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Update Archives For November 2006

27 November 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - Early Underground Comix

*Undergrounds: Early Robert Crumb and Richard Corben feature prominently in this update, with early printings of Zap and San Francisco Comic Book and a load of Corben rarities and oddities, including Fantagor, Fever Dreams, Grim Wit, Rowlf and Up From The Deep, as well as the 1976 hardcover, 'Richard Corben’s Funny Book'. Also represented, cult anthologies Death Rattle, Skull and Slow Death, a splendid run of Charles Burns’ Black Hole, and many more comics from the fringe…

Posted by Rob | 10:01 a.m. GMT | 27 November 2006

American Update - Sekowsky Wonder Woman, More Fun, Vintage DC & Atlas Romance, Creepy, Eerie, Vampirella, CBM & CBA

Another wide selection of vintage material in this week's update in the following categories:

*DC: Highlights of this DC update include several issues of the scarce Mike Sekowsky-helmed ‘Emma Peel’ issues of Wonder Woman, a 1943 More Fun Comics with a stellar line-up – Green Arrow, Aquaman, Johnny Quick, the Spectre and Dr. Fate –and top-ups to Adventure, Brave & Bold, Claw, Detective, Doom Patrol, First Issue Special (Lady Cop!), Isis, Shazam, Showcase, Stalker, Strange Adventures and the groovy Teen Titans, plus rare Double Double Comics!

*Romance: Feel the love! A scattered but intriguing selection of DC’s Falling In Love, beginning with 1955’s #1 in coverless but otherwise fine condition, ranging from # 7 to #136, showcasing the work of Romita, Rosenberger, Sekowsky, Pike, Giordano and others; also smaller selections from DC’s Young Love, Marvel’s My Love, ACG’s charmingly bonkers My Romantic Adventures and two Atlas titles, Love Romances and My Own Romance.

*Vintage Magazine-Sized Comics: All three key Warren horror magazines – Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella – substantially updated, from their respective second issues, and incorporating many early editions in decent grades. Creepy is also represented by some high-grade later issues, including the final issue of the original numbering, #146, published by Harris but with Warren inventory. Stunning and groundbreaking work from some of the greatest names in the industry; Ditko, Crandall, Colan, Wood, Colon, Goodwin, Corben, Morrow, and, all right, Tony Tallarico, but I guess he got the pages in on time!
A Warren rarity is the 1977 'Odd Comic World Of Richard Corben', a limited-run, part-colour softcover compilation of the popular artists’ work, remaindered shortly after publishing and seldom seen now.
Also, Haunt of Horror, Marvel Graphic Novel (Dazzler – the Movie!), and Devilina, Sister of Satan; what more could you want?

*Magazines/Books about vintage US comics: Major updates to our stock of two key retrospective magazines, Comic Book Artist (from #1, first and second series), and Comic Book Marketplace (from # 43 onwards). With their focus on the Golden and Silver Ages of the comics world, these magazines have garnered high reputations for their knowledgeable articles, exclusive interviews with surviving creators, and stashes of seldom-seen or never-before printed artwork. Now with many issues of both series out of print, here’s a chance to fill those gaps in your collection.

Posted by Rob | 09:55 a.m. GMT | 27 November 2006

British Update - Picture Libraries - War Galore!

*Boys' Adventure & War Picture Libraries: More than a hundred new entries to this section, with not only War Picture Library itself (commencing with # 11 and running through to the second series, including extra-thick Holiday Specials), but also additions to Action War, Attack!, Attack Holiday Special (unrelated to the previous Attack!, these are extra-length Fleetway reprint digests.), Battleground, Battler Britton Holiday Special, Combat, Commando, Conflict, Lion, Picture Stories From World War II, Pocket War, Sea War, Valiant, and War At Sea (which is, of course, completely different from Sea War..) You thought the war was over? Not in these pulp pages!

Posted by Rob | 09:44 a.m. GMT | 27 November 2006

20 November 2006

Star Collections Update (American) - Timely Captain America & Young Allies

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: Two stellar items from the Timely stable this update: Captain America Comics #66, in GD at £215, with the debut and origin of Cap’s shapely sidekick Golden Girl, who replaced Bucky after he was shot down by the slinky villainess, Lavender. With beautiful artwork by Syd Shores, this issue also features a second Cap & Bucky story and a tale of the Human Torch and Toro, plus the usual supporting features. Though this copy has some specific defects, including margin graffiti on five pages, the story pages are unmarred, and interior page quality is good. Secondly, Young Allies #5, featuring the team-up of Bucky, Toro and their little chums. This issue guest-stars the Human Torch and Captain America, and, although graded VG, has only minor defects and great eye appeal, with lovely white pages and excellent cover colour and gloss at £335. It’s seldom we see Timely super-hero titles – the folks who have them tend to hang on like grim death! – and getting two of the key series is quite a rarity.

