Four-Color Craic

Anaglyphical Adventures or Adventures in 3-D

2008-08-06T21:41:00.034+01:00

Adventures in 3-D was the first Harvey 3-D comic. As with adventure titles Adventures in 3-D is no exception and utilised a variety of story genres, including science fiction, psychological horror and African adventure.

Adventures in 3-D #1 (Harvey) [Nov 1953]
Cover: Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks

1p Letter from the Editors

Harvey 3-D specs

Breaking the Time Barrier 5p Unknown – script; Bob Powell – pencils/inks

1p Cover repro Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks: A reproduction of the cover in 3-D

Jungle Drum 5p Howard Nostrand – Script; Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks

The Hidden Depths 5p Howard Nostrand – Script; Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks

Sand 4p Unknown – script; Bob Powell – pencils/inks

1p The Story Behind 3-D

Adventures in 3-D #1 (Harvey) [Nov 1953]
Cover: Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks
1p Letter from the Editors
1p contents: Splash from each story
Breaking the Time Barrier 5p Unknown – script; Bob Powell – pencils/inks
1p Cover repro Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks: A reproduction of the cover in 3-D Jungle Drum 5p Howard Nostrand – Script; Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks
1p Ad for Believe it or Not (Harvey Comics)
1p Ad for Little Dot (Harvey Comics)
Three D Blinkey 1p Howard Nostrand – Script; Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks
The Hidden Depths 5p Howard Nostrand – Script; Howard Nostrand - pencils/inks
The Snowman 5p Unknown – script; Bob Powell – pencils/inks
Sand 4p Unknown – script; Bob Powell – pencils/inks
1p The Story Behind 3-D

Flashback: 31 years to the day…

2008-08-06T01:02:00.016+01:00

Battle Picture Weekly and Valiant [6 Aug 1977]
Cover featuring Johnny Red by Joe Colquhoun

Johnny Red 3p Tom Tully – script; Joe Colquhoun – art

The Sarge 3p Gerry Finley-Day – script; Mike Western – art

El Mestizo 4p Alan Hebden – script; Carlos Ezquerra – art

Battle Picture Weekly and Valiant [6 Aug 1977]
Cover featuring Johnny Red by Joe Colquhoun
Joe Two Beans 3p Scott Goodall Eric Bradbury – art
Johnny Red 3p Tom Tully – script; Joe Colquhoun – art
Gaunt 3p John Wagner – script; John Cooper - art
The Sarge 3p Gerry Finley-Day – script; Mike Western – art
Sea Wolf 3p ? – script; ? – art
El Mestizo 4p Alan Hebden – script; Carlos Ezquerra – art
The Bootneck Boy 4p Gerry Finley-Day – script; ? – art

Flashback: 25 years to the day...

2008-08-05T00:13:00.022+01:00

Stripweekblad Eppo #31 [5 Aug 1983]
Cover featuring De Partizanen by Jules

FC. Knudde 0.5p Toon

Eppo 0.5p Uco Egmond

Franka: De Tanden van de Draak 2p Henk Kuijpers – script/art

De Leukebroders 4p L. J. - script; Peer Coolen - art

Leonardo: Genie Contra Genie 2p Turk & De Groot

Roel Dijkstra : Uitgeschakeld 2p Jaap Buenik – script ; Keith Watson – art

Stampede 1p Peter de Wit

Sjors & Sjimmie: 'N Typereend Geval 1p Jan van Die & Wilbert Plijnaar - script; Robert van der Kroft - art

Stripweekblad Eppo #31 [5 Aug 1983]
Cover featuring De Partizanen by Jules
FC. Knudde 0.5p Toon
Eppo 0.5p Uco Egmond
Lucky Luke : Fingers 2p Lo Hartog van Banda - script; Morris – art
1p Puzzle Pagina Uco Egmond
De Partizanen: Het Balkan Front 3p Dordge Lebovic – script; Jules (Jules Radilovic) - art
Franka: De Tanden van de Draak 2p Henk Kuijpers – script/art
De Leukebroders 4p L.J. – script; Peer Coolen – art
Flippie Flink (Beetle Bailey)1p by Mort Walker
Asterix: De Zoon van Asterix 2p Uderzo
Leonardo: Genie Contra Genie 2p Turk & De Groot
Star Wars: De Terugkeer van de Jedi (Return of the Jedi) 4p Archie Goodwin – script; Al Williamson/Carlos Garzon – art
Stampede 1p Peter de Wit
Roel Dijkstra : Uitgeschakeld 2p Jaap Buenik – script ; Keith Watson – art
Sjors & Sjimmie: ‘N Typerend Geval 1p Jan van Die & Wilbert Plijnaar – script; Robert van der Kroft – art

The Beano Birthday celebrations continue

2008-08-03T21:38:00.009+01:00

The Beano Birthday celebrations continue with today’s Sunday Post, [3 August 2008], giving away a free souvenir edition of the first ever Beano and an article features a brief history of the comic.

John Paul Breslin (2008) Happy Birthday to the Country’s Favourite Comic. Sunday Post, 3 August 2008

The Souvenir Edition of The Beano (The Beano No.1, 30 July 1938)

Lord Snooty and His Pals
from The Souvenir Edition of The Beano (The Beano No.1, 30 July 1938)

Morgyn the Mighty
from The Souvenir Edition of The Beano (The Beano No.1, 30 July 1938)

Classics from the Comics No.148 also continues the party. This months issue is specially focused on the Beano.

