*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: A large update of Rover, consisting of Rover itself covering 1949 to 1952, Rover and Adventure from 1961 and Rover and Wizard covering 1964 to 1969, with one Christmas issue from 1967. The grades are nearly all GD or VG. Thrill to the adventures of Alf Tupper, Tough of the Track, who trained on fish and chips!
Category Archives: What’s New
British Update: Free Gift Farrago: “A long time ago…” – Star Wars Weekly #1 & #2 with Free Gifts!
*TV & Film Related Comics: This week we have the first two issues of Star Wars Weekly from 1978. Marvel UK lost little time in jumping on the bandwagon, re-packaging reprints of the American material, and, in the best tradition of British Weeklies, enticing the punters with the added incentive of a flimsy and easily-damaged cardboard toy! We have issue #1 of Star Wars Weekly in VF with the Free Gift X-Fighter in NM, and issue #2 in GD (generally nicer than that grade, but does have a mid-cover edge tear) with Free Gift Tie-Fighter in VF. Both gifts are flat and still attached to the original support card, as per illustrations; neither has ever been ‘punched out’ and assembled. Issue #1 with Free Gift is £75; issue #2 with Free Gift is £40.
British Update: TV Tornado with the Mysterons
*TV & Film Related Comics: And here’s more Gerry Anderson material, as we present TV Tornado #2-39. The nasties from Captain Scarlet feature from #36 (see cover image), but there’s much more to TV Tornado than the Mysterons, with Batman, Tarzan, the Phantom, the Man From UNCLE, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, Bonanza, Flash Gordon, Green Hornet, Magnus Robot Figther, the Lone Ranger, the Saint, the Invaders and others. A real cult TV fan favourite title!
British Update: TV Century 21 #6-20 in low grade
*TV & Film Related Comics: Continuing our Gerry Anderson theme, following on from last week’s Lady Penelope extravaganza and our celebratory window display, we’re delighted to have issues #6-20 (less #18) of TV Century 21 from 1965 fresh into stock. Sadly, these are low grade copies, with frayed spines and ragged edges, but they are all complete and readable and at prices beyween £4 and £10, great for filling gaps in yuour collection until better copies come along.
British Update: A Bevy Of Busters From 1972
*Humour Comics: Lots of Busters from 1972, including a New Year issue and Easter issues. ‘Nuff said!
British Update: Princess 1966/67
*Girls’ Comics: We don’t see Princess too often, so we’re delighted to have a nice batch in from the later years, from 5th November 1966 complete right up to the final issue 16th September 1967, including Christmas, Valentine, Easter & April Fool issues. Mostly all in superior condition, with the vast majority being FN grade. This fondly remembered series featured many quality picture strip stories (including the long running ‘Happy Days’ NB NOT the TV show!) and fun features, with charming and evocative covers. Christmas issue 1966 and final issue pictured. After this, it was merged with Tina to become Princess Tina (but that’s a story for another day!). Christmas issue 1966 and final issue pictured.
Clearance Corner: Stick your poster!
*Clearance Corner: Our latest bargain pack is an idiosyncratic mix of 8 poster and sticker magazines mainly from 1980s as follows:
Action Man Sticker Collection (Panini) 1983 FN
Battlestar Galactica Premier Collector’s Edition 1978(?) FN
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars Sticker Collection (Panini) 1986 VF
Star Wars Return Of The Jedi Sticker Collection (Panini) 1983 VG
Star Wars Return Of The Jedi Sticker Collection (Panini) 1983 GD
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Official Poster Monthly #2 1980 FN
Transformers Sticker Collection (Panini) 1986 VF
Transformers Poster Magazine 1986/7 VF
All stickers present in sticker collections. Available for £7.50 (that’s less than £1 per mag!) Postage to a UK address (if required) would be an extra £3.50. SORRY, THIS LOT HAS NOW SOLD
What’s Old: Ghost Rider #1 VF+
This week’s spotlight on our previously listed stock falls on Ghost Rider #1 VF+ £125 (pence copy). The 1970’s retooling of the venerable Western character, Ghost Rider, as a supernatural satanically-empowered cyclist raised eyebrows among the purists, to say the least – but no-one can deny it was a commercial success, and after a hit streak in Marvel Spotlight, former stunt-rider Johnny Blaze burned rubber into his own series!
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:
*Alan Class Reprints
As of the time of writing, this category is bang up to date, with every item listed available.
