2000AD Prog 204 (1981) Judge Dredd ‘King of the Streets’ cover original artwork drawn and signed by Mike McMahon
Compal Comics have just launched their August/September auction catalogue – and as usual there are some great items on offer, including a terrific “Judge Dredd” 2000AD cover by Mick McMahon, more original art by Frank Bellamy, a Dandy No.1 – and some rare US BATMANIA zines from the early 1960s.
Karl The Viking original artwork (1963) by Don Lawrence for Lion 6 April 1963. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive. Karl and his small Viking band are attacked by killer amphibians …
Heros The Spartan double-page original artwork (1965) painted and signed by Frank Bellamy from The Eagle Vol. 16 No 29, 1965. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive. Heros and his renegade slave army counter a ferocious attack from the Berbers and Abdullah the Cruel until the Berber Chieftain, El Raschid, challenges Heros to a deadly duel…
Fraser of Africa/Eagle original artwork (1960) drawn, painted and signed by Frank Bellamy from The Eagle Vol. 11: No 36. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive. As part of his research, Bellamy had corresponded with a farmer in Kenya who had advised him on the wildlife he depicted and, ever the perfectionist, he used a limited palette of yellows and browns to capture the parched East African landscape. This page is Episode 5 of Bellamy’s first Fraser of Africa story
Film Fun/Terry-Thomas – five original complete story strips for Film Fun, published in the late 1950s, art by Terry Wakefield
This auction showcases a further tranche from the Bob Monkhouse Archive with original artwork boards of “Heros The Spartan“, “Fraser of Africa” and “Garth” by Frank Bellamy, “Karl The Viking” by Don Lawrence and “Our Gang” double page boards by Dudley Watkins from The Dandy No 67, published in 1939.
Garth: 3 original artworks (1971) by Frank Bellamy from the Daily Mirror 1st/8th/25th September 1971. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive. Garth and General Custer lead the 7th Cavalry charge against Sitting Bull. Indian
Our Gang original double-page artwork (1939) by Dudley Watkins from The Dandy No 67, March 11 1939
Buffalo Bill True West Annual No 13 original front and back cover artwork (1961) painted and signed by Denis McLoughlin. Buffalo Bill annuals gained huge popularity in the 1950s. Their covers and interior artwork were designed and painted by Denis Mcloughlin (1918-2002) whilst his brother, Colin, created the characters and wrote most of the stories. Compal are delighted to offer McLoughlin’s original artwork for Annual No 13 from 1961, the last of the series by publishers, Dean & Son. The gouache and collage rendition illustrated here shows the artist at the height of his powers. Enigmatically, McLoughlin used his own facial image for the outnumbered cowboy keeping the Indians at bay on the cover.
The Broons original artwork (1966) drawn and signed by Dudley Watkins for The Sunday Post 3 April 1966. Maw and Maggie canna make it so Granpaw, Paw and the boys have tae go and help Daphne pick oot a new hat – naturally they do a bit o’ modellin’…
Further artworks on offer include a Dandy “Korky The Cat” front cover from 1961, four of Joe Colquhoun’s atmospheric boards of “Charley’s War” introducing writer, Pat Mills’ French Foreign Legionnaire, ‘Blue’.
A highlight is an iconic Judge Dredd cover from 2000AD by Mike McMahon, the Buffalo Bill Annual No 13 front and back covers painted and signed by Denis McLoughlin, a Sexton Blake Library cover artwork by Eric Parker, the Classic X-Men #14 back cover drawn and signed by John Bolton – and two further 2000AD artworks by Bryan Talbot.
Magic Lollipops/Beano original artwork from the late 1940s, drawn and initialled by Allan Morley.. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive
George Formby original artwork in 12 complete story panels by George Wakefield from Film Fun 16 May 1942. George bumps into Colonel Chutney who tramples his box of chocs, then the Colonel tramples his own box, then it starts to rain…
The Fatal Souvenir original cover artwork (1947) by Eric Parker for Sexton Blake Library No 119. With original booklet.
Black Bob: four original 4-panel artworks created in the 1950s by Jack Prout for The Dandy/Black Bob books
Charley’s War: four original artworks by Joe Colquhoun, written by Pat Mills, from Battle-Action 292 (1981) . A complete episode. Charley Bourne discovers a deserter hiding in his house – a French Foreign legionnaire named Blue, who recounts the horror of the front line at Verdun, when a deadly fight breaks out in the house
Birdman and Chicken: 4 original artworks (1977) by Trevor Metcalfe from Krazy Comic (1977). From the Bob Monkhouse Archive
2000AD Annual 1987 original – Judge Dredd ‘Ladies Night’ by Bryan Talbot
“Nemesis the Warlock” original art by Bryan Talbot, published in 2000AD Prog 405 (1985)
Classic X-Men 14 (1987) Original back cover artwork of Princess Lilandra drawn and signed by John Bolton. With John Bolton headed and signed letter of provenance dated 1 December 1967 and Classic X-Men # 14.
