Book Palace Books have revised the release dates of six more terrific-looking limited edition “Fleetway Picture Library Classics” comic collections, joining other books in the range published under licence from Rebellion.
Rebellion continues its growing range of brilliant collections of key characters from its huge comics archive, with new The Spider and The Steel Claw teased for 2021 in the new SMASH! Special (on sale now), the final cover of the latter expected to be drawn by Brian Bolland.
The Book Palace “Fleetway Picture Library Classics” range, which already for example offers Jet-Ace Logan and Larrigan collections, highlights lesser-known stories and characters first published in Fleetway’s pocket library titles in the 1950s and 60s, who may have less universal appeal but are much loved by dedicated fans – and appear in stories featuring amazing art that well deserve renewed prominence.
These collections, some originally due for release in March and April, will join a publishing catalogue from Book Palace that also includes its terrific, ongoing Illustrators magazine, which highlights the work of many comic artists well known to downthetubes readers.
Fleetway Picture Library Classics: Clash of Blades
Number of pages: 272
Format: Flexi Cover; Black & White illustrations
Size: 6″ x 8″ (165mm x 215mm)
ISBN: 9781913548049
Scheduled for release later this year, Clash of Blades offers four stories written by Michael Butterworth (best known as the co-creator of “The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire”), Leonard Matthews, G Allman and Jane Porter, with art by Reg Bunn (best known for his work on “The Spider” for Lion), Patrick Nicolle (best known for his illustration work on the magazines Bible Stories and Look and Learn), Robert Forrest (best known for “Kit Carson: for Comet) and John Millar Watt (creator of the comic character “Pop”, which first appeared in the Daily Sketch in the 1920s, and other work for Amalgamated Press.
The Scottish Chiefs
Thriller Picture Library #58 published March 1954
Art by Reg Bunn, cover art by Sep Scott – based on the book by Jane Porter
Under the Golden Dragon: The Story of the Norman Conquest
Thriller Picture Library #132 published May 1954
Art by Patrick Nicolle, cover art by WR Calvert
Written by Michael Butterworth
The Picture of Dorian Grey
Thriller Picture Library #148 published November 1956
Art by Robert Forrest, cover art by Sep Scott – written by Leonard Matthews, after the novel by Oscar Wilde
The Three Musketeers and the Prince of Peril
Thriller Picture Library #183 published August 1957
Art by John Millar Watt, cover art by Enrico de Seta – written by Leonard Matthews and G Allman, after the novel by Alexandre Dumas
• Order it direct from Book Palace here
Fleetway Picture Library Classics: Pirate Tales
Number of pages: 272
Format: Flexi Cover; Black & White illustrations
Size: 6″ x 8″ (165mm x 215mm)
ISBN: 9781907081910
Now due for release this summer, Pirate Tales features four complete swashbuckling stories with art by Reg Bunn, Robert Forrest and John Millar Watt. Details of the stories to be included has yet to be revealed.
This collection is perfectly complemented by the recent release of a special issue of Illustrators magazine, Pirates!, showcasing some of the greatest pirate art ever published from around the world in comics, books, magazines, posters and films. The Special includes features on the art of Howard Pyle, Norman Mills Price and the many illustrated versions of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
• Order it direct from Book Palace here
Fleetway Picture Library Classics: Fleetway Firsts
Number of pages: 272
Format: Flexi Cover; Black & White illustrations
Size: 6″ x 8″ (165mm x 215mm)
ISBN: 9781913548070
This collection offers four complete stories from the very first issues of Fleetway’s War Picture Library, Air Ace Picture Library, Battle Picture Library and War at Sea Picture Library.
These cracking war stories are written by Val Holding, A Carney Allen and DM Garbutt, with art by Nevio Zeccara, who also drew “Battler Britton” and “Phantom Force Five” for Buster and “The Phantom Viking” for Lion, Solano Lopez (best known perhaps for his work on “Janus Stark” for Valiant), Renzo Calegari (who in the UK also drww “Battler Britton” but who is especially known for his highly detailed drawings of the American prairies in Gino D’Antonio’s Storia del West, published in 1967, and Harry Farrugia, who also drew war comic strips for various DC Thomson titles.
Fight Back to Dunkirk
War Picture Library #1 published September 1958
Art by Nevio Zeccara, cover art by Giorgio De Gaspari
Target Top Secret
Air Ace Picture Library #1 published January 1960
Art by Solano Lopez, cover art by Alessandro Biffignandi
Written by Val Holding
The Rats of Tobruk
Battle Picture Library #1 published January 1961
Art by Renzo Calegari, cover art by Giorgio De Gaspari
Written by A Carney Allen
Devil’s Cargo
War At Sea #1 published February 1962
Art by Harry Farrugia, cover art by Nino Caroselli
Written by DM Garbutt
• Order it direct from Book Palace here
Fleetway Picture Library Classics: John Steel, Special Agent: World War Two
Number of pages: 272
Format: Flexi Cover; Black & White illustrations
Size: 6″ x 8″ (165mm x 215mm)
ISBN: 9781913548056
Due later this year, this is Book Palace’s second John Steel Collection, with stories written by Bob Keston and James Stagg and art by Ron Turner (“Space Ace”, “The Daleks”) and James Stagg.
The first John Steel collection, released last year, featured stunning art by Luis Bermejo (“Heros the Spartan”) and Reg Bunn, a fantastic-looking collection of four complete John Steel Case-Books set during World War Two.
Both artists brought their A game to the stories featured, offering stunning period adventure tales positively dripping with period detail and derringer-do – so hopefully we’re in for more of the same this time around!
Gateway to Glory
Super Detective Library #169 published March 1960
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by Giorgio de Gaspari
Written by James Stagg
Operation Tina
Super Detective Library #177 published July 1960
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by Nino Caroselli
Written by Bob Keston
The Hidden War
Super Detective Library #183 published October 1960
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by Nino Caroselli
The Shadow: School For Spies
Super Detective Library #188 published December 1960
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by Pino Dell’Orco
• Order it direct from Book Palace here
Fleetway Picture Library Classics: Rick Random
Number of pages: 272
Format: Flexi Cover; Black & White illustrations
Size: 6″ x 8″ (165mm x 215mm)
ISBN: 9781913548063
Due for release later this year, this is a collection of four complete Rick Random stories written by Bob Keston, Conrad Frost, with art by Ron Turner.
The Planet of Lost Men
Super Detective Library #79 published June 1956
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by Arnold Beauvais
Written by Conrad Frost
The Riddle of the Vanishing People
Super Detective Library #101 published March 1957
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by Arnold Beauvais
Written by Bob Keston
Sabotage From Space
Super Detective Library #111 published September 1957
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by James McConnell
Written by Bob Keston
S.O.S. From Space
Super Detective Library #115 published October 1957
Art by Ron Turner, cover art by James McConnell
Written by Bob Keston
• Order it direct from Book Palace here
Fleetway Picture Library Classics: Westerns
Number of pages: 272
Format: Flexi Cover; Black & White illustrations
Size: 6″ x 8″ (165mm x 215mm)
ISBN: 9781907081927
Out in late Summer, Some complete stories featuring the atmospheric Western art of Ruggero Giovannini, a Thriller Picture Library regular in the 1950s and 60s, whose credits also included “Dick Daring” and “Robin Hood”, providing art for Fleetway through the D’Ami studios. More details to follow.
• Order it direct from Book Palace here
• Check out the full Book Palace Publishing House Catalogue here
• Fleetway Picture Library Classics are also available from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
- About the Author
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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, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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