The latest Compal comics auction is under way, again offering a huge range of fantastic British and American comics goodies – and some amazing art, too, including “Heros the Spartan” and “Thunderbirds” by Frank Bellamy, Doctor Who art by John Ridgway, and some superb art by Ron Turner, too.
In most instances, unless presented as slide show, click the images below for a larger image
Classic comic on offer stretch as far back as 1890, with Comic Cuts Nos 2, 3 and a Double Grand Christmas Number. From the 1930s, there’s a complete (Issues 1 – 20) run of Scoops in the catalogue, Britain’s first science fiction weekly, in a bound volume; plus School-Days, Film Fun, Dynamic Thrills and Jungle No 1, from the 1940s.
Original 1930s artwork: Billy Bunter signed by C.H. Chapman. (‘Yorick’), plus “8 x 10 ins ”Cat and Dog” art by the legendary Roy Wilson, along with “Overipe Fruit Pa!”
Above: Scoops (1934) 1-20 complete run of the UK’s first science fiction weekly. Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Poison Belt story in issues 14-18
The 1950s heralds complete years of The Beano and The Dandy, a copy of the first issue of The Beezer, plus Super-Detective Library, starring Rick Random – Space Detective – along with three original artworks by Ron Turner, best known, perhaps, for his work on TV Century 21’s “The Daleks”, but whose career included a huge range of works, for books, comics and magazines.
Beano (1951) 442-493 near complete year (missing No 472) and including No 452 First Dennis The Menace [fn] with Easter Fun Number and Bumper Sports Number (both with single panel front covers). Nos 460, 477 and 493 have 1 inside top margin of cover cut away (not affecting masthead printing
Above: Beezer 1 (1956) Introducing Ginger by Dudley Watkins, Pop, Dick and Harry, Mick On The Moon and The Banana Bunch by Leo Baxendale
Rick Random original artwork (1957) by Ron Turner for Super Detective Library No 101, “The Riddle of the Vanishing People” Page 36 – Pen and ink on card 14 x 10 ins
A recreation of “The Wall’ cover artwork by Ron Turner for Milestone Publications Book of the same name first published in 1953, featured in the newly-published “The Fantastic Art of Ron Turner” by John Lawrence. Poster colour on board. 21 x 14″ (including border). From the estate of John Lawrence
Recreation of the cover of Hardboiled # 31 by Ron Turner for Gryphon Books, New York (2004), featured in “The Fantastic Art of Ron Turner” by John Lawrence. Poster colour on board. 17 x 12″ (including border). From the Estate of John Lawrence
Tiger No 1 is on offer, too, complete With Free Gift, a Space Gun and mini Tiger No 1 giveaway, as is a “Dan Dare” cover artwork for EAGLE by Frank Hampson and Don Harley, a page from “Reign of the Robots”, in which the evil Mekon has conquered Earth with his Elektrobot army.
Eagle/Dan Dare original cover artwork drawn by Frank Hampson (1957) for The Eagle Volume 8 No 1 Page 1. “The Mekon – fiendish master-mind of Venus, has escaped from prison and, during Dan’s absence, has conquered Earth with his Elektrobot army. Determined to break Dan’s spirit, The Mekon takes his prisoners on a tour of Earth to show them what life is like under the rule of the Treens!” Bright, fresh gouache colours on board. 16 x 13 ins. Red Eagle logo and two rectangular text boxes in upper panel are laser copy additions to complete the look of the artwork
Above: Tiger No 1 (1954) With Free Gift Space Gun (lacking the 6 Flying Saucer bullets). Including The Tiger Album of Football Club Badges (24th September 1960), Tiger Album of Modern Sports Cars of the World (1962) (8 of the 16 colour phots attached). Plus the Tiger No 1 mini giveaway free gift (cover dated 22nd September 1979)
The Saint Detective Cases No. 1 (Avon 1950s 1/- Edition) Jensen Book Co.
There’s bound to be some fierce bidding on the first 50 Commando war comics on offer in this auction from the 1960s, some in exceptionally high grades, with an early board of “Heros the Spartan” for Eagle, painted and signed by Frank Bellamy on sale, too.
Heros the Spartan double page original artwork (1962) drawn and signed by Frank Bellamy for The Eagle Vol. 13. No 44 1962. “Caesar had promoted the young Spartan to a higher rank, and to test Heros’s worthiness, Caesar ordered him to take 100 men and conquer the mysterious Island of Darkness…” Bright Pelikan inks on board. 28 x 19 ins. The ‘Heros’ title lettering and rectangular text boxes are laser copy additions to complete the look of the artwork
Romance, adventure and pop titles include strong runs of Marty, Mirabelle, Princess, Romeo, Valentine and Solo, with all its 31 issues. The highest grade ever offered of TV Century 21 No. 1 is also on offer, with its free gift Secret Agent Identicode card, unwritten and pristine.
