collected

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paw broon
Posts: 1215
Joined: 29 Jan 2011, 19:13
Location: Falkirk, Scotland

Re: collected

Post by paw broon »

We might have to be a bit wary of sweeping statements such as this from Lew,
"If it had 36 pages of story that's the exception rather than the rule. If you mean 36 pages including ads and covers, that's been the standard format since the 1950s."
Some of the biggest producers of comics in the '50's and '60's, e.g. Dell, had most of the time, 34 pages of comic strip in a 36 page comic. Actually, right up to the mid '60's, Dell had 32 pages of comics in a 36 page issue. Gilbertson's Classics Illustrated ran 52 page comics with 48 pages of comic strip. And the Berkeley editions of the late'80's and '90's were also 52 page editions. Additionally, in the mid '60's, some companies went to giant issues - Tower, 68 pages for 25 cents. also the "split" Cap. Marvel, admittedly a smaller publisher, who had giant issues for 25 cents. But DC for a long period dating from early? '60's produced an awful lot of Giant issues ranging from 100 pages down - great value. As did Marvel, including titles with new material - the origin of Captain Marvel for instance.
ACG in the '6o's had 26 pages of comic strip plus a letters page, usually 2, in a 36 page comic.
Gold Key in the '60's featured 32 pages of comic strip in a 36 page title for 12 cents - no adds, apart from sometimes on the back cover, a bit like Dell.
All the above, apart from the Split publishers were important comic companies and sold piles every month and they didn't conform to the "standard format" and we haven't looked at Charlton yet, who also, I just remembered, went to 52 page issues for a few months in the mid '60's, probably having had a look at the success of Tower.
So there was the 36 page comic and other size issues but the amount of comic strip inside varied a lot, and, it could be argued, some of these titles were much better values than others. Dell, particularly, used some seriously good writers and artists and their production values were quite high.
Excuse my pedantry, please :wink:

Lew Stringer
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Re: collected

Post by Lew Stringer »

paw broon wrote:We might have to be a bit wary of sweeping statements such as this from Lew,
"If it had 36 pages of story that's the exception rather than the rule. If you mean 36 pages including ads and covers, that's been the standard format since the 1950s."
Some of the biggest producers of comics in the '50's and '60's, e.g. Dell, had most of the time, 34 pages of comic strip in a 36 page comic. Actually, right up to the mid '60's, Dell had 32 pages of comics in a 36 page issue. Gilbertson's Classics Illustrated ran 52 page comics with 48 pages of comic strip. And the Berkeley editions of the late'80's and '90's were also 52 page editions. Additionally, in the mid '60's, some companies went to giant issues - Tower, 68 pages for 25 cents. also the "split" Cap. Marvel, admittedly a smaller publisher, who had giant issues for 25 cents. But DC for a long period dating from early? '60's produced an awful lot of Giant issues ranging from 100 pages down - great value. As did Marvel, including titles with new material - the origin of Captain Marvel for instance.
ACG in the '6o's had 26 pages of comic strip plus a letters page, usually 2, in a 36 page comic.
Gold Key in the '60's featured 32 pages of comic strip in a 36 page title for 12 cents - no adds, apart from sometimes on the back cover, a bit like Dell.
All the above, apart from the Split publishers were important comic companies and sold piles every month and they didn't conform to the "standard format" and we haven't looked at Charlton yet, who also, I just remembered, went to 52 page issues for a few months in the mid '60's, probably having had a look at the success of Tower.
So there was the 36 page comic and other size issues but the amount of comic strip inside varied a lot, and, it could be argued, some of these titles were much better values than others. Dell, particularly, used some seriously good writers and artists and their production values were quite high.
Excuse my pedantry, please :wink:
Please read my comments in their context, "Paw". I was replying to a comment specifically about the format of DC Comics at that point. Their standard format has been 36 pages for the last 60 years. But if you want to include other US publishers too it applies to those also.

Before that, I was responding to a comment pertaining to the story content of comics of 30 years ago, not the 1960s, which has been 20 pages on average.
The blog of British comics: http://lewstringer.blogspot.com
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abacus
Posts: 728
Joined: 27 Jun 2014, 07:10
Location: leicester uk

Re: collected

Post by abacus »

For a collector like myself the cover that catches the eye is probably the first consideration and the four covers I have placed at the bottom of the picture are to me excellent examples. Second any comic different from the norm is also of interest and again some examples shown and thirdly the older the comic the more it is of interest to the collector.
All this may be obvious but for those that are interested in the sort of things others are collecting I present this micro shot from my own collection.
The comics now thank you for allowing them to see the daylight before being returned to darkness of the cupboard . :)

Image
Footnote: I use Blend Collage Free app by KDN SOFT to cram many images into the one pic and save space.
Last edited by abacus on 28 Oct 2017, 07:35, edited 6 times in total.

