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Update Archives For March 2006

27 March 2006

Star Collection Update (American) - Madamoiselle Marie!

Something rarely seen this week from the vaults of our Star Collections:

*War: Listen very carefully - I shall say zis only once! A small but perfectly-formed update comprising five of the original six stories of Madamoiselle Marie, Battle Doll of the Republic, in Star-Spangled War Stories #84 and #86-#89! Lovingly illustrated by (mostly) Mort Drucker before his Mad career, these sweet and poignant stories of a plucky and curvaceous Resistance fighter met with a lukewarm receptioon from readers and were swiftly replaced by 'The War That Time Forgot', ("Girls in a war comic? Eww! Got any dinosaurs?") but can now be appreciated as the rare gems that they are.

Posted by Rob | 06:07 p.m. GMT | 27 March 2006

Car Booty Collection Update - Amazing Adventures, Marvel Spotlight, Not Brand Ecch, Houses of Mystery & Secrets

Regular vistors to this page will already have heard of the amazing collection we've acquired via the BBC1 programme Car Booty. The relevant episode will be screened sometime in April/May (date to be confirmed), but here's your chance to grab some of the wonderful comics from it before the national TV publicity. This week, we feature some late 60's/early 70's gems from the two main publishers:

*Marvel Comics: Three short-run series exploring the outer fringes of the Marvel Universe. Amazing Adventures (2nd series) the first ten issues co-starring the Black Widow and the astounding Inhumans, and featuring art by Kirby, Adams, Everett and other classic artists. Marvel Spotlight (first 25 issues), with the dramatic debuts of Werewolf By Night, Ghost Rider, Son of Satan, and, okay, Red Wolf; many scarce and ND issues in this often-overlooked showcase book. And the entire 13 issue run of Not Brand Ecch, Marvel's parody comic with Kirby, Colan, Sutton and the criminally-underestimated Marie Severin spoofing their own and others' most famous characters.

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980's: House of Mystery & House of Secrets, two venerable DC titles, were reviatalized in the late 60's by editor and EC-alumnus Joe Orlando, who employed talents like Neal Adams, Berni Wrightson, Mike Kaluta, Gil Kane, Alex Toth, Wally Wood and Al Williamson to put the 'scare' back into these series, and in so doing transformed them into sales juggernauts and the backbone of a successful horror line-up which lasted for decades. Our Car Booty selection features virtually all the significant issues of both titles from this period, highlights including both 'relaunch' issues (HOM #174 and HOS #81), the debut of Wein & Wrightson's Swamp Thing in HOS #92 (affordable mid-grade), the great value 100 Page and low distribution 80 page 'Dollar Comic' HOMs, and a dazzling selection of iconic and haunting covers from Adams, Wrightson, and Kaluta on both series.

More from the Car Booty Collection next week!

Posted by Rob | 06:00 p.m. GMT | 27 March 2006

British Update -- Eagle,TV Express, Girls' Picture Libraries, Diana, Girl & Jackie!

More favourite titles in this week's British update in these categories:

*Boys' Adventure & War Comics: A sought-after couple: First a wide selection of the classic boys' weekly Eagle -- a healthy representation from Volumes 1-4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13 & 16. And also one of Eagle's leading imitators, TV Express, a reasonable selection (1956-1961) of a very scarce title, featuring Ron Embleton's Wulf the Briton, Biggles, Rex Keene - Texas Ranger and other adventure and humour classics.

*Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries: Thank Heaven for Little Girls - little girls' picture libraries, that is, of which we have an abundance this update. Bunty, Debbie, Judy, Girl and Mandy Picture Libraries are all represented with the digest-sized doings of 'Slave At The Stables', 'Vanishing Vicky', 'The Phantom Ballerina', 'Brenda With A Bucket', and scores more! And from little girls to big 'uns! New additions to our stock of tabloid-sized Diana (1963-1974), Eagle's distaff counterpart Girl (1955-1962) and the diva of the disco era, Jackie (1969-1977). Pull on your flares and join the party!

Posted by Rob | 05:44 p.m. GMT | 27 March 2006

Alan Class Rough Guide Update

A further update this week in our Features and Articles section to our Rough Guide to the content of Alan Class comics. Not too many isssues left to track down now before our guide is complete! If you want to find out more about what's in the hundreds of issues we have listed in stock (shown in the Alan Class Reprints section of our online catalogue), this is the place to look.

