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Update Archives For February 2006

27 February 2006

Star Collections Update (British) - Eagle Volume 2

*In the Boys' Adventure & War Comics section of our online catalogue, continuing our recent Eagle acquisitions, we present the complete Volume 2 (1951/52), averaging VG or better, with the adventures of Dan Dare, PC 49, Riders of the Range and other classic strips illustrated by Frank Hampson, John Ryan and the top British talents of the day. Many more Eagles to follow in the near future -- look for the complete Volume 3 soon!

Posted by Rob | 09:53 a.m. GMT | 27 February 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - Superboy & Sub-Mariner

Two classic characters feature this week in the update to our American stock from the Star Collections we are acquiring. Full details as always in the online catalogue.

*DC: From the same provenance as our recent Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane acquisitions (which are selling very fast!), comes a remarkable selection of Superboy from issue #12 upwards. Although by no means as complete as the Jimmy & Lois runs, this collection includes many pre-distribution issues which are tough to find in the UK in any grade. Our stock of the Boy Of Steel's adventures is always growing, but it sells as quickly as it arrives -- order early to avoid disappointment!

*Marvel: He's wet and wild! A virtually complete run (missing only #22 & #71) of the Silver/Bronze Age series of Sub-Mariner. Armed only with attitude, ankle wings and a scaly swimsuit, Namor ruled the undersea kingdom of Atlantis, waged unceasing war on humanity, and romanced ladies above and below the ocean. Nice work if you can get it, eh? This outstanding selection features many high-grade and non-distributed issues, with work by Bill Everett, Gene Colan, Marie Severin, John & Sal Buscema and other legendary Silver Age creators.

Posted by Rob | 09:49 a.m. GMT | 27 February 2006

22 February 2006

British update - Sparky, Dandy, Judy, Star Wars and more!

Another midweek special update of British stock in the following categories:

*Marvel UK: An overdue update to this increasingly popular section of our catalogue, with additional stock for Future Tense, Hulk Weekly (inc. #1) and a very nice batch of Star Wars ranging from the twenties to the post-hundreds.

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: A selection of Sparky from 1970, home of Barney Bulldog, Mr. Bubbles and company, plus Dandy from 1968 and Whoopee from 1980 & 1981.

*Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries: Two nice selections of Judy from 1966 and 1968 featuring gymnast 'Topsy On Her Toes', proto-feminist 'Bobby Dazzler', 'Sandra and the Sinister Ballet', and spy-gal Maid Marian, aka 'The Girl From D.O.R.S.E.T.' - what more could you want? (What? Oh, all right -- it's 'Department to Overcome Rebels, Spies, Enemies and other Threats'. Happy now?)

Posted by Rob | 10:35 a.m. GMT | 22 February 2006

19 February 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - almost complete Lois Lane

In our DC comics section, from the same provenance as last week's Jimmy Olsen collection comes a stellar selection (lacking only issues 1, 14 & 36 from the complete run) of Superman's other 'special chum', Lois Lane. Follow our wacky and impulsive gal reporter as she uncovers scoops, thwarts gangsters, spars with friendly rival Lana Lang, and gets married. A lot. Let's face it, aliens, ghosts, devils, robots, condemned murderers, and especially super-heroes - if it was vaguely male, Lois would haul out the white dress and give it a go! With art in most issues to #80 by the criminally underestimated Kurt Schaffenberger, these strange and off-kilter renderings of a career girl's life occupy a unique niche in the hearts of collectors of the weird and wonderful.

Posted by Rob | 12:36 p.m. GMT | 19 February 2006

Star Collections Update (British) - Eagle Volume 1

Another astounding selection from our Star Collections available this week. In the Boys' Adventure & War Comics section of our online catalogue, many issues of Eagle Volume 1 from 1950, home of Dan Dare and arguably the definitive boys' weekly in the history of comics. Issues 1-11 (with the debut issue in low-mid grade at an affordable price), plus selections from the remainder of Volume 1, averaging FN. More Eagles to come from our Star Collections -- watch out for the complete Volume 2 soon!

Posted by Rob | 12:26 p.m. GMT | 19 February 2006

15 February 2006

British update -- TV Express, African Powerman, Speed & much more!

*A right old batch of rarities and oddities in this mid-week special update to our Boys' Adventure & War section, starting with a selection of TV Express from 1961, the Eagle imitator which featured top range artists and writers and included the TV strips 'No Hiding Place' and 'Danger Man'; extremely rare and in affordable low-mid grade. Also, from Africa in 1976, half a dozen Powerman comics. Created for the nascent African comics industry, this super-hero/western/sci-fi weekly recruited talent from the UK, and features early work by Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons and others; a definite oddity. Plus: additional stock of Red Dagger, early Scream, Speed (inc. #1), 2000 AD and 1950's esoterica Dick Hercules, Jungle Trails and Australian Phantom Ranger. You want diversity? You got it!

Posted by Rob | 12:10 a.m. GMT | 15 February 2006

13 February 2006

30TH CENTURY COMICS ON TV! SHOP CLOSED AFTERNOON MONDAY 20TH FEB

Our shop will be closed for a period of 2-4 hours Monday afternoon February 20th to allow BBC filming for an upcoming edition of the popular BBC1 daytime programme Car Booty. An extremely significant vintage collection is being brought to us for valuation purposes by the BBC. Full details of when the programme will be broadcast will be posted here at a later date.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused if you were planning a visit that afternoon, but it is a requirement of filming that the shop be closed whilst the BBC are on the premises.

