What's New

Update Archives For August 2006

28 August 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - Master Of Kung Fu, Marvel Strange Worlds, Atlas Venus & Yellow Claw, EC Shock Suspense, Harvey Alarming Tales by Kirby, Witching Hour, Plop and loads more!

A wide range of rare gems from the 1950's and 1970's this update. Many of these are high demand items and will be sure to go quickly. New stock in the following categories:

*Marvel: Two mis-matched but much pursued titles this time. First up, Master Of Kung Fu, by Moench, Gulacy & others, with Shang-Chi and his chums facing off against the notorious Fu Manchu. Many non-UK distributed issues newly listed. Secondly, from 1959, the ultra-rare Strange Worlds, a contemporary of Tales To Astonish & Tales Of Suspense and featuring sci-fi/mystery classics by Lee, Kirby, Ditko & co. from the earliest dawnings of the Marvel Age.

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: An All-Atlas Update! A handful of key titles: the sci-fi thriller Speed Carter, Spaceman, with art by Joe Maneely; Man Comics (grrr!), in its war phase; an issue of the fiendish Yellow Claw, with the Jack Kirby/John Severin combo resulting in richly-textured art - a shame they didn't collaborate more often; and finally... a touch of Venus! For those not in the know, Venus started in 1948 (heavily inspired by the movie 'Down To Earth' with Rita Hayworth), and went through several rapid mutations: funny girl, romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and, under the hands of Bill Everett, finally horror with a bizarre twist, exquisitely rendered in what is often considered Everett's finest work. The issues listed here are the last few, when the title was as horrific as any other pre-code comic, and superior to virtually all others. Very rare and truly beatiful items.

*Horror 1940-1959: A selection of rare Pre and Post Code treats, with the star of the show being EC's Shock SuspenStories #1 in VG, and #13, with the only solo Frazetta story produced for EC. The original EC's are increasingly hunted out as their quality impresses succeeding generations. However, the rest of the line-up isn't to be slighted: Harvey's Alarming Tales (inc. the all-Kirby #1 with Kamandi & Cadmus Project prototypes), Standard's Unseen, Ajax/Farrell's Voodoo, Harvey's charming Man In Black by Bob Powell, and Atlas's Adventure Into Mystery, all reaching out to guide you into the netherworld this update.

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980's: You want esoteric? You got esoteric! DC's ground-breaking Witching Hour, with took the experimental opportunity offered by the successful revamps of the Houses of Mystery & Secrets, and flew off with it, producing innovative and exciting work by Toth, Adams, Cardy (check out #8 for top-notch stuff by all three) and scores more. And they don't come much more esoteric than Plop!, the Sergio Aragones-helmed comedy/horror title which featured offbeat work by Wolverton, Wood, that Toth man again, and numerous other toilers in the field of the bizarre. Extensive updates to both these popular series (inc. both #1's) this listing.

Posted by Rob | 12:01 p.m. GMT | 28 August 2006

British Update - Lion & Robin Hood Annuals

*Annuals: Lion re-joins the lists with further entries (inc. 1954, the very first Lion Annual), featuring Jet-Ace Logan, Robot Archie, Paddy Payne and countless square-jawed heroes striving for the empire. Plus - Robin Hood! The hero of Sherwood Forest, as seen in Thriller Picture Library, in extra-length hardcover adventures.

Posted by Rob | 11:28 a.m. GMT | 28 August 2006

25 August 2006

British Update - Buster and Shiver & Shake

*Humour Comics & Picture Libraries: Small but crucial additions to two key titles: the long-running Buster from 1962 & 1965, oversized issues amalgamated with 'Film Fun' and 'The Big One' respectively; and the always swiftly shifting Shiver & Shake from 1973 & 1974 - those insatiable spectre and pachyderm groupies always snap up issues with alacrity, so move now if you don't want to be left out!

