“Charley’s War” and “Timeslip” art, rare Beanos included in May ComPal British comics auction

Charley's War original artwork by Joe Colquhoun for Battle-Action No 297 Page 3 (1980). Written by Pat Mills The French legionnaires fight a ferocious battle during the German Siege of Fort Vaux in Verdun. Krotowski hides himself in the observation turret above the tunnel, desperately trying to buy water from a German soldier outside but Blue forces his comrade away knowing he'll be shot if the commandant finds out 18 x 15 ins. Black ink on cartridge paper £250-300

“Charley’s War” original artwork by Joe Colquhoun for Battle-Action No 297

The latest ComPal auction run by Comic Book Auctions Ltd is now live offering a wide selection of comic items – both British and US. As usual, our focus is on the British section, which includes some great art offerings – including pages of “Charley’s War”, the amazing World War One story for Battle created by Pat Mills and artists Joe Colquhoun.

Also on offer is a page of Mike Noble’s “Timeslip” for Look-In and a page of “Dan Dare” by Desmond Walduck for Eagle, along with the usual Dudley Watkins gems featuring The Broons and Oor Wullie.

ComPal again has a wide range of comics on offer, from issues of Ally Sloper’s Half Holiday published in 1891 through to issues of 2000AD. If you’ve ever fancied a set of the first two years of the 1960s TV Century 21, or the rare Scottish editions of  Vulcan comic, then now’s your chance, too.

Some highlights this auction are:

The Bonzo Book (1922)

The Bonzo Book being the Third Studdy Dogs portfolio, published in 1922 by The Sketch magazine. Illustrated card covers, ribbon tied with complete 16 colour plates of George Studdy’s cheery, cheeky canine. There are copies of Bonzo annuals on offer, too, as separate lots

A complete year of Adventure (1950) starring the Outlaw Sheriff and Strang The Terrible cover stories by Dudley Watkins• A great selection of Adventure and Hotspur published during World War Two – propaganda war issues of the former starring Solo Solomon, Goering on the run, Strang the Terrible by Dudley Watkins and the U-Boat Invaders, and issues of the latter with Hitler/ Swastika/ Gestapo covers starring the “Reckless Men of ‘Q’ Squadron”, “Terror Strikes on Blackout Night”, “School of the Gestapo” and “The Red Circle”

Beano Issue Two

• A huge range of individual issues of both The Beano and The Dandy, including Beano Issue 2 – of which less than eight copies are known to exists, so it’s no surprise the opening bids are expected to be around the £600 mark.

Dandy Issue 6The “Korky the Cat” silent strips on the front of these early Dandy issues by James Crighton are just great fun. Many of the issues of these comics offered are Word War Two issues and very rare, because comics were recycled for the war effort.

Big Eggo and Koko win three-legged race on the cover of this 1943 Magic-Beano Book from the Brenda Butler archive.

Big Eggo and Koko win three-legged race on the cover of this 1943 Magic-Beano Book from the Brenda Butler archive.

There are number of Magic-Beano and Dandy Monster Comic books in this auction too, the former featuring Magic’s key characters Koko, Peter Piper, The Tickler Twins and Sooty Snowball who disappeared from news stands when the comic folded after 80 issues (Peter Piper was later revived by DC Thomson as a character for the 1960s/70s title, Sparky). The 1943 annual, featuring the propaganda back cover with Tootsy McTurk’s ‘V’ for Victory sign in Morse code, is expected to sell for over £2000

Radio Fun Issue 6 (1938)• A copy of Radio Fun Issue 6 published in 1938, the “Radio Fun Music Hall” double page signed by artist, George Parlett

Ace Comic, Fawcett's Funny Animals, Funny Animals American Comic Annual, Flash 1, 3, Pioneer Western Comic 2, Sergeant Pat of Radio Patrol, Wonder-Story Comic, Shots From The Films and Film Shots (The Jolson Story and Easter Parade) and The Pocket Comic

Ace Comic, Fawcett’s Funny Animals, Funny Animals American Comic Annual, Flash 1, 3, Pioneer Western Comic 2, Sergeant Pat of Radio Patrol, Wonder-Story Comic, Shots From The Films and Film Shots (The Jolson Story and Easter Parade) and The Pocket Comic

• A selection of UK Small Press, mostly from the 1940s, including titles such as Ace Comic, Fawcett’s Funny Animals and more, along with a smattering of 1940s Threepence Comics such as Merry Maker and Rocket Comic, published by the L Burns and Hotspur Publishing Company

