Jane Bond art sought for new collection

By John Freeman on October 14, 2022

Comic artist David Roach has asked for help in a quest to find more art by Mike Hubbard creator for the classic girls comic strip, “Jane Bond”, which ran in Tina and Princess Tina between 1967 and 1970.

As we previously reported, Rebellion is preparing to publish The Best of Jane Bond next April through their Treasury of British Comics imprint, in part utilising art from David’s collection.

With lavish art of Mike Hubbard, the artist of iconic Daily Mirror strip “Jane”, “Jane Bond” is a campy espionage adventure that ran in Tina and Princess Tina between February 1967 and 1970, and later appeared in the 1979 Tammy annual. The strip was also reprinted aboard.

In The Best of Jane Bond, we’re introduced to the Secret Agent, the finest spy on Worldpol’s roster. Armed with her wits, her fists, and an array of futuristic tech, she is our last line of defense against a international criminal underworld.

*A gorgeous Jane Bond painting by Mike Hubbard from the 1969 Princess Annual. Via artist David Roach*

From fighting a school of super villainesses, to foiling plans to melt to Artic ice caps, to escaping the clutches of a giant mechanical lobster, there’s no shortage of dangerous missions Jane must undertake for Queen and Country!

No specific connection between James Bond and Jane, an agent of “World Pol”, was ever made, but the inference was clear, right down to her use of clever gadgets to sometimes get her out of a jam.

It’s hoped comic art collectors may have other original pages from the strip, and can help make this upcoming collection the best possible, introducing the female secret agent to a whole new audience. So if you can help, please drop us a line and we’ll pass on your information to David.

One artist David Roach’s favourite pages from his collection – Mike Hubbard drawing “Jane Bond”, the page published in Tina #3. “At times in the series Hubbard does seem to think he was drawing an earlier strip called ‘Jane’, David notes, “as you can see here!”

*More Jane Bond artwork by Mike Hubbard – this time from* Tina No. 30, the last issue before it merged with Princess to become Princess Tina. But where is the top tier of this page… Does anyone out there own the other half of the page?

Hailing from Ireland, Mike Hubbard (2nd April 1902 – 25th June 1976), artist on Jane Bond, started out in the 1930s as a British pulp illustrator, on detective titles like Union Jack. After World War Two, between 1945 and 1959, he drew the newspaper strip “Jane” for the Daily Mirror; followed by and enormous number of strips for Fleetway’s girls comics – “always with an emphasis on pretty girls,” David noted. “I love his work.”

His credits also include “Allan Quartermain”, forRanger and the science fantasy story “Pals” for The Bumper Story Book for Boys.

The Jane Bond collection will follow hot on the heels of the release of A Very British Affair: The Best of Classic Romance Comics by David Roach in February 2023.

Curated by the Eisner-nominated historian and artist, A Very British Affair charts the stratospheric rise of romance comics in postwar Britain with a selection of the greatest romance comics ever printed in the UK. Featuring an eclectic mix of artists from Spain, Italy, and the UK, this collection unearths the sensual art and emotional writing which delighted generations of comics readers.

Featuring over 50 comics stories – many of which have never been reprinted before – this lavish book is a stunning tribute to the often uncredited creators who crafted an industry of love. Roach shines a spotlight on the Spanish and Italian artists who dominated romance, as well as the genre’s forgotten female contributors, like Jenny Butterworth, Pat Tourett and Diane Gabbott. Featuring art by comics icons like Shirley Bellwood (Misty), Jordi Bardia Romero (Axa), Mike Hubbard (Jane), Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd), John M. Burns (James Bond), Trini Tinture (A Spell of Trouble) Jesus Redondo (Kitty Pryde, Nemesis the Warlock) and Ian Gibson (The Ballad of Halo Jones), this is the ultimate celebration of love, loss and lust in postwar Britain.

• Pre-order The Best of Jane Bond here from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

• “Jane Bond” art on the Illustration Art Gallery

• “Jane Bond” art on ComicArtFans

• Mike Hubbard: Lambiek

The Best of Jane Bond
by Mike Hubbard
Out: 13th April 2023 | Read our news story
196 Pages
ISBN: 978-1786188021

A Very British Affair: The Best of Classic Romance Comics
by David Roach, Shirley Bellwood, et al.
Out: 2nd February 2023 | Read our news story
Hardcover | 224 Pages
ISBN: 978-1786187710

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.