BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: GUEST,Penguin Egg
Date: 30 Jun 05 - 06:26 AM

In the 60s, my sister use to work for IPC-or Odhams Press, as it was then called, and she use to bring home a copy of all their comics, which included The Eagle, which is famous, and a series of comics based loosly on The Dandy, etc, called Wham, Smash, and Pow. I have never met anyone who remembers these comics, but I use to love them. She also brought home Terrific, but what was in it, I cannot for the life of me remember. Being a spoilt little brat, my mother also use to have delivered TV21, the bestest comic ever, based around the Gerry Anderson tv programmes, such as Supercar, Thunderbirds, etc. The artwork in that was amazing. I also remember TV Tornado, based on contemporary tv programmes such as the Saint.

Ironically, I now work in the same building that use to print those IPC magazines, but now belongs to a govt. dept, for whom I work. IPC are just across the road.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Cllr
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 07:07 AM

Look In (anyone remember the kungfu medallion?)
Battle with Leautenant Easy (based on Clint Eastwood)
2000 AD with Judge Dredd (also based on Clint Eastwood)
then graphic novels Watchmen, and Maus then my all time favourite Neil Gaimen's Sand Man series
Cllr

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From:
Date: 29 Jun 05 - 06:54 AM

Hi from a fifty something lady in Australia. Does anyone remember the "Princess" and "Schoolfriend" annuals of the 1950's. In particular I have this recall of a comic strip series, I think called " The Day Family" and they had a daughter called Susan Day. Would love any info. Life was so simple then....or so it seemed.

Regards,
Barbara Denny,
NSW Australia

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 10:02 PM

baby Crockett on the back of the beezer - there was a parody of the davy crockett song - can't remember it.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Seamus Kennedy
Date: 30 Sep 04 - 12:53 AM

There was a great thread here a while back about Dudley Watkins the genius artist for D.C. Thomson. He drew just about everything including the Broons, Oor Wullie, Lord Snooty, Ginger (from the Beezer), Desperate Dan and many, many others.
Remember The Iron Fish, about the boy who had a mini-submarine that looked like a swordfish? (The Beano, I believe)
Or General Jumbo? The kid with the army of miniaturized robots which he controlled from an electronic wrist band. (Beano, too.)
Or Crackaway Jack - a '50's rip-off of Davy Crockett in the Dandy?
Or Big Boko - the wizard who alwayas got his spells mixed up? (The Topper?)
Oh God! You've got me started!!

Seamus

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Daithi
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 11:23 AM

Brilliant C-flat..many thanks! Chung..of course!

That site also reminded me about Mytek the Mighty!

Actually I'd forgotten all about Valiant (which is where I read him in those early sixties) and thought he might have been in The New Hotspur or the Victor, which were my other reading of choice at that age! Thanks again.
Now, any takers for those pesky Inca with their sunrays??

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: C-flat
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 11:22 AM

A little exploration on google turned up the name of a long-forgotten strip.....
"Legges Eleven"
A football team made up of an odd assortment of circus-type characters including a French acrobat (Pierre somebody?) and the obligitary overweight goalkeeper. I can't remember the other nine but I'm sure someone here will!

C-flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: C-flat
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 10:55 AM

Found him here.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: C-flat
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 10:53 AM

"Clicky-ba crush many skulls!"

That's Chung! from the "Wolf of Kabul"!

I'm still trying to remember who the steel claw was..........

C-flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Daithi
Date: 29 Sep 04 - 08:05 AM

Anybody remember - or help out with these....

The Steel Claw - a hero who had an artificial hand. When he put his finger into a power source, he became temporarily invisible.

A "native! who wielded a cricket bat and whose catch phrase was "Clicky-ba crush many skulls!"

An invasion by a South American empire of Inca, who had a large weapon which directed the sun's rays and could melt enemy aeroplanes, tanks etc.
happy days...
Like others, i too then got hooked on DC comics, and still have about 250 in a suitcase in the loft. Most from 1962-1970.
D

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 09:30 AM

Another fact has surfaced through the mists of time: the Men In Grey were known as Jacques One, Jacques Two etc. There was also an Australian Aborigine spin bowler in a cricket series. As the trad jazz revival started, one comic had the rise of a young orphanage trumpet player called "Louis Armitage"!!! Another had a drummer based on Jack "Kid" Laine with a story each week how he acquired each bit of his kit. I don't remember him ever getting a washboard...

