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 vi). Martin Hamer is here vii). Colin Morgan is here
And now it's the turn of Alan Clark (his ebay shop is here)...
Here's his latest book...
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…
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!
