1946 Series
Publication Dates: 1946 – 1948
Number of Issues Published: 10 (#1 – #10)
Not much information about this title.
3,9,11
Publication Dates: 1988
Color: Black and White
Dimensions: 226 mm x 280 mm
Paper Stock: Newsprint
Binding: Saddle-stitched
Publishing Format: Ongoing Series
Reprints material from other Fleetway Publications: Buster, Cheeky, COR!!, Jackpot, Krazy, Monster Fun, Whizzer and Chips, Whoopee, and Wow
Big Comic Fortnightly run from 1987-1994. Not sure how many issues at present. BUT THERE WAS AT LEAST 158 Issues for sure. Maybe more. Let you know when I have a definite answer how many issues. Big Comic Annuals were a total of 8 from 1987-1994 for sure.
Big Comic Fortnightly was launched in June 1988. It was another addition to The Best of… family. You may well consider another Best of whilst other’s were running slightly odd, but Big Comic Fortnightly had a fairly extensive run through to 1994.
Possibly the strength in Big Comic was the fact it also brought back some of the strips from “dead” Fleetway comics like Krazy and Jackpot. Big Comic also tried to find the first strip for many characters so that you could see how the stories began.
Like The Best of Buster et al, Big Comic did not have a letters page, however it did have a jokes page where you could win £2 and also a toy of some kind (whatever was in fashion at the time).
It’s worth mentioning that Big Comic was also joined by Funny Fortnightly (1st Issue released 25th March 1989) another reprint comic featuring many old Fleetway Favourites. Funny Fortnightly eventually went monthly (changing its name to Funny Monthly) before folding.
Between 1987 and 1994 Big Comic produced an Annual. Funny Fortnightly gave us an Annual in 1991 and 1992.
In 1995, Big Comic & The Best of Buster/Whoopee/Whizzer & Chips did a kind of mass merger to produce BVC.
Fleetway’s answer to Big Comic Fortnightly, The Best of Buster, Whoopee, Whizzer & Chips. All of those titles had folded, but they were rerived in this short lived spin off.
BVC launched in April 1995 and ended in November 1995 literally without warning. I remember my Dad having a meeting with Mr Gee our local newsagent about why they’d stopped saving BVC, and he said it had just finished.
It was another Best of comic, but the emphasis was now on Best of Fleetway as opposed to one comic in particular. Again most of the strips came from the late 70s and 80s, with very few strips from way way back.
BVC was the first of the Best Of… comics to feature a letters page. In the early editions the prize was a mystery. However by Issue number 7 in May 1995, they were giving away a Super Soaker 10, with a Super Soaker XP75 for the star letter each month.
The final addition to the Buster family was Buster Classics. Despite the loss of The Best of Buster and BVC, Fleetway persevered with a final comic. Buster Classics was a monthly comic launched in February 1996. Once again it featured strips from the late 70s and 80s.
It could well have been a great chance to go right back into the archives of the 1960s & early 70s, but the opportunity was never siezed. Sadly, by September 1996 it had disappeared and became part of comic history. I say sadly because it was actually quite good. The final annuals from Fleetway were back in 1994 and the likes of Young Arfur, Walt Teaser, Gums etc had only made brief appearances in BVC or Best of Buster. It was good to relive some of the golden oldies.
Each month there would be a guest star normally from Whizzer and Chips. These included the likes of Lolly Pop and Sammy Shrink to name just two.
The Buster Classics letters page looks familiar. It was exactly the same format as BVC, with a Super Soaker prize. In fact in issue 1, the letters printed were left over from BVC.
Buster Classics was the last of the spinoffs. After eight months and a small price increase, it left us and with it a good chunk of history went too. Those old Buster favourites were lost, many of them never to be seen again.
(Information thanks to Jack)
Fortnightly 1-4,8-10
Fortnightly 11,14,15,17,19,21,22
Fortnightly 25,27,29,31,33
Fortnightly 35,37,52,56
Big Comic Fortnightly 045
Big Comic Fortnightly 046
Fortnightly 57,58,63,70
Fortnightly 71,74,77,79
Fortnightly 80,82,85,86
Fortnightly 91,98,103,126
Fortnightly 127,136,145
Fortnightly 139-142
Fortnightly 143,154,155
Fortnightly 148,158,163
Big Comic Fortnightly 156,157
Big Comic Fortnightly 159
Annual 1987
Annual 1988
Annual 1989
Annual 1990
Annual 1991
Annual 1992
Annual 1993
Annual 1994
Holiday Special 1988
Holiday Special 1991
Big Comic Holiday Special 1992
Publisher: IPC
Publication Dates: January 18th 1960 – November 16, 1970
Number of Issues Published: 545 (#1 – #545)
Color: Colour cover;
Black and white interior Dimensions:
Digest-size Paper Stock: Glossy Covers;
Newsprint Interiors Binding: Squarebound
Publishing Format: Was ongoing
Merged with War Picture Library on December 21, 1970.
Information thanks to the Grand Comics Database
Air Ace Picture Library was published by Fleetway Publications in the UK and is the classic air war story pocket library comic. The 64 page black and white Air Ace Picture Library were published between January 1960 until November 1970 (545 issues) when it was merged into War Picture Library #632.
UPDATE 2022-08-09
Air Ace Picture Library 092
Air Ace Picture Library 112
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UPDATE 2022-04-05
Air Ace Picture Library 229
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UPDATE 2022-03
Air Ace Picture Library 022
Air Ace Picture Library 103
Air Ace Picture Library 137
Air Ace Picture Library 159
Air Ace Picture Library 164
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Air Ace Picture Library 171
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1960 1960 1960 1960 1960
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Air Ace Picture Library 001 Target top secret
Air Ace Picture Library 002 Out of the sun
Air Ace Picture Library 003 Torpedo Strike
Air Ace Picture Library 004 Mission Completed
Air Ace Picture Library 005 Sky High
Air Ace Picture Library 006 MacGregor’s Crew
Air Ace Picture Library 007 Seek and strike
Air Ace Picture Library 008 Hurribombers
Air Ace Picture Library 009 Endless Battle
Air Ace Picture Library 010 Objective Destroyed
Air Ace Picture Library 011 Scramble!
Air Ace Picture Library 012 Tiger in the sky
Air Ace Picture Library 013 Desert Wings
Air Ace Picture Library 014 Strike Force Midway
Air Ace Picture Library 015 Red for danger
Air Ace Picture Library 016 Crack-Up!
Air Ace Picture Library 017 Gun Shock
Air Ace Picture Library 018 Torpedo Alley
Air Ace Picture Library 019 Tail Gunner
Air Ace Picture Library 020 Lone wolf pilot
Air Ace Picture Library 021 U-Boat Hunters
Air Ace Picture Library 023 Eagle Warrior
Air Ace Picture Library 024 Sky Viper
Air Ace Picture Library 025 Flying Fortress
Air Ace Picture Library 026 Mission to Tokyo
Air Ace Picture Library 027 Triple Punch
Air Ace Picture Library 028 Eyes of the R.A.F.
Air Ace Picture Library 029 Battle Tested
Air Ace Picture Library 030 Perilous Skies
Air Ace Picture Library 031 Wings in the night
Air Ace Picture Library 032 Birds of prey
Air Ace Picture Library 033 Evasive Action
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1961 1961 1961 1961 1961
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Air Ace Picture Library 034 Darkest Hour
Air Ace Picture Library 035 Flash Point
Air Ace Picture Library 036 Duel at dawn
Air Ace Picture Library 037 Last of the gladiators
Air Ace Picture Library 038 Appointment with glory
Air Ace Picture Library 039 Fighter Fighter!
Air Ace Picture Library 040 Force X
Air Ace Picture Library 041 Honour of the R.A.F.
Air Ace Picture Library 042 Crossfire!
Air Ace Picture Library 043 Killer Instinct
Air Ace Picture Library 044 Coastal Command
Air Ace Picture Library 045 Hoodoo!
Air Ace Picture Library 046 No Survivors
Air Ace Picture Library 047 Payment in full
Air Ace Picture Library 048 Song of hate
Air Ace Picture Library 049 Grand Slam
Air Ace Picture Library 050 War Somke
Air Ace Picture Library 051 Dive Bomber
Air Ace Picture Library 052 Ghost Plane
Air Ace Picture Library 053 Day of reckoning
Air Ace Picture Library 054 Target Tirpitz
Air Ace Picture Library 055 Whirlwind in the sky
Air Ace Picture Library 056 Battle Scarred
Air Ace Picture Library 057 Night Hawks
Air Ace Picture Library 058 Mosquito Squadron
Air Ace Picture Library 059 Pirates with wings
Air Ace Picture Library 060 High Courage
Air Ace Picture Library 061 Buffalo in the sky
Air Ace Picture Library 062 Direct Hit
Air Ace Picture Library 063 The cat strikes
Air Ace Picture Library 064 Hungry Fathoms
Air Ace Picture Library 065 Steel Bats
Air Ace Picture Library 066 Teeth of battle
Air Ace Picture Library 067 Silent wings
Air Ace Picture Library 068 Flare for danger
Air Ace Picture Library 069 Seafire
Air Ace Picture Library 070 Next of kin
Air Ace Picture Library 071 Friend of foe ?