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 09:02 AM

Having read all the usual comics as a kid I too thought I would try
the Saga magazine. Bitter dissapointment.I thought it stood for Sex And Games for the Aged. Ah well back to my latest issue of Amatuer Scientist (this week PTFE - fact or friction).

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Fiolar
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 08:41 AM

Film Fun as I recall used to have Laurel and Hardy on the front and other film comedians such as Abbott and Costello in other parts.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: GUEST,noody
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 08:20 AM

Oor Wullie and the Broons! Now we are talking.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: MBSLynne
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 08:17 AM

My step-Auntie used to get Film Fun when I was about 4, but it was a bit above me! I have vague memories of what was in it, but nothing concrete enough to put into words.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 04:58 AM

Anybody remember Film Fun. There were some good stories -particularly enjoyed one called The Blackfriars Phantom.

In the very early 70's I came across it republished in compendium of of ghost stories for boys under the title The Phantom of Cursitor Fields.

As I was teaching in a sec mod school for boys at the time, and the school had sod all books that were actually usable. I read it to couple of my classes.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 03:46 AM

The "print" comics like Wizard, Hotspur & Rover in the 1950s all had stories about living under occupation and heroic resistance. One was set in WW2 and had "Men in Grey" as a resistance group who wore long coats, trilby hats and masks and were know by numbers. There were two others set in the present or future with Asian oppressors (thinly disguised Japanese called Kushantis or Klovanians)running the UK with a rod of iron and brave locals fighting back. Then there were the working class sportsment Alf Tupper, the scrap merchant goalie and Wilson the 100 (?)year old athlete.
Like other 'Catters of a certain age I moved from Radio Fun to Dandy & Beano then to Rover, Wizard and Hotspur, then the Eagle. Now it's Saga Magazine!

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 11:19 AM

No comics, but I sure liked my John Bull printing set. My cousin had the more delux version and I was very envious. I remember separating all the little letters with a razor blade. I don't think they allow small children to use razor blades while they play now....pity.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: muppett
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 10:54 AM

Yep I do

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 10:46 AM

True! When I was in infants school, the teacher used to read to us every friday afternoon from a series of books about a character called "Little Black Sambo" He lived in the jungle and was often chased up a tree by tigers. Anybody else remember that one?

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 10:41 AM

How about Jimmy and the magic patch who kept whizzing back and forward through history - he had a magic patch on the seat of his trousers.

Also I first encountered the John Buchan story Prester John on the back of the the Topper. All about a scary black minister who turned out to be a homicidal Zulu chief on the quiet - don't think that would have got past the race relations folks these days.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 09:34 AM

Yep, it was black and white and dull! Black Bob was also the only collie I have ever seen that wasn't continually trying to shag anything that moved.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: GUEST,milk monitor
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 09:10 AM

Black Bob WAS boring. But I always thought it was because I wasn't rural enough to get it? Also wasn't it in black and white...maybe? At least the dog was black and the sheep were white anyway, and every box seemed to have a picture of either dog or sheep or old shepherd bloke...all in black and white. I skipped it.

I remember in Twinkle they gave away a plastic glove puppet of Sue from Sooty and Sweep. It folded up to nothing, and going to school I would shove it up my cardigan sleeve and then at dinnertime I would fill it up with gristly stew and wrung out greens, and tip the whole lot down the toilet. Happy days.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: muppett
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 09:01 AM

What comic were the Jocks & Geordies in?

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: muppett
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 08:59 AM

Who remembers Kelly's eye, about a bloke who had a jewel round his neck and he could see danger through it, think it was in the Tiger or Lion.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 08:28 AM

Black Bob!! That was bloody boring!