Classics from the Comics No.148 [Aug 2008]

Paul Sample and Wilt

2008-08-02T00:16:00.012+01:00

Wilt is a satirical novel by Tom Sharpe. The Wilt of the title refers to the main character Henry Wilt who is a downhearted and underachieving assistant lecturer who teaches Eng. Lit to apathetic building apprentices at a community college in the south of

England

. Years of nagging and bullying by his dominant wife Eva leave Wilt with dreams of killing her in a variety of ghastly ways. However a series of untoward events, including one concerning that most famous of inflatable plastic (female) dolls, sees Wilt begin his ridiculous journey.

Paul Sample is the gifted artist responsible for bringing Wilt to life on the book covers. Sample has illustrated the Wilt covers through varying reprints, several sequels and other works by Tom Sharpe and as mentioned on a previous post Sample is famed for his cartoon character Ogri.

Tom Sharpe [1978] Wilt London: Pan Books
Covers: Paul Sample

The Wilt bookshelf:
Tom Sharpe [1979] The Wilt Alternative London: Pan Books
Tom Sharpe [1986] Wilt on High London: Pan Books
Tom Sharpe [1996] Wilt Omnibus London: Pan Books
Tom Sharpe [2004] Wilt in Nowhere London: Pan Books

The Dork Knight

2008-08-01T13:11:00.002+01:00

by KGJ from Private Eye No. 1215 [25 July-7 August 2008]

The Raving Wertham?

2008-07-31T00:54:00.016+01:00

A horror comics editor (Stan Lee) has to deal with a man (Fredric Wertham?) who bursts into his offices ranting and raving about the content of the magazines he publishes.

The Raving Maniac 4p by Stan Lee – script; Joe Maneely – art
from Suspense #29 [April 1953]

Suspense #29 (Atlas) [April1953]
Cover: Carl Burgos?
C-37 The Man Behind the Blinds 6p Stan Lee – script; Fred Kida – art
C-276 By The Light of the Moon 5p Ed Robbins? – art
-- Strong as an Ox 5p Stan Lee – art; Jerry Robinson – art
B-941 The Raving Maniac 4p by Stan Lee – script; Joe Maneely – art
C-307 The Man Who Was Going to Destroy America 4p [Bob Fujitani] - art

70 Years Young: Beano's Birthday

2008-07-30T17:52:00.011+01:00

The Beano is 70 years old today. The Beano first hit news stands on 30 July, 1938, more than 4,000 editions have been published and it's introduced iconic stars like Dennis the Menace, The Bash Street Kids and Little Plum.

The Beano #3443 [2 Aug 2008]

The special birthday issue features Wallace and Gromit creator Nick Parks as the guest editor, and his famous characters appear on the cover, alongside stalwarts Dennis and Gnasher the Dog.

August 2nd (the cover-date of the anniversary issue) has been designated Gnashional Menace Day to raise money for CLIC Sargent, the Caring for Children with Cancer organisation.

A Gnashional Menace Day Kit is included with the special birthday issue:

Flashback: 25 years to the day...

2008-07-29T17:31:00.015+01:00

Stripweekblad Eppo #30 [29 Jul 1983]
Cover featuring De Leukebroders by Peer Coolen

Storm: De Kronieken van Pandarve 2p Martin Lodewijk – script; Don Lawrence – art

Franka: De Tanden van de Draak 2p Henk Kuijpers – script/art

Roel Dijkstra : Uitgeschakeld 2p Jaap Buenik – script ; Keith Watson – art

Stripweekblad Eppo #30 [29 Jul 1983]
Cover featuring De Leukebroders by Peer Coolen
FC. Knudde 0.5p Toon
Eppo 0.5p Uco Egmond
Storm: De Kronieken van Pandarve 2p Martin Lodewijk – script; Don Lawrence – art
Franka: De Tanden van de Draak 2p Henk Kuijpers – script/art
Lucky Luke : Fingers 2p Lo Hartog van Banda; Morris – art
Opa 2p Ryssack - script/art
De Leukebroders 2p L.J. – script; Peer Coolen – art
Flippie Flink (Beetle Bailey)1p by Mort Walker
Asterix: De Zoon van Asterix 2p Uderzo
Leonardo: Genie Contra Genie 2p Turk & De Groot
Star Wars: De Terugkeer van de Jedi (Return of the Jedi) 4p Archie Goodwin – script; Al Williamson/Carlos Garzon – art
Stampede 1p Peter de Wit
Roel Dijkstra : Uitgeschakeld 2p Jaap Buenik – script ; Keith Watson – art
Sjors & Sjimmie: Een Gebroken Gezin 1p Jan van Die & Wilbert Plijnaar – script; Robert van der Kroft – art

Learn by Mistakes

2008-07-25T13:51:00.012+01:00

I was handed this religious tract after attending the cinema some time ago. I found it hard to refuse as it depicts Class 2B's long-suffering teacher, his actual name being ‘Teacher’, from The Beano’s The Bash Street Kids.

