Comics UK

Lew Stringer wrote:Frank Langford had a much thicker line than that. Unless he was trying out a pen instead of a brush when he did that one I don't think it's by him.

He certainly didn't draw the second page (presumably this comes from a different story?), but having just had a look at some of his old work for Boys' World I still think he's a good bet for The Red Planet; the section of John Brody and the Green Men that he drew includes far more scratchy penwork than this example! On the other hand, a possible alternative would be the mysterious C F Eidlestein who subsequently illustrated Brett Million and the Angry Planet along with Langford (though I've sometimes wondered if they might have been the same person anyway!).

- Phil Rushton

Cap Haggis wrote:Wonderful memories from that link I def remember these and the smell of the sheets (letraset sheets) for some reason used to have great fun with them

Oh yes!

I loved the original giant-size, black & white 'Panoramas': especially the moonscape version that was also printed on the back of Weetabix boxes, with free transfers included inside!

- Phil Rushton

I was about to say "kids today, they don't know what they're missing" as I lamented the passing of Letraset. Then I noticed that Saturday's Guardian had a sheet of dinosaur stickers in.

Plus ca change.

Kev F

kevf wrote:
Parce que les captions sont en Francais, et je pense que Letraset est une companie Francais aussi. (Oui, je crois que je ne parle pas Francais, mais j'avais une stab).

Kev F

Michty me - you ARE from Aberdeen!

philcom55 wrote:

Lew Stringer wrote:Frank Langford had a much thicker line than that. Unless he was trying out a pen instead of a brush when he did that one I don't think it's by him.

He certainly didn't draw the second page (presumably this comes from a different story?), but having just had a look at some of his old work for Boys' World I still think he's a good bet for The Red Planet; the section of John Brody and the Green Men that he drew includes far more scratchy penwork than this example! On the other hand, a possible alternative would be the mysterious C F Eidlestein who subsequently illustrated Brett Million and the Angry Planet along with Langford (though I've sometimes wondered if they might have been the same person anyway!).

- Phil Rushton

I don't think either are by Langford, whose work is usually quite distinctive. I'm not that familiar with Eidelstein, even though I flicked through the Boys' World volumes at the British Library a few years back. Phil, do you have an example page by Eidelstein you could post here?

Shaqui wrote:Phil, do you have an example page by Eidelstein you could post here?

I'd be happy to if somebody could tell me how to do it!

- Phil Rushton

Phil, you need to upload a scan, preferably in .jpg format, onto a webspace. If you don't have one of your own there are free online services like PhotoBucket:

http://photobucket.com/

- and then link to the image here using the 'Img' button above.

If you've problems doing this, I can host a scan and link to it for you.

Thanks Shaqui, that's very helpful - it's nice to be able to share some of this stuff!

This scan of 'The Angry Planet' from Boys' World is an example of the sort of thing that drives comic art spotters insane. If you look at the second panel of the middle row it's clearly signed by C F Eidlestein. Unfortunately, the penultimate panel of the bottom row is also signed...by Frank Langford! This weird game of 'Musical Signatures' continued for the whole series (which was itself plotted by Harry Harrison but scripted by Ken Bulmer).

[img:800:501]http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q123 ... Planet.jpg[/img]

...For comparison here are a couple of solo pieces by Eidlestein, including one of his 'original' Miracle Man covers for Top Sellers (though, to be fair, I suspect that these were pretty rushed: some of his black & white romance strips for comics like Roxy were much more accomplished!).

[img:800:521]http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q123 ... 55/cfe.jpg[/img]


- All the Best, Phil Rushton (with his fingers crossed that this works!)

Thanks for that Phil - glad I could help.

This is actually ringing a very large bell now - I'm sure someone I've interviewed or corresponded with has mentioned 'Eidelstein' was the real name of a well known artist...

EDIT: Got it - Angus Allan confirmed that Frank Langford was known as Frank Eidelstein at the time he illustrated for 'Marty', presumably early 1960s.