Monkee Beat

From the very beginning there have been comparisons and competition between the Fab Four and the Pre-Fab Four, in both the eyes of many fans and the media -

For many of us, though, it's like arguing Star Trek vs. Star Wars - while similarities and overlaps abound, they're separate things, comparing Science Fiction and Space Opera.
In truth, there's #1 spots for both.

When it comes to The Monkees and The Beatles, the boys themselves didn't seem to be bothered by the perceptions and expectations of others. Whether it's The Monkees checking out the latest release from The Beatles...

...boys from the bands hanging out together...

Micky & Paul hanging out at the time of the Sgt. Pepper sessions.

That's Paul's dear Martha, folks.

Cynthia Lennon, Phyllis Nesmith, Mike Nesmith, and Ringo Star. (Francoise Hardy in back)

 

 

Oh, hey! Let's not forget working together, even. Here are Mike Nesmith and John Lennon from the legendary A Day In The Life recording session - Monkee on Beatle action! (Sorry, Snell)

And remember that Peter Tork played guitar on George Harrison's solo album , Wonderwall...

George Harrison tries to convince Ringo Starr to let Mickey Dolenz use his drum kit while Peter Tork checks out his guitar. (It doesn't weep)

And when Monkees weren't hanging out with Beatles, the situation reversed. You can look in Monkees' Annual to see Ringo...

...and years later you can still find Ringo hanging out for Pizza...

Heck, by the time all was said and done, The Monkees were even signed with Beatles' manager Brian Epstein -

John Lennon considered The Monkees to be “the funniest comedy team since the Marx brothers,” and George Harrison contemplated  “When they get it all sorted out, they might turn out to be the best.”
The music is littered with references, no surprise. Whether Mickey commenting "I was going to buy a raccoon, but John's already got one" on Gonna Buy Me A Dog or referring to the "Four Kings Of EMI" on Randy Scouse Git, or Paul singing "Hey, Hey! We're The Monkees!" in his Back In The US concert film.

Of course, The Monkees tv show was inspired by the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night. And it all comes full circle...

...and so it went...

(Sorry, Davy - I couldn't find my pics of your recording session)

A Hard Day's Knight from The Monkees Annual #3 (UK) (1969)

G.A. Welz, B.C.

Currently in our back room, we've got short little 5 page Blue Monday extra while i'm getting back into gear.

A decade before Cherry Poptart debuted, got into trouble, lost her last name and pool partied with Hobo Hal, Larry Welz was already working out the basics for the series. We may have been looking back on the Groovy Age around here lately, but they were calling it the Golden Age...

To read the story, follow the link to the post in back on The Other Voice Of ODD!.

Blue & Gray

Today's post in our 'back room' for adult content takes a quick peek at a short tale by an artist famed for his work on Tarzan, Buck Rogers, and Flash Gordon, among others in this edition of

 Most readers are likely to be familiar with Gray Morrow's adult themed strips like Orion and Amora, created in traditionally inked comic strip style. While i enjoy those, and we'll likely wind up running some strips eventually, there's one odd tale done quite differently rendered, and written by his then-wife, Betty.

If you're interested in this story (The Journey) from Wally Wood's prozine, Witzend, follow the link to this post on The Other Voice Of ODD!

 The Journey by Betty & Gray Morrow for Witzend #7 (1970)

Blue Monday Calendar 2018 Week 15

This week's painting from Gil Elvgren is Back In The Saddle (AKA Close Pals AKA We're Back In The Saddle Again) from 1944

Back In The Saddle by Gil Elvgren (1944)

Covering The Monkees

Have a heapin' helpin' of Monkee covers - 30 of 'em!

I tried to avoid pulling too many from the same source (though Tiger Beat sure doesn't make that easy!), so we have a few from their own comic, a few from other comics, and a bunch from a variety of magazines and books.

Let's open with my favorite of the Dell comic covers, though sadly it's in pretty beat up shape and there's been too much happening around here to allow time for a full restoration treatment -

A half century later, it continues.
While on my monthly grocery expidition yesterday i heard some folks talking about The Monkees coming to town, which isn't something i thought was possible these days.

But cave dwelling hermits miss out on a lot.

covers from the places they say they're from, except that lying Batman '66 and The Monkees cover,

which comes from Tyrone Biljan (1967-2017)

Sunday Monkee Funnies

For our Sunday Morning Funnies this week, let's go back to those UK Annuals for a bit longer look at their handling of The Monkees. Unfortunately, the UK Annuals are often quite bad at identifying the creators. We'll have to hope some knowledgeable folks from across the pond take pity on our ignorance.

I particularly enjoy the colours in those stories from the annuals. But - up there in the middle of it all...
Does it look to you like the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh actually existed on the Earth occupied by The Monkees?

It's probably just me, huh?

pages from The Monkees Annual #1 (UK) (1967)