Air Ace Picture Library 072 The ugly duckling
Air Ace Picture Library 073 Death Dive
Air Ace Picture Library 074 The flying Batman
Air Ace Picture Library 075 Gremlin Squadron
Air Ace Picture Library 076 Blast Bomb
Air Ace Picture Library 077 Sky Giants
Air Ace Picture Library 078 Calculated Risk
Air Ace Picture Library 079 High Vendetta
Air Ace Picture Library 080 Night Havoc
Air Ace Picture Library 081 Bombers Grave
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1962 1962 1962 1962 1962
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Air Ace Picture Library 082 The Unforgotten
Air Ace Picture Library 083 Deadline Heroes
Air Ace Picture Library 084 Truth about Johnny
Air Ace Picture Library 085 Into the darkness
Air Ace Picture Library 086 Bale Out!
Air Ace Picture Library 087 Fireball
Air Ace Picture Library 088 Paid in blood
Air Ace Picture Library 089 Second Sight
Air Ace Picture Library 090 Taught to kill
Air Ace Picture Library 091 Cult Evil
Air Ace Picture Library 093 The Avengers
Air Ace Picture Library 094 The lion faced east
Air Ace Picture Library 096 Burma Untamed
Air Ace Picture Library 098 Moment of truth
Air Ace Picture Library 099 The lonely war
Air Ace Picture Library 100 The full treatment
Air Ace Picture Library 095 Death takes wing
Air Ace Picture Library 117 Cruel harvest
Air Ace Picture Library 122 Jungle wings
Air Ace Picture Library 101 Blind Fury
Air Ace Picture Library 102 Radio Silence
Air Ace Picture Library 104 The Searchers
Air Ace Picture Library 105 Guns of Sorrella
Air Ace Picture Library 106 Dead Reckoning
Air Ace Picture Library 107 Those who died
Air Ace Picture Library 108 Eye in the sky
Air Ace Picture Library 109 Ace of cowards
Air Ace Picture Library 110 A debt is paid
Air Ace Picture Library 111 The dead have an alibi
Air Ace Picture Library 113 The Survivors
Air Ace Picture Library 114 Sitting Duck
Air Ace Picture Library 115 The reluctant enemy
Air Ace Picture Library 116 The burning sky
Air Ace Picture Library 118 Blind Spot
Air Ace Picture Library 119 Stand By
Air Ace Picture Library 120 The angry skies
Air Ace Picture Library 123 Borrowed Time
Air Ace Picture Library 124 Blood Chariot
Air Ace Picture Library 127 High Tension
Air Ace Picture Library 125 The night has eyes
Air Ace Picture Library 126 The hunters
Air Ace Picture Library 128 Fight back
Air Ace Picture Library 130 Boomerang
Air Ace Picture Library 131 Skymarker
Air Ace Picture Library 132 Brand of courage
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1963 1963 1963 1963 1963
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Air Ace Picture Library 135 Point Blank
Air Ace Picture Library 136 Gunners’ Glory
Air Ace Picture Library 143 Desert Strike
Air Ace Picture Library 138 Ordeal by fire
Air Ace Picture Library 139 Phantom squadron
Air Ace Picture Library 142 The sky trap
Air Ace Picture Library 144 Ship Buster
Air Ace Picture Library 148 Pathfinder
Air Ace Picture Library 151 Fortunes of war
Air Ace Picture Library 150 One-way ticket
Air Ace Picture Library 156 Fortress gunner
Air Ace Picture Library 157 Wings of the fleet
Air Ace Picture Library 161 Tank buster
Air Ace Picture Library 162 Warbirds
Air Ace Picture Library 163 Target ahead
Air Ace Picture Library 154 Night Bomber
Air Ace Picture Library 158 Wolf Patrol
Air Ace Picture Library 160 The lost squadron
Air Ace Picture Library 167 The limping wimpey
Air Ace Picture Library 169 Achtung Spitfire!
Air Ace Picture Library 170 Night Fighter
Air Ace Picture Library 177 Fighter’s Prey
Air Ace Picture Library 165 Victory trail
Air Ace Picture Library 178 Sky fury
Air Ace Picture Library 218 The last round
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1964 1964 1964 1964 1964
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Air Ace Picture Library 180 Strike Hard!
Air Ace Picture Library 181 Deadly Defiant
Air Ace Picture Library 182 Never say die Wapiti
Air Ace Picture Library 184 Wings over Burma
Air Ace Picture Library 186 War-Hungry Whirlwinds
Air Ace Picture Library 187 Flying Vendetta
Air Ace Picture Library 189 Flying Vendetta
Air Ace Picture Library 195 Fighter of the flying bombs
Air Ace Picture Library 197 Duel in the desert
Air Ace Picture Library 201 Hurricane Joe
Air Ace Picture Library 202 Long-Range Mission
Air Ace Picture Library 203 Typhoon Raiders
Air Ace Picture Library 205 The dam wreckers
Air Ace Picture Library 208 Pin-Point Pathfinder
Air Ace Picture Library 209 Winged Commando
Air Ace Picture Library 210 Spy in the sky
Air Ace Picture Library 215 Flying Swordfish!
Air Ace Picture Library 219 Pacific Patrol
Air Ace Picture Library 222 Battling Gladiator
Air Ace Picture Library 223 Ditched!
Air Ace Picture Library 224 Rocket Attack
Air Ace Picture Library 225 Four-Gun Glory
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1965 1965 1965 1965 1965
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Air Ace Picture Library 228 Gliders over Burma
Air Ace Picture Library 231 Flying Sailor
Air Ace Picture Library 233 War in the jungle
Air Ace Picture Library 238 Skyway in Tokyo
Air Ace Picture Library 239 Fighter-Bomber Team
Air Ace Picture Library 232 Berlin bomb-run
Air Ace Picture Library 235 Bomber’s vengeance
Air Ace Picture Library 249 Glider heroes
Air Ace Picture Library 240 Havoc over Russia
Air Ace Picture Library 243 Seafire’s Swoop
Air Ace Picture Library 245 Bomb that bridge!
Air Ace Picture Library 250 Rocket-Bomb Revenge
Air Ace Picture Library 251 Turret Gunner
Air Ace Picture Library 255 Spot-On Attack
Air Ace Picture Library 257 Bombers’ Lair
Air Ace Picture Library 263 Ambushed Pilot!
Air Ace Picture Library 265 Britain at bay
Air Ace Picture Library 266 Bomber hits back
Air Ace Picture Library 267 Fatal Flight
Air Ace Picture Library 268 Fighter Rivals
Air Ace Picture Library 271 Bravo Blenheims!
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1966 1966 1966 1966 1966
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Air Ace Picture Library 273 Radar raider
Air Ace Picture Library 274 Avengers over Durma
Air Ace Picture Library 315 Desert hide-out
Air Ace Picture Library 275 Desert Hide-Out
Air Ace Picture Library 280 Sky Wolves go to war
Air Ace Picture Library 287 Night Strike
Air Ace Picture Library 289 Sub Hunter
Air Ace Picture Library 292 Hit that target
Air Ace Picture Library 293 Pickaback Bomber
Air Ace Picture Library 298 Superfort Strike
Air Ace Picture Library 310 Top Priority
Air Ace Picture Library 311 The spider’s web
Air Ace Picture Library 314 Tigercat Island
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1967 1967 1967 1967 1967
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Air Ace Picture Library 330 The glory boys
Air Ace Picture Library 347 Jungle Snatch
Air Ace Picture Library 350 Power Dive
Air Ace Picture Library 357 War Risk
Air Ace Picture Library 358 Go it alone!
Air Ace Picture Library 360 Flying Wild
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1968 1968 1968 1968 1968
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Air Ace Picture Library 375 Cat o’ nine lives
Air Ace Picture Library 382 First Blood
Air Ace Picture Library 394 Ground Support
Air Ace Picture Library 395 Hit and run
Air Ace Picture Library 399 Renegade
Air Ace Picture Library 406 False Glory
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1969 1969 1969 1969 1969
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Air Ace Picture Library 418 A break for life
Air Ace Picture Library 428 Cat’s Eyes
Air Ace Picture Library 471 Moment of crisis
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1970 1970 1970 1970 1970
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Air Ace Picture Library 444 Perilous passage
Air Ace Picture Library 498 The flying fox
Air Ace Picture Library 504 Valley of the dead
Air Ace Picture Library 480 Identity Unknown
Air Ace Picture Library 505 The knockout punch
Air Ace Picture Library 510 The Cauldron
Air Ace Picture Library 516 Enemy Alerted
Air Ace Picture Library 522 The broken link
Air Ace Picture Library 528 The old team
Air Ace Picture Library 534 Grounded
Air Ace Picture Library 540 Mortal Enemy
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HOLIDAY SPECIALS
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Publisher: IPC
Publication Dates: 1969 – 1988
Number of Issues Published: 16 (#1969 – #1988)
Color: Colour cover; Black and White interior
Dimensions: Digest size
Binding: Squarebound
Air Ace Picture Library Holiday Special 1972
Air Ace Picture Library Holiday Special 1973
Air Ace Picture Library Holiday Special 1987
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RON PHILLIPS
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Publisher: Ron Phillips
Publication Dates: 1985 – ?