American Update: The Head of the Demon! First Ra’s al Ghul in Batman #232, with Adams artwork!
*DC: In Batman #232, the creative team of Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams created one of Batman’s most significant villains: Ra’s al Ghul, a.k.a. the Head of the Demon, leader of the League of Assassins, and father of Talia, the only woman who ever posed Catwoman a serious threat for the Caped Crusader’s affections. Both Talia and the League had made a couple of appearances before this, but this issue was the first time the readers saw the mysterious head of the League, and this issue kick-started an epic saga that continues to unravel to this very day. This landmark issue, with gorgeous Neal Adams artwork throughout, is represented in our stock by a highly attractive FN+ copy, no pence price or overstamp, unimpeded cover scene with off-white, flexible interior pages and tight staples and corners. On sale for £150. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: “Behold…The Vision!” 1st and second appearances of the Android Avenger back in stock!
*Marvel: In Avengers #57, Roy Thomas and John Buscema brought the world the mysterious Vision, a reinterpretation of a 1940s character, but this time with his origins in super-science rather than the supernatural. Genuinely innovative and shocking at the time, the Vision’s popularity was only enhanced when in the very next issue, his origin was disclosed and he switched sides from villainy to heroism, becoming one of the Avengers’ longest-serving and most loyal members. (Well, apart from the few times he went cyber-crazy and tried to take over the world, but don’t judge, we’ve all done it…) We’re proud to have Vizh’s first and second appearances, his debut and his origin, back in stock: issue #57 is GD/VG p at £60, while #58, very low distribution in the UK, is VG/FN £20. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
American Update: Anyone for seconds? Second appearances of Rocket Raccoon and Groot now available!
*Marvel: Breakout characters from the 2014 cinematic smash-hit, Guardians of the Galaxy, were Rocket Raccoon and Groot, the mis-matched buddies who inexplicably became the heart of the film. Each had made their first appearances many years prior – Rocket in Marvel Preview #7 as ‘Rocky Raccoon’ in a non-continuity back-up, and Groot as the Big-Panty-Monster in 1960’s Tales to Astonish #13. Oddly enough, however, both characters made their second appearances under the auspices of a certain Jade Giant: Hulk #271 co-starred Rocket Raccoon with Bruce Banner’s alter ego, and 1976’s Hulk Annual #5 brought Groot back, with a bunch of his BPM cohorts, to plague the Hulk in a seven-way monster tag-team. Each of these second appearances is new in this update. Our copy of Hulk #271 is VF- p at £50; Hulk Annual #5 is VG/FN at £25. With the popularity of the characters rocketing (sorry) after this year’s release of Guardians of the Galaxy 2, now would be a prudent time to pick these up; accept the word of one who knows.
American Update: Anyone for firsts? #1 issues for Marvel Feature (1st Defenders), Rom, Secret Wars, Wolverine and more!
*Marvel: A scintillating septet of first issues this update, kicking off, in alphabetical order, with 1973’s Crazy, a short-run title reprinting earlier stories from Not Brand Ecch; a genuine quirky rarity with a miniscule print run. A rather longer legacy was left by Marvel Feature #1 from 1971, an extra-thick issue which brought us the debut of the dynamic Defenders, the non-team of Hulk, Sub-Mariner and Dr. Strange which went through 150+ issues in their original series, plus many subsequent relaunches. Rom Space Knight, a seemingly bodged-together toy tie-in, proved surprisingly durable and well-remembered thanks to Bill Manlo and Sal Buscema’s craftsmanship, lasting 75 issues and currently revived at IDW. Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars was the first Marvel sprawling crossover event with spin-off chapters in every ongoing title, setting the precedent for many extravaganzas to come – some more successful than others! Peter Parker, Spectacular Spider-Man #1 was a 1977 release originally intended to focus on the Wall-Crawler’s civilian life rather than his costumed antics – a distinction rapidly abandoned! And we round out this parade of premier issues with not one, but two, Wolverine #1 issues: the first of his mini-series (first solo run) from 1982 by Frank Miller and the first of his first ongoing series from 1988. Pictured: Marvel Feature #1 GD/VG £25; Rom #1 VF £25; Wolverine #1 (1982) FN p £25; Wolverine #1 (1988) FN+ £15. For grade and price details on all the others, our online catalogue holds all the answers…
British Update: Long Hot Summer: Tiger Holiday Specials 1974 to 1980!
