"The `I. Spy` Years 1969 - 2.000"

[alanultron5]

Yeah! It was a very mixed bag in its latter years!

Anyhow! I now begin with the Strips Surprise return in "Champ" comic, something that I would never have found out about if not for Rab's "I. Spy, the First Season" thread!

The “CHAMP” Comic Years, 1984 – 1985.

On 25th February 1984 D.C Thomson produced a new comic called `Champ` which was mostly based around a very good football strip called “United”. The centre four pages of the comic were given over to `Dennis the Menace and Gnasher’s “Fun Section”

Along with what is the most insipid version of Dennis and his dog I have ever seen were reprints of Toppers “Send For Kelly” Sparky’s “Puss N’ Boots” and lesser know strips such as “Old Batty” and “Arty”. Most interesting of all though was a new “I. Spy” strip which was both drawn and written by Brian Walker, who drew the strip in Sparky from 1970 (season two) to season four in 1972.

Unusually, the strip ran along the bottom of the four page `fun section` pages for the first 29 weeks of its run in `Champ`. The tone of the strip was very much knockabout comedy with plots at the lower end of importance.

The strip was still great fun –if rather overloaded with Walkers ever excruciating puns and surreal humour. As well as I. Spy and Boss, three old Les Barton characters became semi regular features as well. These were, Mr X, Mr Mastermind and Aye McSpy. This time, instead of the deadly foes of the past, X and Mastermind were more in the mould of rather naughty school kids as was McSpy! Rarely, did any of them try to kill I. Spy; in fact in some episodes all became quite friendly towards our hero. I did notice during the series how the `Mr` prefix to `Mastermind` was dropped thereby titling the villain just `Mastermind`.

Aye McSpy worked well in this mode as he had always been a character designed for humour in his Sparky days. Mastermind worked well as a more comedic creation with his always evident grandiose mannerisms and inflated ego now expanded to suit his now overtly pompous demeanour. However, Mr X had always been a `darker` more sinister foe and didn’t really jell in the `Champ` strip; perhaps this is the reason he only appeared 11 times in the 87 weeks of the strip in comparison to 21 appearances by Mastermind and 26 from Aye McSpy.

Also, similar to the John Fox season, Boss didn’t appear in some stories, but he was there for the finale!

I won’t summarise every week of the 87 issues in detail, though I will give one line descriptions. I will attempt to highlight some stories especially those with what I felt were inventive ideas or totally batty premise, with a few extra lines of description.




* * * * *




“I. Spy” In `Champ` comic, The Stories, 25th February 1984 to 19th October 1985.


Issue No 1 (25, 2. 84) I. Spy and Boss are `troubled` first by Mr X and then by Mr Mastermind.

The Series two greatest villains debut in episode one; Mr X getting blown up by his own bomb, and Mastermind chased off by his `Hat` seeking missiles.


Issue No 2 (3.3.84) Mastermind builds (from scrap iron) a `Transmagorian` machine, but gets bested by I. Spy.

This episode saw a version of the `Fantasmagorian` machine from the first Les Barton season which was a lovely continuity touch.


Issue’s 3 & 4 (10 & 17. 3. 84) Trouble at `Groanader` Television’s `Consternation Street` when scripts go missing. It is spy `Bulgar Boris` behind it all.


Issues No 5 & 6 (24 & 31. 3. 84) I. Spy meets Aye McSpy and his pet `Spy Eating Haggis`

This episode brings readers the return of Aye McSpy who is in less than friendly mode here, especially as he sets his pet carnivorous haggis on I. Spy.


Issues No 7 & 8 (7 & 14. 4. 84) Mr X uses his `weather machine` to evil ends.

The `Weather Machine` concept harks back to season one villain Mr Tempest, but instead of resurrecting him, Mr X was used instead.


Issue No 9 (21.4.84) Aye McSpy tries to drop a one ton weight on I. Spy.
McSpy back in villainous mode here!


Issues No 10 & 11 (28.4 & 5.5. 84) I. Spy takes on the `Phantom Food Snatcher`


Issues No 12 & 13 (12 & 19. 5. 84) Mastermind invents a dazzling toothpaste which blinds his `victims` and I. Spy.

