UPDATED: Alan Clark Reference Books

I've looked at comic reference books a couple of times before...

i). Dennis Gifford books here (with all Gifford posts here)

ii). Lofts & Adley books are here

iii). Dennis Gifford is here 

iv). David Ashford is here

v). Ray Moore is here

vi). Martin Hamer is here

vii). Colin Morgan is here

viii). Norman Wright is here

ix). Martin & Hazel Trouse is here

x). Tony Summerfield is here

xi). Steve Holland is here

And now it's the turn of Alan Clark (his ebay shop is here)...

Here's his two (!) latest books (as at 11th Oct 2026)...

The most important people in comics are the creators: the artists, writers and editors.  To know them simply by the dry details of biographical facts is informative and interesting and provides valuable context. And seeing the faces behind the work adds a vital human connection.  Following on from Photos & Images Book One, here is another selection of creators in this imaginatively titled Book Two! 

Founded by Cyril Arthur Pearson, C. Arthur Pearson Ltd. was a prominent British publishing house that operated from 1890 to 1961. The firm was highly regarded for its diverse portfolio, which spanned newspapers, books, and influential periodicals such as Pearson's Weekly, Home Notes, Pearson's Magazine, The Royal Magazine, London Opinion, and Men Only. Between 1898 and 1916, the company also made its mark on the newspaper industry, most notably by launching the Daily Express.   While Pearson published only a select few comic and story papers, they represented a high-water mark for the medium. The crown jewel of this collection was undoubtedly The Big Budget. With this exciting, dynamic, and innovative title, Pearson proved that his firm could outpace Alfred Harmsworth's formidable Amalgamated Press. Instead of following industry trends, The Big Budget set them, forcing its rivals to emulate its success.  Copies of The Big Budget are extremely rare today.  

Here's his latest book...

...available here on ebay - Alan says...

Between 1945-1950 literally hundreds of titles were issued by anyone who could find some paper.  Mostly, they had looser editorial control: scripts could sometimes be vulgar, the artwork a tad less careful, but aficionado’s believe this gave them a vitality and a freedom that ‘establishment’ publications didn’t have.  By the early 1950s the big publishers were back and almost all of the small firms publications had vanished and were simply a footnote in comics history.  Of note is the fact that most things the reader will see here will not be found in the British Library.  These truly fly-by-night pirates of publishing rarely deposited them.                          

This book is a celebration of these post-war publications.

These are his latest two books...

BOOK ONE features EAGLE, DAN DARE, LION, TIGER, SUN, COMET, GERALD G. SWAN, SCION, STREAMLINE, KING GANTEAUME, MARVELMAN, COWBOY COMICS, THRILLER PICTURE LIBRARY, SUPER-DETECTIVE, SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY, SCHOOLGIRLS’ PICTURE LIBRARY, GIRS’ CRYSTAL, SCHOOLGIRLS’ PICTURE LIBRARY, SCHOOL FRIEND, T.V. BOARDMAN, DENIS McLOUGHLIN, KNOCKOUT, BILLY BUNTER…

BOOK TWO features THE BROONS, OOR WULLIE, BLACK BOB, DENNIS THE MENACE, LITTLE PLUM, LEO BAXENDALE, MINNIE THE MINX, BASH STREET, BEANO, KEN REID, JONAH, ALLAN MORLEY, DUDLEY D. WATKINS, DESPERATE DAN, PADDY BRENNAN, JAMES CRIGHTON, TOPPER, BEEZER, TOM BANNISTER, HOTSPUR, VICTOR, HORNET, THE WIZARD, SPARKY, WHAM!, JASPER THE GRASPER, FRANKIE STEIN, SMASH!, POW!, FANTASTIC, TERRIFIC, THE CLOAK, JUDY, MANDY, PRINCESS, TINA, JUNE, TAMMY, T:V. COMIC, MUFFIN THE MULE, T.V.FUN, SUPERCAR, DANGER MAN, TV TORNADO, THE AVENGERS, DR WHO, TV EXPRESS, VALIANT, HURRICANE, ROY OF THE ROVERS, CHAMPION, THE PHANTOM VIKING, ROBOT ARCHIE, TEXAS JACK, THE SPIDER, GADGETMAN & GIMMICK-KID, JEFF HAWKE, JOURNEY INTO SPACE, GALAXUS, ZIP, ROCKET, RANGER, TRIGAN EMPIRE, WRATH OF THE GODS, BATTLE PICTURE LIBRARY, WAR PICTURE LIBRARY, CLASSIC IN PICTURES, ALAN CLASS, THORPE & PORTER, BIGGLES, THE SAINT, ACE HART, SUPER THRILLER, WORLD DISTRIBUTORS, ATLAS, CAPTAIN ATOM, LONE STAR