Posted by Rob | 05:33 p.m. GMT | 27 March 2006

20 March 2006

Car Booty Collection Update -- Fantastic Four #1-#50, Hulk #1, 1950s sci-fi, ECs, early Kirby & more!

Regular vistors to this page will already have heard of the amazing collection we've acquired via the BBC1 programme Car Booty. The relevant episode will be screened sometime in April/May (date to be confirmed), but here's your chance to grab some of the wonderful comics from it before the national TV publicity. We open up with probably the most significant Marvel comics of all, plus a wonderful selection of 1950's material:

*Marvel Comics: The first 50 issues of the catalyst of the Marvel Age - the Fantastic Four! The team itself, Dr. Doom, the Mole Man, the Watcher, Galactus, the Inhumans, the Silver Surfer snd scores of other concepts that remain cornerstones of Marvel today were introduced in these 50 issues (and the accompanying first two annuals), from the minds of Lee & Kirby! Even in low-mid grade, most of these items aren't cheap, but getting a sequence like this in happens increasingly rarely, and they sell increasingly quickly! And as a special bonus, we also have the debut issue of Marvel's misunderstood anti-hero, the Incredible Hulk, from his days as a thinly-disguised atomic Frankenstein imitator. Watch out for those Gamma rays, Rick!

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: A selection of rare and iconic items, predominantly with a science-fiction theme: Ziff Davis's Amazing Adventures #1, with art by Murphy Anderson, Alex Schomburg, Wally Wood and Ogden Whitney and a superb pulp-style painted cover; Fawcett's movie adaptations of Destination Moon and When Worlds Collide; Real Clue Crime Stories V2#6 (1947) with several Simon & Kirby tales; Fox's Spectacular Features #2, with a book-lengther 'Iwo Jima' tale and classic USA flag cover; and a complete run of EC's Weird Science-Fantasy, the 'Amalgam' EC SF book which features work from Wood, Orlando, Krigstein, Williamson, Frazetta, and other acknowledged masters of the genre.

Full details of all these may, as always, be found in the detailed listings in the appropriate sections of our on-line catalogue. This is just the tip of the iceberg for the Car Booty Collection. Watch for frequent updates in the months ahead!

Posted by Rob | 03:05 p.m. GMT | 20 March 2006

American Update - Huge DC Comics update, inc. many #1s and near-complete Metal Men

*A huge update to our DC Comics stock this week. A wide variety of both mainstream and 'fringe' DC universe, with highlights being a range of high grade Batman 80 Page Giants, a selection of Steve Ditko's Creeper, inc. two #1s, Phantom Stranger from #1, Inferior Five from #1, Secret Six from #1, and a multifarious medley of the magnificently malleable Metal Men! From first issue to last (missing only #6, but with many duplicates in a choice of grades and all the scarce Showcase issues), Barking Bob Kanigher's maddest creations reign supreme. All this, plus top-ups to Atom, Detective, Hawk & Dove (nice grade copies), Hawkman (inc. #1), Superman, JLA, Teen Titans, Rima the Jungle Girl, Lois Lane and Superboy. Loads more classic DC on the way from our Star & Car Booty Collections -- brace yourselves!

Posted by Rob | 02:35 p.m. GMT | 20 March 2006

British Update - Cor, Jackpot, Sparky, June, Mandy, Princess, Princess Tina, Tina, Katy & much more!

Hundreds and hundreds of new items in ever-popular titles in our British update this week, in the following categories:

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: Major updates to three top titles: Cor from 1971 & 1974, home to 'Gus Gorilla', 'Hire-A-Horror', 'Spoilsport' and 'Ivor Lott & Tony Broke', a searing indictment of the fiscal inequities of society (ahem); Jackpot from 1979, most of the first 30 issues, bringing us 'Richie Wraggs', 'Cry Baby', and Messrs. Lott & Broke's distaff counterparts 'Milly O'Naire & Penny Less'; and a substantial run of Sparky from 1968 to 1976, with almsot complete sequences from March 1968 to January 1971 - 'Dreamy Dave & Dozy Dora', 'Keyhole Kate', 'Pansy Potter', 'Mr. Bubbles', 'Invisible Dick', 'Barney Bulldog', and never-forgetting our highly non-PC eponymous hero - they're all present in this generally high grade selection of a much-pursued series.

