A Trip down Memory Lane: Forbidden Planet’s 40th Anniversary Photo Archive

By John Freeman on August 21, 2018

Forbidden Planet‘s archive of many signings across 40 years of events at the London store and beyond is proving an absolute delight – but they’d welcome more images from halcyon days if you have them.

Now available on the forbiddenplanet.com web site, the archive features a host of comics and media stars, from Doctor Who actors and comic creators to authors and other media celebrities and I’m sure will remind many downthetubes readers of signings they attended, be it at the original Denmark Street-based shop, old Cafe Munchen or the new Megastore.

Forbidden Planet hosted a signing with fantasy writer Tanith Lee in 1979. The author of over 90 novels and 300 short stories, Tanith was autographing copies of her book The Castle of Dark.

Forbidden Planet hosted a tenth anniversary signing for Doctor Who Magazine back in 1989, which included Sylvester McCoy among the guests. The evening party is memorable for Sylvester pushing Sophie Aldred’s face into the celebration cake…

Forbidden Planet, October 1987 – Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore signing Watchmen

Forbidden Planet’s Nick Landau, Douglas Adams and author Neil Gaiman at a signing in 1987

The publication of the archive follows the release of a slim (but glossy) 16-page, US sized magazine highlighting 40 years of signings at their various stores.

With a Brian Bolland cover, it includes photos of numerous comic creators including Rian Hughes, Mike McMahon, John Wagner, Ron Smith, Dave Gibbons, Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Pete Milligan, Mark Millar, Dan Abnett, Cam Kennedy, Lee Sullivan and Simon Bisley.

• You can view the archive online on forbiddenplanet.com – follow the links – the store welcomes additional photographs!

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.