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 section:
*Miscellaneous 1960 Onwards
and in our Books Section:
*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror
As of the time of writing, these categories are bang up to date, with every item listed available.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: A further chunky update to our stocks of Tiger, between the years 1974 and 1980 plus 1983/84, with over 175 issues added to our listings. This period for this classic title has grown significantly in popularity over the past few years, so a good opportunity here to check your wants against our catalogue stock!

*Marvel: It’s been a while since we just breezed on through the Marvel stock, topping up and gap-filling with some (following recent huge sales) still pretty significant selections of stock. Highlight of this latest update include Avengers Annual #10 (1st appearance of Rogue, featured character in the new Star Wars movie…what do you mean, “That’s a different Rogue?!”) in a very affordable VG, the first issue of Black Panther’s solo book from 1976, with Kirby Kraziness unleashed in “King Solomon’s Frog!”, a lovely high-grade early Captain America #107, a selection of Daredevil between issues #13 and #198, including Moondragon’s origin by Jim Starlin in #105, the first US appearance of Captain Britain in Marvel Team-Up #65, a run of X-Factor between issues #2-26, and a wide range of issues of X-Men between #132 and #264, plus token touch-ups to Ghost Rider, Ka-Zar, Marvel Two-In-One, Master of Kung Fu, Nova, Amazing Spider-Man, Spider-Woman, Sub-Mariner and Thor.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: It’s the turn of Cowboys (and Indians) in our CSD event this update, and we have another oddity for you – Totem Picture Library! Commencing in 1961, Totem brought us, like its companion title Radar, translated-from-the-Spanish adventures of ongoing characters Kit the Sheriff, Roy Dallas, and, in later issues, Canada Pierre (isn’t that a stop on the Docklands Light Railway?) in tales of Western derring-do. This selection, though not a complete run, offers a substantial amount between #1 and 1964’s #40, in very respectable condition, averaging FN/VF and with many VF copies among the incoming.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: Three separate titles with two very different philosophies recharged this update: 1976’s Bullet, one of the later entries in D.C. Thomson’s adventure oeuvre, nevertheless hewed very firmly to the old school of boys’ weeklies, with war, sport and spies being the staples – underneath the trendy veneer of moustache, mullet and medallion, our protagonist ‘Fireball’ was reassuringly stiff-upper-lipped after all. By contrast, the 1980’s brought the comics revolution in the UK – a halcyon decade in which comics were going to be the next adult mass communications medium (remember then?) and two of the comics in the forefront were Deadline, birthplace of Hewlett and Martin’s Tank Girl, and Crisis, the 2000 AD spin-off which took a dystopian look at the near future. All three of these series have fresh stock – scattered in the case of Deadline, extensive in the cases of Bullet and Crisis – added for your delectation. Full grade and price details, as always, in our catalogue listings.

*Humour Comics: As previously mentioned, we’ve been looking at our Beano and Dandy stocks, ever mindful of the marketplace and what we learn about relative scarcity. We’ve reviewed and restructured our pricing policy for these two famous titles, in particular for the years 1951-1964, and you’ll now find that we have the early 1960’s prices at the same rate as the late 1950’s, since the later issues are in fact rarer than the older ones. However, all our prices for the years 1951-1964 for both titles are now considerably cheaper than they were, so there’s never been a better time to fill the gaps in your collection of these iconic British comic institutions!

*DC: 1985’s universe-redefining DC series, Crisis On Infinite Earths, in which worlds lived, worlds died, and all the surviving parallel Earths were merged into one, causing headaches for writers and apoplexy for fans for a generation! Created to celebrate DC’s 50th Anniversary of publication, this series was a huge hit, a major event, and a quality item, being created by Wolman and Perez, the team behind DC’s then-hottest property, the New Teen Titans. There was a genuine feeling of momentous events, and the deaths of such characters as Supergirl and the Flash caused shockwaves through the industry – and proved ‘permanent’ for a surprisingly long time! All twelve issues of this much-imitated but seldom-equalled series now back in stock, mostly in extremely attractive high grades. Exact grade and price details in the catalogue listing. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD

