There’s an absolutely staggering amount of original British comic art on offer in the latest Compalcomics auction, including 2000AD, “Charley’s War“, “Dan Dare“, Dalek art and more. Plus, of course, the usual fine selection of British comics – including a first edition of The Beano, published in 1938 – and several “full year” collections of titles such as EAGLE and other classic comics, and American comics, too.
With The Beano celebrating its 85th year, it’s perhaps no surprise one of Compal’s canny collectors has decided to put his original copy into their August auction. The No 1 from 1938 introduced “Big Eggo” on the cover with Lord Snooty and His Pals, Morgyn the Mighty and Tin-Can Tommy. The 85th Anniversary edition featured Sir David Attenborough, The King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and Dua Lipa. Dennis just about menaces a look in.
Some scarce The Dandy propaganda war issues from 1942 are also being offered in small lots of four and five issues each, one of which features Desperate Dan pointing at the reader in Lord Kitchener style: “YOU can help BRITAIN by collecting WASTE PAPER!”. Now you know why they’re rare!
There are complete years of 1947 and 1949 of The Dandy in the auction, too.
The 1950s highlight Beezer, with complete years of 1958 and 1959, with a good run of Charlie Chan and Emergency-Ward 10 Picture Libraries, along with romance titles Miracle and The Red Letter promising “Thrilling Romantic Stories and Gripping Real-Life Dramas.”
Also featured is a half-year bound volume of early Lion comics starring Captain Condor by Frank S Pepper. Pencilled ’Pepper’ on their cover margins, these were his own copies, ordered himself from his local newsagent.
![Eagle Vol. 8 (1957) 1-52. Complete year in bound volume. Starring Dan Dare in Rogue Planet and Reign of the Robots and Winston Churchill in The Happy Warrior by Frank Bellamy. From the Peter Cushing collection. No 16 [vg], balance [vfn/nm] (52)](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Eagle-1957-1024x661.jpg)
The 1960s and 1970s offer high grade bound volumes of The Dandy, Beezer, Topper and Buster, not forgetting Amazing Stories of Suspense No 29 at lot 51, the Alan Class 1965 reprint of Journey into Mystery #85 the third appearance of Thor and the introduction of his sworn enemy, Loki.
![Mask (1986-88) 2 wfg Miles Mayhem Viper mask, 76, 79 (last issue) and Mask Holiday Special with Transformers 20. Holiday Special [fn], balance [vfn] (5). No Reserve](https://downthetubes.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/MASK-Comics-Final-1024x753.jpg)
Compal’s growing artwork selection in these auctions is led by three Dan Dare/Eagle boards, two by Frank Hampson, the third a rare preparatory cover artwork by Don Harley. Known as a ‘colour visual’, its composition is just as detailed as the finished artwork and it is reprinted in Hawk Books No 8, The Phantom Fleet, also included in the lot.
Frank Bellamy is strongly represented by his signed “Heros The Spartan” double-page board, painted in bright Pelikan inks, and there are three lots of “Charley’s War” by Joe Colquhoun, detailing the horror of the battle of the Somme in 1916.
Around that time artist Robert Prowse was drawing covers for the Buffalo Bill Library and Compal have two of his illustrations on offer.
Further original pieces include “The Daughter of Lorna Doone” by Ron Embleton, an Ironside cover for Fleetway Super Library by Jordi Panalva, four Dalek panels from the eponymous 1976 annual, “The ‘A’ Team” and “Fenn Street Gang” pages from Look-in, and a Rupert cel signed by John Harrold.
Plus, from 2000AD, there are boards of “Blackhawk” by Massimo Bellardinelli, “Rogue Trooper“, signed by Ron Smith and “The Mind of Wolfie Smith” by Eduardo Vano.
The auction’s US section is led by Lois Lane #1, Amazing Spider-Man #50, Fantastic Four #5 and #48, The Incredible Hulk #4 and #6, Silver Surfer #1, Tales of Suspense #40-42, Tales To Astonish #27, Green Lantern #1, JLA #1, with early runs of The Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man and Fantastic Four, too.
• The Compal August 2023 catalogue is open for realtime bidding at thesaleroom.com now, and can also browse auction lots and print a fax or mail bidding form at Compalcomics
Postal bids need to be with sent in by Friday 25th August 2023 and the Compal team will enter them on your behalf in thesaleroom.com/Comic Book Auctions website closing on Sunday 27th August from 2.00pm.
If you have a question about any of the items in the catalogue, please send an email to Compalcomics director Malcolm Phillips at this address:
comicbook@compalcomics.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: Art and Illustration, Auctions, British Comics, Charley's War, Classic British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Other Worlds
British comic art aplenty on offer in latest Compal auction: “Charley’s War”, Dan Dare, Judge Dredd – and a rogue Dalek model, too!