemed).
DeleteYou wanted the independant newsagents. At least as late as the mid-90's they would get bundles of pretty random issues in elastic bands. My local used to get 2 bundles and didn't even bother removing the bands. Most big titles were there every month (except when something important happened when the issues would be missing). Smaller titles appeared and disappeared. Each bundle had a different selection so you might have to journey to different towns looking for specific books.
DeleteMarvel only collectors were wimps!
I wouldn't have been allowed to journey to different towns at the age of 10 looking for comics, it was Marvel or nothing. Obviously I was a wimp as I only read Marvel and I was perfectly happy with that !
DeleteRe Contempt, their singer was called Mr Paul, and their PR included the statement that "Mr Paul hates punk". Backed a loser there...
ReplyDeleteIt's odd because I always thought there was a touch of Punk about Mr Paul with his unlikely stockbroker ways and air of disdain.
ReplyDeleteBrr. Contempt. I had almost forgotten,
ReplyDeleteAnd Captain Cold is definitely cooler than Mr. Freeze.