If it’s rare British comic free gifts you’re after, then the latest Phil-comics auction on eBay will be right up your street. There are several items up for bidding, from titles such as Buster, the girls comic Emma and the story paper, Wizard.
One item that caught our eye – a giveaway that would probably fail a number of advertising regulations today – is a packet of “Death Rattler Eggs“, given away with Buster, cover dated 25th May 1985 which have, of course, nothing to do with snakes, as promoted. Inside, the way to set up your “death rattler” as a practical joke hidden in an envelope is explained with a handy graphic – but I’m sure there were some Buster readers who were disappointed that the potential equivalent of American comics “Sea Monkeys” was not all it was cracked up to be.
As George Shiers relates over on his Wacky Comics blog, some might also have been dismayed by the replacement of Reg Parlett on the “Buster” strip by Tom Paterson in this celebratory issue. Despite Tom’s amazing and undisputed talent as an artist, some – including, George notes, Buster‘s editor, Bob Paynter – considered the change in styles too jarring.
Many will also have been disappointed, too, that new adventures of “The Leopard of Lime Street” were no longer part of the comic, a mainstay of the title since 1976. The strip came to an end the previous issue (although reprints featured in Buster in the 1990s, and we can buy collections from Rebellion today), as did the “School Friend” supplement.
Even stranger, perhaps, is the lack of much celebration of Buster‘s 25th birthday, aside the “Buster” strip; and a dubious filler of a centre page spread comparing the lifestyles, likes and dislikes of kids in 1960 with 1985, the result of a clearly popular survey run by the comic earlier that year. It has to be said he Buster line-up itself looks very tired, too, in comparison with at point, the still-to-come Oink!, which launched a year later, its history detailed by Phil Boyce over on his indispensable blog about that title.
Run by Phil Shrimpton, the award-winning Phil-Comics specialises in vintage comics and related items such as annuals, holiday specials, free gifts and original artwork.
Check out the current full catalogue here on eBay – bidding starts to close on Sunday 13th April 2025. Here are some other highlights…
• Check out the current full catalogue here on eBay – bidding starts to close on Sunday 13th April 2025
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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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds
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