What comics did you buy today?

[Phoenix]

I'm not married! Rest is true, though!

So who were you sleeping with?

[philcom55]

Just picked up a 1952 issue of AP's weekly paper Answers which contains a full-page episode of a comic strip biography of the famous cross-dressing pirate Mary Read, with art by the legendary Reginald Heade. If I had the money and time I'd love to go to the appropriate section of the British Library in order to make a record of all the strips featured in this title during the 1950s. I could be wrong but the few I've seen give every indication of being an unacknowledged offshoot of Leonard Matthews' 'Thriller Picture Library'. It'd be interesting to know if Steve Holland or David Ashford (authors of the excellent Fleetway Picture Libraries) have ever considered this intriguing possibility.


Above - A classic piece of eighteenth century gender-bending by the King of British 'Good Girl' artists!

- Phil Rushton

[Jon]

I was very fortunate to pick this up the other day. It's the 1955 annual and the condition is great! I paid £40.

Also coincidentally on the same day I managed to complete my "collection" of the Desperate Dan/Dennis The Menace Ladybird books as mentioned in this thread: http://comicsuk.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2519. Lovely little books.

[dandy mad]

I was very fortunate to pick this up the other day. It's the 1955 annual and the condition is great! I paid £40.

Clipboard01.jpg

Also coincidentally on the same day I managed to complete my "collection" of the Desperate Dan/Dennis The Menace Ladybird books as mentioned in this thread: http://comicsuk.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2519. Lovely little books.

Very nice and a bargain too

[stevezodiac]

I've mentioned before that, like Answers, Titbits had a period in the 1950s when it carried a few full page comic strips.

[colcool007]

Well, I went for a wander at the bottom end of the Barbican and found a couple of antique shops and got a couple of absolute bargains. The Garth book from 1975 (going for lots on abebooks!), 1970 Hotspur Annual, 2 War Picture Libraries (410 and 411) that look like they were published last week (They really are in that good a condition) and 12 Commandos ranging from 782 to 3642.

The bonus is that the War Picture Libraries internal artist looks to be Victor stalwart Harry Farrugia for Demon Gunner and I know the style for Z Force but I am blessed if I can put a name to the artist, even though I am sure I should be able to. I will try and get a couple of pics later.

[philcom55]

According to Volume One of the indispensable Fleetway Picture Library Index (shame on you for not having a copy!) the 'Z Force' artist was Ramon de la Fuente, brother of the better-known Victor.

- Phil Rushton

[colcool007]

I plead absence from my collection in my defence. I am 200 miles plus away from home allegedly studying to be a bigger IT geek than I already am. A swift bit of googling and I find that I was right to say that I knew his style.
A Man Called Sunday shows a few more examples of his work. But I am sure that he did at least one serial for Victor. But I am stuffed if I can find any evidence at this late-ish hour.

[NP]

I bought this week's Beano and Dandy.

[felneymike]

Just picked up a 1952 issue of AP's weekly paper Answers ... I could be wrong but the few I've seen give every indication of being an unacknowledged offshoot of Leonard Matthews' 'Thriller Picture Library'. It'd be interesting to know if Steve Holland or David Ashford (authors of the excellent Fleetway Picture Libraries) have ever considered this intriguing possibility.
- Phil Rushton

O_O

Point one: Answers was still going in the 1950's?? I think it started in the 1880's or even earlier!

Point two: ...which means it can't be an offshoot of Thriller Picture Library, having predated it by 60 years or more!
In the 1900's it featured a series of short (text) Sexton Blake stories, and in the 20's there was an "Answers Library" with stories for women. I don't know if the latter was a rebranding of the same publication (which appears to have begun as a sort of advice magazine) or a story-focused spinoff.

[stevezodiac]

I think I have some Victorian copies of Answers plus some from the Edwardian era. Ephemera fairs to thank for that. Just had a look at my ongoing checklist and it shows 20s and 30s issues and one from 1951. But I'm sure there is a Victorian issue somewhere. I have the first issue of Pearson's Weekly from the Victorian era - very much in the Answers mould.

[McSCOTTYS GHOST]

I bought "Gods and Science - Return of the T-Girls" book by Jamie Hernandez brilliant stuff great art - also got a back issue "Brave and the Bold" 100 to replace my tattered copy (only £4 and in great condition)

[philcom55]

I think I have some Victorian copies of Answers plus some from the Edwardian era. Ephemera fairs to thank for that. Just had a look at my ongoing checklist and it shows 20s and 30s issues and one from 1951.

Ooooh! If you get the chance I'd love to know if there's any comic strip content in the 1951 issue (that is, of course, the feature I referred to as a possible offshoot of AP's Thriller Picture Library - as that pesky felneymike no doubt realized all along!).

Answers (originally Answers to Correspondents) was one of the foundation stones of Alfred Harmsworth's publishing empire and, as far as I can tell, ran from the 1880s right up to February 1956 - putting it into the same league as Dandy in terms of longevity. My latest issue is dated 17th December 1955 and, along with an original 'Thriller-type' serial by Cecil Doughty, this contains a number of interesting comic strips including a Rip Kirby wanabee called 'Duke Martin - Special Investigator'. Considering its similarity to popular rivals such as Tit Bits and Reveille I'm surprised that it never made it into the 1960s.

- Phil Rushton

[felneymike]

Today I got all four Pink Glove issues of The Beano from 1991, one of which is the first Beano I ever had! (though the preceding issue was also there and looked a bit familar, maybe I should have got that too). Oxfam Bookshop in Cambridge had a load of issues from 90-91, but they were £1.99 each so I didn't just sweep up the lot.
I also got the four new Commando issues, as well as an old one and two old War Picture Library issues from the 70's
Oh and a couple of tapes of Beyond Our Ken!

In foreign comics news I got book 13 of Bakuman (it's now monthly rather than three monthly, the Japanese books were well ahead (about 7-8 books ahead at one point). Either the American publishers want to 'catch up', or it's ended in Japan so they're 'finishing it off' as fast as they can). I also got issue 1 and 3 of the Star Trek / Doctor Who crossover. Issue 3 features a mini-story (in a different art style, even) with the Fourth Doctor meeting Captain Kirk et al! Issue 3 also has a section showing the cover variants, with 'reprint covers' listed. The blokes in the shop said more copies of issue 2 were going to be delivered with issue 4, so it must be pretty popular!

[stevezodiac]

I looked at the four latest Commandos and they were all reprint.

Back to Answers and Titbits - I found the 1951 Answers and it has one full page strip called The TV Murder reproduced here. I also include a beautiful text story illustration from a 1938 Titbits, a really well drawn strip called Judy from a 1955 Titbits and a Sci-Fi strip called Marog from the same issue that looks a bit like Frazetta's work. Finally a nice seasonal Answers cover so people know what we're talking about. I'd love to see a collection of the Judy strip - possibly the most beautiful heroine in comics history?