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: Another in our spotlights on the extra-thick Holiday Specials traditionally produced for the British Summer (such as it is), and we turn our attention to Tiger, which by the 1970s had become a specialist paper full of sporting superstars. Regulars from the weekly including Roy of the Rovers, Johnny Cougar, Skid Solo, Hot-Shot Hamish, Tallon of the Track and Billy’s Boots participated in new and reprint adventures for these bumper editions. We have a selection of issues from 1974 to 1980 new in: the 1974, 1975 and 1976 Holiday Specials, all FN at £20 each, are seen below, and details on the others may be found in our website catalogue.
British Update: First Quenchers: Starlord #1 with Free Gift Farrago!
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: For our #1 issue ‘First Quenchers’ event this week, we present the 1978 debut of 2000 AD companion, Starlord, which produced a swath of science-fiction series – ‘Timequake’, ‘Planet of the Damned’, ‘Ro-Busters’ and ‘Strontium Dog’ among them – on slick paper with more colour pages than its more famous sibling. However, Starlord was never intended as a long-runner, created as a ‘feeder’ title to hopefully produce a couple of ‘star’ strips and give 2000 AD a quickie circulation boost when it was absorbed by the older title. After only 22 issues, it duly became part of 2000 AD, with ‘Strontium Dog’ and ‘Ro-Busters’ (later rebranded ‘ABC Warriors’) leading much longer lives than they had in their original title. We are delighted to have a FN copy of the first issue, with a VF free gift – the ‘Starlord Trooper’ Laser Specialist badge – for £40.
British Update: Thrill-Power Abounds! 2000 AD restocked from Progs #110 to #299!
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: Following mega-sales, Britain’s premier sci-fi weekly, 2000 AD, is hugely restocked with close to 200 new issues from the years 1979 to 1983. A handful of issues from the early #100’s, then pretty solidly with minimal gappage from #150 upwards, a period where the series was generally acknowledged to be in its prime. A hot new writer called Alan Moore was beginning to make his impact, and Kev O’Neill, Dave Gibbons, Ian Kennedy, and Ian Gibson were all regular contributing talents. Highlights from this period include the debut of Nemesis, first as a one-off in #167, then as an ongoing series in #178, the first appearances of long-running stories Mean Arena and Ace Trucking Co. in #178 and #232 respectively, and an interesting curiosity, the virtual pro debut of a promising young artist named Alan Davis on “Harry Twenty on the High Rock”, commencing in #287. Plus, a plethora of issues with art by the legendary Brian Bolland, all tagged in our listings where in stock, culminating in the Judge Dredd serial, “Judge Death Lives!” from #224 on.
British Update: More Than Meets The Eye! Transformers from #1 to #322 new in stock!
*TV & Film Related Comics: Following phenomenal sales on our recent massive influx of Marvel UK’s Transformers, we have… another massive influx of Marvel UK Transformers! This selection runs from the very first issue (FN £12, pictured) through to #322, ten issues or so shy of the series finale. While not a complete run, this is a substantial update with very few gaps, encompassing free gift issues and, of course, featuring much new material generated specifically for the UK edition to satisfy the legion of clamouring Transfans, and never reprinted anywhere! SORRY, #1 HAS NOW SOLD
British Update: Buster 1973 re-stocked
*Humour Comics: A couple of dozen issues of Buster from 1973 added to our catalogue to replenish a year of this very popular title that we were almost out of. Includes the Easter issue for that year.
British Update: Star Love Stories In Pictures
*Girls’ Picture Libraries: We’ve been doing a bit of detective work on this one. It seems that in the 1960s, D C Thomson published a romance picture library under a variety of titles: Love & Life Library, Blue Rosette Romances, Silver Moon Romances and Golden Heart are the ones we’ve come across. Now, we suspect (but don’t know for sure), that these all had one numeric sequence, whatever the title. In any event, that seems to be the case after issue #100, when the overall title of Star Love Stories – All In Pictures took over and the previous titles stayed for a while as sub-titles until they all eventually became Star Love Stories in Pictures. As well as a couple of Love & Life Library pre-Star fresh in, we have a stonking amount of nearly 200 of these Star Love Stories in Pictures fresh in, ranging from #103 to #1213. Its longevity pays testament to what must have been its enduring popularity (1960s to 1990s) and at £1.50 to £2.50 each for the vast majority of these, this title represents outstanding value.