Learn by Mistakes
A religious tract by Samuel J. Abraham Publications

SQUA TRONT

2008-07-24T19:43:00.003+01:00

Squa Tront #6 [1975] Edited by John Benson. New York: Jerry Weist.
Special Bernie Krigstein issue

Cover designer: Unknown
Typesetting: LUNA Publications
Cover colour separations: Michele Brand

The cover is the splash panel from ‘The Pit’ from Vault of Horror #40 [Dec 1954-Jan 1955] (EC)

Kapow! Christian Bale: Batman actor arrested over alleged assault

2008-07-24T17:34:00.003+01:00

by Mac from the Daily Mail [24/0708]

The Simulacra

2008-07-24T02:26:00.006+01:00

Philip K. Dick [1964] The Simulacra. New York: Ace Books, Inc

Cover and illustration: Ed Emsh

Apocalypse Postponed

2008-07-21T16:10:00.007+01:00

Umberto Eco [1994] Apocalypse Postponed. Edited by Robert Lumley
University of Indiana and the British Film Institute

Cover design: Romas Foord

“I never talk about myself, my work is me.” Steve Ditko [1965]

2008-07-21T00:53:00.009+01:00

Fantasy Advertiser #97 [Jun/Jul 1982] Cover art and colour by Steve Ditko in a rare contribution to a fanzine.

From Fantasy Advertiser #97 [Jun/Jul 1982] Steve Ditko by Steve Whitaker:

Mortgage Approvals Hit By Credit Crunch.

2008-07-21T00:47:00.007+01:00

by Banx from Private Eye No. 1214 [11 July-24 July 2008]

For he's football crazy, He's football mad …

2008-07-18T21:25:00.015+01:00

Smith’s Football Crazy snacks

Smith’s Snackfood Company ran a series of adverts for their Football Crazy product through various British weeklies during 1978. The adverts or Fascinating Facts File would feature an amusing historical fact from the world of English football, Illustrated by Paul Sample. Sample is a British cartoonist and illustrator well-known for his cartoon character Ogri. Ogri, has been running in Bike magazine for 35 years, with a single 3-year gap in the mid-1980s. Sample also illustrates the covers for the Wilt series of comedic novels by Tom Sharpe.

Football Crazy, the snack or crisp, came in a football-style packet and were miniatures of bacon-flavoured ambiguously football-shaped maize balls. And all this for the humble sum of 5 pence! A promotional incentive meant that if you saved enough packets, you could send away and join the Smith’s Football Crazy Club, whereupon you would receive a club badge, a transfer of your favourite team and a regular club newspaper.

Smith’s Football Crazy Fascinating Facts File No. 1

Smith’s Football Crazy Fascinating Facts File No. 2

Smith’s Football Crazy Fascinating Facts File No. 4

Do Not Exceed 15 Minutes - The Brown Watson Gemini Man Annual 1977

2008-07-04T02:35:00.043+01:00

Gemini Man was an American television series from 1976 about fictional INTERSECT secret agent Sam Casey (Ben Murphy). While on a diving assignment, Sam was affected by the radiation from an underwater explosion. The radiation rendered him invisible, but INTERSECT devised a way to control his invisibility, by fitting him with a computerised wrist watch, referred to as a 'DNA stabilizer’, that kept him visible. He could, however, shut it off, and become invisible again, for short periods of time. If he did this for more than 15 minutes in any 24 hour period he would die. This ability to become invisible made him a very effective agent.

Gemini Man Annual [1977] (Brown Watson) (Front & rear covers)

The Gemini Man Annual features art by Ian Gibson. Copyrighted 1977 it was around this same time that Robohunter started in 2000AD. Gibson, illustrates 3 strips, one a 2 page concise origin of the Gemini Man, he also provides text illustrations for 2 stories.

‘Prologue’ (Origin) 2p [Ian Gibson] – art
‘Chinese Takeaway’ 4p Ian Gibson – art
‘The Aquarius Factor’ 8p [Ian Gibson] – illustrations
‘Taking Effect - A Look at the World of Special Effects’ 5p [John Bolton] – illustrations
‘Aries Man’ 8p [Ian Gibson] – illustrations
‘Snatch’ 6p [Ian Gibson] – art

‘Prologue’ (Origin) 2p [Ian Gibson] – art

‘Chinese Takeaway’ (p1) Ian Gibson – art

‘The Aquarius Factor’ (p1) [Ian Gibson] – illustrations

‘Aries Man’ (p1) [Ian Gibson] – illustrations

‘Snatch’ (p1) [Ian Gibson] – art

Ian Gibson's numerous credits include titles such as Action!, Valiant and 2000AD (where he also used the pennames of Emberton and Q. Twerk) and diverse characters that include Halo Jones, Judge Anderson, Robohunter and Judge Dredd for 2000AD, Genghis Grimtoad which first appeared in Marvel UK's Strip comic and more.

John Bolton also provides illustrations for a feature on special effects. Which is curious as you would think stills from the series would be a preferable method to explain the special effects process? The annual has a feature on invisibility effects in the cinema and television: ‘Now You See It … Now You Don’t’ which is surprisingly littered with stills.

‘Taking Effect - A Look at the World of Special Effects’ (p2/3) [John Bolton] – illustration

“We’re the Sweeney son, and we haven’t had any dinner!” The Brown Watson Sweeney Annual 1977

2008-06-28T01:54:00.050+01:00

Considering that ‘The Sweeney’ was a comparatively violent police show Brown Watson took the slightly strange decision to produce a children’s ‘Sweeney’ annual.

