ACTION; THE STORY OF A VIOLENT COMIC

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:14

Hi all,
It's high time I started posting on this great site and hopefully, help some people out. In this case, the above book.

Don't get your hopes up, no, unfortunately I have yet to locate a copy, this is what I have been doing to remedy that problem.

Firstly, for those who don't know, this book in out of print and the likely hood or a further print run is very doubtful.

I have been in touch with Beaver Book Search, unfortunatley, they have had no more luck then I.

I have a wonderful and very helpful second hand bookshop here in town. They are also looking on my behalf. I feel that this shop will be my best bet. I have asked for as many copies as they can lay their hands on, but it will take time.

I have been in touch with Martin Baker about the problem of finding a copy. Although he was extremly helpful in my quest, he is not prepared to part with the copies that he has and I can say I don't blame him.

I've read here that someone was lucky enough to pick one up in a comic shop. I have to agree these shops are good places to look.

Note: Speak to the owners of these shops, ask them to look out for a copy and leave your name, address and telephone number. Remember, go back once in a while and ask them again. Normally, your name is entered in a diary and later forgotten.

I'm also trying to locate a copy at car boot sales, a fruitless search I must admit as there are boxes of books to go through. I'm just hoping that one day I'll come across a copy.

In my opinon, the best place to go and look and ask, are your local second hand book shops.Don't tell them how rare the book is or the trouble you are having in locating a copy, they will just increase the price when they do eventually find a copy.

I know this is not much help,but it's a start.
Good luck and happy hunting.
BTW, could someone post, send me a picture of the cover of this book as I have no idea what it looks like!

Regards, Mark

Originally posted by Mark on the old forum on 22/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:14

Mark, I've just checked out eBay and discovered that this book recently went for ?28. There's also a picture of the book for you.

Click on this weblink http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... egory=3964.

Originally posted by Chaz on the old forum on 22/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:15

Many thanks Chez

Now I'm wondering how I missed it as I should have had an e-mailed about it when the book was first posted.

Well at least I know what I'm looking for now!

Originally posted by Mark on the old forum on 22/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:15

i found my copy in a comic shop for a tenner,this was around six years ago.i saw a copy for about three quid in athena shortly after it came out,but i was very poor at the time.check out the 2000ad website as it crops up in the for sale section at times.good like finding a copy as its a great read.

Originally posted by Anonymous on the old forum on 22/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:16

i remember buying when it first came out in 1990 for ?14.95. This was a huge amount of money to me then, still is today actually. Although its good I would have preferred bigger sections on Dredger and Hellman.

Originally posted by Al B on the old forum on 22/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:17

Hi, This really is a brilliant site. I'm trying, desperately to find my old collection of Action, Battle/Action comics. Just came across a small bundle of Roy of the Rovers from 76-77 in a shop they really took me back. And they only cost me $2 (83p) each! It was a sad day when the newsagents down here stopped supplying the British comics and went exclusively for the US ones. I'll look for copies of Martin Barker's book down here in Australia and let you all know if I get more than one copy. All the best, Stuart Melbourne

Originally posted by Anonymous on the old forum on 23/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:17

There is one on ebay right now ( 1 day to go as I write this ). Item #2197426720
Also try http://abebooks.com/ every now and then as I've seen it come up there.

You may also want to look out for another book by Martin Barker 'Comics ideology, power and the critics' published by Manchester University Press. It has 2 chapters on Action and prints Hells Highway from what would have been the 23 Oct 76 issue ( modified became the 4th December version ) and reprints Dredger from 20 March 76. It is a quiet heavy reading - a cultural / politics text book. A search at http://www.google.com will probably give your some info on it.

Originally posted by Rod on the old forum on 23/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:18

Hi all,

Oh! my God, I've just paid ?40.00 for a copy. I won the above auction. I sat there watching it right to the last minute and placed a bid. The wife knows I was after it, but doesn't know yet how much it cost.

I won't stop looking for other copies, when I come across 1 I'll post here.

I asked Martin if he wouldn't mind signing a copy for me when and if I find one. He graciously accepted my proposal, so when it arrives I'll be sending it off for a signing.

I really am thrilled I've finally got a copy, even though it cost more then I hoped.

Originally posted by Mark on the old forum on 25/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:18

Picked mine up off the yahoo auctions (when they were going). I had missed the book when it first came out and had spent ages looking for it. Amazingly I was the only bidder and won the aution for ?8 (including p+p). You can imagine how delighted I was

Alan!

Originally posted by Wrighty47 on the old forum on 25/10/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:19

Well, if you were absolutely desperate then E-Bay was the way to go. I suppose! And for me that applies to almost all comics. I won't tell you how much I paid for a friends copy, but let's just say patience is a virtue!

Originally posted by Anonymous on the old forum on 03/11/2003

Old Forum Fella · Post by **Old Forum Fella** » 01 May 2006, 21:20

Hi all

I've was watching another auction for this book and it went for ?47.00.

The person I bought mine from said she had sold 3 before-where she got 3 copies from I'll never know-and my price of ?40.00 was the cheapest she had sold one for.

This book is probably one of the hardest books I have tried to find by normal means; hence the E-bay auction.

For those out there who manage to obtain a copy by other means, good luck to you and I mean that. The book is worth money, so look after them and give them to you grandchildren in future years, which is where my entire collection will be going.

Originally posted by Mark on the old forum on 04/11/2003