Boys Adventure Comics

11 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 9

So here we go with the penultimate issue...
Cover is again by Will Simpson (his signature is hiding behind the A in 'breaks')

And the we're straight into the first story, "Peril in the Pacific" - the art style is unfamiliar (so no Tom Perkins or Michael Slattery) - which is odd because they've provided so much of the original material for Centurions so far

But then I just happened to glance at the first panel and I notice that, strangely, there is some graffiti on the building, here's a bigger scan...

So, then I start to consider who would write "McCrea" on this building? Only the artist presumably and the only famous artist, I know, called "McCrea" is John 'Hitman' McCrea. So I check out his Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrea_(comics)) which says very vaguely... In 1989, after a few years of drawing television and toy tie-ins, he illustrated [Garth] Ennis's debut, the political series Troubled Souls, in Crisis, as well as its sequel, the farce For a Few Troubles More.

Hmmm, so Centurions #9 came out in January 1988 so maybe it is him, so then I google him and drop him an e-mail late on a Friday night. Gent that he is, he comes back almost straight away, and says "...yes that is my work, probably one of my first jobs, and had to be done quickly...I think I had 2 days to do it...and they pasted generic heads over all the main characters, which was a valuable introduction to the world of freelance art.... Only ever did that one story....". So there you have it then Centurions #9 contains John McCrea's first ever professional work.

And after that diversion we're back to a US reprint "Restoration"

Then Tim Perkins joins in...

Another US reprint strip...The enemy within

Before we get to what looks like a draft for the cover of the next issue (sadly it won't be used as the cover for issue 10).

10 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 8

From issue 8 we again have a diverse selection of artists...
Cover is by Will Simpson (his signature is hiding (again) on an ankle rocket)

'Time Trap' is by Tim Perkins (signature just visible in the bottom of frame one)

Then 'Forecast' is by Steve Ditko. I'll say that again, Steve Ditko. I can't think of any other independent British comic that featured his art. It's only 3 pages, but there you go.

Next up is Michael Slattery's contribution to the issue

Then we have the unattributed 'Arctic attack' - update 01/07/19...Tim Perkins has left a comment saying that this is his work

And all rounded off by 'The Monsters' by Michael Fleisher.

9 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 7

After all the British talent in issue 6 there is an enviable array of reprint talent in this issue...
Looks like another Will Simpson cover to me (although I can't see a signature anywhere)

Michael Slattery (artist on this title) has advised that this is by Tim Perkins

Unbelievably, Joe Kubert then gets 3 pages of his art in...this is from 1980 and I'm amazed to see it, I can't think of any other independent British comic to ever feature his art. If I'm wrong please let me know :)

'Life in outer space' is written by the legendary Marv Wolfman, again I can't think of any other independent British comic to ever feature his work, If I'm wrong please let me know :)

Art by Michael Slattery (albeit unsigned)

And then just to round things off we get some Brian Bolland art! This is from 'Mystery in Space' 1980-81. So unexpected to find this here.

8 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 6

Issue 6 and the US reprints are missing in action this issue as we get all British, all new art.

Cover is by Will 'Game of Thrones' Simpson (look for his distinctive signature hiding on the ankle rocket for the character falling backwards).

First strip is uncredited

'Fight of the century' art is by Tim Perkins

Don't open the door, whatever you don don't open the door. You opened the door didn't you? Big Stee wouldn't like that.

'Terror takes control' is unsigned but the style is distinctive of Michael Slattery (who has contributed to previous issues).

7 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 5

From September 1987 we have issue 5 of Centurions Power Xtreme monthly.
Cover is again by Will Simpson (signature sneaked onto the flying art carapace, halfway down the extreme left hand side of the cover).

First story is reprinted from issue 4 of the DC comics mini-series.

DC comics issue 4 cover

As you can see the story was called 'Counterfeit' in the UK and 'Double cross' in the USA. Art, as ever, is by Don Heck.

Second story is original British material, it's 5 pages long and uncredited but the art is by M Slattery (last see in issue 3) and his watercolour palette.

Back page ad for toys.

6 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 4

From August 1987 comes Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 4. Cover art is uncredited (but looks like Will Simpson)

First story is original material - art is uncredited but could be Will Simpson

Second story is a straight reprint from the US Centurions comic (issue 3)

Here are the Centurions embarking on an adventure on a volcanic island

Art by Don Heck

5 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 3

Issue 3 of Centurions Power Xtreme monthly (July 1987) features a unique wraparound cover (art by Will 'Game of thrones' Simpson).

First story is entitled 'Menace on the moon', art is by M Slattery - and the quality has definitely gone up a notch from issue 1 (although it's still not brilliant)

Second story is called 'Seeing is not believing' and is reprinted straight from the DC comics mini-series (issue 2). Art is by Don Heck & Al Vey.

4 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 2

The quality goes up a notch for issue 2...
Cover is unsigned but looks like the work of Will "Games of thrones" Simpson [I say this because he's going to be contributing a number of covers in the coming days], first story has art by him as well and the 2nd story is a US reprint. Overall? Brit involvement down but quality up.

Will Simpson signature visible bottom right

US reprint - art by Don Heck

DC comics mini-series issue 1 (from which Time Bomb is reprinted)

3 January 2017

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 1

So from 1987 we have issue 1 of "Centurions Power Xtreme monthly" - it lasted 10 issues in all (so that's the next 10 blog postings covered then) and had an incredible variety of artists "contribute" to it. I say "contribute" I mean have their (US) work reprinted in it.
Anyway, we'll get onto that, first up is issue 1. All home grown art by the looks of it (none of it is signed or very good I'm afraid). Stories are as follows:
Space snatch!
Rogue
Scorpio down

Cover

Example of art quality and the low standard of colouring used (if you ever wondered what an inker did, this comic isn't for you, this is just colouring in with felt-tips, sorry)

On the plus side though there is a mammoth which has been rescued from the tundra, stolen and turned into a cyborg (that can fire lasers from his eyes)