Clearance Corner: Black Dragon & Plastic Forks — both complete for £10!
*Clearance Corner: Two complete and very different series from Marvel’s Epic imprint comprise this week’s bargain. Black Dragon is a stirring medieval knights adventure written by Chris Claremont with beautiful art by John Bolton; Plastic Forks is Ted McKeever’s acclaimed metaphor for the underprivileged. Nothing in common except quality! Black Dragon #1-6 complete, Plastic Forks #1-5 complete. Both series (11 comics) for just £10. UK postage (in a twister mailer) if required would be an additional £3.50.
What’s Old: Will Eisner’s Casebook 1: True Haunted Houses & Ghosts
Something from our Books department in our spotlight on previously listed stock this week. Presented by the Spirit, this 1976 paperback collects a ‘file of occult and unexplained events.’ Copiously illustrated by Eisner, this beautiful but ghastly volume is seemingly very rare on this side of the pond. A Fine first US pb at £35.
Books Update: Pan Science Fiction
*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: Our latest additions are a selection of Pan paperbacks dating from 1953 to 1979. Arthur C Clarke (Childhood’s End, The Sands Of Mars) is joined by Richard Cowper (signed copy of The Road To Corlay), C S Lewis (Voyage To Venus), Bob Shaw (Orbitsville and Other Days, Other Eyes) and Clifford Simak (Why Call Them Back From Heaven) as well as a collaboration between Frederik Pohl and Jack Williamson (Farthest Star).
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 British section:
*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries
*Girls’ Picture Libraries
As of the time of writing, these categories are bang up to date, with every item listed available.
British Update: The British Are Coming! Elegance, Charm & Deadly Danger – it has to be Lady Penelope!
*TV & Film Related Comics: The second of our specially featured British updates this summer is an excellent selection of Lady Penelope (later just ‘Penelope’). Although not a complete run, this update features over 60 issues, ranging from #2 to #200 (the series finished at #204) and includes the one special: the 1966 Summer Extra. By far the rarest of the main Gerry Anderson series, we seldom see as many as this all in one go. Starting out in 1966, apart from Lady P herself (the original role model for Mary Berry?), the early issues featured Marina, Space Family Robinson, the Beverly Hillbillies, Bewitched and the Perils of Parker, soon adding the Man From UNCLE. Later the Monkees, the Girl From UNCLE, Daktari and the Angels came on board, before it changed title to Penelope in 1968, and concentrated on her ladyship’s adventures as a girl, turning into more of a traditional girl’s comic. Eventually, it shrank from tabloid to standard size and ended in 1969, after a very respectable run. A mixture of grades are available from PR to FN, but mostly a reasonable batch condition-wise. The 1966 Summer Extra is only FA, with edge and spine tears, and some unobtrusive pen marks on 2 panels of the first story, but is a genuine rarity at £75. For full grading and pricing information, consult our catalogue, while they’re still there!
American Update: Death of the Doom Patrol! Final Issue Shocker from 1968!
*DC: If you only remember the Doom Patrol from its 1980s revival and that Grant Morrison chappie, you should be aware that the original 1960s iteration was pretty groundbreaking in its day. It had heroes who resented their powers – which in some cases were killing them – bickering, marital discord, significant character developments, and all sorts of funky stuff. In a lot of cases, it was the DC comic that Marvelites read, so it’s appropriate that its final issue #121 (bar three following reprint issues) offered the most innovative ending of all. Inescapably trapped, our heroes were offered a choice: allow an obscure fishing village of only 14 inhabitants to be destroyed, and walk away free – or give up their own lives. The heroes chose to sacrifice themselves, and the series ended there, in a shocking denouement for those of us reading the series at the time. Yes, yes, it’s been undone by several tedious time-realigning Crises, but for more than a decade – virtually unheard of in comics at the time – the Doom Patrol actually stayed dead, leaving a proud heroic example behind. This copy of Doom Patrol #121 is a Fine+ cents copy, no UK stamp or overprint, on sale for £30. And a damn fine read it is, too. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Watching the Detectives
*DC: A small selection of classic items for our Detective Comics stock, commencing with 1956’s issue #235, revealing the origin of Batman’s costume. The striking cover of issue #262 (pictured FN £85) introduces Anubis, the ‘Jackal of the Underworld’ (unusually for the decade, a brand-new costumed villain), and #270, featuring “The Creature From Planet X” is more era-appropriate, as the Dynamic Duo square off against a giant alien. Finally, from the Swingin’ Sixties, #362 features an early Silver Age appearance by the Riddler (re-popularised by the Batman TV show) in “The Night Batman Destroyed Gotham City!” Full details in our catalogue.