Posted by Rob | 01:58 p.m. GMT | 20 November 2006

Car Booty Collection Update: Namor & the Duck

*Marvel: It’s 'Aqua-Buddies' unite this week, as we look at two very different stars of the Marvel Universe, with a complete run of Sub-Mariner’s Silver Age series, with the Monarch of Atlantis’ adventures illuminated by Gene Colan, John Buscema, Marie Severin and of course, his creator Bill Everett. Then we turn to the cult anti-hero of the 70’s, Howard the Duck, by Steve Gerber and that Colan man again. ‘Trapped In A World He Never Made’ – and who isn’t? - the foul-mouthed fowl attracted controversy and notoriety that subsequent revivals have failed to rekindle.

Posted by Rob | 01:54 p.m. GMT | 20 November 2006

American Update - Classics Illustrated

*Classics Illustrated: Additions to both the UK and US editions of this enduringly popular title, mostly later printings in low to mid grade, so very affordable. Titles include First Men In The Moon, Robin Hood, Abraham Lincoln, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Puddn’head Wilson and many other classics you were too lazy to read properly at school!

Posted by Rob | 01:51 p.m. GMT | 20 November 2006

British Update - Classic Beano & Dandy Annuals, 1950s Eagles, early Air Ace & Battle Picture Libraries

Tons of great stuff in this week's British update in the following categories:

*Annuals: A Dandy Bonanza, with not only three seldom-seen vintage annuals from 1955-1957, in affordable low-mid grades, but the brand-new slipcased facsimile edition of the very first Dandy Annual from 1939, which has recently attracted some controversy in the media. Also this update, a very tasty low-mid grade Beano Annual from 1957, and the new slipcased facsimile of the first annual of the Broons, from 1939, gathering the adventures of the Sunday Post’s happy Scottish family.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Comics: From the far-flung 1950’s, four complete volumes of Eagle, the classic adventure weekly, with Dan Dare and chums fighting the insidious schemes of the Mekon and the forces of evil. Complete volumes 2, 3, 5, and 6, all newly listed and waiting for your perusal.

*Boys’ Adventure & War Picture Libraries: Two major series refreshed this update, including both early issues and the hard-to-find extra-long Holiday Specials; Air Ace, from # 17, and Battle, from the very first issue (admittedly in poor nick, but still – # 1). These two pillars of the Picture Libraries feature recurring characters such as Battler Britton, Dogfight Dixon and Maddocks’ Marauders, as well as the one-off tales of combat that were the mainstay of the series. Averaging VG/FN, this is an extremely appealing selection of these popular titles.

Posted by Rob | 01:49 p.m. GMT | 20 November 2006

13 November 2006

British Update: Mighty World Of Marvel, loads of annuals inc. many rarities plus tons of 2000 AD and early Victor

Quantity AND quality in this week's British update:

*Marvel UK: A cornucopia of Marvel UK’s mainstay, Mighty World of Marvel Weekly, from #101 onwards, featuring most issues through its transition to ‘Marvel Weekly’, and its end shortly thereafter with issue #352. Starring the Hulk and a bewildering tag-team of co-stars, often featuring original covers and splash pages by leading and lesser lights of the Bullpen, these reprint packages offer an abundance of esoterica for the Marvel completist.

*Annuals: New listings for Humour (including Beano 1969, Beezer 1967, and the humour/action hybrid Knockout from 1960), and Western (including Bonanza, Buffalo Bill #’s 6 & 8, and Rocky Lane), but the main event is a mammoth upgrade to our Boys’ Adventure Annuals, with more than 100 new items. Among these are Valiant Annuals from the very first in 1964, Tiger and Victor beginning in the 1960’s, Eagle – ‘Classic’ and ‘Modern’ – substantial runs of Action, Battle, and Warlord, additions to Boys’ World, Champion, Hotspur, Scorcher and Space Kingley, and the very first UK Superman Annual from 1951 – in poor condition, admittedly, but still the first edition! Top of the heap, however, are the ultra-rare 1967 and 1968 Valiant Space Specials, in nice shape too! These incredibly hard to find large-format paperbacks feature all the star Valiant characters – Wild Wonders, Kelly’s Eye, Steel Claw, Captain Hurricane and co. – in new space/sci-fi adventures. Almost never seen because of their age, low initial print runs, and relative fragility, but here now in Putney for you – if you’re quick!

