*Power Comics: In our UK #1 ‘First Quenchers’ event this week, we’re especially chuffed to be able to offer all five first issues of the Power Comics line from the 1960’s. This small but well-loved company began when veteran comics creator Leo Baxendale broke away from D.C. Thomson, where he had been a mainstay of the Beano for many years, and launched his own weekly, Wham!, in 1964. Apart from a token reprint adventure strip, Baxendale created the entire line-up in his distinctive anarchic style, with characters such as “George’s Germs”, “The Tiddlers”, “Pest of the West”, “Eagle Eye” and more making their debuts. This was followed up by Smash! in 1966, and by Pow! in 1967 – though the latter started the trend for which Power Comics are best-remembered, i.e. reprinting the American Marvel Comics at a time when, thanks to the popularity of the Batman TV show, super-heroes were very ‘in’. The Power line-up was completed by Fantastic in February 1967, and Terrific in April that same year, and for a short time, they ruled the schools! Our copy of Fantastic #1 is VG+ at £35; Terrific #1, FN at £40; Pow! #1 is PR/FA at £25; it has a considerably worn spine, and a corner missing from the cover’s upper right, which does not impinge upon the stories. Saving the best for last, however, we have the founding father of the line, Wham! #1, in a remarkable FN grade at £100; and Smash! #1, in GD/VG but with the original Free Gift – a ‘Banging Gun’ (see that happening these days..) in GD; the comic and Free Gift combo is on sale at £175. SORRY, FANTASTIC, POW, SMASH & WHAM ALL NOW SOLD