Comics UK

Hi everyone,

I am trying to locate and purchase a british comic 'Action' from the 23rd October 1976 (Pre-Ban Issue).
Published by IPC, this was the final rare issue before the comic was banned in 1976.

Was wondering if you may know where I may possibly purchase this issue.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Chris

Chris,

This is one of the holy grails of UK comics. There are only 30 copies known to exist and as a result, when it goes on sale, it realises a high price. The last one sold reached £1400 through Compal's auctions. So you could be looking for a while.

Best alternative is to watch Ebay like a hawk. Since 2006, I have seen three copies sold and the price has constantly risen.

Appreciate the update.

This issue is the last piece to complete my full Action cComic set.

But looks like I will be searching for a while yet.

Thanks again.

Cheers
Chris

Wow! I'm surprised to hear this comic fetches so much! And it talks about suicide on the cover!

I wasn't actually aware Action was banned - I think it's a title I should learn more about...

If you can't find the last issue itself the next best thing is to get a copy of Martin Barker's excellent book 'Action - The Story of a Violent Comic'.

- Phil Rushton

George Shiers wrote: I wasn't actually aware Action was banned - I think it's a title I should learn more about...

Have a look here, George:

http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=174

and at these further articles:

http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?cat=6

but be warned: you may have sevenpenny nightmares!

Yeah, I picked up 'Action The Story of a Violent Comic' a few years ago. Great read.
Yes, it was a violent comic in it's day but no more violent than some of the video games today.

Some of the artwork in the early editions was at a really hi standard.
Also 2000AD may never have happened if Action had 'not' been banned. IPC just created another comic to continue in the same vain as Action but disguised as Science Fiction. Actually a lot of the stories in the early 2000AD mirror the stories in Action but with a Si Fi twist.

Raven wrote:

George Shiers wrote: I wasn't actually aware Action was banned - I think it's a title I should learn more about...

Have a look here, George:

http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=174

and at these further articles:

http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?cat=6

but be warned: you may have sevenpenny nightmares!

Thanks for the link - it looks like an interesting site. I'll read it properly later, but looking through the site it's good to see the original artwork for the front cover of the last issue, and a few others too.

http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=903

There's also this book from last year, which I haven't read but sounds good:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncensored-Acti ... red+action

Raven wrote:

George Shiers wrote: I wasn't actually aware Action was banned - I think it's a title I should learn more about...

Have a look here, George:

http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=174

and at these further articles:

http://www.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?cat=6

but be warned: you may have sevenpenny nightmares!

I didn't know about this site & am now going to relax my rules on reading comics on a screen as it will be the only way i'll ever be able to get to read the likes of hook jaw & the rest of action stories

George Shiers wrote:There's also this book from last year, which I haven't read but sounds good:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncensored-Acti ... red+action

Your link seems to suggest that the book doesn't go on sale until next August, George. That might be the reason you haven't read it yet.

Chrisos wrote: Also 2000AD may never have happened if Action had 'not' been banned. IPC just created another comic to continue in the same vain as Action but disguised as Science Fiction.

Not really the case. When Action was suspended for a few weeks in October 1976, 2000AD was already well in development for its launch in February 1977. 2000AD was another in the breed of 'tougher' comics that had begun with Battle Picture Weekly in 1975.

Action resumed publication in December 1976 (albeit in castrated form) and continued until November 1977 when it merged into Battle.

Phoenix wrote:

George Shiers wrote:There's also this book from last year, which I haven't read but sounds good:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncensored-Acti ... red+action

Your link seems to suggest that the book doesn't go on sale until next August, George. That might be the reason you haven't read it yet.

Oh yes, that could well be why! I'd just quickly read it as coming out LAST August!