Above: Girls comics aplenty on offer, including first issues of Cherie and Diana, Misty No. 1 With Free Gift, and a near complete run of EAGLE stablemate GIRL for 1951
Above: TV Century 21 No 1 (1965) With Free Gift – Secret Agent Identicode Card (without written name or address!). Featuring Stingray, The Daleks, Fireball XL5, Supercar, My Favourite Martian and Burke’s Law. The highest graded first issue ever to be offered for auction by Compal, Identicode as new
Above: Other TV 21 gems in this auction include free gifts, and a TV Century 21 Metal Special Agent Badge with original TV 21 letter from ’21’ secret agent. (You sent a postal order for 1/- with TV Century 21 No 2 coupon to get the badge in 1965). The letter is rare, badge as new
But the highlight of the1960s has to be some 1966 “Thunderbirds” original artwork drawn, painted and signed by Frank Bellamy, created in Pelikan inks.
Thunderbirds original double-page artwork (1966) drawn, painted and signed by Frank Bellamy for TV Century 21 No 88, 1966. ‘The World President has given the order to hand over the bomb so International Rescue can destroy a piece of the Sun which threatens to destroy the Earth – Project Sunburst precariously moves into action…’ Bright, fresh Pelikan inks on board. 26 x 17 ins.
Other art in the auction includes “Badges of the Brave“, from Lion, by Joe Colquhoun, and a framed Larry cartoon, “Rodin’s Plumber, plus Andy Pandy art by Norman Satchel, and Teddy Tail artwork by Roland Davies, alongside a Terry-Thomas panel original artwork from Film Fun, cover dated 27th July 1957 by A. T. (Bertie) Brown; and, by way of complete contrast, a “2000AD monster“, illustrated by the late Garry Leach!
“Badges of the Brave” art by Joe Colquhoun for Lion, for the issues cover dated 4th and 25th April 1964, charting the wartime history of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers being awarded the first V.C.s of World War One at the Battle of Mons. Plus “The Dukes”, named after the Duke of Wellington, defeating the tyrant Tippoo Sultan at Seringapatam in 1799 to Burma and Dunkirk in World War Two and a V.C. for Private Burton at Monte Ceco in Italy
“Rodin’s Vet” original cartoon artwork drawn and signed by Larry (1980s)
Above: Andy Pandy Playtime book, plus original colour artworks (1950s) by Norman Satchel for pages 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10 of the same book
Teddy Tail original colour artwork by Roland Davies (1950s) watercolour on board 14 x 10 ins, with Terry-Thomas panel original artwork from Film Fun cover dated 27th July 1957 by A. T. (Bertie) Brown. Indian ink and blue crayon on card 7 x 6 ins
2000AD Monster, original artwork (1980s) drawn and signed by Garry Leach. Pen and ink on card. 14 x 6½ ins
The 1970s to 1980s promote a selection of first issues with their free gifts, including the first three issues of Monster Fun; and “Charley’s War” artwork from Battle Picture Weekly by Joe Colquhoun with “Doctor Who” by John Ridgway.
Battle (1975) 1, 2, 3 all with their free gifts, Warlord (1974-75) 1, 51, 69 all with free gifts, and Smash! 27 Sept 1969, gift as new
Above: Offered across three separate lots, “Charley’s War” original artwork by Joe Colquhoun for Battle-Action No. 306, 307 and 308…
Doctor Who/Colin Baker original artwork (1985) drawn and signed by John Ridgway and the cast members including Leela (Louise Jameson) and Jeremy Bulloch (who went on to play Boba Fett in Star Wars), Tim Quinn and Dicky Howett, comic strip artists and writers on Doctor Who Magazine. Pen and ink on board. 17 x 12 ins
Doctor Who original artwork of Frobisher, a shape-shifting Whifferdil detective from the planet Zenon, alongside C.Y.R.I.L. a robot droid who first appeared in Star Wars Weekly, initially drawn by Steve Parkhouse, then John Ridgway, but featured in his own strip in Return of the Jedi. Both characters featured in the Doctor Who comic stories such as “Once Upon a Time-Lord”. Art drawn and signed by John Ridgway (1985). Pen and ink on board. 11 x 8 ins
There’s no slouching from ComPal in the US section of this auction, either, with some fine examples of bot cents and pence copies of key comics, and some strangely titled ones, too!
Plenty of item to savour – and we’re just scratching the surface of what’s on offer in this post!
Postal bids need to be with ComPal by Friday 29th August and they will enter them on your behalf in thesaleroom.com/Comic Book Auctions website closing on Sunday 31st August 2025 from 2.00 pm
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.