Comic Cuts - 7 March 2014

This is probably going to be a short column as I don't really have much in the way of news. I have spent the whole week working no the Countdown/TV Action index and have made some good headway, but most of it was reading through the strips and jotting down notes about the shows that the strips depicted. A great way to spend a week, you might think... OK, it's a great way to spend a week, I'll admit.

But I still have to drag myself out of bed in the morning and psyche myself up for a day's work, same as everyone else. The difference is that I've got no guarantee that I'll have earned a penny by the end of the day, which can be a bit nerve wracking. Couple that with a family history of high blood pressure—I'm only exaggerating slightly when I say my mum rattles when you hug her thanks to the combinations of pills she's on—and I sometimes wonder if freelancing is really the job for me!

But enough of this medical malarkey... how's the book going, I hear you cry. We're up to 11,500 words on the introduction but took a nice little step forward when I heard from one of the early sub-editors who has promised to answer a few questions. Researching comics isn't only about reading strips eight hours a day... there are the hours of frustration trying to track down information on the creators of the strips. And the number of creators it took to put together some comics is amazing: the Boys' World index listed 265 people who contributed to the paper and its annuals. If you spend a couple of hours on every name... well, you can do the math.

Countdown had a smaller pool of talent from which it drew, but trying to find out something about some of the lesser-known names takes time... which explains why the word-count has only jumped by about 5,000 words these past two weeks. At least you can be assured that they're well-researched words.

I was hoping to have the new book out in March but it's looking more like April. Although the introduction is slowly heading towards a complete first draft, I still have a lot of other things to do. One of them is to track down a copy of the Thunderbirds Holiday Special for 1971, published by Polystyle, for which I need a content listing. It's the one pictured above, so if anyone has this, drop me a line and I'll let you know what I need. [Update: I now have the info. I need. Thanks to everyone who got in touch.]

And on the same-ish subject, does anyone have a copy of the Countdown font that I can have? [Update: ditto the above.]

I've only managed to clean up a couple of covers for our random scans this week. Both are by the queen of gangster crime, Dail Ambler, who was the subject of one of my Kindle features, The Lady Holds a Gun! The Story of Dail Ambler, which covers her fascinating career from journalist to author to screenwriter.

I'm not sure how things are going to work out this weekend. I have to hand a piece written by penny dreadful researcher Robert Kirkpatrick which I'll be running shortly. I also have another lengthy comic strip to run at some point but I'm hoping to save that for when I'm doing the layouts for the book. I'm guessing that will be running within the next couple of weeks.