A lovely play on Mastermind’s always prominent odontoid smile here! Mastermind actually bests I. Spy for once and our hero actually has to threaten the artist to get him out of his predicament.
Issues No 14 (26.5 84) to No 18 (23.6.84) I. Spy invents a remote controlled football which Aye McSpy steals (issue 14) Mr X attempts to take control (issue 15) buts gets `trampled underfoot`. Mastermind now takes control (Issue 16) but accidentally blows the ball (and himself) up. Boss Spy (Issue 17) fixes the ball (sort of!) but it becomes sentient and goes rogue! I. Spy (Issue 18) finally brings the rogue ball to order via a remote control football boot.

This was the longest running story of the series at five episodes; mind you, they were much segmented. The three major villains all appeared throughout the story though not all together, though Aye McSpy and Mr X were in episode issue 15. For the very first time ever, I. Spy did not feature in a full episode (Issue 17) which was given to Boss’ `repairing` the football.


Issue No 19 (30.6.84) Villain Dr Deluge employs `his` weather machine to nefarious ends.

This was a retread of the story in issues 7 & 8 where Mr X employed a weather machine.


Issue No 20 (7. 7. 84) Mr X seemingly gets the better of I. Spy by cutting him to bits, but I. Spy had slipped out of trouble unknowns to his foe!
This episode displayed the heights of surrealism Brian Walker would reach this season with Mr X actually tearing up the `Champ` fun page featuring the `I. Spy` strip, bizarre!!


Issue No 21 (14.7.84) Professor `Nutty Noggins` builds an evil robotic `I. Spy`


Issue No 22 (21.7.84) French Spy `Un Yon Johnee` tries to sabotage the `European Pong Contest`


Issue No 23 & 24 (28. 7 & 4. 8. 84) Mastermind invents a super hair restorer that not only restores hair, but hare’s!

This was a really bizarre effort indeed.


Issue No 25 (11. 8. 84) I. Spy tackles his first ever female villain, Giggling Gertie.

At last some female emancipation as the first ever female villain tackles I. Spy, Giggling Gertie.


Issue No 26 (18. 8. 84) I. Spy gets a new `custom spy car`. However, it is chock full of so many gadgets and devices there was no room for an engine.

Issue No 27 (25. 8. 84) The `Phantom Fiddler` strikes! The `Fiddler` bears some resemblance in his `Spiv` outfit to season two villain `Fingers`


Issue No 28 (1. 9. 84) The evil `Chipmonk` is stealing and eating every chip supply from chip shops everywhere.


Issue No 29 (8. 9. 84) Underwater deep sea capers when I. Spy has to rescue `Jacques Custard` from the clutches of the evil `Fishmonger`


Issue No 30 (15. 9. 84) I. Spy and Aye McSpy play a `not so friendly` game of tennis.

The strip changed format this issue by now occupying three quarters of one page instead of running along the bottom of four. It also went from black and white (the previous 29 issues) to shades of red, yellow and black and white.


Issue No 31 (22. 9. 84) `Frazer the Erazer` tries to `rub out` I. Spy.


Issues No 32 & 33 (29. 9 & 6. 10. 84) I. Spy meets `Dr What` and his time travelling machine, the `Tardy`.

Here was an inventive parody of the `Dr Who` telly series.


Issues No 34 & 35 (13 & 20. 10. 84) Adventures with Aye McSpy and the `Loch Ness Monster`.


Issue No 36 (27. 10. 84) `This is Your Life` I. Spy is the subject of the programme facing appearances from many old villains; these include Aye McSpy, Mr X, Mastermind, Chop Sooee, I. Spyder, Fingers, Igor Annovalitch, , Dr Q and Dr Killjoy. Also featuring are his Mom and Dad plus Granny Spy. But worse by far is his Wife who nags him until he wakes up from the nightmare he is having!