*Girls' Comcis & Picture Libraries: Girls! Girls! Girls! We can't get enough of 'em at 30th Century, and neither can you lot, so we're obliging with another stellar selection, including: June from 1961-1973 (plus 1978 Holiday Special); Mandy from 1972-1988; not only Princess Tina (1967-1972), but also both her parents, Princess (1962-63) and Tina (1967); a complete NM run of the short-lived oddball and seldom-seen Katy (from 1986-87), the last brief attempt to launch a girls' comic in the UK, including issue #1 with free gift; and additions to our stocks of Penny, Pink, Sally, Tammy & Tracy! Something for everyone -- or at least everyone who's got any business reading this section of our update...

Posted by Rob | 02:22 p.m. GMT | 20 March 2006

13 March 2006

Coming Attractions

2006 is going to be the ride of a lifetime for vintage comic collectors who shop with us. We've lined up quite the most amazing selection of classics and rarities for your delight in the months ahead.

Firstly, as you may have noticed from previous notices posted here, the BBC have been filming at our shop for the programme 'Car Booty' (BBC 1 daytime). We've been evaluating one of the most impressive collections we've ever come across and I'm delighted to announce we have now secured it for our stock. This collection includes:
*Complete Silver/Bronze runs of Fantastic Four, Avengers, Daredevil, Silver Surfer, Sgt Fury and many more
*Good runs of Spider-Man, X-Men, Thor and many other classic Marvel titles
*Complete 1970's runs of the DC House of Mystery & House of Secrets titles, plus many other gothic horror, some of which are are scarce as hen's teeth
*All of Neal Adams's & Jack Kirby's work at DC, plus the 'Diana Rigg' Wonder Woman years complete.
*Nice 1940's/50's sci-fi inc. original EC's and Fawcett Movie Comics
*Loads of Dell Film & TV tie-ins
The appropriate edition of 'Car Booty' is being built around the footage at 30th Century, and will be broadcast sometime in April or May. We'll let you know the exact date nearer the time.

And we've also negotiated the release of tons more gems from the vaults of our 'Star Collectors' who have been supplying us over the last year or two. These will include:
*Vintage British comics from the 1930's to the 1950's, many of which seldom see the light of day.
*Lots of classic Eagle from the 1950s/60s.
*A wide range of 1950's DC pre-distribution issues
*Many DC Golden/Silver Age icons inc Brave & Bold 28-30, the first three JLA stories, Strange Adventures 1 & 9, and early Showcase issues
*1940's/50's Good Girl Art from Fox and other publishers
*Lots of pre-code horror from several publishers, inc high-grade CGC copies

All this and lots more should be going on sale over the next few months. Please bear with us as these collections cannot be graded and valued overnight, but keep watching this page for further details as items become available.

And of course we're just waiting for the next wonderful collection to surface. Is it in YOUR loft?

Posted by Rob | 08:00 p.m. GMT | 13 March 2006

12 March 2006

American Update -- Marvel (inc. early Daredevil), Atlas horror, Red Circle Sorcery!

Tons of new American goodies for you this week in the following categories:

*Marvel: An appealing selection of early Daredvil (ranging between #2 and #15) in affordable mid-grades, and including several of the coveted Wally Wood issues. Also, feminist icon the Claws of the Cat, Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-In-One (inc. early ND issues) and the premiere issue of Shanna the She-Devil (Ka-Zar's barely-clothed bride-to-be, with a stunning Steranko cover).

*Horror 1940-1959: Another Atlas update, with Adventures Into Weird Worlds, Journey Into Mystery, Mystical tales, the ever-elusive Strange Tales and Uncanny tales, with work from Crandall, Heath and several unusually lurid Bill Everett covers.

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: Red Circle Sorcery. Yes, we do bang on about it a bit, but really more people ought to pay attention to this Gray Morrow-helmed horror title, produced, paradoxically, by a sub-division of the squeaky-clean Archie Comics. Only running from #3 to #11 (#1 & #2 were hosted by Sabrina the Teenage Witch, amd were quite a different kettle of flesh), these tales pushed the Comics Code as hard as they could in the mid-70's, and featured abundant work by Toth, Chaykin, Thorne, McWilliams, and of couse Morrow himself.