Spitting Image The Giant Komic Book

Spitting Image The Giant Komik Book (Pyramid Books, 1988, 96pp, £4.95; Cover by David Stoten/John Burns/Alex Evans)
* [Misc. Material] * (adverts) * ms
1 * [Misc. Material] * Contents * ms; illus. Pablo Bach
1 * [Comic Strip] * Robert Maxwell: There's Nothing He Can Do About This One * cs; art by David Stoten
2 * [Comic Strip] * Cecil * cs; art by David Stoten
2 * [Comic Strip] * Amazing! * ia; art by Colin Hadley
2 * [Comic Strip] * Mr Rentaquote! He'll say absolutely anything! * cs; art by Oscar Zarate
2 * [Misc. Material] * (Animated Stamp) * ms; art by Neville Astley
3 * [Comic Strip] * Restaurant Review with John Hurt * cs; art by Graham Humphries
4 * [Comic Strip] * Talkative Taffy Kinnock - The Welshman Who Talks A Lot! * cs; art by David Stoten
4 * [Comic Strip] * Make Yourself Look Like the Famous: Ronald Reagan * cs; art by David Haldane
4 * [Comic Strip] * Dr Owen He's All Alowen * cs; art by Tim Watts
5 * [Comic Strip] * 'Killer' Killer of the Seas * cs; art by Johnny Johnstone
6 * [Misc. Material] * Mifter Gillray'f Deadlieft Sinf: Avarice * il; illus. Gerald Scarfe
6 * [Comic Strip] * Once Upon a Time... * cs; art by Paul Stone
6 * [Comic Strip] * The Annabel Croft Tennis Coach Course * cs; art by Steve Dillon
6 * [Misc. Material] * On the Couch * ct; illus. Paul Cemmick
7 * [Comic Strip] * Two Gun Ron's Cowboy Code * cs; art by Paul Cemmick
8 * [Comic Strip] * Ray of the Receivers * cs; art by Steve Dillon
11 * [Photo Comic Strip] * The Lover * cs; illus. photos
12 * [Comic Strip] * Moggy! * cs; art by Mark Draisey
12 * [Comic Strip] * Dr Owen He's All Alowen * cs; art by Tim Watts
12 * [Comic Strip] * Kurt Waldheim - He's Lost His Memory * cs; art by Pablo Bach
13 * [Comic Strip] * Geoffrey Howe's Wet Dream * cs; art by Rowen Clifford
14 * [Misc. Material] * Inside Sellafield: An Exploded View * il; illus. John Lawson & Geoff Sims
16 * [Comic Strip] * Professor Braindrain The Mad Inventor * cs; art by Ionicus
17 * [Comic Strip] * Merchandisors: Battle for the Pocket Money * cs; art by Lee Sullivan
22 * [Comic Strip] * Once Upon a Time... * cs; art by Mark Draisey
22 * [Misc. Material] * On the Couch * ct; illus. Paul Cemmick
22 * [Comic Strip] * Dr Owen He's All Alowen * cs; art by Tim Watts
23 * [Comic Strip] * Little Ridley The Problem Kidley * cs; art by Graham Thompson
24 * [Comic Strip] * The Crazy Psychedelic World of Frank Bough * cs; art by Neville Smith
24 * [Comic Strip] * Make Yourself Look Like the Famous: Bob Monkhouse * cs; art by David Haldane
24 * [Comic Strip] * How to Make Your Garden Beautiful * cs; art by Steve Dillon
25 * [Comic Strip] * The Sheens * cs; art by Pablo Bach
26 * [Comic Strip] * Great Bible Tories: The Moneylenders and the Temple * cs; art by Steve Bendelack
27 * [Comic Strip] * The Druggies * cs; art by Harry North
27 * [Comic Strip] * How to Play Bowls * cs; art by Steve Dillon
27 * [Misc. Material] * On the Couch * ct; illus. Paul Cemmick
27 * [Comic Strip] * Once Upon a Time... * cs; art by Mark Draisey
28 * [Misc. Material] * The Ian Botham Inflight Safety Manual * ia
28 * [Misc. Material] * Wonders of the World No.9: Robert Robinson's Hair * ia; illus. Pablo Bach
29 * [Comic Strip] * Network Seven * cs; art by Pablo Bach
30 * [Comic Strip] * Terry's Toupee - When Wogan's Wig Gets Ahead He Comes Unstuck! * cs; art by Ian Jackson
32 * [Comic Strip] * A Week in Politics: December 2019 AD * cs; art by Brett Ewins
33 * [Comic Strip] * Doctor Finley's Chequebook * cs; art by Phil Gascoine
34 * [Comic Strip] * The Adventures of God - The Ultimate Super-hero * cs; art by Steve Dillon
36 * [Comic Strip] * The Weather Men - They Haven't a Clue! * cs; art by Pablo Bach
37 * [Misc. Material] * Construct Your Own Cher * ms; illus. Pablo Bach
38 * [Comic Strip] * No-Head Robson * cs; art by David Stoten
40 * [Comic Strip] * Jacko - He's Wacko! * cs; art by Oscar Zarate
41 * [Comic Strip] * (Talking Bollocks) * cs; art by Charles Peattie
41 * [Comic Strip] * The England Cricket Team - They're Completely Innocent! * cs; art by Arthur Robins