An intriguing episode that features the biggest line up of villains in the strips history, most of them characters from Walkers colour season (four) in Sparky 1971 – 72. Also appearing were family members Mom, Dad, Granny and his nagging Wife! Happily for I. Spy, it all turned out to be a bad dream!



Issue No 37 (3.11.84) Aye McSpy decides to form a band. Mr X joins with his trumpet to McSpy’s bagpipes; then Mastermind drives in on his portable church organ. I. Spy becomes a `one man band` and all play along merrily until the `Champ` editor calls a halt due to the din!

A lovely episode which features all major `players` (sic) and they all get along except when Mr X makes a comment about McSpy’s bagpipes which earns him a thump from the angry Scotsman.

[alanultron5]

Here's the rest of them.

Issue No 38 (10. 11. 84) Aye McSpy tries his hand at piracy but his schemes are sunk by I. Spy.


Issue No 39 (17. 11. 84) `King Kong` is on the rampage, but after spotting a `Made in Hong Kong` sticker on his neck, I. Spy detects that it is a manually operated robot which Mastermind is controlling from inside.

Some good `simian` style humour here with Mastermind up to no good again.


Issue No 40 (24. 11. 84) In France the `Punk Panter`steals the golden egg. All action set in France where the authorities obviously know who I. Spy is.


Issue No 41 (1. 12. 84) Mastermind kidnaps DJ Tony Heartburn to hold for ransom. I. Spy rescues the celebrity but is so annoyed by the DJ’s corny jokes he returns Heartburn back to Mastermind!

This episode features I. Spy’s `Mastermind` detector, a device he will use again to track his foe. Good comment on Radio One star Tony Blackburn, who by the 1980s was most likely more `loathed` than loved by the British public.


Issue No 42 (8. 12. 84) An `Abominable Snowman` is on the loose. Yet again, it is a controlled robot with Mastermind at the controls.

This episode was a bit of a re-run of the `King Kong` episode in issue 39. Mastermind here is seemingly having a penchant for building large robots that he can control from inside.


Issue No 43 ( 15. 12. 84) `Rhyming Ronnie` goes around writing naughty rhyming slogans demeaning I. Spy on walls, etc.


Issue No 44 (22. 12. 84) All of the `Champ` comic staff are down with flu so I. Spy produces the comic. However, he bias’ the contents so much in his favour that the other `Champ` comic characters chase after him furiously.

It was a very bizarre episode indeed. It was most interesting to see the other `Champ` characters in the `I. Spy` strip, especially Puss and Boots`.


Issue No 45 (29. 12. 84) I. Spy receives Christmas gifts from the deadly trio. Aye McSpy brings a piece of exploding holly, Mr X has a tape recording of Frank Carson “It’s a Cracker!” and Mastermind brings a jack-in-the-box boxing glove. I. Spy is not amused.

This was the third episode that features all major `participants`.


Issues No 46 & 47 (5 & 12. 1. 85) Aye McSpy physically separates Scotland from the rest of Great Britain and tows it to the south pacific while he declares himself “King” I. Spy usurps the `ruler` and tows Scotland back, affixing it with `super glue`.

There was some borrowing from `The Ghost of Mr X` story with these episodes to great effect.


Issue No 48 (19. 1. 85) Mastermind invents a pair of remote controlled flying `sweaty socks` to help him rob banks!

This entry had a very funny concept here with villain Mastermind utilizing a pair of `sweaty socks` in his crime wave. Were they his?


Issue no 49 (26.1. 85) I. Spy faces Middle Eastern spy, `Sultan Vinegar`

One of Brian walkers most cringe worthy puns for the name of the villain this episode.


Issue No 50 (2. 2. 85) `General Custard` and his giant Swiss roll cause havoc.


Issue No 51 (9. 2. 85) Mastermind sends remote controlled deadly `gas cookers` to deal with I. Spy but is beaten by a huge gas bill.

Here, we see a parody on the `Mastermind Machines` story (Mastermind’s debut back in 1970) but this time with Gas Cookers instead of slot machines.


Issue No 52 (16. 2. 85) The `Wicked Wizard` magic’s up live trees to menace I. Spy but our hero turns his foe into a frog.


