Dan Dare spaceship kite

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

Dan Dare stationery here

Eagle cricket bat here

Dan Dare secret ink here

Dan Dare mask here

Not a great photo today I know (it was part of a job lot of Eagle stuff at The Saleroom and there was only one image, grrrr) BUT this is a rare item that I just couldn't let the opportunity pass me by to add it to this listing. The kite (plus a few Eagle annuals) sold for £25 (+ fees)

UPDATE: Bulldog Empire - Neill Cameron & Jason Cobley

I've now added (at the bottom of this post) more details about where you can find reprints of this strip...

After nearly 2,000 posts its seems hard to believe that I could have someone making their first appearance on the blog but it happens. In fact today we have two people on their blog debut - artist Neil 'Mega Robo Brothers' Cameron and author Jason Cobley.

They owe their appearance today to my recent purchase of these two comics from the estate of the friend of the blog, the much missed Colin Noble.

First up is Bulldog Empire #1 - this was produced in 2005 (priced at £2.95) and was a limited run of 200 copies. This particular copy is numbered 73. Cover (and interior) art is by Neill Cameron. Classic US comic size, black & white interior art, 32 pages (including covers). 

You get 20 pages of Bulldog empire and then 6 pages of Brittany Bell and her brilliant Bimech (by Neill Cameron & Stu Perrins). 

...it's a wraparound cover & here's the back 

Here's issue 2 (front cover), this is from 2006 and was a limited print run of 150 copies (of which this is numbered 4). £3.95 for 44 pages of comics (black & white art by Neill Cameron throughout)

and the rear cover

The cover of issue 2 was re-used as the cover to 'The mammoth book of best new manga' in 2006. In fact that book reprinted all the Bulldog Empire material that had appeared in the standalone comics.

Barney also tells me that there were 8 pages of Bulldog empire in Judge Dredd megazine #253 (cover dated 9th January 2007)

I've also discovered that Paragon #35 (from Davey Candlish) also featured the first 7 page strip from Bulldog Empire #1

I've recently been alerted (thanks ColinYNWA on the 2000AD forum) to the short-lived small press section in the back of Comics International magazine back in the day. This is from issue #164 (October 2003) and is a stand-alone episode of Captain Bulldog. 

UPDATED: The best of Real Ghostbusters, Marvel UK, 1990-91

I've looked at a variety of The Real Ghostbusters comics from Marvel UK before... 

Puzzlebuster is here

Collected comics is here

...and now we have the 5 issues run of The best of Real Ghostbusters

Seems like a tough run to collect, any help with missing images would be much appreciated.

Now updated with the covers for issue 3 & 5 (c/o friend of the blog Richard Gilham). These are all hard to get hold of.

The best of Real Ghostbusters, Marvel UK, issue #1, November 1990

image from here

The best of Real Ghostbusters, Marvel UK, issue #2, December 1990

image from here

The best of Real Ghostbusters, Marvel UK, issue #3, January 1991

The best of Real Ghostbusters, Marvel UK, issue #4, February 1991

image from here

The best of Real Ghostbusters, Marvel UK, issue #5, March 1991

Comic Cutz - the art of Barrie Mitchell (part 1)

The Barrie Mitchell exhibition that took place in Ryde in February 2026 had many highlights and a LOT of art. I tried to take photos of all the art but there was too much! Anyway, here's the start of a long series of posts all about the art that was there...

This is from the 1977 2000AD summer special...

Mandy Picture Library cover mystery

This is a recent acquisition and is a bit of a mystery to me. It appears to be the cover for a Mandy picture library. BUT I've looked at all 277 covers of Mandy picture library and this isn't one of them. Perhaps it was an idea for a cover that never got used??

I also notice the 4 girls and instinctively wonder if they are supposed to be 'The 4 Mary's except that they appeared in Bunty not Mandy. There are 10 Bunty picture library issues that feature 'The 4 Mary's' and this isn't the cover for any of them.

Like I say, it's a mystery. Further hypotheses welcome!

UPDATED: Get Along Gang - collected comics

One day there's a cover gallery to be done for Marvel UK's Get Along Gang comics. Today is not that day. There are 93 issues of the regular comic to collect and, the reason we're here today, at least 1 issue of "collected comics". Not sure which issues were collected or if there were further issues. Any assistance gratefully received.

Now updated with covers for the other 2 issues. With thanks to friend of the blog Richard Gilham. These are rare!

The special must have quite a few pages - compared to the regular comics it looks pretty chunky. Perfect bound rather than stapled.

Get along gang collected comics #2, Marvel UK, 55p

Get along gang collected comics #3, Marvel UK, 65p

Now update to include "The secret life of...Top Dog" which first appeared in Get Along Gang #11-14 . Not sure that there was ever a 2nd issue.

Get along gang weekly - covers gallery, part 1

I'm indebted to friend of the blog (and mad keen Marvel UK collector) Richard Gilham for taking the time to share these covers from his collection. Yes, it's the start of a Get along gang covers gallery! Marvel UK published 93 issues in total from April 1985 to January 1987.

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #1, 30p, 20th April 1985 

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #2, 30p, 27th April 1985

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #3, 30p, 4th May 1985

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #4, 30p, 11th May 1985

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #5, 30p, 18th Mayl 1985

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #6, 30p, 25th May 1985

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #7, 30p, 1st June 1985

Get along gang, Marvel UK, issue #8, 30p, 8th June 1985

Heroes! The British invasion of American comics - part 8

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 8 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

Part 6 was here

Part 7 was here

Colin Curly comics

A new one for me recently is these mini comics produced in association with Quavers crisps. I don;t know much about them but if YOU do then do get in touch, thanks!

Quavers promotional comic #1 - Whizzer and Chips

Quavers promotional comic #2 - Whizzer and Chips

image not to hand - can you help?

advert for Quavers promotional comic #3 & 4 - Buster

Quavers promotional comic #4 - Buster

and then there's this as well

Money Fun #1

A long time ago (here to be precise) I looked at the contributors to a rare advertising comic called "Money Fun!". It was masterminded by Denis Gifford and National Saings (Bank) and was produced in July 1982. 

Anyway, for posterity, I wanted to record the fact that the front cover for issue #1 of Money Fun is currently up for sale here for £225

It's described thus...

Original artwork by Jim Baikie for a National Savings advertising campaign that was published as Melvin's Money Fun comic in 1981. Only one other edition was published in 1982. On the artwork is a reference to Chas who was Charles Grigg (a famous comic illustrator) and also a reference to DG, probably a reference to Dennis Gifford an illustrator and author. Size 38 x 27cm (image) mounted and framed

The reference to Jim Baikie is in relation to the double page spread that Baikie produced for the interior of the comic. The original art for which sold recently here as lot 494 in the Peter Hansen auction of comics.

The reference to Charles Grigg is incorrect. The Chas in this case is Chas Sinclair.

For more details please see Denis Gifford's ACE Newsletter #38 (volume 4, number 5) dated Aug/Sep 1981...