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10 November 2024

UPDATED: Fun and Games comic

This is not to be confused with Tesco fun 'n games (which I looked at here and here) but instead is a comic I know very little about. The comic is described thus by Comics International...New two-in-one comic: Fun reprints Fleetway's Frankiestein, Sweeny Toddler etc. Games is a 24 page cover-mounted supplement, 99p

This is the only image I can find of it online.

Cover art clearly by Tom Paterson. It's published by Nexus Media.

The first mention of Fun and Games in Comics International #79 (March 1997) where issues 3&4 are highlighted. The last mention in Comics International #93 - where issues 29 & 30 are highlighted. There may have been further issues but Comics International never mentions Fun and Games again.

Update
I've now acquired some more images...
Issue 1 with free gift
You can just about see (on the bottom left hand side) the wrap-around (cover-mounted) 'games' section. So, even if 'games' gets detached from the comic you'd still have the 'fun' section left looking like a regular comic.

Ah, here's a Claws reprint...


...and more Tom Paterson art on the back page.
The bottom half of Tom Paterson's art is obscured by the cover-mounted, wraparound 'games' section.

Lew Stringer has look at Fun and games on his blog here

UPDATE:
I've now found a cover for issue #4 (June 1997). Another cover by Tom Paterson.

contents include...Frankie Stein, art by Terry Bave, 'Strong Stuff' strip, 'Handy Andy' strip, 'Memory Banks' strip, 'X-ray specs' strip, 'Sammy shrink' strip, 'Lazy Bones' strip, 'Cry baby' strip, 'Creepy Comix' strip and 'The Invisible family' by Tom Paterson (this looks like a new strip whereas the rest are reprints).

9 November 2024

Action comic rarities up for sale

Ace comics auctioneer phil-comics (here) have a couple of Action rarities up for sale currently. I'll report back on the final prices realised but I'm expecting these to go for high prices...

First up is right here - it's a press pack for issues #1-4





There's also this poster as well


8 November 2024

Eric Parker in the UK (part 4 of 4)

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

And now we turn our attention to his UK paintings...

Can't read this caption

Look at the colours! It's luminescent!


this is included here as it's on the reverse of the above picture


This one says "Barden Hall" or maybe "Bardon Hall" - tough to narrow it down more precisely than that, there are a few of these in the country


7 November 2024

Aly Fell & Ken Reid

I've looked at 'letters from the editor' a couple of times (here and here) and I've now (c/o amazing comic artist Ally Fell) been provided with a 3rd example. 

Aly got a letter because he'd suggested a 'World-Wide Weirdie' to be drawn by Ken Reid and, whatdayaknow, he got chosen! 

I'm indebted to Paul Griffiths for the cover scan of Whoopee! from 13th September 1975



You can follow Aly here here and here - he's great!

6 November 2024

Alan Moore & Susanna Clarke in conversation - tonight!

Just a reminder that this is happening tonight - have fun if you're dialling in for it...

Waterstones have announced (here) an online event with Susanna Clarke and Alan Moore in conversation with Alison Flood. The event takes place on Wednesday 6th November at 7pm. Let's see what they have to say about the event...

Join us for what promises to be an unmissable digital event with legendary writers Susanna Clarke and Alan Moore, as they speak to Alison Flood about their latest work.

From the internationally bestselling and prize-winning author of Piranesi and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, comes an enchanting and bewitching seasonal novella. The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke introduces us to nineteen-year-old Merowdis Scott who, one snowy afternoon, enters the forest with her dogs and Apple the pig, for the path of her life to be changed forever as darkness falls.

From the bestselling master of modern fantasy comes a dark and beguiling tour through the streets of a magical London. The Great When by Alan Moore is the opening instalment in the Long London series, where history and myth collide in a story which sees hapless eighteen-year-old Dennis Knuckleyard – who works and lives above a second-hand bookshop - at the centre of an explosive series of events.

Susanna and Alan will be in conversation with Alison Flood, comment and culture editor at the New Scientist and previously the Guardian's books reporter.

