Spent 4-5 hours yesterday evening taking all my UK comic annuals from the shelves, dusting and then cataloguing them.
Yeah, my joints paid for it overnight!
I have over 200 annuals which, I am reliably informed by next-of-kin, will be sold off with my comics as soon as I've snuffed it. Lords of Light and Darknessgive me a long life just so I can piss them off!
Anyway, good thing is it means I do not have to wait (a long time since it isn't a priority just a courtesy) for IPC to supply me with the scans for various projects and they have been kind enough already. But there was a bit of a surprise for me.
You see, old time comickers describe D. C. Thomson (Dundee Editions is how they are better known in Europe) as the "DC" and AP/Fleetway/IPC as the "Marvel" of UK comics.
I always saw myself as a "Marvelite" and a Fleetway fan. But when I looked at the sizeable stacks of books and then wrote up my list (yes, some have been stolen over the years) I discovered over a hundred were Thomson books.
Some from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s -Topper, Beezer, Dandy, Beano, Sparky, Hotspur etc.
Now, this suddenly hit me because when I was a nipper I started getting comics from about the age of 5-6 years -Robin and so on. My grand dad, Bill, seemed to think a good mix-and match each week would increase my enjoyment (bless him but he had no idea that most of the strips were serials!). If a new Number 1 appeared I got it and you can probably guess that, as I never had a permanent home until I was well into my forties, a great many were lost.
That's life.
So I got to see the Wilson, The Tough Of The Track as well as Captain Hornet, Billy The Cat, Q-Bikes/Q-Karts, General Jumbo, Billy Whizz and so on. And when I made my 54mm Plastacine figures to play Thomson characters were alongside those of Fleetway, Odhams and Marvel (with the odd "guest appearance of Batman or Superman -I kept it eclectic!).
Certain people have said in the past that they were surprised that I had Thomson annuals because "You hate Thomson" or there's the "that's very hypocritical of you" and my usual response is a polite "And you are talking out of your arse".
I have never, ever written or said that I hate Thomson. That is a falsehood spread by certain very sad, not-quite-bright individuals who tried to stir up an argument on the internet.
Okay, so one editor, allegedly called me a "C---" when someone mentioned my name. I wasn't there but, oddly, a journalist from a Midlands newspaper did try to get me to comment on this. I put the phone down.
I have suspicions.
My only "argument" has been with the fact that Thomson is in a position where they could become a major player in the comics industry. On the old WordPress CBO I outlined everything and even published the very rude letter of response from an editor. That was in the past and I don't care.
The people running Thomson do not appear to have the inclination to get into new comic production and in such a case you can only sit back and yell "You are losing out on getting more revenue from new fans!"
A two-year game plan and everything is set up and established but it will just not happen. I'm surprised that even the Beano and Dandy are still going.
I think that my comic and annual collection shows that I have a love of the old Thomson characters and going through the books last night realised why.
And "Fister" Flint.....
I say nothing.
Yeah, my joints paid for it overnight!
I have over 200 annuals which, I am reliably informed by next-of-kin, will be sold off with my comics as soon as I've snuffed it. Lords of Light and Darknessgive me a long life just so I can piss them off!
Anyway, good thing is it means I do not have to wait (a long time since it isn't a priority just a courtesy) for IPC to supply me with the scans for various projects and they have been kind enough already. But there was a bit of a surprise for me.
You see, old time comickers describe D. C. Thomson (Dundee Editions is how they are better known in Europe) as the "DC" and AP/Fleetway/IPC as the "Marvel" of UK comics.
I always saw myself as a "Marvelite" and a Fleetway fan. But when I looked at the sizeable stacks of books and then wrote up my list (yes, some have been stolen over the years) I discovered over a hundred were Thomson books.
Some from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s -Topper, Beezer, Dandy, Beano, Sparky, Hotspur etc.
Now, this suddenly hit me because when I was a nipper I started getting comics from about the age of 5-6 years -Robin and so on. My grand dad, Bill, seemed to think a good mix-and match each week would increase my enjoyment (bless him but he had no idea that most of the strips were serials!). If a new Number 1 appeared I got it and you can probably guess that, as I never had a permanent home until I was well into my forties, a great many were lost.
That's life.
So I got to see the Wilson, The Tough Of The Track as well as Captain Hornet, Billy The Cat, Q-Bikes/Q-Karts, General Jumbo, Billy Whizz and so on. And when I made my 54mm Plastacine figures to play Thomson characters were alongside those of Fleetway, Odhams and Marvel (with the odd "guest appearance of Batman or Superman -I kept it eclectic!).
Certain people have said in the past that they were surprised that I had Thomson annuals because "You hate Thomson" or there's the "that's very hypocritical of you" and my usual response is a polite "And you are talking out of your arse".
I have never, ever written or said that I hate Thomson. That is a falsehood spread by certain very sad, not-quite-bright individuals who tried to stir up an argument on the internet.
Okay, so one editor, allegedly called me a "C---" when someone mentioned my name. I wasn't there but, oddly, a journalist from a Midlands newspaper did try to get me to comment on this. I put the phone down.
I have suspicions.
My only "argument" has been with the fact that Thomson is in a position where they could become a major player in the comics industry. On the old WordPress CBO I outlined everything and even published the very rude letter of response from an editor. That was in the past and I don't care.
The people running Thomson do not appear to have the inclination to get into new comic production and in such a case you can only sit back and yell "You are losing out on getting more revenue from new fans!"
A two-year game plan and everything is set up and established but it will just not happen. I'm surprised that even the Beano and Dandy are still going.
I think that my comic and annual collection shows that I have a love of the old Thomson characters and going through the books last night realised why.
And "Fister" Flint.....
I say nothing.
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