Rupert Book (1944)

Rupert Book (1944)

The Broons original artwork (1958) drawn and signed by Dudley Watkins for The Sunday Post 8 June 1958 The Broons go to the record shop to have a record made of their own voices. Daphne sings Love's Old Sweet Song, Maggie Rocks, Horace reads poetry. Joe shouts fitba’ chants, Paw Belongs to Dear Auld Glasgow Toon but Maw disnae want to play anythin' til the morn...! [Illustrated in Broons Book 1964, lot following] One inch repaired tear to top margin Indian ink on cream card. 18 x 15 ins £450-500The Broons original artwork (1958) drawn and signed by Dudley Watkins for The Sunday Post (8th June 1958)

Oor Wullie original artwork (1959) drawn and signed by Dudley Watkins for The Sunday Post 27 Sept 1959 Oor Wullie checks his diary to get revenge on Soapy Soutar, Fat Bob and the Mulligan's bulldog, but Jings, Big Jessie's got a diary too…! Indian ink on cream card. 18 x 15 ins £450-500Oor Wullie original artwork (1959) drawn and signed by Dudley Watkins for The Sunday Post (27th September 1959)

Oor Wullie checks his diary to get revenge on Soapy Soutar, Fat Bob and the Mulligan’s bulldog, but Jings, Big Jessie’s got a diary too…!

Buck Jones original cover artwork (probably) by Georgio di Gaspari (late 1950s) Our research has been unable to locate a Picture Library cover featuring this artwork Gouache on backed card. 11¾ x 10¾ ins £250-300Buck Jones original cover artwork, probably by Georgio di Gaspari in the late 1950s. For once, the ComPal team’s research has been unable to locate a Picture Library cover featuring this artwork so this could be something of a rarity

Colonel Dare must challenge The Mekon to save Groupie and Flamer - The Prisoners of Space This artwork was configured for a centre page re-issue in The Eagle (1967) Vol. 18 No 9 There is some colour fade. Watercolour on board. 20 x 16 ins £300-350Dan Dare ”Prisoners of Space” original artwork by Desmond Walduck for the Eagle Volume 5 No 29, published in 1954. Colonel Dare must challenge The Mekon to save Groupie and Flamer. This artwork, which is a bit faded, was configured for a centre page re-issue in Eagle Volume 18 No 9, published in 1967. Still, at least it wasn’t used as a cutting mat…

The Happy Warrior (1958)
The life story of Winston Churchill illustrated by Frank Bellamy

• Various issues of Super-Detective Library published in the 1950s, along with copies of Thriller Comics Library

Tiger Issue 1 with GiftTiger Issue One with free gifts, published in 1952 and featuring the first appearance of “Roy of the Rovers”. The Space Gun and five press-out Flying Saucers on card and illustrated bag will take some downthetubes readers straight back to the alien invasion mad 1950s. The issue also features strips such as “Bulldog Bryant” and “The Speedster from Blackmoor”

• Various Buster books from the 1960s, including the very first and the Buster Book of Thrills, published in 1962

20: Hell's Angels by Andrew Fisher, Jimmy Page interview by Felix Dennis. 21: with Berkeley Campus 'Outcry' poster. Keep on Truckin' strips by Robert Crumb, Marsha Hunt by David Bailey. 25: Elvis/Sun Records montage game, Beatles 'Come Together', Stones 'Let It Bleed'. 26: Pussy Power issue, Robert Crumb Cartoons, A Sane Revolution by D.H. Lawrence• More copies of Oz Magazine, including Issue 16 featuring a Magic Theatre cover by Martin Sharp and a Justice League of America parody; Issue 20, which includes “Keep on Truckin’” strips by Robert Crumb; Issue 31, featuring a Gilbert Shelton four-age war/space parody comic strip and a Brian Bolland graphic comic strip from Mick Jagger’s film, Performance; Issue 40, a 64 page special with Mickey Mouse covers; and Issue 48 with a Superman/Van Gogh parody and a feature on the Rocky Horror Show

TV Century 21 - Various Issues (from Issues 10 - 20 range)• Copies of TV Century 21, including Issue 1 – 5 as separate lots introducing Fireball XL5, Stingray, Supercar, Lady Penelope and “The Daleks”; plus TV Century 21 Stingray Special (1965) , the TV21 Summer Extra (1966) and the first TV Century 21 Annual (also published in 1966)