*Boys Adventure & War Comics: Two contrasting pillars of the UK industry this time; a short but striking range of Victor from 1962, commencing with issue #47, a period where the Tough of the Track and chums were joined by 'Grappler Grant', 'The Iron Three', 'Return of the Wonder Man', and the chirpily-entitled war saga, 'Kill, Kill, Kill for Kali'! In VG or FN condition, this batch is very collectable. Also, a colossal update to our 2000 AD range, from issues #101 to #477 (1979-1986), including the debuts of several of Tharg’s finest, including Pat Mills’ Nemesis (167) and Slaine (330), ABC Warriors (119), Rogue Trooper (228), and Alan Moore’s D.R. & Quinch (317), Skizz (308), and Halo Jones (376), as well as work from Bolland, Bisley, McMahon, and other cutting-edge artists of the day.

Posted by Rob | 12:37 p.m. GMT | 13 November 2006

American Update - Golden Age Batman with iconic villains

Just one updated section in the American part of our catalogue this week, but it's a goodie:

*DC Comics: From the 1940’s through to the early 1960’s, a small but choice selection of the Dynamic Duo’s adventures, from # 29 up. In conditions ranging from FA to FA/GD, they include classic Two-Face and Catwoman cover stories, and the first appearance of Mr. Zero, the villain later to become more famous as Mr. Freeze!

Posted by Rob | 12:28 p.m. GMT | 13 November 2006

7 November 2006

Star Collections Update - Famous Funnies, Nyoka, sci-fi and Atlas Pre-Code Horror

Another dip into the rich waters of our Star Collections this week in the following categories:

*Miscellaneous 1940-1959: We rarely get American items pre-1940 (hence the name of this section), but we have some this time! From 1937 upwards, a short stretch of Famous Funnies, regarded by many as the first true monthly comic book, from #38 up, with Buck Rogers, Scorchy Smith, Dickie Dare, Big Chief Wahoo and dozens more classic newspaper strips. Also, from the 40's/50s, tropical adventures with Fawcett's Nyoka the Jungle Girl, and racy sci-fi from Avon's Rocket To The Moon (in beatutiful VG with unmarked cover), EC's Weird Science Fantasy and the When Worlds Collide movie adaptation from Fawcett's Motion Picture Comics.

*Horror 1940-1959: Three Atlas titles of distinction: Adventures Into Terror, with stunning Heath & Everett work; the long-running Mystery Tales from #1, with Maneely and Post a'plenty, plus early Matt Fox; and the oddball hybrid Amazing Detective Cases, which despite its title has lurid tales of the supernatural from #11 onwards.

Posted by Rob | 10:43 a.m. GMT | 7 November 2006

American Update - Modern Reprints and Mags/Books About Vintage comics

Two of our most popular sections updated this week with new arrivals:

*Modern Reprints: More from DC's deluxe Archives (Shazam Family, Adam Strange Vol 2, Enemy Ace Vol 2, New Teen Titans Vol 3), and Showcase paperbacks (Silver Age Batman, Challengers of the Unknown, Phantom Stranger). Marvel strikes back with their Masterworks (Silver Age Human Torch, Iron Man Vol 3, Spider-Man Vol 8 and the Atlas era Tales Of Suspense) and Essentials (Thor Vol 3, Tales of the Zombie and Satan Family - er, Marvel Horror). Also, a fun-filled scattering of Marvel Milestones (Millie the Model and Two-Gun Kid), AC horror reprints, classic newspaper strips and other esoteric selections to enjoy, as well as the first of the new EC Archive editions, full colour large format hardcovers reprinting the key ECs in sequence, commencing with Weird Science.

*Mags/Books About Vintage US Comics: More history, commentary and often unseen art in the regular mags such as Alter Ego, Back Issue, Charlton Spotlight and the Pre-Code From The Tomb, exhaustive retrospective appreciations of creators (Kane, Fine, Ditko) and series (Krypton Companion) and the occasional surprise. There has never been a better time to be a student of comics history, with this wealth of data emerging - join the fun!

Posted by Rob | 10:32 a.m. GMT | 7 November 2006

British Update - A miscellany of girls!

*Girls' Comics & Picture Libraries: A scattershot update with additions to our stock of several key titles: Girl from 1953/54, Eagle's sister paper with 'Wendy & Jinx' and 'Lettice Leef'; a double portion of Judy from 1961 and a run from 1982, with wacky sufragette hijinx in 'Vote For Vera'; Judy & June (with School Friend) Picture Libraries; the short-lived Katy full colour fortnightly from 1986; Oh Boy #1 from 1976, combining strips with swoonsome pop hunks; and a selection of Sally, the 'comic for the adventurous girl' from 1970, with 'Maisie's Magic Eye', 'Farm Boss Fanny', 'Tiny Tania In Space', and many more!

Posted by Rob | 10:20 a.m. GMT | 7 November 2006