Tiny Tots poster

A lovely promotional poster (for a newsagent) for Tiny Tots comic. On sale from that finder of rare comics items the-lewes-bookshelf

UPDATED: Wonder weekly comic from Esso

For anyone who loves, like I do, collecting advertising comics then Wonder weekly from Esso is a must. The exact length of time that it ran for is unclear - the Complete catalogue of British comics (page 220) has it down as running for 52 issues but I've yet to see any issues numbered higher than 25.

Wonder was 16 pages long (4 in full colour) and was professionally produced with high quality artists on each strip. The lead strip is 'Wonder boy and tiger' and the other strip in colour is 'Hovercraft patrol' illustrated by Luis Bermejo. 

As a starter for 10 here's my guide to what Wonder looked like - I've got most of the issues up to issue 25 but not all of them so if you can help fill in any of the gaps just let me know.

Lew Stringer covered Wonder on his old blog here and here   

Today's update is the letter from Esso to Denis Gifford informing him that Wonder ran for 52 issues with the first issue being published on 5th July 1968. The editor was Roberta Leigh.

I've still yet to see any issues numbered higher than 25 but there you go, Esso tell us they're out there.

Today's update is an addition of the cover for issue #6

This now means I'm just missing cover images for issues 19, 22, 23 & 25+

I need issues...1, 19, 22, 23, 25 (and anything higher) 

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 1

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 2

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 3

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 4

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 5

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 6

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 7

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 8

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 9

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 10

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 11

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 12

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 13

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 14

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 15

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 16

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 17

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 18


Wonder comic from Esso, issue 19
cover not to hand

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 20

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 21

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 22
cover not to hand

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 23
cover not to hand

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 24

Wonder comic from Esso, issue 25

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...

UPDATED: Nostalgia & Comics

My post the other day about the adverts for Dark they were and golden eyed (here) made me think about comics advertising for other shops...and then boom! this pops up on eBay. 

It's for sale here and is Trevor Goring's original artwork for  Birmingham's Nostalgia & Comics shop. I'd love to see other adverts for the shop.

Update (Mar 2026) I recently came across this advert in Escape #15 (May 1989). I'm assuming the signature 'Ormston' is that of comics artist Dean Ormston.

Update: the last post produced further examples of adverts so I'm just adding them to the post...

Lew Stringer sent me this

this was also c/o Lew

as was this - the first mention of the shop (in Comic Media News)

this was from Mark Warby

Update: friend of the blog Sam Farnworth has provided this image by artist Simon Parkes. Thanks! Plus I've found a Hunt Emerson advert.

this advert is taken from Alter Image #4 (November 1987)

Mega Mag - an incomplete history

I looked here at Clarks Mega Mag #2

I looked here at Clarks Mega Mag #4

and now (hidden away on an ebay listing) I've spotted this...yes it's the cover to Mega Mag #1

Interestingly you can't quite see if it's branded as Clarks (in the top left corner) but we can be pretty sure it IS from Clarks as the red banner in the bottom right says "Free! When you purchase any Clarks childrens shoes" - else 40p

Anyone spotted a cover to issue #3 yet?

UPDATED: Nostalgia & Comics

My post the other day about the adverts for Dark they were and golden eyed (here) made me think about comics advertising for other shops...and then boom! this pops up on eBay. 

It's for sale here and is Trevor Goring's original artwork for  Birmingham's Nostalgia & Comics shop. I'd love to see other adverts for the shop.

Update: the last post produced further examples of adverts so I'm just adding them to the post...

Lew Stringer sent me this

this was also c/o Lew

as was this - the first mention of the shop (in Comic Media News)

this was from Mark Warby

Update: friend of the blog Sam Farnworth has provided this image by artist Simon Parkes. Thanks! Plus I've found a Hunt Emerson advert.

this advert is taken from Alter Image #4 (November 1987)