Number of Issues Published: 56 (#1 – #56)
Color: Colour cover; Black and white interior
Dimensions: Digest-size
Paper Stock: Glossy Covers; Newsprint Interiors
Binding: Squarebound
Publishing Format: Was ongoing
Air Ace Picture Library NA-09 Ship-Busters
The Funday Times was a section of the UK Sunday Times. It was intended mainly for children, and included several comic strips, including Dennis and Gnasher, Rex and Tex, Beryl the Peril, Fans Utd., Scooby Doo, Space Raoul, The Powerpuff Girls, Creature Feature, Newton’s Law, Jarvis, Squirt, The Flintstones, Robot Crusoe, Goosebumps and The Simpsons. Launched in 1989 it originally featured adult cartoons like Modesty Blaise but quickly dropped them in favour of more child friendly fare such as Asterix.
It also included reviews of various toys and songs, interviews with celebrities, including Will Smith, Gail Emms and Matt Groening, and interesting events coming up during the week.
The last printed edition of the Funday Times was published on Sunday 12 March 2006. After that date, it was only available online. The print edition of the Funday Times ran for nearly 20 years before it was discontinued. The website mostly concentrated on features and games, although there were comic strips on the website that were originally in the printed version.
The Funday Times website closed down on 5 January 2007.
The Funday Times returned for a one-off special on 1 April 2011 to promote the ‘Rio’ movie. Further issues of the Funday Times were released to promote ‘Ice Age 4’ (23 June 2012) and ‘Frankenweenie’ (14 October 2012).
This page will be chronologically organized in the future
Funday Times 027
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Funday Times 038
Funday Times 040
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Funday Times 066
Funday Times 069
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Funday Times 072
1-15
16-20,22,24,25,29-35,39,42,44,45,49,57,59,65,67,68,70,99,1001,101,103
113,114,117,118,119,121
123,124,127,128,129,130
132,134,135,137-140
141,143,144,148-151
104,106-112,158,159,161-165
166-173
174-182
Funday Times 177 Upgrade
183-190
191-199
200,201,203-208
212-216,219-221
222-229
230-237
238-242,244-246
247-252,254,256
257-260,262-264,267,268
269-276,294
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Funday Times 155
Funday Times 156
Funday Times 157
Funday Times 160
Funday Times 202
Publication Dates: 1914 – 1942
Number of Issues Published: 1404 (#40 – #1443)
Color: Some Colour
Dimensions: Tabloid size
Funny Wonder is the name of two British comics published by Amalgamated Press. The first was published from 30 July 1892-25 May 1901 this comic was more satirical in nature like other early comics during its first run, also in this first run it absorbed another comic called Wonder in 1893. A second series ran from 26 December 1914-16 May 1942 when it merged with Wonder which in turn merged with Radio Fun in 1953. This new comic was aimed much more at children than the previous Funny Wonder. In 1915 Funny Wonder began to have Charlie Chaplin appear on the cover. Funny Wonder was the first of Amalgamated Press’ comics to have its own annual which ran from the edition dated 1935 until the one dated 1941, when it was ended due to the effects of World War II.
During its run, the comic had 1404 issues and had merged with Jester (which had previously been included as a pull-out section in overseas editions) and Halfpenny Wonder.
Notable creators who worked on the comic include Reg Parlett.
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Publisher: Longacre Press
Publication Dates: 1963 – 1964
Number of Issues Published: 89 (#1 – #89)
Color: Mostly black and white with a few pages in full color
Publishing Format: Ongoing Series
Publication Type: magazine
Information thanks to the Grand Comics Database
Boys’ World was a boys’ comic published in the UK. It ran for 89 issues in 1963 and 1964 before merging with the Eagle.
Strips included:
“John Brody and the Green Men”
“The Angry Planet”
“Wrath of the Gods”, illustrated by Ron Embleton
“Merlo the Magician”
“Raff Regan
“Dr. What and his Time Clock
“Billy Binns and his Wonderful Specs” by Ted Cowan and Bill Mainwaring
“The Iron Man” illustrated by Gerry Embleton, Martin Salvador
“Private Proon”
“Pike Mason”
“Gun Lore” illustrated by Frank Humphris
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1963 1963 1963 1963 1963
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Boys’ World 1963-01-26
<a href="https://www.boutjefedankt.nl/s/Cz0waoxp1rSdvol
Boys' World 1963-02-02
Boys' World 1963-02-09
Boys' World 1963-02-16
Boys' World 1963-02-23
Boys’ World 1963-03-02
Boys’ World 1963-03-09
Boys’ World 1963-03-16
Boys’ World 1963-03-23
Boys’ World 1963-03-30
Boys’ World 1963-04-06
Boys’ World 1963-04-13
Boys’ World 1963-04-20
Boys’ World 1963-04-27
Boys’ World 1963-05-04
Boys’ World 1963-05-11
Boys’ World 1963-05-18
Boys’ World 1963-05-25
Boys’ World 1963-06-01
Boys’ World 1963-06-08
Boys’ World 1963-06-15
Boys’ World 1963-06-22
Boys’ World 1963-06-29
Boys’ World 1963-07-06
Boys’ World 1963-07-13
Boys’ World 1963-07-20
Boys’ World 1963-07-27
Boys’ World 1963-08-03
Boys’ World 1963-08-10
Boys’ World 1963-08-17
Boys’ World 1963-08-24
Boys’ World 1963-08-31
Boys’ World 1963-09-07
Boys’ World 1963-09-14
Boys’ World 1963-09-21
Boys’ World 1963-09-28
Boys’ World 1963-10-05
Boys’ World 1963-10-12
Boys’ World 1963-10-19
Boys’ World 1963-10-26
Boys’ World 1963-11-02
Boys’ World 1963-11-09
Boys’ World 1963-11-16
Boys’ World 1963-11-23
Boys’ World 1963-11-30
Boys’ World 1963-12-07
Boys’ World 1963-12-14
Boys’ World 1963-12-21
Boys’ World 1963-12-28
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1964 1964 1964 1964 1964
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Boys’ World 1964-01-04
Boys’ World 1964-01-11
Boys’ World 1964-01-18
Boys’ World 1964-01-25
Boys’ World 1964-02-01
Boys’ World 1964-02-08
Boys’ World 1964-02-15
Boys’ World 1964-02-22
Boys’ World 1964-02-29
Boys’ World 1964-03-07
Boys’ World 1964-03-14
Boys’ World 1964-03-21
Boys’ World 1964-03-28
Boys’ World 1964-04-04
Boys’ World 1964-04-11
Boys’ World 1964-04-18
Boys’ World 1964-04-25
Boys’ World 1964-05-02
Boys’ World 1964-05-09
Boys’ World 1964-05-16
Boys’ World 1964-05-23
Boys’ World 1964-05-30
Boys’ World 1964-06-06
Boys’ World 1964-06-13
Boys’ World 1964-06-20
Boys’ World 1964-06-27
Boys’ World 1964-07-04
Boys’ World 1964-07-11
Boys’ World 1964-07-18
Boys’ World 1964-07-25
Boys’ World 1964-08-01
Boys’ World 1964-08-08
Boys’ World 1964-08-15
Boys’ World 1964-08-22
Boys’ World 1964-08-29
Boys’ World 1964-09-05
Boys’ World 1964-09-12
Boys’ World 1964-09-19
Boys’ World 1964-09-26
Boys’ World 1964-10-03
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ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL ANNUAL
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Publisher: Odhams
Publication Dates: 1963 – 1971
Number of Issues Published: 9 (#1964 – #1972)
Color: Colour; Black and White
Binding: Hardcover
Publishing Format: Was Ongoing Series
Publication Type: book
Size can vary from year to year
Information thanks to the Grand Comics Database
Boys’ World Annual 1964
Boys’ World Annual 1965
Boys’ World Annual 1966
Boys’ World Annual 1967
Boys’ World Annual 1968
Boys’ World Annual 1969
Boys’ World Annual 1970
Publisher: IPC
Publication Dates: 14th February, 1976 – 12th November, 1977
Number of Issues Published: 87 (#1 – #12 November 1977 [87)
Color: Colour cover;
Black and White with some Color interior
Paper Stock: Newsprint
Merges into Battle Action (IPC Magazines Ltd., 1977 series) after 12 November 1977 issue.
