The Best of Victor is out!

[Lew Stringer]

I've just received my copy of the hardback book The Best of The Victor from Amazon. It's packed with a superb collection of various Victor strips that I'm sure will delight many people here. - And there's even a nostalgic free gift!

I'll review it sometime this week on my blog when I get time.

[Digifiend]

Yes, noticed it in WHSmith yesterday. It's on a buy one get one half price promotion, which applies to all humour books (strange category for it, but it's even labelled as humour next to the bar code on the back cover!). The online price is £10.53, about a third off.

[felneymike]

You mean somebody has said "we're going to release an annual with adventure comic reprints" and then done it?

[Digifiend]

Yep. But how long before it ends up in the bargain shops? If you want to see more of the same, better hope that doesn't happen in a hurry.

[philcom55]

Given that the pages were probably shot from comics rather than original art I was surprised at the sharpness of reproduction which seems far better than Prion's usual fare. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that even the B&W sections seem to be printed in full colour. I normally dislike the practice of deliberately distressing reprints but here the 'woodpulp' effect is surprisingly subtle, which makes it easy to feel you are looking at a genuine 1960s product (a feeling that is also enhanced by the free 'banger': a genuinely inspired touch! )

- Phil Rushton

[Lew Stringer]

Given that the pages were probably shot from comics rather than original art I was surprised at the sharpness of reproduction which seems far better than Prion's usual fare. I suspect this has something to do with the fact that even the B&W sections seem to be printed in full colour. I normally dislike the practice of deliberately distressing reprints but here the 'woodpulp' effect is surprisingly subtle, which makes it easy to feel you are looking at a genuine 1960s product (a feeling that is also enhanced by the free 'banger': a genuinely inspired touch! )

- Phil Rushton

Yes, it works really well. The whole book evokes the feel of those old comics. I'm relieved that it's not printed on glossy paper.

Yes, noticed it in WHSmith yesterday. It's on a buy one get one half price promotion, which applies to all humour books (strange category for it, but it's even labelled as humour next to the bar code on the back cover!). The online price is £10.53, about a third off.

It's cheaper than that on Amazon.

I presume it's labeled 'gift/humour' for the benefit of retailers so they don't put it with the children's annuals. If it's shelved alongside the latest Steve Bell book or Fred Basset or whatever (like the Eagle Annual reprints were) then it's more likely to be seen by its potential adult audience.

Also, it will be perceived as a humour book by the general public, in a post-modern kind of way. This is how the trade marketed those Jackie books and it worked. Non-fans will buy books on such comics if it's presented with a wink and a smile (hence the free gift) rather than as a studious historical tome. Well, hopefully anyway!

[philcom55]

I think there's a new Jackie book for this year as well, which proves they are continuing to find an audience.

- Phil Rushton

[Digifiend]

I did see a Jackie book next to the Victor one, but didn't know if it was new or not.

[felneymike]

I normally dislike the practice of deliberately distressing reprints but here the 'woodpulp' effect is surprisingly subtle,

It better be, those Eagle books went right back on the shelf when i saw what had been done to them! I only own one Eagle but it's in "better condition" than those books were!

[stevezodiac]

My local Smiths has about 4 copies - I looked through it but it is not for me i'm afraid. Very expensive book of reprint pages. Would have liked some more text. I can look at the originals for free. Here is the silver Jubilee issue I came across recently:

[colcool007]

Don't suppose there are any credits in there?

[stevezodiac]

Credits? No. There is a 60 question Victor quiz but it is very difficult. Surprised there was not a page about the history of Victor with some cover repros but they didn't bother.

BTW I'm not knocking the best of Victor volume, its just that i don't have a scrap of space for large books that I don't really need. Its a very nice production and I hope it sells tons.

[presterjohn]

I ordered mine from Amazon back when they were 50% off. For me at least this is the best version of all these reprint books.

I was never a massive Victor buyer. It tended to be an occasional purchase if I had any pocket money left rather than a must buy like 2000AD and the Marvel weeklies.

I wonder if the likes of Warlord or even older books like Lion have any chance of this kind of treatment any time soon?

[Lew Stringer]

I wonder if the likes of Warlord or even older books like Lion have any chance of this kind of treatment any time soon?

Don't hold your breath for a Lion collection. IPC don't seem to be doing anything with their archive material at present. Hopefully one day they will, but the nostalgia market for most of their old pre-1970 comics just isn't there any more.

[colcool007]

Credits? No. There is a 60 question Victor quiz but it is very difficult. Surprised there was not a page about the history of Victor with some cover repros but they didn't bother.

BTW I'm not knocking the best of Victor volume, its just that i don't have a scrap of space for large books that I don't really need. Its a very nice production and I hope it sells tons.

I wonder if that is the same quiz that was published in issue 1305 {kindly illustrated by Steve}