What's New

Update Archives For April 2005

27 April 2005

Star Collections update -- UK Human Torch, My Greatest Adventure etc, early Rupert Annuals, Beezer & Topper

As previously posted, we are acquiring over the coming months two enormous collections of wonderful British & American comics and annuals from 1940s-early 1960s, which will comprise one of the most significant releases of vintage comics on to the market anywhere in the world at any time. These 'Star Collections' updates will feature on this page most weeks over the next few months as we grade, value and release parts of these collections.

This update, we have some very rare and special items in the following categories:

*Vintage UK/Australian Reprints of US Material: A small, but very select assortment of titles, including issues #1 & #2 of the rare Miller Human Torch Atlas reprints, early issues (inc. #1) of the Australian My Greatest Adventure and a 1950s British Thun'da reprint with 60+ Bob Powell pages and not one, but two, Thun'da vs. the Amazons stories. Yumpin' Yiminy!

*Rupert: For all aficionados of Nutwood's favourite son, here's an exceptional selection of early annuals in mid-high grades inc. the rare 1942 and 1946 originals, plus a couple of out-of-print annual facsimiles in top grade and an original Doris Campbell colouring page from 1972.

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: Exceptional runs of Beezer and Topper from 1966-early 1970s. Extra-large laughs, chuckles and guffaws with these less than common over-sized DC Thompson tabloids, starring Ginger, Beryl the Peril, Colonel Blink, Mickey the Monkey, Danny & His Tranny and dozens more legendary comedy characters.

Full details as always of these additions in the appropriate sections of our online catalogue.

Posted by Rob | 10:51 a.m. GMT | 27 April 2005

24 April 2005

Star Collections update (American & British) Golden Age DC, Timely, Atlas, pre-decimal Alan Class & Giant War Picture Library

A huge update this week from our Star Collections with many very special and rare items, both American and British, in the following categories:

*DC Comics: An astonishing array of Golden Age and pre-distribution DCs, including Adventure, Flash Comics, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Superboy & Superman. Affordable low to mid-grade copies of iconic characters -- Golden Age Flash & Hawkman (the latter with Kubert art), Johnny Thunder, Sandman, the Shining Knight and all the Superman family.

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: A Golden Age extravaganza, with several seldom-seen Timely and Atlas Comics (Human Torch, Kid Komics with Young Allies & the Destroyer and Marvel Mystery with the Torch, Namor, Miss America and more), plus the second ever issue of Jack Cole's Plastic Man and the premier issue of Charlton's Zaza the Mystic. Rare, heady stuff!

*Alan Class Reprints: Extensive revisions to this popular category featuring reprints of vintage 1950s and 1960s material from many American publishers. All the long-running Class titles have been added to, from early 1960s issues to late 1980s numbers, with particularly heavy restocks on Creepy Worlds and Uncanny Tales, and a lot of the favoured sci-fi series Out Of This World and Weird Planets.

*Boys' Adventure & War Picture Libraries: For those of you who find regular war just isn't big enough - a run of Giant War Picture Library! These extra-tall Fleetway war comics, measuring 12.5" x 5" approx. (imagine two regular picture libraries on top of each other) print three complete stories per issue on average. Popular with readers, but unpopular with newsagents and distributors due to their odd dimensions, these rarities are seldom found in any condition, and a substantial sequence such as this, from the first to the final issue (#76), is virtually unprecedented!

Posted by Rob | 07:53 p.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

American update - more from the Marvelous House of Ideas!

In our regular American update this week, another touch-up for the house that Stan, Jack & Steve (et al) built, as we focus on the following new additions to our Marvel Comics stock: Daredevil (nice mid-grade copies between #50-#75), Fantastic Four, Thor and the ND issues of Marvel Premiere featuring Dr. Strange. Also, several scarce or ND issues of other titles such as Amazing Adventures, Marvel Team-Up, Marvel Two-In-One and more.

Posted by Rob | 07:35 p.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

Alan Class Rough Guide updated

In the features and articles section of the website, our ongoing project to catalogue the content of all Alan Class titles has been updated again. The content guide now lists many dozens of issues previously missing from our records, as we head towards a complete directory of the nearly 3 decades' worth of wonder from this increasingly sought-after publisher.

Posted by Rob | 07:30 p.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

We're back!