Buzz, Action and Bullet Number Ones• A peculiar “first issue” offering of Action 1 (1976), Bullet 1 (1976, with Secret-Sign Ring free gift) and Buzz 1 (1973)

Liz and Simon defeat the black-helmeted aliens and are worshipped by the peaceful cavemen. Then suddenly …THOOOMMM! Mike Noble drew the Lone Ranger in Express weekly in the 1950s before his stunning full colour artwork exploded onto the pages of TV Century 21 with Fireball XL5, Zero X and Captain Scarlet. He also illustrated Star Trek for TV 21 and many strips for Look-in. Mike came out of retirement in the 1990s to illustrate a selection of Thunderbirds posters for Fleetway Gouache on board. 18 x 14 ins £180-230• “Timeslip” original colour artwork by Mike Noble for Look-in Number 5 page 17 (February 6 1971)

Liz and Simon defeat the black-helmeted aliens and are worshipped by the peaceful cavemen. Then suddenly …THOOOMMM!

Mike Noble drew the “Lone Ranger” in Express Weekly in the 1950s before his stunning full colour artwork exploded onto the pages of TV Century 21 with “Fireball XL5”, “Zero X” and “Captain Scarlet”. He also illustrated “Star Trek” for TV 21 and many strips for Look-in. Mike came out of retirement in the 1990s to illustrate a selection of Thunderbirds posters for Fleetway – and recently collaborated with Lee Sullivan on some box art for the new Captain Scarlet collector figure

Vulcan Scottish EditionsVulcan Scottish editions (1975) Issues 1-30

A complete run starring The Steel Claw by Jesus Blasco, Trigan Empire by Don Lawrence, The Spider by Reg Bunn and Robot Archie by Bert Buss. These Scottish editions are notoriously difficult to find and this complete set is rare. A set of the regular editions is also offered, along with a 1977 Vulcan Annual featuring a cover and 16 page Trigan Empire story in colour by Don Lawrence

• “Charley’s War” original artwork by Joe Colquhoun for Battle-Action No 297 Page 3 (published in 1980)

Written by Pat Mills, the page finds French legionnaires fighting a ferocious battle during the German Siege of Fort Vaux in Verdun. Krotowski hides himself in the observation turret above the tunnel, desperately trying to buy water from a German soldier outside but Blue forces his comrade away knowing he’ll be shot if the commandant finds out…

Based on an anthology of soldiers’ letters during World War One, Charley Bourne was conceived by writer Pat Mills and based on fact. Blue’s heroic exploits at Verdun are brilliantly illustrated by Joe Colquhoun who also began “Johnny Red” for Battle in 1976 and drew “Paddy Payne” for the cover of Lion and “Space Family Robinson” for Jag. (Check out our “Charley’s War” section here)

Charley's War original artwork by Joe Colquhoun from Battle-Action 321 (June 27 1981). Written by Pat Mills It's April 1917. During the battle of Ypres Charley witnesses Captain Snell killing a wounded German soldier in no-man's land during an unofficial truce. The Germans respond with withering fire power whilst Snell metes out 'justice' to his own command 2½ page complete episode artworks (18 x 15" x 2, 9 x 15" x 1) With original Battle-Action front page colour layout and acetate overlayCharley’s War original artwork by Joe Colquhoun from Battle-Action 321 (June 27 1981). Written by Pat Mills

It’s April 1917. During the battle of Ypres Charley witnesses Captain Snell killing a wounded German soldier in no-man’s land during an unofficial truce. The Germans respond with withering fire power whilst Snell metes out ‘justice’ to his own command

The auction’s US section showcases 1950s Astonishing and Ghost Rider titles with long runs of Amazing Spider-Man, Conan, Daredevil and X-Men. A run of Detective Comics also straddles the 1960s.

Later highlights include the rare variant copy of Mission: Impossible #1 signed by Tom Cruise and the first print first issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from 1984 which is signed by creator Kevin Eastman. Cowabunga!

• The catalogue is open for bidding at the-saleroom.com. Please check How To Bid for all the info you need to bid online and how the Timed Auction works. All postal and fax bids need to be submitted by Friday 26th May 2017. The auction closes on Sunday 28th May at 2.00pm UK time



Categories: 2000AD, Auctions, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Discover more from downthetubes.net

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading