Comics UK

45 years ago today, on Feb.1st 1966, Odhams launched Smash! comic to an eager readership. To my mind it was one of the best comics of the 1960s. I've written a short review of the first issue here if anyone's interested:
http://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2011/0 ... h-no1.html

Wow how times flies - Smash was my all time favourite UK style comic (both the Odhams and IPC versions) I just loved the zanyness of it all and there was quite a bit of content in each issue as I remember (esepecially under IPC) . Ken Reids strips Queen of the Seas was so funny to me at the tiem as ws Leo Baxendales work THe Man from Bungle etc. Although I am a US comic fan now I remember not being that keen on the Batman and DareDevil etc reprints at the time (though loved Spidey inPow when that arrived). If ayone hasn't read a copy they are in for a treat - great review Lew will read it in more detail when I get home.

I recall it for "Moon Madness" which I reckon is one of the most truly bizarre strips ever in a UK comic! Also, those early `Legend Testers` stories. The first one was pretty voilent for those times and I wonder now if it caused censorship discussion at top level.

I stopped buying Smash from early 1967 to late 1968. From that point I regulary bought it-even after the March 1969 re-vamp and up to the first few months of `Valiant & Smash`

SMASH! was incredibly exciting! Those first six months brought a new surprise almost every week.
Here are some great Smash pages by Leo Baxendale on my blog. I may put another one up this week in celebration if I get the time!
http://nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot. ... quest.html
http://nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot. ... again.html
http://nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot. ... smash.html
http://nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot. ... e-bax.html
Although I did enjoy Smash even during it's IPC run (anyone else remember reading it while waiting for Laurel and Hardy to come on TV on the Saturday morning?!) I have the softest of soft spots for early Smash, it may be my favourite of all.

NP wrote: I have the softest of soft spots for early Smash, it may be my favourite of all.

Yes, it's strange that really Wham!, as the first of those comics, should be the most favoured one, but I always felt that Smash had the better balance of stories. Wham was too humour-focused (and not so good when Leo Baxendale and Ken Reid weren't contributing) and Pow imitated Smash but wasn't quite as good, but Smash had the mixture of humour/adventure/US reprint just right.

When it became "Smash & Pow" it absorbed "The Cloak" which was a superb read! Also, Ken Reid took over the "Nervs" strip and did that improve!?

I brought this issue of BCW over to my flat last Saturday. It had A3 some supplements with it one of which was an American's view of Smash! The cover subject may interest someone on this site.

in all my years of buying & collecting comics i cant believe i've never seen a copy of any oddhams titles Smash,pow or wham etc.even as a kid.i will have to try and keep an out for any copies as i do believe i seem to have missed out on a few gems as they look very good from the covers and artwork ive seen on the net.but its only the last 6-7 years ive started buying back issues of british titles again seriously as i became a bit disillusioned with marvel & dc But i have been sniffing around em again in forbidden planet again whilst buying back issues of the marvel & dc lead models collections

big bad bri wrote:in all my years of buying & collecting comics i cant believe i've never seen a copy of any oddhams titles Smash,pow or wham etc.even as a kid.

That's hardly surprising Bri, as they all ended before you were born.

The IPC `Smash` had its moments too. "Cursitor Doom" was a fine (in my view) `supernatural` anthology with some very innovative stories!

"His Sporting Lordship" became a truly hilarious strip once it shifted focus towards the bungling crooks, Mr Parkinson and Fred Bloggs! They were a double act to (almost) equal Laurel & Hardy!

Further to Steve's post on issue 5 of British Comic World (June 1987), it may be of interest, if it hasn't been mentioned before, that in that issue there is a nine-page survey of I Spy, two and a half pages of which are an index of the stories. For the first series (211-279) story synopses are given, but for the other four series (300-321 : 333-355 : 360-396 and 500-586) just the story titles are listed.

Where Smash is concerned, issue 3 (June 1984) of British Comic World contains a nicely-illustrated, nineteen-page survey of the comic, the final three pages of which are an index covering the characters and dates etc. of the output of both Odhams and IPC. There was input from Leo Baxendale into Alan and David Coates's article, which puts Smash into the context of the downfall of Odhams. I would be prepared to post any of the pages from issues 3 and 5 if there is sufficient interest.

I remember meeting one of the Coates brothers in Frank Dobson's Weird Fantasy comic shop about 30 years ago. Are they still involved in comic fandom does anyone know?

As far as I'm aware neither Alan or David are still involved in comics fandom.
Last time I heard from Alan he was headed off to live in Thailand with his new bride.

Phoenix! I'd be interested to see if the Index mentioned "Moon Madness"

alanultron5 wrote:Phoenix! I'd be interested to see if the Index mentioned "Moon Madness"

Yes, the entry for Moon Madness in Smash is :-

issue 9 1st appearance 2/4/66 MOON MADNESS (Originally two pages, b/w)
Nos. 9-15