Krazy Gang artworks (1978) by Bob Hill from Krazy Comic. From the Bob Monkhouse Archive. Brainy, Sporty, Cheeky, Freaky, Liz, Ed and Blue visit the museum and foil a plot to steal the silver (silver foiled!)
Key comics include The Dandy No.1 with No 1 Flyer, issues 5, 6, 7, 9 and 18, the first April Fool Number, The Beano Nos 4 and 9, Dick Boss in Texas No 2, a copy of Oz Magazine 1, which are very hard to find, Rocket 1-32 (with “Robbie The Robot” from Forbidden Planet) and the complete 303 issue run of Express Weekly / T.V. Express, in seven bound volumes. A first issue of Marvel UK’s Star Wars Weekly, published in 1978, is also on offer, with free X-Wing gift.
Dandy Comic No 1 (1937). With original 4 page flyer for Dandy No 1 and No 2. (A mini comic in its own right).
Dandy No 18 (1938) First April Fool number
Dandy No 295 (1945). The first and only Keyhole Kate cover with Korky relegated to the back page
Star Wars Weekly Issue 1 (1978) – with gift
There are some great lots of British girls comics on offer too, including the first issues of Tina and Princess Tina, both published in 1967 in one lot, and a large number of other fist issues in another; and a first issue of DC Thomson’s much sought after Spellbound No.1, bundled with a first issue of Scream.
Tina 1 (1967) Starring Jane Bond and The Space Girls. With Princess Tina 1 (1967)
British Girls Comics – First Issues
There are war years high grade Magic-Beano books and Dandy Monster Comics, all at No Reserve, the first 24 Lilliput magazines, a run of scarce 6d Polybooks from 1946 with brilliant art-deco covers – and T V Boardman Pocket Readers.
Also on offer are Australian reprints of Batman and Superman with many Space Travellers, Space Captain Valiant and a full range of L. Miller and WDL Cowboys, the pick of which must be the complete 18 issue run of Phantom Ranger with Walt Howarth painted covers.
The US section offers early Pulp titles including Amazing Stories, Captain Future, Famous Fantastic Mysteries, Future Fiction, Planet Stories, Weird Tales and the first 65 issues of Startling Stories from 1935-1950.
The Silver Age highlights early CGC runs of Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Journey into Mystery, Tales of Suspense and Hawkman.
Batmania US fanzine (1964-67) 1-16, 19, 23. Published in 1964 by Bill (Billjo) White in Columbia, Missouri, Batmania was produced for ‘Batmanions’ as the unofficial fanzine for Batman fans. He sent the first issue to DC editor, Julius Schwartz who adopted it and publicised the fanzine in Batman # 16
However, the standout rarity is the 1-16+ run of BATMANIA fanzines from 1964. They were written, illustrated and produced by Billy J White in Columbia, Missouri, and were so detailed and influential at the time that DC editor, Julius Schwartz, publicised the first issue in Batman #169.
• Bidding closes on 1st September 2019. Click here to place bids at The-Saleroom.. You can also browse auction lots here on Compalcomics
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: 2000AD, Art and Illustration, Auctions, British Comics, Comic Art, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, US Comics
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Seems a pity that many of these original artworks could not be found a home in a museum of British comic art….does such a thing exist?
Yes, there’s the Cartoon Museum in London, for example, but not the really large scale museum like those in Europe.
Thanks for the reply, John.
That’s really good to know. Is the reason they don’t purchase (or have donated) works like this because they have no supporting funding (i.e. from the local government)? Not that I am seeking to criticise them (after all, there is nothing by comparison here in Australia), but it seems a pity that some of these masterpieces of British comic art cannot be preserved and displayed for future generations…. Don’t you agree?
The Cartoon Museum is a terrific space in London, well worth visiting, as is Seven Stories – The National Centre for Children’s Books is a museum and visitor centre dedicated to children’s literature and based in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne.
But I really think we also need some bigger, National Museum of Comic Art (just as we have a National Football Museum, in Manchester, whose comics-related exhibitions have proven hugely popular). A lot of comic and cartoon art is, for example, held by individual institutions, but not on display.
I suppose the best example I can think of is probably La Cite Internationale de la Bande Dessinee (The Cartoon Museum) in Angolouleme, which also hosts an annual Festival; and there are great museums in Brussels, too.
Thanks for all this information, John!
When my granddaughter plans to travel with me to London, Paris and New York (when she turns 16!), I am going to INSIST that we detour to inspect these museums!