‘The Sweeney’ was a British television police drama featuring Detective Inspector Jack Regan (John Thaw) and Detective Sergeant George Carter (Dennis Waterman), two members of Scotland Yard’s Flying Squad, an elite branch of the British police force, specialising in combating armed robbery and violent crime within the Metropolitan Police area of London.

The programme title derives from Cockney rhyming slang, in which the expression Sweeney Todd rhymes with (and stands for) 'Flying Squad', in the slang used by London's criminal underworld.

The Sweeney Annual has three strips lavishly illustrated by Brian Lewis in his gothic style that is often associated with his time on House of Hammer. At the same time Lewis’ artwork on these three strips wouldn’t look of place in Countdown or Look-In, two other titles that his artwork graced.

The Sweeny Annual [1977] (Brown Watson):
‘The Hyena in London’ 6p [Brian Lewis] - art
‘Boy Wonder’ 6p [Brian Lewis] - art
‘Right Time, Wrong Place’ 4p [Brian Lewis] – art

‘The Hyena in London’ p1 [Brian Lewis] – art

‘Boy Wonder’ p1 [Brian Lewis] – art

‘Right Time, Wrong Place’ 4p [Brian Lewis] – art

Many thanks to my old mate Mark Bromage for lending me this very splendid annual. Any chance of a trade?

A Gigantic Grammatical Mistake by Grandreams! Fantastic Four Annual 1980

2008-06-28T00:51:00.048+01:00

The Fantastic Four Annual 1980 from Grandreams has the usual reprints one expects from a Marvel UK annual:

Reprint from Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 (Marvel) [Feb 1975]: 21p ‘Madrox the Multiple Man’ (Featuring: The Fantastic Four) Len Wein/Chris Claremont (Script) John Buscema (Pencils) Chic Stone & Joe Sinnott (Inks)

Reprint from Fantastic Four #28 (Marvel) [Jul 1964]: 23p ‘We Have to Fight the X-Men’ (Featuring: The Fantastic Four) Stan Lee (Script) Jack Kirby (Pencils) Chic Stone (Inks)

However the annual contains some original Marvel UK material. Sporting a cover, possibly by Paul Neary, and two stories illustrated by an uncredited David Lloyd, easily recognisable due to his brilliant shadowy and evocative style: ‘A Shade to Dangerous’ and ‘The Rescue’. I’m uncertain as to the writer of the stories but wait up ‘True Believer’ is that a grammatical mistake I see?

'A Shade to Dangerous' 5p (Featuring: The Fantastic Four) text story [David Lloyd] (illustrations)

'The Rescue' 6p (Featuring: The Fantastic Four) text story [David Lloyd] (illustrations)

T&P

2008-06-16T19:25:00.045+01:00

Thorpe & Porter were another British publisher of magazines, comic books (mainly re-printed material) and pulp fiction. The first re-printed comic book was Bible Illustrated which ran for eight issues and was probably a repackaging of Picture Stories from the Bible an EC book. Thorpe & Porter are perhaps best known for re-publishing Dell’s Four Color series and Classics Illustrated in the

. So successful was the Classics Illustrated title that T&P, beginning in 1951, reprinted over 150 of the titles issued in the

by Gilberton. The British Classics Illustrated proved so popular that T&P commissioned new material when Gilberton discontinued the line.

Many reprints of American comics became T&P’s specialality. Romance comics Young Love, Young Bride and Young Romance all had runs of a couple of years. Western comics like Wild Bill Hickcock, Tomahawk and Kid Colt enjoyed sustained popularity in the mid 50’s. Other titles included Mystery in Space, Forbidden Worlds and Blackhawk.

It’s something of a joy for collectors such as myself to pick up a T&P book. There’s always a wealth of reprinted material to be found from the Golden/Silver or Bronze ages and always at a reasonable price.

From the Four-Color Craic vaults these 68 page Kid Colts contain a wealth of material:

Kid Colt Outlaw #34 (T&P)
Reprints: Kid Colt Outlaw #70 (Marvel) [Mar 1957]:
Cover: John Severin
L-326 ‘Marked for Capture’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Keller - art
L-282 ‘Desperate Hour’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Keller - art
L-491 ‘Out of Bounds’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Keller - art
G-265 ‘The Luckiest Cowboy’ 1.67p text
L-337 ‘The Last Round Up’ 5p Keller (art)
L-379 He Stands in the Shadow 4p [Romita] - art
Reprints: Western Comics #60 (DC) [Nov/Dec 1956]:
‘Surprise Deputy’ 6p (Featuring: Pow-Wow Smith) [Herron] - script, [Infantino]/[Giella] - art
Indian Tribal Names 1.5p
Coyote Dance 1.5p
‘The Man Who Imitated Nighthawk’ 5.66p (Featuring: Nighthawk) [Fox] - script, [Kane]/[Sachs] - art
‘The Riddle of the Rodeo Robbery’ 6p (Featuring: Rodeo Rick) [Fox] - script, [Grandenetti] - art
‘The Racing Bandit’ 5.66p (Featuring: Wyoming Kid) [Fox] - script, [Sherman] - art
Reprint from: Prize Comics Western #113 (v14 #4) (Prize) [Sep 1955]:
‘Mississippi Card Sharps’ 15p (Featuring: American Eagle) [Severin] - art
‘Iron Shirt’ 6p (Featuring: American Eagle) [Williamson] – art