Information thanks to the Grand Comics Database
Action was a controversial weekly British anthology comic that was published by IPC Magazines, starting on 14 February 1976.
The comic was devised in 1975 by freelance writer/editor Pat Mills, at the request of publishing house IPC. It was intended to reflect the changing social and political times of the late 1970s, and to compete with DC Thomson’s war-themed Warlord title. Warlord was a new type of British boys adventure comic, focusing on military action, with tougher heroes and storylines than had been seen previously. The title was a huge success, and inspired IPC to launch Battle Picture Weekly in direct competition. Battle had been created by Pat Mills and fellow freelancer John Wagner, and was also very popular. Action was intended to be more contemporary and ‘realistic’. IPC’s John Sanders was chosen to edit the title, with Mills, Wagner, and Steve MacManus contributing stories. The team evaluated several names, including Boots and Dr Martens. The comic was briefly to have been called Action 76, with the title incrementing each year, until it was christened simply Action.
Many of the stories in Action were what Mills called “dead cribs”, essentially rip-offs of popular films, books, and comic heroes. Rather than being a straight copy, the “cribs” in Action had their own slant on the idea. Hook Jaw, for example, combined environmental issues with the graphic gore and shark anti-hero of Steven Spielberg’s film Jaws (1975), a box-office success, while Hellman of Hammer Force was a Warlord/Battle-style World War II adventure told from the point of view of a German Panzer commander.
The first issue was published on 7 February 1976, with a cover date of 14 February 1976. The comic was instantly popular, particularly for its gritty tone and graphic gore. Within weeks the media had picked up on the title’s violent content. The London Evening Standard and The Sun ran major articles on the comic, with the latter echoing the Victorian “penny dreadful” by dubbing Action “the sevenpenny nightmare” (the cover price was 7p). Over the next few months Action was the centre of a campaign led by Mary Whitehouse, of the National Viewers and Listeners Association, to censor or ban the comic. IPC eventually started to moderate strips to forestall possible boycotts by newsagent chains such as W.H. Smith.
In September 1976 John Sanders appeared on the television programme Nationwide, where he tried to defend the comic from a vigorous attack by interviewer Frank Bough. Although Action remained popular, its days were numbered. Pressure within IPC’s higher management, and alleged worries that the two major newsagent chains, W.H. Smith and John Menzies, would refuse to stock not just Action, but all of IPC’s line, led to the 23 October issue being pulped.
The title returned on 27 November (cover date 4 December), but the violence was toned down, and the previous sense of anarchism was replaced by a safer, blander feel. Stories like Hook Jaw were no longer drenched in blood and gore, but instead were full of safer and more reliable heroes, and traditional villains. Sales dropped drastically, and the last issue before merging with Battle was published on 5 November 1977 – dated 11 November. Battle became Battle Action until 1982, at which point the Action name was dropped entirely. However ‘Action’ annuals continued to be published separately from ‘Battle’ annuals yearly up until 1985.
Legacy
Action was hugely influential in proving to IPC that there was a new market for a different type of boys comic, plus it proved boys adventure comics could have different genres of stories rather than focusing on one genre.
Mills learned how to deal with the launch of a varied, edgy comic when planning the launch of 2000 AD the following year. By setting the comic’s stories in a science fiction context, and creating the violent character of Judge Dredd as a law-upholding policeman, Mills hoped to avoid the controversy that had ultimately led to the demise of Action. Some strips with an Action feel were printed in early issues of 2000 AD, including Flesh, which was a violent time-travel story involving dinosaurs, and Shako, which was essentially Hook Jaw but with a polar bear instead of a shark.
Action – The Story of a Violent Comic
In 1990 Titan Books released Action – The Story of a Violent Comic written by Martin Barker. This was a history of the comic, as well as a study of the effects of the ban. In this book Barker revealed that 30 copies of the 23 October issue were saved and the book prints many of the strips from that issue, plus following issues thanks to Barker coming into possession of unpublished art. The book reveals just how much Action was being censored at an editorial level, and the route the title was heading in before it was cancelled.
Major stories
Hook Jaw was created by Mills as a Jaws cash-in and the flagship title of the comic. The strip was scripted by Ken Armstrong and drawn by Ramon Sola. Hook Jaw is a Great White Shark and the hero of the series, even though he spends most of his time eating most of the human cast of characters. The name Hook Jaw comes from the gaff hook stuck in the shark’s jaw after some fisherman tried to catch the creature shortly before being eaten by it. Mills gave the strip an environmental edge by having Hook Jaw eat corrupt humans, or criminals, seeking to exploit the seas, as well as anyone else unlucky enough to get near him. Hook Jaw appeared in three stories before the ban. The first was set on an oil rig, the second was set on an island resort in the Caribbean, and the third was set just off the south coast of England. Hook Jaw returned after the ban, but no longer ate as many people and if he did it was off panel. The strip also lost the environmental themes Mills had placed in it. Spitfire Comics in 2007 released a collection of the pre-ban strips in Collected Hook Jaw vol.1.
BlackJack was created by John Wagner, with art by Trigo. It told the story of Jack Barron, a boxer who fights to help poor kids knowing that he runs the risk of going blind. The strip was accused of being racist even though it was one of the first times a black character was the hero of a British Comic strip.
Death Game 1999 was written by Tom Tully. The series was a cash-in on the success of Rollerball and dealt with a lethal future sport played by condemned prisoners. Art was provided by Costa, Ian Gibson (2 pages) and Massimo Bellardinelli among others (John Stokes). The strip was almost as popular as Hook Jaw. After the relaunch Death Game 1999 became Spinball, and turned into a formulaic adventure strip without the ambiguities which featured in the original.
Kids Rule OK was written by Jack Adrian with art by Mike White; this series drew most criticism. London, 1986: A plague has wiped out the adult population, with the result that violent gangs of children run riot. The strip was instantly controversial with its heavy anti-authoritarian tone and extreme violence. The strip never survived the ban; two episodes were destroyed by IPC entirely, whilst those that did survive were heavily edited. A full version of the story, with a text insert to cover the missing episodes, can be found in Action – The Story of a Violent Comic.
Hellman of Hammer Force, written by Gerry Finley-Day, was the story of a German Panzer major. It established a pattern followed by 2000 AD for having unconventional or unsympathetic characters as the hero. The strip returned after the ban, but stripped of its politics became a conventional war adventure story.
Dredger was a tough Dirty Harry–type agent. The strip was popular due to its increasingly bizarre and violent action scenes. The strip survived the ban, but like the others became a conventional adventure strip.
Look Out For Lefty was an unconventional football strip based on the adventures of Kenny Lampton, a working-class teenager whose powerful left foot gave him the nickname of “Lefty”. It was unlike any other football strips in British boys’ comics at the time because the strip would include football hooliganism, as well as Lefty’s not always being a clean-cut hero. The violence on display in the strip mirrored the real-life football violence taking place at the time, most notably during a game between Aston Villa and Rangers. After the ban, the strip became a conventional Roy of the Rovers–type strip and removed any hint of controversy. The strip was written by Tom Tully, with art from Barrie Mitchell and Tony Harding.
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1976 1976 1976 1976 1976
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An issue was produced for October 23, 1976 but most copies were pulped after major bookstores refused to carry it because of ongoing concern with gore and violence in the comic. The comic was re-tooled and re-appeared on December 4, 1976 in a toned down version.
