*DC: A duet of derring-do from two of DC’s classic anthologies – Action Comics #192 (from 1954) features the Man Of Steel facing his greatest threat yet – an efficiency expert? 1950s wackiness, backed up by long-running features Vigilante and Congo Bill, plus relative newcomer Tommy Tomorrow. Adventure Comics #180 (from 1952), features the Boy of Steel plagued by an underworld Academy Awards organisation, plus super-heroic support from Johnny Quick, Aquaman and the Green Arrow! Affordable copies of vintage series: Action #192 is FA £30; Adventure #180 GD- £34.
Category Archives: What’s New
American Update: Spider-Mania: Amazing #300 – The First ‘Full Venom’
*Marvel: One conspicuous exception to our habitual ‘vintage only’ policy are debut issues of significant characters, and there are few more significant debuts, in the latter days of the 20th Century, than everyone’s favourite brain-eating symbiote Venom, who graduated from being a genetically modified costume in a jar to the fully-fledged Emperor of Spidey’s Rogue’s Gallery! Having debuted in Secret Wars #8 as a semi-sentient blob which configured itself into Spider-Man’s new costume, the ‘symbiote’ became a regular feature in Spidey’s own series before being revealed as a malevolent alien parasite which disclosed its true agenda! Now in his own solo film, soon to premiere in the UK, Venom is a runaway hit, and this is a relatively affordable copy of his first full appearance. This VG/FN pence copy of #300 (pictured), decent and sound but with light corner and edge wear, is on sale for £100. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Uncanny X-Men #266 – ‘Allo Gambit!
*Marvel: In August 1990’s X-Men #266, while temporarily de-aged to childhood (as the X-Men often were – maybe scripter Chris Claremont was feeling the passing years?), Storm met a charismatic young thief named Gambit, who aided her in escaping from the clutches of the Shadow King. Unlike many one-off guest-stars, however, Gambit caught on with the reading public, and stuck around to become a mainstay of the team – fortunately ditching his original costume of pervy knickers, stripey tights and flasher-mac in favour of a more conservative ensemble! The Ragin’ Cajun has gone from strength to strength since, and with persistent rumours that lumbering thespian beefcake Channing Tatum is to embody him on-screen, now’s the time to grab the early appearances of the newly-minted ‘Mr.Rogue’ (oops, sorry, spoilers…) before they soar even higher in price! This extremely attractive NM pence copy is on sale at £100. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Nick Nick! First Agent of SHIELD strip in Strange Tales #135
*Marvel: When Nick Fury – formerly Sgt. Fury of the Howling Commandos – appeared as a post-World War Two guest-star in issues of Fantastic Four, it was evident that Marvel planned to do more with the character in a contemporary setting, and tapping into the 60s craze for super-spies, they set out to out-Bond Bond when Nick became the head of SHIELD, a brand-new global organization dedicated to overcoming terrorists and insurrection. Lee and Kirby layered the series with high-tech gobbledegook and technobabble, as well as a cast of vivid characters, some fellow-hangovers from Nick’s Army days, some created anew. SHIELD’s various iterations have been an integral backdrop of the Marvel Universe ever since, and this is where the whole thing began. Plus – Doctor Strange! Strange Tales #135 FN p £85. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Sentinel of the Spaceways – the Silver Surfer Soars Again
*Marvel: Following his debut in Fantastic Four #48, readers clamoured for more of the Silver Surfer, winning him his own solo series in 1968 – and to do justice to the character’s cosmic adventures, Marvel took the unusual step of launching the Surfer as a double-length book, with Tales of the Watcher as the back-up. This series is frequently cited as one of the finest examples of John Buscema’s lyrical flowing artwork… and as one of the leading examples of Stan Lee’s affection for many, many words! Despite the reservations of those of us who think that Norrin Radd Goes On A Bit Much, this series remains highly sought-after, especially the earlier issues before (with #8), it shrank down to a standard size. Lasting only 18 issues, the short first run of the Silver Surfer’s series is one of the Holy Grails of Silver Age Marvel collectors. We have new copies from #2 (1st appearance of the bellicose Badoon) to #15 of the original series, taking in clashes with Spider-Man, the Abomination and the Human Torch, as well as two later short series – the John Byrne one-off from 1982, and the 1989 two-parter illustrated by the legendary Moebius! Issue #3 of the first run, with the premier appearance of the malevolent Mephisto, is pictured (VG p £35); for details on the others, as always, check our online catalogue.
