Van Helsing's Terror tales arrives in paperback

A quick shout out for the new publication from Dez Skinn (just search for him on facebook) it's a glossy softcover edition of his previously published (albeit in a limited edition hardback - 100 copies only) reprints from House of Hammer magazine, Van Helsing's Terror tales.

You can expect contributions from Martin Asbury, Donne Avenell, Jim Baikie, John Bolton, Joe Colquhoun, Dave Gibbons, Trev Goring, Brian Lewis, Chris Lowder, Angus McKie, Steve Moore, Steve Parkhouse, Ramon Sola and Patrick Wright.

Whizzer and Chips flyer for issue 1

From Lion & Eagle dated 18th October 1969 here's the original flyer for Whizzer and Chips

Blue Peter holiday special - Eric Bradbury

Another snippet from the 'Blue Peter holiday special' (1976)...

This time I've included it because the art is by Eric Bradbury. It mainly looks like Eric Bradbury, some of it doesn't quite look like his work so I'm going to put this down as a bit of a Bradbury 'rush job' - anyway, over to you to see if you can catch the crook...

Fleetway flyers #2 - Champion #1

Continuing my look at Fleetway flyers from the '60s...here's a flyer (from Buster again), but this time it's for Champion comic #1...

Champion only ran for 15 un-numbered issues (26/02/66-04/06/66) - again, my copy (of Buster, not Champion) is for sale here

Archive Adventures - part 6

The final selection of Archive Adventures reprints here - thanks again to Steve Taylor - plenty of Tony Weare and Denis McLoughlin art is these issues

Archive Adventures un-numbered (The last of the Mohicans, part 2)

Archive Adventures un-numbered (Wingfoot, desert wild boy, part 1)

Archive Adventures un-numbered (Wingfoot, desert wild boy, part 2)

Archive Adventures un-numbered (Rookwood, part 1)

Archive Adventures un-numbered (Rookwood, part 2)

Archive Action - part 1

Continuing on from the Archive Adventures series came the short-lived spin-off series Archive Action. Lasting just 6 issues this series looked at test story reprints rather than comic strip reprints.

Here's issues 1-3 for your viewing pleasure - thanks, once again, to Steve Taylor for his help in providing images for this posting [issues 2 & 3] & also Norman Boyd [issue 1].

Archive Action #1

Archive Action #2

Archive Action #3

Fleetway flyers #1 - Valiant

A few of the classic pink flyers from Fleetway have come my way recently so I thought I'd post them up here as they are so ephemeral. I'll also highlight the comic that the flyer is from, first up here's Buster from 23rd April 1966...(if you're interested my copy is for sale here)

Denis Gifford auction catalogues

Following on from John Freeman's interview with comic collector extraordinaire Peter Hansen (the piece is here with an interview over on youtube here) I thought I'd just highlight some of the auction catalogues that were produced for the liquidation of Denis Gifford's collection.

As you can see the catalogues (these are the only ones I have - there were a dozen auctions in all) are all pretty similar looking! They're A4 sized, with 20-28 pages with some interior pages in colour (typically showing the rarest items).

The prices realised from the prior auction are then included in the subsequent catalogue, thus allowing you to check to see what prices were eventually realised for the lots.

Catalogue one has lots 1-500, catalogue 2 has lots 501-100, catalogue 1001-1300 & catalogue 4 has lots of 1301-1750

The lots are an amazing selection of books, comics, film, magazine and original comic art. I'd recommend picking them up (if you can find them, they seem very hard to track down).

Ian Kennedy private commission up for sale

Full disclosure...I'm not the seller...but this interesting piece of Ian Kennedy artwork is currently up for sale (here) but you'll have to hurry as it ends just before 9:30pm tonight.

The seller describes it as a private commission published in the style of an unpublished war comic, anyway, feast on your eyes on this and good luck if you bid. 





Boom! sold for £722.38

The Worm - part 2

For a long time I've seen copies of The Worm whenever I've been to the Cartoon Museum, but I've only recently picked up a copy - and what a treat it is!

Behind a cover by Simon Bisley there are 40+ full colour pages, with each pages featuring 6 frames of the story (usually you'll get 5-6 different artists on a page, some artists appear more than one in the book). And the talent involved in this effort to create the longest comic strip in the world.

I'll just give you a taster of the artists involved but I urge you to pick up a copy wherever you can...

Lee Sullivan does panel 2, Don Lawrence 3 and David Lloyd does panel 4

Geoff Campion provides the art for panel 2 & 3

Here's a bit of a rundown of the artists involved (backpage for The Worm)...

The Worm - part 1

For a long time I've seen copies of The Worm whenever I've been to the Cartoon Museum, but I've only recently picked up a copy - and what a treat it is!

Behind a cover by Simon Bisley there are 40+ full colour pages, with each pages featuring 6 frames of the story (usually you'll get 5-6 different artists on a page, some artists appear more than one in the book). And the talent involved in this effort to create the longest comic strip in the world.

I'll just give you a taster of the artists involved but I urge you to pick up a copy wherever you can...

Cover by Simon Bisley

Glenn Fabry does the middle 2 panels, Bambos Georgiou the 5th panel and 2000ad art editor (and artist) Robin Smith the 6th panel

Ian Gibson provides the art for frames 4 and 5

Kevin O'Neill provides the art for frames 2 & 3; and John Bolton frame 5

Will Simpson masterclass tonight

This is tonight - hope you've got a ticket!

London's Orbital comics have announced a special line-up of events with comics artist Will Simpson...

As they say here

Will Simpson is a renowned comic artist most well known for his Emmy award winning storyboard work on Game of Thrones. He’s also been a former 2000AD and DC Comics artist, his work including Transformers, Judge Dredd, Tyranny Rex, Hellblazer and Batman.

Our gallery will be hosting an exhibition between 19th July until 11th August featuring original storyboards from Game of Thrones. You’ve seen the series, now see how it was first created, drawn out and then later filmed based on Will’s drawings!

In addition, Will Simpson will be signing books including the new Game of Thrones storyboard book in the shop late afternoon on Saturday 20th July.

In the evening, Simpson will also be holding a 90 minute masterclass evening speech on his work, career and how storyboards develop. Starts at 7pm, for a 7.30pm start. Tickets for this are £15 each, very limited [30 tickets only] and you can buy them here.

I've looked at Will's contribution to 'Centurions - Power Xtreme' comic in some detail in the past...

Issue 2 is here

Issue 3 is here

Issue 4 is here

Issue 5 is here

Issue 6 is here

Issue 7 is here

Issue 8 is here

Issue 9 is here

Issue 10 is here