Colin Smith
@colinsmith.bsky.social
Comics, music, books, film, photos, paintings & cartoons! Humanism & ASD too. A Memorial Device Alternative National Treasure. Hurrah!
Javier Rodriguez’s covers for the Marvel 1960s year books are things of sunny joy.
February 13, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Javier Rodriguez’s covers for the Marvel 1960s year books are things of sunny joy.
A sumptuous drawing by Canaletto of the Piazza San Marco in Venice, c.1745.
I saw an exhibition of the art of Canaletto & his peers at the Queen’s Gallery a while ago. I’m a terrible fanboy when it comes to Canaletto’s paintings. But even so, seeing so many of his drawings still blew me away.
I saw an exhibition of the art of Canaletto & his peers at the Queen’s Gallery a while ago. I’m a terrible fanboy when it comes to Canaletto’s paintings. But even so, seeing so many of his drawings still blew me away.
February 13, 2026 at 8:46 PM
A sumptuous drawing by Canaletto of the Piazza San Marco in Venice, c.1745.
I saw an exhibition of the art of Canaletto & his peers at the Queen’s Gallery a while ago. I’m a terrible fanboy when it comes to Canaletto’s paintings. But even so, seeing so many of his drawings still blew me away.
I saw an exhibition of the art of Canaletto & his peers at the Queen’s Gallery a while ago. I’m a terrible fanboy when it comes to Canaletto’s paintings. But even so, seeing so many of his drawings still blew me away.
I do love the design of the Jupiter ships in the 2018 reboot of Lost In Space. It’s such a doughty craft, able to take considerable damage while remaining, under typical conditions, thoroughly reliable. It looks like it’d be fun to fly too, if the killer robots aren’t right behind.
February 13, 2026 at 7:41 PM
I do love the design of the Jupiter ships in the 2018 reboot of Lost In Space. It’s such a doughty craft, able to take considerable damage while remaining, under typical conditions, thoroughly reliable. It looks like it’d be fun to fly too, if the killer robots aren’t right behind.
Another book shelf ready to be filled! At the risk of triggering scorn from The Grown-Ups out there in social media land, it’s going to be Such Fun!!!
February 13, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Another book shelf ready to be filled! At the risk of triggering scorn from The Grown-Ups out there in social media land, it’s going to be Such Fun!!!
Self-portrait, 1910, by Ester Ellqvist.
February 13, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Self-portrait, 1910, by Ester Ellqvist.
Just some of the things I still adore from 1978.
February 13, 2026 at 10:59 AM
Just some of the things I still adore from 1978.
Reposted by Colin Smith
Vassilissa in the Forest, by Ivan Bilibin, 1899.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
February 12, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Vassilissa in the Forest, by Ivan Bilibin, 1899.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
Good morning! It’s Friday February 13th 2026! Another day already? Crikey!
(Dated this very day in 1965, Eagle & Boys’ World #16:7, with its cover-strip featuring Dan Dare & gorgeous art by Keith Watson.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
(Dated this very day in 1965, Eagle & Boys’ World #16:7, with its cover-strip featuring Dan Dare & gorgeous art by Keith Watson.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
February 13, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Good morning! It’s Friday February 13th 2026! Another day already? Crikey!
(Dated this very day in 1965, Eagle & Boys’ World #16:7, with its cover-strip featuring Dan Dare & gorgeous art by Keith Watson.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
(Dated this very day in 1965, Eagle & Boys’ World #16:7, with its cover-strip featuring Dan Dare & gorgeous art by Keith Watson.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
So that was Thursday February 12th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day nearly here. So it goes.
(Out this very month in 1975, Adventure Comics #439, with its cover featuring The Spectre by
Jim Aparo & Tatjana Wood.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
(Out this very month in 1975, Adventure Comics #439, with its cover featuring The Spectre by
Jim Aparo & Tatjana Wood.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
February 12, 2026 at 11:04 PM
So that was Thursday February 12th 2026. Crikey. Another day done, another day nearly here. So it goes.
(Out this very month in 1975, Adventure Comics #439, with its cover featuring The Spectre by
Jim Aparo & Tatjana Wood.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
(Out this very month in 1975, Adventure Comics #439, with its cover featuring The Spectre by
Jim Aparo & Tatjana Wood.)
And so to bed. Sleep well, gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
The Radio Times for this very week in 1958, with its cover featuring the lad himself Tony Hancock as The Government Inspector from a BBC adaptation of Gogol’s 1936 play.
February 12, 2026 at 9:19 PM
The Radio Times for this very week in 1958, with its cover featuring the lad himself Tony Hancock as The Government Inspector from a BBC adaptation of Gogol’s 1936 play.
That’s lovely to hear. I’m really fond of four or five of those earlier albums. (I’m glad for his later success, but it’s not for me.)