After some server problems during the last week, we're delighted to say that our What's New page is now back in action. The problems have resulted in the loss of the archived What's New page entries other than those from mid-March 2005 onwards which have today been recreated below, but the older entries are not that helpful once they get far out of date, since our turnround of vintage items is often very fast indeed. Look out for new entries and new stock commencing later today!

Posted by Rob | 03:40 p.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

Star Collections update (American & British) - Atlas Horror & Princess Tina!

Originally posted by Rob on 10 April 2005 @ 04:43 p.m. GMT

We've pulled out the stops this week for two contrasting selections from our Star Collections:

*Horror 1940-1959: Brace yourselves for another blood-curdling Pre-Code Atlas update, with classic titles Adventures Into Terror (beginning with the second issue), Adventures Into Weird Worlds, Astonishing, Marvel Tales, Mystery Tales (inc. #1), Mystic, Spellbound, Suspense and Uncanny Tales. Featuring abundant work by Everett, Heath, Maneely & Colan, as well as less notorious but equally gifted artists, these prototypical shockers are highly sought-after, especially in the affordable low-mid grades of most of this selection.

*Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries: A huge range of Princess Tina, the pan-European girls' comic of the 1960s and early 1970s. Translated into several languages, this highly-acclaimed adventure title featured the Space Girls by Keith Watson, Jane Bond Secret Agent by Michael Hubbard, Moira Slave Girl of Rome by Alberto Salinas and several more tough girls, as well as Model Girl Barbie (who could be pretty mean if you swiped her eyeliner). Originating as just Tina (see separate catalogue entry under 'T'), it merged with Princess to form a new title, and continued (incorporating the defunct former Lady penelope) until 1974, shifting formats from an adventure paper to soppy romance strips and pop pin-ups, before being subsumed into Pink. From early Tina editions to the very final issue -- it's all here!

Posted by Jules | 11:55 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

British update - Smash, Buster & Sparky!

Originally posted by Rob on 10 April 2005 @ 04:28 p.m. GMT

In our regular British update this week, popular titles in the following categories:

*Power Comics: a new selection of Smash commencing from #5, featuring Leo Baxendale's Comedy creations, new adventure strips such as Brian's Brain, the Batman newspaper strip and early Marvel reprints - a strange but oddly compelling medley! Also, one of the 2 very rare Smash Holiday Specials -- trouble is, they're so rare we've never seen them before and there's nothing on it to determine whether it's the 1969 or 1970 edition, so all we can tell you is it cover-features a Native American on a yellow background. If that doesn't sound familiar -- why not snap it up right away?

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: Substantial additions to two hardy perennials: Fleetway's Buster (1966-1975) and DC Thompson's Sparky (1966-1970). Extensive new stock on both these popular titles.

Posted by Jules | 11:54 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

American update - ND & other Marvels plus more Archie!

Originally posted by Rob on 10 April 2005 @ 04:20 p.m. GMT

In our regular American update this week, two ever-popular sections updated yet again with many new entries:

*Marvel: It's another trip through the Terrigan Mists for the House Of Ideas, as Avengers and Captain America are topped-up with lengthy runs (inc. many non and low-distributed issues), plus additions to our stock of Captian Marvel (Starlin issues), Iron Man, Amazing Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Special Marvel Edition (2nd Master Of Kung Fu, ND and high grade), Marvel Two-In-One (scarce #1), Wolverine, the ever-Uncanny X-Men and many more.

*Archie: More comedy mix-ups with Riverdale's red-headed riot, with updates for Archie Giant Series, Betty & Me and Archie's Girls Betty & Veronica. Loads of vintage Dan DeCarlo and Stan Goldberg artwork at very affordable prices

Posted by Jules | 11:53 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

Star Collections update (American and British): 1950s-70s DCs and UK Girls' Spellbound

Originally posted by Rob on 4 April 2005 @ 06:49 p.m. GMT

This week, updates to two of the most popular sections of our American & British catalogues:

*DC Comics: From the vaults, we have a remarkable range of DC from the 1950s to the 1970s, including circa 1960 Action Comics in really nice grade, 1950s Batman, a substantial Silver Age Hawkman run in exceptional condition, long runs of pre-distribution Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Superboy and Superman, scarce early My Greatest Adventure & Tales Of The Unexpected, 1950s Wonder Woman and two issues of the original 1950s Phantom Stranger series, almost never seen in any condition. A great opportunity to add to your collection of DCs with dozens of issues that preceed UK distribution in 1959.