American Update: First ‘Full Taskmaster’ in Avengers #196
*Marvel: The skill-pilfering polymath Taskmaster, one of Marvel’s cleverer latter-day villains, made a cameo appearance in Avengers #195, but in #196 we were treated to his first full-on appearance, and an intriguing bad guy he made. Possessed of the ability to instantly mimic, through photographic muscle memory, the abilities of any fighter he observes, Taskmaster’s lethal skill-set made him the ideal assassin – but his conflicted moral nature, well-concealed softer side, and tragic background (his power requires so much memory space that his own history, including loved ones and friends, is progressively being erased) made him a popular recurring character. This copy of his ‘proper’ debut is VF- p £25. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Magik Complete 4 issue mini-series £15
*Marvel: From 1983, the complete mini-series featuring Storm and Illyana from the X-Men up against the demon Belasco; along the way, Illyana Rasputin (sister of Colossus) ages from a six-year-old child to a thirteen-year-old mutant/sorceress named Magik. Written by Chris Claremont with pencils by John & Sal Buscema & Ron Frenz and finishes by Tom Palmer, so a quality creative team. The complete series of all four issues (all NM p) is offered here for just £15.
American Update: A large influx of DC Horror/Mystery
*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: Dozens of DC’s in this category filling our boxes this week, with the vast majority new to our listings. Titles include: Black Magic, Elvira’s House Of Mystery, Ghosts, House Of Mystery, House Of Secrets, Madam Xanadu, Plop, Secrets of Haunted House, The Unexpected, Weird Mystery Tales & Witching Hour. With artists such as Adams, Wrightson, Kirby, Wolverton, Rogers, Bolland and many more involved, you could usually be sure of a scary and quality ride from DC’s Bronze Age horror line!
American Update: Jonah Hex from #1 and ‘First’ Weird Western Tales
*Western: John Albano and Tony DeZuniga’s co-creation, Jonah Hex, rocked the sedate pages of All-Star Western when he debuted in 1972; a scarred, brooding anti-hero, heavily influenced by the then-new trend of ‘spaghetti westerns’, he was a far cry from the squeaky-clean cowpokes who had previously hung around the DC corral. But he proved such a hit that All-Star Western was renamed Weird Western Tales with #12, headlining his adventures, and he gained his own eponymous series in 1977. We have issues of Jonah’s solo book ranging from #1 (FN+ £30, pictured) through to #54, casting a dark and grim shadow on the Western legend – no ‘shooting the guns out of the bad guys’ hands’ for our Jonah! As a bonus, we have the ‘first’ issue of the renamed Weird Western Tales, #12. Since then, he’s had his own film, and made appearances in other media, including the TV series Legends of Tomorrow – round up a few of his adventures and see what all the fuss is about!
British Update: Free Gift Farrago – Secret Wars/Secret Wars II from #1 to #50
*Marvel UK: Marvel’s UK division streamlined the blockbuster Secret Wars in 1985, launching a fortnightly edition which not only ran from Secret Wars to Secret Wars II, but reprinted a great many of the crossover tie-ins from Marvel US as back-ups (and occasional leads), providing a pretty-coherent overview of the Marvel Heroes’ clashes with the omnipotent Beyonder. We have new in a selection of many of the first 50 issues, complete with a plethora of free gifts – badges, transfers, stickers, posters and more! Issue #1 (VF £20 with Free Gifts VF), #2 (VF £15 with Free Gift VF) and #3 (VF £12.50 with Free Gift VF) are illustrated here; all the other details in our online catalogue.
British Update: Free Gift Farrago: Early Victor 1961 #2-18
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: Victor, the well-remembered home of ‘Bernard Briggs’, ‘Tough of the Track’, ‘Craddock VC’ and others, is topped up with a seldom-seen selection from its first year, commencing with the second issue and running unbroken up to #18. This selection of low-to-mid grade copies is enhanced by the presence of free gifts in the early issues – a partial free gift (football photo cards) in #2 and the complete free gifts (three further photo cards per issue) in #3 and #4. Issue #3 (FA/GD with Free Gift VG £40) and #4 (FA/GD with Free Gift VG £40) are depicted; for details on the others, see our online catalogue. SORRY, THESE HAVE ALL NOW SOLD
British Update: ‘FAB, Parker!’ Huge Lady Penelope Update from #2 to #202!
*TV & Film Related Comics: ‘Elegance, Charm and Deadly Danger’ was the motto on Lady Penelope’s solo strip, which launched in TV Century 21 #1 as a ‘stealth pilot’ for the Thunderbirds TV show – and Her Ladyship (together with her indefatigable felon-turned-chauffeur, Parker) certainly lived up to it, dealing with the likes of the ruthless Mr. Steelman with aplomb; never a hair out of place, and always back to the mansion in time for High Tea! So popular was Penny that she gained her own series in 1966, backed-up by other female-fronted features: ‘Bewitched’, ‘Marina, Girl of the Sea’, ‘The Beverley Hillbillies’, and, rather inexplicably, ‘The Man from UNCLE’. Changes were rung during the long run of the series of course, and ‘The Girl From UNCLE’, ‘Daktari’, ‘Angels’, ‘Crossroads’ (yes, that ‘Crossroads’), and ‘The Monkees’ all took centre stage for a time. The title changed to simply ‘Penelope’ and gained a less specialised outlook, with Lady Penelope’s adventures with International Rescue being replaced by stories of Penny as a young girl, and finally merged into Princess Tina after a very respectable 203 issues in 1969. We have around 150 issues new in, from #2 to the penultimate issue, #202, in a variety of grades to suit all pockets. Like its ‘parent’, TV Century 21, Lady Penelope is not common – there were probably fewer copies printed, and they mostly sold to girls, who we think were encouraged to be tidier and throw things out, so fewer copies survive! This substantial selection of issues is quite a coup for us, and we expect interest to be keen.