I spotted this on sale recently (c/o ace ebay seller philcomics) who described it thus...

This approx A5 sized folder was given away with the Mar 8 1986 issue of Buster comic and the idea was pull-out sections in subsequent weeks should be cut out and folded to make a mini book, forming a 64 page book of the history of comics.

As you'll see this really is a history - it starts in Victorian times!

His very newest book (February 2024) is this one - priced at £36 (including postage) and available from Alan himself (ebay trading name of 'orsonwelles99' right here) - and looks at the crossover between, well, comic papers, music hall & early cinema. 316 pages long!

So prolific is Alan that I realise I'd missed one of his publications (from April 2023) - more details here

His very newest book (October 2023) is this one - priced at £30 (including postage) and available from Alan himself - ebay trading name of 'orsonwelles99' right here

His very newest book (December 2022) is entitled BRITISH GOLDEN AGE COMICS. COMIC PAPERS BETWEEN THE WARS 1919-1939 is in fact 2 books, priced at £33 for both and available here

The Laughs of a nation - the publications of Gerald G Swann is available here for £23

Just published (January 2022) is Alan's look at Comic papers of the platinum age, creators & their work: 1874-1914 - available for £25 (inc. postage from Italy)

The books is described as follows...

What is the British Platinum Age? Within these pages it’s defined as 1874-1914. It started with James Henderson’s Funny Folks and ended forty years on with the start of the 1914-1918 war. The Platinum Age was the ‘Big Bang’ of the comic universe. It was when the British comic was invented. It was followed by the ‘war years’, then the ‘nursery years’ After which the publishers created a raft of new titles for older readers. Which in turn paved the way to the Golden Age of the 1930s. That Golden Age crashed spectacularly after war was declared on Germany in September 1939 when once again paper shortages returned and staff and freelancers were again called up to join the forces. It was not until over a decade later that the industry recovered enough to start a Silver Age. That began with Eagle on April 14 1950. The war years, nursery years, the Golden Age and Silver Age are other stories. This book is an homage to the Platinum Age and its amazing publishers, editors, creators, writers and artists who were responsible for it. And which led to everything that followed.

COMIC PAPERS OF THE PLATINUM AGE is a 284 page, small size (A5), non-profit, limited edition publication the purpose of which is to promote and provide information about the editors. artists, writers and publishers of Platinum Age comics and story papers.

Well illustrated with rare titles. Informative text. 284 pages.

Just published (Autumn 2021) - and available here - are this pair of books on the 'golden age' of British comics.

A new edition of Sugar-Plum and Tootletum – The Work of C.H. Ross – is currently in the works for 2026. Alan tells us the New Edition is more complete, running to 184 pages and featuring all the C.H. Ross Variety Papers.

Alan's other books that he's published since Autumn 2020 now all seem to be out of print (apart from The Fun Factory volume) - so I'd order these books soon if you want them.

Just published (Summer 2021) is this book available from Alan himself at this ebay seller ID (orsonwelles99)

The fun factory of Farringdon Street by Alan Clark

subtitled - a history of Amalgamated Press 1890-1960

Recently published is this book (reviewed here)

From early 2021

From Autumn 2020...

From 1998 the Dictionary of British comic artists, writers and editors

From 1991 - "Comics an illustrated history" by Alan and Laurel Clark

From 1989 "The best of British comic art" by Alan Clark

From 1988 "The children's annual - a history and collector's guide" by Alan Clark

From 1983 - "The Comic art of Reg Parlett - 60 years of comics!" by Alan Clark

From 1983 - "The Comic Art of Roy Wilson" by Alan Clark & David Ashford

Sadly, Alan's planned Centenary Edition of the Comic Art of Roy Wilson never reached the printers. "It would have been bigger, better and more complete than the earlier edition," Alan tells us. "But sometimes, things just don’t work out."

