*Humour Comics: A chunky update to both the first and second series of Knockout, the comic that in its first series never seemed quite sure if it was mainly humour with some adventure or mainly adventure with some humour (we’ve plumped for humour in our listings). The first series ran from 1939-1963 and the second (which was firmly humour!) from 1971-1973. We have issues from 1951, 1958, 1959, 1962, 1971 & 1972 new into stock.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: A small batch of Lion, one of the most famous Boys’ Adventure titles, added to our stocks from thes first 2 years of publication 1952 & 1953. These have wonderfully evocative science fiction covers featuring space-ship pilot Captain Condor.

*Annuals: Additions to our stock of vintage annuals from D.C. Thomson’s ‘Big Two’ humour weeklies; Beano Books from 1951-1959, and Dandy Books from 1955-1958. Join all the well-known characters such as Korky the Cat, Biffo the Bear, Dennis the Menace, Black Bob, Minnie the Minx, Desparate Dan, and the Bash Street Kids, as well as less well-remembered features Bird Boy, Jimmy and His Magic Patch, Rip Snorter (the Ugliest Pig In The World), Jack Flash, Tin Lizzie, Waif of the Wild West and Mickey From the Moon, to name but a few. Oddball antics and adventures abound, all in collectable mid-grade, with story pages unmarred. Left to right below: (Top) Beano 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956 (Bottom) 1957, 1958, 1959, Dandy 1955, 1957.

*Marvel: New in, every issue of Hulk from #102 (1st issue) to #200 (except for the Wolverine ‘trilogy’ in #180-182). Lots to savour, including the first appearances of friends: Doc Samson, Barbara Norris aka Valkyrie, Jim Wilson, Jarella and foes: the Missing Link, the Glob, the Wendigo, the Gremlin, Zzzaxx, the Harpy and many more, plus a couple of notable ‘deaths’: Warlock and the Mimic. The vast majority of issues in this collection are a sparkling high grade quality, with VF, VF+, VF/NM, NM- and NM all plentiful. A selection of scans shown below:

Hulk #102 FN+ £65
Hulk #104 VF+ £65
Hulk #106 VF/NM £58
Hulk #111 NM p £62
Hulk #112 NM p £62
Hulk #141 VF+ £60
Hulk #162 NM p £100

*Magazines/Books About Vintage UK Comics: It’s far too seldom that we get to add much here due to the paucity of stuff on this subject, so we’re very pleased to have issue #1 of Scraps, a slick and glossy fanzine with an emphasis on UK reprints of vintage US material. Also, a couple of issues of Crikey fresh in that were missing from our listings.

*Alan Class Reprints: In preparation for our Alan Class signing session here on Sunday 7th June, we’re very pleased to announce a further release of his Printing Plate Sets. Each of these unique items from the personal archive of Alan Class comprises the four lead printing plates used in the original comics’ colour printing, a copy of the comic printed with these plates and a signed certificate of authenticity signed by Alan Class himself. These are packaged in a special protective case. Several sets (as noted) have additional historical artefacts such as colour proofs, interior page plates, printers’ photostats, additional comics reprinted later in the series, original American comic featured etc. Most sets also feature handwritten anecdotes on separate cards with Alan Class’s reminiscences about a particular comic. Titles in this release are Astounding, Secrets Of the Unknown, Suspense, Uncanny & Weird Planets. Heavily featured are super-hero covers and lead stories, including the favourite Marvel characters Spider-Man, the Avengers, Daredevil and the Silver Surfer, as well as other publishers’ heroes: the Jaguar, Judo Master, Mandrake and the Phantom. There are also many horror/mystery covers beloved of Alan Class collectors, including some with evocative Steve Ditko covers. A piece of comics history, not just for the comic itself but also for the process in its manufacture!

*Archie: A small update from the Riverdale scene from the 1960’s and 1970’s in the following titles: Archie & Me, Archie’s Joke Book, Archie’s Mad House & Life With Archie.

