British Comics Titles - Specific Sites

Jump to: Specific Comics Titles including: Lion • Look and Learn • Look-In • Mad Magazine (UK) • Misty • Oink • Scream • Smash • Sonic the Comic • Speed and Power • Spike • Starblazer • Starlord • Striker • TOXIC • Triffik • TV Comic • TV21 • Victor • Viz • Warhammer • Wizard

Also below: Comics Continuity

• Visit this page for General British Comic Site Links and links to website about British Comics Titles from 2000AD to Jinty
• Visit this page for British Comics Characters from ABC Warriors to Janus Stark
• Visit this page for British Comic Characters from James Bond and Jeff Hawke to Modesty Blaise
• Visit this page for British Comic Characters from the O-Men Wicked Wanda

Lion
The comic strip rights to Lion are held by IPC Media.

Lion was originally conceived to be a rival for Hulton's massive success, the Eagle. It even featured on its front cover, Captain Condor, whose space adventures were obviously meant to mimic those of Eagle's hugely popular Dan Dare.

Fan: www.comicsuk.co.uk/ComicInformationPages/LionPages/SteveLaming1.htm
An article by Steve Lamming on the history of the long-running comic. There's a version of it here, too.

Fan: Great British Comics - The Lion by Alan Notton
Link: www.gatewaymonthly.com/1004lionc.html

Look and Learn
Official site: www.lookandlearn.com

Owned by Look and Learn Magazine Company Ltd. Excluding the rights to certain comic strips (notably The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire) which have been retained by IPC Media Ltd, this company now owns the rights to the following magazines, listed here in chronological order: The Children's Newspaper (1919-65), Robin (1953-69), Swift (1954-63), Jack and Jill (1954-85), Playhour (1954-87), Harold Hare (1959-64), Look and Learn (1962-82), Treasure (1963-71), Teddy Bear (1963-73), The Bible Story (1964), Ranger (1965-66), Once Upon a Time (1969-73), Speed and Power (1974-75), and World of Knowledge (1980-81). Look and Learn also owns the rights to the annuals and other books associated with these magazines, and the annuals and books for the magazines Tell Me Why and World of Wonder.

Above: Original artwork used for cover of Look and Learn #1002 (23 May 1981), where the title was added "A Hundred Journeys into Space". Just one of hundreds of images from Look and Learn now available to view on lookandlearn.com. The artwork lent to Look and Learn for scanning by The Gallery of Illustration.

Anyone who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s will remember this educational weekly, home to Don Lawrence's Trigan Empire comic strip, now being re-published by the Don Lawrence Collection. Look and Learn was the biggest-selling title of its kind for many years and was able to attract some of the best artists of the era to its pages, everyone from Ron Embleton to John Millar Watt.
Illustrations and comic strips aside, the magazine featured an extraordinary range of features on history, geography, wildlife and science.
In 2004, publisher Laurence Heyworth was looking for a title of similar excellence for his young son but could not find anything on today's newsstands that remotely approached the Look and Learn's quality. He approached the title's owners, IPC Media and, with the exception of a few comic strips (including Trigan Empire), bought the rights to Look and Learn and a number of related magazines (Ranger, Treasure, The Children's Newspaper and others).
With a small team of enthusiastic co-workers, Heyworth has set up an official site -- www.lookandlearn.com.
The site features almost 10,000 images from the various magazines and a full history of Look and Learn and its companions.
The site also reveals Heyworht's plans for a limited revival of the paper.
If you're a fan of the art of Don Lawrence, Ron Embleton, John Millar Watt, C. L. Doughty or dozens of other top artists this site will be a welcome arrival as a quarter of the artwork available has been photographed from the original boards.
"Although we are pleased to have found some of the larger collections of surviving artwork, we are always on the look out for more," says contributor Steve Holland.
If you have any boards you would be willing to loan for photographing or scanning, please get in touch via the website or you can contact Steve Holland directly at archivist@lookandlearn.com

Look-In
The comic strip rights to Look-In are held by IPC Media, although the rights to publishing the strips would also require the agreement of the media comapies that own the TV series featured.

• The Look-In Archive launched 1 May 2004. It's attempting to display every page of every issue of the Junior TV Times which at its peak included stunning strips by John M. Burns, Mike Noble and many talented others. Strip titles included The Tomorrow People, Sapphire and Steel (drawn by Arthur Ranson), Catweazle, The Bionic Woman (drawn by John Bolton) and many others. Killed by idiot editors who thought readers only liked strips drawn in square boxes..
The site owners have taken on a massive undertaking, and one which they are asking for help with. So "Scan when you can", and help make this site the best one there is about Look-In. The site is co-produced by John Stewart, the chap responsible for the Look-Out website.
• There's also this great site dedicated to Sapphire and Steel -- www.sapphireandsteel.co.uk --which features all the Look-In comic strips.

