fun n' games comic - 1969/70

I've looked before (here) at the fun n' Games comic produced in association with supermarket chain Tesco. There was also this article by friend of the blog Jeremy Briggs.

Recently some further issues have come to my attention so I'm adding them to my covers gallery (below) for two reasons. 

Firstly, we now know that the title lasted to at least issue 51 - previously issue 38 was the highest known number.

Secondly, interestingly, we can now see that the name of the comic changed (from Tesco fun 'n games to fun 'n games) at some point between issue 11 and issue 26.

Still plenty of gaps in the covers gallery - do let me know if you can help with any other covers.

My thanks to Adam Teitge for cover images for issues 11, 26 & 51

Tesco fun 'n games comic issue 1

Tesco fun 'n games comic issue 5

Tesco fun 'n games comic issue 8

Tesco fun 'n games comic issue 9

Tesco fun 'n games comic issue 11

fun 'n games comic issue 26

fun 'n games comic issue 51

Beano characters 'In flight fun' with Airtours

I'm always delighted / intrigued to spot advertisers using comics as a medium and I spotted these two comics on ebay recently (so apologies for the quality of some of the images). I'd not come across 'In flight fun' before so I don't know if it just featured Beano characters in these 2 issues or even if there were any subsequent issues. Any help gladly received!

In flight fun (Airtours) - issue 1

In flight fun (Airtours) - issue 2

All other Beano references on the blog can be found here

UPDATED: Simon Bisley sketchbooks

An update (at the bottom of this post in red)...

I've looked at the sketchbooks of Simon Bisley before (here) and I see there are some new sketchbooks to buy, here they are...

This edition (limited run of 700 copies) is available here for $40 but hurry, there aren't many left

This version (limited edition of 150 copies) is available here for $50 but hurry, there aren't many left

This version (limited edition of 150 copies) is available here for $175 but hurry, there aren't many left

Previous Bisley sketchbooks...

Simon Bisley sketchbook - 2018, 64 pages, limited edition of 400 copies

Simon Bisley sketchbook - 2018, 64 pages, limited edition of 100 copies

There also seems to have been this version too...

Simon Bisley sketchbook - 2008, 32 pages, limited edition of 1000 copies

All previous mention of Simon's work can be found on the blog here

All sketchbooks can be found on the blog here

There were also a couple of Bisley 'scrapbooks' published as comics...

Contents are as follows:

Collects 3 stories and 5 pin ups by Simon Bisley. Virgin overlay variant cover. Glossy cardstock cover. Cover by Bisley. "Max Carnage," script by Dave Elliot, art by Bisley; Max Carnage attempts to help a woman and child who are stranded by a plane crash. Max Carnage cover reprint by Bisley. Maximum Force illustration by Bisley. Kyrn illustration by Bisley. "Kyrn," script by Paul Behrer, art by Simon Bisley; Kyrn the barbarian gains immortality so he can continue his war of revenge against the cities of the East; He fights Augur in his final battle. Corpse with No Name illustration by Bisley. "Once Upon a Time in the West," script by Alan Grant, art by Bisley; The Corpse with No Name rides into town and kills everyone only to discover he was in the wrong town. Hi Octane cover reprint by Bisley. 36 pgs., full color.

And here's a variant cover...

..which was used as the cover for this issue of Heavy Metal

For details of what War Machine is / was then just click here

UPDATED: Swift comic merchandise

For those who aren't aware Swift was a companion title to the original Eagle - it was a 'feeder' title if you will - and in fact it eventually merged with Eagle. Launched on 20th March 1954 it ran until 2nd March 1963

UPDATED TEXT IS IN RED...

This was a recent spot on eBay - described by the seller as being a piece of promotional merchandise for a newsagent

This was a recent spot on eBay - from 1959 according to the seller, 16 pages (all blank) to be filled with images cut (!) from weekly issues of Swift

and here's a lovely cardboard boomerang featuring the character Smiley!

I look at Swift spin-off annuals here

These are from friend of the blog Doug Brain...

Swift comic 25 February 1961 (volume 8, issue 8) - I like the look of this scrapbook and would love to get hold of a copy)

I looked at the Quester's book here

and there were some pin badges to be acquired too by the looks of it...

Swift paintbox! 

Previously seen images...

Swift club membership card...

...and here are the club details...

...and details of a particular exhibition

All images taken from this eBay listing. I'd heard of these but not seen them before - unfortunately, I can't even tell you how many 'issues' of the Swift birthday book there were. So I swiped these from the seller and if I ever find out any more I'll add it in...

The second Swift Birthday Book

the seller noted...

This is A RARE VINTAGE 1957 RELATED TO SWIFT YOUNG CHILDREN'S COMIC - THE SECOND SWIFT BIRTHDAY BOOK OF PUZZLES COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL ENVELOPE SENT TO RECIPIENT FROM BINN'S ROAD LIVERPOOL.

Apart from rusty staples in fabulous clean and unused condition for a 63 year old booklet as it has been kept in a drawer in it's original envelope since receiving on 09.07.1957.

Compalcomics (part illustrated lot 107 in their Summer 2013 sale (British comics section)) with birthday book 3 & 4 (plus other items) for £181 (incl. buyers premium)

and then (lot 101, part illustrated) in their Autumn 2012 auction (British section) this lot went for £150

And then I thought I'd stay on the Compal website and look at what other interesting Swift items they might ever have sold...From the auction in Summer 2012 (British section, lot 88) there were Girl / Swift / Robin Birthday and Membership Cards & Badges (early 1950s) Girl; 2 Birthday Cards Club Membership Card Badge and Compliments slip Swift; 6 Birthday Cards Club Membership Card Club Badge and six envelopes Robin: 4 Birthday Cards Birthday Club card Club Badge and Happy Birthday postcard Birthday cards and Club cards [vfn] (26) Winning bid incl. 10 Buyer's Premium: £143

Over on 'Dan Dare info' (here) I've spotted an extra Swift birthday card

Lot 101 in the Spring 2010 (British section) is described thus...Swift (1954-56) Vol 1: 1-41 Full year missing issues 11 15 22 and 26; Vol 2: 1-53 complete year and Vol 3: 1-18. With 28pg Swift Quester's Books 1 2 and 3. Vol 1 issues 1-29 front/back cover split [fr/gd] balance 79 issues [vg/fn-] (111) Winning bid incl. 10% Buyer's Premium: £121. The lot is unillustrated so I can't tell you what the Swift Quester books are, but they sound intriguing.

And a Tarna the jungle boy birthday card

There are some Swift comic free gifts shown here

Swift jigsaws

There were a LOT of Dan Dare / Eagle pieces of merchandise, especially jigsaws so I figured there must be some Swift jigsaws out there - here's the only one I've found so far...