Splash page from p1 ‘Mississippi Card Sharps’ (Featuring: American Eagle) [John Severin] - art Prize Comics Western #113 (v14 #4) (Prize) (Sep 1955)

Kid Colt Outlaw #47 (T&P)
Reprints: Kid Colt Outlaw #81 (Marvel) [Nov 1958]:
Cover: Joe Maneely
T-32 ‘Jailbreak’ 6p (Featuring: Kid Colt Outlaw) Lee – script, Keller – art
T-31 ‘The Brute of Copper County’ 8p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller – art
O-112 ‘The Man Who Couldn’t Quit’ 4p Woodbridge – art
G-868 ‘Sheep Run’ 2p text
T-43 ‘The Coward’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Maneely – art. Notes: Joe Maneely’s last full story before his untimely death.
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
F-444 ‘Ghost Town’ 6p (Featuring: Outlaw Kid) Wildey – art
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
F-401 ‘Death Battle’ 6p (Featuring: Outlaw Kid) Wildey – art
Reprint from: Wyatt Earp #5 (Marvel) [Jul 1956]:
C-519 ‘Paid in Full’ 2p text
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
F-357 ‘Preacher-Man’ 5p Berg – art
Reprints from: Outlaw Kid #3 (Marvel) [Jan 1955]:
6p Untitled (Featuring: Black Rider) Wildey – art
F-106 ‘Hostage’ 6p (Featuring: Black Rider) Wildey – art
Reprint from: Unknown Lone Rider (Farrell):
‘The Black Saddle’ 8p (Featuring: Lone Rider) ? – art

Splash page from p1 T-43 ‘The Coward’ (Featuring: Kid Colt) Stan Lee – script, Joe Maneely – art. Notes: Joe Maneely’s last full story before his untimely death. Kid Colt Outlaw #81 (Marvel) [Nov 1958]

Kid Colt Outlaw #51 (T&P)
Reprints: Kid Colt Outlaw #47 (Marvel) [Apr 1955]:
Cover: Joe Maneely
D-871 6p Untitled featuring Kid Colt Outlaw Keller – art
D-876 6p Untitled featuring Kid Colt Outlaw Keller – art
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title
‘A Dog Will always Know’ 1p text
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
5p Untitled featuring Black Rider De Loprino – art
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
6p Untitled featuring: Kid Colt Keller – art
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
K-551 ‘When the Wild Bunch Rides’ 7p Lee – script, Maneely – art
Reprint from: Rawhide Kid #3 (Marvel) [Jul 1955]:
‘The Search’ 2p text
Reprint from: Wyatt Earp #28 (Marvel) [Apr 1960]:
T-660 ‘Every Gun Against Him’ 5p Lee – script, Wildey – art
Reprints from: The Texas Kid #2 (Marvel) [Mar 1951]:
7820 ‘Doom in the Desert’ 7p (Featuring: Texas Kid) 7p Maneely – art
SL-5470 ‘Gallows Bait’ 2p text
7818 ‘The Necktie Party’ 5p (Featuring: Texas Kid) Maneely – art

Splash page from p1 K-551 ‘When the Wild Bunch Rides’ Joe Maneely - art Kid Colt Outlaw #51 (T&P)

Panel from p6 K-551 ‘When the Wild Bunch Rides’ Joe Maneely - art Kid Colt Outlaw #51 (T&P)

Kid Colt Outlaw #53 (T&P)
Reprints: Kid Colt Outlaw #85 (Marvel) [Jul 1959]:
Cover: [Jack Kirby]/[Christopher Rule]
T-265 ‘The Waco Gang Strikes’ 8p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller/[Klein] – art
T-289 ‘Siege at the Circle-X’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller/[Klein] – art
J-663 ‘Duty Trail’ 2p text Maneely – illustration
O-73 ‘Redmen on the Rampage’ 5p (Featuring: Texas Kid) Sinnott – a
T-288 ‘The Deputy Says Draw’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller/[Klein] – art
Reprints from: Gunsmoke Western #52 (Marvel) [May 1959]:
T-238 ‘The Day the Kid Gave Up’ 7p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller/[Rule] – art
J-453 ‘The Stranger’ 2p text
O-116 ‘Range War’ 5p (Featuring: The Texas Kid) Sinnott – a
O-4 ‘Return of the Boise Kid’ 5p Davis – art
Reprint from: Outlaw Kid #5 (Marvel) [May 1955]:
‘Arizona Lawman’ 2p text
Reprints from: Western Comics #70 (DC) [Jul/Aug 1958]:
‘The Mystery of the Bearded Prospector’ 6p (Featuring: Wyoming Kid) [Fox] – script, [Sherman] – art
‘Strange Indian Beliefs’ 1p
Reprints from: The Texas Kid #2 (Marvel) [Mar 1951]:
7821 ‘Phantom of Massacre Gulch’ 6p (Featuring: Texas Kid) 6p Maneely – art
7892 ‘The Promise’ 4p ? – art

Splash page from Gunsmoke Western #52 (Marvel) [May 1959] p1T-238 ‘The Day the Kid Gave Up’ (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Jack Keller/[Christopher Rule] – art