Other books published by Alan are Golden Fun, a collection of his eponymous series of comic-related publications published in the 1970s and 1980s...

Plus, three more – The Rover Index, compiled by the brilliant indexer Colin Morgan, ZAP! and The Sloperian, all one-offs.

Alan thinks this list is complete - but, as ever...if you spot anything I've missed just let me know! Extra information welcome!

Eric Parker - miscellaneous work, part 17 (of 23)

I've recently begun a lengthy series of blog posts all about renowned illustrator Eric Parker (check out his Wikipedia entry here) who had a 50 year (!) career as a comic illustrator.

I've looked at Roughs (part 1) here
Roughs (part 2) here
Roughs (part 3) here
Roughs (part 4) here
Female heads (part 1) here
Female heads (part 2) here
Female heads (part 3) here
Female heads (part 4) here
Pubs (part 1) here
Pubs (part 2) here

Overseas (part 1) here

Overseas (part 2) here

Overseas (part 3) here

Overseas (part 4) here

Overseas (part 5) here

Overseas (part 6) here

Overseas (part 7) here

Overseas (part 8) here

Overseas (part 9) here

Overseas (part 10) here

UK scenes (part 1) here

UK scenes (part 2) here

UK scenes (part 3) here

UK scenes (part 4) here

Character studies & groups, drafts (part 1) here

Character studies & groups, drafts (part 2) here

Character studies & groups, drafts (part 3) here

Character studies & groups, drafts (part 4) here

Character studies & groups, drafts (part 5) here

Character studies & groups, drafts (part 6) here

Life drawings (part 1) here

Life drawings (part 2) here

Life drawings (part 3) here

Life drawings (part 4) here

Life drawings (part 5) here

Life drawings (part 6) XXXX

Life drawings (part 7) here

Life drawings (part 8) here

Life drawings (part 9) here

Life drawings (part 10) here

Gentlemen is here

Horses (part 1) is here

Horses (part 2) is here

Furniture is here

Old soldiers (part 1) is here

Old soldiers (part 2) is here

Old soldiers (part 3) is here

Sexton Blake is here

More soldiers is here

Miscellaneous is here

Layouts & scenes is here

Letters is here

Finished work (part 1) is here

Finished work (part 2) is here

Finished work (part 3) is here

Vintage women (part 1) is here

And now we turn our attention to a final (albeit large selection of his work). Next up is his work on "vintage women". These are a variety of sizes - from the very small to the quite large.

UPDATED: Commando - heritage characters

Updated to include another Braddock story in issue 6001 (out now!)

Updated to include another Kampfgruppe Falken issue 6002 (out now!)

Updated to include another Sgt Rayker story in issue 5987 (out now!) and a first Iron Annie story in issue 5983

Updated to include another Cadman story in issue 5979

Updated to include another Harrier Squadron story in issue 5975

Updated to include another Sgt Rayker story in issue 5967

Updated to include another Lord Peter Flint story in issue 5947

Updated to include another Braddock story in issue 5939

Updated to include the first Harrier Squadron [from Warlord] story in issue 5929

Updated to include another Braddock story in issue 5919

Updated to include another Braddock story in issue 5875

Updated to include another Kampfgruppe Falken issue (#5861) - which I'd missed previously, whoops!

Updated to include another Union Jack Jackson story - issue 5917

Updated to include another Codename Warlord story - issue 5913

Updated to include another Cadman story in issue 5909

Updated to include another Braddock story in issue 5891

Updated to include a V for Vengeance (from The Wizard) - issue #5887

Updated to include another Codename Warlord story - issue 5841 - which is out now!

Updated to include another Kampfgruppe Falken issue (#5827) which is out now!

Updated to include another Union Jack Jackson issue (#5813) and a Sergeant Rayker issue (#5817)

Updated to include Commando 5803 (which is on sale currently). It's another Lord Peter Flint issue

Updated to include issue Commando 5799 which is on sale currently. It's another Cadman issue - art by Mike Dorey.

