The 7 Horse Power Kid and Spick and Span!

Just for those people who keep claiming -even in 2025- that British Boy's Papers never contained comic sets (or strips): The 7 Horse Power Kid and Spick and Span!

 

Streamline no. 3 Moved So Fast From My Collection

 You see, at one time I was a complete trusting moron. My home was an open house for comickers and while we worked and talked they would also delve into my collection. 

A good few books 'vanished'.

Amongst those comics was Streamline no. 2 which I picked up for £1 at a Bath Comic mart in the 1980s.  

 I understand why Denis Gifford let NO ONE near his home and collection.  

I am posting this in case anyone has a scan (at least) of this issue? If so please let me know!!

NEVER Be Afraid To Ask Me A Question About Old/Obscure British Characters

 

 2013  is a long time ago now but I had no idea that I was the subject of a LOT of discussion on the Comic Book Plus forum. I won't name names for obvious reasons but I do recall someone was hitting me with question after question about obscure British comic heroes on Brit Comics.  There was no explanation and then the person vanished.

Last week I found out what was going on (hey, I don't visit comic forums and I'm old!!):

"I am currently playing Stump the Hooper over @ Britishcomics @ Yahoo. I need to come up with some really obscure British super hero or heroine types from the 1930's or 40's or earlier. Got any suggestions out there guys?"

The response he got was:

"if that's Terry Hooper, and it is, you've no chance.  He's close to encyclopaedic in his knowledge of British comics characters.  But, and remember, he could be reading this, you might want to try some from British storypapers.  We call them storypapers nowadays but when I was a wee boy, they were all "comics", whether it was illustrated stories or text strips or balloon strips."

Well, I never read forums as when I ask questions I rarely get a response or if I do it's "Well, if you don't know how would we?"

Anyway, the original poster followed up:

"Well that didn't work out too well. Seems I sort of teed Mr. Terry off. Big mistake on my part and a big embarrassment of myself. So much so that I resigned from his group in utter shame! My bad."

I have no recollection of how this person thinks he teed me off.  The thing is IF he had said "are you up for a challenge?" then yes. If he hit me with  question after question with no explanation I would wonder what was going on as I always answer any questions or mails and research can take a while. He should certainly NOT have resigned but just explained.

Finding old characters and informing people about them is what I try to do to keep the memories of the characters and creators alive (if very dusty with slight foxing).  I think the original poster stated that he showed me an image of a character and I then sent him an image of how the character looked originally rather than how he thought the character looked.

I do tend to be brief and to the point -the same as with work: get a job do it quickly then finish BUT I would never get angry at someone unless they were seeming to be trying to annoy me.   If it had just been mentioned what his intention was I would have been open to  a challenge.

The Outlaw Sheriff : Runner

 My last offering for a while since no one seems to want to discuss anything will be this one pager of The Outlaw Sheriff which I believe may have been drawn by Dudley Watkins.

Taken from D C Thomson's Adventure no.  1348  18th November 1950

Thunderbolt Jaxon and the Glamorous Cannon Ball

  Thunderbolt Jaxon started out in The Comet (13th August, 1949) so is definitely a Golden Age hero. In 1958 he moved on to Knockout comic with some reprints. Hugh McNeil was the artist who drew the adventures.

Please not that I slightly cracked the spine on the annual to bring you these pages...at my age I cry over such things.

Ever Had The "Green Shiver"?

 For just over £6 ($7?) I bought a copy of The Green Shiver a "vest pocket book" given away by D. C. Thomson with Adventure comic in the early 1930s. This is no. 9. I missed out on a copy about three years ago as someone was putting in ridiculous bids.  Despite what Ebay sellers are telling you these old British comics are not "solid gold investments" or worth paying a small fortune for.

Some people believe that these are mini comics because certain "experts" have called them that. They are not.

The book measures 2.75 x 2.75 inches so is tiny.  And here is what is inside -a text story that with my spectacles is readable but, considering the age of the book it is in immaculate condition.

And to show just how old the joke of someone put in a cannibal boiling pot taking the opportunity to have a bath....

The question has to be was it worth buying?  Well, if you are an archivist and also into comics and want to see as wide a range of pre-war comic/boy's papers and associated items -yes.   Will I read the story? One day when I have the time and don't mind straining the eyes I will!

Long Len and Puffing Billy -When The Goose Trotted!

 How often did those elitist "Platinum experts" keep laughing at me and saying "They NEVER had comic strips in Boy's Papers!!" So...The Boys' Realm 11th December, 1926