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Update Archives For May 2005

24 May 2005

Rough Guide to Alan Class updated again!

In the Features & Articles section of the website, we've made a further and significant update to our Alan Class Rough Guide. In preparation for the imminent arrival of the Alan Class Private Collection (from the vaults of the publisher himself), we've now added more information and details of several of the one-off issues and short run series. In addition, each title heading now has the length of the run noted beside it, as confirmed by Alan Class! Keep watching the website for further updates and for the first batch from the Alan Class Private Collection, going on sale in the very near future...

Posted by Rob | 05:36 p.m. GMT | 24 May 2005

British Update - Huge Picture Library update plus Judy & Misty!

Two significant updates to the British part of our online catalogue this week:

*Boys' Adventure & War Picture Libraries: A cornucopia of digest-size drama and adventure, with updates across the board, including (deep breath): Action, Action War, Air Ace, Air War Picture Stories, Battle, Battlecry, Battleground, Combat, Commando, Heroic Adventure, Lion, Picture Stories of WW2, Pocket Chiller, Sabre, Space, Suspense, Starblazer, Valiant, War, Western, Western Star and more. Hundreds of new listings!

*Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries: It's 1974 in Judy, and the romantic triangle with Bobby Dazzler (only girl in a boys' school), is hotting up in our new swathe of issues. Will she stay with old flame Mike, or cop off with new boy Don? Only Wee Slavey knows for sure! And from 1979 & 1980, a choice cull from the crypt of Misty, including the elusive final issue, and several late copies complete with the frequently-missing pull-out features. How much excitement can a mere man take? I'm just off to play with Misty's Magic Circle...

Posted by Rob | 05:27 p.m. GMT | 24 May 2005

15 May 2005

Announcing... THE ALAN CLASS PRIVATE COLLECTION!

We are thrilled to announce one of the most exciting and important events in the history of British comics collecting! In conjunction with Mr. Alan Class himself, we will over the coming months be selling his Private Collection of Alan Class Comics published between the early 1960s and late 1980s.

These file copies will be presented with a certificate of authenticity, each signed by Alan Class personally, and will be offered for sale in batches throughout the coming summer. Whilst not every issue published is included in the collection, most are, and in many cases there are multiple copies available. These are uncirculated, unread copies and although some have suffered a little from decades in storage, many are as good as new!

As well as the comics themselves, we will also be selling associated esoterica such as printer's stat copies, correspondence etc, usually in a set with a copy of the related comic. In addition, we also have the four colour cover printing plates to go with many of the comics, providing a unique set of comics' memorabilia.

These historic items will be offered EXCLUSIVELY to the market by 30th Century Comics. Some items/sets may be auctioned by us but the vast majority will be offered for sale through our shop and website in the normal way.

If you're an Alan Class collector, you won't want to miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity to add some real gems, which will be the stars of your collection. It will be a few weeks before detailed listings of these start appearing on our website. In the meantime, you can register with us to receive full details by email as and when batches are released for sale, or if you have a wants list, we can arrange to reserve items for you (without obligation). Just email us and we'll be in touch!

We are of course indebted to Mr. Alan Class, a true gentleman of our industry, for his co-operation and for choosing 30th Century to market his collection for him. We hope later in the year that Alan will be present at our shop for a signing session. If this is possible, full details will be posted here.

At 30th Century, we've always prided ourselves on being a leading authority on Alan Class publications. Now, with the man himself 'on our team', we can truthfully say that we are the 'Home of Alan Class Comics'.

Posted by Rob | 11:53 a.m. GMT | 15 May 2005

British update -- Boys World, Eagle, Lion, Beano, Dandy & more!

Lots of new British stock this week in the following categories:

*Boys' Adventure & War: A huge update this week, led by a consecutive run of most of the first two volumes of Boy's World from 1963/64 (inc Vol 1 #1). Despite wholesome and educational aspirations, the Eagle-sized Boys' World wisely included lots of fantasy and science-fiction strips from the start, including the superlative 'Wrath of the Gods' by Michael Moorcock and Ron Embleton (later John Burns), 'Angry Planet', an adaptation of Harry Harrison's 'Deathworld', Frank Bellamy on 'Ghost World', and the long-running robot hero 'Iron Man', among others. Early action is suggested to get these -- they don't turn up often and we predict demand will be high.
Speaking of Eagle, not one but two servings this time: a later first-run batch from Volume 18, with Jose Ortiz's 'Smokeman', and a run of the second series from the 1990s.
Furthermore - for all you folks who can't get enough Lion - here's more! From 1966 to 1971, the home of the Spider, the Spellbinder, Robot Archie, Flame of the Forest and the Waxer (not, as you might suspect, a deranged beautician...) is back in business!
And, as if that's not enough, we also have additions to Battle, Crunch & Look & Learn, plus soccer comics Scorcher, Striker & Shoot!

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: Small but select ranges of classic Beano & Dandy from 1965 in very nice condition, including Christmas issues, plus a dash of the ever-popular Buster!

Posted by Rob | 11:14 a.m. GMT | 15 May 2005

8 May 2005

Star Collections Update (British) - Fleetway Super-Libraries feat. Steel Claw & Spider plus Thriller Picture Library inc #1!