The Ticket, The Wood at Midwinter (Signed Edition) & Print bundle includes a signed copy of The Wood at Midwinterby Susanna Clarke and a print, available while stocks last and for UK postage only.

The Ticket, The Great When (Exclusive Edition) & Map bundle includes the Waterstones exclusive edition of The Great When by Alan Moore and a map of Long London, available while stock last and for UK postage only.

The Ticket & Book options will require a UK postcode, please do not select this option if you do not have a valid UK postcode as you will not receive your package and may still be charged. Postage will be made after the event.

This event is on Zoom. Please make sure you have Zoom installed and up to date on the device of your choice. 

General admission tickets are £5, tickets that come with books are more expensive (£13 for Clarke's book; £23 for Moore's book)

5 November 2024

UPDATED: 'Battleground' fanzine

A new one for me is this covers gallery for Battleground ('The comics discussion fanzine') from back in the day. I'd love to know how many issues this lasted. I remember seeing adverts for this in the back of Comics International but I never ordered a copy, more fool me by the looks of it - this looks great!

Updated: now with cover for issue 6 - covers gallery completed!
Ewan Brownlow says 6 issues only

Battleground #1

available to download here - thanks to friend of the pod David Hathaway-Price

Battleground #2
available to download here - thanks to friend of the blog David Hathaway-Price
back cover to issue #2 by Ade / Adrian Hughes

Battleground #3, cover by Adrian Hughes

the original image that was used for the cover

contains this centrespread by Glenn Fabry

and there's an interview with him; and an interview with Paul Grist. In fact here's a look at the contents...


Battleground #4
c/o friend of the blog David McDonald

Battleground #5, cover by Adrian Hughes

Battleground #6
image c/o friend of the blog Reuben Willmott
cover by Chris Hogg

4 November 2024

UPDATED: Marvel UK's 'Casper' comic (volume 1)

Update for this blog post...cover for issue 3 has been identified. That just leaves covers for issues 5, 6 & 11 missing.

Always a delight to get a new covers gallery underway. Today is's Marvel UK and their Casper comic from 1995/6. All because of his movie that came out that year. Not done much digging yet to see how long this lasted, but there's a movie special and 11 regular issues to collect...

Casper, Marvel UK movie special, 16th August 1995, £1.75

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 1, 13th September 1995, 99p

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 2, 11th October 1995, 99p

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 3, 8th November 1995, 99p

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 4, 6th December 1995, 99p

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 5, 3rd January 1996
image not to hand - can you help?

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 6, 31st January 1996
image not to hand - can you help?

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 7, 28th February 1996, £1.10

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 8, 27th March 1996, £1.10

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 9, 24th April 1996, £1.10

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 10, 22nd May 1996, £1.10

Casper, Marvel UK, issue 11, 19th June 1996
image not to hand - can you help?

3 November 2024

Dan Dare draughts

I'm always happy to feature unusual bits of Eagle merchandise on the blog. 
There were...
Dan Dare roller skates here
Dan Dare hairbrush here
Dan Dare tie clip here
Eagle stationery here
Eagle club notebook here
With the compliments of the Eagle club here
Eagle / Girl table tennis medals here
Eagle club cycle pennant here
Dan Dare gyro jeep here
Dan Dare space shooting here
Dan Dare rocket ball here
Dan Dare beach ball here
Dan Dare bagatelle here
Eagle report to members (1951) here
Dan Dare field glasses here
Dan Dare interplanetary dominoes here
Dan Dare space-ship construction game here

and today it's the turn of 'Dan Dare draughts'

(all images swiped from an ebay listing)







2 November 2024

Into Battle! - the exhibition, part 7

It's just finished but for anyone who missed it, here's part 7 (the final part) of my look at the 'Into battle! - the art of British war comics' exhibition. 

Part 1 was here
Part 2 was here
Part 3 was here
Part 4 was here
Part 5 was here
Part 6 was here