British comic conventions, 1970-1976

I've looked at a whole lot of comic conventions previously...

Bristol comic expo (2004-2014) is here

London comic festival 2003 is here
Kev Sutherland festival original art is here
A 'Lawless 2019' miscellany is here
Boys and Girls exhibitions of the 1950s and '60s is here
Glasgow comic art convention is here
Edinburgh art convention is here
Hi-Ex convention is here

UKCAC - part 1 - is here
UKCAC - part 2 - is here

UKCAC - part 3 - is here

BICS convention is here

Glasgow comic con is here 

Kapow! con is here

So now we're on the final 'lap' of this series and so it's back to the dim and distant past with a look at some of the very earliest comic conventions...

1970 comic convention, Sheffield, cover art by Simpson

Interior art by Trevor Goring, Mike Higgs, Fletcher. Nearly A5 sized, 8 pages.

1971 comic convention, London, cover art by Dave Gibbons

Interior art by Mike Higgs, Paul Neary, Dave Gibbons, Jim Baikie. 16 pages, slightly larger than A5 size.

1972 comic convention, London, cover art is uncredited

Interior art by Kev O'Neill, Mike Higgs, Dave Gibbons. A5 sized, 32 pages.

1973 comic convention, London

no souvenir programme produced

1974 comic convention, London

no souvenir programme produced

1975 comic convention, London

no souvenir programme to hand - can you help?

1976 comic convention, London, cover by Trevor Goring

Interior art by Martin Asbury, Brian Bolland, John Bolton, John Burns, Ron Embleton, Hunt Emerson, Trev Goring, Dave Gibbons, Denis Gifford, Frank Hampson, Mike Higgs, Brian Lewis, Steve Mitchell, Paul Milliner, Paul Neary, Kevin O'Neill, John Romita Sr, Ken Simpson, Barry (Windsor-)Smith. A5 sized, 44 pages.

Walkden Fisher art for sale (5)

Over on that ebay there are a number of pieces for original art for sale by original Eagle artist Walkden Fisher. 

Fisher worked as a cutaway artist in Eagle, as a modelmaker for the Dan Dare strip and as a contributor to Eagle - for instance a 12-part series on 'Running a model railway' (08/09/20-24/11/50) - to the Eagle annuals (#3) and the spin-off books (Trains, Modern Wonders, Hobbies). His distinctive signature in the shape of a fish is instantly recognisable.

The art that is currently on offer seems to pre-date his work on Eagle being more 'naive' and without his trademark signature. I'm going to snaffle all the images from the seller and post them up on the blog in the coming weeks (so even if the items sell I'll have a record of these example of Fisher's art).

I've previously looked at some of his art for sale here

These images are for sale here and appear to come from pre-war issues of 'Dog Owner' magazine

Walkden Fisher art for sale (4)

Over on that ebay there are a number of pieces for original art for sale by original Eagle artist Walkden Fisher. 

Fisher worked as a cutaway artist in Eagle, as a modelmaker for the Dan Dare strip and as a contributor to Eagle - for instance a 12-part series on 'Running a model railway' (08/09/20-24/11/50) - to the Eagle annuals (#3) and the spin-off books (Trains, Modern Wonders, Hobbies). His distinctive signature in the shape of a fish is instantly recognisable.

The art that is currently on offer seems to pre-date his work on Eagle being more 'naive' and without his trademark signature. I'm going to snaffle all the images from the seller and post them up on the blog in the coming weeks (so even if the items sell I'll have a record of these example of Fisher's art).

I've looked at other example of his art for sale here

These images are for sale here

2004 - charity deck of trump cards, part 2

I've previously looked at the great spin-off 'decks of cards' that Kev Sutherland put together for the comics festivals he ran in the early '00s. So far I've looked at... 

The (2001) hearts suit of cards is here
The (2001) diamonds suit of cards is here
The (2001) clubs suit of cards is here
The (2001) spades suit of cards is here

He then repeated the exercise in 2003... 
Part 1 of the 2003 deck of cards is here
Part 2 of the 2003 deck of cards is here
Part 3 of the 2003 deck of cards is here

And the 2003 London (winter) comics festival here
And then some extra items here
And then the cards from the 2003 London (winter) comics festival here
And then my first look at the 2004 charity deck of trump cards here

And now finally, a look at the remaining cards in the 2004 set - plus some original art. My thanks again to Simon Miller for his generosity in sharing these images with me.

UPDATED: Paul Temple library by Micron

In 1964 digest publisher Micron produced 10 issues of the 'Paul Temple library' reprinting newspapers strips from the Evening News. I own issues 1, 2 and 4 and the reprints are very scarce indeed. 

I've added in three new cover images (5, 7 & 8) and added titles to the missing volumes.

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 1 - Paul Temple and the magpie mystery

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 2 - Paul Temple and the gun runners

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 3 - Paul Temple and the nerve gas gang

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 4 - Paul Temple in Operation Shrike

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 5 - Paul Temple plays with fire

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 6 - Paul Temple meets his double

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 7 - Paul Temple and the safari mystery

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 8 - Paul Temple in the charge is murder!

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 9 - Paul Temple and the Q.40 mystery

image not to hand - can you help?

Paul Temple library (Micron) issue 10 - Paul Temple and the missing Van Gogh

image not to hand - can you help?