Posted by Rob | 08:21 a.m. GMT | 25 August 2006

Star Collections Update (British): Eagle Vol 1-4, TV Century 21

A couple of British titles significantly updated this time from our Star Collections:

*Boys' Adventure & War Comics: Continuing our long run of Eagle from an original owner collection, we present most of the first four volumes (beginning with Vol 1 #6); if you don't know by now that it was the home of Dan Dare and produced by the top talents of the 1950's, then take 1,000 lines and stand in the corner! This collection is in remarkably consistent grade throughout, averaging VG or FN condition.
-Also, a major influx of new stock of TV Century 21, the classic 1960's anthology based on the TV shows of Gerry Anderson; Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet, Stingray & Fireball XL5 by Bellamy, Noble, Embleton and other master craftsmen of the decade.

Posted by Rob | 08:16 a.m. GMT | 25 August 2006

21 August 2006

American Update - Romance & reprints inc. new EC Picto-Fiction!

This update, we take a dip into the world of Love, and a look at the latest classic material in new reprint editions:

*Romance: New vintage stock (pardon my oxymoron) from publishers such as Ajax (Brides' Secrets), Charlton (Sweethearts & Cynthia Doyle, Nurse In Love), Key (Diary Confessions, Ideal Romance), Our (Love Diary), and ACG (My Romantic Adventures). A quick glance at the covers shows that all life's problems are answered here; this selection alone tells girls what to do if they're in love with a crooner, tragically unattractive, on a date with three sailors, or a hundred feet tall! It's a whole different world in romance funnybooks...

*Modern Reprints: Star of the update this time is the brand-new EC Picto-Fiction Library Collection, four handsome oversized slipcased hardcovers presentine the short-lived magazines - Shock, Confessions, Crime & Terror Illustrated - with which the company hoped to replace their comics. Text with heavy illustrations by, among others, Wood, Kamen, Orlando, Crandall & Frazetta, these were a commercial failure, but are now regarded as some of the artists' finest works. This superb set collects every issue plus prepared but unpublished art and scripts, with history and commentary.
-Also, additions to the popular Archive and Masterworks colour hardcovers (Metal Men, Captain America, Dynamic Duo, Rawhide Kid, Plastic Man), the black and white Showcase and Essential paperbacks (Haunted Tank, Savage She-Hulk, Elongated Man, Nova, Wolverine, Power Man), the Women Of Marvel collection, the Justice Society paperback reprinting Levitz and Wood's 1970's All-Star Comics and the X-Men Dark Phoenix saga back in print. Something for everyone!

Posted by Rob | 04:08 p.m. GMT | 21 August 2006

Car Booty Collection Update - Fantastic Four, Inhumans & more!

*Marvel Comics: We return to the 'Car Booty' collection with a further visit to the First Family of Marveldom, the Fantastic Four. Issues 51-200 complete (1-50 listed in a previous update), with many Simon & Kirby milestones such as the debut of the Black Panther in #52, Him (later Warlock) in #65/66, and Toomazooma the Living Totem Pole in #80 (okay, maybe that one wasn't such a milestone, but it's pretty rare in the UK), scores of 1970's ND issues, and including all the rare and ND Annuals and Giant-Size series. Join Reed 'n Sue 'n Ben 'n Johhny (or occasionally Crys 'n Vic 'n Doozy 'n Luke) as they set the cosmos to rights!
-Also this update, the complete short-run Inhumans title from the 1970's by Moench, Kane and then-newbie George Perez; and Amazing Adventures, the anthology which featured, at various times, the aforementioned Inhuamans, Jack Kirby, Black Widow, Neal Adams, Gene Colan, the Beast, Steve Englehart, Don MacGregor, P. Craig Russell and Killraven, Warrior of the Worlds! More from the Car Booty archive in future updates -- keep your peepers peeled!

Posted by Rob | 03:35 p.m. GMT | 21 August 2006

British Update - UK Reprints of classic US material

This British update features some rare gems of 1950's/early 1960's British reprints that are very often harder to find than the American originals:

*Vintage UK/Australian reprints of US Material: New stock from publishers Miller (Flash Gordon, I Love You, Mandrake the Magician, Mystic), Top Sellers (Mr. District Attorney, Mystery In Space, Flash [with H.G. Peter's Wonder Woman!], Justice Traps The Guilty & Out Of This World), plus World Distributors Movie Classics (Rio Bravo, the Brave One), and relative obscurities such as Gold Token (Summer Magic) and Streamline (the schizo Three Ring, with a super-hero cover and funny animal interiors).

