Colin Smith
@colinsmith.bsky.social
Comics, music, books, film, photos, paintings & cartoons! A Memorial Device Alternative National Treasure.
Reading Taming Of The Shrew, as you do, and thinking how familiar Petruccio’s torture of Katherina feels when she’s ordered to see the moon in the sky when the sun’s up. It reminded me of the “how many lights?” scenes in STTNG Chain Of Command. I come to the classics via the classics etc etc.
January 10, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Reading Taming Of The Shrew, as you do, and thinking how familiar Petruccio’s torture of Katherina feels when she’s ordered to see the moon in the sky when the sun’s up. It reminded me of the “how many lights?” scenes in STTNG Chain Of Command. I come to the classics via the classics etc etc.
“In Futuro / In The Future”: original illustration art by F. W. Read for December 5th 1901’s Life Magazine.
January 10, 2026 at 2:46 PM
“In Futuro / In The Future”: original illustration art by F. W. Read for December 5th 1901’s Life Magazine.
“mind that door”, by the great Tom Eckersley, 1961.
January 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
“mind that door”, by the great Tom Eckersley, 1961.
Good morning! It’s Saturday January 10th 2026! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go.
(On sale this very month in 1948, a mere 78 years ago, Kid Eternity #9, with an absolutely charming cover that’s possibly by Pete Riss.)
You be very careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
(On sale this very month in 1948, a mere 78 years ago, Kid Eternity #9, with an absolutely charming cover that’s possibly by Pete Riss.)
You be very careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
January 10, 2026 at 10:20 AM
Good morning! It’s Saturday January 10th 2026! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go.
(On sale this very month in 1948, a mere 78 years ago, Kid Eternity #9, with an absolutely charming cover that’s possibly by Pete Riss.)
You be very careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
(On sale this very month in 1948, a mere 78 years ago, Kid Eternity #9, with an absolutely charming cover that’s possibly by Pete Riss.)
You be very careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
So that was Friday Jan 9th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onwards!
(Out this very month in 1947, a mere 79 yrs ago, Planet Comics #48, with its cover featuring Mysta of the Moon by Joe Doolin.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, gentle sentients.
(Out this very month in 1947, a mere 79 yrs ago, Planet Comics #48, with its cover featuring Mysta of the Moon by Joe Doolin.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, gentle sentients.
January 9, 2026 at 10:43 PM
So that was Friday Jan 9th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onwards!
(Out this very month in 1947, a mere 79 yrs ago, Planet Comics #48, with its cover featuring Mysta of the Moon by Joe Doolin.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, gentle sentients.
(Out this very month in 1947, a mere 79 yrs ago, Planet Comics #48, with its cover featuring Mysta of the Moon by Joe Doolin.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, rest deeply, gentle sentients.
Marianne Faithfull, 1990, by Barry Marsden.
January 9, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Marianne Faithfull, 1990, by Barry Marsden.
“Assembling the Mars Expedition”, c.1953, by Chesley Bonestell.
I like the way the future used to look.
I like the way the future used to look.
January 9, 2026 at 6:52 PM
“Assembling the Mars Expedition”, c.1953, by Chesley Bonestell.
I like the way the future used to look.
I like the way the future used to look.
Death in a Cardinal’s hat, a hand-painted late 15th century Milanese Tarot card.
January 9, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Death in a Cardinal’s hat, a hand-painted late 15th century Milanese Tarot card.
Ted Knight, Starman, a gorgeous take on the Justice Society stalwart by Matt Wagner.
January 9, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Ted Knight, Starman, a gorgeous take on the Justice Society stalwart by Matt Wagner.
The Colosseum, Rome, 1997, a study by David Gentleman.
I’m currently perusing Gentleman’s “Lessons For Young Artists”, which, if my own experience is anything to go by, is pretty darn interesting & useful to old non-artists too.
I’m currently perusing Gentleman’s “Lessons For Young Artists”, which, if my own experience is anything to go by, is pretty darn interesting & useful to old non-artists too.
January 9, 2026 at 12:38 PM
The Colosseum, Rome, 1997, a study by David Gentleman.
I’m currently perusing Gentleman’s “Lessons For Young Artists”, which, if my own experience is anything to go by, is pretty darn interesting & useful to old non-artists too.
I’m currently perusing Gentleman’s “Lessons For Young Artists”, which, if my own experience is anything to go by, is pretty darn interesting & useful to old non-artists too.
This morning’s Wake Me Up And Help Me Feel Alive playlist. Which may very well have a broad North Of The Border 80s theme.
January 9, 2026 at 10:32 AM
This morning’s Wake Me Up And Help Me Feel Alive playlist. Which may very well have a broad North Of The Border 80s theme.
Good morning! It’s Friday January 9th 2026! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go.
(On sale this very month in 1946, a mere 80 years ago, World's Finest Comics #21, with its cover by Jack Burnley, Charles Paris & Ira Schnapp.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
(On sale this very month in 1946, a mere 80 years ago, World's Finest Comics #21, with its cover by Jack Burnley, Charles Paris & Ira Schnapp.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
January 9, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Good morning! It’s Friday January 9th 2026! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go.