Splash page from Gunsmoke Western #52 (Marvel) [May 1959] p1 O-4 ‘Return of the Boise Kid’ Jack Davis – art

Splash page from The Texas Kid #2 (Marvel) [Mar 1951] p1 7821 ‘Phantom of Massacre Gulch’ (Featuring: Texas Kid) 6p Joe Maneely – art

Kid Colt Outlaw #54 (T&P)
Reprints cover from Wild Western #23 (Marvel) (Aug 1952) by Sol Brodsky? Texas Kid and The Arizona Kid are labelled as The Nighthawk and Johnny Thunder. None of the contents from Wild Western #23 are reprinted.
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
7474 ‘Red Men on the Warpath’ 9p (Featuring: Kid Colt) [Maneely] – art
Reprint from: Unknown Atlas/Marvel Western title:
7478 ‘Sheriff of Roaring Gap’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) [Maneely] – art
Reprint from: Kid Colt Outlaw #17 (Marvel) [Nov 1951]:
7476 ‘’Trapped by the Posse’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) ? – art
Reprint from: Kid Colt Outlaw #10 (Marvel) [Jul 1950]:
7475 ‘The Whip Strikes’ 8p (Featuring: Kid Colt) ? – art
Reprints from: All-Star Western #104 (DC) [Dec-Jan 1958/59]:
‘The Surprise Sheriff of Rocky City’ 10p (Featuring: Trigger Twins) [Kanigher] – script, [Infantino] – art
Colorful Western Creeks 1p ? – art
‘Double Cross at Double Creek’ (Featuring: Foley of the Fighting 5^th) [Broome] – script, [Sherman] – art
Hitching Post 1p letters
‘The Gauntlet of Thunder’ 8p (Featuring: Johnny Thunder) [Kanigher] – script, [Kane] – art

Splash page from All-Star Western #104 (DC) [Dec-Jan 1958/59] p1 ‘The Surprise Sheriff of Rocky City’ (Featuring: Trigger Twins) [Carmine Infantino] – art

Splash page from All-Star Western #104 (DC) [Dec-Jan 1958/59] p1 ‘The Gauntlet of Thunder’ (Featuring: Johnny Thunder) [Gil Kane] – art

Kid Colt Outlaw #57 (T&P)
Reprints: Kid Colt Outlaw #87 (Marvel) [Nov 1959]:
Cover: [Jack Kirby]/[George Klein]
T-408 ‘Give Me Your Guns’ 7p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller/[Klein] – art
O-316 6p Untitled featuring Gunsmoke Kid Davis – art
T-431 ‘Fury at the Circle-R’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller/[Klein] – art
J-655 ‘The Slacker’ 2p text, Maneely – illustration
T-425 ‘The Mark of the Outlaw’ 5p (Featuring: Kid Colt) Lee – script, Keller/[Klein] – art
Reprints from: Western Comics #75 (DC) [Mar/Jun 1959]:
‘Menace of the Magic Arrows’ 11.67p (Featuring: Pow-Wow Smith) [Fox] – script, [Infantino] – art
‘Strange Indian Beliefs’ 1p
Hitching Post 1p letters
‘The Strange Signs at Saddle Rock’ 5.67p (Featuring: Wyoming Kid) [Fox] – script, [Kane]/[Sachs] – art Reprint from: All-Star Western #106 (DC) [Apr/May 1959]
‘Trap at the Flaming Outpost’ 9.67p [Featuring: Johnny Thunder] [Kanigher] – script, [Kane]/[Giacoia] – art

Splash page from Kid Colt Outlaw #87 (Marvel) [Nov 1959] p1 O-316 Untitled featuring Gunsmoke Kid Davis – art

Splash page from All-Star Western #106 (DC) [Apr/May 1959] p1 ‘Trap at the Flaming Outpost’ 9.67p [Featuring: Johnny Thunder] [Kanigher] – script, [Gil Kane]/[Frank Giacoia] – art

Miller Time

2008-06-08T23:21:00.059+01:00

L. Miller & Son, Ltd. was a British publisher of magazines, comic books and pulp fiction. Between the 1940s and 1966, the firm published British editions of many American comic books. Probably best known for recreating Golden Age Captain Marvel as Marvelman in 1953 in order to avoid cancellation of their 'Marvel' titles after

America

's Fawcett Publications capitulated to National Periodicals (DC Comics).

Marvelman #185 (L. Miller & Son) [vol 3] [2 Mar 1957]
Cover: Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios
Marvelman News 1p letters
'Marvelman and the King of the West' 10p (Featuring: Marvelman) Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - scipt/art
Marvelman Quiz 1p
'Marvelman and the Foam Fanatic' 5p (Featuring: Marvelman) Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - scipt/art
Young Joey 1p Denis Gifford - script/art
'Marvelman and the Uranium Grab' 5p (Featuring: Marvelman) Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - scipt/art
The Friendly Soul 1p Denis Gifford - script/art
Flip and Flop 1p Denis Gifford - script/art

From Marvelman #185 (L. Miller & Son) [vol 3] [2 Mar 1957] p1 'Marvelman and the Foam Fanatic' Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - art

Panels from Marvelman #185 (L. Miller & Son) [vol 3] [2 Mar 1957] p2 'Marvelman and the Foam Fanatic' Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - art