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Fiolar
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 08:26 AM

I think there was a sale recently in which number one of either the Dandy or the Beano fetched something like £20,000.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 07:01 AM

No, Black Bob was Dandy.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Gervase
Date: 27 Sep 04 - 04:52 AM

I remember the excitement at our local shop when Whizzer and Chips was launched - the great draw being that you thought you got two comics for the price of one, as Chips was inside Whizzer.
Viz that did a wonderful parody of the classic text-heavy illustrated strips with 'Black Bag, the faithful Border Binliner' after the one about the border collie that appeared in - I think - the Eagle.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 10:35 PM

Sherbert Dabs!!!! a packet of sherbet with a lolly to lick it out with.....
but fruit salads & black jacks were right up there too great for turning your tongue and lips black..... I remember chocolate tools..... and sweetie cigarettes...... and white mice.... and those chocolate circles with hundreds & thousands on the top.......... I'm getting hungry now

I remember reading the Jackie problem page, and before that it was Bunty & Twinkle.... Fab 208 started me listening to Radio Luxemborg were a little known DJ called Steve Wright was starting out ......

was it the Beano or the Dandy which had "billy Whizz" (who could run really fast) and the "Little Injun" (I think that was the title)?

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: GUEST,Anne Croucher
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:31 PM

I used to walk from school to town to save the bus fare and bought boy's comics in the town bus station.

I remember the Victor, Valiant, Hotspur - I think I bought two more - then I graduated to DC comics.

When I left home I carefully stored all my still beautifully perfect comics in boxes and suitcases - and my mother gave them away.

When I visited I had discovered that the years had increased their value considerably - particularly the American ones, and it could have made a considerable difference to the rather straitened situation at home. I can still remember their faces when I told them.

Anne

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 04:47 PM

Here's a site eityh links to websites on just about every British comic over the years.

Ain't the Internet amazing?

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 02:38 PM

Pre-Eagle there were the adventure comics - Hotspur, Wizard and Rover, the ones C-flat linked us to (thanks!) - hardly any pictures, tiny print and great stories; and the funny comics, things like Knockout and Film Fun, which were pretty well all pictures, and Beano and Dandy which were mostly pictures but a few stories.

Then the Eagle came in with a quantum leap in picture story quality, and after that the print stories started to be replaced by strips, often of the same stories, I think. And Eagle put out a whole range of companion papers - Girl and Robin and Swift; and new comics like Lion appeared, copying some of the Eagle's ideas.

But now. when you look through the newsagents, the kids don't seem to have anything really, apart from Beano and Dandy in a watered down version, and stuff that really looks as if it's aimed at teenagers. They don't know what they are missing.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 12:46 PM

I wasa spoilt brat and got all the boy's comics. I also remember the Sun and the Comet with Apaches going "Aiyee". I got one of them whapping cardboard and paper things that you made a bang with. I frightened my Auntie Rena with ine and got a smack (yes, a smack !!) for that. In the Tiger you got a Tiger's head on a stirng with powder that you rubbed quickly down the string to create a "roaring" effect. It just made my fingers sore. I seem to belive the Tiger had something to do with Hull. Aiyee !!

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: maggie
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 12:23 PM

I remember being bought the Robin, and my big sister getting "Girl" whilst big brother got "Eagle" can't remember anything in them though! Always wanted to be old enough to get "The Girl" - as to the old sweets - whatever happened to "Spangles"? I liked the minty ones, white with pink swirls through them! Could suck one til it had a hole through the middle - no comments please LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 10:13 AM

"Tough of the track" was in "The Victor"

He was also in "The Hornet" some years later along with another old "Victor" character, "William Wilson", a strange character who wore a black body stocking, and would compete, bear-foot, in various athletic events, before returning to his secret cave.

It's all coming back to me!

C-flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:15 AM

Nobody has mentioned the "Lion" and the "Tiger" yet. I can still remember the frisson of excitement as I tore open my membership package to the ""Lion Club". You got a gold badge with a Lion's head on it.

Also, there was the "Adventure" companion comic to the "Wizard" and the "Rover".

Doe sanyone remember "Wild Young Dirky", a kilted hero who used to wage a one boy war against the occupying Hanoverian forces in 18th century Highland Scotland, and used to make an airborne getaway with the help of his two pet eagles ?