We conclude Phase 1 of our Star Collections releases with the following stunning items in the Boys' Adventure & War: Picture Libraries section: The seldom-seen Fleetway Super-Libraries series, 100 pagers with adventures of the popular anti-heroes Steel Claw, the Spider & secret agent Johnny Nemo. And, saving the rarest for last, early additions of Thriller Comics/ Picture Library, including the very first issue in GD/VG @ £300. When was the last time you saw these?

This concludes the first phase of the release of these 'Star Collections' from the vaults of two of the UK's foremost collectors. Later this year, we'll be revisting their collections for many more rarities and fabulous items.

In the meantime, we will shortly have some very exciting news on our latest major find, which will include file copies and other esoterica from the archives of a major UK publisher, in an offer EXCLUSIVE to 30th Century Comics. Stay tuned for more details on this sensational scoop!

Posted by Rob | 03:56 p.m. GMT | 8 May 2005

British update - Humour & Adventure Annuals

Additions to our Annuals section this week, with Beano from 1969-1974, mostly high-grade and Scorcher, Score, Tiger & Victor from the 1970s.

Posted by Rob | 03:30 p.m. GMT | 8 May 2005

American update -- Conan (inc #1), THUNDER Agents, Atlas Seaboard, Classics Illustrated, latest DC Archives, Marvel Masterworks and more!

A bumper bundle of new stock in our regular American update this week, in the following categories:

*Marvel: Often imitated but never equalled, Conan the Barbarian, Robert E. Howard's savage warrior, translated for comics by Roy Thomas and the gifted artists Barry (later Windsor-) Smith and John Buscema. A #1 issue graces our stock this time, a cents copy in very attractive VF condition, plus an unbroken run of the series from #44-#100, mostly in Near Mint or better, including the debut of Conan's paramour Belit, his ally the warrior-wizard Zuma and maidens, magicians and monsters galore! (Shall I mention the Man-Crabs? Perhaps best not...)

*Miscellaneous 1960-1980s: A five-pronged assault of very diverse delights: (1) latter-day Jack Kirby extravaganzas inc. Captain Victory, Silver Star and the 3D Battle For A Three-Dimensinal World one-shot. (2) King Features' Flash Gordon & Mandrake the Magician in excellent condition. (3) A substantial run of THUNDER Agents from the 1960s, often in high grades, with Wally Wood as chief artist and art editor, these double-sized comics also feature Kane, Ditko, Adkins, Sekowsky and other top-line creators. (4) A selection of the bizarre cult 1970s Atlas Seaboard comics inc. Scorpion, Tiger Man etc by Chaykin and Ditko among others. (5) Rare 1965 Ballantine paperback resiisues of the classic EC horror and science-fiction titles.

*Classics Illustrated (American & British): New additions to this increasingly sought-after category inc. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Dr. Jekyll & Mr Hyde, A Tale Of Two Cities, The Deerslayer and Abraham Lincoln (who wasn't a work of fiction last time I looked...)

*Modern Reprints: All the latest Archives, Masterworks and Essentials from DC & Marvel, plus many other new editions of old classics from various publishers.

Posted by Rob | 03:20 p.m. GMT | 8 May 2005

2 May 2005

Star Collections update - Even more Pre-Code Horror!

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 week, another breathtaking buffet of ghoulish treats in our American section, Horror 1940-1959. Standard's Adventure Into Darkness and The Unseen, two stylish and quality series with top notch art by Toth, Sekowsky and Andru & Esposito among others. Plus Superior's Mysteries Weird & Strange, Farrell's Strange Fantasy and Quality's Web Of Evil also proffered for your delectation.

Posted by Rob | 05:14 p.m. GMT | 2 May 2005

American update -- DC War & Mags/Books about vintage US Comics

In our regular American update this week, new entries in 2 sections of our online catalogue:

*War: Additions to our range of DC's Our Army At War and Star-Spangled War Stories, with high-grade early Enemy Ace appearances and many stories by Joe Kubert, Russ Heath and other A-List creators.

*Magazines & Books About Vinatge US Comics: A new range of back issues of Comic Book Marketplace (as early as #15) in this popular category, and latest issues of Alter Ego, Back Issue, Charlton Spotlight, Comic Book Marketplace and other compendia of comics criticism.

Posted by Rob | 05:02 p.m. GMT | 2 May 2005

British update - More favourite old girls' comics, plus a 'new' old curiosity!

In our regular British update this week, a very large update to our Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries section, with more additions to nearly all your favourite titles: Bunty (1970s and 2000+), Judy (1960s-1970s), Diana (1967-1974, inc. many of the later 'romance & pop' version) Mandy (1979-1984) and Spellbound, all refreshed for your enjoyment! Also, a bit of a curiosity: a largely unbroken sequence of the weekly women's 'story paper' Silver Star, from 1957-1958. With romance stories as lurid as the times would permit (titles like 'Doctor Accused' and 'The Right To Wear White'), these text and illo magazines were probably thoroughly disapproved of by your mums and grannies -- but I bet they read them anyway!

Posted by Rob | 04:54 p.m. GMT | 2 May 2005