Issue No 53 (32. 2. 85) Chinese Spy `Ghengis Kant` and his two young colleagues, `Young Foo` and `Chopped Suzy` try to steal the plans to Britain’s newest supersonic jet. I. Spy calls in assistance from Irishman `Paddy Fields` and the spies find it is `Tooth Hurtee` time!

OUCH!!

Issue No 54 (2. 3. 85) Mr X kidnaps new caster `Jan Lemming` and ties her to railway tracks, he is `derailed` by I. Spy.


Issues No 55 & 56 (9. & 16. 3. 85) Boss is suddenly `vanished` away and I. Spy encounters the villainous `Captain Cork` and `Spock` up on the Starship `Boobyprize` I.Spy gets shrunk at end of episode 1.

This `Star trek` parody would be the final two-part story. Only single episode adventures from this point on. The special chair and shrinking ray that I. Spy was subjected to was very much based on the similar device in `The Seven Stone Supermen` adventure back in 1971.


Issue No 57 (23. 3. 85) Opera singer turned crooked, Gari- Baldi` uses his high notes to shatter the glass case containing the `Dryburgh Diamond`.


Issue No 58 (30. 3. 85) Criminal Gnome, `Bob Goblin` has trained his pet cat `Tiddles` for Cat Burgulary!


Issue No 59 (6. 4. 85) Cowboy villain `Wild Bill Hiccup` comes to town.


Issue No 60 (13. 4. 85) `Ghengis Kant` is back, now partnered by `Kasi Motto` (Quasimodo’s cousin) to steal the Big Ben Bell. On the trail of the crooks, I. Spy also meets Aye McSpy and his huge friend `Big Ben`

OUCH!!!

Issue No 61 (20. 4. 85) I. Spy is attacked by `Big Chief Running Nose` and his son `Tommy Hawk`.


Issue No 62 (27. 4. 85) Aye McSpy paints the whole town tartan.


Issue No 63 (4. 5. 85) Mastermind steals all the numbers from the town hall clock. He ends up doing time! OUCH!


Issue No 64 (11. 5. 85) `Bull Graham` and his pet Bull run riot in a china shop.


Issue No 65 (18. 5. 85) Aye McSpy decides to cause chaos while in the pouch of a Kangaroo!

How truly bizarre! This idea is so similar to the John Fox story in the final run in `Sparky` the `Little Bounder`.
Issue No 66 (25. 5. 85) I. Spy and Aye McSpy play a `not so friendly` game of cricket.


Issue No 67 (1. 6. 85) Meet Chinese spy, `Ah Choo`


Issue No 68 (8. 6. 85) Mastermind challenges I. Spy to a game of golf. Mastermind uses sneaky tricks to forge ahead but comes a cropper when he scores a hole in one on Aye McSpy!

I think this is a very funny episode here which features both Mastermind and Aye McSpy.


Issue No 69 (15. 6. 85) Introducing Welsh agent `Dai Spai`

Semi- regular character Dai Spai (sic) makes his debut here. Walker’s image of the Welsh spy was most definitely based on comedian Max Boyce.


Issue No 70 (22. 6. 85) Professor `Ivor Screwloose`steals everyone’s TV aerials so that he can watch every TV channel across the world; but he gives himself up to I. Spy when he discovers that Terry Wogan is on every single one of them.

A very topical issue here as in the mid 1980s Terry Wogan really did seem to be appearing on all stations all the time.


Issue No 71 (29. 6. 85) Mastermind sets out on another crime wave, this time with his invention, a set of remote controlled, flying false teeth!

Very similar to the episode where Mastermind invented remote controlled sweaty socks, this time it’s false teeth.


Issue No 72 (6. 7. 85) `Ivan the Spyman` steals bionic trouser belts! WHAT!??


Issue No 73 (13. 7. 85) `Dai Spai` takes I. Spy on a tour of Wales.


Issue No 74 (20. 7. 85) Introducing Irish agent `Oi Spoi`

Brian walkers name puns were becoming more strangulated with introduction of Irish version Oi Spoi.


