some batman graphic novels

Through a work assignment, I recently found myself in Richmond library for the first time in ages, and while l was pottering around in there, decided to get out some recent (ish) Batman Graphic novels for a bit of light reading.
I used to read a lot of Batman comics when l was younger, but haven't followed his exploits for years, although l have occasionally dipped my toe in the water. Therefore l was completely out of touch with developments reading these, but all can be read as stand alone stories.
Here's some thoughts on them. More scans from all of them can be found here. 

Batman and Robin

I still think of the old Dick Grayson Robin with Batman, but this has Damian's (a new one) story, and includes other older Robins, plus the rivalry between them.
Damian (as you would expect) is a bit of a bastard, but the story ending is pretty moving, especially if your a blubbery (in more ways than one) old sap like me. Very well written.
I know Batman has had cars and flash weapons at his disposal over the years, but to me, what makes him different, is he is just a normal guy who has trained himself to fight crime. Even Spiderman was bitten by a radioactive spider and gained powers. They should leave flying off into space to other superheroes, otherwise Batman will become just like them, and it dilutes his original appeal.

Batman  Heart of Hush

Batman's story of his long friendship and later battle with Tommy, plus a love story with Selina (not Tommy).

Also pretty moving, and interesting to someone like me who didn't know the back story.

Batman   RIP

Batman loses his marbles - what more do you want?

Also very well written

Batman   Gordon of Gotham

I was pretty sceptical of this one, as l'm not too keen on too many spin offs, but it was pretty good, especially the end parts when Gordon struggles with right and wrong moral decisions, but l preferred the other books.

I originally typed l preferred the other boobs instead of books by mistake -  a classic Freudian slip up!!

toodle pip

two lottery wins in the bag (hopefully)

That's me sorted for tonight and tomorrow - if l don't win both tonight's £24 million and tomorrows £13.6 million, l will be mightily pissed off.

Always hope for the best !!

toodle pip

EDIT 17.6 - DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMNNNNN!!!!!!

steve harley at tenants, leyburn

A new experience was had last night - myself and a friend went to see Steve Harley at Tenants Garden Rooms in Leyburn and it was the oldest and richest looking audience we've ever been part of. Apart from the rich bit, no wonder we fitted in.
Rather impressively, it was a charity event for Breast Cancer, and Steve and his band (plus all crew, support band etc) did the show for nothing, so l will let off the venue for having such lousy tickets and seats that aren't numbered. Let's hope Tenants waived the cost of hiring the room on the night to join in with the spirit of generosity.

And here's my favourite Steve Harley song - The Best Years Of Our Lives

European maids, hard to ignore
You, me and the boys, barred from the shore
Fresh-faced imbeciles laughing at me
I've been laughing myself, is that so hard to see ?
Do I have to spell each letter out, honestly ?
If there's no room for laughter, there's no room for me, for me
Try looking at you rather than me
No truth is in here, it's all fantasy
Since the last time we met I've been through
About seven hundred changes and that's just a few
And the changes all tend to be something to do
But you've got to believe that they're all done for you, for you
Oh you'll think it's tragic when that moment first arrives
Oh but it's magic, it's the best years of our lives
Lost now for the words to tell you the truth
Please banter with me the banter of youth
If I knew how to say it, I would say it for you
If I knew how to whisper, I'd whisper for you
If I knew how to waltz, I'd get up and dance for you
If I thought I could run, I'd come running to you, to you
I've discovered now how to be fair
This I could teach you if only I dare
The only conclusion that I've reached in my life
Is that if I should die, I should die by the knife
Since it's only a matter of courage, all right
Die a man or a martyr, the two would be nice, so nice
Oh you'll think it's tragic when that moment arrives
Oh, oh but it's magic, it's the best years of our lives
Oh you'll think it's tragic when that moment first arrives
Oh, oh but it's magic, it's the best years of our lives

toodle pip

the rather marvelous 4-2-4 football game

When l was young kiddiewinkle, l played Subbuteo now and again like every other sane friend of mine. Some of us dodgier lads even used to go into Wallingford when we were on Summer holidays and nick various boxes of teams to vary the games a bit (Security was pretty lax in the olden days). However, the game that l enjoyed playing most of all, and hardly anyone remembers, was TAF 4-2-4, which l used to play when l lived in Germany. I always thought that the game helped give me a better theoretical understanding of passing the ball into space and how to control and move a ball into space when l played football for real (I was obviously excellent at the real game).
I lost my original game (or my parents probably chucked it when we moved back to Blighty) but l purchased another a few years ago for that lovely Proustian rush, and just to see one again, as people l spoke to then had never even heard of it, and despite the drink and drugs over the years in between, l knew l wasn't imagining it.
When it arrived, I was pretty chuffed that it was in such good condition, and it immediately bought back many happy memories, but an added bonus was that it has been signed by  Tom Waterman, the creator of the game on the inside of the outer lid.
Hurrah!!! A reason for keeping it, as l can now class it as a collectors item / rarity.

toodle pip

new haul from the car boot

I only go to the local car boot sale now and again, and often only come away with a few cheap lp's that l may only like the odd song on.
On other days however, If there are some decent items, l fill my boots!!
Here's Sunday's haul - some cheapo's, but some crackers as well.
The £8 price sticker on the Dusty and Roxy Music lps was only on the outer covers, as they only cost £1 each. Result! (Even if l have a copy of the Roxy album already)

toodle pip

it's bank holiday monday!