*Marvel: Early appearances new in stock for two of Marvel’s more recent breakout characters. The first full appearance of Cable, the back-from-the-future warrior, was in New Mutants #87, and he shortly thereafter took over the leadership of the team and starring role in the series. We have both the first and second printings of this significant issue in stock, the first printing being a Pence copy in VF at £50, and the second a NM cents copy at £10. Cable also escorted the New Mutants through their transition into the X-Force, and we also have new stock of X-Force #1. Deadpool is represented not only by his second-ever appearance in X-Force #2, but also by his first solo issue, the Circle Chase mini-series #1, and the 50th issue of his first ongoing series! Cable and Deadpool prices are of course spiralling upwards owing to the recent Ryan Reynolds Deadpool movie smash (with Cable lined up for Deadpool II), so swift selection is recommended! SORRY, NEW MUTANTS #87 (BOTH PRINTS) NOW SOLD

*Magazines/Books About Vintage US Comics: Three iconic UK comics fanzines are our feature this update, with more-or-less consecutive runs from 1975 to 1990! Oldest first is  Comic Media News, one of the UK’s first ‘Prozines’, with occasional new covers by the then-fledgling Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, and others. We have a consecutive run, missing only one issue from #23 through to the final issue, #40, in 1980. Bemusing Magazine began as a humble mimeographed fanzine (ask your Mums), but by 1977’s #13 had graduated to a small-press printed production, which is where we join it. By the #20’s, it had abbreviated its title to BEM, started running colour covers, and gained enough popularity to be picked up by an American publisher – which is where it ultimately came unstuck when the US publisher crashed and burned, with 1982’s issue #36. Nothing daunted, Bemusing/BEM’s editor Martin Lock took over the venerable Fantasy Advertiser ‘zine with 1981’s issue #70, and rapidly recreated BEM’s success, making it the most respected British comics fanzine – a trend only enhanced when Martin Skidmore took over the editorship and reached out to people like Eddie Campbell, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and other significant figures in the 1980’s comics renaissance. With a plethora of otherwise-unseen work by Emerson, Bolland, Gibbons, Talbot, McMahon, O’Neill and many more, these fanzines, with print runs ranging from at best a couple of thousand down to perhaps a couple of hundred, these once-dismissed ‘zines are now hotly sought after when they appear on the market, which is seldom. This selection, with mostly consecutive issues from three of the leading ‘zines of the time, is a remarkable acquisition.

*Girls’ Comics: Restocks of the cult girls’ weekly Misty, the horror/mystery anthology which redefined the expectations of girls’ comics during its brief span. Our sloe-eyed hostess (created by artist Shirley Bellwood, who illustrated many ethereal covers and frontispieces) narrated, week after week, tales of mystery and imagination written and drawn by many of IPC/Fleetway’s finest. Owing to the proliferation of sought-after artists, Misty is keenly collected, and prices trend high, but this new selection, though perfectly respectable reading copies, range more between Fair to Very Good, rather than VG to Fine, so are comparatively affordable. This range of almost 50 issues runs from March 1978 to the very last, in January 1980, and, as a bonus, includes a dozen or so early issues from Tammy when it absorbed Misty into its pages.

*Marvel: Following tremendous sales on everyone’s favourite barbarian, we are delighted to announce a significant restock on Conan between issues #26 & #96, plus Annuals and Giant-Sizes. Typified by Roy Thomas scripts and the masterful art of John Buscema, whose style was really suited to such sword and sorcery, Conan flourished under Marvel’s imprint in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

*TV & Film Related Comics: About 75% of the second series of TV21 fresh in, mostly in FN grades, ranging from #3 to #104 (the penultimate issue). Although this successor to the classic TV Century 21 series started out as its predecessor ended with football covers, these soon gave way to the more exciting fare offered by Thunderbirds (as shown on #8 pictured), more than ably backed up by Star Trek, Tarzan, Land Of The Giants and Joe 90. Joe actually shared billing with TV21 for the first 30 odd issues following his own short-lived series. Although perhaps overshadowed by the famous first series, this second series is still chock-full of cult TV strips of superior quality and forms an essential part of any British collection of such.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: It’s the turn of Detectives in our Cowboys, Schoolgirls & Detectives Picture Libraries prestigious collection this week, in particular our final visit for this collection to Super Detective Picture Library, with a selection of mostly splendidly graded issues between #102 & #186. Featured stars are: Lesley Shane, Tod Claymore, The Toff, Vic Terry, Blackshirt, Rip Kirby, Buck Ryan, John Steel and, of course, the superbly illustrated adventures of Rick Random, who is represented in a spate of adventures. Several samples illustrated below. Full details as always in our catalogue. Next time, the Cowboys will be back!