*Girl's Comics & Picture Libraries: A mesmerising selection of the popular mystery/thriller/sf weekly Spellbound, with 'Vengeance of the Golden Priestess', 'Sing A Song Of Terror', 'The Strange Ones', and the feline femme fatales of the future's fast-track, the Super-Cats! Ranging from #5 to the final issue #69, this showcases art from Jesus Redondo, Enrique Romero and scores of other accomplished talents. Buy 'em all, Hercula commands it -- and trust us, you don't wanna cross her!

Posted by Jules | 11:52 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

British update -- Lion & Look-In (inc #1) plus Annuals inc 1st James Bond

Originally posted by Rob on 4 April 2005 @ 06:37 p.m. GMT

A nice British update this week with some ever-popular items in the following categories:

*Annuals: 'His name is Bond...James Bond.' From 1966, the first James Bond 007 annual, in FN condition -- an extremely rare find. Also, extensive top-ups to popular titles Beano, Eagle, Fantastic, Lion & Tiger. Embrace your inner nostalgist!

*Boys' Adventure & War Comics: A run of the high-demand Lion weekly, from 1967 to 1974 averaging VG to FN. It's generally acknowledged that from 1965 to 1974, Lion was at its peak, with cult series such as the Spider, Robot Archie, Zip Nolan and Spellbinder, and these copies are right 'in the zone'. Plus a rare find -- the first 10 issues of Look-In from 1971, averaging FN. With Mike Noble's superlative Timeslip colour strip and other TV-to-comics adaptations, Look-In is almost never found in complete condition due to the pin-ups and pull-outs being removed, so to have a key run intact as this one is unusual indeed. (NB for completists, Look-In started renumbering at #1 at the start of every year, but 1971 was the first year of publication)

Posted by Jules | 11:51 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

Star Collections Update (American) - More Pre-Code Horror!

Originally posted by Rob on 28 March 2005 @ 01:38 p.m. GMT

This week in our Horror 1940-1959 section, we continue of exhumation of Pre-Code Horror, with a gaggle of ghastly goodies from various publishers: Youthful, Ace, Avon, ACG, St. John, Fiction House, Atlas & Star. Highlights include Startling Terror Tales #10 (the premiere issue with Wally Wood art), the first issue of Fiction House's Ghost Comics (with hallucinogenic cover by Maurice Whitman), Marvel Tales #104 (highly souight-after Wolverton story, plus superlative Everett work and Heath cover), and St. John's rare 100 page Strange Terrors #7, with a notorious Kubert cover and lead. Also: Adventures Into The Unknown, Beware, Beyond, Eerie, Fantastic, Ghost Rider (with fabuolus Frazetta cover), Hand Of Fate and Web Of Mystery -- all life (well, death) is here!

Posted by Jules | 11:50 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

American update: Silver bonanza from DC, Marvel, Charlton, Dell, Gold Key/Whitman & harvey, plus 1950s esoterica from Atlas & Charlton!

Originally posted by Rob on 28 March 2005 @ 01:27 p.m. GMT

A huge influx of Sliver Age titles this week from almost all the major publishers of 1960s American comics:

*DC: Most DC titles with new additions to the following titles (deep breath!): Action, Adventure, Atom, Batman, Blackhawk, Brave & Bold, Detective, Doom Patrol (inc. several very nice FN+ or better copies), Flash, From Beyond The Unknown, Jimmy Olsen, Lois Lane, Mr. Miracle, My Greatest Adventure (inc. early Doom Patrol issues in nice grades), Rip Hunter Time Master, Sandman, Sea Devils, Showcase, Spectre, Superboy, Super DC Giant, Superman and World's Finest - a whilrwind tour through the DC Universe!

*Marvel: A refresher course for the House Of Ideas this week, with the highlight being a lengthy run of Tales Of Suspense (inc. early Hawkeye & Black Widow appearences in nice grades), plus additions to our stock of Avengers, Black Panther, Captains America & Marvel, Defenders, Dr. Strange, Tales To Astonish, Thor and X-Men.

*Charlton: Another selection of eclectica from Connecticut's favourite publisher, including new stock for Fightin' 5, Go-Go, House Of Yang, Korg and Primus.

