Catawiki auction - bidding now open

The latest Catawiki auction is now open for bidding - some lovely pages as ever...bidding ends on Thursday night (31st March)

This Don Lawrence Trigan Empire page from 1968's 'The three princes' story

This Bill Lacey page from Eagles over the western front 

This Julio Schiaffino piece of Hotshot Hamish art from a Dutch (?) comic strip

This Edward Kearon Robot Archie page from 1967's 'The crystal leopard'

This Modesty Blaise strip by Romero

Dredd @45 - the Cartoon Musuem

There's a month to go before the Dredd @45 exhibition closes at the Cartoon Museum - I picked up these postcards while I was there...

Judge Dredd by Tom Foster

Judge Dredd by Brett Ewins

Judge Dredd by Ron Smith

Judge Dredd by John M Burns

Judge Dredd by Greg Staples

The Tom Foster, John M Burns and Brett Ewins images are also available as fridge magnets.

Catawiki auction - closes 24th March 2022

Just a reminder that bidding closes tonight on these lots...

The latest Catawiki auction is now open for bids. As ever I've selected the (British) comic art highlights, bidding closes on Thursday (24th March) evening..

First up is this Don Lawrence page of Trigan Empire artwork from the 1967 story 'The revolt of the Lokans' 

This Bill Lacey page from 'Eagles over the western front' (1964)

This 'Robot Archie' page by Edward Kearon from a 1968 issue of Lion

This Reg Bunn page of 'Zip Nolan' art (from a1963 issue of Lion)

This Don Lawrence Trigan Empire page (from 1973's 'The outlaw planet')

Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran: Chivalry

This is tonight - Still time to book tickets!

The Guardian have announced a talk with Neil Gaiman and colleen Doran talking about their new title Chivalry. Tickets are available here and the details are as follows...

Wednesday 23 March 2022, 8pm–9pm GMT
£7 plus £0.87 booking fee
Partners/Patrons save £3.77 (43% off and no fees)
This ticket will give you access to the livestream event and the on-demand recording which will be available in the days following.

Award-winning writer and illustrator duo Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran will introduce their new graphic novel, Chivalry.

Chivalry is an adaptation of a short story by Neil Gaiman, in which an elderly widow, Mrs Whitaker, unknowingly buys the Holy Grail in a charity shop - an event that launches her into an epic world of adventure with a handsome young knight who goes by the name of Galaad. In a collaboration that brings to life illustrative styles from the Golden Age, and taking influence from the Illuminated Manuscripts, Chivalry is a charming and witty tale about taking risks, and finding friendship in unlikely places.

Gaiman is the creator of over 30 books for adults and children, including internationally-acclaimed bestsellers Coraline and Stardust, and American Gods. He wrote Good Omens with Terry Pratchett, which he recently adapted for a TV miniseries.

Colleen Doran is a cartoonist, illustrator and writer who has produced work for Marvel, DC Comics and many others; including illustrations for Stan Lee’s autobiography, Amazing Fantastic Incredible.

Gaiman and Doran have worked together previously on American Gods, The Sandman, Lucifer and the Eisner-winning Snow, Glass, Apples. They will talk to Claire Armitstead about their new work, the art of the graphic novel, and their many collaborations. They will also be answering your questions in this livestreamed event.

Running time: 60 minutes

This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform. You will receive a link to join the event in the week prior to the event.

Closed captions will be available for this event.

If you live in the United Kingdom, you can purchase a ticket with a copy of Chivalry at checkout for a special combined price of £19 (RRP £14.99). Books will be dispatched on publication date, 2nd March 2022.

This event is being streamed globally.

8pm GMT | 9pm CET | 1pm PST | 4pm EDT

Or see this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

If you are unable to join at the time of streaming, this event will be available to watch on demand in the days following. A link to the recording will be sent to all ticket holders.

All other mentions of Neil on this blog can be found here

UPDATED: Gargoyles - Titan comics

I've looked before at comics from Titan comics (here) and I wanted to look at another title I know very little about. Gargoyles ran in 1996/7 for, I think, a maximum of 10 issues (see below for more details).

So, without further ado, here's my covers gallery. As ever, there are a few gaps so if you can help out do let me know.

