Help with naming this comic please.

Post by Al » 04 Nov 2006, 17:38

I have received an email from a gentleman who would like a comic identified, Can anyone help?

Many years ago ---- approx. 60 ---- I used to read a British comic that had a young boy in one of the stories - this boy was indentured to a locksmith but was in fact able to unlock his shackles at night and venture forth into the Victorian London nightlife, here he obtained monies and do good deeds for the unfortunate, a bit like a victorian Robin Hood.

Could you please let me know, which comic this was from. I remember at the time I used to get around three comics a week - had a good sister who bought them me - it was before the first Eagle was issued

Thank you, Al.

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 04 Nov 2006, 17:47

Sounds a bit like a Janus Stark episode from Smash!

Lew

Peter Gray · Post by **Peter Gray** » 04 Nov 2006, 17:48

Quick Nick the lightning lock-picker of London
Dandy 1958
originally a text story from the 50's
From the Beano and Dandy an alphabet of fun annual

The slave children banded together.Quick Nick is the leader boy

HighAndMighty · Post by **HighAndMighty** » 06 Nov 2006, 10:19

It may be my failing memory but did Janus Stark actually die when the strip came to an end? I seem to remember that he did but friends disagree.

Did he transfer comics and they missed the end or am I imagining the "death" episode?

grumpy old man · Post by **grumpy old man** » 06 Nov 2006, 10:46

Good question! I don?t remember him dying in this country (to depressing for kids no doubt) but, if you go to the French website there is indeed a final strip featuring Janus?s grave.

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 06 Nov 2006, 12:51

HighAndMighty wrote:It may be my failing memory but did Janus Stark actually die when the strip came to an end? I seem to remember that he did but friends disagree.

Did he transfer comics and they missed the end or am I imagining the "death" episode?

Janus Stark continued into Valiant when Smash! merged into it in 1971. I read it at the time and don't remember him dying. I'm sure something as unusual as that in a British comic would stick in my mind (like Skid Solo retiring after his terrible crash).

Lew

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 06 Nov 2006, 14:27

I certainly remember a couple of stories where Janus Stark was supposed to be dead in the story , and have seen images of the story on a French website where his grave is in a picture (1840-1880) - Not sure if he actually dies or if it was another of hi splanned escapes though but it rings a bell - there was story set in the then future (probaly was 1940-50s in the strip) where a distant relative of Janus Stark was visiting his grave (perhaps where the grave image comes from) and told a story about him. One of my all time favourite UK Strips a great character.

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 06 Nov 2006, 17:14

Cap Haggis wrote:I certainly remember a couple of stories where Janus Stark was supposed to be dead in the story , and have seen images of the story on a French website where his grave is in a picture (1840-1880) - Not sure if he actually dies or if it was another of hi splanned escapes though but it rings a bell - there was story set in the then future (probaly was 1940-50s in the strip) where a distant relative of Janus Stark was visiting his grave (perhaps where the grave image comes from) and told a story about him. One of my all time favourite UK Strips a great character.

Interesting! I don't have many old Valiant and Smash comics now so I must have forgotten about those strips.

Lew

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 06 Nov 2006, 19:19

Lew - not 100% on my recollections of this particular strip, perhaps the images on the Foriegn site has had a part to play (not sure if other companies/countries commissioned new Janus Stark strips) but here's the link to the images of his grave etc :

http://janustark.free.fr/

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 06 Nov 2006, 22:11

Cap Haggis wrote:Lew - not 100% on my recollections of this particular strip, perhaps the images on the Foriegn site has had a part to play (not sure if other companies/countries commissioned new Janus Stark strips) but here's the link to the images of his grave etc :

http://janustark.free.fr/

Fascinating! Yes, it looks very much like they continued the strip after they'd used up the Valiant strips! There appears to be a spin off about the descendants of Janus Stark, set in the present, with the boy guided by Janus' ghost!

Lew

Kashgar · Post by **Kashgar** » 14 Nov 2006, 12:39

The story that the gentleman is looking for is 'Quick Nick - the Lightning Lock-Picker of London' which appeared in the Dandy Nos 427(28/1/50) - 438(15/4/50). The story was written by Reg Thomas and was illustrated by Jack Glass. It also featured in prose form in the 1952 Dandy Monster Comic and was expanded into a picture strip in 1958 when it appeared in two series in Dandy Nos848-862 and 873-882 both drawn again by Jack Glass which in turn led to two picture strip annual appearances in 1959 and 1960. These picture strips were further reprinted in Dandy Nos1647-1678 in 1973-74.

Comics UK