Issue No 75 (27. 7. 85) `Hannah Conda` and her pet serpent put the `squeeze` on I. Spy. He persuades Hannah to provide a `Snakes and Ladders` playground for children.

I. Spy’s second ever female opponent, Hannah Conda actually became most friendly at episodes end, which was a nice change.


Issue No 76 (3. 8. 85) I. Spy and Boss go camping. Aye McSpy muscles in but gets chased off by Girl Guides.


Issue No 77 (10. 8. 85) Boss Spy organises a marathon for spies. The winner goes on special assignment. I. Spy, Dai Spai, Oi Spoi, Aye McSpy and even Mastermind (“I’ve started, so I’ll finish”) takes part. One by one they fall away, even I. Spy, leaving McSpy the winner. Sadly, Boss has forgotten what the mission is and is chased off by an angry McSpy and the other competitors..

This was a very funny episode indeed, especially when it links villain Mastermind with the general knowledge show of the same name.


Issue No 78 (17. 8. 85) Aye McSpy steals a North Sea oil rig.


Issue No 79 (24. 8. 85) I. Spy faces the `might!? Of `Conan the Librarian`

Ouch! Quite the worst punned name of any character in this season was old Conan. The story ends on the frog/books joke – “Reddit!” Ouch! Ouch!! OUCH!!


Issue No 80 (31. 8. 85) The `Phantom Fiddler` strikes again.


Issue No 81 (7. 9. 85) I. Spy, along with Aye McSpy and Oi Spoi travel to the Middle East to try and catch `Sultan Vinegar.

More excruciatingly pun laden frolics on show here!


Issue No 82 (14. 9. 85) I. Spy is given an assistant, a robot! Sadly it is less than useless, even managing to scare away Mastermind just as I. Spy is about to apprehend the miscreant.

For the only time in his career I. Spy is assigned an assistant and a robotic one at that! Sadly, his automated partner is far more hindrance than help.


Issue No 83 (21. 9. 85) Aye McSpy steals a train to get up to naughty business with. I. Spy eventually overpowers him, but then Mastermind goes off with it. The train is later found, covered in big round blobs. I. Spy figures that Mastermind must be a “Train Spotter”

OUCH!!


Issue No 84 (28. 9. 85) Pop star `Gary Manifold` receives protection from I. Spy against his adoring fans. However, to Gary’s dismay, it is I. Spy who the female fans want an autograph from.

A very funny `take` on singing star Barry Manilow was seen in this episode.


Issue No 85 (5. 10. 85) There is a big emergency!! The Champ Comic Editor has gone missing.


Issue No 86 (12. 5. 85) Street busker `Igor` is stealing Government secrets via his `Tuba` directed `spy stealing plane`. I. Spy soon cuts this musical tale short.


Issue No 87 (19. 10. 85, “Operation Re-Fit”)

I. Spy and his devices are feeling the strain of so many `adventures`. I. Spy goes into hospital for a `physical ` whilst his devices are given a re-fit. Visitors are Aye McSpy, Mastermind, Mr X, Oi Spy and assorted others. Mastermind states they all hope I. Spy will soon be well enough to put up with the `villains` again. I. Spy and Boss walk off into the sunset with I. Spy telling his friend that he is glad to be away from “That Lot” for a while.

This was the final ever regular I. Spy strip in not just Champ but any DC Thomson title apart from re prints. It had been given a title the previous week of “Operation Re- Fit” making it the only Champ I. Spy story with one.

The three main `adversaries` Aye McSpy, Mastermind and Mr X all felt guilty about the stress they had caused I. Spy which was a nice touch. The very final panel of I. Spy and Boss walking off into the sunset was a most poignant scene to end on indeed!

Looking at so many of Brian’s episodes in `Champ` sadly, there is a (non malicious I’m sure) rather racial stereotyping aspect regarding Chinese, French, Italian, Arabian characters etc! I am certain it was all innocently intended then; but in today’s climate, those particular episodes would not be published, I reckon. By far the best episodes were those featuring Aye McSpy and Mastermind who both became wonderfully comical villains in the `Champ` `I. Spy` strip.