Housekeeping update and stock relocation news
On a regular cycle, we sweep through our entire stock to delete sold items and keep our listing as up to date as possible. We’ve just finished deleting sold items from the following file in our Books section:
*Pulp Fiction
As of the time of writing, this category is bang up to date, with every item listed available.
Recognising that the pulps were difficult to browse in their previous location in the shop, we’ve now moved them to a new location opposite the bookcases at the rear of the shop in the Picture Library area, so that they can be comfortably browsed at a height that doesn’t involve stooping and bending!
Housekeeping Update
On a regular cycle, we sweep through our entire stock to delete sold items and keep our listing as up to date as possible. We’ve just finished deleting sold items from the following files in our American section:
*EC
*Modern Reprints
*Vintage Magazine-Sized Comics
As of the time of writing, these categories are bang up to date, with every item listed available.
Clearance Corner: 14 Vintage Giant Marvel Reprints for £20
*Clearance Corner: Our latest bargain is another of our Vintage Marvel reprint selections from the 1960s. This one features 10 copies of Marvel Tales from #3-10 & #15 & #16, Special Marvel Edition with Thor #1, 1 copy of Marvel Super-Heroes #21 and 2 copies of Fantasy Masterpieces (#6 & #9); all in pretty good shape and yours for just £20. A wealth of reading in these giant-sized issues with Spider-Man, Thor, Ant-Man, Human Torch, Marvel Boy, the Avengers, the X-Men, Golden Age Captain America and more. These would fit in a small parcel and UK postage if required would be an extra £3.50. SORRY, THIS LOT HAS NOW SOLD
British Update: The Ballad of Halo Jones – Volume 2
*Collected Editions: Continuing the acclaimed series from 2000 AD by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson, this volume details our peripatetic heroine’s outward exploration of the galaxy, working her way from planet to planet in the most un-glamorous of jobs – and, along the way, experiencing painful betrayals from two of her best friends! Originally conceived as a lead for a girls’ SF weekly, ‘Halo Jones’ was the only series far enough along to be salvaged when the project was cancelled, and she was the first solo heroine (Judge Anderson really being a gender-flipped Judge Dredd spin-off) to successfully break into the ‘Boys’ Club’ of 2000 AD. Pick this newly-recoloured tome up, and find out why! Brand new at £10.
American Update: ‘Beware Their Power…’ First O’Neil/Adams Green Lantern/Green Arrow issue #76
*DC: ‘Stop! This is the new Green Lantern co-starring Green Arrow!’ So proclaimed the 76th issue of what was the Emerald Gladiator’s Silver Age series. With sales falling as GL’s traditional sci-fi adventures began to look a bit dated, editor Julius Schwartz turned to the creative team of Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams to add Green Arrow to the title and re-invigorate the series. And that’s just what they did, bringing in contemporary ‘relevant’ storylines dealing in issues such as drugs, racism, pollution, and modern life in 1970s USA – not that we’re significantly better off these days…. The fame of their run extends to this day, and it is avidly collected, but it all began here in #76, as Social Justice Warrior Green Arrow (himself only newly made over by O’Neil and Adams in Brave & Bold #85) confronts GL with the issues arising on Earth while Green Lantern’s off among the stars. This copy of GL/GA #76 is a very appealing pence copy, with unimpaired cover scene and only light corner and spine wear. FN- at £180. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Silver Age Justice League of America – the World’s Greatest Super-Heroes
*DC: A particularly resonant update for us here at 30th Century as we add dozens of issues of Justice League of America between #6 to #60 in a variety of grades and prices. Featured in this period is the first crossover with the Justice Society (‘Crisis On Earth 1’ #21 GD/VG p £45 shown here) and many subsequent, including the debut of the Crime Syndicate of America in #29, the climax of Zatanna’s Quest in #51 and a couple of 80 Page Giants reprinting very early issues. But what’s mainly on show is the vivid imagination of writer Gardner Fox, second to none with his inventive science-fiction and fantasy plots and the artistry of Mike Sekowsky, who, month after month, managed to keep track of an enormous cast of characters in a task which would have daunted many artists. As you might be able to tell, we’re rather biased, but believe these to be among the finest works in this hobby/medium of ours. But just don’t take our word for it — try some out for yourself!
