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Update Archives For January 2007

28 January 2007

British update: Action (from #1), near complete Hurricane (from #1), 1960's Lion & Tiger, Battle & Commando Picture Libraries

One of our best ever updates for collectors of British derring-do and high adventure from the 1960's and 1970's:

*Boys’ Adventure and War Comics: Four of Fleetway’s Finest this week! Action, the grim n’ gritty 70’s weekly leads the pack, with the adventures of Spinball, Dredger, cuddly man-eating white shark Hookjaw, and other features that made it 'The Paper Everyone’s Talking About!' as they proudly boasted on the cover. Unfortunately, among the people talking about it were Mary Whitehouse’s Viewers and Listeners Association, who succeeded in getting publication suspended, then eventually having the book cancelled altogether. We have many pre-ban issues in stock, including a FN # 1, so check out what was so controversial! From the 60’s we have Hurricane, the short-run paper that launched the careers of Sgt. Rock (hmmm…), Typhoon Tracy and Skid Solo in 1964 and 1965. A short achievable run (only 63 issues before amalgamating into Tiger) makes this series highly sought-after, and we have almost all of them, including the first and final issues. Lion is replenished with issues from 1964 through to 1967, with many favourites including anti-hero the Spider, Robot Archie, Zip Nolan, Paddy Payne and Saber of the Jungle, and our fourth Fleetway top-up is Tiger, with issues commencing in 1963; now remembered primarily as a sports-based title via the enduring Roy of the Rovers, Tiger was once an adventure anthology, featuring Olac the Viking, Jet-Ace Logan, and scores of short-lived but striking adventure and science-fiction serials. Including the entire year of 1964 (Olac fights 'Treachery At The Olympics!'), this run also features the first 'Tiger & Hurricane' amalgam issue, where Skid Solo, Typhoon Tracy and Sgt. Rock continue their careers from Hurricane, and our re-stocks this time around end in 1967. Action #1 and Hurricane #1 are now featured in our exciting new cover gallery (ooh, technology!); follow the links from the appropriate catalogue page.

*Boys’ Adventure and War Picture Libraries: We’re back on the war-front this update, with a range of Battle Picture Library from #51 through to #100, the majority of issues, averaging GD/VG, and a striking selection of Commando Picture Library commencing with issue #66, and falling just short of issue #1000, with most, apart from the very earliest additions, averaging FN or VF grades, an exceptionally nice condition for this series. Many more Commando updates in the future – keep your eyes peeled!

Posted by Rob | 06:13 p.m. GMT | 28 January 2007

Car Booty Collection Update - The 'New X-Men'

*Marvel Comics: Most of you will recall the ‘Car Booty’ collection, which we purchased on an episode of the BBC TV show last year . Comprising long runs of all the key Marvel titles from the 1960’s through to the 1980’s, this marathon evaluation is now drawing to its close. Having done the classic (or as people of my generation say, ‘real’) X-Men in an earlier update, we turn our attention now to the ‘New’ X-Men from 1976 upward, as revitalised and reinvented by Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum and John Byrne. Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus and all their mutant pals are featured here in a run encompassing most issues from 96 to 143, plus Annuals. Full details in our online catalogue. One ‘Car Booty’ update remains, but it’s a good ‘un – the Amazing Spider-Man! Keep watching this space for details!

Posted by Rob | 06:04 p.m. GMT | 28 January 2007

23 January 2007

American Update - Superman #1 PLUS the introduction of our Cover Gallery

*DC Comics: Just one very special item in this update, but it's very special indeed. We proudly present Superman #1, one of the most desired, rarest and most valuable comics ever published. Now, before you get too excited, let me point out that this is a coverless copy with a photocopy wraparound cover. At least that makes it cheaper than a mortgage at £3,500. Full details in the DC section of our online catalogue. Please note that this comic is NOT held at our shop premises and you would need to make an appointment to view it in person.

You can, however, view scans of the photopcopy cover, front page and rear page direct on our website in our new Cover Gallery. Simply go to the DC section of our online catalogue, scroll down to Superman and follow the links from the Superman #1 entry. We shall be adding more covers to the website catalogue as time permits, all part of making 30th Century THE place to visit for vintage comics.