*DC: From 1974, a brace of Treasury-sized reprints of the Golden Age Superman #1 & Flash #1 under the Famous First Editions banner. We actually have 2 copies of C61 (Superman #1) in VF and FN/VF; F8 (Flash #1) is FN/VF. These have become increasingly scarce in this nice a grade.

*Vintage Magazine-Sized Comics: From 1974 and the height of the martial arts craze comes a near complete run of Deadly Hands Of Kung Fu, the Marvel watershed black and white magazine for all its martial arts characters, including Master Of Kung Fu, Sons Of the Tiger, Iron Fist, the White Tiger and debuts for the Daughters Of the Dragon and Jack Of Hearts. There’s also a lot about Bruce Lee (inc the special issue #28 pictured here), David Carradine and Chuck Norris (perhaps lesser known Marvel Characters!) and tons of features on films of the time. Our resident martial artist, Dr. Evilla, feels that authentic martial art accuracy was perhaps sacrificed for the sake of fancy action poses, and she should know!

*Girls’ Comics: A selection of favourite titles from 1979: Bunty, Debbie, Jinty, Mandy, Misty and Tammy, as well as Judy, plus some additional Judys from 1968 & 1969.

As previously announced, Alan Class will be signing copies of his comics and collectors’ printing plate sets at our shop on Sunday 7th June (we are opening on that one Sunday only especially for this event). The signing session will last from 2pm to 5pm, and we will only be open for those hours. This is timed so that those of you visiting central London for the Comic Mart that day can come along to the signing after the mart. If you’re unable to attend, Alan will be happy to sign and dedicate any of his comics or sets for you on the day that you can buy from us in advance (as shown in our website catalogue), which can if required be posted to you after the event. There will be more announcements about this special event as we get nearer the date!

*Marvel: We’ve expanded the range of our catalogue again to include another famed mini-series from the recent past. From 2001, the highly-anticipated six-part series Wolverine: The Origin, which revealed, for the first time, the full and unexpurgated origin of Marvel’s most popular character of recent years. Paul Jenkins and Andy Kubert united to bring about this special event, with the aid of evocative covers by Marvel’s head honcho Joe Quesada. All six issues currently available, some in a variety of grades to suit differing tastes and budgets.

*Girls’ Comics: From 1967, early issues of Tina! This trans-European project, launched in multiple language editions, was so heavily pre-sold prior to its launch that it could legitimately claim, even on the front of its debut issue, “More copies sold than any other girl’s paper in the world!”. With a strong adventure-oriented line-up, curvaceous secret agent ‘Jane Bond’ illustrated by Michael Hubbard, was the lead, and the ‘Space Girls’ (in colour, by Dan Dare illustrator Keith Watson) added a sci-fi touch. Other features which debuted here and would run for years in Tina’s remarkably stable line-up were island adventure with Brenda Burn and ‘My Chum Yum-Yum’, pop musicians ‘Jackie and the Wild Boys’, western adventuress ‘Glory Gold’, and ‘Barbie’. Yep, that Barbie. After thirty issues, Tina merged with Princess and lived a long and happy life as Princess Tina, but the earliest issues remain scarce, and we’re lucky enough to have issues #1 and #2 in a remarkable Fine condition. (Also issue #4, which has a brittle bottom – but who doesn’t at that age?)

*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: The venerable picture library Air Ace is undergoing something of a resurgence right now, and we’re delighted to add 40+  new issues to our listings, ranging from issue #15 through to issue #346, and including a handful of the second series. With very pulpy painted covers, often fine artwork, and evocative titles such as “The Flying Batman”, “Ace of Cowards”. “The Dead Have An Alibi”, “Blood Chariot” and, er, “The Limping Wimpey” (no, really), these tales of aviation adventure continue to sell briskly, so book your flight of fancy today!