American Update: Dawn of the ‘New’ X-Men era: Giant-Size X-Men #1 & X-Men #94
*Marvel: In the distant days of 1975, the X-Men, once mainstays of the Marvel Universe, were a spent force. Reduced to a bi-monthly reprint comic and occasional guest-appearances, the merry mutants were without a home to call their own. Then two of Marvel’s young gius of the era, Len Wein and Dave Cockrum, changed all that. In Giant-Size X-Men #1, the original X-Men were captured, and Professor X assembled a team of international mutants, some known to the readers (Sunfire, Banshee, and Wein’s own creation, Wolverine, who had made his debut in Hulk #181) and some brand new (Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Thunderbird), and sent them out to rescue their mutant brethren. The ‘New’ X-Men were an instant hit, and with issue #94 of the X-Men ongoing title, the team was restored to all-new adventures, and on their way to becoming the multi-media stars they are today! We are delighted to have the first two appearances of the ‘New’ X-Men in stock; the Giant-Size #1 is a highly attractive FN/VF at £450, with clean bright interiors, firm staples, only very minor misaligment of spine (a flaw prevalent in Marvel’s squarebound comics) and very modest wear at the base of spine and top right edge preventing us from grading it still higher. X-Men #94, first appearance of the new team in the title, is a very bright VF- at £285. Neither of these issues was ever distributed in the UK, so their already uncommon status is exacerbated by their scarcity on this side of the pond. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
American Update: Daredevil #131 – First Appearance of Bullseye!
*Marvel: In the Frank Miller era of Daredevil, Bullseye, the unfailing assassin, became firmly established as DD’s bête noire, causing the Man Without Fear endless grief and misery. And can we ever forget Colin Farrell’s epic performance as Bullseye in the Daredevil movie? Well, maybe if we’re lucky and get hit in the head with a blunt object. But a lot of people, even today, aren’t aware that Bullseye wasn’t a Miller creation; step forward Marv Wolfman and Bob Brown, who presented The Assassin Who Never Misses for the first time in Daredevil #131, two years before the Miller regime kicked in! We are pleased to present a Fine cents copy, without UK stamp or overprint, of this increasingly-significant debut issue at £60. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Strange Tales #105 — Return of the Wizard
*Marvel: From the earliest days of the Marvel Universe, when the editors, doubtless hoping to emulate the success of his Golden Age namesake, intended the Human Torch to be the breakout character of the Fantastic Four, Johnny Storm was granted his own series in the pages of Strange Tales, and while it rapidly deteriorated into a parade of ridiculous villains, the earlier issues featured Lee & Kirby collaborations and credible antagonists – such as this issue, wherein the Torch faces his very own arch-nemesis, the Wizard, for the second time! This slice of early Marvel history is a respectable VG+ cents copy at £58. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Faster Than A Speeding Bullet! Superman Archives Vols 1-4 – Earliest Adventures of the Man of Steel!
*Modern Reprints: From DC’s Archives Series, the handsome full-colour hardcover volumes reprinting, in sequence, the earliest adventures of the Man of Steel, beginning with his debut from 1938’s Action Comics #1! Created by Jerry Siegel and Jerome Shuster, Superman was turned down by several syndicates as a proposed newspaper comic strip, before the then-new publisher National/DC took a chance on the neophyte creators – and the entire superhero genre was born! Now out of print, Volumes 1 and 2 are NM at £30 each; the slightly rarer Vols 3 & 4 NM at £35 each.
American/British Update: Classics Illustrated Special Issue
*Classics Illustrated: Between 1955 and 1962, Gilberton, the publisher of Classics Illustrated, issued in America a series of Special Issues, published semi-annually, in squarebound form at 100 pages each. These are seldom seen over here, and we have two of them fresh into stock: #132A The Story Of America and #141A The Rough Rider. Grade and price details in our catalogue. Your Classics Illustrated collection isn’t complete without them!
