Super Naturals comic, issue 6 - part 2

Super Naturals comic, issue 6, 9th-22nd January 1988, published by Fleetway, more Massimo Belardinelli artwork

Marney the Fox - limited edition volume announced

Marney the Fox is currently available to pre-order on Amazon (here)

A GRIPPING STORY OF A YOUNG FOX’S STRUGGLE IN A HOSTILE WORLD!
When his mother is killed and his siblings taken by a farmer, Marney the fox cub finds himself left all alone in the beautiful yet deadly Devon countryside. From dodging blood-thirsty humans to encountering an array of wild animals, Marney must rely on all of his strength and cunning to survive.
This is a brilliantly constructed and complete story (collected here for the first time), showcasing the astonishing work of artist John Stokes and the glorious imagination of writer Scott Goodall.

or as the Amazon blurb has it....

Marney the Fox is a Lassie-style tale of a lone fox up against wicked humans via Watership Down and Fantastic Mr Fox.

But even more interesting/exciting is that there will also be 50 copies printed of a hardplate bookplate edition, including a numbered bookplate and art print, each signed by John Stokes.

You can buy that here

Carlos Ezquerra colouring book coming soon - no really

This is a real thing coming soon from the Millsverse website, what more is there to say? Should be on sale in a couple of weeks time, able to order through Amazon and some comics shops. Priced at £12.99

The queue for 'King' Carlos at 2000ad con, back in February

Striker volume 3 ready to order

Over on Strikerworld (here  to be precise) Pete Nash has announced that volume 3 of the Striker reprint archive collection is now ready to order.

He says...

Once again we will be printing to order, with only a few surplus copies, so be sure to order your copy early as there were many disappointed fans who missed out on Volume 2.

This book (volume 3, cover below) contains the last four years of hand-drawn Striker adventures before the switch to 3D computer-generated production at the start of 1999. And you can see a three-week experiment with the new style towards the end of the book.

This era also marked a transition in the tone of the Striker stories from drama to comedy drama - inspired by the larger-than-life character traits of Eric and his trophy wife Vanessa, who made their Striker debuts at the end of Volume 2.

As with all the volumes in the collection, there's an introduction by Striker creator Pete Nash, who recalls his memories and experiences from that era.

The price for Volume 3 has been kept at £25 including delivery, for an unsigned book or £30 including delivery for a signed copy. Overseas buyers should email Lucinda at admin@planetstriker.com for prices.

We are aiming to despatch the books around the end of September.

He also says...
For those of you who missed out on Volume 2, we are considering printing a second edition if there is sufficient demand. Email Lucinda at admin@planetstriker.com if you would like to go on the waiting list).

Striker volume 1...

Super Naturals comic, issue 6 - part 1

Super Natural comic, issue 6, dated 9th-22nd January 1988, art by Massimo Belardinelli

Wildcat - issue 12 - last issue!

The final issue of Wildcat (issue 12) arrived cover-dated March 25th-April 7th 1989, cover by Vanyo

Here's that 'great news for all readers' advert

An advert for the rare 'Spinechillers' summer special

Carlos Pino finally arrives in Wildcat, just in time for it close

Complete contents is as follows

Cover by Vanyo

Turbo Jones illustrated by Vanyo, writer unknown

Joe Alien illustrated by Ron Smith, writer unknown

Kitten Magee illustrated by Jose Ortiz, writer unknown

Loner illustrated by David Pugh, writer unknown

Wildcat complete [one-off strip] by Carlos Pino, writer unknown

Biggles - part 2

1981 also saw the publication of Bjorn Karlstrom's last contribution to the series, Biggles and the menace from space

1983 saw a new writer/artist on board for Biggles in the Kalahari - Stig Stjernvik...

...as you can see the cartoony style is not much different to what has come before

The last volume, Biggles and the Gibraltar bomb, is almost as hard to acquire as the first (expect to pay £30+) - as this was published in 1984 (and is about German bombs) no link to the 1988 death of 3 IRA members should be inferred - but I wonder of the high price for this volume is because some people assume that the title infers some sort of link?

All in all, 6 volumes that form an often overlooked contribution to the Swedes to UK comics!

Biggles - part 1

The 1970s and '80s saw a selection of Swedish (!) originated adventures of Captain W.E. John's immortal hero Biggles reach these shores, to celebrate completing the set I thought I'd share scans of them with you

From 1978, the first (and most expensive volume to acquire these days - prices start at about £30) story....

Also from 1978...

There's then a break in publication until 1981 when this volume appears

In all cases text and (fairly straightforward, cartoony) illustrations are by Bjorn Karlstrom and the translation is by Peter James

Wildcat - issue 11

It's another  Jose Ortiz cover for issue 11 of Wildcat

Vanyo is still going strong on Turbo Jones

Hmm, the "very special news" is a modern variant of the "great news for all readers" tag-line of yeteryear

Pin up by Vanyo

Complete line-up is as follows
Cover by Jose Artiz
Kitten Magee illustrated by Jose Ortiz, writer unknown
Joe Alien illustrated by Ron Smith, writer unknown
Loner illustrated by David Pugh, writer unknown
Turbo Jones illustrated by Vanyo, writer unknown
Wildcat complete [one-off strip] illustrated by Redondo, writer unknown

More humour art for sale

Continuing my trawl through the Book Palace website (here) for humour comic art of my childhood I stumble across these old friends...

http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_HansonBM6-6-87p1.html#SID=805
No matter how hard the Bumpkin Billionaires try to give away, spend or lose their huge football pools winnings, they always end up at least as rich if not more so by the end of the story.

