The Mantled Ghost That Looms in the Gray

(That's yer actual Thomas Hardy).
 I hope you had a Happy Hogmanay- I spent it in a peaceful Elgin, watching Jools Holland's annual pre-recorded music show with a bottle of a well-known supermarket's own brand Irish Cream. That might sound maudlin but in fact I'm filled with anticipation for 2013.
 I know it should be Seven Geese a-Swimming but I always feel Ne'er Day is the point the Christmas decorations should be packed away, ushering in a fresh start. However, here are some final seasonal images from the great and the good of the comics world, beginning with Britain's own patriotic Pilot of the Future:

Next, we have the Caped Crusader in typical "mild peril", Gotham-style

The Marvel Family gird the globe in the early Seventies. Watch out for an upcoming post on Republic's Adventures of Captain Marvel!

The Lion of London wraps up the loose ends of his sadly- missed 1980s series...

...and the Man of Steel welcomes 2004 as Dave Bullock channels the Fleisher cartoons. Never mind Henry Cavill- this is how I like my Kryptonians.

As I said earlier, I'm looking forward to the New Year. As far as new comics are concerned, I want to sample the Hawkeye series, recommended by Mr. David Steel. My former protege and Moviescramble blogger ( http://moviescramble.co.uk/) Mr. Thomas Simpson speaks highly of DC's Smallville Season 11.

I'll be spending a few days in Glasgow before school recommences. Over the coming weeks, our sister blog Materioptikon will continue to revisit the Tabloid and Treasury format of the Bronze Age. Here on Place, we'll look at the Avengers handover from Bendis to Hickman; the posthumous Joe Kubert  miniseries; Marvel's Invaders and since it is Doctor Who's Golden Anniversary year after all, we'll take on Paul McGann's darkening Eighth Doctor and the Audio Visuals fan project.

Best wishes for what remains of the midwinter holidays.

All images are presumed copyright of their respective owners