New addition to this post is the addition of the issue #5 & issue #7 cover

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 1, November 1996

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 2, December 1996

Here's an advert for issue #2 (from the pages of Jonny Quest - the real adventures - issue 2).

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 3, January 1997 [on the right]

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 4, February 1997

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 5, March 1997

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 6, April 1997

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 7, May 1997

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 8, June 1997

image not to hand - can you help?

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 9, July 1997

image not to hand - can you help?

Gargoyles comic, Titan comics, issue 10, August 1997

image not to hand - can you help?

I note that issue #82 (June 1997) of Comics International lists issue #10 in the 'Advance listings' section but in issue #83 (July 1997) Gargoyles is listed as cancelled. I'm therefore assuming it could run until issue 10 but, of course, just because a title has been solicited doesn't mean it's been printed.

Ideal Action comic

A rare toy tie-in comic here "Ideal action comic" - art looks to me like it's by Paul Cemmick (who I know from illustrating the Maid Marian and her merry men books). This seems quite a scarce title and attracts a premium - good luck hunting down a copy!

UPDATED: Colin Maxwell for Commando

To celebrate the announcement from publisher DC Thomson that Colin Maxwell will be writing another issue of Commando I thought it was about time I got a guide together for what he's written for Commando so far...

Commando 5371, published by DC Thomson 29th September 2020

Five soldiers seek refuge from a storm, looking for a place safe and warm.

Four lay down to rest that night, none are ready for the fight.

Three wake to find another gone. Will any of them survive till dawn?

Commando 5413, published by DC Thomson 16th February 2021

Polish Sergeant Jakub Leszczuk is one of the last men defending Lwow in 1939, but as the Russian tanks roll in, his unit rescues a small puppy called Rebus from a collapsed building.

It isn’t long before Rebus becomes far more than a lucky mascot for the escaping soldiers! As they retrain for the parachute regiments in Britain, Rebus’s desire to please and talent for tricks finds him with Leszczuk behind enemy lines in Italy before prepping the ground for D-Day, as this pair of underdogs help turn the tide on the Nazi war machine!

Commando 5433, published by DC Thomson 27th April 2021

Five men found The Dead Man’s Chest,
Hidden in a cave on an island in the sea,
One saw the riches and turned against the rest,
And decided the treasure was only for he.

But away they went to war in the sands,
And the treasure laid forgotten by the five,
As one by one they died by someone’s hands,
Till there was nought but one man left alive.

Commando 5475, published by DC Thomson September 28th 2021

The ORP Tygrys, or Tiger, was a Polish submarine outclassed by Poland’s modern subs, but its Commander, Leopold Swirski, was proud of the ship and his crew. Then September 1st, 1939 came, the Tiger bared its teeth and growled at the invading Nazi hordes. The sub fought tooth and nail to protect its homeland but took too much damage. Licking its wounds, the Tiger and its crew were forced to dock at a neutral port where the vessel was seized and declawed by the authorities. Well that wasn’t going to stop them —as you can’t change a tiger’s stripes!

Commando 5501, published by DC Thomson December 16th 2021 

Three high‑ranking SS officers meet in a remote mansion house near the Swiss border. With them is a cache of looted jewellery, paintings and antiques, forged papers and plans to flee the falling Reich to South America. But, as they talk in secret, they are disturbed by a knock at the door. A member of the infamous Gestapo has come to interrogate them. Does he know about their plans to flee? And what does this all have to do with Resistance fighter Christina Koch?

Commando 5517, published by DC Thomson December 16th 2021 

In the frozen town of Verdalsora, Norway, Georg Fischer is part of the Nazi occupation. However, after witnessing first-hand the brutality of his superiors, Fischer is sickened by the regime he knows he is a part of. His only option is to desert, fleeing into the merciless landscape of the fjords. But with enemies everywhere and death at every corner, Fischer will need more than his wits if he is to survive.

You can find all other mentions of Colin on the blog right here

You can find all other mentions of Commando on the blog right here

Catawiki auction - closes 24th March 2022

The latest Catawiki auction is now open for bids. As ever I've selected the (British) comic art highlights, bidding closes on Thursday (24th March) evening..