To celebrate the release (last week I think) of Commando issue 5759 (below) and the inclusion of Kampfgruppe Falken in it I thought I'd log the other back issues of Commando that feature other DC Thomson 'heritage' characters.

Have I missed any? Just let me know!

My currents wants list is as follows: 5759 (KGF), 5841 (LPF), 5875 (Braddock) & 5967 (Rayker)

1). Harrier Squadron

Commando 5929

Commando 5975

It is the mid-1990s and across a battle-scarred Europe, the forces of WESFED (Western Federation) and the Eastern armies of the ASBLOC (Asian Bloc) are in a delicate state of truce. But the fragile peace is under constant threat and only Harrier Squadron — an international allied task force of jump-jet pilots — can prevent a flight of bandit “ghost fighters” from re-igniting the deadly conflict!

2). Kampfgruppe Falken

Commando 6002

Commando 5759

Commando 5827

Commando 5861

Major Heinz Falken is playing a dangerous game of chance. His life and those of his men hang in the balance as they fight for survival. The battle on the Eastern Front between German and Russian armies has become a war of attrition, with both sides lacking resources. When their supplies are hijacked by the Russians, Falken is forced to recover them by systematically searching Soviet stronghold bunkers. But guessing which one is the right bunker is like playing a game of Russian roulette – and they’re running out of bullets.

3). Braddock

Braddock has two issues so far

Commando 5269

Commando 5267

Commando 5875

The daredevil bomber pilot returns! Now that his squadron had converted to Vickers Wellingtons, Sergeant Matt Braddock couldn’t wait to get airborne. But a hairy first mission soon left him without a navigator – luckily, the impressive Sergeant George Bourne was looking for a new crew. Bourne and Braddock were soon thick as thieves, but it wasn’t long before Braddock’s gung-ho attitude landed them in an Italian POW camp. Braddock was going to have to rely on more than his flying skills to get out of this one!

Commando 5891

After his daring escape from an Italian POW camp, Braddock found himself craving his next adventure. Luckily, adventure had a way of finding him! German Focke Wulf Condors were causing problems for the Allies in the Atlantic, and the Brits didn’t have any planes with the same range. Braddock’s solution? Steal one of the German kites, of course! But this mission would require a crack team, and some of Brad’s flight crew were more up to the task than others. Could they pull it off?

Commando 5919

Commando 5939

Commando 6001

4). Codename Warlord

Lord Peter Flint has appeared in 4 issues as well

Commando 5255

Commando 5263

Commando 5803

Lord Peter Flint, AKA Codename: Warlord, relied on being a 'coward' to stop being suspected as a secret agent! So when a journalist tried to write a hit piece on him, that was the least of his worries! He was busy stopping a REAL assassination plot!

Commando 5841

Britain’s finest spy, Lord Peter Flint, is on another top-hole adventure! After Warlord’s most disastrous mission yet, Flint ends up as the number one target of ‘six of the best’ assassins the world has ever seen!
But why does the phrase ‘six of the best’ seem familiar to him? Who is the mysterious sixth assassin who is an ‘old friend’ of Flint’s?
Will these questions be answered – or will this be the end of Codename Warlord?!

Commando 5913

The Libyan desert is experiencing some funny weather! Mysterious, sudden rainstorms are turning the hot sands to boggy quagmires that are beaching British tanks! But not only that, a Nazi officer has disguised himself as an Arab tribesman to sow discontent, and a German scientist has attempted to defect – something very strange is going on.
Enter Lord Peter Flint – Codename: Warlord – Britain’s best secret agent, to investigate the weird happenings. A storm is brewing, and he can sense the hand of his old nemesis, Professor Kranz, is behind it all!

Commando 5947

Lord Peter Flint is on one of his most dangerous — and important — missions yet! ‘Shadow Sands’ is the codename for the biological weapons project collecting anthrax spores on an isolated Maunsell Fort off the coast of England. Flint’s handler, Kingpin, was at the fort when it was raided by a team of German commandos and Professor Kranz’s robot Panzermen. Now he’s been taken hostage along with the leading scientists!