American Update: Spider-Mania: Presenting – the Punisher! First Appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #129
*Marvel: One of the later breakout characters of Marvel, Frank Castle, aka bereaved urban vigilante the Punisher, became one of the company’s super-stars in the 1990s, but had spent most of the previous two decades ‘bubbling under’ as a guest-starring anti-hero. His first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #129 is rare in any condition, and especially so in the UK, where, owing to the presence of Spider-Man Comics Weekly, the US title was embargoed for several years. This is a FA cents copy (there are no pence copies, of course), complete but with considerable wear at the edges and spine, especially the upper and lower spine where there are small splits and a corner tear at top. An achievable opportunity to obtain perhaps the most significant Bronze Age Spidey issue at a relatively affordable price of £110. We would anticipate much interest in this issue, but please remember that only one person can be successful in obtaining it! SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Cable and Deadpool – a pair of Dynamic Debuts from New Mutants
*Marvel: Although popular in its own right, New Mutants, the ‘X-Men-In-Training’ title from the 1980s, has become in retrospect more famous for the fact that two hugely popular characters made their debuts as supporting cast; in New Mutants #87, having stuck his face into the previous issue, Cable made his first full appearance. Hailing from an apocalyptic near-future, the son of Scott Summers by a cloned replica of Jean Grey, (we think – his origin varies week by week) came back in time to prevent his own future from coming to pass, eventually taking over the headmastership of the Academy. After co-starring in the second Deadpool movie, interest in the character’s early appearances has skyrocketed. And speaking of Deadpool, New Mutants #98 saw the first appearance of the Merc-With-A-Mouth, who became Marvel’s greatest phenomenon of recent decades, his libidinous guttersnipe antics delighting urchins of all ages, and now – through two sensational cinematic smash-hits, having infected the general population. This copy of New Mutants #87 is VF+ p at £85; #98 is VF cents copy at £150. Competition for both of these modern-age key issues is going to be intense, so early ordering is advised.
American Update: The Koming of Kang! Kang’s debut in Avengers #8
*Marvel: Early issues of the Avengers are always in high demand, and issue #8, featuring the premier appearance of Kang, Lord of Time, is a tense drama, with the World’s Mightiest Heroes all but helpless in the face of his futuristic technology. In this Lee/Kirby classic, the powerhouses of the team are effortlessly immobilised, leaving the fate of the Avengers, and the world, in the hands of the Wasp and Rick Jones! Kang, of course, became, and remains, a thorn in the side of multiple Avengers teams, but this is his first appearance in the Marvel Universe. This is a VG/FN pence copy, moderate spine and corner wear but unmarred cover scene and extremely presentable interiors, on sale at £140.
American Update: Fantastic Four #55 – Thing Vs. the Silver Surfer
*Marvel: The fourth appearance of the Sentinel of the Spaceways, the Silver Surfer, featured his return to Earth after the Galactus saga, and, moving from the cosmic to the mundane, featured his epic clash with the Thing over – a woman. Yep, Alicia Masters was the bone of contention in this issue, wherein a romantic misunderstanding gets escalated to a megaton level. Reed, Sue, and Johnny are all around too, as are Wyatt Wingfoot and Lockjaw, so it’s not all Ben Vs. Norrin, but they’re the main attraction, with page after page of action not equalled since Ben’s clash with the Hulk! This is a stunning FN+ p copy, with deep unmarred purple background, excellent cover and gloss, remarkable interiors, on sale at £65. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Nightcrawler complete mini-series from 1985 £17.50
*Marvel: From the pages of the X-Men, fan favourite Nightcrawler spun off into his own four issue mini-series in 1985, written and drawn by his co-creator, the stylish Dave Cockrum in a swashbuckling interplanetary pirate adventure with the X-Men on board, natch; clearly a labour of love. We have all four issues on sale as a set, averaging VF/NM condition, pence copies, for just £17.50. Bamf! SORRY, THIS SET HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Charlton Action Heroes and Sci-Fi — Ditko Galore
*Charlton: Several new additions to our stock featuring the artwork of the late and much-respected Steve Ditko, commencing with his 1967 re-invention of the Blue Beetle, from issue #1. We continue with his late sixties work on Captain Atom, with the good Captain (and Nightshade, the Darling of Darkness) combatting the Ghost, the Image and Thirteen; and move on to the first (and only) issue of the 1968 revival of the Outer Space sci-fi anthology, with Ditko, Pat Boyette and others. Lastly, a non-Ditko entry, Fightin’ Five #41, featuring the second appearance of the Peacemaker – the hero who loves peace so much, he’ll fight you for it!
American Update: EC’s Weird Fantasy – Sci-Fi Classics Restocked
*EC: EC themselves always said that they were proudest of their science-fiction titles, Weird Science and Weird Fantasy, and with some justification; the finest artists working in the field during the 1950s – Orlando, Wood, Kamen, Williamson – and a wider imaginative canvas than their groundbreaking horror and crime titles led to some truly outstanding work. We are delighted to have a selection of Weird Fantasy back in stock at affordable low to mid grades, in the number range #14 to #18. Issue #15, pictured, is GD+ at £54. Details of the others may be found, as always, in our online catalogue.