Marvelman #188 (L. Miller & Son) [vol 3] [22 Mar 1957]
Cover: Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios Marvelman News 1p letters
'Marvelman and the Leaning Tower of Texas' 10p (Featuring: Marvelman) Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - scipt/art
Young Joey 1p Denis Gifford - script/art
Marvelman Quiz 1p
'Marvelman and the River of Time' 10p (Featuring: Marvelman) Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - scipt/art
Flip and Flop 1p Denis Gifford - script/art
Marvelman Special Quiz 1p

From Marvelman #188 (L. Miller & Son) [vol 3] [22 Mar 1957] p20 'Marvelman and the Leaning Tower of Texas' Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - scipt/art

Panels from Marvelman #188 (L. Miller & Son) [vol 3] [22 Mar 1957] p2 'Marvelman and the Leaning Tower of Texas' Mick Anglo/Mick Anglo Studios - scipt/art

Gunsmoke Western #21 (L. Miller & Son)
Reprints: Gunsmoke Western #53 (Marvel) [Jul 1959]
Cover: [Jack Kirby]/[Sol Brodsky]
T-316 ‘The Mark of the Coward’ (Featuring: Kid Colt) 6p Lee (script), Keller/[Klein] (art)
T-310 ‘Doc Halliday, Most Dangerous Gunman in the West’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 7p Lee (script), Ayers (art)
K-523 ‘Six-Gun Shy’ 2p text
O-245 ‘One Bullet Left’ (Featuring: Ringo Kid) Maneely (art)
O-48 ‘Desperado’ 5p Ayers (art)

From Gunsmoke Western #21 (L. Miller & Son) p1 ‘One Bullet Left’ (Ringo Kid) Joe Maneely - art

Gunsmoke Western #23 (L. Miller & Son)
Selected reprints: Gunsmoke Western #55 (Marvel) [Nov1959] Cover: Joe Maneely O-271 ‘Hired Gun’ (Featuring: Gunsmoke Kid) 6p Davis (art) T-456 ‘The Man from Morgan Mesa’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 6p Lee (script), Ayers (art) K-162 ‘Mustang Maverick’ 2p text, Maneely (spot illustration)
T-458 ‘Gun-Fight at Grogan’s Gap’ 5p Lee (art) Baker (art)

From Gunsmoke Western #23 (L. Miller & Son) p1 ‘Hired Gun’ (Featuring: Gunsmoke Kid) Jack Davis - art

Wyatt Earp #10 (L. Miller & Son)
Reprints: Wyatt Earp #8 (Marvel) [Jan 1957]
Cover: Joe Maneely
K-733 ‘Gun Duel at Abiline’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 5p Maurer (art) Notes: Historical figure James Butler ‘Wild Bill’ Hickok (1837 – 1876) appears.
F-766 ‘Empty Canteens’ 2p text
K-878 ‘Navaho Uprising’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 5p Maurer (art)
K-900 ‘The Warning’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 4p Maurer (art)
L-27 ‘Gunslinger’ 4p Lee (script), Ayers (art)
K-817 ‘Bushwhack at Badman Pass’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 5p Maurer (art)

From Wyatt Earp #10 (L. Miller & Son) p1 'Gun Duel at Abiline’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) Norman Maurer – art

Wyatt Earp #41 (L. Miller & Son) Selected reprints: Wyatt Earp #25 (Marvel) [Oct 1959] Cover: [Jack Kirby]/[Christopher Rule]
T-398 ‘Face to Face With the Gunfighter’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 5p Lee (script), Ayers (art)
K-374 ‘Warpath’ 2p text
O-228 Untitled featuring: The Gunsmoke Kid 7p Davis (art)
T-397 ‘The Terrible Revenge of Wyatt Earp’ (Featuring: Wyatt Earp) 5p Lee (script), Ayers (art)

From Wyatt Earp #41 (L. Miller & Son) p1 Untitled featuring: The Gunsmoke Kid Jack Davis - art

Make Mine Marvel UK!!!

2008-06-06T02:20:00.070+01:00

Besides Four-Color Craic I blog and post scans on Facebook and the Facebook group: ‘Make Mine Marvel UK!!!’. I’m an Officer of the group and I'm proud to be a ‘Fearless Front-Facer and Real Fanatic One’.

‘Make Mine Marvel UK!!!’ is a group for fans of Marvel’s UK division. Fans can discuss their favourite titles from the Marvel UK beginnings in 1972 through to 1995 when Panini obtained the Marvel UK license to today’s releases from Panini.

Marvel Comics set up a British division in 1972 to publish a line of comics reprinting their early American material. The first comic to be introduced was, The Mighty World of Marvel in October 1972.

In addition to reprinting the American material, the UK series produced a number of original covers. Here's a sample from the Four-Color Craic collection but you can find more original UK material at the 'Make Mine Marvel UK!!!' Facebook group:

Mighty World of Marvel #22 [3 Mar 1973]
Cover: [Jim Starlin]
Mighty World of Marvel #38 [23 Jun 1973]
Cover: [Rich Buckler]

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #84 [21 Sep 1974]
Cover: Unknown member of the Marvel UK Bullpen

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #85 [28 Sep 1974]
Cover: Unknown member of the Marvel UK Bullpen

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #84 [21 Sep 1974] & #85 [28 Sep 1974]
Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #72 [May 1969] 20p ‘Rocked by the Shocker’ John Buscema (plot/layouts) Stan Lee (script) John Romita Sr/Jim Mooney (art)

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #93 [23 Nov 1974]
Cover: [Gil Kane] (possible inks by Frank Giacoia)

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #94 [30 Nov 1974]
Cover: [Gil Kane] (possible inks by Frank Giacoia)

Spider-Man Comics Weekly #93 [23 Nov 1974] & #94 [30 Nov 1974]
Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #77 [Oct 1969] 20p ‘In the Blaze of Battle’ John Buscema (plot/layouts) Stan Lee (script) Jim Mooney (art)

Marvel UK turned Killraven into Apeslayer. True story. Because Marvel UK where reprinting the successful Planet of the Apes on a weekly basis, they quickly ran out of new stories to publish.