*Dell: An unusual selection of anthropomorphic hi-jinx in exceptionally high grades for their vintage, featuring Mouse Musketeers (Tom & Jerry 'elseworlds'), Ruff & Reddy, Spike & Tyke, and Walt Disney's Comics & Stories (inc. Barks' issues).

*Gold Key/Whitman: A very diverse selection, featuring the Flintstones, H.R. Pufnstuf, Little Lulu, Barks' Uncle Scrooge and scarce later Whitman Dr. Solar.

*Harvey: Overdue additions to this enduringly popular category, with new items for Alarming Adventures, Little Dot Dotland (#1!), and everyone's favourite dead baby Casper the Friendly Ghost!

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: A small but significant scattering of titles, including the acclaimed Airboy, Atlas's Jann Of The Jungle and Speed Carter Spaceman, and a swatch of nice grade 1950s Charlton Giants: Atomic Rabbit, Li'l Genius, Timmy The Timid Ghost and Giant Comics #1, with Atomic Mouse and chums!

Full details of all these as always in our ever-expanding online catalogue!

Posted by Jules | 11:49 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

Easter Opening

Originally posted by Rob on 20 March 2005 @ 01:22 p.m. GMT

As always, we're open every day over the Easter Holidays (normal hours), so why not pop in for a browse around? We've got over fifty thousand vintage comics on display, both British and American, at all grades and prices to suit both the high-grade collector and the reading copy enthusiast. In addition, we have tens of thousands of 'modern' comics, from 1980 right up to the current week's American imports plus hundreds of the best and latest graphic novels and collections. If you like comics, we're sure to have something for you!

Just a word about Sunday 27th. It's Boat Race day, so you can combine a trip to 30th Century with a look at all the colour and spectacle of one of the country's most famous sporting events. The Boat Race starts just a few yards from our shop. But one caution: don't bring your car if you plan to park anywhere nearby! Putney is teeming with people on Boat Race day and parking is severly restricted.

Have a great Easter -- eat too much chocolate and too many buns and keep watching this page for details of many more fabulous comic gems coming into stock!

Posted by Jules | 11:48 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

Star Collections Update (American & British) Superior Pre-code Horror & early UK Girls' Picture Libraries

Originally posted by Rob on 20 March 2005 @ 12:55 p.m. GMT

This week, two updates from contrasting ends of the vintage comics collecting spectrum:

*American Horror 1940-1959: The skeletal spotlight falls on Superior, the Canada-based Pre-Code Horror publishers, with three key titles: Journey Into Fear, Mysteries Weird & Strange and Strange Mysteries. Mostly produced by the Iger studio, the art for these books includes such classic craftsmen as Matt Baker & Jack Kamen, and is of a surprisingly consistent quality, with all the ghoulish goings-on narrated in clear and meticulous detail, despite Superior's variable printing quaility. Lurid and bloodthirsty, with a 'romance gone wrong' thread, the Superiors hold a unique place in the annals of Pre-Code horror. Long runs of these titles are now available.

*British Girls' Comcis & Picture Libraries: A ripping selection of early Picture Libraries this time, from Bunty, Judy, June & School Friend, Princess and more - ranging from 1960-1968. Join the fun and adventure with the Four Marys, Topsy On Her Toes, The School For Danger and Mamselle X, Girl Secret Agent of World War II (Zut alors!)...

Posted by Jules | 11:46 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

British update -- Horror & Sci-Fi in UK Reprints!

Originally posted by Rob on 20 March 2005 @ 12:41 p.m. GMT

In our British comics website catalogue update this week, another batch in UK/Australian Reprints of US Material, this popular category (if somewhat a confusing one due to the multiple publishers, editions and numbering!). Mostly horror and sci-fi titles this time, such as Adventures Into the Unknown, 87th Precinct, Fantastic Tales, Forbidden Worlds, Mystery In Space, Race For The Moon, Spellbound and others. Art by Kane, Kirby, Ditko, Whitney, Krigstein & dozens of stellar craftsmen in these obscure treasure troves.

Posted by Jules | 11:45 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

American update -- DC Implosion Explosion!