Action 1976-02-14
Action 1976-02-21
Action 1976-02-28
Action 1976-03-06
Action 1976-03-13
Action 1976-03-20
Action 1976-03-27
Action 1976-04-03
Action 1976-04-10
Action 1976-04-17
Action 1976-04-24
Action 1976-05-01
Action 1976-05-08
Action 1976-05-15
Action 1976-05-22
Action 1976-05-29
Action 1976-06-05
Action 1976-06-12
Action 1976-06-19
Action 1976-06-26
Action 1976-07-03
Action 1976-07-10
Action 1976-07-17
Action 1976-07-24
Action 1976-07-31
Action 1976-08-07
Action 1976-08-14
Action 1976-08-21
Action 1976-08-28
Action 1976-09-04
Action 1976-09-11
Action 1976-09-18
Action 1976-09-25
Action 1976-10-02
Action 1976-10-09
Action 1976-10-16
Action 1976-10-23
Action 1976-12-04
Action 1976-12-11
Action 1976-12-18
Action 1976-12-25
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1977 1977 1977 1977 1977
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Action 1977-01-01
Action 1977-01-08
Action 1977-01-15
Action 1977-01-22
Action 1977-01-29
Action 1977-02-05
Action 1977-02-12
Action 1977-02-19
Action 1977-02-26
Action 1977-03-05
Action 1977-03-12
Action 1977-03-19
Action 1977-03-26
Action 1977-04-02
Action 1977-04-09
Action 1977-04-16
Action 1977-04-23
Action 1977-04-30
Action 1977-05-07
Action 1977-05-14
Action 1977-05-21
Action 1977-05-28
Action 1977-06-04
Action 1977-06-11
Action 1977-06-18
Action 1977-06-25
Action 1977-07-02
Action 1977-07-09
Action 1977-07-16
Action 1977-07-23
Action 1977-07-30
Action 1977-08-06
Action 1977-08-13
Action 1977-08-20
Action 1977-08-27
Action 1977-09-03
Action 1977-09-10
Action 1977-09-17
Action 1977-09-24
Action 1977-10-01
Action 1977-10-08
Action 1977-10-15
Action 1977-10-22
Action 1977-10-29
Action 1977-11-05
Action 1977-11-12
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ANNUALS AND SPECIALS
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Annuals
Publisher: IPC
Publication Dates: 1976 – 1984
Number of Issues Published: 9 (#1977 – #1985)
Color: Colour cover; Black and White with some Colour interior
Dimensions: 19.7 cm x 26 cm cm (7.75″ x 10.5″)
Paper Stock: Newsprint
Binding: Hardcover
Publishing Format: Was ongoing
Publication Type: book
Action Annual 1977
Action Annual 1978
Action Annual 1979
Action Annual 1980
Action Annual 1981
Action Annual 1982
Action Annual 1983
Action Annual 1984
Action Annual 1985
Summer Specials
Publisher: IPC
Publication Dates: 1976 – 1978
Number of Issues Published: 3 (#1976 – #1978)
Color: Colour
Publishing Format: was ongoing series
Publication Type: magazine
Action Summer Special 1976
Action Summer Special 1977
Action Summer Special 1978
Holiday Specials
Publisher: IPC
Publication Dates: 1979 – May 1980
Number of Issues Published: 2 (#[1979] – #[1980])
Color: Colour cover; Black and White with some Color interior
Paper Stock: Newsprint
Includes some of the features from the previous weekly series but with less blood and violence. Contains some new features.
Action Holiday Special 1979
Action Holiday Special 1980
Big Adventure Book
Action Story of a violent comic
A list of all known British comics, not a list of comics that will appear on this blog.
A
A1 (Atomeka Press, 1989-1992)
AARGH (Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia) (Mad Love, 1988)
Acne (1991-1993)
Action (IPC, 1976-1977)
Adventure (DC Thomson, 1921-1961)
The Adventures of Luther Arkwright (1978-1997)
Air Ace Picture Library (Fleetway, IPC, 1960-1970)
Alec (early 1980s-present)
Alice in Sunderland (Jonathan Cape, 2007)
All-Action Monthly (Fleetway, 1987)
Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday (1884-1916, 1922-1923, 1948-1949, 1976-1977)
Amanda Swan (Rough Cut Comics, 2012)
B
Bacchus (Harrier, 1987)
Battle Picture Library (Fleetway, 1961-1984; Ron Phillips, 1988-1990)
Battle Picture Weekly (IPC, Fleetway, 1975-1988) (later “Battle Action” and
“Battle Action Force”)
The Beano (DC Thomson, 1938–present)
The Beano Book (DC Thomson)
Beano Max (DC Thomson, 2007–present)
Beeb (Polystyle Publications, 1985)
The Beezer (DC Thomson, 1956–1993)
Best of Krazy (IPC, 1978)
The Bible Story (IPC, 1964), merged into Look and Learn
Big Budget (1897-1909)
The Big Comic (Henderson, 1914-1918)
Big Comic Fortnightly (Fleetway, 1988-1994)
Big Numbers (Mad Love, 1990)
The Big One (IPC, 1964-1965)
Bimbo (DC Thomson, 1961-1972)
Biomecha (Pink Apple Jam/Sweatdrop Studios, 1995-)
The Black Hole (IPC, 1980)
Blast! (John Brown Publishing, 1991)
Blob! (Hi8us Midlands, 2008)
Blue is for Boys (Sweatdrop Studios, 2005)
Blue Jeans (DC Thomson, 1980–1991)
Bo-Peep and Little Boy Blue (AP, 1929-1934)
Bobo Bunny (IPC, 1969-1973)
The Bogie Man (Fat Man Press, John Brown Publishing, Apocalypse, Atomeka
Press, 1989-1992)
Bonnie (IPC, 1974-1975)
Boy’s Cinema (AP, 1919-1940)
Boys’ Magazine (London Publishing Co, Hultons, 1922-1934), merged into The
Champion
The Boy’s Own Paper (1879-1967)
Boys’ World (Odhams, 1963-1964) – merged into Eagle
Brain Damage (1989-1992)
Brainstorm Comix (c. 1975)
Britten and Brülightly (Random House, 2008)
British Showcase (Markosia, 2013-)
Bubbles (AP, 1921-1941)
Buddy (DC Thomson, 1981–1983)
Bullet (DC Thomson, 1976–1978)
Bulletproof (Bulletproof Comics, 2008)
The Bullseye (AP, 1931-1934)
Bunty (DC Thomson, 1958–2001)
Burke and Hare (Insomnia Publications, 2009)
Buster (AP, Fleetway, IPC, 1960-2000)
Buster Adventure Picture Library (IPC, 1966-1967)
Butterfly (AP, 1904-1940)
Buzz (DC Thomson, 1973–1975)
C
Cancertown (Insomnia Publications, 2009)
Captain Zenith Comic (Martin and Reid Ltd, 1950)
Champ (DC Thomson, 1984-1985)
The Champion (AP, Fleetway, IPC 1922-1966)
Charlie Chaplin’s Fun Book (AP, 1915)
Chatterbox (1866-1950s)
Cheeky Weekly (IPC, 1977-1980)
Cheerio (AP, 1919-1920)
Chemical Blue (Sweatdrop Studios, 2009-present; online version began 2008)
Chick’s Own (AP, 1920-1957)
Children’s Fairy (AP, 1919-1921)
Chips Comic (IPC, 1983-1984)
Chuckles (AP, 1914-1923)
Classics from the Comics (DC Thomson, 1996–2010)
Cla$$war (Com.X, 2002-2004)
CLiNT (Titan Magazines, 2010-2013)
Cold Sweat (Sweatdrop Studios, 2003)
Cold Sweat & Tears (Sweatdrop Studios, 2007)
Comet (AP, 1946-1959)
Comic Cuts (AP, 1890-1953)
Comic Home Journal (AP, 1895-1904)
Comic Life (Henderson, AP, 1899-1928)
Comic Relief Comic (Fleetway, 1991)
Commando (DC Thomson, 1961–present)
Confessions Library (AP, Fleetway 1959-1960)
Cor!! (IPC, 1970-1974)
Cosmic (H Bauer, 1997-1998?)
Countdown (Polystyle Publications, 1971-1972)
Cowboy Comics (aka Cowboy Picture Library) (AP, Fleetway 1950-1962)
Cracker (DC Thomson, 1975–1976)
Crackers (AP, 1929-1941)
Crisis (Fleetway, 1988-1991)
The Crunch (DC Thomson, 1979–1980)
D
The DFC (Random House, 2008-2009)
The Dandy (DC Thomson, 1937-present)
Deadface (Harrier, 1987)
Deadline (1988-1995)
Debbie (DC Thomson, 1973-1983)
Diana (DC Thomson, 1963-1976)
Diceman (IPC, 1986)
Dickory Dock (IPC, 1980)
Distorted (Inspired Comics, 2009)
Doctor Who Magazine (Marvel UK/Panini, 1979-present)
Dreamer (IPC, 1981-1982)
Drop Dead Monstrous (Sweatdrop Studios, 2008)
E
Eagle (Hultons, Odhams, IPC, 1950-1969) – merged into Lion
Eagle (1982-1994) (IPC, Fleetway, 1982-1993)
Emma (DC Thomson, 1978-1979) – merged into Judy
Escape (1983-1989)
Ethel and Ernest (Jonathan Cape, 1998)
F
Famous Romance Library (AP, 1958-?)
Fantastic (Odhams, 1967-1968) – merged into Smash!
