*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!

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980’s: Six mostly high grade horror #1 issues from mighty Marvel in the 1970’s: Arrgh, Chamber Of Chills, Chamber Of Darkness, Man-Thing (1st series, with 2nd app. of Howard The Duck), Uncanny Tales & Weird Wonder Tales. SORRY, THESE HAVE ALL NOW SOLD

*Girls’ Comics: From the years 1981 and 1982, we’ve added several dozen issues of Girl (2nd series) and Bunty. Bunty is the classic Girls’ title with the Four Marys and scarcely needs much introduction here. The 2nd series of Girl bears little resemblance to the first and is characterised by grinning pre-pubescent young misses on the covers, many of whom feature more than once and, we strongly suspect, must have been related to editors — they certainly don’t look like models (and if you’re reading this and had your photo on a cover of Girl in 1981/82, we apologise and are sure that you must be the exception who is photogenic!)

*Humour Comics: A late entry into Fleetway IPC’s Humour Comics stable was Wow, which lasted just about a year from June 1982 to June 1983. We have most of the 1982 issues fresh into stock. A series most infamous now, perhaps, since it was ‘presented’ by Rolf Harris, and featured his Magic Brush. Make of that what you will.

*TV / Film Tie-Ins: This update has three childrens’ television programmes, including the very first Dr Who adventure on paper, the Tomorrow People and Thunderbirds. We also have 1990 and (a first for us) a book based on a radio series, ‘The Hitch-hikers Guide To The Galaxy’.

*Marvel: Well, for weeks now, we’ve been counting down through a significant run of high-grade Thor and Journey Into Mystery acquisitions, and after passing through a myriad of lesser milestones, here it is – Journey into Mystery #83, in this VF grade the most valuable comic ever to pass through our hands. The very first appearance of Thor, God of Thunder, transformed by an ancient magic from a puny human into a being of amazing power – power which he quickly turns on the Stone Men of Saturn, who pick possibly the worst time ever to invade Earth. This is a beautiful cents copy, no UK overprint or price stamp. Vivid cover colour and gloss, flexible cream interior pages, no interior markings of any kind but for one previous owner’s name being written neatly across the splash page margin. The only cover defect is a very faint long crease (approx. 13 cm) running across the upper right diagonal, barely perceptible on close inspection. The debut issue of one of Marvel’s most popular and iconic characters, graded at VF and offered for £8700. Thumbnails are here of front and back covers; click on them for larger scans. High resolution scans are available on request. NB This comic is not stored on our premises; viewing is strictly by appointment only and a minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required.

*Humour Comics: A very unusual addition this update. Any World War II era issue of Dandy (November 25th 1944) in Fine condition would be uncommon enough, given its age and the exigencies of wartime paper rationing, but this issue features the debut of one of the Dandy’s most enduring features. It’s the first appearance of Black Bob, the Border Collie who outlasted Lassie, continuing his career well into the 1990’s, and still in popular consciousness today, as witness by Viz magazine’s spoofs of “Black Bag, The Faithful Border Bin Liner”. In addition to Black Bob’s 2-page prose debut (he didn’t evolve into a comic strip until later), this issue features regulars “Korky the Cat”, “Desperate Dan”, “Freddy the Fearless Fly”, the politically-incorrect “Inky-Poo”, and Superman – er, sorry, “The Amazing Mr. X”, who bears no resemblance at all to the famous Siegel & Shuster creation, plus many more. All this in a packed twelve pages (There was a war on, you know…), with beautiful off-white interiors, vivid unfaded cover colours and only very minimal spine and edge wear. FN at £100.