THE DAILY PLANET - PRINTED AND PUBLISHED IN MILTON KEYNES...

Following on from the previous post, let me expand a
little on the subject of 'Bob Billens' and my passing men-

tion of SUPERMAN IV.  One night in early 1987, I received
a 'phone call from Bob, saying that he'd snapped some photos

of CHRISTOPHER REEVE playing Superman on location
in MILTON KEYNES, where the fourth (and worst) movie

of the series was being filmed and where Bob and his
wife were then (and may yet be) living.

"How much are they worth to you?" he suddenly

enquired, which took me somewhat by surprise as, had
the situation been reversed, I'd have had extra prints made
and sent him a set at my own expense.  "Er, they're not really

worth anything to me other than what it would cost to have

them printed," I said.  "I'd only be interested in seeing them 

because you took them, but I can't really see many other

people being interested as there's no shortage of

photos of Christopher Reeve about." 

"Do you know anyone else who might buy them?

he asked, sounding almost desperate.  I doubt he'd have

needed money, but he'd never shown the slightest interest in

being recognised as a photographer before, so I wondered why

he sounded so eager to sell them.  "I'll 'phone a couple of guys

I know," I said, "and get back to you."  We made some small

talk, during which he said he'd get a spare set of pics made

and send them to me.  "I'll reimburse your expenses,"
I said, "so you won't be out of pocket!"

Once I got off the 'phone, I called two people.  One

was the guy who ran Wonderworld Comics in Bourne-

mouth and the other was one of the guys in charge at AKA

Books & Comics in Glasgow.  Both calls were short ones,

as neither of them could see the photographs being of any
commercial value on account of there being no end of 

images of Chris Reeve in his Superman togs.

I felt slightly disappointed on Bob's behalf, as I

rang him with the bad news.  He sounded annoyed, but

I naturally assumed it was with (what he would've seen as)

the shortsighted thinking of the two comic shops proprietors,

not me.  After all, I'd done my best.  As I was saying goodbye,

my father opened the door to the living-room (the 'phone was
in the hall), letting out the sound of the TV, while at the same
time continuing his conversation with my mother as he pass-
ed me.  The combined volume of the television and my
parents made it difficult to hear Bob, but we were in
the closing seconds of our chat anyway.

"I'll give you a call," I said "and look forward to
the photos.  'Bye."  I couldn't quite hear his reply but he
seemed to be shouting.  At the time, I simply put it down to
him raising his voice to compensate for the sudden burst of
mixed sound emanating from his receiver but on reflection, I
now wonder if he was being abusive, maybe thinking I'd been
bullsh*tting him about ringing anyone regarding the photos.
You see, I'd called him back within about 15 minutes, and
perhaps he considered that too soon to have fully
investigated all the potential possibilities.

Anyway, never heard from him again, even 'though
I was later told he'd popped into the library on a couple
of occasions while back in town to visit his inlaws.  I used to
think he was a top bloke, but once my friendship became sur-
plus to the requirements of his day-to-day life, I was jettisoned
like so much excess baggage.  However, my philosophy is who
the hell needs' friends' like that anyway, so it was no great loss.
So why bore all of you with this old story now, you may be
wondering.  Am I acting under a bizarre compulsion to
indulge in some sort of cathartic confession?

The explanation is simpler than that.  When one
has a blog, one often has to plumbs the depths of one's
personal experience just to provide things to write about,
otherwise all you lot would have go without (and that'd
never do).  So consider the depths plumbed.

Next - another rambling (but riveting) repost.

Posted in: Cartoons