Comics UK

Lew has posted some details of a comic called 'Wonder' that was produced by Esso...

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2007/ ... comic.html

I've managed to pick up issues 5, 10, 11 and 15

Anyone else got any issues? Anyone confirm that it did indeed last up until issue 52 as Denis Gifford records? (He gives dates as 5 Jul 1968 - 27 Jun 1969)


cheers
Richard

I love the logo with the Tiger Head which was used in Esso ads in the old days.

Sadly I can"t remember this comic but this was my era and I am sure I would have enthusiastically looked through a copy given the opportunity......

On the subject of 60s petrol stations. Does anyone remember an oft-seen gasoline service called National (or something) that had for it's logo a stylized Thor-like Viking character ( head only) complete with wings? These petrol stations were dotted all along UK. motorways in the 60s......

That was the National Benzole company (formerly Super National). As a kid I really liked their logo which featured a stylized head of the god Mercury. Appropriately enough they sponsored a colouring competition during the 1960s where the best submissions could win a Supercar Sculptorcraft kit and make their own figurine of Mike Mercury.

Thanks for the clarification on that one. Phil:


......Yes it was such a powerful, memorable design with such clean lines .....it was a triumph of design.


Sadly I have been unable to find an image of this logo on the web thus far. ......even on specialist sites......but happily I have seen it featured in vintage 60s motorway footage.......it captured my imagination as a kid.

As a mythology nut I also liked Mobil whose symbol was a red winged horse.

ISPYSHHHGUY wrote:Thanks for the clarification on that one. Phil:


......Yes it was such a powerful, memorable design with such clean lines .....it was a triumph of design.


Sadly I have been unable to find an image of this logo on the web thus far. ......even on specialist sites......but happily I have seen it featured in vintage 60s motorway footage.......it captured my imagination as a kid.

Here you go Rab:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22Nat ... d=0CAUQ_AU

Yes that's it, Lew.....the streamlined version....second along from the left on the top row....many thanks.


I haven't seen the older version heavily featured on that page, I assume the more elaborate version was before my time.

We had a National petrol station just up the road from my house. I remember that logo well.

Looks like I am not the only one who was struck by that logo then, Rob!

Inspired by the golden age Flash?

Richard S. wrote:Lew has posted some details of a comic called 'Wonder' that was produced by Esso...

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2007/ ... comic.html

I've managed to pick up issues 5, 10, 11 and 15

Anyone else got any issues? Anyone confirm that it did indeed last up until issue 52 as Denis Gifford records? (He gives dates as 5 Jul 1968 - 27 Jun 1969)


cheers
Richard

I have issue 5. There's some decent cartooning in it, some interesting styles. Very busy pages. It'd be interesting to read a few instalments of the colour centre spread adventure strip Hovercraft Patrol to see how that develops. Quite appealing artwork on that one, no signature. Has the line-up changed at all by issue 15?

nope, it's identical

Issue #4 arrived today and the most notable thing about it is that 'Hover Craft Patrol' (frame 1) is signed by L Bermejo - so the artist appears not to be Ortiz after all

Could it be the father of Lee Bermejo who draws U.S. superhero comics today?

Richard S. wrote:Issue #4 arrived today and the most notable thing about it is that 'Hover Craft Patrol' (frame 1) is signed by L Bermejo - so the artist appears not to be Ortiz after all

That'd be Louis Bermejo. Best known in the UK for drawing The Missing Link / Johnny Future for Fantastic in 1967.