Posted by Rob | 03:23 p.m. GMT | 21 August 2006

18 August 2006

Postage & Packing Charges

From Monday the 21st August, the Post Office are changing the charging system for large letters and small packets to factor in size as well as weight. Since this affects the majority of the packages we send, we've had to revise our charges again. Full details on the 'How To Order' page of the website.

Sorry for the second change this year. Blame the Post Office. Hey, it cost us a whole banana for our webmistress to make the necessary HTML changes!

Posted by Rob | 06:57 p.m. GMT | 18 August 2006

British Update - Captain Britain (with free gifts) & more Marvel UK

*Marvel UK: Star of the show this time is all 39 issues of the 1970's debut series of Captain Britain, with original material by Chris Claremont and Herb Trimpe! Includes the free gifts in issues #1 & #2 as well as the relaunch #24. This series launched the career of one of comics' iconic characters. Also, a nice selection of Avengers, Dracula Lives, Fantastic Four, the short-lived war weekly Fury and the Marvel Super-Heroes incarnation with the Alan Moore Captain Britan revival.

Posted by Rob | 11:12 a.m. GMT | 18 August 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - 1950s Horror - 4 notorious titles from Atlas & Fawcett/Charlton

*Horror 1940-1959: The outstanding selection this update is post code for a change - Charlton's Tales of the Mysterious Traveller, with gorgeously moody and evocative work from Steve Ditko, just coming to his peak as an artist. Rare as hen's teeth -- the opportunity to check these out should not be missed. And not to be outdone, we have many pre-code goodies as well. Ditko pops up again in This Magazine Is Haunted, an infamous title from Fawcett, with disembowelments and decapitations aplenty, narrated by the fearsome host 'Dr. Death'; when taken over by Charlton, the title also featured early Ditko work. Plus, more Atlas for you: Mens' Adventures, formerly an action title and latterly super-hero, we have a few mid-period issues when it was pure horror and featured lurid and ludicrous covers by Everett and Heath, and the usual top line-up of Atlas artists, as did Uncanny Tales, to which we add a couple more issues, inc. #1.

Posted by Rob | 11:05 a.m. GMT | 18 August 2006

14 August 2006

British Update - Thriller & Starblazer

*Boys' Adventure & War Picture Libraries: More from the much sought-after 1950's Thriller Comics Library, starring Robin Hood, the Three Musketeers, Dick Turpin and other bold swashbucklers; and a further selection of Starblazer, bringing you blazing action from the far-flung future. From historical adventure to the deepest outpost of space - 30th Century takes you further!

Posted by Rob | 09:11 a.m. GMT | 14 August 2006

American Update - Classic newspaper strip characters & more

*Modern Reprints: Esoterica abounds this update, with new entries for DC's Millenium Editions, Marvel's Increcible Hulk Vs Wolverine one-shot (reprinting 1st Wolvy from Hulk #181), and the recalled and pulped Simon & Kirby Captain America slipcased hardcovers from 1991, reprinting Golden Age Cap 1-10, plus Steve Ditko's Static (with previously unpublished chapters). Also, a plethora of newspaper strip reprint collections featuring such beloved characters as Alley Oop, Nancy, Li'l Abner, Little Orphan Annie, Krazy Kat, Wash Tubbs & Captain Easy and Winsor McCay's lost classic Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend.

Posted by Rob | 09:07 a.m. GMT | 14 August 2006

12 August 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - Atlas Suspense & more

Another dip into the vaults of some of the most significant collections ever released on to the market. This week, another slice of Pre-Code horror:

*Horror 1940-1959: Our focus this update is a near-complete run (lacking only #1, but that was crime, anyway...) of the cult Atlas title Suspense, which featured some of the most oddball horror stories of the 1950's, with sumptuous work from Krigstein, Heath, Everett, Morisi & Maneely; every issue Pre-Code, and every issue with something a little different. Also, Atlas's Astonishing, Ace's Challenge Of The Unknown, and St. John's Nightmare (the latter with excellent Joe Kubert work), all updated for your viewing pleasure.