Posted by Rob | 11:52 p.m. GMT | 23 January 2007

22 January 2007

American Update: Original ECs, Atlas War, Humour & Funny Girls, Horrific, Sgt Fury #13 with Cap & more

Lots of nice and rare stuff this week in a variety of genres as follows:

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: From Atlas, the parody title Crazy, with superb art by Maneely and Russ Heath, and the Canadian edition of Spy Cases; from EC, two debut issues – the much sought-after Impact, with Krigstein’s notorious 'Master Race' story, and Crime SuspenStories from #1, with several later issues in affordable low-mid grades.

*Horror 1940-1959: A stunning selection of original EC’s, in low to medium grade and very collectable: Shock SuspenStories and Tales From The Crypt, with groundbreaking and innovative scripts and superb art from Wood, Krigstein, Kurtzman, Crandall, Kamen and an all-star line-up of illustrators. Grab a rare chance to see what the fuss is about! Also, from Comic Media, the notorious Horrific’s final issue, with classic Heck cover and Pre-Code thrills galore!

*Teen Humour & Funny Girls: No, not the Joker who hangs around with Batman; we have Timely’s Joker Comics, with Millie, Nellie Tessie and other funny girls, #39 in FN at £35 – and how often do you see any Timely at that grade and price? Plus, new entries for Atlas/Marvel’s Millie the Model and My Friend Irma, and Dearfield’s peculiar Junie Prom Comics.

*War Comics: From Atlas, a small but sweaty selection of Man Comics, with stories of All-American corn-fed Commie-baiting; Diet Coke drinkers need not apply! Also, Charlton’s Soldier & Marine and Fightin’ Army get top-ups, and we have a very nice Sgt. Fury #13 – by Lee & Kirby, guest-starring Captain America and Bucky, probably the single most sought-after Sgt. Fury issue.

Full details as always in our online catalogue, and watch for many more wonderful items coming soon!

Posted by Rob | 01:18 p.m. GMT | 22 January 2007

British Update - Valiant, 1940's Knockout, Buster, Topper

Lovely comics from across the decades of the 20th century this week in the following categories:

*Boys' Adventure & War Comics: An entire years’ worth of the classic weekly Valiant, home of Kelly’s Eye, the Steel Claw, Captain Hurricane, House of Dolman, and scores more vintage UK heroes, all issues from 1969 in this latest update, from one collection with many duplicate copies in a variety of grades, so there’s almost certainly going to be one to suit your needs and budget. These characters have recently received a new lease of life in the DC/Wildstorm series Albion, so for any Johnny-Come-Latelies who were wondering about their ‘roots’, now’s an excellent time to start exploring!

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: Buster weighs in again, with a selection from 1967 through to 1976 averaging VG/FN, plus a small selection from 1948 of the humour/adventure hybrid Knockout, and from the early to mid 1980s, the smaller-sized Topper, which are increasingly hard to find owing to the shorter press run.

Posted by Rob | 01:08 p.m. GMT | 22 January 2007

14 January 2007

British Update - Near Complete run TV Century 21, Smash & huge dollop'a Beezer!

Another enormous British update this week, featuring the favourite following titles:

*Power Comics: A Smash Hit! From the 1960’s precursor to Marvel UK, several new entries for Smash stock, including issues 2 and 3. Featuring Marvel reprints from the classic Bullpen and new humour and adventure strips from Leo Baxendale and the like, Smash’s popularity endures today, so see what all the fuss is about!

*Boys' Adventure & War Comics: Spectrum is Green! A virtually complete run of TV Century 21, the 1960’s weekly featuring comics adaptations of the works of Gerry Anderson, including Fireball XL5, Stingray, Lady Penelope, Thunderbirds, and Captain Scarlet, illustrated by Mike Noble, Frank Bellamy, and other premier comics artists of the era. We’ve been lucky enough to have two high-grade collections of TV 21 through our hands in the past couple of years, but this low-to-mid grade collection, averaging GD/VG, is a temptation for people who don’t want pristine items, but respectable reading copies. From the first (#1 FA £90) to the final issue (#242), this run is missing only a handful of numbers, and is in very affordable condition.