So ended the weekly adventures of I. Spy, but there was one last `hurrah! ` This was his surprise appearance in 2000 in a DC Thomson title called `Fun Size Dandy` No 63.

* * *

[alanultron5]

Monday will see the last posting from my `File` covering the `Dandy Fun Special` one-off story and a final roundup - YEEHAH!!

[alanultron5]

Here is the final section of the "File"

`FUN SIZE DANDY No 63, (2.000,“Ha! Ha! Said The Clown!” A5 size, 25 pages, B/W & Colour)

Someone is stealing secrets from Spy H.Q. It turns out to be the office cleaner who is dressed as a clown (Which, amazingly, no one noticed!) and calls himself “The Clown”. The villain makes off to be chased by I. Spy and Boss. Boss soon gets a `flat` only to be vastly `over inflated` by I. Spy’s `air pump.

Leaving Boss soaring into the stratosphere, I. Spy chases his quarry into a passing circus (a good place for a clown to hide). Soon I. Spy is in the midst of a custard pie fight, attacked by a clown car and up to his neck in a tigers mouth.

The clown escapes via being shot out of the circus cannon, soon heading towards his super-spy satellite where (as he admits) I. Spy cannot follow. But! The clown gets an unexpected `head-to-head` meeting with Boss (or to be precise, Boss’ noggin!) which brings him down to earth, so to speak.

Back at Spy H.Q Boss, who sports a king-size lump on his head, takes a call from the circus who asks if I. Spy might like to come and work for them!

`Ha! Ha!Said the Clown! Was drawn by artist Lewis Stringer, sadly the writer is unknown. It was aimed at a youngish reader in the manner of the `Champ` strip had been. The artwork suited the tone of the story well.

There was little in plotting, being basically a chase of the villain, `The Clown` through virtually the whole story. The visual gag where the villain cracks skulls with Boss Spy was the highlight of the effort in my view. I can’t rate the strip that highly, but it certainly had its moments.

Well! That was it for the `I. Spy` character; no more new adventures only reprints. These were in: `Classics from the Comics` No 66 (2001); the first of the three Les Barton 1973 Sparky `extra’s` the one with the Cossack spy.

Next in CFTC No 123 (2006) were both the very first `I. Spy` story from Sparky issue 211, and the eighth episode featuring Karate Chip.

A little later (Date unknown) CFTC ran the Brian Walker drawn `Doctor Spook` story, which was the second in the predominantly John Fox drawn 1974-76 season.

As recent as 2009, some of the John Fox 1974-76 stories were repeated in `Dandy Extreme`.

Sadly, it seems that I. Spy may never return. A brave attempt to resurrect the character was made by `Crikey! ` Magazine, but they ran into financial difficulties and had to cease production.

If the series ever did return, it would probably be in the mould of the `Fun Size Dandy` strip in my estimation. Certainly, the glory days of 1969-71 will never be repeated, comics today seem to have lost that magic that made strips such as `I. Spy` in those days such an enthralling read.

My Thanks to big I. Spy fan, Rab Smith for his help with those I. Spy repeats data.


One final point of interest is the number of appearances by certain characters apart from I. Spy and Boss. The tally includes not just the five `Sparky` seasons, but the `Sparky Books` strips and the `Champ` season.

`Mr X` He starred in six stories in season one, once each in season’s two, three and four. He appeared seven times in season five, and also in the Sparky book 1972 edition. This makes a total of 17appearances in the Sparky `I. Spy` strip.

As stated, he also made another 11 appearances in the `Champ` strip; which makes a combined total of 28 appearances in all `I. Spy` strips.


`Mr Mastermind` Made two appearances in season one, then one each in seasons two, three and four. This makes a total of 5 appearances in Sparky.

In Champ he appeared 21 times, making a combined total of 26 showings in all `I. Spy` strips.


`Aye McSpy` Just the one appearance in season one and season two, a total of 2 in Sparky.

As stated, in Champ he popped up no less than 26 times, making a combined total of 28 in all `I. Spy` strips.