Posted by Rob | 08:23 a.m. GMT | 12 August 2006

American Update - Marvel Treasuries, Charlton & DC Horror, Spirit

A miscellany of delight this update in the following categories:

*Marvel: Marvel Treasury Editions - these plus-sized portions of pulp fiction enjoyed only limited distribution in the UK and, because of their tabloid size, seldom survived well. A nice selection of the main series, with ful colour vintage reprints and the occasional new story, is presented here, plus the all-new Captain America's Bicentennial Battles one-off and the 2001 movie adaptation (both by Kirby), as well as the Star Wars movie adaptation.

*Horror/Mystery 1960-1980s: Charlton's Haunted (from its second issue), and Midnight Tales refurbished this week, with work by Ditko, Sutton, Morisi, Staton (yeah, I know, but when he was making an effort...) and a bewildering array of old and upcoming talents. Plus: DC's Black Magic (with vintage Simon & Kirby work), Witching Hour and a substantial selection of Unexpected, including nice grade Giant and 100 page issues.

*Spirit: two dozen new issues added to the award-winning Kitchen Sink comics series, reprinting some of the finest adventures of Will Eisner's evergreen detective, with new Eisner covers on each issue. Showcasing the Spirit's vilest villains - the Octopus, Mr. Carrion and the ineffable P'Gell. Also, a new volume, #19, in DC's sequential Archive series, reprinting the entire run in full colour hardcover editions.

Posted by Rob | 08:15 a.m. GMT | 12 August 2006

British Update - Battle, Commando, War Picture Libraries etc

*Boys' Adventure & War Picture Libraries: A long-awaited and major update to our war-themed picture library stock, with hundreds of new listings for the long-running Commando series, from just post-decimal, circa 1971, all the way up to 2004! (Yes, they're still being published, in case you were wondering...) Also, less extensive but still significant additions to our Battle, Combat, Pocket War and War Picture Library stock. "Hey Tommy - the war isn't over yet!"

Posted by Rob | 08:01 a.m. GMT | 12 August 2006

10 August 2006

British Update - Dr. Who, TV Tornado, Starlord, Princess, Sandie & more!

Yep, back from hols with the first of a multitude of updates coming your way over these late summer weeks into the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. This time, we have some really nice items in the following categories:

*Marvel UK: The comic strip adventures of a certain Gallifreyan Time Lord (now popular with the Young People, we're told), in Dr. Who Weekly/Monthly, from 1979's Dave Gibbons illustrated first issue (ropey condition, but a first issue!), through to #46, plus the non-comic but significant 10th Anniversary Radio Times Special from 1973, with cast and crew interviews and a new text Dalek story by Terry Nation.

*Boys' Adventure & War: Star of the update this week is an almost unbroken sequence of 1967/68's TV Tornado from #3 to the final issue, with adventures of the Phantom, Magnus Robot Fighter, Flash Gordon, Man from UNCLE, Superman, Batman & Robin, and those ever-wily Mysterons. Also, a nice selection of Scorcher from 1971/72, the short-lived 2000 AD spin-off Starlord (from #1), and additions to our stock of Action (1976), Countdown (1971), Lion (1968 & 1972 Holiday Special), Look-In (1981) and Speed (1980).

*Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries: Two vintage titles from our vaults this time: Princess, from 1961 to 1963, with the Happy Days, Highway To The Sun, Petal the Little Imp, and truckloads of ballet (I know it was a staple of girls' comics, but Princess REALLY wasn't afraid to emphasize the ballet...) and the short-lived streetwise Sandie from #1, with School For Crooks, Captives Of Madam Karma, Trixie The Tennis Tramp, and many, many more in a virtually unbroken run of this scarce title's first year.

More to follow in a few days' time! Keep 'em peeled!

Posted by Rob | 12:17 a.m. GMT | 10 August 2006