1952 series
Publisher: Amalgamated Press
Publication Dates: 23rd February 1952 – 1959
Number of Issues Published: 389 (#1 – #17/10/1959)
Color: Colour Dimensions: 19.5 cm x 27 cm
Paper Stock: Newsprint
Binding: Saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: was ongoing series
Publication Type: magazine
213-217 is a single comic. Because of a strike in the summer of 1959, there were only two undated issues published between 20 June 1959 and 29 August 1959.
1959 series Lion and Sun
Publisher: IPC
Publication Dates: 1959 – 1960
Number of Issues Published: 23 (#24 October 1959 – #26 March 1960)
Color: Colour cover; Black and White interior
Dimensions: Magazine size
Binding: Saddle-stitched
Information thanks to the Grand Comics Database
Lion was a weekly British comics periodical published by Fleetway (a subsidiary of IPC, the International Publishing Corporation) from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues. Editor: Bernard Smith Script Editor: Ken Mennell Assistant Editor: David Gregory Editorial: Peter Smith, Geoff Kemp, Roger Protz, Terence Magee, Pat Brookman, Chris Lowder. Art: Royman Brown, Geoff Berwick, John Michael Burns, Ian Stead.
Lion was first published on 23 February 1952, and was a weekly boys’ adventure comic designed to compete with Eagle, the popular weekly comic that had introduced Dan Dare. Lion?’?s first issue contained a mix of text stories and comic strips; its flagship story was Captain Condor – Space Ship Pilot, a science fiction adventure in the Dan Dare mould. The premiere issue also contained the first adventure of Robot Archie (called The Jungle Robot in early adventures) who would go on to become one of the title’s most popular characters. The most popular story was Paddy Payne written by Val Holding and drawn by Joe Colquhoun. Reg “Skipper” Clarke ran the letters feature.
Bernard Smith was always proud to say that he had the latest issue of ‘Lion’ delivered to Buckingham Palace every Friday, the young Prince Charles being an avid reader. In 1960, Prince Charles was 11 years old.
By the 1960s Lion had settled into being one of the most popular British weekly titles of the time. It began to feature an increasing number of anti-hero characters such as The Spider and The Sludge (who would later battle Robot Archie in his own strip).
Lion merged with several other comics during its life, including Eagle in 1969 and Thunder in 1971. But by the early 1970s sales were slipping, and in 1974 it was merged with Valiant. Several strips continued in Valiant, but that title merged with Battle Picture Weekly in 1976.
In 2005 many of IPC’s characters, including several from Lion, were featured in a mini-series called Albion published by the WildStorm imprint of DC Comics.
Notable stories
Adam Eterno A man who lived forever and could not be killed except by gold. He was transported through time each week.
Battler Britton – World War Air Ace
Carson’s Cubs
Captain Condor – Space Ship Pilot
Karl the Viking
Maroc the Mighty, about a returning English crusader whose magic armlet The Hand of Zar gave superhuman strength.
Paddy Payne – Fighter Ace.
Phantom Viking. Donning a magic helmet, a professor transforms into a Viking with great strength and the ability to fly but can lose his powers when the wind blows from the wrong direction.
Robot Archie. A powerful robot under the control of two men.
Sergeants Four.
Spot The Clue
The Sludge.
The Spellbinder. An ancient sorcerer in modern times.
The Spider. Part villain, part hero, he would fight master criminals using his skills and weapons.
Zip Nolan – Highway Patrol. A one page comic story where he would spot a clue and so catch a crook.
The Bartoc Brothers. A 2 page text story. Bartoc, a scientist makes four duplicates of himself. One has strength, one speed, one courage and one genius and they fight crime. However two doubles are finally killed because the courageous one wanted more excitement and betrayed them. He and the genius died, and the series ended.
Mowser – occupying the back cover, he was a cat who would always outwit his enemy, James the Butler.
