Comics UK

Just noticed this ebay auction (it's probably finished now), and was curious to know where the story originated. It looks pretty interesting:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THE-SPIDER-Fleetw ... dZViewItem

I'm pretty sure that the Spider strips in this pocket library series, in tandem with the Steel Claw ones which also appeared, were all new.

Wow interesting. But was the strip itself also restricted to this format or did it appear in a weekly comic (or annual)? Seems like something that might have featured in Thunder (can't remember if that was fleetway, off hand however).

The Spider made it's debut in Lion in 1965 (26.06.65 according to the Spider checklist in the "King of Crooks" album from Titanbooks), and appeared in Lion Annual and Lion Holiday Special 1980 as well as Fleetway Super Library. With re-prints in Vulcan and Vulcan Annual, one episode in Vulcan was edited with a new conclusion. And a updated interpretation in 2000 AD Action Special in 1992 (04.92). A portrayal of Spider in his older years can be find in "Jack Staff: Everything Use to be Black and White".

The SPIDER appeared regualrly is the Lion weekly comic \s Sid says - (reptinted in Vulcan) for many years - It was written by and AMERICAN writer who had something to do with Superman (no doubt others more knowledgable will confirm the details) and was drawn by the brilliant Reg Bunn - the character was resurected in a 2000AD one shot and by Paul Grist in hisImage Comic Jack Staff (under a new name bu tit was the Spider and its brilliant) - one of my fav UK strips of all time

THE MOOSE wrote:[...]It was written by and AMERICAN writer who had something to do with Superman (no doubt others more knowledgable will confirm the details) [...]

The writer was Jerry Siegel (the co-creator of Superman) BUT it was Ted Cowan who created Spider, with Reg Bunn, and wrote the two first story arcs.

You can see a nice little Spider biography at http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/s/spider.htm

David

And not forgetting the Spiders last appearance in The Magical Albion 6 part series from 2005. With all your old favourites "Sid the Snake" "The Steelclaw" and loads more.

All the Spider stories in the Fleetway digest series were original and not related to any weeklies(i.e. not reprints).

The Cap.

Wow some nice Spider orginal art on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THE-SPIDER-Origin ... dZViewItem



Plus Adam Eterno and Robet Archie.

And the seller isn't shy with his prices! Ouch!