UPDATED: Fantastic Max - 1990 - Marvel & Redan

This was a comic I hadn't come across before until very recently. I like the look of the covers more than the interior work but there you go. The copyright notice state that this is published by Marvel Comics Ltd in association with The Redan company and that's about all I know about it.

At least 13 issues, if you know any more do let me know, thanks!

UPDATE: now with a cover for issue #3 included

Fantastic Max, issue 1, 13th October 1990, 50p

Fantastic Max, issue 2, 27th October 1990, 50p

image not to hand - can you help?

Fantastic Max, issue 3, 10th November 1990, 50p

image from this ebay sale

Fantastic Max, issue 4, 24th November 1990, 50p

image not to hand - can you help?

Fantastic Max, issue 5, 8th December 1990, 50p

image not to hand - can you help?

Fantastic Max, issue 6, 22nd December 1990, 50p

...and then at some point it becomes a month title (rather than fortnightly) and the price goes up to 75p (from 55p)

There was also a Spring Special - the advert is taken from a 1992 Superted Spring Special - and says out now so I think we can safely assume this was published.

UPDATED: (Carl) Giles calendars

If you're interested in comic calendars then you can check out my previous posts on the subject...

1). Beano & Dandy calendars are here
2). Commando calendars are here
3). Judge Dredd calendars are here
4). Broons calendars are here, here and here
5). Oor Wullie is here
6). Dan Dare calendar is here
7). Miscellaneous calendars are here

8). Viz calendars are here

9). Metal Hurlant here

10). Moebius calendar are here

11). Asterix calendars are here

12). Tintin calendars are here

13). Blacksad calendars are here

And now it's the turn of (Carl) Giles and some calendars that were produced. If you know of any more that were produced do just let me know, thanks! 

Now updated (see below) with calendars for 2004 & 2005

Giles calendar, 1999

Giles calendar, 2000

Giles calendar, 2001

Giles calendar, 2002

Giles calendar, 2003

Giles calendar, 2004

Giles calendar, 2005

Neill Cameron - recent books to collect

One for all us Neill Cameron collectors out there, here's what you're looking for in his Mega Robo Bros series. Plus this'll help me keep track of which volumes I've acquired so far...

• Power Up
• Double Threat
• Robot Revenge
• Meltdown
• Next Level [got!]
• Carnival Crisis
• Nemesis
• Final Form [got!]

His wikipedia page (here) also helpfully points out that the first 4 volumes had been published in a different format before the (above) volumes came out...

• Power Up (Previously published as Mega Robo Bros (2016, David Fickling Books, ISBN 978-1-910200-83-4))
• Double Threat (Previously published as Mega Robo Rumble (2017, David Fickling Books, ISBN 978-1-910989-81-4))
• Robot Revenge (Previously published in Mega Robo Revenge (2019, David Fickling Books, ISBN 978-1-788450-90-4))
• Meltdown (Previously published in Mega Robo Revenge (2019, David Fickling Books, ISBN 978-1-788450-90-4))

You could also look out for these Waterstones exclusive version of his two latest books...

The exclusive edition has the following ISBN 9781788454087
what makes it exclusive is that it came free with bonus Donut Squad sticker sheet

The standard edition has the following ISBN 9781788453585

The exclusive edition has the following ISBN 9781788453752
what makes it exclusive is that it came free with bonus Donut Squad sticker sheet

The standard edition has the following ISBN 9781788453400

Sleeze Brothers - Epic comics

I've looked before (here) at the very obscure World of Wym title that was published in 1990. Somehow at the time I forgot to mention the title which the Wym creators are most famous for - yes it's the Sleeze Brothers. A loving nod to the blues brothers? I think so. Lots of scifi silliness here, well worth checking out.

All for sale right here (& in other places too but this is where I got most of the images from)

Sleeze Brothers, Epic comics, issue #1, 65p, 22 pages, June 1989

Sleeze Brothers, Epic comics, issue #2, 65p, 22 pages, July 1989

Sleeze Brothers, Epic comics, issue #3, 65p, 22 pages, August 1989

Sleeze Brothers, Epic comics, issue #4, 65p, 22 pages, September 1989

Sleeze Brothers, Epic comics, issue #5, 65p, 22 pages, October 1989

Sleeze Brothers, Epic comics, issue #6, 65p, 22 pages, November 1989

Sleeze Brothers, Epic comics, 48 pages, £2.10

UPDATED: Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures

Now updated with a copy of the cover for issue #4

I own issues 1 & 2

I've updated this post on new information - all updates in fuchsia - last updated 19th October 2021.

