In the UK’s album charts at number 3 in the first week of August 1967, the Jimi Hendrix’s sublime Are You Experienced, from which The Almanac will unashamedly claim the sci-fi fable Third Rock From The Sun for its own. In it, the occupant of an alien scout ship, dazzled by the Earth but baffled by humanity, decides to destroy the human race. It will, he concludes, mean that no-one will ever have to hear surf music too. It’s a charming example not just of Hendrix’s love of science fiction, but of his wry sense of humour too.
Into Space With The Valiant summer special
One of the joys of 1967’s Valiant Space Special is seeing how all kinds of strips and features are spun, by context and execution, into examples of extra-planetary adventure stories. Because if ‘space’ was what was selling, then space was clearly what the young readers of the year’s summer specials were going to get, whether the feature suited the framing or not.
1. A new alien invasion adventure of Britain’s science villain/hero The Steel Claw, who was a bloke wearing, yes, a steel claw which could turn him invisible when he was thoroughly electrocuted. Except, because there’s always a catch where miraculous side-effects of electrocution are involved, the claw itself was always visible.2. Kelly’s Eye, in which the ‘jewel of everlasting life’ which gives Tim Kelly invulnerability and immortality is stolen by an evil spy, a conflict that ends, yes, in Earth orbit – because, “space” – with the kind of killing Brit comics heroes usually managed to avoid.3. It might have been a challenge to fit the idiotic, super-strong British soldier Captain Hurricane into the special’s theme, given that his adventures were set in World War II. But somebody clearly remembered that the Nazi V2 rockets looked somewhat futuristic, and that was evidently enough. It’s a shame the irony that the missiles’ creator was also playing an absolutely key role in the American space programme wasn’t referenced, but that wouldn’t have been in keeping with the essential timidity of the age’s comics. (Extra marks to whoever added ‘V2’ to the last panel of the above page.)4. The Kids From Kosma were a couple of space-kids exiled to a prison on a futuristic Earth colony planet because of – no, really – an infuriating obsession with sport. Valiant’s powers that be had apparently recalled that sports strips were popular and came up with this absurd hybrid. At moments the uncredited artwork almost justifies the story’s existence.5. Putting Billy Bunter into space fitted the special’s M.O., with him dreaming that he’s an intergalactic traveler, but it’s another example of a fusion of genres that really struggles to work. Bunter really doesn’t belong out there …6. As with Billy Bunter, the funny animal strip Tatty Mane was somewhat repurposed for the Special. Yet in this case, the hybridisation process actually took. Rather than simply falling back on “it-was-actually-a-dream”, the action takes place in Mane’s jungle home and the farce plays out in a (mildly) amusing way that feels true to the strip’s DNA.7. Padding out things is The War-Torn Planet, which looks to my inexpert eye like an American reprint. Still, there’s no denying it’s set in space. 8. Again, I’ve no idea where The Space Freighters came from, but, once again, again: there’s lots of space therein.9. The last comics tale to be discussed, Invasion From Space again seems again to be a reprint from a different age.10. Finally, the Special also included 3 text features. Above stands the illustrations for an article on parachuting to Earth from the edge of space. Below, a pulp sci-fi short tale and, finally, another article, this time about the planned Apollo missions to the Moon.
Whatever the quality of its various parts, the Valiant Space Special was a substantial package that promised to absorb a good few hours of a kid’s summer holidays. Square-bound after the fashion of a paperback novel, it contained a hefty 100 pages. A real boredom-killing beach-read for younger readers then.
The Day’s Fantastical TV & Radio in the UK
ITV – 6.15 – Children’s Story: The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe
Sadly, only two full episodes of this live-action adaptation of Lewis’ first Narnia novel survive, and they’re not, it’s said, in perfect quality. There’s also an audio recording of another one of the shows. What we can see looks intriguing, however, with the animal costumes looking rather endearing.
BBC Light Programme Radio – 7pm – Host Planet Earth Part 2: The Empty Minds
“A serial in six parts by Anne Howell and Colin Cooper, with Brenda Bruce, Clive Morton and Alexander John.
A new discovery enables space craft to visit distant regions of the universe within weeks instead of years. But the sudden death of a scientist who opposes the project arouses the fear of unexpected dangers.
Electronic sound and music by: The BBC Radiophonic Workshop.” (Radio Times)
The Almanac Of The Fantastical will return tomorrow…
The Almanac Of The Fantastical 