============================
1952 1952 1952 1952 1952
============================
Lion 1952-02-23
Lion 1952-03-01
Lion 1952-03-08
Lion 1952-03-15
Lion 1952-03-22
Lion 1952-03-29
Lion 1952-04-05
Lion 1952-04-12
Lion 1952-04-19
Lion 1952-04-26
Lion 1952-05-03
Lion 1952-05-10
Lion 1952-05-17
Lion 1952-05-24
Lion 1952-05-31
Lion 1952-06-07
Lion 1952-06-28
Lion 1952-07-05
Lion 1952-07-12
Lion 1952-07-19
Lion 1952-07-26
Lion 1952-08-02
Lion 1952-08-09
Lion 1952-08-16
Lion 1952-08-23
Lion 1952-08-30
Lion 1952-09-06
Lion 1952-09-13
Lion 1952-09-20
Lion 1952-09-27
Lion 1952-10-04
Lion 1952-10-11
Lion 1952-10-18
Lion 1952-10-25
Lion 1952-11-01
Lion 1952-11-08
Lion 1952-11-15
Lion 1952-11-22
Lion 1952-11-29
Lion 1952-12-13
Lion 1952-12-20
Lion 1952-12-27
============================
1953 1953 1953 1953 1953
============================
Lion 1953-01-03
Lion 1953-01-10
Lion 1953-01-17
Lion 1953-01-24
Lion 1953-01-31
Lion 1953-02-07
Lion 1953-02-14
Lion 1953-02-21
Lion 1953-02-28
Lion 1953-03-07
Lion 1953-03-14
Lion 1953-03-21
Lion 1953-03-28
Lion 1953-04-04
Lion 1953-04-11
Lion 1953-04-18
Lion 1953-04-25
Lion 1953-05-02
Lion 1953-05-09
Lion 1953-05-16
Lion 1953-05-23
Lion 1953-05-30
Lion 1953-06-06
Lion 1953-06-13
Lion 1953-06-20
Lion 1953-06-27
Lion 1953-07-04
Lion 1953-07-11
Lion 1953-07-18
Lion 1953-07-25
Lion 1953-08-01
Lion 1953-08-08
Lion 1953-08-15
Lion 1953-08-22
Lion 1953-08-29
Lion 1953-09-05
Lion 1953-09-12
Lion 1953-09-19
Lion 1953-09-26
Lion 1953-10-03
Lion 1953-10-10
Lion 1953-10-17
Lion 1953-10-24
Lion 1953-10-31
Lion 1953-11-07
Lion 1953-11-14
Lion 1953-11-21
Lion 1953-11-28
Lion 1953-12-05
Lion 1953-12-12
Lion 1953-12-19
Lion 1953-12-26
============================
1954 1954 1954 1954 1954
============================
Lion 1954-01-02
Lion 1954-01-09
Lion 1954-01-16
Lion 1954-01-23
Lion 1954-01-30
Lion 1954-02-06
Lion 1954-02-13
Lion 1954-02-20
Lion 1954-02-27
Lion 1954-03-06
Lion 1954-03-13
Lion 1954-03-20
Lion 1954-03-27
Lion 1954-04-03
Lion 1954-04-10
Lion 1954-04-17
Lion 1954-04-24
Lion 1954-05-01
Lion 1954-05-08
Lion 1954-05-15
Lion 1954-05-22
Lion 1954-05-29
Lion 1954-06-05
Lion 1954-06-12
Lion 1954-06-19
Lion 1954-06-26
Lion 1954-07-03
Lion 1954-07-10
Lion 1954-07-17
Lion 1954-07-24
Lion 1954-07-31
Lion 1954-08-07
Lion 1954-08-14
Lion 1954-08-21
Lion 1954-08-28
Lion 1954-09-04
Lion 1954-09-11
Lion 1954-09-18
Lion 1954-09-25
Lion 1954-10-02
Lion 1954-10-09
Lion 1954-10-16
Lion 1954-10-23
Lion 1954-10-30
Lion 1954-11-06
Lion 1954-11-13
Lion 1954-11-20
Lion 1954-11-27
Lion 1954-12-04
Lion 1954-12-11
Lion 1954-12-18
Lion 1954-12-25
============================
1955 1955 1955 1955 1955
============================
Lion 1955-01-01
Lion 1955-01-08
Lion 1955-01-15
Lion 1955-01-22
Lion 1955-01-29
Lion 1955-02-05
Lion 1955-02-12
Lion 1955-02-19
Lion 1955-02-26
Lion 1955-03-05
Lion 1955-03-12
Lion 1955-03-19
Lion 1955-03-26
Lion 1955-04-02
Lion 1955-04-09
Lion 1955-04-16
Lion 1955-04-23
Lion 1955-04-30
Lion 1955-05-07
Lion 1955-05-14
Lion 1955-05-21
Lion 1955-05-28
Lion 1955-06-04
Lion 1955-06-11
Lion 1955-06-18
Lion 1955-06-25
Lion 1955-07-02
Lion 1955-07-09
Lion 1955-07-16
Lion 1955-07-23
Lion 1955-07-30
Lion 1955-08-06
Lion 1955-08-13
Lion 1955-08-20
Lion 1955-08-27
Lion 1955-09-03
Lion 1955-09-10
Lion 1955-09-17
Lion 1955-09-24
Lion 1955-10-01
Lion 1955-10-08
Lion 1955-10-15
Lion 1955-10-22
Lion 1955-10-29
Lion 1955-11-05
Lion 1955-11-12
Lion 1955-11-19
Lion 1955-11-26
