Dan Dare stationery

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

Dan Dare draughts here

Dan Dare transfers (1) here

Dan Dare transfers (2) here

Riders of the Range painting book here

Dan Dare models here

Silver Eagler here

Space-cup here

And now some lovely Dan Dare themed stationery - in lovely, lovely condition for its age

Fleetway Editions - Duck Tales

I'm filing this (for now) under the heading of 'comics I know nothing about'. I mean there are a LOT of Disney comics out there and I'm not going to try and start cataloging them all - it'd be a nightmare.

This on the other hand looks quite intriguing. '90 comics, high quality cover. It lasted at least 2 issues - the 2nd image below says that issue '2 will be on sale on 14th May 1992. The 3rd image below shows a copy of that 2nd issue so it definitely exists. Were there any further issues though?? Let's hope so. The 2nd image also tells us that this was published by Fleetway Editions.

Disney's Duck Tales, issue 1, 30th April - 12th May, 1992

Disney's Duck Tales, issue 2, 13th May - 27th May, 1992

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

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

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.

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

as ever...if you spot anything I've missed just let me know

Ian Gibson - Annie

This upcoming (on Monday 7th April 2025) auction lot here features 2 pages of Ian Gibson original comic artwork. The (DC branded) board is marked as "Annie book 4" and "Annie Droid #5, Shaddy's tale, Dispososbale hero 2" but I can't seem to find these comics listed anywhere online. Can any more knowledgeable Ian Gibson fans out there help me out??

Bidding starts at £60, good luck if you bid.

Overkill - covers gallery, part 7

I've long been curious about Marvel UK's Overkill title - how long did it run for? Cover artists? Contents? All that sort of stuff. As ever, the only way to satisfy my curiosity was to start with a covers gallery. 

Part 1 (issues 1-7) was here

Part 2 (issues 8-14) was here

Part 3 (issues 15-21) was here

Part 4 (issues 22-28) was here

Part 5 (issues 29-35) was here

Part 6 (issues 36-42) was here

Part 7 is below

Issue 44 marks the transition from being published every 14 days to being published every 28 days

Overkill, Marvel UK, issue #43, 15th December 1993, 99p, cover art by Carl Critchlow

Overkill, Marvel UK, issue #44, 12th January 1993, 99p, cover art by Edmund Perryman

Overkill, Marvel UK, issue #45, 9th February 1994, 99p, cover art by Edmund Perryman

Overkill, Marvel UK, issue #46, 9th March 1994, 99p, cover art by Cam Smith & Ian Brindle

Overkill, Marvel UK, issue #47, 6th April 1994, 99p, cover art by Pete Doherty

Eric Parker - life drawings (part 4 of 10) - NSFW!

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

And now we turn our attention to some of his life drawings...

The next 3 images all look like the same model to me