Eagle Volume 1 Number 1 (1950) Pre-publication proof
ComPalComics, the British comics auction house, has just launched its May/June catalogue, and there are some great items in it, including early, rare issues of DC Thomson’s Commando – including Issue One – Dan Dare comic art (and a ray gun!) and a number of wartime Beanos.
A wartime Beano cautions on the paper shortage and urges readers to ensure they order their copy of the comic.
Beano Issue 91 (1940). A propaganda war issue. Lord Snooty and Pals repel Nazi invasion!
The March 2016 auction resulted in The Beano complete year of 1945 realising a whopping £3250 for the 26 fortnightly issues and individual Beanos between numbers 76-100 selling for £220-360 each. More early issues from lot 27 feature this time around.
Dandy Monster Comic 1 (1939). Korky introduces Desperate Dan, Keyhole Kate and all the Dandy characters. This first annual is a ‘library’ copy and was kept in D C Thomson’s main office in Meadowside, Dundee.
This catalogue also offers annuals from the Brenda Butler archive, a collection she started in the early 1970s when she collected only the highest grade available pieces concentrating on DC Thomson’s prodigious output. These items were logged, stored and lovingly read over a 40 year period and are now coming onto the market for the first time.
One of the stars from the archive is a pristine copy of the first Dandy Monster Comic from 1939, originally a DC Thomson / John Leng ‘library’ copy and verified as such by them. You’ll find it at lot 18 followed by the second annual, also a library copy, along with a superb 1953 Oor Wullie Book at lot 120 as well as several more beauties in between.
A rare Dan Dare Ray Gun (1953) Mettoy. With original box.
Dan Dare original front cover artwork by Desmond Walduck from The Eagle (1954) Vol 5: No 29. Dan Dare must challenge The Mekon to save Groupie and Flamer – The Prisoners of Space.
Also on offer is the final part of 1880s artwork from Life and Harper’s Bazaar, rare 1930s Christmas comics by C Arthur Pearson, Oh Boy! comics from 1948 drawn almost entirely by budding cartoonist, Bob Monkhouse, a rare Eagle No 1 pre-publication proof and Dan Dare’s Ray Gun with original box, “Dan Dare” original front cover artwork by Desmond Walduck from The Eagle (1954) Volume 5, No 29 and some early Commando War Stories in Pictures are also listed, Issues 1-30 offered individually.
Creature From The Black Lagoon is a very scarce paperback from 1954 at lot 104 and the 1970s is represented by a brilliant run of Pocket Chiller Library.
Scream 1 with Dracula Fangs (1984) with (another) Scream 1, 8, 15 and Royal Mail Mint Children’s TV Characters collection (1996).
The US section stars a CGC 9.6 copy of Fantastic Four #48 from 1966, a Near Mint minus copy of Iron Man #55 and strong runs of Amazing Spider-Man, Daredevil, Thor and X-Men – and original sketches from Alex Ross and Frank Miller.
• Compalcomics holds four auctions a year. The auction is run online via the-saleroom.com which offers real time bidding, viewable online, as bids are placed by customers who have registered their details. If you have a question about any of the items in the catalogue, please send an email to Compalcomics director Malcolm Phillips at comicbook@compalcomics.com
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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.
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