From memory I'm certain Simon Test was originally in Smash and the Trouble Seekers was in either Valiant or Smash. I'll plump for Valiant.
The Men from the Stars was a reprint from either a Thriller Picture Library or Super Detective Library which had first been reprinted in a Buster book in the mid 1960's or possibly even in the Buster Book of Thrills. The Marching Trees had also originally appeared in an early Buster Book.
As for Toby's Timepiece I'm pretty sure it was originally in one of the IPC comic titles in the early 1970's, can't think which off-hand though.
If your desperate for more exact info just let me know.
Managed to discover a few more details.
The Simon Test strip reprinted in GHFCA originally first appeared in Valiant 10/4/71-29/5/71 following the merger of Valiant and Smash. He was originally a Smash character though.
The Trouble Seekers did originally appear in Valiant 25/5/70-3/4/71. As I haven't got my copy of the Album to hand I can't say for certain which particular adventure was reprinted though.
The Marching Trees originally appeared in the Buster Book for 1965.
I'm also starting to think that Toby's Timepiece may have been a creation that was only used in annuals/holiday specials as mentioned by others and not a strip that ever appeared in a weekly comic.
A bit like the early Beano and Dandy annuals then. Marmaduke Mean the Miser for example was in neither comic, but was in the 1939 Dandy Monster Comic (dunno about later ones) and the 1940 Beano Book. And of course to this day, those annuals feature adventure stories which aren't in the weekly!
It was a long time ago...can't really remember..must be 'the works' shop...or something like that.
the book says it was first published 1989.
It really did introduce me to so many new characters...so thanks Mike Higgs.
Lets hope Bear Alley books will get new young readers on board like the one above did for me..
Heard about this book in one of Lew's blogs. Would love to get a copy but alas I can't find any. It's advertised on Amazon but is not available.
Reading comics since 1970. My Current Regulars are: 2000 AD (1977-), Judge Dredd Megazine (1990-), Spaceship Away (2003-), Commando (2013-), Deadpool and Wolverine (2023-), Quantum (2023-), Fantastic Four (2025-).