February 12, 2026 at 7:47 PM
That’s lovely to hear. I’m really fond of four or five of those earlier albums. (I’m glad for his later success, but it’s not for me.)
Vassilissa in the Forest, by Ivan Bilibin, 1899.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
February 12, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Vassilissa in the Forest, by Ivan Bilibin, 1899.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
Those skeletons in the background. How wonderfully sinister.
I got my copy of “Judge Dredd: Rend and Tear with Tooth and Claw” this morning. Everything in it is new to me. Forgive me for saying so, because I don’t use such words lightly, but it really is Remarkably Good. Seriously fine work. My hat is doffed to all involved.
February 12, 2026 at 5:40 PM
I got my copy of “Judge Dredd: Rend and Tear with Tooth and Claw” this morning. Everything in it is new to me. Forgive me for saying so, because I don’t use such words lightly, but it really is Remarkably Good. Seriously fine work. My hat is doffed to all involved.
As a kid I only noticed how less compelling those later shows were. The more Anderson pushed for “realism”, the less charming & attractive his work was. A tragedy of sorts, that a creator heading a team that produced such terrific programmes wanted nothing more in business than to leave them behind.
February 12, 2026 at 4:40 PM
As a kid I only noticed how less compelling those later shows were. The more Anderson pushed for “realism”, the less charming & attractive his work was. A tragedy of sorts, that a creator heading a team that produced such terrific programmes wanted nothing more in business than to leave them behind.
1969 ad for the Dinky Toys take on Joe 90’s flying car, which was, to my then-6 year old self, really rather spiffing. (Unlike the TV show itself which, with the exception of its title sequence featuring Barry Grey’s theme tune, rather dull.)
February 12, 2026 at 3:43 PM
1969 ad for the Dinky Toys take on Joe 90’s flying car, which was, to my then-6 year old self, really rather spiffing. (Unlike the TV show itself which, with the exception of its title sequence featuring Barry Grey’s theme tune, rather dull.)
Seventh Avenue looking south from 35th Street, Manhattan, December 5th 1935, by Berenice Abbott.
February 12, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Seventh Avenue looking south from 35th Street, Manhattan, December 5th 1935, by Berenice Abbott.
The most successful student from my old school is Gary Numan. Legend said he was, er, asked to leave early. A guy from GN’s form told me he was “a nice enough guy with abit of a temper”. Which makes sense when you’ve undiagnosed ASD. Knowing my old school, I wonder if he got much support at all.
February 12, 2026 at 11:10 AM
The most successful student from my old school is Gary Numan. Legend said he was, er, asked to leave early. A guy from GN’s form told me he was “a nice enough guy with abit of a temper”. Which makes sense when you’ve undiagnosed ASD. Knowing my old school, I wonder if he got much support at all.
Finding out which of the bigger books fit on the top of the new bookcase ….
Problem is, there’s a few more to come.
Problem is, there’s a few more to come.
February 12, 2026 at 9:58 AM
Finding out which of the bigger books fit on the top of the new bookcase ….
Problem is, there’s a few more to come.
Problem is, there’s a few more to come.
Good morning! It’s Thursday February 12th 2026! Another day already? Crikey!
(Dated this very day in 1966, the week’s edition of Lion, with its classic cover-strip featuring Robot Archie by, quite probably, Ted Kearon.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
(Dated this very day in 1966, the week’s edition of Lion, with its classic cover-strip featuring Robot Archie by, quite probably, Ted Kearon.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
February 12, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Good morning! It’s Thursday February 12th 2026! Another day already? Crikey!
(Dated this very day in 1966, the week’s edition of Lion, with its classic cover-strip featuring Robot Archie by, quite probably, Ted Kearon.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
(Dated this very day in 1966, the week’s edition of Lion, with its classic cover-strip featuring Robot Archie by, quite probably, Ted Kearon.)
You be careful out there among them English, John Book.
Reposted by Colin Smith
So that was Wednesday February 11th 2026. Crikey. It was a slog. Another day done, another day nearly here. So it goes.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
February 11, 2026 at 11:04 PM
So that was Wednesday February 11th 2026. Crikey. It was a slog. Another day done, another day nearly here. So it goes.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
Reposted by Colin Smith
Winifred Knights’ “The Deluge” from 1920.
February 11, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Winifred Knights’ “The Deluge” from 1920.
So that was Wednesday February 11th 2026. Crikey. It was a slog. Another day done, another day nearly here. So it goes.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
February 11, 2026 at 11:04 PM
So that was Wednesday February 11th 2026. Crikey. It was a slog. Another day done, another day nearly here. So it goes.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
(Dated this very day in 1967, TV Century 21 #108, with its cover featuring the mighty Thunderbird One.)
And so to bed. Sleep well,gentle sentients. May your tomorrow be kind.
So true. So 100% true.
February 11, 2026 at 10:59 PM
So true. So 100% true.