*Religious: Bit of a misnomer, since our Religious Comics category is in our American section, but I’m sure you’ll forgive us for slipping a UK item in here.  In Quirky Corner, we don’t just list items worth a squidillion pounds apiece – though from a certain viewpoint, it’s a price above rubies! This update’s oddity is Plus #150, a 1970’s British comic published by the aptly-named ‘Challenge Literature Fellowship’, with the usual selection of adventure and humour strips and text features, with the additional feature that the punchline to every item appears to be ‘Jesus’. We, of course, are happy heathens who are beyond help, but if any of you lot want to snaffle a dab of redemption, here you go. VG @ £5.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: Some UK originals in American style/size this update, published by Miller, Spencer & others. We have Buffalo Bill, the Colorado Kid, Fantasy Stories, a rare Australian Ghost Rider (original), Marvelman, Strange Stories, a rare Strange Worlds (Man’s World Pub.), Sun and Young Marvelman.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: A small update in this category with some nice items: Crunch #1 & #3, 8 Valiants from 1965, a Victor from 1982 with partial free gift and a 1971 Wizard with complete free gift.

*Marvel: In 1975, someone at Marvel had the bright idea of using up some currently unused characters to form a new team, resulting in possibly the most mis-matched group ever to grace the House Of Ideas. Angel & Iceman were not wanted in the New X-Men, Hercules and Black Widow had no place in the Avengers, and Ghost Rider is possibly the least likely team player of all. The series floundered for a few issues until John Byrne got hold of it mid-run and made it work with some surprisingly gripping stories and art. Sadly, not enough to stave off cancellation after issue #17, but the series provides an interesting footnote to Marvel’s team books and is fondly remembered in some circles. The entire run in nice shape now fresh into stock!

*TV & Film Related Comics: Several dozen issues of TV Action (the successor to Countdown) new in this week, between #66 and the final issue #132, before it was merged with TV Comic. Features include Jon Pertwee’s Dr. Who, UFO, Captain Scarlet, Stingray, the Persuaders, Mission Impossible, the Protectors, Alias Smith & Jones and many others.

*Marvel: Never more appropriately timed, for Star Wars Day, we welcome the first issue – and first printing thereof – of the original Marvel Star Wars title, with Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin presenting the first of many comic-strip adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and all the gang! This is a 30c-priced Near Mint Minus copy, in excellent condition, at £100. Vivid unbroken cover colour and gloss, white unmarred  interior pages,  with only the very faintest of wear at the lower edge belying a higher grade. A very desirable copy for the reader and the investor alike, particularly with the movie excitement just around the corner!

*Magazines/Books About US Vintage Comics: New stock for many major (and some obscure) titles in this enduringly popular section: Back Issue, Comic Book Artist, Comic Book Creator, Comicology, Comics Forum, Comics Journal, First Class Comic Review, Graphic Eye, the controversial 1970’s US commentary ‘zine Inside Comics, rare issues of Jack Kirby Collector, and the one-off Kirby tribute from 1994, Taaru!

*Annuals: A few dozen annuals added to Beano and its spin-offs Bash Street Kids and Dennis The Menace. From recent decades, these are generally in very nice shape. Bash Street Kids between 1980 (1st BSK Annual) and 2005, Beano between 2003-2011, and Dennis between 1989-1998.

*Marvel: We reach the end of our ‘Assembling the Avengers’ special event with Annuals/Specials and Giant-Size  issues. Specials #1 & #2 (Annuals) and Giant-Size #1-4 all feature new material and some momentous storylines for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Lots of the Mandarin, Kang, Rama-Tut, Dormammu and, in GS #4. the double wedding of the Vision & the Scarlet Witch and of Mantis and the Swordsman. That’s all for the Avengers for the time being — we hope you’ve enjoyed our ‘assembling’ and have added a few nice issues to your collection!

*DC: Silver Age DC was about more than just super-heroes, with a diverse range of adventure stories produced in a milieu of settings. This update we have Blackhawk, Brave & Bold with Cave Carson Inside Earth, House Of Secrets, Sea Devils by Russ Heath (inc. #2 and their 3rd appearance in Showcase #29) and Strange Adventures.

*Western: A small update of Marvel western titles, featuring two #1 issues. Ghost Rider #1 (1967), Kid Colt, Rawhide Kid, Red Wolf (#1) & Western Gunfighters. Back in 1967, the Ghost Rider was named Carter Slade and rode a horse called Banshee — not a motorcycle or flaming skull in sight!