The Bumpkin Billionaires was a British humorous comic strip which ran from 1974 until 2000. It was drawn by Mike Lacey throughout except for the last few years in Whizzer and Chips by Jim Hanson.

This TWO PAGE episode was published in Whizzer and Chips 6th June 1987 and is your for £125.

http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_HansonBB001.html#SID=805
Two pages of the original art. A complete two page episode of this hilarious comic strip which appeared in the Buster comic in 1986. £125

http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_BaveSS180787.html#SID=105
One page gag cartoon strip by Terry Bave, Sammy Shrink which appeared in Whizzer and Chips, 18th July 1987. £50.

http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_PatersonGapp1.html#SID=673
Our hysterical rapper get's more than he bargained for when he gets a part-time job in a bakery.

One page gag cartoon that appeared in Whizzer and Chips 17th September 1988. Note the art was cut in two between 2nd and 3rd row of panels in order to make it easier to post when the artist mailed it to the publisher. £95.

Wildcat - issue 10

Wildcat issue 10, cover by Ian Kennedy

Ron Smith continues to stamp his artistic authority on Joe Alien

Joan Boix contributes the one-off strip

David Pugh provides the art teaser for the next issue

Complete contents is as follows
cover by Ian Kennedy
Turbo Jones illustrated by Vanyo, writer unknown
Joe Alien illustrated by Ron Smith, writer unknown
Kitten Magee illustrated by Jose Ortiz, writer unknown
Loner illustrated by David Pugh, writer unknown
Earth 2 [one off strip] illustrated by Joan Boix, writer unknown

Reg Parlett art for sale

Following on from my post yesterday I see that the Book Palace are also selling lots of Reg Parlett artwork here. Here's a selection of what's on offer...

Lots of Creepy Comic art for sale - all at £60




Also Beastenders pages - £75 for a single page; £125 for a double page spread

Fright School is £75 per page

Ivor Lott and Tony Broke double page spreads for £95



2 new Dan Dare reprints from Titan Books

Titan Books printing of the Dan dare story 'Mission on the Earthmen' is scheduled (it says on Amazon) for 14th November

160 pages for £29.99 (eek!) for a story which...
Whilst on a mission to explore a distant galaxy, Dan and Digby set out in a scout ship and are forced to crash land on the planet Zyl by a race of scientifically advanced beings called the Zylans. They are currently at war with the inhabitants of the planet Vort, a war-like, barbarian race and need warriors to help them defeat their enemies. Their choice of Dare and Digby brings a most unexpected conclusion to their plans of planter domination.

In addition to this I have also noticed on Amazon, this link to their next reprint volume...Earth Stealers. This suggests that the 'Mission of the Earthman' should contain...
Mission of the earthman (volume 11 issue 29-52)
Solid space mystery (volume 11, issue 53 to volume 12 to issue 23)
Platinum planet (volume 12 issue 24-47)
That's a total of 71 issues which is 142 pages plus an intro and an Eagle annual reprint - that'll get you to 160 pages.

Earth Stealesr is due for release on 24th April 2018 - 160 pages for £29.99
If it's got 160 pages that's mean it would have to include something like...
The Earthstealers (12/48 to 13/9)
Operation Earth-saver (13/10 to 13/23)
The evil one (13/24 to 13/32)
Operation fireball (13/33 to 13/42)
Web of fear (13/43 to 13/52)
Operation dark star (14/1 to 14/9)


No cover images is yet available.

Amazon text stays...
Dan Dare and Digby, awaken, after an unknown number of years, from deep-space hibernation to find themselves lost and adrift in an unknown region and orbiting a mysterious planet, seemingly made of platinum. Now our two plucky heroes must free an enslaved race of aliens and fight to return to their home world, although what they discover there remains a terrible mystery...

Sid Burgon work for sale!

The Illustration Art Gallery (here) have, this month, branched out into some very reasonably priced humour comic artwork that I thought I'd share here...

http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_BurgonIL1.html#SID=92Complete Two Page comedy story. Original pen and ink art for the comic strip Ivor Lott & Tony Broke as it appeared in Buster comic 17th October 1987. 2 pages for (in total) for £125.

http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_BurgonRT171087.html#SID=92
Single page humour strip by Sid Burgon. One page gag Roys Toys as it appeared in Buster comics 17th October 1987. Yours for £75.

http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/info_BurgonSFPool.html#SID=92
Original pen and ink art for the comic strip School Funds as it appeared in Buster comic 25th June 1988. Your for £60.

Wildcat - issue 9

Vanyo provides the cover for issue 9

Jose Ortiz is the pin-up artist this week...

Ron Smith continues his work on Joe Alien

Josep Gaul proving that it's just not Jose Ortiz who can raunch his way through a boys comic strip...

Complete strip listing is as follows:
Cover by Vanyo
Kitten Magee illustrated by Jose Ortiz, writer unknown
Joe Alien illustrated by Ron Smith, writer unknown
Loner illustrated by David Pugh, writer unknown
Turbo Jones illustrated by Vanyo, writer unknown
Chirpers [one-off strip] by Josep Gaul, writer unknown