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Step Back in Time to 1986, when Steve Ditko drew for Fantasy Advertiser

By John Freeman on November 22, 2020

We’re well overdue reminding people about the brilliant Classic UK Comic Zines online archive curated by David Hathaway-Price, so what better way to do so than with the addition of the 20th Anniversary Issue of Fantasy Advertiser, published in 1986, sporting a cover by the legendary Steve Ditko?

FA (Fantasy Advertiser) Issue 97- Steve Ditko Cover

FA (Fantasy Advertiser) #97, edited by Martin Skidmore and Gordon Neil, was published in June 1986, sporting a cover by Steve Ditko, with colour separations by Steve Whitaker. The team on the long running comic zine included Jackie Skidmore, Andrew Littlefield, Kev Sutherland, Dave Dursley and Martin Crookall.

A 20th Anniversary celebration issue, containing interviews with Pat Mills (conducted by Andrew Littlefield and Martin Skidmore), and Marvel’s Jim Shooter (again conducted by Andrew), talking about the return of Jack Kirby’s artwork.

FA (Fantasy Advertiser) Issue 97- Sample Page — Ah, conventions…

Offering a fascinating snapshot of the comic scene on both sides of the Atlantic, assembled by some of the best names in British comics fandom of the time, this anniversary Issue joins a superb and growing archive of comic zines that has expanded rapidly this year, adding issues of titles such as BS1, edited by Kev Sutherland, Cosmorama, edited by Garen Ewing, Sub-Plot, edited by Steve Craddock.

“I believe the cover was a commissioned piece,” notes David Hathaway-Price of this latest Fantasy Advertiserto join the catalogue. “Contributions this issue were by Steve Noble, Dale Cole, Graeme Bassett, Lew Stringer, Fiona Jerome, Andrew Moreton, Martin Hand, and Howard Stangroom.”

FA continues to this day as an online publication.

In addition to curating the Classic UK Comic Zines archive, David is also the editor of FANSCENE, with six great issues under his belt. Naturally, these are also available to read for free online.

• Classic UK Comics Zines, David’s online archive of British fanzines | Fantasy Advertiser Section

• Check out all six issues of FANSCENE

• FA Online – http://comiczine-fa.com

About the Author
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John Freeman

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.