It's Bank Holiday Monday, which means a drunken day out in Richmond with the lads, and Robbo staying over at my place afterwards. Haven't missed it for years and we always have a laugh, but l'm sure it will be messy. The rule is - do it to them before they do it to you.

Here's me at the start of the day

And this will be me and Robbo at the end of the day

toodle pip

last weeks breakfast

Mmmmmm  A blurry picture of last weeks breakfast.
I had no interest in The Royal Wedding, but had been invited to a party that morning. I said l would go and have my breakfast there before heading off for the FA Cup Final if  potato salad and quiche were being served, so they put them on for me.
Hurrah!! Although l should have given the final a miss.

toodle pip

funny underpants

A great pear of undies which look like they are from Hom, although l can't seem to find them anywhere.
What an excellent idea though!

And here's a pair l wear to scare Mr Parrot

toodle pip

some recent books

Some books l have recently read. I seem to have gone through quite a few autobiographies lately. All from charity shops.

toodle pip

I finally got rid of the settee in the spare room, as l am trying to declutter the place (well, tidy it up at least).
I had to drive down to Harrogate to pick up the shelving unit which l bought online, but it was well worth it, as it fits the gap perfectly.
Now l've got more room to fill with other stuff!!!

toodle pip

sneaky mr parrot

Mr Parrot trying to sneak up behind me to get a banana that was by my side (he loves them). What a cutie.

And here he is later on looking happy after having some banana

toodle pip

the neighbours have trimmed their bush

I wondered what the neighbours over the road were doing to their massive bush the other day, and now l know. They have trimmed it back and made it look a lot better.
I'm impressed, but if it was mine l would never have started the job in the first place.

toodle pip

the travaux football club and team

My memory is rubbish with some stuff.
I 'm not totally doolally, so l do remember playing for The Travaux football club years ago, but until l saw these items in amongst other crap in one of my many storage boxes, l had no memory that we actually started the team, and played in it's embryonic first season. I even had to become a member (number 60!) of the Travaux to play for them. As the newspaper cutting confirms, we were pretty good, hit the ground running, and won the league straight off (or at least finished second - as l stated, my memory is crap).
That was before the drink and drugs took their toll!!

toodle pip

iggy's pants and his footwear choices

You have to have confidence to wear a pair of pants that Iggy Pop is sporting in this photograph.
It makes me admire him even more.
Despite the fact that l'm not too keen on the shoes and no socks look he is also sporting, he was ahead of his time not just with his music, but his footwear as well, as that's what the fashionista are wearing these days (Idiots).

Here's the trailer for the Jim Jarmusch documentary on Iggy and The Stooges - 'Gimme Danger'.  I'm biased as l'm besotted by them, but it's highly recommended!!



toodle pip

vegetarian ham that tastes of chicken

Vegetarian ham that tastes of chicken??  They're trying to confuse me.

toodle pip

marc bolan defends bob dylan

Back before he became famous, Marc Bolan defended Bob Dylan's 'Self Portrait' album in the pages of Melody Maker.

Here's the lyrics to the song Belle Isle that Bolan was on about (Bob based it on a traditional song)

As there's no video for that, here's one of my favourite Dylan songs, the live version of 'Hurricane'

To demonstrate how unknown Bolan when the letter was printed (Self Portrait was released June 8th 1970), they even printed his home address. How times were to suddenly change.
Bolan had been about for a few years on the underground scene, but in October 1970 T.Rex released this little beauty and his life was never the same.

Ride a White Swan - from 'Beat Club' German TV



And here's some more Bolan  - at the time, the biggest star since The Beatles.









And lastly, one that made me cry playing it after he died - one of his last songs - 'Soul of my Suit'
I loved him



toodle pip

al perman found in a book plus david essex and the stray cats

It's funny what you can find stashed away in old books bought from charity shops. 

Here's a recent example - a photograph of a singer who looks a bit like David Essex in 'Stardust', but the back of the photo has 'Al Perman 1966' written on it. That could be the photographer or the singer, as l have no idea. I tried a quick Google search but with no success, so it is likely to remain a puzzle.

Here's David Essex playing Jim MacLain with The Stray Cats in 'Stardust'



Here's David Essex's 'Rock On' (a favourite of mine)



And here's the later day Stray Cats doing the 'Stray Cat Strut'



toodle pip

the liverpool european cup / champions league final defeat

Here's a picture of me earlier watching the Champions League (European Cup in old money) final tonight between Liverpool and Real Madrid.

I wanted to watch Liverpool versus Real Madrid as l thought it might be a good attacking game, but l was dreading it in case Liverpool were to win. However, l didn't want Mohamed Salah to go off injured, so despite still wanting to see Real Madrid triumph, when he did, l thought the enjoyment of (hopefully) Real's win would be taken away from me, as it would have been kind of a default victory.
That was before a brilliant overhead kick by Gareth Bale, and two howlers from Loris Karius (Liverpool's goalkeeper). To state that l was happy at the end is an understatement. I do actually feel sorry for Salah (who is a superb player) and Karius, but it was well worth watching from a Manchester United viewpoint.
Liverpool have still won it more than us though, and l can't see that changing anytime in the near future.

toodle pip