British Update: First Quenchers: Spider-Man Comics Weekly #1 1973
*Marvel UK: For our #1 issue event this week, the second ongoing series from Marvel UK which saw Spider-Man spin off from Mighty World Of Marvel to star in his own mag, backed up by the God of Thunder, the Mighty Thor. The longest-running Marvel UK series, outdoing even its parent at 667 issues, Spider-Man Comics Weekly is now becoming a focus of collector interest from our American Cousins. This is where it all began; owing to the cheap newsprint paper the earlier Marvel UK titles were printed on, high-grade copies are difficult to find, but this is a highly attractive VG/FN copy, with just minor creasing at the top of the spine, for £50. Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #9 and the very first Thor story from Journey Into Mystery #83, both in glorious red, black and white! SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
British Update: Long Hot Summer: Roy of the Rovers Summer & Holiday Specials, from the beginning!
*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: After decades of apprenticeship in Tiger, Roy of the Rovers finally won his own series in 1976, previous weeklies like Scorcher having proved that there was a strong market for a single-themed football comic. The very next year, Roy and his teammates at Melchester Rovers got their own Holiday Special, a tradition which continued for more than twelve years. We have eight of Roy’s extra-thick Holiday extravaganzas, from the very first in 1977 to 1985, plus the nostalgic ‘Souvenir Specials’ of 2009 and 2010.
British Update: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
*TV & Film Related Comics: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Weekly was the a title of Marvel UK’s Star Wars comic series. Although in effect it continued onwards from the Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back titles, the series was renumbered at #1 for this title. The series reprinted stories from Marvel’s American Star Wars series, along with several original tales. The American comic’s issues were usually split into smaller segments and appeared over a number of issues. We have the entire 155 issue run fresh into stock, plus the three holiday specials. That’s a whole lotta force!
British Update: Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers inc Free Gift Farrago
*TV & Film Related Comics: Most issues fresh in of Marvel UK’s Galaxy Rangers, based on the Japanese/American Space Western animated TV show. The series lasted 9 issues in 1988, and we have 7 of the run, including #1, #2 with Free Gift (stickers) and #9, the final issue. For grades and prices, check out our catalogue. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
British Update: Ballerina Alert! – Princess Picture Library
*Girls’ Picture Libraries: A smashing selection just in of Princess Picture Library, ranging from #2 to #117 (nearly the last issue). The early numbers are all even, which means that up to the #70’s, we’re looking at Ballerina Sally and her various adventures in ballets of seemingly interminable variety. Later issues focus on a more rotating cast. This selection includes both many lower-graded copies of issues already in stock, offering cheaper alternatives, as well as many issues that are new to our listings.
Books Update: SF & Fantasy Well Worth A GLancer
*Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror: This week’s update is devoted to Lancer, a publishing company that knew what it liked, both in terms of swashbuckling storytelling and cover art. Writers such as Lin Carter, Gordon R Dickson, Robert E Howard, Richard A Lupoff, C C MacApp, David Mason, Robert Moore Williams, Robert Silverberg and Jack Williamson were published in books adorned by striking covers by artists such as Frank Frazetta (Conan Of Cimmeria – Howard et al, Kavin’s World – Mason, The Reign Of Wizardry – Williamson), Jack Gaughan (One Million Centuries – Lupoff), Jeff Jones (Zanthar series – Moore) and Jim Steranko (Prisoners In The Sky – MacApp and The Shores Of Tomorrow – Mason). Many feature the lovely, distinctive purple page edge colouration, and most are 1st US PB.
Window Update: Stand By For Action!
Our exclusive window designer, the glamorous but deadly Dr. Evilla, has come up with a tribute to the fondly-remembered TV shows of Gerry Anderson, firmly anchored in the collective consciousness of more than one generation! Thunderbirds, Lady Penelope, Captain Scarlet, Joe 90, Stingray, Fireball XL5 and more can all be found in our catalogue and within our walls. And watch out for some significant additions to our Gerry Anderson related stock coming very soon!
Clearance Corner: Swift Volume 1 – Complete bound volume for just £35!