Posted by Rob | 01:42 p.m. GMT | 12 March 2006

British Update - Eagle, Lion, Valiant, Warlord, Wizard, Hotspur, Roy of the Rovers, Tiger, Bunty, Debbie, Emma, Judy & Misty!

A phantasmagoria of favourites in this week's update to the British section of our online catalogue in the following categories:

*Boys' Adventure & War Comics: Time for a once-over-lightly through several popular weeklies: Eagle Mark II (1985-1989), Lion (1966-1970), Valiant (1971-1975), Warlord (1978-1986), Wizard (1976-1977), plus additions to our Hotspur, Roy of the Rovers and Tiger listings. Fill yer footie boots!

*Girl's Comics & Picture Libraries: Good-sized updates to several titles this week: Bunty (1966-1987), Debbie (1979-1983), Emma (1978-1979), Judy (1964-1991), and a further selection of the midnight mistress of moonbeams, Misty, from 1978 & 1979!

Posted by Rob | 01:32 p.m. GMT | 12 March 2006

7 March 2006

British Update - Battle

*Another sizzling midweek special in our Boys' Adventure & War Comics section with a huge run of Battle, home to 'Charley's War', 'Johnny Red', 'D-Day Dawson', and dozens more war heroes. Starting out as Battle Picture Weekly, we have an update from 1976 (scattered issues) through the late 1970's and early 1980's, with many complete years. Changing its title from Battle & Valiant through to the highly desired merger issues with the infamous Action (Battle Action), then its incarnation as an oddball toy tie-in with the UK GI Joe 'Action Force', and its last days with the rip-off 'Storm Force', Battle sells strongly in all its permutations.

Posted by Rob | 11:12 p.m. GMT | 7 March 2006

5 March 2006

Star Collections Update (British) - Eagle & Valiant

This week, in the Boys' Adventure & War section of our online catalogue, we continue the extensive runs of two of our biggest selling titles from the vaults of the Star Collectiosn we have been acquiring over the last year or so.

*First up, from the same provenance os Volumes 1 & 2 (featured in recent updates) comes the complete Volume 3 of the iconic boys' weekly, Eagle. Averaging VG/FN, these attractive and emminently collectable comics are accompanied by the first 19 issues of Volume 4, concluding this Star Collections selection. However, there are many more issues from these and later volumes coming up in future weeks, so keep watching for further Eagle updates.

*Next, we continue our Valiant complete run with the complete years 1967 and 1968. These are from a collector who spent decades assembling a definitive Valiant run, and it should be noted that he bought many lots and collections to complete his run, so this remarkable selection includes duplicates of many issues. Always a hugely popular series, an opportunity to acquire so many vintage Valiants seldom occurs. We have a lot of them right now, but sell large quantities every week, so order early 'cos they won't last! And watch for the continuation of this collection in future weeks as fast as we can grade and value them!

Posted by Rob | 12:16 p.m. GMT | 5 March 2006

American Update - 1940s/50s Pirates and Jungle Girls!

*In our Miscaelleaneous 1940-1959 section this week, a new and sizzling selection of swashbucklers and seductresses from Fox, Quality and Star! From Fox, All Top Comics, with Dagar, Rulah and Jo-Jo, topped off with a gorgeous 'woman in peril' cover, plus Rulah, Jungle Goddess in solo action! From Quality, the pirate adventures of Buccaneers, with Crandall, Katzky, Nordling and other top illustrators delineating Captain Daring, Corsair Queen and their scurvy knaves! And from Star, a selection of Terrifying Tales and Terrors of the Jungle, teaming Fox jungle reprints with occasional new stories from cult artist Jay Disbrow, and fronted by the lurid, psychedelic good girl covers of L.B. Cole.

Posted by Rob | 12:04 p.m. GMT | 5 March 2006

3 March 2006

30TH CENTURY ON TV PART 2! SHOP CLOSED PART WEDNESDAY 8TH MARCH

The concluding part of the filming at our shop for an upcoming edition of the popular BBC1 TV show 'Car Booty' will take place on Wednesday 8th March. Consequently, the shop will be opening late that day, probably not until mid-afternoon, so not a good day to plan a visit to us, I'm afraid. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. However, we hope to have some very exciting news after this, so the disruption will have been worthwhile. And you get to see us on TV! The broadcast date and further details will be posted here as soon as they are known.

Posted by Rob | 09:28 a.m. GMT | 3 March 2006