Mad Magazine UK
• British Covers: www.collectmad.com/britishcovers/

Misty
• mistycomic.co.uk
Complete guide to one of the best girls' comics ever, pubished in the 1970s. In February 2006 Egmont threatened legal action to protect its rights regarding the use of copyright material (the site featured full scans of almost every issue of the comic) and its owner removed much of the material in compliance. It remains, however, a terrific resource about the comic whose contributors included 2000AD co-creator Pat Mills.
Attempts to seek a license to publish the material are ongoing.

Oink!
Fan: www.oinkcomic.co.uk
May 3rd 1986 saw the creation of Oink!, a real breath of fresh air for comic loving children and adults until its sad demise, 68 issues later, in 1988. Oink! was devised and created by Mark Rodgers, Patrick Gallagher and Tony Husband because of a frustration of churning out the same tired old comic strips week after week for the likes of Whizzer and the Beano etc.
This site features a history of the comic, strips and more, compiled with the help of some of the comics creators.

Red Dagger
• downthetubes feature: Graphic Novels by Any Other Name
First posted on downthetubes 15 July 2007: Jeremy Briggs probes the mystery of DC Thomson's little known title Red Dagger, and wonders why the company isn't publishing something similar today...

Rocket
Launched: 21 April 1956
Number of issues published: 32
Publisher: The News of the World
Not to be confused with: Rocket Comics (Dark Horse - US)
Launched by the News of the World as a competitor to Eagle, this glossy magazine failed in its mission. Great name for a comic, though.

Scream
Fan: www.backfromthedepths.co.uk
On 24 March 1984 Scream! hit the shelves of newsagents around the world. The fantastic stories within its pages fans claim had kids shaking in their shoes in a way no other comic has ever achieved. Then, after only 15 issues, Scream! mysteriously ended. Rumours of strikes at IPC Magazines, the comic's creators, could have been the cause. Declining comic sales in the UK another. Possibly the grizzly nature of Scream! caused hordes of desperate mothers to get the comic banned. Who knows? Maybe a darker mystery is at the heart of this puzzle, a bizarre twist that no one has the answer to. Whatever did happen the fact remains the Scream! was an awesome comic, nearly forgotten forever… nearly, but not anymore.

Smash
26 Pigs Guide: www.26pigs.com/smash

Sonic the Comic
Fan: www.stconline.co.uk
Published in the 1990s, Sonic the Comic still has a loyal following. Sonic the Comic is copyright © Egmont Magazines Ltd.

Speed and Power
(With thanks to Jeremy Briggs): Speed and Power ran from Issue 1 March 22-29 1974 to Issue 87
November 14-21 1975 after which it merged with Look and Learn. It covered "Cars, Planes, Ships, Space, Science Fiction" so it was a more technically minded version of Look and Learn and was published by IPC Transport Press.
The only comic strip throughout the entire run of the title was "SOS International" which began in Issue 57 April 18-25 1975 and ran to the end, drawn by Oliver Frey. Four different stores which ran sequentially: The Death Of A Traitor Issues 57-61; Dam of Terror Issues 62-72; Space Race Issues 73-82; and Black Gold Issues 81-87. Space Race was reprinted in Action annual 1984.

Spike
• downthetubes Comic Companion: Spike
By the earlier 1980s, when Spike was launched, the number of boys weekly titles published by D C Thomson was on the wane. Jeremy Briggs delivers this overview of the title, and a guide to its stories...

Starblazer
• DTB Feature: Blazing Through the Secrecy
The secrets of Starblazer by Jeremy Briggs
• DTB Feature: Behind the Lines
Script writer Ray Aspden reveals the secret workings of creating DC Thomson's fondly-remembered science fiction title, Starblazer...
• DTB Feature: Starblazer Checklist
A complte list of the DC Thomson SF title, including some covers and creator credits
• Starblazer on Wikipedia
Starblazer fan Douglas Nicol began this article on the internet's contributor-based encyclopedia

Starlord
Watch the Stars
• www.watchthestars.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk
The comic that launched Strontium Dog and Ro-Busters -- but lasted just five months. This site includes covers and scans of some of the comic's strips.

Striker
• Striker 3D
The all-new weekly football comic strip appearing in The Sun.

The latest TOXIC TOXIC
Official Site: www.toxicmag.co.uk

TOXIC launched in November 2002 as a monthly kids mag by Egmont, and included Team TOXIC as comic strip that ran across the bottom of its four news pages. The strip was written and drawn by Jon Rushby, as were the main character illos. From issue #5 they were bumped up to their current two-page status and Lew Stringer took over the creative chores as of issue #14.
Pig Brother was added as a three-frame strip in news in issue #12, which Mervyn Johnston continues to write and draw today. Next up was Time Toilet by Jaspre Barke and Mark Daniels in issue #16, Rex by John A. Short and Alex Paterson in issue #17 and Nanas & Custard by Stu Taylor and Paul J Holden in issue #18.
Although some of these strips were more successful than others, the editorial team have recently added two new originated strips to the mag: Chester Chimp by Jaspre Bark and Paul Palmer in issue #70 and Grott the Mighty by Nigel Kitching in issue #71.

