Gerry Anderson comic expert Fred McNamara reports he has recently acquired fifteen Supermarionation-related scripts for various annuals and other publications from the archive of freelance comics writer, David Motton.
Unearthed are numerous scripts for stories that David wrote for a variety of Gerry Anderson annuals from the mid 1960s – four “Fireball XL5” scripts, two “Stingray” scripts, and nine “Thunderbirds” stories.
The script haul apparently includes a “Stingray” story and a “Thunderbirds” story that never made it to publication. Wouldn’t it be great to see them illustrated today?
David’s family are currently in the process of selling many of his scripts from his time writing for a variety of titles, including Eagle (writing “Dan Dare”, and more), Commando, “Jet Ace Logan” for Lion, DC Thomson humour titles, “Space Patrol” for TV Comic, stories for Fleetway’s various Picture Libraries, and more.
David’s script for Super Detective Picture Library No. 1771, a John Steel story, is currently included in the latest Phil-Comics auction of British comics on eBay, alongside his script for Air Ace Picture Library No. 148, and a “Desperate Dan” tale for The Dandy, written in the 1980s.
David’s “Space Patrol” scripts have also secured a good home, with comics archivist Shaqui le Vesconte, and his “Doctor Who” scripts for TV Comic have also been sold.
His “Dan Dare” scripts have now been logged and are seeking a home: and it looks as though there may be Lost Stories among those tales, too.
You can read Fred’s full account of the Gerry Anderson find here on his Sequential 21 blog…
If you’re a fan of the original Dan Dare of Eagle fame, you’ll know that in the 1950s he wasn’t the only British space hero on the news stands. Others included “Jeff Hawke” in the Daily Express, Captain Condor, appearing in Lion, and Jet-Ace Logan in The Comet.
It’s the latter space hero who’s the focus of Fleetway Comics Archives: Complete Comet Jet-Ace Logan, published by Book Palace Books in 2023 as a massive 376 page hardback Limited Edition, copies still available, featuring fast-paced SF adventure largely written by David Motton, among others, drawn by John Gillatt and Geoff Campion.
• Motton’s Memories: An Interview with one of Dan Dare’s early writers
Published in 2011 on donwthetubes
• Fleetway Comics Archives: Complete Comet Jet-Ace Logan (Limited Edition) is available to order here
Writers: Mike Butterworth, David Motton
Artists: Geoff Campion, John Gillat
Publisher: Book Palace Books, October 2023
Number of pages: 376
Format: Hard Cover; Black & White illustrations
Size: 9″ x 11″ (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548469
• Check out the Latest Phil-Comics Auction on eBay
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
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.
Categories: Auctions, British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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