American Update: Tower of the Vault of the Crypt of the Tomb Where Monsters Are! Multitudinous Marvel Horror Including Many #1’s
*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: A splendid collection of Silver/Bronze horror from the House of ideas, including a quartet first issues: Beware, featuring 1950s reprints behind a new Bill Everett cover (featuring the cuddliest werewolf ever!); Fear, the double-size compendium of classic Big-Panty Monster Reprints; Journey Into Mystery (second series), with stylish new adaptations of suspense authors including Robert Bloch and Tower of Shadows, one of Mavrel’s all-new answers to DC’s House of Mystery/House of Secrets revival, with stunning Steranko art in the premier issue. But not content with that, we also have significant top-ups to Chamber of Darkness (Tower of Shadows’ companion title), Crypt of Shadows, Tomb of Darkness, Vault of Evil, and Weird Wonder Tales, plus smaller sprinklings of horror-parody Arrgh!, Where Monsters Dwell and Worlds Unknown, giving you a spectrum of flesh-creepers from across three decades!
American Update: Marvel Western Round-Up – Ghost Rider and the Ringo Kid
*Western: Two very different series from Marvel’s Corral this week: Ghost Rider, the all-new Western superhero merrily shoplifted from the 1950s series published by a different company, blazed a brief trail across the firmament before being reinvented as the Phantom Rider once Johnny Blaze came on the scene. In his seven issues, he fought quite a Rogue’s Gallery: the Cougar, Tarantula, Sting-Ray, and Native American anti-hero the Flaming Star, to name a few. We have issues #2 to #7 of his series new in. A few years later, Marvel decided to try a stealth relaunch of one of their own 1950s properties, the Ringo Kid; the 1970-launched series reprinted vintage but classy artwork by Severin, Maneely and others, and proved so successful that Marvel started producing all-new Ringo Kid tales – at which point sales plummeted, and they had to revert to the reprints! Oops. Issues #2 to #6, and #9 to #19 of Ringo Kid now in stock.
American/British Update: More Mad UK – Plus Free Gift Bonus
*Mad & Other Parody: Following significant sales depleting our stocks of Mad’s UK edition, we’re chuffed to welcome back a dozen or so issues from #67 to #102, replenishing our inventory. Plus, a bonus US item from 1974, Mad Super Special #13, with free gift Sickie-Stickies; ah, for the days when parody magazines were more ridiculous than the real world…
British Update: Alan Class Top-Up – Astounding, Creepy, Secrets, Suspense, Uncanny and Weird Planets
*Alan Class Reprints: More than 50 issues added to our listings of five of the Alan Class ‘Big Six’ this week – Astounding Stories (from #111-190), Creepy Worlds (#22-236), Secrets of the Unknown (#34-243), Suspense (#12-235) and Uncanny Tales (#39-179), as well as early issues of the short-run series Weird Planets from #1 onward! Join us for the characteristic AC melange of Pre-hero Marvel, Atlas, Charlton, Archie, THUNDER Agents, and some features that even surprise and bewilder people of our experience!
British Update: Long Hot Summer — Smash! Pow! It’s Fantastic Summer Special 1968
*Power Comics: There was only one Summer Special for the Power Comics series Fantastic, and it’s rather clunky full title, as seen in the header above, indicates that by this time it had already devoured two of its weaker weekly siblings, in the hatch-match-and-despatch pattern so beloved of traditional British weeklies. This is ‘A Treasure-Store of Power Style Super-Hero Action and Laughs containing the nest of FANTASTIC, SMASH and POW weekly!”’ as it says on the packet. Not common in any condition, dating from the dying days of the Power Comics regime, most known copies tend to have very rusty staples. The staples on this copy, in fact, have rusted through to the point that the cover is detached from the body of the comic, but structurally the rest of it is sound. In view of this drawback, we have graded it as FA/GD and are asking £25. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
British Update: Look Out For Look-In – Annuals! 1974 to 1990
*Annuals: In keeping with our recent series of updates for Look-In weekly, we follow up with a selection of Annuals, ranging from 1974 to 1990 (and including the 1975 TV Comedy Annual, which we’re not sure whether or not that’s a separate ‘thing’ – any knowledgeable folks out there care to enlighten us?) These average FN condition, with several VFs, and take us through a kaleidoscope of popular entertainment from ‘Doctor In The House’, through ‘Mork and Mindy’ to ‘Alf’ and ‘Neighbours’, with a bewildering array of often forgotten (and sometimes deceased – try not think about it too much, it’ll depress you…) stars of yesteryear in comic-strip adaptations of their TV antics!