I've looked before at comics from Titan Comics (here) and I wanted to look at another title I know very little about, published by Titan Magazines. Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures ran in 1996/7. Six issues were definitely released, and up to nine were advertised.

The title reprinted strip material previously published by Dark Horse Comics as The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest, based on the animated updated version of the 1960s original show. That series ran for twelve issues and three specials, but Titan’s title did not run the course due to disappointing sales, the TV series not proving a success in the UK.

Titan's issues were not, as noted on the Jonny Quest Fandom Wiki here, a direct re-release of the Dark Horse versions, and they released the stories in different order. For instance, the Dark Horse issues #1-4 included the story "Net of Chaos" in four chapters, while the Titan  Magazines issues 3 and 6 (and presumably issues 4 and 5) include chapters of this story. The story "Hell on Earth: The Movie" was in Dark Horse issue #7, but Titan issue 3 includes this story instead.

One of the feature writers was "Paul Travers", a pseudonym for editor John Freeman. 

The Dark Horse comic strip editor throughout was Phil Amara.

 

So, without further ado, here's my covers gallery. As ever, there are a few gaps, so if you can help out do let me know.

Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures, Titan Magazines, Issue 1, October 1996

Includes a toy figure - one of the Jonny Quest team - as a free gift, which seems to have varied. 

Cover by Alex Nino

“Surd in the Machine” by Shaun McLaughlin with art by Jim Hall

“Message from Mars” by Michael Ryan with art by Roger Petersen 

A profile of Surd, also features, along with an introduction to the JQ core team.

Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures, Titan Magazines, Issue 2, December 1996

Cover Artist: Unknown

Strip: “Countdown to Chaos” by Shaun McLaughlin, pencilled by Dean Zachary, inked by Shepherd Hendrix, coloured by Kell-O

Plus a profile of Ezekiel Rage, a guide to Quest Mansion, and a pullout A3 poster

Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures, Titan Magazines, Issue 3, January 1997

Cover Artist: Unknown

"Hell on Earth, The Movie" by by Shaun McLaughlin, art by Ron Randall

"Net of Chaos" Part One by Kate Worley, pencilled by Francisco Solano Lopez, inked by Andrew Pepoy (mis-spelt as "Andrew Pepay"), coloured by James Sinclair, lettered by Tracey Hampton-Munsey

Includes stickers as a free gift and a profile of Questworld and Doctor Zin.

Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures, Titan Magazines, Issue 4, February 1997

"Net of Chaos" Part Two by Kate Worley, pencilled by Francisco Solano Lopez, inked by Andrew Pepoy, coloured by James Sinclair, lettered by Tracey Hampton-Munsey

Includes trading cards as a free gift. 

Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures, Titan Magazines, Issue 5, March 1997

“The Eyes of Rapa Nui” by Kate Worley, pencilled by Francisco Solano Lopez

"Net of Chaos" Part Three by Kate Worley, pencilled by Francisco Solano Lopez, inked by Andrew Pepoy (Pages 19 -24), coloured by James Sinclair, lettered by Tracey Hampton-Munsey

This issue includes a profile of the Quest Submersibles and a JQ mini-poster.

Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures, Titan Magazines, Issue  6, April 1997

Cover by Francisco Solano Lopez

“The Eyes of Rapa Nui” by Kate Worley, pencilled by Francisco Solano Lopez

“An Infinite Memory” by Shaun McLaughlin, pencilled by Ron Randall

"Net of Chaos" Part Four by Kate Worley, pencilled by Francisco Solano Lopez, coloured by James Sinclair, lettered by Tracey Hampton-Munsey

I've now looked at the British Library catalogue for this comic and it has it lasting only six issues. I'll therefore discount the existence of issues 7-9 (despite issue 9 being solicited in issue #82 (June 1997) of Comics International).

There’s some background on Jonny Quest - The Real Adventures show here on the Classic Jonny Quest fan site

Heroes! The British invasion of American comics - part 6

Recently (ish!) finished at the Cartoon Museum (here) was their exhibition 'Heroes! The British invasion of American comics'. 

For anyone who couldn't make it here's part 6 of my look at what you missed...

Part 1 was here

Part 2 was here

Part 3 was here

Part 4 was here

Part 5 was here

London cartoon centre benefit comic - "Cash"

Here's a bit of London comics history for you..."Cash" a benefit comic for the London Cartoon Centre. As this is #1, I'm guessing either there were 2 more issues or there were 2 other one-off comics. Any information welcomed.

Tank Girl merch

Just some of the ace Tank Girl merchandise that's currently on sale at the Cartoon Museum - supporting "The future was then" exhibition (which runs until Saturday 21st March 2026).