But Intelligence believes someone on board the fort helped the Germans — and they suspect Kingpin! Kingpin, a traitor?! It can’t be true! Warlord has until midnight to rescue the hostages and clear Kingpin’s name!

5). Cadman

Cadman has 4 issues so far

Commando 5697

That cowardly cad returns! From the pages of The Victor to Commando, Cadman the Fighting Coward looks skyward to escape the trenches - but he soon finds that life in the Royal Flying Corps isn't any easier or safer than on the ground!

5665 - interior art by Mike Dorey, cover art by Mike Dorey & Neil Roberts

5799 - interior art by Mike Dorey, cover art by Mike Dorey

Commando 5909

Lieutenant Gerald Cadman, the fighting coward, once again finds himself precisely where he does not want to be — on the front lines! The arrival of the heroic and aristocratic Captain Blickley-Phipps, however, gives Cadman an idea for how to improve his station.

But for Private Tom Smith, something doesn’t seem right about Blickley-Phipps. Ruthless in his quest for glory, the captain will gladly sacrifice his own men for victory. Even Scruff the dog can smell an impending disaster, but Cadman may be too distracted to find a way out this time!

Commando 5979

6). Union Jack Jackson

Union Jack Jackson

Commando 5287

Commando 5813

Union Jack Jackson's back! With a little help from his pals, Jack must find an airfield which has been launching attacks on Navy convoys. But he get more than he bargained for when he sees aircraft taking off from the back of a submarine!

Commando 5917

Union Jack Jackson and his pals were on a mission to steal an experimental radar receiver from the Japanese when they hit a hurdle. The USS Red Bank, the destroyer they were going to sail away on, was sunk by Japanese suicide pilots… men who would self-sacrifice their lives to sink their enemies.
So then, why was one of the pilots — Kamikaze Ken — floating, alive, in the water beside Union Jack Jackson?

7). Sergeant Rayker

Commando 5987

Sergeant Rayker is back! As the Americans advance, Rayker’s mind is on victory, but also on revenge for his friend Clancy Davis, who was murdered by the SS.
As his unit moves further into Germany, the horrors of the Nazi regime are revealed, but will Rayker be able to exact his personal retribution or will Wolfgang Viessmann of the SS evade justice?

Commando 5817

Last seen in Warlord in 1984, Sergeant Moses Rayker returns! Trapped behind enemy lines, Rayker encounters an unfriendly face in the form of Buford ‘Bubba’ Ballard. Will Rayker end up smacking the tar outta him before they make it back?

Commando 5857

Legendary Warlord character returns to Commando! Sergeant Rayker was tasked with rounding up four drunken US Marines. But not long after he finds himself under enemy fire with the drunken marines in tow. Perhaps this job isn’t as easy as it sounds!

Commando 5967 - Rayker: back in the ranks

Sergeant Moses Rayker, a black man in a white man’s army, fights two wars: one against the Germans and another against racism within the segregated American military.

After extreme losses during the German surprise attack in the Ardennes, General John Lee asks for something new from Santa — Infantry volunteers. Race isn’t important, he says, but anyone who joins needs to be a private or PFC.

It took Rayker five years to earn his stripes, but those guys need a leader, and to be one, he’ll need to be back in the ranks.

8). V for Vengeance

from the pages of The Wizard - Commando 5887 - V for Vengeance: Prisoner 7234

As air raids wreak havoc over the skies of Berlin, dread pervades the Nazi party. High-ranking officials are being assassinated one by one by the mysterious group named ‘The Deathless Men’. At the scene of each crime, the killers leave a list of future victims alongside a proclamation titled ‘V for Vengeance’.
Desperately, those whose names are listed seek answers, but their only clues link each assassin to deceased prisoners of a concentration camp – are the dead returning to seek revenge?

9). Iron Annie
Commando 5983

After Leutnant Kurt Stahlmann sabotages an SS scheme to smuggle plundered Soviet treasure back to Germany, he is assigned the task of flying supplies to Leningrad and clearing Russian ground defences along the way. Unbeknownst to Kurt’s crew, the vengeful SS have taken measures to ensure that his beloved Junkers Ju 52 Iron Annie’s next flight will be her last.