While we do make every effort to adhere to our posted opening hours, people should be aware that industrial action on public transport at this time does make commuting to the shop a bit fraught and challenging. If we do miss our opening times on occasion during this action, please bear with us; we’re doing our best!

*Marvel: From 1968, most of the first series of Silver Surfer new in. From #2 through to #18 (final issue) we have fresh stock of the Sentinel of the Spaceways, with Stan Lee at his most philosophical and John Buscema at his most majestic on the art duties (with ‘King’ Kirby on the final issue). Giant-size issues up to #7; many mid-high grade cents issues and many multiples in varying grades to allow for a choice of budgetary options. Highlights include #2 (FN+ £50 1st Badoon), #3 (FN+ £75 1st Mephisto) and #4 (FN+ £150 classic Surfer vs. Thor cover and story with low distribution). This classic series remains ever-popular and early attention is recommended.

*Vintage Magazine-Sized Comics: One long-overlooked character in the Marvel pantheon was Star-Lord, the cosmic adventurer who was introduced in a few issues of Marvel Preview and Marvel Comics Super Special in the 1970’s, never really went anywhere, and then simmered into obscurity – until his revival as a central character in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, accompanied by the sensationally successful film (the sequel to which is due for imminent release), made him one of the bleated breakout characters of the 21st Century! This update, we present a FN/VF copy of his very first appearance, in 1976’s Marvel Preview issue #4. Steve Englehart and Steve Gan’s presentation of Peter Quill, the not-yet-legendary Starlord, has fewer laughs than the movie version (and definitely a much quieter soundtrack!), but this is where the character got his start, and prices have been going bonkers on early Star-Lord appearances. This is a FN/VF copy, pence priced with a rather fixed label, but a superior copy in every other respect; offered at £65. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD

*Marvel: Marvel’s Master of the Mystic Arts, Dr. Strange, suffered a bit of a lull in the late Sixties following the failure of his first series, but came back in fine form, first with a successful ‘showcase’ run in Marvel Premiere, then from 1974, his revived ongoing title. We are pleased to have the entire 81-issue second series of Dr. Strange in stock, many of them non-distributed in the UK and therefore highly sought after. The roster of creators on this series is stellar, with, at various times, Frank Brunner, Steve Englehart, Tom Sutton, Steve Leialoha, Marshall Rogers, Roger Stern, Paul Smith, Mike Golden and of course Gene Colan doing exceptional work. Most of these issues are in exceptional grade – the earliest are respectable, but the condition rapidly escalates to an average of VF/NM, with many NM (a grade we only cautiously allot to comics of this vintage) among their number. We round off the complete run with the one-shot Giant-Size issue, and the first series Annual, a thing of beauty illustrated by P. Craig Russell, illustrated here. As always, full grade and price details are available in the Marvel section of our online catalogue. Despite their remarkable condition, many of these vintage items still work out cheaper than modern comics – and, on average, are much better!

*Girls’ Comics: A bit outside our usual range, we have acquired a 1980 issue of the US music newspaper Goldmine, 176 tabloid-sized pages of mostly ads, but including features and articles including “Beatles Rarities”, “The Return of the Troggs”, and myriad other profiles and interviews with the great, good, grotty and obscure of the rock world. General good condition, a bit chipped and yellow at the edges (but aren’t we all?) It’s a veritable cross-section of rock memorabilia from the pre-internet days! We have, I freely confess, no real idea what this sort of thing goes for, so we’re trying it out at £10.

*Marvel: We conclude this segment of our Slab Happy feature with a couple of Marvel milestones: first up, Daredevil #181 CGC 9.0 (VF/NM) by Frank Miller, featuring the ‘death’ of Elektra & appearances by Bullseye & the Kingpin (offered at £30); secondly She-Hulk #1 from 2005 CGC 9.8 (NM/M), by Dan Slott & Juan Bobillo, with Slott’s distinctive take on everyone’s favourite lawyer cum super-heroine, at £40.

