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| Phil Shrimpton, Beano and Dandy collector – as featured by BBC News |
Phil-Comics Auctions (www.phil-comics.com) is the brainchild of Brighton-based Phil Shrimpton who has a large collection of Beano and Dandy comics and started trading them through the website.
The site was recently given a plug by BBC News, with Phil talking enthusiastically about the DC Thomson titles past and present.
Intriguingly, former Dandy editor Morris Heggie also talked positively about the title’s digital push, but his comments suggest the company may, sadly, be considering a time when there is no longer a paper edition of the comics. He seemed upbeat about this possibility, however.
“You mustn’t look to the future and think, ‘Oh it’s dreadful, there won’t be a paper version,” he said, “you look to the future and think, ‘Oh this is going to be so exciting, we can do so many things, using what we’ve learned over the years about artwork and funny storylines’.”
Since its launch in 2001, phil-comics auctions has built an enviable eBay trading reputation in vintage British comics, annuals, artwork and related items.
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| Changing times: Morris Heggie told the BBC the digital editions of The Beano and The Dandy gave DC Thomson to the opportunity to employ what it knows about making comics in the online world |
To satisfy his customers’ demands, Phil says he constantly seeks single items and entire collections to offer at auction.
In August 2006, following discussions with DC Thomson, they proudly launched The Beano & Dandy Collectors’ Club, dedicated to vintage Beano and Dandy comics, annuals and related items.
Although the club has now closed, they have provided PDF links to all of the newsletters.
• Visit the site at: www.phil-comics.com
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 - Current British Publishers, Digital Comics, Links