Happy Christmas from Kev O'Neill

Here's something you don't see every day...yes it's a series of Christmas cards illustrated by Kevin O'Neill! They were produced by comics shop Just Comics - I'm not suggesting this is all the cards that were produced but it's a lovely selection...

Just to show that the interiors of the cards weren't exactly the same...

UPDATED: undated annuals

As it's Christmas time it must be time to look at undated annuals, I  recently picked up my second undated Eagle annual as I know they're pretty uncommon - either as a mis-print or as a deliberate act. 

Care of friend of the blog Michael Carroll I can add this undated 1977 Action annual to the listing...

and c/o Wayne Harris I can add my first example of an undated Battle annual

Now (c/o Scott Bartlett on the '77-2000AD Facebook group) I can add a 2000AD annual to this listing... 

Previously I just has an undated Eagle annual for 1972 (below) - the front cover and spine are undated...

Here's what it should have looked like...

The Eagle annuals of 1971/2/3/5 all seem particularly set-up to have the date removed (if necessary) as it's a different colour to the rest of the cover...

...and now I have an undated 1971 annual too

The date has also been removed from the spine

...and now I have an undated 1975 annual too

So now I'm just after undated annuals for 1973 - if you can help me out with these just let me know...

I've read a theory that it was done so that the annuals could be shipped overseas where, because of the time taken to get them there by boat, they'd need a longer shelf-life to sell and if the annual was dated people wouldn't buy it as the year was already well under way.

Here are some other examples - anyone else got any other examples or theories about undated annuals? 

and now, c/o Chris |Young...

Merry Christmas - with Budgens!

A recent spot on ebay...The seller described it thus...

This is for issue 3 of "Christmas with the Buds", a 12-page
promotional comic for Budgens supermarket from Christmas 1986.

It contains a 4 page comic strip by Sid Burgon as well as jokes
and promotions.

Page 2 is an advert for Doctor Who Adventure Comics, given
away with Golden Wonder crisp multipacks. The ad features a
few comic frames featuring the Tardis, a Cyberman and the sixth
doctor, Colin Baker.

Never seen this before so I'd love to know if anyone has examples of
issue 1 and 2 (and maybe even an issue 4 - if it exists???)

Merry Christmas from Barry Windsor-Smith

Here's a Christmas card from Barry Windsor-Smith - oh to have one of these hanging up in the house this Christmas!

The ebay seller described it thus...

Barry Smith Signed Limited Edition Christmas Card (1976). An intricate pen-and-ink drawing of an angel adorns this attractive single-sided Christmas card from noted Conan artist Barry Smith. Printed in green ink on cream-colored classic-laid paper measuring 8" x 8.25"; signed in brown ink by Smith and Linda Lessmann. Limited to an edition of 200 or less

Merry Christmas from Arthur Ferrier

A recent swipe from ebay is this piece of original art by pin-up artist Arthur Ferrier...

UPDATED: Reference books of David Ashford

My look at comic reference books has, to date, covered a number of authors such as...

i). Dennis Gifford books here (with all Gifford posts here)

ii). Lofts & Adley books are here

iii). Dennis Gifford is here 

iv). David Ashford is here

v). Ray Moore is here

vi). Martin Hamer is here

vii). Colin Morgan is here

vii). Alan Clark is here

...but there's more to come. Next up is author David Ashford.

Now updated with a cover for 'The hardboiled art of Denis McLoughlin'

The art of Denis McLoughlin - David Ashford (2012)

The Fleetway picture libraries volume 2, the Thriller libraries - David Ashford & Steve Holland (2010) 

Masters of fun and thrills - Norman Wright & David Ashford (2008)

The Thriller comics companion - David Ashford & Norman Wright (2001)

first edition of 100 copies (numbered 1-100)

second edition of 50 (numbered 101-150)

Lightning swords! Smoking pistols! - Norman Wright & David Ashford (1995)

Sexton Blake - a celebration of the great detective - Norman Wright & David Ashford (1994)

The hardboiled art of Denis McLoughlin - David Ashford (1994)

The 'Comet' collectors guide - Steve Holland & David Ashford

The 'Sun' collectors guide - Steve Holland & David Ashford

The 'Thriler' picture library - an illustrated guide - David Ashford & Steve Holland

Super detective library - David Ashford & Steve Holland

'Cowboy comics library' index - David Ashford & Steve Holland

'Knockout' index - David Ashford, John Allen Clark & Steve Holland

this is A4 sized rather than A5 sized

The comic art of Roy Wilson - Alan Clark & David Ashford(1983)

Mike Noble - images

I've started (thanks to friend of the blog Bill Storie) showcasing just some of the art of Mike Noble. I've grouped together the images into a number of 'themes'...

Captain Scarlet was here

Look and Learn was here

Look-in was here

Explorer 12 was here

Explorer 12 - Polar mission was here

prints was here

Wide World magazine was here

Fireball XL5 was here

Thunderbirds was here

and now a final selection of  'miscellaneous' images