I watched the whole "Power" comics rise and fall in real time. That was my first experience of the comic merger syndrome. I was a bit bewildered at first, watching my favourite titles disappear.
Fortunately, Sparky would definitely not see the light of day nowadays. I searched for any information about controversies over the character but couldn’t find any information at all. It seems he was transferred to the back cover at some point before regaining front cover status. The strip was cancelled in 1969 but the character was still used as part of the masthead for some time afterwards. The Sparky comic ran for 12 years from 1965-1977 before merging into Topper.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
British comics loved their annual events and celebrated with Christmas, Fireworks, April Fools Day and Easter issues, these gain premium prices compared to regular issues. Summer Specials and Annuals were published separately.
EASTER issues…a wartime propaganda issue from The Beano leads the way…
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Yes, that's right - any excuse to slap a line reading "Easter (or whatever) Special" 😄 on the front. "Zip" and "Knockout" I don't remember, though I may just have overlooked them.
Sir MilesThe Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 30,966Chief of Staff
Same as Barbel - I don’t recall either of those titles as well 🤔
TV COMIC had an excellent run of 33 years and it was Polystyle’s last remaining comic when sales fell below a level of profit, as there was no other comic for it to merge into the title just folded. Along the way two comics that merged were TOM AND JERRY and TARGET.
VALIANT ran for 14 years and absorbed 5 titles including LION and VULCAN. The Lion merger was strange as Lion was outselling Valiant at the time but the publishers decided that the Lion title was a bit “old hat” and wanted to promote the newer title. And the Vulcan title was oddly announced as Valiant joins Vulcan instead of the other way round. Sales didn’t improve and before the end of year Valiant was absorbed by BATTLE.
WARLORD absorbed BULLET before itself merged into stalwart title VICTOR.
WHIZZER AND CHIPS ran for 1092 issues, it’s not many that go into the thousand plus figure. Among the comics merging into it were the relaunched title KNOCKOUT (a strange decision to relaunch a failed title), KRAZY which only lasted 79 issues and WHOOPEE which had lasted a sterling 572 issues but falling sales led the title to absorbed into BUSTER.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
"TV Comic" I read occasionally but the memory stirrer above was "Mytek the Mighty". I read that story from it's start but couldn't have told you which comic it was in - till now!
Always happy to be of help, Barbel 😁 Vulcan was only originally available in Scotland from the first issue in April 1975 before being distributed nationally in September. All stories in those first 28 issues were concluded before the national launch so new readers could jump straight in without wondering what had happened previously. Vulcan only lasted another 28 issues before the merger into Valiant. The reason for the Scottish trial was the new size format similar to American comics, it didn’t take off, hence the merger.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
The Dandy was famous for its comedic strips like Desperate Dan, but it had a fair share of adventure strips too, such as Blitz Boy with excellent artwork by Paddy Brennan.
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Comments
I watched the whole "Power" comics rise and fall in real time. That was my first experience of the comic merger syndrome. I was a bit bewildered at first, watching my favourite titles disappear.
April Fools Day issues…
STOP PRESS: THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH RETURNS SOON
Sparky would never fly these days. In fact, I suggest it drew some criticism back then.
And that's very exciting news!
If only comics were still those prices 😫🤣
Fortunately, Sparky would definitely not see the light of day nowadays. I searched for any information about controversies over the character but couldn’t find any information at all. It seems he was transferred to the back cover at some point before regaining front cover status. The strip was cancelled in 1969 but the character was still used as part of the masthead for some time afterwards. The Sparky comic ran for 12 years from 1965-1977 before merging into Topper.
This contains language and scenes of a graphic nature - please do not read if you are easily offended.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH - Deviation 9 - Beauty and the Beast
To be continued…
It's back! The circles within circles spin again.
This contains language and scenes of a graphic nature - please do not read if you are easily offended.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH - Deviation 9 - Beauty and the Beast - Part 2
To be concluded…
Grim. And scaringly true.
Loving this return 😁
This contains language and scenes of a graphic nature - please do not read if you are easily offended.
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH - Deviation 9 - Beauty and the Beast - Part 3
BONUS ARTICLE
NEWS:
DoT will continue soon with a new story arc.
UNIVERSAL MONSTERS will continue later this year with PHANTOM, Martin Simmonds providing his usual superb paintings.
You mean that story above is "finished"? It's just getting started!
My bad @Barbel I meant to type, DoT will continue soon with this new story arc. Blame late nights watching the FA Cup games!
Looking forward to more 👏🏻
British comics loved their annual events and celebrated with Christmas, Fireworks, April Fools Day and Easter issues, these gain premium prices compared to regular issues. Summer Specials and Annuals were published separately.
EASTER issues…a wartime propaganda issue from The Beano leads the way…
Yes, that's right - any excuse to slap a line reading "Easter (or whatever) Special" 😄 on the front. "Zip" and "Knockout" I don't remember, though I may just have overlooked them.
Same as Barbel - I don’t recall either of those titles as well 🤔
I’ve seen some Knockout issues over the years, but Zip is one title that I’ve never actually had a physical copy of.
The current price of a copy of The Beano is £3.75! Even taking into account inflation the percentage increase on comics past is massive.
60 years ago The Beezer was 5 old pence.
49 years ago 2000 A.D. was 8p, it is now £3.99 - 8p adjusted to today is only 65p!
46 years ago these were only 12p each - but note that this a 50% increase in just 3 years on a similarly themed comic.
The price rise is staggering, perhaps it's to offset the drop in readership?
A final look at comic mergers…
TV COMIC had an excellent run of 33 years and it was Polystyle’s last remaining comic when sales fell below a level of profit, as there was no other comic for it to merge into the title just folded. Along the way two comics that merged were TOM AND JERRY and TARGET.
VALIANT ran for 14 years and absorbed 5 titles including LION and VULCAN. The Lion merger was strange as Lion was outselling Valiant at the time but the publishers decided that the Lion title was a bit “old hat” and wanted to promote the newer title. And the Vulcan title was oddly announced as Valiant joins Vulcan instead of the other way round. Sales didn’t improve and before the end of year Valiant was absorbed by BATTLE.
WARLORD absorbed BULLET before itself merged into stalwart title VICTOR.
WHIZZER AND CHIPS ran for 1092 issues, it’s not many that go into the thousand plus figure. Among the comics merging into it were the relaunched title KNOCKOUT (a strange decision to relaunch a failed title), KRAZY which only lasted 79 issues and WHOOPEE which had lasted a sterling 572 issues but falling sales led the title to absorbed into BUSTER.
"TV Comic" I read occasionally but the memory stirrer above was "Mytek the Mighty". I read that story from it's start but couldn't have told you which comic it was in - till now!
Always happy to be of help, Barbel 😁 Vulcan was only originally available in Scotland from the first issue in April 1975 before being distributed nationally in September. All stories in those first 28 issues were concluded before the national launch so new readers could jump straight in without wondering what had happened previously. Vulcan only lasted another 28 issues before the merger into Valiant. The reason for the Scottish trial was the new size format similar to American comics, it didn’t take off, hence the merger.
The Dandy was famous for its comedic strips like Desperate Dan, but it had a fair share of adventure strips too, such as Blitz Boy with excellent artwork by Paddy Brennan.
That was different. Never seen that one before.
Me too…and I thought I was pretty familiar with The Dandy 😳
It was before your time gents, 1962-1963.
Yes, a shade early for me 😁
I wonder if horror author Guy N Smith ever read this story from the 1958 Dandy annual?
Night of the Crabs was published in 1976.
And this (terrible) film was in 1957