Rebellion have just released a fantastic collection of “Robot Archie” adventures, reprinting several stories from his time travelling days with companions Ted Ritchie and Ken Dale. Despite being a top notch, well presented selection of stories, unfortunately, the collection has incorrectly credited artist Ted Kearon as co-creator of Britain’s much-loved mechanical marvel.
Don’t let this put you off from buying it, though – the collection is, otherwise, fantastic!
As comic archivist Lew Stringer recently reminded us, “Robot Archie” was one of the original stars of Lion comic when it launched in 1952. The name of the strip back then was “The Jungle Robot”, but Archie was still the name of the robot, and Ted Ritchie and Ken Dale were the co-stars from the outset.
“Robot Archie” was co-created by writer E. George Cowan – credited in the comic – and drawn by Alan Philpott, aka F.A. Philpott, who later drew “The Deathless Men” for DC Thomson’s Hornet, and “Tough of the Track”, for Victor.
Initially intended as a one-shot adventure serial, the Lambiek profile for Philpott notes he and Cowan moved on to other serials, Alan drawing “Rebels of Ancient Rome”, for Lion, as well as drawing strips for Super Detective Library and Cowboy Comics Library titles.
Cowan revived “Robot Archie” in 1957 in “Archie – The Robot Explorer”, perhaps a reflection of interest in robots spurred not only by longtime interest in mechanical men by Lion’s readership and SF in general, but their popularity in other comics, and at the cinema then. (Forbidden Planet, for example, springs immediately to mind).
The mechanical marvel became a fixture in the weekly comic’s pages, initially drawn by A. Forbes, followed by the redoubtable Ted Kearon, the artist most associated with the strip’s enduring success and legacy.
Reprinted abroad in several countries, including France and India, Bert Bus continued the robot’s saga in the Netherlands, redrawing and updating some strips for Sjors, some of those adventures reprinted in the UK in the 1970s reprint anthology, VULCAN. Bus drew the cutaway of Robot Archie featured on the cover of the new Treasury of British Comics webshop, which we highlighted recently.
It’s unfortunate Philpott’s co-creation of the strip has been missed in the new collection, but that shouldn’t put you off checking it out. With three full length stories and two short strips included, the superb SF tale, “Robot Archie and the Superons”, set in a devastated future London among them, it’s still a worthy addition to the bookshelf of vintage British comic fans!
• Order your copy of the regular edition of Robot Archie and the Time Machine now (AmazonUK Affiliate Link) |ISBN 978-1837861699
• Order the Treasury of British Comics webshop exclusive hardback edition here
Further Reading…
• On downthetubes: Cutaway Magic with Robot Archie!
• On downthetubes: Robot Archie’s Dutch Adventures as “Der Man van Staal”
• Lambiek Profile: Alan Philpott
• Bear Alley: Little Known Artists – A. Forbes
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.
Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Comics, downthetubes News, Features, Reviews
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