Compal Comics offers more Bob Monkhouse British comic art gems, Amazing Spider-Man #1

By John Freeman on February 13, 2020

The latest Compal Comics auction has gone live, and their February – March 2020 offering not only includes some great classic comics, including early issues of Beano and Dandy, as well as a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #1, but plenty of great art too, by creators such as Frank Bellamy, Joe Colquhoun and Dudley Watkins.

This auction highlights a scarce collection of 1939 Magic comic, the third comics title produced by DC Thomson after The Dandy and Beano. Offered are issues 1 – 5, along with the scarce Magic No 1 promotional flyer, an eight-page mini-comic in its own right) and a rare piece of Chick Gordon’s artwork from Magic No 2.

Magic Comic (1939) 1-5, with Magic comic promotional flyer for No 1 (an eight-page mini comic in its own right) and “Little Squirty” original artwork by Chick Gordon for Magic No 2. Introducing “Koko the Pup” by E.H. Banger and “Peter Piper” by Dudley Watkins

“This is an unrivalled opportunity to get these first five issues in one fell swoop,” suggests Compal’s Malcolm Phillips.

The Dandy 8 and 9 and Beano early issues between 6 and 20 are also in the auction, along with an artwork by Bill Creighton for a Dandy front cover starring Korky and a box of cigars.

The Dandy/Korky the Cat original front cover artwork (1961) drawn and painted by Bill Creighton for The Dandy No 1015, cover dated 6th May 1961, with original front cover printer’s proof signed by Dandy editor

Artwork in this auction includes two magnificent consecutive boards of TV Century 21’s “Thunderbirds” and two sets of Garth from the Daily Mirror, all by Frank Bellamy. Further original boards include Jane by Norman Pett, “Charley’s War” depicting the horrors of the Somme by Joe Colquhoun, “Dan Dare” by Frank Hampson from Eagle, and “Oor Wullie” by Dudley Watkins, both from the Bob Monkhouse archive, Don Lawrence’s “The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire”, 1940s Sexton Blake Library covers by Eric Parker and a “Doc Holliday” double page board by Denis McLoughlin from Buffalo Bill Annual No 8 from 1956.

Two consecutive original artworks drawn, painted and signed (on the first board) by Frank Bellamy for TV21 Nos 162 and 163

Garth: The Mask of Atacama: – three original artworks (1973) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy from the Daily Mirror 18th July, 16th/23rd August 1973

Garth: The Beast of Ultor: three original artworks (1974) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy from the Daily Mirror 11 March, 14th/26th April 1974

Jane original artwork strip, “The Torso Concert Party” drawn and signed by Norman Pett for the Daily Mirror, 5th August 1939

Dan Dare original artwork (1956) drawn and painted by Frank Hampson for The Eagle Volume 7: No 26, from the Bob Monkhouse Archive

Bluebird original front cover artwork from Ranger No 2 painted and signed by James E McConnell (19650, with Ranger No 2 and free gift Donald Campbell’s Book of Record Breakers

Also featured are L. Miller’s scarce Captain Marvel Christmas issue, photogravure ‘pilot’ issues of Captain Midnight, Don Winslow and Nyoka, Eagle No 1, Cyclops 1-4, the controversial Nasty Tales 1-7, including the trail issue, Kit Carson 1 and 2, Superman Australian reprints and the first 100 Roy Rogers comics from WDL. Not forgetting a complete year of Ally Sloper’s Half-Holiday from 1893, and a bound volume of the first thirteen Picture Post magazines from 1938.

L Miller photogravure pilot issues (1946-51)
– Captain Midnight 10-13, Don Winslow, Golden Arrow 6, Ibis 5 and Nyoka

The US section offers early pulps Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, Future, Science Fiction and Unknown with Golden Age Superman, Boy Commandos, Detective Comics, Jungle, Star-Spangled Comics and Durango Kid #1-16, all with Frank Frazetta’s “Dan Brand and Tipi” strips.

The Silver Age selection includes Amazing Spider-Man #1, AS-M #60 in CGC 9.6, Avengers #1, The Incredible Hulk #1, a run of Fantastic Four mid/high grade CGC issues with further runs of Atom, Detective, Green Lantern, House of Mystery and Secrets (including #92), Tales of the Unexpected, Witching Hour and a scarce collection of US fanzines including Batmania, FOOM and Spa-Fon.

• Click here to place bids on this auction at The-Saleroom. Bidding closes on Sunday 1st March 2020. You can also browse auction lots here: Click to browse lots at Compalcomics

John Freeman

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.