The only other character to appear more than three times was `Granny Spy` who showed herself twice in season one, and once in season two giving her a total of 3 appearances in Sparky.

She only appeared, very briefly in the one Champ episode, making a combined total of 4 appearances in all `I. Spy` strips.



© Alan Smith, January 2011.

[Digifiend]

It was The Cloak, not I Spy, who got brought back in the pages of Crikey! And 2009 Dandy Xtreme wasn't the most recent one. It was in at least one issue of BeanoMAX last year.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

a big thanks to Alan for penning what was probably the biggest-ever writing [for a single person on one theme] within COMICS UK [other threads may have been longer, but I doubt if any one person ever contributed so much words on here by themselves over such a compact space].

This thread will continue in a more visual vein with further J FOX page entries, and possibly beyond.......

[alanultron5]

Digi! When I compiled the article it was Dandy Max the most recent! Only when I had completed it did I find out about the Beano reprint! Its not a big glitcgh as my article will `date` anyway as time goes on. Yes! I know about the Cloak! Crikey were in negociation with Rab and I to help with a new I. Spy strip when finances took a dip! Hence my mentioning this `attempt` in the article!

[alanultron5]

I certainly hope for a bit of discussion on the "Champ" I. Spy strip if possible here! Though it was very pun based humour to a extreme extent, it certainly had its good points. I think I posted Rab some copies of the strip!

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

yes, Alan,

with my new improved 'EE-ZEE Axe-ss' [trademark] comic filing system, it is simply a dawdle to locate any given example from my comic-files.

Sure beats raking through endless, disorganized, piles of comics! All you need is 'EEZI-CONSTRUCT' metal or steel framing, with different shelving, and bob's yer uncle! Stack 'em up high: and never look back....fast, efficient, ------and economical!




Throughout 1984 and '85, the good I SPY strip returned after a noticable dip in fortunes throughout the inconsistent J Fox era. Returning after an agonizing 8-year absence-----during which SPARKY had floundered to the point of total closure during Summer 1977-------the spystrip nevertheless returned with all-new stories within the pages of solid 'boy's-own' offering CHAMP Comic.


The centrepages were hewn of a winning mix of past D C Thomson comic-glories, like PUSS n BOOTS, Send for Kelly, and Old Batty. No less than Dennis the Menace himself introduced these considerable comic cavortings.

The venture [as regarding I SPY] saw Brian Walker return to the fold, with delightfully condensed atrwork, in tandem with the more scaled-down comics artwork prevelant since the early 80s.

The jovial, throwaway-slapstick offerings of this mid-80s I SPY shenanigans made for pretty entertaing stuff:

[alanultron5]

Very humour slanted indeed! Its a shame that the first 29 eps were put along the bottom of the four `fun` pages which makes it extremely hard to photo-copy as one! I copy four pages then arrange these copies to go to a `master` making it one ep on the fifth copy! B****y expencive though!

[Digifiend]

Wouldn't it be better just to scan the pages, use an image editor to join up the strips, and then just print off the completed story? Then you only have to print one page.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

Here's a real mix-n-match job, complete with missing section where someone has cut out a coupon in the comic!

Lamentably, this is the only version I have of this strip, and it's a good example of surreal invention, with self-referential leanings [playing with comic-strip conventions]:

[alanultron5]

I've no idea how to do any of that Digi- i'm afraid i'm a technological `Neanderthal!`

The bit Rab has shown is-I think from `Champ` No 2.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

I notice that some SPARKY items are jumping up in value [in fierce bidding wars] on E-bay; my VG/F copy of this set me back 3 quid 4 years ago. Some Barney Bulldog-era titles are going for 8 quid apiece.


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sparky-comic-310- ... 187wt_1139

[blaing]

I can be blamed a bit for the spike.

On a number of recent purchases for a couple of issues I've won, I've paid something like £20 for some issues that should have sold for less than a quarter of the final price.

take a look at this recent example

It seems to me that there are more people searching for comics than a few years ago, and I think in the coming months, things will get a lot more frentic.