*Clearance Corner: Here’s a real bargain for the first lucky enthusiast to grab it! Swift Volume 1 complete — issues #1-41 from 1954, all bound into a hardback volume and offered for just £35! (Previously on sale for £200!) Binding only Fair, faded, loose at top and bottom of spine. Hand lettering on spine. #1 has loose pages owing to binding damage, some edge chipping on early issues, but stories untouched. Borders of issues trimmed, otherwise averaging GD condition. On offer for less than £1 per issue, and includes the very first issue of this fondly remembered companion title to Eagle. This fits into a small box weighing 2.3 kg and UK postage if required would be an extra £13.50. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
Clearance Corner: 4 complete minis of Captain America & The Falcon: 17 comics for £6
*Clearance Corner: Our latest bargain features 4 complete mini-series, 3 Captain America and 1 Falcon. The Caps are: Dead Men Running (#1-3 2002), What Price Glory (#1-4 2003 art by Steve Rude), The Chosen (#1-6 2007); the Falcon mini is #1-4 1983. All 17 comics are available for just £6. All in VF/NM condition. These fit into a plump twister mailer and UK postage if required will be an extra £3.50.
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:
*Romance
*Teen Humour/Funny Girls
and in our British section:
*Collected Editions
*Younger Readers’ Comics
As of the time of writing, these categories are bang up to date, with every item listed available.
What’s Old (with a twist!): Flash #108 now with free incomplete copy of #115
There’s a twist to our What’s Old feature this week. As well as spotlighting a nice GD/VG copy of Flash #108 at £100 that predates UK distribution, we’re now offering with it a free copy of #115, in decent shape but incomplete with a story page missing. Both issues feature two stories, one in each with the villainy of Gorilla Grodd. (In #115, the Gorilla Grodd story is missing its final page, but the second story is a lovely, complete Elongated Man and Flash piece, so a great gap-filler until you can get a complete copy and hey, the price is right!). SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: A Double Dose of Bat-Villainy! Silver Age Joker and Penguin Appearances!
*DC: A quartet of criminality, with Silver Age issues of Batman featuring the Joker and the Penguin. Issue #159 FA/GD £15 presents the “Joker-Clayface Feud”, in which the Crown Prince of Crime and the Chameleon Crook vie for Batman and Robin’s attention. #163 features a trail of the Batman with a Joker Judge and Joker Jury VG/FN £39! #169 features the second Silver Age appearance of the Penguin (whose public profile had been boosted considerably by the then-popular Batman TV series). This is an unusually high-grade copy FN/VF at £70 (pictured). And to wrap it up, #190 FN+ £30, matched the Penguin with Batman and Robin again, featuring a truly eye-catching cover scene. SORRY, BOTH PENGUIN ISSUES HAVE NOW SOLD
American Update: 2 early issues of Amazing Spider-Man inc #9: 1st Electro
*Marvel: Two early epic appearances by Spider-Man’s favourite foes: issues #9 of Amazing Spider-Man brought us the deadly Electro, one of Spidey’s most enduring villains, and #11 saw the second appearance of the sinister Doctor Octopus, who probably ties with the Green Goblin as Spidey’s ultimate nemesis. Both separately and together – as part of various incarnations of the Sinister Six – these gentleman have been thorns in Spider-Man’s side for decades, and these early Stan Lee/Steve Ditko collaborations are what brought them to life. Our copy of #9, pictured, is FA/GD at £100; #11 is PR/FA, complete but with extreme spine wear and decent complete interiors, at £49. SORRY, THESE HAVE NOW SOLD
American Update: Captain America’s Pals N’ Gals! – First Appearances of Madame Hydra and the Falcon!
*Marvel: A pair of premiere appearances from Cap’s Silver Age: firstly, the lovely but lethal Madame Hydra (also known as the Viper, depending on who’s writing her in a given week) in Cap #111, one of the handful of issues drawn by the legendary Jim Steranko. The combination of the debut of a significant villainess and the superlative Steranko art makes this copy, FN/VF p at £30, a relative bargain. Soon afterwards, in #117, Cap encountered Sam Wilson, the Falcon, for the first time, beginning a partnership that would span the decades and continue into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This copy of Falc’s (and Redwing’s!) debut is a cents copy, VG/FN at £60. Generally in excellent shape, the only drawback is a cover crease (probably a subscription crease), extending from roughly the position of the Falcon’s extended left hand down to the base of the cover, slightly off the vertical. That aside, this is a highly presentable copy. SORRY, CAP #111 HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Avengers Key Issues – Debuts Hellcat, Scott Lang, Taskmaster & more!