First up is this Don Lawrence page of Trigan Empire artwork from the 1967 story 'The revolt of the Lokans' 

This Bill Lacey page from 'Eagles over the western front' (1964)

This 'Robot Archie' page by Edward Kearon from a 1968 issue of Lion

This Reg Bunn page of 'Zip Nolan' art (from a 1963 issue of Lion)

This Don Lawrence Trigan Empire page (from 1973's 'The outlaw planet')

Alan Moore - BBC Maestro course

BBC Maestro have announced here a course with Alan Moore - 33 lessons (aka videos) totaling 6 hours of content (as well as course notes) are available.

All other mentions of Alan on the blog can be found here 

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, 1990

I'm only just starting to catch up with the David Tennant starring 'Around the world in 80 days' - watching it I recalled that there was a Marvel UK comic about it the cartoon adaptation of the story. So, without further ado, here's my covers gallery. A few images could be better so if you can help do just let me know, thanks!

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, issue 1 - 4th July 1990

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, issue 2 - 18th July 1990

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, issue 3 - 1st August 1990

image not to hand - can you help? 

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, issue 4 - 15th August 1990

image not to hand - can you help? 

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, issue 5 - 29th August 1990

image not to hand - can you help? 

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, issue 6 - 12th September 1990

image not to hand - can you help? 

Around the world with Willy Fog, Marvel UK, issue 2, 4, 5 & 6 - summer 1990

Issue #117 (volume 13, number 5) of Denis Gifford's Association of Comics Enthusiasts newsletter has issue 6 recorded as the final issue.

UPDATED: Scouse Mouse an incomplete guide

New comics highlighted in purple...

One of the first comics I ever blogged about was 'Ace' or 'Scouse Mouse presents Ace!' comic to give it it's full title.

I'm still not clear on the chronology of this comic but I know that the last issue was April 1989 (see the Werewolf cover, below). 

Scouse Mouse presents the Ace! comic, fun special

Scouse Mouse presents Ace! comic, issue 1

Scouse Mouse presents Ace! comic, issue 2

Scouse Mouse comic, issue 3

Based on the image from the image on the back of issue 3 (above) we know that the title was then re-named 'Scouse Mouse and the scallywags'...

Scouse Mouse and the scallywags!comic, issue 4

ebay listing dates this to November 1987

This is un-numbered but if issue 4 (above) is from November then this is presumably issue #5 (December 1987) 

It ends up as just being Scouse Mouse by the time it merges into Whizzer & Chips (on 15th April 1989 - the Scouse Mouse logo was dropped from the masthead after precisely 4 weeks, apparently) - so maybe the December date on the above comic means it's from 1988. Again, copyright dates are missing from these comics.

Scouse Mouse and the Scallywags, January 1988

Scouse Mouse and the Scallywags, Super Spring Edition

As this has the same price as previous issues I'm assuming it wasn't actually a holiday special type issue (despite the title) so I'd guess this was Spring 1988

Scouse Mouse and the Scallywags, Jolly June Edition

I'm assuming this is from June 1988

The comic ends up as just being Scouse Mouse by the time it merges into Whizzer & Chips (on 15th April 1989 - the Scouse Mouse logo was dropped from the masthead after precisely 4 weeks, apparently)...

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 1, November 1988

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 2, December 1988

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 3, January 1989

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 4, February 1989

image not to hand - can you help?

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 5, March 1989

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 6, April 1989

George Nicholas also worked on the Budgie Malone comic - which I looked at here , here and here as well as Were Bears comic (here). All 3 titles are hard to collect - so good luck in your collecting. 

I've tried to piece together all the appearances of Were Bears, Star Bears and Scare Bears here 

George has a website here

Friend of the blog Stephen Archer has let me have the following information about the 1989 issues of Whizzer & Chips...

Beginning with 15/4/89, and omitting 22/4, 17/6, 15/7, 16/9, 11/11, 18/11 and 9/12 (as those dates aren’t held by the British Library) and are thus uncheckable, Scouse Mouse appeared continuously until the end of the year with the exceptions of 14/10 and 2/12.

Comics artist Nigel Parkinson has provided this timeline...

a). 2 issues of ACE in 1986;

b). 13 issues of Scouse Mouse (and the Scallywags) published by Modelbrisk, 1987-8; 

c). 6 issues of Scouse Mouse published by Fleetway 1988-9