Fast Fiction (1982-1991)
Fast Forward (BBC Magazines, 1989-1995)
Father Christmas (Random House, 1973)
Favourite Comic (AP, 1911-1917)
Film Fun (AP, Fleetway 1920-1962)
Film Picture Stories (AP, 1934-1935)
Firefly (AP, 1914-1917)
Fleetway Super Library (IPC, 1967-1968)
Fluffy (Jonathan Cape, 2003-2007)
Fun and Fiction (AP, 1911-1914)
Fun to Do (IPC, 1978-1982)
Fun to Know (IPC, 1979-1980)
Fungus the Bogeyman (Hamish Hamilton, 1977)
Funny Folks (1874-1894)
Funny Wonder (AP, 1914-1942)
G
Gemma Bovery (Jonathan Cape, 1999)
Giggle (IPC, 1967-1968) merged into Buster
Girl (Hultons, Odhams, IPC, 1951-1964 – merged into Princess – 1981-1991)
Girl (IPC, 1981-1990)
Girls’ Crystal (AP, Fleetway, 1953-1963)
Golden (AP, 1937-1940)
GoodCopBadCop (Planet Jimbot/Rough Cut Comics, 2012-)
Goofy (IPC, 1973-1974)
Grandeville (Jonathan Cape, 2009)
Grange Hill Magazine (IPC, 1980-1981)
H
Halfpenny Comic (1899)
Halfpenny Wonder (AP, 1914)
Happy Days (AP, 1938-1939)
Harold Hare’s Own Paper (Fleetway, IPC, 1959-1964)
Heartbeat (IPC, 1981-1982)
Hey Diddle Diddle (IPC, 1972-1973)
Hoot (DC Thomson, 1985–1986)
The Hornet (DC Thomson, 1963-1975)
Hot-Shot (Fleetway, 1988-1989)
The Hotspur (DC Thomson, 1933-1981)
Hurricane (IPC, 1964-1965)
Hwyl (1949-1989)
I
Illustrated Chips (AP, 1890-1953)
It’s Wicked! (Marvel UK, 1989)
J
Jack and Jill (AP, 1909, 1954-?)
Jack Staff (Dancing Elephant Press, 2000-2003)
Jackie (DC Thomson, 1964–1993)
Jackpot (IPC, 1979-1982)
Jag (IPC, 1968-1969)
Jarred (Sweatdrop Studios, 2009-present)
Jester (AP, 1912-1940) (“Jolly Jester” from 1920-1924)
Jet (IPC, 1971)
Jingles (AP, 1934-1954)
Jinty (IPC, 1974-1981)
The Jock (1993-1998, 2005)
The Jolly Comic (AP, 1935-1939)
Judge Dredd: Lawman of the Future (Fleetway, 1995-1996)
Judge Dredd Megazine (Fleetway, Rebellion 1990-present)
Judy (DC Thomson, 1960–2001)
June (IPC, 1961-1974)
Jungle Jinks (AP, 1923-1925)
K
Kane (Dancing Elephant Press, 1993-2001)
Killer Cake (Sweatdrop Studios, 2006)
Kinema Comic (AP, 1920-1932)
Kling Klang Klatch (Victor Gollancz, 1992)
Knock-Out (AP, Fleetway, IPC 1939-1963)
Knockout (IPC, 1971-1973)
Krazy (IPC, 1976-1978)
L
Laika (First Second, 2007)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (WildStorm, DC Comics, Top Shelf,
Knockabout, 1999-present)
Larks (AP, 1927-1940)
Legend Horror Classics (Legend Publishing, 1975)
Legends (IndieManga, 2009)
Lindy (IPC, 1975)
Lion (AP, Fleetway, IPC, 1952-1974)
Little Sparks (AP, 1920-1922)
London’s Dark (Titan Books, 1989)
Look Alive (IPC, 1982)
Look and Learn (Fleetway, IPC, 1962-1982)
Look-In (IPC, 1971-1994)
Love Romance (AP, 1950-?)
Love Story Picture Library (Fleetway, 1952-?)
Love, Sweat & Tears (Sweatdrop Studios, 2002)
M
The Magic Comic (DC Thomson, 1939–1941)
Magic Comic (late 1970s)
Magno Comic (International Publications, 1946)
The Man
Mandy (DC Thomson, 1967–1991)
Mangasm!! (Speedlines Publishing, 2008)
Marilyn (AP, Fleetway 1955-1965)
Marsman Comics (Cartoon Art, 1948)
Marvel Bumper Comic (Marvel UK, mid 1980s)
Marvelman (L. Miller & Sons, 1954-1963)
Mask (Fleetway, 1986-1988)
Mates (IPC, 1975-1981)
Meng and Ecker (Savoy Books, 1989-1995)
Merry and Bright (AP, 1910-1917)
Mirabelle (C. Arthur Pearsons, IPC, 1956-1977) merged into Pink
Misty (IPC, 1978-1980)
Modern Toss (2004-present)
Monster Fun (IPC, 1975-1976)
My Favourite (AP, 1928-1934)
My Guy (IPC, 1978-?)
N
Near Myths (1978-1980)
Nemo: Heart of Ice (Top Shelf, Knockabout, 2013)
Nikki (DC Thomson, 1985-1989) – merged into Bunty
Nimbus Base (Sweatdrop Studios, 2005)
Nipper (IPC, 1987)
Nutty (DC Thomson, 1980–1985)
O
Oh Boy (IPC, 1976-1985)
Oink! (IPC, Fleetway, 1986-1988)
Origins (IndieManga, 2008)
P
Penny (IPC, 1979-1980)
Penny Wonder (AP, 1912)
The Phoenix (2011-present)
Photo Love (IPC, 1979-1981)
Photo Secret Love (IPC, 1980-1981)
Pick & Mix (Inspired Comics, 2009-2010)
Pink (IPC, 1973-1980)
Pink is for Girls (Sweatdrop Studios, 2005)
Playbox (AP, 1925-1955)
Playhour (AP, 1954-?)
Playtime (AP, 1919-1929)
Plug (DC Thomson, 1977–1979)
Poot! (1989-1994, 2009-present)
Poppet (IPC, 1963-1964)
Pow! (Odhams, 1967-1968) – merged into Smash!
The Pride (2011-)
Princess (AP, Fleetway, IPC, 1960-1967, 1983-1984)
Princess Tina (IPC, 1967-1973)
pssst! (1982)
Psychiatric Tales (Blank Slate Books, 2010)
Puck (AP, 1904-1940)
Pulp! ( 1987 )
Q
Quackers (Keesing, 1996-1999)
R
Radio Fun (AP, Fleetway, 1938-1961)
The Rainbow (AP, 1914-1956)
The Rainbow Orchid (Egmont Books, 2009-2010)
Ranger (IPC, 1965-1966)
Redfox (Harrier, Valkyrie Press, 1986-1989)
Revolver (Fleetway, 1990-1991)
Ring Raiders (Fleetway, 1989)
The Rising Stars of Manga United Kingdom and Ireland (Tokyopop, 2006-2008)
Robin (Hultons, Odhams, IPC, 1953-1969) – merged into Playhour
Robin Hood Adventures (BBC Magazines, 2007-2008?)
Romeo (DC Thomson, 1957-1974) – merged into Diana
The Rover (DC Thomson, 1922-1973)
Roxy (AP, Fleetway, 1958-1963) – merged into Valentine
Roy of the Rovers (IPC, Fleetway, 1976-1993)
S
Sally (IPC, 1969-1971)
Sandie (IPC, 1972-1973)
Saviour (Trident Comics, 1989-1991)
School Friend (AP, Fleetway, IPC, 1919-1929, 1950-1965) – merged into June
School Friend Picture Library (AP, Fleetway, IPC, 1962-1965)
School Fun (IPC, 1983-1984)
Schoolgirls’ Picture Library (AP, Fleetway, 1957-1965)
The Schoolgirl (AP, 1929-1940)
Schoolgirl’s Own (AP, 1921-1936)
Scoop (DC Thomson, 1978-1981) – merged into The Victor
Scorcher (IPC, 1970-1974)
Score ‘n’ Roar (IPC, 1970-1971)
Scream! (IPC, 1984)
See-Saw (IPC, 1976-1977)
Serenade (Fleetway, 1962-1963)
Shiver and Shake (IPC, 1973-1974)
Shoot! (IPC, 1969-2008)
The Skipper (DC Thomson, 1930-1941)
A Slice of Life (Inspired Comics, 2008)
A Small Killing (Victor Gollancz, 1991)
Smash! (Odhams, IPC, 1966-1971) – merged into Valiant
Smut (late 1980s)
The Snowman (1978)
Sonic the Comic (Fleetway, 1993-2002)
Spaceship Away (2003-present)
Sparkler (AP, 1934-1939)
Sparks (1914-1922)
Sparky (DC Thomson, 1965–1977)
Speed (IPC, 1980)
Speed and Power (IPC, 1974-1975)
Spellbound (DC Thomson, 1976-1977) – merged into Debbie
Spike (DC Thomson, 1983–1984)
Spit! (1990s)
Sports Fun (AP, 1922)
Starblazer (DC Thomson, 1979-1991)
Stardust (Sweatdrop Studios, 2006)
Starlord (IPC, 1978)
The Stormer (early 80s)
Strange Embrace (Atomeka Press, 1993)
Strangehaven (Abiogenesis Press, 1995-2005)
Streamline Comics (1947-?)