Triffik
Published by Creative Communications Ltd.
Launched, finally, after several dummies, in 1992, this title was billed as a new Beano and Dandy for the 1990s but lasted just 12 issues. Artist Tim Perkins contributed several strips to the title, working with James Hill, now editor in chief at Toontastic. There is an article on Triffik on Tim's website.

TV Comic
Polystyle's long-running title, featuring original humour strips such as Mighty Moth, humour strips based on tv shows such as Telegoons, and adventure strips based on TV action adventure such as The Avengers, Adam Adamant Lives! and, of course, Doctor Who.
The comic strip rights to all material published in TV Comic are owned by London and North Surrey Newspapers, now part of the Trinity Mirror Southern group.

• The Avengers Comics Strips
Link: wingedavenger.theavengers.tv
Terrific site about The Avengers comics. Works best in Explorer on a PC and Opera on a Mac (OSX)

• Dad's Army
Link: home.btconnect.com/howejam/dadsarmy/comicstrips/da_comics.htm
A guide to the Dad's Army comic strip, drawn by Bill Titcombe. Part of a much bigger site about Dad's Army from Andy Howe.

• The Telegoons
The Telegoons, an animated show based on The Goon Show featured in TV Comic, drawn by TV Comic stalwart Bill Titcombe, who also drew many other strips for the title including Tom and Jerry, Dad's Army and others. This exhaustive Telegoons site includes information on the Telegoons strip and the part it played in promoting the show. This link goes firect to that item: www.telegoons.org/FAQ.htm#N. This link goes to the home page of the wonderful Telegoons site: www.telegoons.org.
(Speaking personally, I can't stand the creepy looking Telegoons -- but I loved the Goons radio show)

TV21
Buying Advice (See notes on this, above)
As of June 2006: Condition of the comics can determine the price a lot. #1 has sold for about £300 on eBay in VG+ condition but a complete poor tatty version will only scrape about £50.
Issues are easier to come by with the advent of the internet but still sought after. Prices vary from £5-£10 an issue, which the newspaper style ones up to issue 154 usually get in F/Ex condition.
A complete set - issues 1-242 plus specials and some gifts - was offered on eBay for £3,500 and no-one bought at that price, even after it was reduced from about £5,000. (Thanks to Shaqui at The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History)

• The Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History
Link: www.technodelic.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk
This incredibly detailed site charts the entire history of Gerry Anderson's shows in comic strip, show by show, from his earliest ventures right through to the present day. It's a beautifully constructed site with plenty of well-researched features, interviews and plenty more.
This is simply one of the best themed comic strip sites on the web and if you're a Gerry Anderson fan, it should not be missed. Congratulations to all involved -- this is a true labour of love.

• TV Century 21 Guide
General comics and magazines site with a page devoted to this title based on the Gerry Anderson puppet shows which at its hgeight was selling one million copies per week.

Dalek Chronicles - Marvel UK, 1994 • Dalek Mania
Link: www.dalek-mania.co.uk
In addition to being a great site about Daleks, Mick Hall's site includes thumbnails of original art from The Daleks strip, which appeared in TV21, drawn by artists such as Richard Jennings and Ron Turner.
The entire run of the strip was most recently published by Marvel UK in 1994 as a Dalek special, The Dalek Chronicles.

• Not TV21
Sun-styled parody comic.

• TV21uk
10 Thomas Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 1DH
Tel: 0161 839 5021 - email: stephen@tv21uk.com
Nothing to do with the comic at all, but heck, we'll give it a plug just for sheer cheek. TV21uk is a television, film and arts themed venue specifically designed to compliment Manchester's revitalised Northern Quarter.

Victor
Fan: www.victorhornetcomics.co.uk
Web site devoted to two of DC Thomson's classic boys titles, the other being Hornet. The site offers a brief history of the both of the comics, and they're working on biographies of some of the artists, writers and (and hopefully) editorial staff.

Viz
Official: www.viz.co.uk

Warhammer Monthly
Official: www.blacklibrary.com
Probably the biggest-selling SF comic in the UK, at one time claiming 50,000 sales per month via Games Worshop stores. Sadly, Warhammer ended with Issue 86 in December 2004

Wizard
Link: wizardcomics1970-1974.blogspot.com
A bog devoted to DC Thomson's Great comic The Wizard (Mark ll) published between February 14th 1970 and December 28th 1974: the stories, the covers,the dates,the numbers, the Ads.

Comics Continuity
Information welcome!
For US Comics and Characters Click Here
For other Comics and Characters Click Here

Michael Norwitz
Official: www.blaklion.best.vwh.net/time_links.html
This guy has taken comics continuity to unscaled height and there's a terrific links section too. Well worth checking out.

• Visit this page for sites devoted to specific British Comics Titles
• Visit this page for British Comics Characters from ABC Warriors to Janus Stark
• Visit this page for British Comic Characters from James Bond and Jeff Hawke to Modesty Blaise
• Visit this page for British Comic Characters from the O-Men Wicked Wanda