Lion 1955-12-03
Lion 1955-12-10
Lion 1955-12-17
Lion 1955-12-24
Lion 1955-12-31
============================
1956 1956 1956 1956 1956
============================
Lion 1956-01-07
Lion 1956-01-14
Lion 1956-01-21
Lion 1956-01-28
Lion 1956-02-04
Lion 1956-02-11
Lion 1956-02-18
Lion 1956-02-25
Lion 1956-03-03
Lion 1956-03-10
Lion 1956-03-17
Lion 1956-04-21
Lion 1956-04-28
Lion 1956-05-05
Lion 1956-05-12
Lion 1956-05-19
Lion 1956-05-26
Lion 1956-06-02
Lion 1956-06-09
Lion 1956-06-16
Lion 1956-06-23
Lion 1956-06-30
Lion 1956-07-07
Lion 1956-07-14
Lion 1956-07-21
Lion 1956-07-28
Lion 1956-08-04
Lion 1956-08-11
Lion 1956-08-18
Lion 1956-08-25
Lion 1956-09-01
Lion 1956-09-08
Lion 1956-09-15
Lion 1956-09-22
Lion 1956-09-29
Lion 1956-10-06
Lion 1956-10-13
Lion 1956-10-20
Lion 1956-10-27
Lion 1956-11-03
Lion 1956-11-10
Lion 1956-11-17
Lion 1956-11-24
Lion 1956-12-01
Lion 1956-12-08
Lion 1956-12-15
Lion 1956-12-22
Lion 1956-12-29
============================
1957 1957 1957 1957 1957
============================
Lion 1957-01-12
Lion 1957-02-02
Lion 1957-02-09
Lion 1957-02-16
Lion 1957-02-23
Lion 1957-03-02
Lion 1957-03-09
Lion 1957-03-16
Lion 1957-03-23
Lion 1957-03-30
Lion 1957-04-06
Lion 1957-04-13
Lion 1957-04-20
Lion 1957-04-27
Lion 1957-05-04
Lion 1957-05-11
Lion 1957-06-01
Lion 1957-06-08
Lion 1957-06-15
Lion 1957-06-22
Lion 1957-06-29
Lion 1957-07-06
Lion 1957-07-13
Lion 1957-07-20
Lion 1957-07-27
Lion 1957-08-03
Lion 1957-08-10
Lion 1957-08-17
Lion 1957-08-24
Lion 1957-08-31
Lion 1957-09-07
Lion 1957-09-14
Lion 1957-09-21
Lion 1957-09-28
Lion 1957-10-05
Lion 1957-10-12
Lion 1957-10-19
Lion 1957-10-26
Lion 1957-11-02
Lion 1957-11-09
Lion 1957-11-16
Lion 1957-11-23
Lion 1957-11-30
Lion 1957-12-07
Lion 1957-12-14
Lion 1957-12-21
Lion 1957-12-28
============================
1958 1958 1958 1958 1958
============================
Lion 1958-01-04
Lion 1958-01-11
Lion 1958-01-18
Lion 1958-01-25
Lion 1958-02-01
Lion 1958-02-08
Lion 1958-02-15
Lion 1958-02-22
Lion 1958-03-01
Lion 1958-03-08
Lion 1958-03-15
Lion 1958-03-22
Lion 1958-03-29
Lion 1958-04-05
Lion 1958-04-12
Lion 1958-04-19
Lion 1958-04-26
Lion 1958-05-03
Lion 1958-05-10
Lion 1958-05-17
Lion 1958-05-24
Lion 1958-05-31
Lion 1958-06-07
Lion 1958-06-14
Lion 1958-06-21
Lion 1958-06-28
Lion 1958-07-05
Lion 1958-07-12
Lion 1958-07-19
Lion 1958-07-26
Lion 1958-08-02
Lion 1958-08-09
Lion 1958-08-16
Lion 1958-08-23
Lion 1958-08-30
Lion 1958-09-06
Lion 1958-09-13
Lion 1958-09-20
Lion 1958-09-27
Lion 1958-10-04
Lion 1958-10-11
Lion 1958-10-18
Lion 1958-10-25
Lion 1958-11-01
Lion 1958-11-08
Lion 1958-11-15
Lion 1958-11-22
Lion 1958-11-29
Lion 1958-12-06
Lion 1958-12-13
Lion 1958-12-20
Lion 1958-12-27
============================
1959 1959 1959 1959 1959
============================
Lion 1959-01-03
Lion 1959-01-10
Lion 1959-01-17
Lion 1959-01-24
Lion 1959-01-31
Lion 1959-02-14
Lion 1959-02-28
Lion 1959-03-07
Lion 1959-03-14
Lion 1959-03-21
Lion 1959-03-28
Lion 1959-04-04
Lion 1959-04-11
Lion 1959-04-18
Lion 1959-04-25
Lion 1959-05-02
Lion 1959-05-09
Lion 1959-05-16
Lion 1959-05-23
Lion 1959-05-30
Lion 1959-06-06
Lion 1959-06-20
Lion 1959-08-15
Lion 1959-08-22
Lion 1959-08-29
Lion 1959-09-05
Lion 1959-09-12
Lion 1959-09-19
Lion 1959-09-26
Lion 1959-10-10
Lion 1959-10-24
Lion 1959-10-31
Lion 1959-11-07
Lion 1959-11-14
Lion 1959-11-21
Lion 1959-11-28
Lion 1959-12-05
Lion 1959-12-12
Lion 1959-12-19
Lion 1959-12-26
British Comics 
Very tidy layout!
