The Batboat! 1967 Aurora Model Re-Issue! Batman! DC Comics!

Wow! Here is my bulit-up version of the 2003 re-release of the fabulous original 1967 Aurora BATBOAT model kit! Click below to enlarge each image!

The gloss effect on the body of the craft was created using 
a spray gloss over the basic black/blue body! It was a real effort 
to precisely paint the red and chrome piping and the white side oval shapes!

Where's Batman? I used his figure in another Bat-vehicle, saving Robin to pilot 
this right-hand-side steered craft solo! I created new custom stickers 
for the rear fins and base! I also added plastic "flames" swiped from a Lego set!

The TV Batboat made its debut in the 1966 BATMAN theatrical film, but
wouldn't appear as an Aurora model kit until the following year!

A very fun (but challenging) model to build, one I was too young for (but always
wanted) when it debuted in the 60s!  I was very grateful for the recent re-release!

More Vintage Albert Bigley Paintings Revealed! 1979 MESSterpieces! Hulk! Dr. Strange!

It has been awhile since I threw a lingering light on my past forays into brush-and-canvas painting, but, thanks to a recent feverish rampage in my attic, here are three unearthed painted pictures from my 9th-grade past! First up: A 1980 acrylic rendering of ol' Captain America himself, based on a then-current cover of Cap's own mag! Click each image to enlarge!

My 1980 painting (above, left) and John Byrne's cover (right) for
CAPTAIN AMERICA #238! Which do you prefer? Don't answer that.

Next up is another acrylic paining, whipped up by me in late 1979! Here is Dr. Strange, looking a bit elongated and gaunt, as he casts a spell over an entranced audience! I recall creating tons of glazes for applying over the hands and circular "spell" areas! This painting was even part of a student art display event at my high school! Yow.

Are those Doc's hands, or inflated sausages on display?! The idea of
getting reference, or having somebody pose their
hands similarly for me? At that time, I thought
that would be copying and cheating!

And, finally (and mercifully,) here is a 1979 Hulk image, painted in acrylic on flat canvas board! The Hulk breaks free from a dark prison, with an image of the "Banner-to-Hulk" transformation posted overhead! You can tell I used Bill Bixby (then the star of the INCREDIBLE HULK TV series) as my inspiration for that lead face! I was also influenced by my newly-acquired FANTASTIC FOUR index, with Jim Steranko's amazing cover painting! Note Jim's almost monochromatic orange area (with the facial close-ups) on his cover below...These paintings aren't bad for a 15-year-old comic artist wannabee, but...

My 1979 painting (above, left) and Steranko's influential FF INDEX cover painting (right)!

Batman vs. The Joker! 1975 Albert Bigley Art! "Go Robin!" DC Comics?!

Enough with the e-mails and calls! I give in! Here is yet another fabulous (?) blast from my past to your present (huh?)! Dig this bombastic 1975 illo by a 10-year-old me, depicting mucho mile-high mayhem! It's Batman and Robin, launching into furious action against the Joker and his multiple minions! But--Is Batman crashing thru that tiny window in the background? What is the Joker perched upon? Why are so many people missing their legs? Why is the foreground thug shooting at the bad guys? Click to enlarge, Bat-fans!

BONUS! Look below to see my inspiration for Batman's above pose! This is the bulky box that housed the 1974 Mego "Batcave" playset, a gift I received the previous Christmas, so...

BONUS BONUS! Or, was this (below) my inspiration? Here is a panel from 1968's WORLD'S FINEST COMICS #180, drawn by Ross Andru! I had this as a back-issue then, so...Or was this '68 pose the inspiration for the '74 Mego artist, which I saw, and...Yeah. 

Dr. Strange! Custom Mego Action Figure! Marvel Comics!

Here is Doctor Strange, Master of the Mystic Arts! Made by me around 2005, this magical Marvel mainstay uses a Doc Mego-supplied FLASH GORDON head, as well as molded gloves (seen on Mego's "Fantastic Four" figures), plus custom hand-made cape, costume (simple sky-blue material for the tunic, tan for the belt, over a black body-suit) and display card! Lots of time, fabric markers, hot glue and patience helped, too!   Click images below to enlarge, and keep thy all-seeing amulet untarnished!  

Above: I created Doc's own custom
card, using art by John Romita, Sr.!

BONUS! Glance below to see Mego's original 1978 "Flash Gordon" figure, the source of Doc's custom-painted head, as seen above!

1974 Albert Bigley SPIDER-MAN Art! "Knock Your Head Off!" Marvel Comics?!

You win! Due to the thousands of e-mails and endless phone calls, I'm coming back with another artistic "masterpiece" from my paint-stained past! Here is a 1974 dramatic doodle of the ever-Amazing Spider-Man, slamming two of his greatest foes--the Green Goblin and (I think) Electro! Dig how I also threw in a bit of Spidey's whimsey and wise-cracking (as I interpreted it at age 9), in two threat-filled word balloons! Click below to enlarge!

Dig that depth (are the two foes under Spider-Man?)! The foreshortening (is
Spidey's left arm coming toward us, or away from us?)! The anatomy
(is the Goblin breaking at the waist?)! Or don't...

Davy Jones! With Fans in 1966! With Al Bigley in 1998! Video! Monkees!

Observing one year since the passing of dynamic Davy Jones, here are even more rare images from his pandemonium-packed past! Click below to enlarge each!

Above: The Monkees romp it up on the set of the EVERYWHERE A SHEIK, SHEIK episode in 1967!

Above: Davy was always generous with his time and
efforts, not only in the 60s (as seen above), but
right up to his 2012 passing...

Above two pics: Davy on stage with the Monkees in 1968!

The Monkees reunite in 1989, to receive their "star" on the Hollywood Walk of
Fame! They flank Monkees producer Bert Schneider in this rare pic!

Above: Al Bigley (me!) meets Davy at a 1998 North Carolina event! 

BONUS! Click below to view this ultra-rare video of Davy meeting and greeting fans at a 1998 event in Greensboro, North Carolina! I shot this footage myself, and it displays Davy's love and devotion to his followers, as he made sure everyone (including me) received autographs, pictures, and a bit of his time! Note also how Davy (always the entertainer) played to my camera at times!

The Vulture! Custom Mego Action Figure! John Romita Art! Marvel!

Here is my attempt at creating a custom "Mego" action figure of the great Spider-Man foe, the Vulture! The Mego gang only provided frantic fans with Spidey enemies The Lizard and Green Goblin in the mid-70s, but what if they had shot out more Spidey bad guys? Click each image below to enlarge!

Above: Believe it or not, I started with a bald “Thor” head, added
putty for larger nose, ears, brow, and facial details, made 
a plaster cast of that modified head, then painted!

Above: A custom green suit (from "Dr. Mego") got some ink and pastel treatments to
create a gradated “feathered” effect, then, I added some white tufts for
the crest! I eliminated the neck, in order to attach the head low
on the  white crest, to create a hunched effect for the figure!

Above: I used green felt to carefully cut the wing shapes, affixing 
them to the back of the figure...I also used some custom 
"open" hands from “Doctor Mego,” in an effort to craft 
the proper body language for this super-villain! 

Above: I also created a custom package for displaying the
figure, using Silver Age art by John Romita, Sr.!

Above: A close-up of the custom card art by itself!

BONUS! Click here to see more mighty Marvel Mego customs!