British Update: First Quenchers: Hold on for Hookjaw! Action #1 from 1976 FN/VF
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: From 1976, the debut issue of Action, the well-beloved weekly which was the home of cuddly man-eating shark Hookjaw and several other strips of remarkable controversy and violence! Pre-dating its longer-lived stablemate 2000 AD, and serving to ‘incubate’ much of 2000 AD’s talent, Action paved the way for a darker, bloodier and more cynical trend in boys’ adventure weeklies, with even the traditional genres of sport and war strips getting a nihilistic veneer – to the point where it was eventually banned from the newsstands, to re-emerge months later as a soft-serve shadow of its former self. This is the issue which kicked it all off, and it’s a beautiful copy. Unless they’re printed on slick paper, British comics seldom achieve higher than a Fine grade – the acids in the cheap pulp degrade the pages, causing yellowing and brittleness – but this has obviously been kept very carefully; it’s tight, bright & white, a lovely FN/VF copy of a controversial premier issue, on sale at £50. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
British Update: Sparky 1965-1968
*Humour Comics: A substantial top-up to our stocks of Sparky, the 1960s companion title to Dandy and Beano, with a slightly more whimsical bent than either of its stablemates. Well-remembered features from Sparky include our eponymous hero – a racist caricature who’s shockingly un-PC in retrospect – ‘Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora’, ‘The Moonsters’, ‘Hungry Horace’, ‘Keyhole Kate’, and ‘Pansy Potter, the Strongman’s Daughter’ (a title which only rhymes if you pronounce it wrong). Plus, of course, one can never speak of Sparky without mentioning ‘Invisible Dick’. (No, really. There’s a rule and everything.) This selection of almost 50 numbers ranges from 1965’s #5 to the Christmas 1968 issue (#206, pictured), averaging VG or FN, very presentable copies of a seldom-seen series, with plenty of special issues – Easter, April Fools’, etc.
British Update: First Quenchers Plus! Jinty – 1st eight issues in stock
*Girls’ Comics: Launched in 1974 following the success of the ‘street-level’ Tammy, Jinty featured much the same sensibility as Tammy, but with a more whimsical bent, becoming the home of a lot of well-remembered sci-fi and fantasy tales. In its early days, though, it featured a safe, if well-rendered mix of comedy, cuddly animals, and wanton schoolgirl cruelty. In the first issue we were introduced to canine landlady ‘Dora Dogsbody’, well-meaning but maladroit swimmer ‘The Jinx of St. Jonah’s’, ‘Mandy Make-Believe’, ‘The Haunting of Form 3B’ and others. We have the first eight issues of the long-running title back in stock; the first issue is sadly Poor, with large front cover tears impinging on the ‘Dora Dogsbody’ strip – on the bright side, though, it is a very affordable copy at £15. The remainder of the first eight are very presentable, varying between Good and Fine, attractive early copies of a major series.
What’s Old: Rupert the Bear
Our spotlight on previously listed stock this week falls on Nutwood’s favourite son, Rupert the Bear. An iconic British character, established since the early part of the 20th Century and immortalised in Annuals which still continue to this day. He is a fond favourite of ours here at 30th Century, although sadly, following a surge in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, the advent of the internet seems to have brought more copies on to the market over the last 20 years, with the result that prices have dropped. Ever mindful of this sort of thing, we have now rationalised our Rupert stock prices, resulting for the most part in substantial reductions. Additionally, we have refurbished our stock in brand new bags and consistent livery labelling. All our Rupert stock (Annuals and Adventure series) may be viewed in the Rupert category in our catalogue; many examples are shown below.
Clearance Corner: 13 Free Gift issues plus 5 Specials of My Guy (1992-2000) for £25
*Clearance Corner: Fans of pouting vealcake jailbait, rejoice – we have a plethora of My Guy issues to tempt you! By the 1990s, the famous girls’ mag had eschewed traditional comic strips in favour of photo-love tales, plus endless photos of Take That, Ant & Dec – sorry, PJ & Duncan – , Boyzone, Paul Nicholls, the Backstreet Boys, Adam Rickitt, and scores more who were popular and pretty back in the day. Oh, but these are special bonus issues, each with the original free gift – thirteen issues in all, with posters, postcards, badges, and incomprehensible plastic trinkets galore! Plus – because we’re just too good to you – five My Guy Holiday/Summer Specials! Steady on now, contain yourselves… all this slightly-past-its-shelf-life hormonal hullaballoo can be yours for £25; UK postage, if required, an additional £4.50 as a small parcel. Go on, you know you want to…
Housekeeping Update
On a regular cycle, we sweep through our entire stock to delete sold items and keep our listing as up to date as possible. We’ve just finished deleting sold items from the following file in our American/British section:
*Undergrounds
As of the time of writing, this category is bang up to date, with every item listed available.