LikeLike
Thanks.
LikeLike
hi
well done on your compilations.
i notice in the robot archie compilation vol 1 you are missing the pages from issue 2 of lion comic.
do you need a scan of these or are you intending including these pages at a later date
gerry
LikeLike
Sometimes there are a few pages missing because at the time i’ve made the compilations these issues are missing or the pages are missing, i have this issue in the mean time, amongst others, but i can’t tell when i will update the compilations with new pages because of the other things i am plannning to do.
LikeLike
thank you
LikeLike
Welcome.
LikeLike
Of the 1,136 issues of LION that were published between 1952 and 1974 there are only 40 issues still missing. All of the missing issues are Pre-1961. The missing issues are:
Lion 017 [1952-06-14]
Lion 018 [1952-06-21]
Lion 042 [1952-12-06]
Lion 255 [1957-01-05]
Lion 257 [1957-01-19]
Lion 258 [1957-01-26]
Lion 274 [1957-05-18]
Lion 275 [1957-05-25]
Lion 362 [1959-01-24]
Lion 364 [1959-02-07]
Lion 366 [1959-02-21]
Lion 382 [1959-06-13]
Lion 391 [1959-10-03]
Lion 393 [1959-10-17]
Lion 394 [1959-10-24]
Lion 399 [1959-11-28]
Lion 405 [1960-01-09]
Lion 407 [1960-01-23]
Lion 415 [1960-03-19]
Lion 419 [1960-04-16]
Lion 421 [1960-04-30]
Lion 424 [1960-05-21]
Lion 426 [1960-06-04]
Lion 427 [1960-06-11]
Lion 431 [1960-07-09]
Lion 436 [1960-08-13]
Lion 439 [1960-09-03]
Lion 442 [1960-09-24]
Lion 443 [1960-10-01]
Lion 444 [1960-10-08]
Lion 445 [1960-10-15]
Lion 446 [1960-10-22]
Lion 447 [1960-10-29]
Lion 448 [1960-11-05]
Lion 450 [1960-11-19]
Lion 452 [1960-12-03]
Lion 453 [1960-12-10]
Lion 454 [1960-12-17]
Lion 455 [1960-12-24]
Lion 456 [1960-12-31]
PS Lion & Thunder Holiday Special 1973 is also missing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, still an impressing list that’s missing or incomplete.
LikeLike
Issues with missing pages or damages pages (e.g. tears, creases etc):
Lion 093 [1953-11-28] – Page 20 (back page) upper corner tear [Captain Condor]
Lion 243 [1956-10-13] – Page 23 missing [text story page]
Lion 311 [1958-02-01] – Page 14 missing [Jungle Jef]
Lion 358 [1958-12-27] – Page 11 & Page 12 missing [Page 12 is Captain Condor]
Lion 398 [1959-11-22] – Page 27 & Page 28 missing [Russia’s jet,the MIG-15 & maybe Joker’s Corner]
Lion 425 [1960-05-28] – Page 12 missing [page 9 and page 12 are the same]
Lion 661 [1964-12-05] – Page 7/8 is creased [Zip Nolan/What’s New?]
Lion 814 [1967-11-11] – Page 15/16 is creased [Johnny Dynamite/Robot Archie]
Lion 828 [1968-02-17] – Page 1/2 lower corner tear [Front Page/The Spider]
Lion 911 [1969-09-20] – Missing one page [maybe an ad/column page]
Lion 914 [1969-10-11] – Missing one page [Carson’s Cubs]
Lion 1054[1972-09-16] – Page 39/40 lower corner tear [Mowser/Back Page ad]
Lion 1059[1972-10-21] – Page 1/2 lower corner tear [Front Page/Spellbinder]
I have not been able to check every single issue of LION, so there may be others.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, I’m getting a checksum error extracting files from Lion53-06.rar – it claims Lion 1953-06-13.cbr is corrupt. I’ll try downloading again, but this is the only one that’s given problems.
Thanks for the amazing effort, by the way… it’s tricky keeping so many files logically organised to be able to distribute them.
Still looking for Hotspur/Wizard – I know you don’t have it other than very old copies – any hints?
Jacot
LikeLike
Thanks, that happens sometimes usually something went wrong with downloading.
LikeLike
False alarm – 2nd download fixed the problem….
LikeLike