(On sale this very month in 1946, a mere 80 years ago, World's Finest Comics #21, with its cover by Jack Burnley, Charles Paris & Ira Schnapp.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
(On sale this very month in 1946, a mere 80 years ago, World's Finest Comics #21, with its cover by Jack Burnley, Charles Paris & Ira Schnapp.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
So that was Thursday Jan 8th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onwards!
(Out this very month in 1945, a mere 81 yrs ago, Green Llama #2, with its all-time great - and I do mean ‘great!’ - cover by Mac Raboy.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
(Out this very month in 1945, a mere 81 yrs ago, Green Llama #2, with its all-time great - and I do mean ‘great!’ - cover by Mac Raboy.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
January 8, 2026 at 10:43 PM
So that was Thursday Jan 8th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onwards!
(Out this very month in 1945, a mere 81 yrs ago, Green Llama #2, with its all-time great - and I do mean ‘great!’ - cover by Mac Raboy.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
(Out this very month in 1945, a mere 81 yrs ago, Green Llama #2, with its all-time great - and I do mean ‘great!’ - cover by Mac Raboy.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
Sketches by Alex Toth. Because they’re sketches by Alex Toth.
January 8, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Sketches by Alex Toth. Because they’re sketches by Alex Toth.
An army of snowpeople: Charles Addams’ cover for The New Yorker dated this very day in 1972.
January 8, 2026 at 7:38 PM
An army of snowpeople: Charles Addams’ cover for The New Yorker dated this very day in 1972.
“From My Window at the Shelton, West”, 1931, by Alfred Stieglitz.
January 8, 2026 at 6:11 PM
“From My Window at the Shelton, West”, 1931, by Alfred Stieglitz.
A rather remarkable 1977 Polish movie poster by Andrzej Pagowski for “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind”.
January 8, 2026 at 4:30 PM
A rather remarkable 1977 Polish movie poster by Andrzej Pagowski for “Close Encounters Of The Third Kind”.
James Gurney’s cover painting for Tim Powers’ 1987 fantasy-adventure novel “Stranger Tides”, which, in addition to being great fun in its own right, was an inspiration for the fourth Pirates Of The Caribbean movie.
January 8, 2026 at 2:06 PM
James Gurney’s cover painting for Tim Powers’ 1987 fantasy-adventure novel “Stranger Tides”, which, in addition to being great fun in its own right, was an inspiration for the fourth Pirates Of The Caribbean movie.
Happy birthday, Mr Bowie. Everybody says hi.
January 8, 2026 at 7:55 AM
Happy birthday, Mr Bowie. Everybody says hi.
Good morning! It’s Thursday January 8th 2026! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go.
(Dated this very day in 1966, a mere 60 years ago, TV Century 21 #51, with its photo-cover featuring the mighty Fireball XL5.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
(Dated this very day in 1966, a mere 60 years ago, TV Century 21 #51, with its photo-cover featuring the mighty Fireball XL5.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
January 8, 2026 at 6:43 AM
Good morning! It’s Thursday January 8th 2026! Another day already? Crikey! Onwards we go.
(Dated this very day in 1966, a mere 60 years ago, TV Century 21 #51, with its photo-cover featuring the mighty Fireball XL5.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
(Dated this very day in 1966, a mere 60 years ago, TV Century 21 #51, with its photo-cover featuring the mighty Fireball XL5.)
You be careful out there among them English, Joanne Book.
So that was Wednesday January 7th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onwards!
(Out this very month in 1944, a mere 82 yrs ago, Detective Comics #85, with its cover by Dick Sprang featuring two Jokers.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
(Out this very month in 1944, a mere 82 yrs ago, Detective Comics #85, with its cover by Dick Sprang featuring two Jokers.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
January 7, 2026 at 11:12 PM
So that was Wednesday January 7th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day (more or less) here. So it goes. Onwards!
(Out this very month in 1944, a mere 82 yrs ago, Detective Comics #85, with its cover by Dick Sprang featuring two Jokers.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
(Out this very month in 1944, a mere 82 yrs ago, Detective Comics #85, with its cover by Dick Sprang featuring two Jokers.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients.
David Bowie, on-set for the shooting of Brian Duffy’s 1979 cover for “Lodger”.
January 7, 2026 at 9:19 PM
David Bowie, on-set for the shooting of Brian Duffy’s 1979 cover for “Lodger”.
“Speed To Winter Playgrounds In Pullman Safety & Comfort”, 1935, by William P. Welsh.
January 7, 2026 at 7:15 PM
“Speed To Winter Playgrounds In Pullman Safety & Comfort”, 1935, by William P. Welsh.
Mike McMahon’s fabulous cover for 1984’s Titan Books reprint collection “The Chronicles of Judge Dredd: Blockmania”.
January 7, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Mike McMahon’s fabulous cover for 1984’s Titan Books reprint collection “The Chronicles of Judge Dredd: Blockmania”.
Movie poster for 1934’s German science fiction film “Der Herr Der Welt / Master Of The World” by A. M. Cay. Beware, peoples of the Earth, Professor Wolf’s Überrobots are ready to conquer you …
January 7, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Movie poster for 1934’s German science fiction film “Der Herr Der Welt / Master Of The World” by A. M. Cay. Beware, peoples of the Earth, Professor Wolf’s Überrobots are ready to conquer you …