What comics did you buy today?

[geoff42]

obtained 7 issues of Spiderman and Titans from 1977 in pretty good condition. Although Marvel UK was generally a machine that churned out US reprints, I still value their output as collectable. Many covers were original, and the odd story as well. Captain Britain is an obvious example. Behind IPC and DC Thomson (yes, Phoenix, I noted your earlier correction, hee-hee) Marvel UK was probably the biggest comic publishers in the 70's in Britain. Generally, in the field of British publications, I have the feeling that Marvel UK is somewhat sidelined as regards collectability. On this forum, very few comments are afforded to Marvel UK. But, if one wished to devise a history of 1970's British comics, then Marvel UK could not be possibly excluded. Thankfully, their Summer and Winter specials are nowhere near expensive as your traditional British Summer special.

[Lew Stringer]

obtained 7 issues of Spiderman and Titans from 1977 in pretty good condition. Although Marvel UK was generally a machine that churned out US reprints, I still value their output as collectable. Many covers were original, and the odd story as well. Captain Britain is an obvious example. Behind IPC and DC Thomson (yes, Phoenix, I noted your earlier correction, hee-hee) Marvel UK was probably the biggest comic publishers in the 70's in Britain. Generally, in the field of British publications, I have the feeling that Marvel UK is somewhat sidelined as regards collectability. On this forum, very few comments are afforded to Marvel UK. But, if one wished to devise a history of 1970's British comics, then Marvel UK could not be possibly excluded. Thankfully, their Summer and Winter specials are nowhere near expensive as your traditional British Summer special.

Yes, Marvel UK were certainly trying to dominate the market with the number of titles they produced over the years. True, they're not discussed on this forum much but the company does have it's followers. Some may dismiss it as a reprint outfit but they produced a lot of origination over the years. I even did a couple of hundred strips for them myself.

[philcom55]

Of course, there were a number of very different phases in Marvel UK's output - notably the original one in which the titles were all prepared in America (using new artwork by relatively 'unseasoned' artists such as Jim Starlin and Rich Buckler), and the era of home-grown titles when Dez Skinn was hired to adapt the material for British readers.

In some ways things now seem to have come full circle with DC and Marvel going back to originating everything in the States.

- Phil Rushton

[stevezodiac]

I think Ron Wilson did the later Marvel UK covers after Starlin became popular. Ron was a good artist - like Tuska and Heck he got the job done but was never really regarded as a great. Speaking of Rons anyone remember the Ron Frenz Kirby-style Thor?

[Lew Stringer]

Of course, there were a number of very different phases in Marvel UK's output - notably the original one in which the titles were all prepared in America (using new artwork by relatively 'unseasoned' artists such as Jim Starlin and Rich Buckler), and the era of home-grown titles when Dez Skinn was hired to adapt the material for British readers.

In some ways things now seem to have come full circle with DC and Marvel going back to originating everything in the States.

- Phil Rushton

The Marvel UK titles are still edited in Britain though, by Panini, and they decide what to reprint, they design the comics, do the editorials/letters pages, choose which covers to use etc. They're not allowed to originate new art by UK artists any more though.

The current set-up with Panini is closer to the way Odhams had the license to reprint Marvel strips in Fantastic, rather than the early Marvel UK days when everything was done in New York and the London office was just there to drop in ads and deal with printing and distribution.

[Lew Stringer]

I think Ron Wilson did the later Marvel UK covers after Starlin became popular. Ron was a good artist - like Tuska and Heck he got the job done but was never really regarded as a great. Speaking of Rons anyone remember the Ron Frenz Kirby-style Thor?

Yes, I enjoyed those at the time. I feel that Joe Sinnott's inks were a huge help though.

Fandom tends to notice the flashier artists more but people like Don Heck, Frank Robbins, George Tuska etc were doing solid professional work back then.

[philcom55]

But Heck, Robbins and Tuska all had clearly identifiable styles of their own. Frenz - particularly during the period in question - used nothing but swipes from Kirby and Ditko. In effect he was the comic book equivalent of a tribute band, with the difference that the artists he swiped from received no credit or recompense.

The fact that Rich Buckler did something similar at the same time makes me think it was a deliberate policy instituted by Editor-in-Chief Jim Shooter.

- Phil R.

[big bad bri]

Maybe Marvel Uk titles could have a retired marvel Uk thread alongside the retired fleetway, DCT threads as i always thought they were the one of the largest comics publishers when i was a kid.

[tony ingram]

Maybe Marvel Uk titles could have a retired marvel Uk thread alongside the retired fleetway, DCT threads as i always thought they were the one of the largest comics publishers when i was a kid.

In terms of actual titles being published, I think by the early eighties Marvel UK had already overtaken DCT and IPC by quite a wide margin, and by that time a surprising amount of their output was UK originated. Not just obvious material like The Daredevils and Doctor Who Monthly, but odd bits and pieces in other titles, like original stories by both Alan Moore and Steve Moore in Star Wars monthly, and Ron Embleton's Wulf the Briton in the pages of Forces in Combat. There was a lot of good stuff coming out of Jadwin House back then.

[Digifiend]

A far cry from now, thanks to Disney putting the banhammer on UK originated content.

[stevezodiac]

Picked up seven issues of Giggle at the comic fair. An odd title - full of reprints and overseas strips.

[philcom55]

...But very hard to find. A nice purchase Steve!

- Phil R.

[babington]

A copy of the 'fireworks' Sparky from 1966, bought at the Comic Mart. I've been trying to get one of those for ages! Plus a copy of Revolver no. 1 which Peter Milligan was kind enough to sign.

[stevezodiac]

My mate Steve had already told Phil Clarke that I was a sure thing to buy the Giggles so I obligingly obliged. I only have a couple of Giggles - they do seem hard to find. Same with Solo. One stall was selling copies of Whizzer without Chips and another stall had Chips without Whizzer, can't help thinking they could have come to some arrangement.

On talkSPORT yesterday they were talking about when comics absorbed other titles and mistakenly referred to Whizzer taking over Chips. They said it might happen in football with the two Bristol clubs joining forces and maybe "Chelsea incorporating Fulham".

[paw broon]

Not bought, more arrived in the post today. 2 issues of Tales of Terror pocket library. #s 8 & 10 from 1966. I never read these when they came out, in fact I don't really recall seeing them in newsagents, but recently I have become interested in the more obscure pocket libraries - Famepress, Top Sellers etc. and find them very engaging indeed. Hard to find though.