41 * [Comic Strip] * (Sheep) * cs; art by Arthur Robins
41 * [Misc. Material] * Amazing * ia; art by Colin Hadley
42 * [Misc. Material] * How Royal Are You? * qz; illus. Pablo Bach
42 * [Comic Strip] * Battle Picture Library: Codename Conquest! * cs; art by Tony McSweeney
44 * [Comic Strip] * In the Bowels of Fortress Wapping * cs; art by David Stoten
46 * [Misc. Material] * Construct Your Own Sitcom * ms; illus. Pablo Bach
48 * [Misc. Material] * 8 Amazing Political Facts * ia; illus. Tim Watts
50 * Anon. * Short Story * ss; illus. Janet Woolley
51 * [Comic Strip] * The Fat Chats * cs; art by Paul Cemmick
52 * [Comic Strip] * Deathwish: The Last Sequel * cs; art by Graham Humphries
53 * [Comic Strip] * The Further Adventures of Talkative Taffy - The Welshman with the Galloping Gob! * cs; art by David Stoten
54 * [Misc. Material] * Mrs Thatcher's Heaven * il; illus. Steve Bell; scr. by Dave Austin
56 * [Comic Strip] * Dr Owen He's All Alowen * cs; art by Tim Watts
56 * [Comic Strip] * Make Yourself Look Like the Famous: Andrew Lloyd Webber * cs; art by David Haldane
56 * [Comic Strip] * Johnny Onejoke * cs; art by David Stoten
57 * Anon. * How to be the Queen * ar
58 * [Comic Strip] * Judge Deaf * cs; art by Brett Ewins
60 * [Misc. Material] * The Chunnel: Wonder of the World * ia; illus. John Lawson & Geoff Sims
62 * [Comic Strip] * The Art of Sumo Wrestling * cs; art by Steve Dillon
62 * [Misc. Material] * Mifter Gillray'f Deadlieft Sinf: Pride or Vanity * il; illus. Gerald Scarfe
63 * [Comic Strip] * Oliver Reed in Tales of the Unexpected * cs; art by David Haldane
64 * [Comic Strip] * Fat & Useless * cs; art by Pablo Bach
65 * [Comic Strip] * Tumtum and the Forged Expenses * cs; art by Rian Hughes
68 * [Comic Strip] * Professor Pessary's Science Corner * cs; art by Simon Cooper
68 * [Comic Strip] * The Runcies * cs; art by David Stoten
68 * [Misc. Material] * Pomposity on Two * ct; illus. David Stoten
69 * [Misc. Material] * The Grovelage Royale * ia; illus. Paul Slater
70 * [Comic Strip] * Smashits * cs; art by Banx
72 * [Misc. Material] * Mifter Gillray'f Deadlieft Sinf: Wrath * il; illus. Gerald Scarfe
72 * [Comic Strip] * Even More Adventures of Talkative Taffy - The Welshman with the Big Mouth! * cs; art by David Stoten
73 * [Comic Strip] * Stranger Than Fiction * cs; art by Tony Joswick
76 * [Misc. Material] * Amazing * ia; art by Colin Hadley
76 * [Comic Strip] * Dr Owen He's All Alowen * cs; art by Tim Watts
76 * [Comic Strip] * Wimbledon: The Complete Coaching Course * cs; art by Steve Dillon
77 * [Comic Strip] * Geoffrey Howe's Bad Dream * cs; art by Hunt Emerson
78 * [Misc. Material] * Mifter Gillray'f Deadlieft Sinf: Sloth * il; illus. Gerald Scarfe
78 * [Comic Strip] * Make Yourself Look Like the Famous: Leon Brittan * cs; art by David Haldane
78 * [Comic Strip] * Once Upon a Time... * cs; art by Paul Stone
79 * [Comic Strip] * Noel Edmonds Speaking... * cs; art by Paul Cemmick
80 * [Comic Strip] * Voices in my Ear, Punters in my Lap, Dosh in my Pocket * cs; art by Charles Griffin
82 * [Photo Comic Strip] * You Don't Have To Say You Love Me * cs; illus. photos
83 * [Comic Strip] * The Impossible Journey - A Jeffrey Archer Adventure * cs; art by Harry North
87 * [Misc. Material] * The Art of Horsedrawn Carriage Eventing * ia; illus. Paul Semple
88 * [Comic Strip] * Beirut Force * cs; art by Brett Ewins
89 * [Comic Strip] * They Came from Outer Space * cs; art by Banx
90 * [Comic Strip] * Not Much Cop: Norris Dimbleby - Lawman of Tomorrow * cs; art by John Higgins
92 * [Comic Strip] * Glasnost Belongs To Me * cs; art by John Watson
93 * [Comic Strip] * Stories from the Movies: Rocky-18 * cs; art by Graham Humphries
94 * [Comic Strip] * Dr Owen He's All Alowen * cs; art by Tim Watts
94 * [Misc. Material] * Frank Bruno Jigsaw * il; illus. Graham Humphries
94 * [Misc. Material] * On the Couch * ct; illus. Paul Cemmick
94 * [Misc. Material] * Kissogram for Mr Jesus * ct; illus. Arthur Robins
95 * [Comic Strip] * Major Fergie The Right Royal *@X!?! * cs; art by Paul Sample
 * [Misc. Material] * Face Masks * ms; illus. David Hughes