*TV & Film Related Comics: We’re particularly blessed to have got our second batch of Joe 90 in during the last couple of months. This short-lived Gerry Anderson series doesn’t turn up very often, so this is a noteworthy event! 25 of the 34 issues new in, from #2 and inc #34 (final issue, pictured). Almost all are VG or in over half the cases, a sparkling FN grade.

*Marvel UK: A further huge update to our stocks of Mighty World Of Marvel, one of the longest running of Marvel UK’s titles, home to the Hulk and many other Marvel denizens, with over 150 issues added between #37 & #342. All now graded, these additions are mostly FN or VG copies. Fill yer boots!

*Girls’ Picture Libraries: The latest offering from our fabulous CSD: Putney collection of Picture Libraries features June & School Friend PL (later adding Princess to its title). This series continued the numbering from Schoolgirls’ Picture Library and later absorbed the defunct Princess PL to boot, thus inheriting continuing characters from both classic series. Dozens of issues added to our stock between #329 & #515, very many in as high a grade as VF, which although it’s a grade we seldom assign to British comics, is typical of the CSD: Putney collection, where rusty staples are the exception rather than the rule. All your favourite features are here, including Zanna of the Jungle, Lucky’s Living Doll, Mimi the Mesmerist, Sue, Sally, Mam’selle X and many more. Some samples are illustrated below. Next week, it’s the turn of Detectives in our CSD: Putney feature.

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980’s: The horror series, Werewolf By Night, starring the implausibly-named Jack Russell as the eponymous lycanthrope, launched an unexpected career when in issue #32, the villain du jour was one Moon Knight, a silver-clad crusader with an agenda to claim the Werewolf’s pelt. Needless to say, it was all one of those wacky heroic misunderstandings, but nevertheless, Moon Knight caught the public’s eye, rapidly getting his own tryout strip in Marvel Spotlight, and, after a number of other guest-appearances, his own title by Moench and Sienkiewicz, who brought the character such prominence that he has seldom been out of publication since. Don Perlin, illustrator of this issue, isn’t Bill Sienkiewicz – to put it mildly – but this is the first appearance of the hugely popular character, and shooting up in price. This is a pence stamped copy, which has also had a (slightly-higher price) pence sticker placed over the overstamp. In every other respect, it’s an attractive VF+ – would grade higher without the sticker – and is offered at £275. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD

*DC: From the 1970’s, several of the tabloid-sized Collectors’ Editions with which DC regaled the market. These oversized issues show off the art to the best advantage, and the examples we have in mostly deserve such display; DC Special Series #27 presents the epic clash of Batman Vs. the Incredible Hulk, with superlative art by Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, and featuring the villainy of the Joker: FN+ at £40. Famous First Edition C-61, released to coincide with the first Superman movie, presents the entirety of Superman #1 from 1939; okay, the art’s a little crude by contemporary standards, but it’s dead ‘istoric, innit? Limited Collectors’ Edition C-51 gathers together the first epic clash of Batman with Ra’s Al Ghul, with Neal Adams artwork and an awesome Adams cover created specially for this edition. And the biggie is Superman Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man the first proper DC/Marvel co-productions, in which the companies’ respective solo super-stars met fought the first time. We offer a FN/VF copy at £45, but for the more economically-minded, we also have a GD p at £15. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD

*DC: DC, attempting to increase their traditional audience, tried an unprecedented launch of a comic starring a super-villain in 1975. They certainly picked the right candidate in the Batman’s arch-nemesis the Joker, but despite conscientious scripting by Denny O’Neil, the requirements of the Comics Code Authority forced each issue to end with the Joker’s defeat – and a comic book starring a persistent loser didn’t sit well with the general public! Nevertheless, the subsequent meteoric fame of the Joker in comics and other media has made his first solo forays highly desirable now, and we’re pleased to have the full 9-ssue run in mid-to-high grades for this week’s Batmania Max update, several of them cents copies, with a couple of duplications. Co-starring friends and foes of Batman such as Catwoman, Creeper, Green Arrow and Black Canary, the Royal Flush Gang, the Scarecrow, and, er, Sherlock Holmes (kind of), this is an interesting experimental cul-de-sac in the Gotham cityscape.