Strip Magazine (Print Media Productions, 2011-)
Sugardrops (Sweatdrop Studios, 2006)
Sufferin’ Satellites (World Apart Productions, 1996-1998)
Sunbeam (AP, 1922-1940) – merged into Tiny Tots
Sunbeam Annual
Sunday Fairy (AP, 1919) – renamed Children’s Sunday Fairy, then Children’s
Fairy; merged into Bubbles
Sun Fish, Moon Fish (Sweatdrop Studios, 2009-2011)
Sunny Stories (IPC, 1958-1971)
Super Detective Library (Fleetway, 1953-1960)
Supernaturals (Fleetway, 1987-1988)
Swift (Hultons, Odhams, 1954-1961) – merged into Eagle
T
Talking Turkey (1991-1992)
Tamara Drewe (Jonathan Cape, 2007)
Tammy (IPC, 1971-1984)
Target (Polystyle Publications, 1978) – merged into TV Comic
Teddy Bear (IPC, 1963-1973)
Teddy Bear’s Playtime (IPC, 1981)
Tell Me Why (IPC, 1968-1970)
Terrific (Odhams, 1967-1968) – merged into Fantastic
Thriller Comics (AP, Fleetway, 1951-1963)
Thunder (IPC, 1970-1971)
Thunderbirds the Comic (Fleetway, 1991)
ThunderCats Magazine (Panini, 2012-2013)
Tiger (AP, Fleetway, IPC, 1954-1985)
Tiger Tim’s Weekly (AP, 1919-1940) (“Tiger Tim’s Tales” from 1919-1920) –
merged into Rainbow
Tina (IPC, 1967)
Tiny Tots (AP, 1927-1959)
Tip Top (AP, 1934-1954)
Toby (IPC, 1976-1978)
Top Spot (AP, Fleetway, 1958-1960)
The Topper (DC Thomson, 1953–1990)
Tops
Tornado (IPC, 1979)
Toxic! (Apocalypse, 1991)
Toxic (Egmont, 2002-present)
Treasure (IPC, 1963-1971)
True Life Library (Fleetway, 1955-?)
True War (IPC, 1978)
TV Century 21 (IPC, 1965-1969) (“TV21” from 1968)
TV Comic (1951-1984)
TV Fun (AP, Fleetway, 1953-1959)
TV Tornado (City Magazines, 1967-1968) – merged into TV21
TV Toyland (IPC, 1966-1967)
Twinkle (DC Thomson, 1968-1999)
U
Ut (mid-1990s)
V
Valentine (Fleetway, IPC, 1957-1974)
Valiant (Fleetway, IPC, 1962-1976)
The Victor (DC Thomson, 1961-1992)
Violent Cases (Titan Books, 1987)
Viz (1979-present)
Vulcan (IPC, 1975-1976)
W
War at Sea Picture Library (Fleetway, 1962-1963)
War Picture Library (AP, Fleetway, IPC, 1958-1984)
Warhammer Monthly (Black Library, 1998-2004)
Warlord (DC Thomson, 1974-1986)
Warrior (Quality Communications, 1982-1985)
Wasted (Bad Press, 2008-2011)
Wham! (Odhams, 1964-1968) – merged into Pow!
When the Wind Blows (1982)
Whizzer and Chips (IPC, 1969-1990)
Whoopee! (IPC, 1974-1985) – merged into Whizzer and Chips
Wildcat (Fleetway, 1988-1989)
Wild West Picture Library (IPC, 1966-1971)
The Wizard (DC Thomson, 1922–1963, 1970–1978)
Wonder (AP, 1942-1953)
Wonderland Tales (AP, 1919-1921) (“Wonderland Weekly” 1920-1921)
World of Wonder (IPC, 1970-1975)
Wow! (IPC, 1982-1983) – merged into Whoopee!
Z
Zit (1991-2002)
Thanks to UK Comics Wiki.
Which you can visit HERE
Here’s a partial list of comics published by Gerald G. Swan, as far as I’ve been able to identify them from images found on various comics and sales sites.
Archie Annual / Giant: 1-29 (1953? – 1958?)
Archie (Series 1): 1-10 (1953? )
Archie (Series 2): 1-11 (1957 – 1958)
Archie’s Christmas Stocking: 1-3 (? -1958)
Archie’s Girls Betty and Veronica: 1-8 (1957 – 1958)
Archie’s Joke Book: 1-10 (1957 – 1958)
Archie’s Pal Jughead: 1-9 (1957 – 1958)
Mighty Comic Annual: nn 1952? – 1954?
Pep: 1-10 (1957 – 1958)
Blue Bolt: 1-22 (? – ?)
Boys Fun: 1-19 (1952 – 1954)
Boys Fun Annual: 1954-1955
Bride’s Diary: nn
Buffalo Bill Album: 1950
Coloured Slick Fun:20-86? (1948-1950) – See ‘Slick Fun’ for 1-19
Comicolour: 1-9 (? – 1948)
Comicolour Volume II: 1-3? (? – ?)
Comicolour Album: 1947 – 1955
Cute Fun: 1-31? ()
Cute Fun Album: 1947-1956
Dynamic Thrills: 1-10 (? – ?)
Extra Fun: 1-? (? – ?)
Fresh Fun: 1-32? Winter Special (1940s)
Funnies Album: 1942 – 1959
Girls’ Fun: 1-24? (1946 – 1948)
Girls’ Fun Special: 1949
Girls’ Fun volume II ?: 1-14? (? – 1953?)
Girls Fun Annual: 1948 – 1958
Girls’ Funnies Album: ?
Indian Warriors Album: 1956
Kiddyfun: 1-6? (c. 1946)
Kiddyfun Series II: 1-3? (? – ?)
Kiddyfun Album: 1945 – 1956
New Funnies: 1-42? Winter Special (1940s)
Picture Epics: 1-4
Schoolboys Album: 1944 – 1959 (mostly text only)
Schoolgirl: 1-?
Schoolgirls Album: 1944 – 1959 (mostly text only)
Scramble: 1-57 (1947 – 1950)
Scramble Annual: 1948 – 1951
Secrets of Love: 1-13?
Slick Fun: 1-19 (1940s) Spring and Winter Specials (1942)
Slick Fun Album: 1949 – 1956
Thrill Comics: 1-34? (23 is 1940)
Topical Funnies: 1-34? (1940s) Double, Autumn and Winter Specials (last 1942)
War Comics: 1-15? (1940s) Summer and Winter Specials
Western Album: 1946
Western Comic Album: 1957 – 1958
Western Fun Comic: 1-10? (1950s?)
Western Fun Album: 1953 – 1956
Western Outlaws: 1-8?
Western War Comic: 1-6?
Thanks to Nigel Fletcher.
A British comic is a periodical published in the United Kingdom that contains comic strips. It is generally referred to as a comic or a comic magazine, and historically as a comic paper.
British comics are usually comics anthologies which are typically aimed at children, and are published weekly, although some are also published on a fortnightly or monthly schedule. The top three longest-running comics in the world, The Dandy, The Beano, and Comic Cuts, are all British, although in modern times British comics have been largely superseded by American comic books and Japanese manga.
19th century
In the 19th century, story papers (containing illustrated text stories), known as “penny dreadfuls” from their cover price, served as entertainment for British children. Full of close-printed text with few illustrations, they were essentially no different from a book, except that they were somewhat shorter and that typically the story was serialised over many weekly issues in order to maintain sales.
These serial stories could run to hundreds of instalments if they were popular. And to pad out a successful series, writers would insert quite extraneous material such as the geography of the country in which the action was occurring, so that the story would extend into more issues. Plagiarism was rife, with magazines pirating competitors’ successes under a few cosmetic name changes. Apart from action and historical stories, there was also a fashion for horror and the supernatural, with epics like Varney the Vampire running for years. Horror, in particular, contributed to the epithet “penny dreadful”. Stories featuring criminals such as ‘Spring-Heeled Jack’, pirates, highwaymen (especially Dick Turpin), and detectives (including Sexton Blake) dominated decades of the Victorian and early 20th-century weeklies.
Comic strips—stories told primarily in strip cartoon form, rather than as a written narrative with illustrations—emerged only slowly. Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday (1884) is reputed to be the first comic strip magazine to feature a recurring character, and the first British comic that would be recognised as such today. This strip cost one penny and was designed for adults. Ally, the recurring character, was a working class fellow who got up to various forms of mischief and often suffered for it.
In 1890 two more comic magazines debuted before the British public, Comic Cuts and Illustrated Chips, both published by Amalgamated Press. These magazines notoriously reprinted British and American material, previously published in newspapers and magazines, without permission. The success of these comics was such that Amalgamated’s owner, Alfred Harmsworth, was able to launch The Daily Mirror and The Daily Mail newspapers on the profits.
20th century
Over the next thirty years or so, comic publishers saw the juvenile market as the most profitable, and thus geared their publications accordingly, so that by 1914 most comics were aimed at eight- to twelve-year-olds.