American Update: New Teen Titans 1st app in DC Comics Presents #26
*DC: One of the biggest hits of the 1980s was the New Teen Titans, in which Marv Wolfman and George Perez took a moribund Sixties franchise and revitalised it into DC’s sales powerhouse of the decade. Introducing three brand-new characters – Cyborg, Raven and Starfire – Wolfman & Perez hewed very closely to the X-Men model of angst-ridden young heroes, and scored big points not only with DC’s readers; NTT became the DC Comic even Marvel fans bought! But the team made their first appearance, not in their own series, but in a ‘Bonus Book’, a supplement included with another title, DC Comics Presents #26. Here, for the first time, we met the new team, as they were gathered together to face a fearful menace – and the Jim Starlin-drawn Superman GL team-up’s pretty nifty too! Soon the stars of a live-action TV show, the New Teen Titans’ popularity is soaring, so we’re pleased to offering an affordable copy of their debut issue. DC Comics Presents #26 is VG+ p at £35. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Sock It to Shell-Head! Iron Man #1 VG+
*Marvel: After a long run as the co-star of Tales of Suspense, Iron Man was given his own title in 1968, when the ‘Berlin Wall’ of Marvel’s distribution was broken down, and they were allowed to expand their range of titles. New in this week, a VG+ copy of Iron Man’s first stunning solo issue, continuing from where his strip in Tales of Suspense left off, with Gene Colan’s hyperkinetic art driving the drama onward! A key item for collectors and investors alike, this is a pence copy, with mostly unblemished deep purple cover background, and only minimal wear towards the upper half of the spine. Iron Man’s pivotal status in the Marvel Universe means that demand for this issue is only going to increase as the years go by. #1 VG+ p £170.
American Update: Spider-Mania! Meet the Molten Man! Amazing Spider-Man #28 FN-
*Marvel: Another classic Ditko Spidey in our Spider-Mania event this week – and one of the most striking covers of the Ditko run – welcomes the debut of the Molten Man, alias corrupt scientist Mark Raxton, whose attempts to enrich himself by gaining super-powers proved devastatingly effective – but at the expense of a normal life, as his golden metallic skin ostracises him from the rest of humanity. This is the nicest copy of Spidey#28 we’ve had for a while, a cents copy with no pence stamp or overprint, unbroken black cover background, and colours that really ‘pop’. FN- £160.
American Update: Beware… the Badoon! Silver Surfer #2 FN+
*Marvel: The second issue of the Silver Surfer’s first solo series saw the debut of the Badoon, a baleful alien race who were to become the bane of the Surfer, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the Defenders… oh heck, they just don’t get along with anybody! The Silver Surfer book featured what is generally acknowledged to be John Buscema’s finest art and… many, many long words from Stan Lee. The extra pages in the early issues brought double the delight from John B’s delineations, and even left space for a Watcher back up into the bargain. This copy is FN+ p; minor wear at the top and bottom of spine, a common drawback with these Marvel squarebounds, but crisp corners, firm staples, and beautiful unmarred cover colour. On sale at £50. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Four Mighty Thors! A Quartet of Key Issues for the Asgardian Avenger
*Marvel: Four highly attractive, mid/high grade issues of Thor’s adventures, opening with #150, the first full Hela! Previously seen only as a peripheral character, the Goddess of Death made her first significant appearance in Thor #150, where the isolation caused by her great power was poignantly rendered, though she didn’t demonstrate the belligerent side shown in her movie incarnation. Issues #165 and #166 were the first major appearances by ‘Him’ – the cosmic-powered being later known as ‘Warlock’ – following his debut in the Fantastic Four, wherein ‘Him’ gains an ill-conceived affection for Thor’s beloved Lady Sif. Good luck with that! And we wrap up this key quartet with issue #168, a clash with Galactus in which hitherto unrevealed secrets about the planet-eating presence were disclosed for the first time. Our new Thor #150 is FN+ p £75; #165 FN/VF p £150; #166 FN/VF p £50 and #168 VF+ p £51.
American Update: Dawn of the Defenders! Marvel Feature #1 FN+
*Marvel: Following their ‘stealth pilot’ appearances in Sub-Mariner’s own series, the non-team of Namor, Doctor Strange, the Hulk and (on & off) the Silver Surfer proved such a hit that the powers-that-be brainstormed the idea of an alliance of Marvel’s most determined loners, who were forced by circumstances to work together whether they liked it or not! The Defenders premiered in 1971’s Marvel Feature #1, an extra-length issue which also brought Doctor Strange back from his fleeting ‘masked superhero’ phase in a separate back-up. This copy is an attractive FN+, minimal corner wear and slight ‘ballast mark’ at top and bottom being the only significant flaws. This is the comic which kicked off 150+ issues of the Defenders’ original series, plus myriad relaunches – and, as an additional factor, it was never distributed in the UK! FN+ at £60. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Marvel Silver/Bronze age sweep G-M inc. low grade key issues
*Marvel: Dozens of Marvel issues added from G-M, including Ghost Rider, Howard the Duck, Hulk (inc. 1st issue #102 PR/FA £10), Incredible Hulk & Wolverine (reprinting 1st Wolverine stories), Indiana Jones (Further Adventures of), Iron Man & Sub=Mariner #1 GD- £15, Jungle Action, Ka-Zar (1st series #1 with hidden profanity cover), Marvel Classics Comics, Marvel Preimere, Marvel Spotlight (inc. #28 1st solo Moon Knight FN £15), Marvel Super-Heroes (inc #18 1st Guardians Of The Galaxy FA+ £20), Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Two-In-One (from #1) and Master Of Kung Fu (most of the rarer, non-distributed issues between #17, where the series started, and #22, a copy signed by artist Paul Gulacy with certificate).