Originally posted by Rob on 20 March 2005 @ 12:34 p.m. GMT

In our American DC Comics website catalogue section this week, a special Bronze Age update with lots of short-lived titles that were either prematurely terminated by DC's 'Implosion' of '77, or didn't make it there in the first place. Still very affordable, these low-print run 70s titles are increasingly collectable. Included are: Black Lightning, Firestorm, Freedom Fighters, Isis, Super-Friends, Secret Society of Super-Villains, Shazam, Shade, New Gods, Secret Origins, Wanted and a load of old Kobras. (But no Cancelled Comics Cavalcade. Sorry...)

Posted by Jules | 11:44 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

Star Collections Update (American & British) Pre-Code Horror & 1960s Beano, Dandy etc Annuals

Originally posted by Rob on 13 March 2005 @ 10:47 a.m. GMT

Two contrasting entries this week, one American and one Britiish:

*Horror 1940-1959: 'It's Tom's leg - but he was executed last night!" Half of the complete runs (including both #1s) of two of the most notorious and grisly pre-code horror titles - Dark Mysteries and Mysterious Adventures! Featuring decapitation, dismemberment, lurid bloodshed, cannibalism, bondage/torture, women in peril, and more fun for all the family! (And skeletons aplenty. They really liked skeletons). Also, an issue of Fight Against Crime, Horror & Suspense (the companion title, Tender Romances of Funny Animal Cowboys, wasn't in this batch. Drat.) Look out for more gutfulls of similar material coming in future weeks!

*Annuals: Ranging from 1963 to 1970, the four major D.C. Thompson humour annuals - Beano, Beezer, Dandy & Topper - in an attractive variety of grades. Many scarce and seldom-seen annuals in this calvalcade of comic classics!

Posted by Jules | 11:43 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

British update - Diana

Originally posted by Rob on 13 March 2005 @ 10:33 a.m. GMT

This week in our regular British update, in Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries, a striking selection of Diana, the D.C. Thomspon oversized girls' weekly, from 1963 to 1967. This started out as a rather worthy title, with lots of educational features and sedate (but beautifully illustrated) adventures in tennis, horse-riding and modelling. With the advent of the swinging part of the sixties, however, Diana was home to a host of liberated ladies, including Bird Girl, the Laughing Cats (ballet instructors who fought espionage by night [as you do]), Suzette of the Silver Sword, the Girls from N.O.O.D.L.E.S. and many more, culminating in the hugely popular Avengers strip, faithfully reproducing the likeness and style of the John Steed/Emma Peel TV show. Very oddball stuff, sumptuously illustrated often in full gravure colour.

Posted by Jules | 11:40 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005

American update -- Cult DC titles plus DC Horror plus Golden Age Romance & Western

Originally posted by Rob on 13 March 2005 @ 10.25 am GMT

Tons of stuff in this week's regular American update, in the following categories (full details as always in the online catalogue):

*DC: A choice selection of cult DC titles: the 1970s All-Star Comics revival, which returned the JSA to greatness under the hands of Paul Levitz and Wally Wood; 'The World's Strangest Heroes', the Doom Patrol, outcasts fighting for justice and acceptance, and new additions to our stock of inept but charming Inferior Five and the scarce Mike Sekowsky Wonder Woman run.

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: A heap of horrific happenings from the annals of DC, with all the key titles - Ghosts, House of Mystery, House of Secrets, Unexpected and Witching Hour - represented, in addition to lesser known series like Secrets of Sinister House, Forbidden Tales of Dark Mansion and Weird Mystery Tales. All in 'spookily' high grades, so you can keep 'em in your crypt forever...

*Romance: Grab your hankies for another trip on the love barge of Golden Age romance! We have ACG, Atlas, Quality, St John and Charlton romances to tickle your tearducts, with famous titles like Confessions of the Lovelorn, Forbidden Love, True Life Secrets & My Romantic Adventures - everything to help you explore the more bizarre outskirts of the romance genre. 'Heart of a Drunkard' anyone?

*Western: A quartet of strangeness and charm from the old corral. The strangely infamous Bobby Benson's B-Bar-B Riders #14, with our wholesome juvenile hero getting involved in bondage/woman in peril/torture hijinks (guest-starring Ghost Rider!); Avon's Cowpuncher, a scarce and sought-after good girl cover series; Dell's Wagon Train, early Four Color photo cover; and 'The Lone Ranger's Famous Horse Hi-Yo Silver' (the full official title) with our hero's horse in untold tales of his colthood adventures. Good horse art (!).

We're too good to you...

Posted by Jules | 11:34 a.m. GMT | 24 April 2005