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: Bumper Beezer Bonanza! By popular demand, we’ve accelerated our Beezer programme, so now we have hundreds more ranging from 1974 through to 1982 added to our listings! The Badd Lads, Ginger, Little Mo and co. are all part of the hot ‘new’ back issue series of 2007, so jump in and seize them before they’re gone!

Posted by Rob | 10:18 a.m. GMT | 14 January 2007

8 January 2007

Star Collections Update: Pre-Code Atlas & Harvey Horror

*Horror 1940-1959: Two major titles to startle you this time: Atlas Astonishing, with work from Everett, Maneely and some striking covers by Russ Heath, including very attractive high-condition copies; and Harvey’s Chamber of Chills, with Lee Elias, Bob Powell, Howard Nostrand and more delivering lurid and depravedly humorous shockers. Also, additional stock for Atlas Journey Into Unknown Worlds and World of Fantasy.

Posted by Rob | 01:22 p.m. GMT | 8 January 2007

American Update - Archie, Charlton, Dell, Gold Key & Harvey

*Archie, Charlton, Dell, Gold Key and Harvey. Hard though it is to believe for some, the Silver Age wasn’t all just about Marvel and DC. Many other comics publishers were active on the newsstands, and this week we have a sweep through the front runners: Archie (comedy and heroes), Charlton, Dell, Gold Key and Harvey, with new listings for such popular titles as Alarming Adventures, Archie Giant Series, Bionic Woman, Crime & Justice, Fly/Fly Man, Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, Rookie Cop, Six Million Dollar Man, Space War, Star Trek, and Tom & Jerry, ranging from the 1950’s to the 1970’s.

Posted by Rob | 01:04 p.m. GMT | 8 January 2007

British Update: UK Spidey, Tornado with free gifts, Buddy, Crunch, Beezer, Bunty (inc #3) & Sally

Another truly massive update to many of our British categories this week as follows:

*Marvel UK: Does Whatever A Spider Can! From 1976 to 1982, a huge update to our stocks of the title that started as Spider-Man Comics Weekly, but which ended up changing titles as often as Millie the Model changed outfits, but kept the same numbering to the bitter end! Includes the now sought-after run of 'Super Spider-Man & Captain Britain' (#231-247), which featured never-reprinted new stories of the US idea of what a champion of the UK should be. And once you read them, you’ll realise why they’ve never been reprinted. Luvvaduck, already. Also includes a rare, late Free Gift Issue with Spider-Man Mask!

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: A wide range of updates this week, including early issues of the short-run 2000 AD companion Tornado (#1 & 2 with free gifts!), Buddy #1, early Crunch (including a free gift #2), three album oddities from the 1950’s (Oliver Twist, a prototypical ‘Graphic Novel’; Outer Space, with original adventures of ‘Captain Future’; and Robin Hood, with a mix of reprint and original material), plus additional stock for Battle, Lion, Valiant and Warlord.

*Humour Comics and Picture Libraries: A huge pile of Beezer this time, with most issues from 1971 and 1972, plus a handful from 1973, fresh to our listings; with a surprisingly stable range of stars, including Ginger, the Numskulls, Colonel Blink, Little Mo, Barney’s Barmy Army, and token adventure strip the Iron Eaters, this tabloid-sized weekly chugged along for thirty years with very few line-up changes. Many more Beezers in our future, so keep watching the updates over the next few months!

*Girls’ Comics and Picture Libraries; Bunty and Sally! Two highly popular titles this time: D.C. Thomson’s premiere girls’ comic, Bunty, joins us with a couple of rare early issues, #3 and #8, from 1958, plus a small update to 1966 stock, while Fleetway’s Sally, the 'comic for the adventurous girl' is restocked with the first three issues plus more than twenty later numbers – a substantial percentage of the comic's short, two-year run.

Posted by Rob | 12:55 p.m. GMT | 8 January 2007