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philcom55
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Joined: 14 Jun 2006, 11:56

Re: collected

Post by philcom55 »

The Archie comic is the one that jumps out at me from that selection. I love their covers from that period (though at the time I turned my nose up at them, preferring super heroes).
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abacus
Posts: 728
Joined: 27 Jun 2014, 07:10
Location: leicester uk

Re: collected

Post by abacus »

Never quite understood the enduring popularity of Archie ,must be a U.S. thing but archie comics produced Sabrina the Teen-age witch for which I have three comics that were printed around the 70s I think ,that's without checking of course and these I find very funny and well suited to the comic format.
Last edited by abacus on 16 Dec 2017, 06:01, edited 2 times in total.

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DJDogfart
Posts: 120
Joined: 01 Mar 2006, 20:20
Location: Weymouth, Dorset

Re: collected

Post by DJDogfart »

abacus wrote:Never quite understood the enduring popularity of Archie ,must be a U.S. thing but archie comics produced Sabrina the Teen-age witch for which I have three comics that were printed around the 70s I think ,that's without checking of course and these I find very funny and well suited to the comic format.
Interesting, I think for me, it was the feeling in the 70s that I was discovering a snapshot of American culture when at the time, for my 8 or 9 year old self, wasn't so evident in the media. Aside from the stories, I always enjoyed pouring over the adverts for Sea Monkeys, Twinkies and Charles Atlas. Of course, now it is much easier to access all these things. I have been collecting the 'New' Archie COMICS over the last few years and have thourogly enjoyed them - especially the horror titles.
Scccrrruunnge

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abacus
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Location: leicester uk

Re: collected

Post by abacus »

The comics I read as a child were in a 50's time capsule and for many years after that I'd naturally given up comic reading.In the 50's any new comic that was advertised was eagerly anticipated and nearly all the comics I remember from that period continued successfully for many years.
Since then with a few exceptions it seems to have been difficult to launch new comics to the market and even that stalwart of the U.K. comics D C Thomson has not found it easy.Beezer, Topper and Sparky did OK but some as illustrated struggled.
Maybe they should have called them Beano Extra, Beano Plus or Utterly Beano. :)
Image

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abacus
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Location: leicester uk

Re: collected

Post by abacus »

Things don't change much do they? Though times are hard you are never quite sure about that young fellow sitting outside the bank waiting for handouts, as this cartoon shows from the 1922 Pearson's Weekly magazine.
Image

Although not a comic this magazine has loads of corny jokes that makes it fun reading.

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philcom55
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Joined: 14 Jun 2006, 11:56

Re: collected

Post by philcom55 »

No doubt an early appearance by the famous Scottish poet Ewan 'What's Twenty Quid to the Bloody Midland Bank' McTeagle! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W9p_NFm6qk

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abacus
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Location: leicester uk

Re: collected

Post by abacus »

philcom55 wrote:No doubt an early appearance by the famous Scottish poet Ewan 'What's Twenty Quid to the Bloody Midland Bank' McTeagle! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W9p_NFm6qk
That is funny.
Reminds me of the story.

1st chap:"can you give me 5 pound till payday?"
2nd chap:( after reaching for is wallet and giving him a five pound note then asks )"by the way , when is payday?"
1st chap:(with perplexed look)" I don't know, you're the one that's working" :)
Last edited by abacus on 15 Dec 2017, 19:03, edited 2 times in total.

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stevezodiac
Posts: 4957
Joined: 23 May 2006, 20:43
Location: space city

Re: collected

Post by stevezodiac »

On the subject of fivers I recommend watching the Abbott and Costello two tens for a five sketch on youtube. I presume everyone here has watched their "who's on first".

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abacus
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Location: leicester uk

Re: collected

Post by abacus »

Image
I would have loved to have checked out these cards but with my collectors hat on I know I need to preserve them as they are. :D
Last edited by abacus on 16 Dec 2017, 06:07, edited 1 time in total.

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DJDogfart
Posts: 120
Joined: 01 Mar 2006, 20:20
Location: Weymouth, Dorset

Re: collected

Post by DJDogfart »

stevezodiac wrote:On the subject of fivers I recommend watching the Abbott and Costello two tens for a five sketch on youtube. I presume everyone here has watched their "who's on first".
I have not seen those before. They are funny, funny sketches. I can see where Ronnie Barker got some of his ideas now. I can't believe I've not come across them before. Thankyou.
abacus wrote: I would have loved to have checked out these cards but with my collectors hat on I know I need to preserve them as they are. :D
A few years ago, I sat and thought "am I ever going to sell them, and, if not, realistically even if I pass them down, will they ever be worth much" and applied it to my whole collection. If the answer was no to either, I opened them up and enjoyed them.
Don't know if that is wise, but it did free up lots of space (that I have since filled with new stuff!!)
Scccrrruunnge

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