The period between the two wars is notable mainly for the publication of annuals by Amalgamated Press, and also the emergence of DC Thomson, launching both The Beano and The Dandy in the late 1930s, which thrived during the Second World War. Their successful mix of irreverence and slapstick led to many similar titles, notably Buster, Topper and Beezer. However the originators of this format have outlasted all rivals, and are still published today.
In the early 1950s, “lurid American ‘crime’ and ‘horror comics’ reached Britain”, prompting what in retrospect has been characterised as a moral panic. Copies of Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror, which arrived as ballast in ships from the United States, were first only available in the “environs of the great ports of Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast and London”, but by “using blocks made from imported American matrices”, British versions of Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror were printed in London and Leicester and sold in “small back-street newsagents.” The ensuing outcry was heard in Parliament, and at the urging of the Most Reverend Geoffrey Fisher, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Major Gwilym Lloyd George, the Home Secretary and Minister of Welsh Affairs, and the National Union of Teachers, Parliament passed the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1955; it prohibited “any book, magazine or other like work which is of a kind likely to fall into the hands of children or young persons and consists wholly or mainly of stories told in pictures (with or without the addition of written matter), being stories portraying (a) the commission of crimes; or (b) acts of violence or cruelty; or (c) incidents of a repulsive or horrible nature; in such a way that the work as a whole would tend to corrupt a child or young person into whose hands it might fall.” Although the act had a sunset clause, in 1969 the Act was made permanent, and continues to be in force today, represented, for example, in the Royal Mail prohibition against mailing horror comics and the matrices used to print them.
During the 1950s and 1960s the most popular comic magazine for older age-group boys was the Eagle published by Hulton Press. The Eagle was published in a more expensive format, and was a gravure-printed weekly. This format was one used originally by Mickey Mouse Weekly during the 1930s. The Eagle’s success saw a number of comics launched in a similar format, TV Century 21, Look and Learn and TV Comic being notable examples. Comics published in this format were known in the trade as “slicks”. At the end of the 1960s these comics moved away from gravure printing, preferring offset litho due to cost considerations arising from decreasing readership.
However, the boys adventure comic was still popular, and titles such as Valiant and Tiger published by IPC saw new adventure heroes become stars, including Roy of the Rovers who would eventually gain his own title. Odhams Press was a company which mainly printed new material that was adventure oriented, although it also reprinted American Marvel Comics material in its Power Comics titles including Smash! and Fantastic.
By 1970 the British comics market was in a long-term decline, as comics lost popularity in the face of the rise of other popular pastimes for children. Initially the challenge was the rising popularity of television, a trend which the introduction of colour television to Britain during 1969 set in stone. In an effort to counter the trend, many publishers switched the focus of their comics towards television-related characters. The television shows of Gerry Anderson such as Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons had begun this in 1966 with the launch of tie-in comics such as TV21 and Lady Penelope that included only strips related to Anderson’s TV shows. Polystyle Publications already published a TV-related comic for young children called TV Comic, and in 1971 moved into the older market with Countdown (later retitled TV Action). The teenage market saw Look-In magazine feature strips solely based on popular television programmes. Another strand of the reaction to television was the launch of comics focused entirely on football (soccer being as popular as television amongst boys), with titles such as Shoot and Scorcher and Score. Those comics which didn’t address the issue of television began to close, merging with the few survivors.
In the 1970s very few boys’ comics in the “slick” format were launched, although Countdown was one exception, launching in 1971 with content similar to TV 21 (which had closed by then) and TV Comic. Vulcan, a reprint title, was another, in 1976. Girls’ titles which had launched in the “slick” format in the 1960s continued in that format into the 1970s; and others, such as Diana and Judy, changed to become slicks. They found themselves in the same market as teenage titles for girls such as Boyfriend and Blue Jeans, which had changed their content and were featuring mainly product-related articles and photo-strips.
In 1972, Marvel set up a publishing arm in the UK, Marvel UK, reprinting American superhero strips. These proved extremely popular, and a range of weekly titles were being published by 1975. So much so that in 1976 the parent company briefly published a minimal amount of new material specifically for the UK market in Captain Britain. The American reprint material proved to be more successful, and continued to appear into the 1980s, at which stage Marvel UK also began diversifying into home produced original material, both UK originated strips featuring American created characters such as Captain Britain, the Hulk and the Black Knight, and wholly original strips like Night Raven. They also began producing television-based material, initially with Dr Who Weekly, launched in 1979.
In the late 1960s and into the 1970s, the underground comics movement inspired two new comics in the UK: Oz and Nasty Tales were launched with the Underground premise of counter-culture rebellion. Oz notoriously featured the children’s character Rupert the Bear performing sexual acts. Both magazines were tried at the Old Bailey under the Obscene Publications Act because of their content. The Oz defendants were convicted, although the conviction was overturned on appeal. The Nasty Tales defendants were cautioned. However, both these comics ceased publication soon after their trial, as much due to the social changes at the end of the counter-culture movement as any effect of the court cases. These were always adult magazines, not titles aimed at the mainstream children’s market.
In the mid-1970s, comics became more action oriented. The first such title to be launched was Warlord in 1974. Published by DC Thomson, it proved to be a success, and led to its then rival, IPC Magazines Ltd, producing Battle Picture Weekly, a comic notably grimmer in style than its competitor. Battle’s success led to IPC launching another, similarly styled title, Action, which became a success too, but also became controversial, due to its content. Complaints about its tone eventually led to questions being asked in the House of Commons. Although an extremely popular title, IPC decided nonetheless to change the content, which neutered the comic’s appeal, whereupon the title quickly declined and merged with Battle.
Action’s position as the most popular title was taken over by 2000 AD, launched in 1977 by IPC. Created as a comic for older boys and girls, it also held appeal for teenage and even adult readers. In the 1960s IPC began to source comic art from Spain, mainly for financial reasons. This trend was continued through to the launch of 2000AD. Carlos Ezquerra is the most notable Spanish artist to have worked in British comics, having worked on both Battle and 2000 AD, and is credited with the creation of the look of Judge Dredd. Judge Dredd and other 2000 AD titles have been published in a tabloid form known as a “programme”, or “prog” for short.
The Star Wars magazine lasted into the late 1980s. In 1982 The Eagle was relaunched, this time including photo-strips, but still with Dan Dare as the lead story. The comic moved him from the front page to the centre pages to allow a more magazine-style cover.
Dez Skinn launched Warrior, possibly the most notable comic of the period, as it contained both the Marvelman and V for Vendetta strips, by Alan Moore. Warrior was a British equivalent of Heavy Metal magazine. Marvelman was a Captain Marvel clone that Skinn acquired, although the legality of that acquisition has been questioned. In Moore’s hands the strip became an “adult” style superhero, and was later reprinted, with the story continued, in an American full-colour comic, with the name changed from “Marvelman” to “Miracleman” to avoid any lawsuits that Marvel Comics may have considered.
Adult comics also witnessed a slight resurgence with psst!, an attempt to market a French style monthly bande dessinée, and Escape Magazine, published by Paul Gravett, former psst! promotions man. Escape is the other notable comic from this period, featuring early work from Eddie Campbell and Paul Grist, amongst others. Neither comic managed to survive in the vagaries of the comics market, Warrior beset by copyright issues and Escape by lack of publisher interest. During this period a number of smaller publishers were formed to provide inventive publications appealing to niche markets. Congress Press was one of these companies, providing titles such as Birthrite, Heaven & Hell and a graphic novel, Spookhouse.
Most of the surviving titles published by IPC, Fleetway and DC Thompson were merged into each other in the late 1980s and early 1990s, as the popularity of comics waned further in response to a surge in the popularity of television and of video games. Although new titles were launched in this period, none seemed to find any sustainable audience. Notable comics from this period included Deadline, Toxic!, Crisis, and Revolver.
Deadline was conceived by Steve Dillon and Brett Ewins, and mixed original strips with reprints of U.S. strips, notably Love & Rockets, and articles and interviews on the British independent music scene of the time. Tank Girl was its most notable strip. Crisis was published by Fleetway Publications, a company formed from IPC’s comics holdings. It was aimed at readers who had outgrown 2000 AD, and featured first works by Garth Ennis and Sean Phillips amongst others.
One publication of that period did find an audience. Viz began life in 1979 as a fanzine style publication, before, in 1989, becoming the biggest selling magazine in the country. Based upon bad taste, crude language, crude sexual innuendo, and the parodying of strips from The Dandy (among them Black Bag – the Faithful Border Bin Liner, a parody of The Dandy’s Black Bob series about a Border Collie), the popularity of Viz depended entirely upon a variant of Sixties counter-culture; and it promptly inspired similarly themed titles, including Smut, Spit!, Talking Turkey, Elephant Parts, Gas, Brain Damage, Poot!, UT and Zit, all of which failed to achieve Viz’s longevity and folded. Whilst Viz is still one of the United Kingdom’s top selling magazines.
British Comics 