If you love Paul Temple why not head over to 'Bear Alley' (here) as Steve has reprinted a number of the strips.

You can also get (in German) some reprints from here

Trigan Empire volume 2 - details released

The Treasury Of British Comics have just revealed the cover to their 2nd volume of Trigan Empire reprints and what it will contain...cover by Liam Sharp 

On their website they say....

The second thrilling omnibus of the best-selling sci-fi classic from the 1960s!

Among the distant stars, fractious tribes come together to found a mighty empire that will wage war against aggressive kingdoms, battle alien invaders, and conceive of incredible new technologies. This extraordinary volume continues to chart the glorious Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire!

A landmark in British comics history, painted by the legendary Don Lawrence in stunning, classic style, and springing from the grandiose pen of Mike Butterworth, this is an epic tale that creates a new far-future science fiction mythos that captured the imagination of a generation. This is the second volume in the series collecting all of Lawrence’s work on The Trigan Empire, which is long out-of-print and difficult to find. 

Printed in large format to showcase the lush fully-painted colour artwork, this edition features an introduction from the Don Lawrence’s former apprentice, Chris Weston (The Twelve).

Stories included are:

- The Three Princes
- The Alien Dust
- The Lost City
- The Terror of Mount Spyx
- The Invisibility Ray
- The Ultimate weapon
- The Tyrant
- The Red Death
- The Puppet Emperor
- The Five Labours of Trigo
- The Brief Reign of Sennos the First

Collecting stories from Look & Learn 24th May 1968 – 7th November 1970 and the Ranger Book for Boys 1968

Orders placed between now and the 30th September for this version of the second volume of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire will guarantee a copy of this individually number hardcover. 

After the 30th September, there will only be a small number of copies left to order through the website. Orders will ship on the 4th December.

Football picture story monthly specials

I like Football picture story monthly - it's about football and at about 400 issues it's got to be an easier set to collect than Commando! 

Most people will probably be familiar with what it looks like...

But there are also 2 specials which are much harder to find (especially the first one, below) - I'm just recording them here so that we all know what comics are out there to collect

with thanks to friend of the blog Doug Brain for sharing the image above.

The 'easier' (ha!) to find special - from 1989

UPDATED: Swift comic merchandise

For those who aren't aware Swift was a companion title to the original Eagle - it was a 'feeder' title if you will - and in fact it eventually merged with Eagle. Launched on 20th March 1954 it ran until 2nd March 1963.

I look at Swift spin-off annuals here

UPDATED IMAGES have text in red (and are from friend of the blog Doug Brain)...

Swift comic 25 February 1961 (volume 8, issue 8) - I like the look of this scrapbook and would love to get hold of a copy)

I looked at the Quester's book here

Swift paintbox! 

Previously seen images...

Swift club membership card...

...and here are the club details...

...and details of a particular exhibition

All images taken from this eBay listing. I'd heard of these but not seen them before - unfortunately, I can't even tell you how many 'issues' of the Swift birthday book there were. So I swiped these from the seller and if I ever find out any more I'll add it in...

The second Swift Birthday Book

the seller noted...

This is A RARE VINTAGE 1957 RELATED TO SWIFT YOUNG CHILDREN'S COMIC - THE SECOND SWIFT BIRTHDAY BOOK OF PUZZLES COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL ENVELOPE SENT TO RECIPIENT FROM BINN'S ROAD LIVERPOOL.

Apart from rusty staples in fabulous clean and unused condition for a 63 year old booklet as it has been kept in a drawer in it's original envelope since receiving on 09.07.1957.

Compalcomics (part illustrated lot 107 in their Summer 2013 sale (British comics section)) with birthday book 3 & 4 (plus other items) for £181 (incl. buyers premium)

and then (lot 101, part illustrated) in their Autumn 2012 auction (British section) this lot went for £150

And then I thought I'd stay on the Compal website and look at what other interesting Swift items they might ever have sold...From the auction in Summer 2012 (British section, lot 88) there were Girl / Swift / Robin Birthday and Membership Cards & Badges (early 1950s) Girl; 2 Birthday Cards Club Membership Card Badge and Compliments slip Swift; 6 Birthday Cards Club Membership Card Club Badge and six envelopes Robin: 4 Birthday Cards Birthday Club card Club Badge and Happy Birthday postcard Birthday cards and Club cards [vfn] (26) Winning bid incl. 10 Buyer's Premium: £143

Over on 'Dan Dare info' (here) I've spotted an extra Swift birthday card

Lot 101 in the Spring 2010 (British section) is described thus...Swift (1954-56) Vol 1: 1-41 Full year missing issues 11 15 22 and 26; Vol 2: 1-53 complete year and Vol 3: 1-18. With 28pg Swift Quester's Books 1 2 and 3. Vol 1 issues 1-29 front/back cover split [fr/gd] balance 79 issues [vg/fn-] (111) Winning bid incl. 10% Buyer's Premium: £121. The lot is unillustrated so I can't tell you what the Swift Quester books are, but they sound intriguing.

And a Tarna the jungle boy birthday card

There are some Swift comic free gifts shown here

Swift jigsaws

There were a LOT of Dan Dare / Eagle pieces of merchandise, especially jigsaws so I figured there must be some Swift jigsaws out there - here's the only one I've found so far...