British Update: Long Hot Summer – Roy of the Rovers Holiday (and Winter) Specials 1984-1990
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: In keeping with the current sporting zeitgeist, we’re releasing a selection of specials featuring Melchester’s favourite son, and one of the most famous English footballers, Roy of the Rovers! Beginning in Tiger in 1954, Roy Race’s career spanned four decades, spinning off into his own self-titled series in 1976, and he’s still well remembered by generations of readers! These are later Holiday Specials from Roy’s career, beginning with the 1984 release, and running (not consecutively) to 1990, as well as two Winter Specials from 1988 and 1989 respectively. (Interesting sidebar; when Roy’s earliest adventures were reprinted in the Hurricane weekly, the editors – to avoid confusion with Roy’s contemporary adventures – re-named him ‘Harry Kane’! Eerily prophetic, or what?)
British Update: A Miscellany of Boys’ Adventure & War
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: A plethora of new Boys’ Adventure and War comics new in stock, spanning six decades! From the 1930s, early issues of the venerable story-paper Hotspur, commencing with the fifth issue; from the 1940s, the strangely makeshift Crime Comic Album, a one-off (we assume) produced in the wake of wartime import restrictions; from the 1950s, not only manly adventurer Steve Samson, but also a handful of Rocket, the Eagle-imitator which featured home-grown space explorers such as ‘Captain Falcon’ as well as US imports ‘Flash Gordon’ and ‘Brick Bradford’; the 1960s bring us token additions to Boys’ World, home of ‘Angry Planet’, ‘The Iron Man’, and ‘Wrath of the Gods’; in the 1970s, we have a selection of the rather nifty Vulcan, reprint cornucopia of the best of IPC/Fleetway adventure series, from #1 up and in the 1980s, a token Tiger from 8/5/82 with a free gift bonus!
British Update: Going Commando! New stocks of the popular Picture Library from the 100’s to the 800’s plus more
*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: Around 100 new issues of Commando added to our inventory this week, from issue #113 to #818, including many pre-Decimal numbers, and a selection – admittedly from the latter part of the range – in the surprising grade of VF, not normally attributed to British comics of this vintage. Commando remains in publication today – one of the handful of British comics titles still standing – and here’s a chance to nab some outstanding copies. Backing up Commando, we also have new additions to a select few series: Air Ace Holiday Special, Battle and Battle Holiday Special, Eagle Picture Library (from #1), Lion and Valiant, War Holiday Special, Western Library, and Pearson’s Western Picture Library.
British Update: TV Century 21 FAB-arama! Over 100 issues new in stock in nice grades, inc. most early issues
*TV & Film Related Comics: Another feast of Gerry Anderson goodness this week, as we list over 100 issues new in of TV Century 21, mostly between #2 and #105, with a handful of later. The definitive comic for Fandersons, and a high bennchmark for production values of British comics, printed on good quality white paper in large format size with art by the very cream of British talent from the time, combined with characters who have become an iconic part not just of British cult fandom, but household names to the public at large. Included in this release are #2-10, #52 (1st Thunderbirds strip by Bellamy pictured left FN £50) and almost all issues up to the end of the Daleks strip in #105. These are superior condition copies that mostly would sit proudly in a collection of prized comics, and we rraely see these as nice; check out our catalogue listing for all grade and price details.
British Update: A Date With Debbie – and Spellbound
*Girls’ Comics: A handful of Debbie from 1978, a year previously unrepresnted in our listings, during the period when it had merged with fallen sister Spellbound (though, alas, after the ‘Supercats’ run in the title – though readers were still encouraged to join the ‘Supercats club’!). The Romero studios, former Supercats illustrators, were still gainfully employed, however, with the ‘House of Cats’ (we know a lot of people who have one of those…), and supernatural antics remained in the fore with ‘Valley of Fear’, as well as more mundane yet peculiar strips like ‘The Big Cheese’. (Two young girls roll a giant cheese from London to Diddlecombe because… the editor had a hangover that week? We’re just guessing.) Anyway, new Debbies, just pre- and post- the 300 mark, averaging VG to FN.
Housekeeping Update
On a regular cycle, we sweep through our entire stock to delete sold items and keep our listing as up to date as possible. We’ve just finished deleting sold items from the following file in our British section:
*Humour Comics
As of the time of writing, this category is bang up to date, with every item listed available.