Posted by Rob | 06:15 p.m. GMT | 13 February 2006

12 February 2006

Star Collections Update (British) - Misty

*Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries: A complete run of Misty from 1978 to 1980, all 100+ issues from beginning to end and the three highly-elusive, almost never-seen Summer/Holiday Specials! This ground-breaking horror/mystery comic, launched in the wake of 2000 AD and as an answer to DC Thomson's Spellbound, featured artists and writers most commonly associated with the boys' adventure line. Its twisted sense of macabre humour (and the charms of its heavily-masscaraed Goth-girl hostess) give it a huge crossover readership. All posters, calendars, pull-outs etc are present in this collection, though not the free gifts.

Posted by Rob | 05:18 p.m. GMT | 12 February 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - Jimmy Olsen

*DC Comics: From the archive of a prominent Silver Age DC collector comes a substantial run of Jimmy Olsen from #4 to the final issue #163, in a variety of grades from affordable FA/GD to dazzling VF and better. For sheer looniness (as well as superb art from Swan in most issues to #90), you can't beat Jimmy; alien JO fan clubs, Giant Turtle Boys, cross-dressing cub reporters, interdimensional marriage-minded murderesess and myriad early and obscure Legion of Super-Heroes appearances, all manner of wackiness is here!

Posted by Rob | 05:10 p.m. GMT | 12 February 2006

8 February 2006

British Update -- Jinty & Tammy

A Midweek Special for those of you who've been pining, Norweigan Blue-like, for an update to our Girls' Comics & Picture Libararies section during our refurbishment -- here it is!

The last year of Jinty (1981), including the scarce final issue, and a late run of Tammy from 1981 (where it absorbed Jinty) until its final year of 1984. Even in their last days, both titles had plenty to offer with 'Worlds Apart', 'Slave of the Clock', 'Badgered Belinda', 'Human Zoo', 'E.T. Estate', and the bizarre boy-in-a-girls'-school drag comedy 'Cuckoo in the Nest'. You certainly can't say they didn't use their imagination on the girls' books!

Watch for a further girls' update this coming weekend!

Posted by Rob | 01:14 p.m. GMT | 8 February 2006

6 February 2006

New Blue Beetle article and UK Market Report

We have at last added some new additions in the Features and Articles section of the website.

Firstly, we have an up-to-date Market Report on the current state of things on the British comic side -- what's hot and what's not etc and collecting trends.

Secondly, our regular guest columnist Ramon Schenk has contributed a history of the ever-popular super-hero Blue Beetle and an invaluable checklist.

We'll have more new features when time permits!

Posted by Rob | 11:20 p.m. GMT | 6 February 2006

5 February 2006

British Update - Lion, TV Action, Buster, Sparky, Cor, Whoopee and much more!

Many, many addtions to our British stock this week across a wide range of titles in the following categories:

*Boys' Adventure & War Comics: A wide range of Lion from 1956 (Paddy Payne and Captain Condor) to 1973 (The SPider & Spellbinder), and a very nice selection of TV Action & Countdown from 1972, featuring Dr. Who, Thunderbirds, Stingray, and several other popular series, a mid-high grade run of a scarce title. New stock has also been added to Action, Battle, Bullet, Champ, Countdown, Eagle ('Classic' and 'New'), Look-In, Roy Of The Rovers, Tiger, Victor and Wizard.

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: More stock updates for the eternally youthful comedy all-stars, including Buster (ranging from 1971 to 1988), Cor, Cracker, Nipper, the ever-elusive Shiver & Shake, Sparky, Whizzer & Chips and Whoopee! Join in the fun, and as long as you don't see the dreaded phrase 'Graet News Inside, Chums!', you'll be all right...

Posted by Rob | 01:37 p.m. GMT | 5 February 2006

American Update - Harveys & Undergrounds

Strange bedfellows in this week's American additions in two of our most esoteric categories:

*Harvey: Devil Kids, Hot Stuff, Jigsaw, Richie Rich & Dollar the Dog, and Harvey Hits #7 from 1958, the first book-length showcase of Wendy the Good Little Witch! Can you contain your excitement?

*Undergrounds: A diverse scattering of titles from the great to the obscure in the field: Howard Chaykin's Cody Starbuck, Fat Freddy's Cat, Gay Comix, Human Soup, Not Quite Dead, Omaha the Cat Dancer, Star*Reach and Robert Crumb's ID, Self-Loathing and Mystic Funnies -- never let it be said that we don't cover all the bases at 30th Century!

Posted by Rob | 01:25 p.m. GMT | 5 February 2006

1 February 2006

Posted by Rob | 01:28 p.m. GMT | 1 February 2006

Final Progress Report - Shop Now Fully Open and Operational!

We are pleased to announce that, following the disruptions from October-December last year, all parts of the shop, both ground floor and basement, are now completely refurbished and open for access to browsing our entire range of stock. The last previously closed part of the basement British area (containing Boys' Adventure & War Comics, Girls' Comics, Power Comics & UK Reprints of US material) is open again from today.

Furthermore, we now have at least 50% more display space for British comics and over the coming months our display stock will continue to grow as fast as we can process it! Keep watching for an even bigger selection of vintage gems!

Posted by Rob | 01:28 p.m. GMT | 1 February 2006