*Marvel: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes continue to enjoy rapid turnover here at 30th C., so we are pleased to refresh our Avengers stock with new copies of key issues from the latter 100’s of the series. We commence with issue #144, in which the former teen-humour superstar, Patsy Walker, gets firmly integrated into the Marvel Universe when she dons the costume of the Hellcat for the first time. Moving on to #181, a seemingly innocuous cameo by one of Hank Pym’s associates turns out to be the first appearance of Scott Lang, who would become the second Ant-Man. In #195, we briefly glimpse the polymath kill-pilferer Taskmaster, one of Marvel’s cleverer latter-day villains, and in #196 (pictured VF/NM £55), we are treated to his first full-on appearance. Pausing briefly at the controversial #200, wherein Ms. Marvel made a startling decision which removed her from the MU for a time, we progress on to two important Annuals – #7, with Jim Starlin at his most cosmic, throwing in Captain Marvel, Warlock, Thanos and all the gang for Universe-threatening shenanigans and #10, with not only the return of Ms. Marvel – addressing, thankfully, most of the more egregious and glossed-over aspects of Avengers #200 – and the first appearance of the eventual X-Man known as Rogue! Full details of grades and prices in the catalogue listing, folks – you know what to do next…
American Update: Slab Happy! Hulk Vs. Wolverine in Hulk #340 CGC 8.0
*Marvel: A one-off entry in our Slab Happy feature starring third party graded and encapsulated books. Hulk #340, in which, under the auspices of scripter Peter David, and illustrator Todd McFarlane, the then-grey, ‘Mr. Fixit’ iteration of the Hulk met the most popular X-Man, Wolverine – and not for dinner and a movie! This cataclysmic combat issue has proved hugely popular over the last decade, and this copy is certified by the American CGC company, ‘slabbed’ (Blue Label, no restoration) at 8.0 VF for £40. SORRY, THIS HAS NOW SOLD
American Update: Marvel Silver/Bronze sweep!
*Marvel: Another sweep through the Silver & Bronze Age Marvel universe! In the majority of cases, the newer additions are in substantially differing grades to existing stock, giving our beloved punters even more choice – the high-grade investment, or the more affordable reader? Now the choice is yours! Titles given a light brush-up include Amazing Adventures, Astonishing Tales, Battlestar Galactica, Captain America, and Captain Marvel, while rather more substantial restocks have been done on Avengers (from the early to late 100’s), Conan (#40’s to #70’s), and a swath (is that a buckling swath?) of Daredevil from issue #22 to #121!
American Update: Pre-code Horror Fest Plus with EC
*EC: Universally acknowledged as the apex of comics production in the 1950s, EC pushed the boundaries, not just in terms of what could be depicted – and there were publishers more gory, but less classy – but also in story content. This was never more evident than in their Crime SuspenStories title, where adultery, betrayal, and other unconventional relationships were portrayed in a mature and intelligent way, whereas they had seldom even been alluded to before. The perpetrators inevitably got their just desserts, but the path along the way was fraught and compelling. Haunt of Fear, like its more famous sibling Tales From The Crypt, presented grisly tales of dismemberment and bloodshed with a cynical glee that set it head and shoulders above the competition – and of course, both series had the finest illustrators in the industry at the time! We have new stocks of Crime SuspenStories from #13 to #16, and Haunt of Fear #19 to #24, plus one early issue of Weird Fantasy – the science-fiction series EC’s editors themselves were most proud of. Pictured are Crime SuspenStories #13 FN £130, and #14 (actually the second issue) of Weird Fantasy App. GD/VG at £70. The Weird Fantasy has a slight right edge trim and three small pieces of tape on the inside front cover, hence the low price for such an early issue. For grades and prices on the other issues, see the Catalogue Listing.
American Update: Quirky Corner: “…And Just What Must I Do To Get Those?”
*Romance: While the horror and crime series generally got the brunt of the blame for the comic-burning and mass cries for censorship of the 1950’s, romance certainly came in for its share of criticism, and one of the examples cited by popular psychologists at the time was Charlton’s True Life Secrets #23. The cover depicted a shapely young lady with far too much eyeshadow contemplating some proffered bling, and asking the question; “…And just what must I do to get those?”. Contextually, it looks like the gentleman wasn’t expecting her to do his windows, his taxes, or his motor maintenance. The contents, though competent, are relatively innocuous (sorry to disappoint), but the cover caused outrage, and remains infamous today. This copy is a lovely high grade – FN/VF – and is on sale at £80.