Marvel UK’s solution was to take the series Killraven, which depicted a freedom fighter who fought Martians in a post-apocalyptic alternative future, and changed the Martians to Apes and Killraven to ‘Apeslayer’.

Planet of the Apes #23 [29 Mar 1975]
1^st appearance of the Apeslayer (Killraven)
Cover: possibly Mike Esposito

Planet of the Apes #28 [10 May 1975]
Cover: Herb Trimpe/[Altered by Marvel

Bullpen]

The Avengers and the Savage Sword of Conan #109 [18 Oct 1975]
Cover: Unknown member/members of the Marvel UK Bullpen

Fury #6 [20 Apr 1977]
Cover: Carlos Ezquerra

Fury #14 [15 Jun 1977]
Cover: Carlos Ezquerra

Other than the covers no original material had yet been produced but by the mid 1970’s Marvel UK decided to create the first Marvel hero aimed specifically at the British market: Captain Britain. Captain Britain was created by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe.

Captain Britain #1 [13 Oct 1976]
1st appearance and origin of Captain Britain

Cover: [Larry Lieber]/[Frank Giacoia]
8p ‘The Origin of Captain Britain’ Chris Claremont (script), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Fred Kida (inks), Marie Severin (colors), Irving Watanabe (letters).

Captain Britain #2 [20 Oct 1976]
Cover: [Larry Lieber]

The Avengers Treasury Edition [1982]
Cover: [Dave Gibbons]

Captain

Britain

#1 [vol II Jan 1985]
Cover: [Alan Davis]

Transformers #133 [3 Oct 1987]
Cover: Dave Gibbons

For more detailed information on Marvel UK visit the Wikipedia entry here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_UK

Mike Western 1925 - 2008

2008-06-05T01:21:00.051+01:00

Mike Western one of

Britain

’s greatest comics artists died on Tuesday, 13 May, aged 83.

Comics historian Steve Holland has a more detailed and informative history of Mike Western’s work on his blog Bear Alley and I have more links at the end of this post by others but I just wanted to pay tribute to Mike in my own way with a visit to the Four-Color Craic vaults:

Mike had a long spell as cover artist on Valiant, 13 years and with over 500 covers to be precise beginning in 1962.

Valiant and TV21 cover [5 Feb 1972]

In 1964 Mike began drawing 'The Wild Wonders' for the Valiant. Written by Tom Tully ‘The Wild Wonders’ was a story about two feral or “wild” boys, Rick and Charlie Wild, brought up by animals on a remote island, discovered the boys soon proved to be brilliant athletes.

'The Wild Wonders' (p1) Valiant and TV21 [16 Dec 1972]

One of my favorite Mike Western co-creations was ‘The Leopard from Lime Street’. Another co-creation with Tom Tully ‘The Leopard from Lime Street’ was one of the Buster’s longest running strips [1976 – 1985].

Buster and Monster Fun cover [9 Jun 1979]

Very much in the spirit of Spider-Man ‘The Leopard from Lime Street’ was about young Billy Farmer who lived with his Aunt Joan and Uncle Charlie. He was scratched by a radioactive leopard called 'Sheba' while taking photos at the local zoo for the school magazine, and gained leopard-like strength, speed, reflexes, and tree-climbing abilities.

'The Leopard from Lime Street' (p3) Buster and Monster Fun [12 May 1979]

Mike’s finest work was probably in the pages of Battle Picture Weekly on strips: ‘The Team That Went To War’ [1976], 'Darkie's Mob' [1976 – 77], 'The Sarge' [1966 – 78] and 'HMS Nightshade' [1979]. Mike’s work became grittier in style for the darker tones of the Battle Picture Weekly war storylines. My personal favourites being ‘Darkies Mob’ and ‘The Sarge’.

'The Team That Went To War' (p1) Battle [8 May 1976]

Battle and Valiant cover [8 Jan 1977]

'Darkies Mob' (p1) Battle and Valiant [11 Dec 1978]

'H.M.S. Nightshade' (p1) Battle Action [10 Feb 1979]

'The Sarge' (p3) Battle and Valiant [20 Aug 1977]

Battle and Valiant cover [27 Aug 1977]

Battle Action cover [18 May 1978]

'The Sarge' (p1) Battle Action [18 May 1978]

Steve Holland's obituary to Mike Western can be found here:
http://bearalley.blogspot.com/2008/05/mike-western-1925-2008.html and there are more tributes here: http://www.downthetubes.net/features/tributes/mike_western_tribute.html http://hipsterdad.livejournal.com/326293.html
http://www.brokenfrontier.com/lowdown/details.php?id=1345