cover artist

[jehanbosch]

Only a single article of Wikipedia is devoted to Space Family Rollinson.
It is in French : La Famille Rollinson dans l'espace.
The article explicitly states no story from the Annuals was printed in France.
However, that statement is under attack.
On one of the French comic websites I frequent.
But which site?
Space Family Rollinson is frequently mentioned on these sites.
And an abundance of Rollinson art is provided.
Another indication how popular the Rollinsons were in that country..

[Phoenix]

I've just come back from a week in Putney looking after my two-year-old granddaughter, Aurora. After a particularly frenetic session in the Eddie Katz play zone, by her not me, I was merely in charge of her food and water, I decided to trot her down to 30th Century Comics as I wanted to pick up a bag of issues of Bunty from 1958, Mandy from 1979, a few of Suzy, and a representative selection of Picture Story Libraries for Girls. I'd already paid for them a couple of months ago but rather than pay the p&p I said I'd pick them up on my next visit. I had forgotten which libraries I'd actually bought, and I was surprised to discover that one of them was the one below this post. Did you know about this one, jehan?

[jehanbosch]

Another nightly visit.
No, this particular Family Robinson is unfamiliar to me.
I would love to receive the data: publisher, date of publication, etc.
But the Internet article on Lady Penelope's Robinsons hinted of a multitude of Robinsons..
Though I do know 4 1/2 Robinsons, the half being the Rollinsons.
There is that odd family portrayed in a German mag I can not identify either but that is not your's.
A great many thanks for bringing this to my attention.
No scan, it is too late.
Thanks again & good night, J.

[Phoenix]

No, this particular Family Robinson is unfamiliar to me. I would love to receive the data: publisher, date of publication, etc.

As you can see from the cover, jehan, this is issue 128 in the series of stories published in the Debbie Picture Story Library For Girls. It has 64 pages and was published by D. C. Thomson & Co. in 1988. The company produced four of these monthly series, the others being Mandy, Judy and Bunty.

[jehanbosch]

Well, thanks again.
I do not know that much about UK comic books - except the Disney ones.
And of course next to nothing about girl comics.
This particular issue was sold out on EBay but available in 2 online stores.
I choose the more expensive store because I had ordered from them before.
However, I bought a Peter Pan item as well.
The cover of SFR looked a bit like one from Archie comics, with which I am familiar.
I researched the Debbie series and found more science fiction issues..
It must be a lingering memory of the "Lost In Space" TV show...
Space Family stories are often found in girl related comics (Lady Penelope) or ladies' journals
For here is a sample from the German Rollinsons, called Robinsons..
From a German ladies' mag!
One can see the layout is similar to that of Knockout.
Best, J.

[jehanbosch]

Here is another piece of art from the Knockout Annual 1957.
The Rollinsons are having some problems on Titan with fast growing giant kiwis..
(Actually giant kiwis exist on New Zealand at the dawn of human history. However, the Maoris hunted these to extinction along with the moas. But I do not think these were as alien as those on Titan...)

[philcom55]

One interesting addition to the British history of the Space Family Rollinson strip occurred in the pages of the short-lived Giggle comic in the mid 1960s when the Rollinsons were renamed the Carter Family for a series called 'The Space-Travellers'. While the scripts were clearly based on the original Knockout storyline the artwork appears to be new. Also it's noticeable that a prominent alien character keeps the name 'Notoc' - which may well have been inspired by spelling the surname of original artist backwards.



Do you know if this version was ever printed in France Jehan?

- Phil Rushton

[jehanbosch]

Well, you got me by surprise there.
I never heard about the Space Travellers.
Also, you have to realise I discovered the Rollinsons less than a year ago.
But I had been following the Gold Key Space Family Robinson since the 1960s.
And I learned about Lady Penelope's Robinsons during the 1980s.
Finally I stumbled on the Cheeky Robinsons a couple of years ago.
With your permission I will post your art on the main French website I subscribe to.
Then you will get your answer in a short time.
However, I will mention your name and this website.
Unless you want to do it yourself?
The French like the Rollinsons very much...

[Phoenix]

The French like the Rollinsons very much...

They are also fond of very long novels by the likes of Jules Verne, Balzac, Proust, Camus, and Stendhal, and to ensure that reading them is as enjoyable an experience as possible they have produced some high quality wines. I think it's called the pleasure/pain principle.

[jehanbosch]

Usually I do not like French novels either.
But to return to "Giggle" UK.
It is very little known.
I could only find out it lasted just 38 issues 1967-1968.
And the Space Travellers are supposed to be drawn by a Spanish artist.
(But I bet the stories are British.)
Phil, aside from your permission do you know whether the Carters appeared in each and every issue?
It will be an awful work to obtain all.
For "Giggle" has not been reprinted nor was put on DVD.
The very first issue is the only one obtainable right now.
By the way I knew "Buster" with which "Giggle" was fused.
Back from the days I had a subscription on "Donald and Mickey"...

[philcom55]

Please feel free to quote any of my posts elsewhere Jehan, though I'm afraid I don't know much else about Giggle - copies of which are surprisingly hard to find.

- Phil R.

[jehanbosch]

Well, Phil this morning I oploaded your art and already got 2 reactions.
The French were not familiar with it yet thought it very interesting.
But one pointed out the story is the very same as that of the Rollinsons but redrawn by a different artist!!!!!!
He sent me the original which I will reproduce.
All of this happens on the following website:
http://forumpimpf.net
(A bad choice of name in English)
And I will keep you posted!

[philcom55]

Thanks for showing that Jehan - I had no idea the Giggle strip was so closely based on Space Family Rollinson! If it's any help here's an earlier page from The Space-Travellers.



- Phil Rushton

[jehanbosch]

`Hi. I just bought "Giggle" number 1 and "Buster and Giggle" of January 27, 1968. The "Buster ..." issue is the second after the merger with "Giggle".
Meanwhile here is another cover of the French mag "Aventures Fiction" with the Rollinsons.
I could not make a scan of the contents but here is a scan of the ORIGINAL art they adapted for this mag; it took them nearly 3 pages...
Best, J.

[jehanbosch]

Hi folks. The issues of "Giggle" and "Buster and Giggle" arrived.
And I am slightly disappointed as both mags contained more Belgian stories than I expected.
The "Buster and Giggle" issue did not feature any Space Travellers.
(I hoped they had finished the story after the fusion. As they sometimes did.)
The very first number of "Giggle" started with a redrawn version of the earliest Rollinsons installment in "Knockout".
By the way ; the "Knockout" numbers up to 1954 are now in the public domain.
I bought a DVD of "Knockout" and one of "Lion", together for less than 4 GBP on eBay.co.uk
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251614117519? ... 1423.l2649
The disc contains the first two episodes of the Rollinsons: KO 772 & 773.
I also wanted to ask a question from you guys.
Although my mother's relatives are english speaking I am not quite bilingual.
An American comics journalist said the name "Rollinson" must be a pun on "Robinson" but I have not a clue..
No scans are available but may I present another one from the French edition?
Best, J.