Spitting Image page 4: various

Our last selection of artwork from Spitting Image: The Giant Komic Book, starting with some pages from Brett Ewins and finishing off with a little Herge tribute by Rian Hughes.

 

 

 

 

Spitting Image part 3: Harry North

Here are some pages from the Spitting Image: The Giant Komic Book by Harry North, best known for his work for MAD Magazine.

 

 

 

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Spitting Image part 2: various

More from the pages of Spitting Image The Giant Komic Book. The first couple of pages of Eagle-style pages, the first by Ionicus, a genuine Eagle contributor, the second by Steve Bendelack, who began as an assistant to Fluck and Law on the original TV show. He went on to direct the show and more recently directed The Harry Hill Movie. 'Doctor Finley's Chequebook' is by Phil Gascoine and 'They Came From Outer Space!' by Jeremy Banx follow and we end today's selection with pages by Hunt Emerson and John Higgins. Enjoy!

 

 

 

Spitting Image part 1: Steve Dillon

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Spitting Image, the Cartoon Museum (35 Little Russell Street, London, WC1A 2HH) is holding the Spitting Image: From Start to Finish exhibition until 8 June.

In 1988, Pyramid Books (an imprint of the Octopus Publishing empire) published Spitting Image The Giant Komic Book, a 96-page collection of comics by a wide variety of artists. Over the next few days we'll take a look at a handful of pages by some recognisable names... and to start us off, here are a few pages by Steve Dillon.

 

 

 

China Mieville Cover Gallery revisted

I'm grateful to Tom who left a message on my original China Mieville cover gallery. He sent me a link to the Out There Books blog and an article on the Czech editions of China Mieville's novels, all of which have awesome covers by Edward Miller rather than the covers by Crush that we have had in the UK during a rebranding exercise at Pan Macmillan. The Laser Books New Weird line is definitely worth a look if you're a fan of Edward Miller as he has produced covers for other authors.

As an extra bonus, I've dug around Les Edwards' website and found some of the original paintings. The site is well worth visiting as it contains many other images and higher quality versions of the images below.

Nádraží Perdido (Perdito Street Station)

Jizva (The Scar)

Železná rada (Iron Council)

Král Krysa (King Rat)
(Originally for Night Scape by David Morrell, Subterranean Press)

Pátrání po Jakeovi a jiné příběhy (Looking For Jake and Other Stories)
(Cover used in UK for The Tain, PS Publishing)

Un Lun Dun

Město a město (The City & the City)

Kraken

Ambasadov (Embassytown)

Kolejmoří (Railsea)

Curtis Cover Gallery

On Thursday I received a comment from brino puzzul about one of the cover galleries I posted back in August 2011. To quote brino, "I'd really like to know who Curtis (the illustrator of the cover of All the Traps of Earth is or was. Nice cover and original style, very similar to that of Simak's City that is one of my favorite covers ever."

I  have to admit that I know nothing of Curtis, nor had I made the connection between the two covers mentioned above. However, I do know of one other cover signed by Curtis from the same publisher in the same period, so we have two, possibly three examples of his work, which I'll post below.

If anyone can add anything, please drop me a line.

All the Traps of Earth by Clifford D. Simak
Four Square Books 993, 1964, 143pp, 2/6. Cover by Curtis

The First Astounding Science Fiction Anthology ed. John W. Campbell, Jr.
Four Square Books 1166, 1964, 320pp, 5/-. Cover by Curtis

City by Clifford D. Simak
Four Square Books 1250, 1965, 188pp, 3/6. Cover by Curtis?