Random things from The Cupboard #2
Once upon a time, I had a small, square wooden cupboard where I kept all my comics and memorabilia. That was when I was ten. A few decades later I have come to the terrible realisation that the cupboard has got bigger and bigger, and that I am now actually living and working inside it. My name is Steve Cook, and these are the things that surround me…
My original blog began with this paragraph, and since I’ve been back in the UK recently, I photographed some more items from that same cupboard.
I discovered a whole pile of movie preview invites from the 1980s, when I worked as art editor & designer of Starburst magazine for Marvel UK. It was always a joy to see a new film with no preconceived ideas or spoilers. The Terminator was quite a pleasant surprise!
This sticker was given to me along with a book and a signed poster by the late and sorely missed Chris Achilleos, when I went to his house to photograph him for a Doctor Who magazine feature. A few years later I commissioned a painting from Chris, featuring Durham Red for a 2000 AD cover, which is still one of my favourites.
Another unused sticker. This one from 2000 AD featuring Judge Dredd.
A nicely designed and illustrated card for Nostalgia & Comics in Birmingham.
A doll-sized Spider-Man mask that I was given in 2008.
The Sixties are now Sixty Four years ago since I bought this!
A PMT (Photo Mechanical Transfer) of an illustration by Steve Dillon that I found on my desk when I first started working at Marvel UK. It’s stuck to a photocopy of a sign from VIZ comic which I found amusing at the time.
Angie Bowie’s calling card. I think I got this from my friend Gail who stayed at her place in New York or something…
A RoboCop screening invite - 20 Seconds to Comply!
A copy of SOUNDS from 1978 while I was attending college. Sometimes there’s just no need for cover copy.
“That thing in the cellar is not my mother!”
Cover production stats of The Incredible Hulk #245 Art by Al Milgrom. The X-Men #39 Art by: George Tuska, Sam Rosen and Stan Goldberg. I have more like this on this previous post.
Ghostbusters Private Preview. Why do I keep this stuff? I have no idea.
A signed photocopy of Brendan McCarthy’s modified Rupert Bear art.
This brought back memories of a pretty wild party that my longtime pal, Janet and I had in 1984. I was working at Marvel UK at the time and mocked this invitation up, sampling art from The Amazing Spider-Man by John Romita. The two word balloons at the top were lettered by Richard Starkings of Comicraft and Elephantmen fame.
Janet reappeared last month to photobomb this shot of me and my ex Marvel UK & Fleetway friends, Deb and John, taken by Robbie Morrison. The occasion was a gathering to celebrate the life of my Dad, Robin Cook, that my brother Martin and I organised. This probably explains why I haven’t posted anything on here for bloody ages!
I’ll end this particular post with a photo I found of Mum & Dad - Robin and Joan, on a station platform about to take a trip for their honeymoon in October 1958. It’s a great photo, and one I’d never seen before. I like to think that they’re both together again on another kind of adventure.
beauties from start to finish. x
I know that feeling about the cupboard taking over!