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 07:07 AM

Some of the give-aways were pretty lame, like the cardboard "bangers".
Two triangular pieces of cardboard with a folded brown-paper insert that would make a "bang" when drawn quickly through the air.
Simple times, simple pleasures!

C-flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 06:57 AM

The Topper was very up market as I remember with Oliver Twist on the back - terrific illustrations (when sykes and fagin came after Oliver in his sick bed it gave me nightmares!) - the beezer was more fun.

your dad was right about the seebackroscope - a small plastic cylinder with a mirror at the end and a hole in the side.

once bitten, my parents drew the line when I wanted the nose flute. I reckon I'd be the nasal version of james Galway or paddy thingy out of the chieftains - my parents didn't understand me.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 05:55 AM

Junior Smoker's Kits - I'd forgotten them! How un-PC can you go?? Those were the days, when normal people were normal! Wish we could get them back.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 05:24 AM

Billy the bus mentioned the cut-away drawings of ships in The Eagle.

Apparently they did one of a nuclear submarine based purely on guesswork as to what it looked like.

However, they did such a good job that they got a visit from the secret service demanding to know who had leaked the plans to them!

Oh, and Superted, they used the same foul tasting chocolate in the Junior Smoker's Kit as they used in the tool kits you mentioned. I think I thought I wouldn't bother smoking if that's what it tasted like!

Talking about comics, there was also the Beezer (very much like the Topper).

In the sixties Buster started up. If I remember rightly Buster was supposed to be Andy Capp's nephew. He even wore a cloth cap like his famous uncle! The first issue had a free cardboard and brown paper thunderclap. The racket in the playground when loads of these were being used was quite something - they soon got banned.

Anyone remember any other first issue "sweeteners"?

LFF

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 05:16 AM

Was it the Eagle that used to have a page of adverts for very strange objects? The one I always remember was for the 'Seebackroscope' which was a device to enable you to see behind you whilst looking forwards, and it cost about 1s/9d plus 4d P&P. I plagued my dad for one, but he just said it would be rubbish and wouldn't stump up that huge (by those days' standards) amount of money. I thought it would be very useful for when I was doing my paper round. :0)

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Sep 04 - 04:39 AM

I think some of you might like this site.

Muppet, if you scroll down there's an episode of "Tough Of The Track" to read!

C-flat.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 08:38 PM

okay we believe you!

I seem to remember The Pretty Things Claimed to read Schoolfriend before going onstage '....to increase the sexual frenzy!'

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:57 PM

"Tough of the track" was in "The Victor"

And yes, I always read "The Four Marys". None of the rest of that girl's comic (June, or Judy?). It was on the back page and I read it on my paper round.

Nigel

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Megan L
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:18 PM

You can still get Spanish Gold try this site for a walk down sweetie heaven
Old sweets

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:09 PM

Thanks for that Leo Baxendale link. The man was a genius.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 04:50 PM

does anybody remember Biff Bailey the boxer? The Tiger I think it was

There was that borderline transexual in the fetching little leopard skin number was that on the front of the Robin - Tana, the jungle boy.

One of the compensations of being ill was reading my cousins comics - he used send me a big load about six months worth all at once.
winters seemed worse in those pre-car owning, pre central heating days andsometimes half the street was down with colds and pleurisy and stuff.

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Les from Hull
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 01:27 PM

Here's a link to one of my heroes (and I don't have many), the creator of the Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx, Little Plum, the Three Bears and lots of characters who were a bit after my time. Yes DC Thompson were (are?) very non-union, and also gave no credit to their writers/artists. Leo Baxendale was the first of their artists to write the stories as well, and drew lots of amazing detail in the drawings.

leo baxendale

But the best thing ever in the Beano was 'Jonah'. Arrghh, it's 'im!

Subject: RE: BS: Nostalgia? (UK comics)
From: Leadfingers
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 01:13 PM

As my Dad was a VERY heavy duty Typographical Associatio Union man we were not allowed to have the Beano and dandy in the house - The Publisher (Thomsons) were Non Union so totally beyond the pale . We had the Eagle right from issue 1 - Gawd what that lot would be worth today !!!