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Terry Hooper-Scharf

Monday, 7 March 2016

Interview With alan Class -Updated Feature

If there is one thing Blogger does that gives me constant headaches it is the inevitable vanishing of images. seriously, what is going on?

It seems that images from the interview with Alan Class (a personal hero) as well as other features from the Blogger alan Class site just up and vanished.

So, a good opportunity to do a long posting with more images.

Welcome to....

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ALAN CLASS    
ALAN CLASS COMICS


 If you were a youngster in the UK between 1959-1989 you probably remember the Class Classic Comics line.  These were virtual treasure troves purchased for a few pence.  War,Sci Fi,Spooky tales,ACG,Marvel and Charlton super heroes could be found in the pages -and there were text stories.

 
In the 1980s I briefly met Alan, and we exchanged letters but then I lost touch with him but his comics still inspired me!


I set up the first Yahoo Alan Class group and,despite what a few might say,the first Alan Class website.  It may have taken years but,eventually, I re-established contact with Alan.  And here is the exclusive interview!  
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                                   
TERRY:So,Alan,you are one of the “mystery men” of the British comics scene;even if we know about Class Comics we know next to nothing about Alan Class!  The first question has to be:where and when were you born?  
 
ALAN:  I was born in Holloway,London.  21st July,1937 –don’t remember much about that I’m afraid!

    
TERRY:I’m assuming that as a child you read comics -can you remember which titles and your favourite strips or stories from them…or are we going a little too far back there?  
 


ALAN:I do remember as a young schoolboy [probably around 9 or 10 years old]rushing out of school on a Wednesday to be one of the first at W.H.Smiths bookstall on Blackfriars Station to get the new issues of CHAMPION and KNOCKOUT  –I was also keen on FILM FUN.  If you didn’t reach the bookstall quickly enough my titles were sold out,and my journey home a disaster!!! 


TERRY:We have a big area of no information here– after you came out of full time education did you go straight into publishing and if so in what capacity?  


ALAN: Upon leaving school,I entered the profession of ‘Estate Agency’ and became an apprentice with Winkworth & Co. who at that time [1954] had just the one branch in Curzon Street, Mayfair,London.

 

After about three years in the estate business with a few West End agencies,I met my future wife,who was the daughter of Alfred Graham,whose publishing and distribution company may ring a bell –“Streamline Publications”. It was after a number of discussions with Mr Graham that I decided to become involved in the book and publishing
business.   


TERRY:I recall,vaguely,other Class titles on the old newsagents spin-rack. Is it my imagination or were you publishing non-comic material at one point? 

 ALAN: In the beginning I decided to try and import the actual copies of AMERICAN MOVIE, ROMANCE, DETECTIVE  and TEEN magazines. In 1958 [approx.] import restrictions were strictly in place and currency could not be transferred outside England without Government authority. You had to obtain a licence from the Board of Trade,to whom samples had to be submitted for vetting purposes.   

The licence for the goods would then be granted or refused. If granted it would stipulate the quantity authorised. I then wrote to a number of leading publishing houses in New York,requesting sample copies of the publications that I had in mind,and what I intended to do. Eventually the Board of Trade issued licences to me enabling a number of publications with limited quantities to be imported. However,due to the much higher cover price on the U.S.A. publications,in comparison to what could be obtained in England for the same copy,I found that I could only afford to buy what were called “Remainder Copies”.  

These were in fact leftovers from the monthly distribution,or unsolds which were returned back to the publishers for shredding!!!  So,this came first,and was how it started.  

  
TERRY:At what point did you decide to get into the comics publishing market and why? 

ALAN:  Comics had always had a fascination for me,and seemed a logical extension to business. I also hoped that by having my “own”  monthly publishing in England,I would not be so reliant on the problems and difficulties involved with importation –i.e. release dates,shipping schedules,title availability,etc..     



TERRY:Alan,the next question is regarding all the ACG,Timely,Marvel and even Charlton strips you published in your titles.  When I read these as a kid I just loved them -a ghostly tale followed by a war yarn,followed by a super hero strip and so on. The blend was wonderful and introduced me to characters and creators I grew to love long before I even saw the American colour versions. Just how did you get permission to use these strips,especially Marvel -was it a complicated business to get the licence rights?  Incidentally,was there ever a time limit put on how long you were permitted to keep reprinting them [strips]? 

ALAN:  In reply to that question,I will have to respond in a rather long-winded and roundabout way so forgive me

TERRY: No problem –it’s British comic history. Go ahead!  

ALAN:When starting out the the cover price for all my comic publications was just 1/- [5p in todays money],for this you purchased a book of 66 pages [numerous stories] plus an eye-catching four colour cover. 

However,I was selling to Wholesale Houses who in turn would distribute to the shops in their area who were prepared to take some copies. I therefore had to give normal wholesale terms on the cover price,which meant I only received under 3p per copy.  

Out of this I had to pay for the printing,carriage to the wholesale warehouses around the country –packing it to required quantities—and pay for the comic illustrations. 



The only way that I could get it to work [and then only just],was by dealing with a Syndicated Features Agency who would sell me the rights for England only,and then probably sell the rights to other publishers for France,Spain,Italy,etc..  

In this way I just about made ends meet!! It was this Agency at the end of the 1950s and beginning of the 1960s who offered me the Marvel rights,which was at a time when the Marvel Comics were ‘not’ being exported or printed in England.  

Once the decision was taken to export Marvel Comics to England,then of course the rights to publish future issues was terminated,and I do not hold any reprint rights for the future. I got there in the end,Terry,but wanted you to understand the process and how it all transpired. 

TERRY:That’s perfectly okay,Alan,how these things worked in the post-war years has always been a bit of a mystery –what surprises me is that you managed to keep going and make some money! 

I’ve wondered,Alan,having spoken to the late Denis Gifford a few times,when did you meet him? 

ALAN: Though I’ve racked my brain,I really can’t remember my first meeting with Denis.  I can only assume that it must have been at a comics convention –possibly 101. 




TERRY: Right,for those unaware of this,Comics 101 was the UKs first comics convention back in 1976 and a report featured in Denis’ ALLY SLOPER number 1 [pub. 1976]. In the early 1970s you and Denis jointly [?] published the ALLY SLOPER magazine and I believe the great Frank Bellamy was invited to the launch -did he make it?  And,biggest question of all:why did it get cancelled?  


ALAN:ALLY SLOPER was launched in a blaze of publicity aboard the Steam-ship “Tattershall Castle”,which was berthed on the Thames near Blackfriars Bridge. There were badges,T-shirts and other momentoes. The master-of-ceremonies was a lovely man and great British comedian Ted Ray.


Many British illustrators of the time were invited including Frank Hampson and Frank Bellamy. Hampson made it,sadly Bellamy didn’t. On arrival most [not all] the artists were asked to sign-in by drawing their own special character or doodle on a very large hanging sheet of paper. It made a focal point for the occasion,and it is still in my possession. 

Though we received plenty of good publicity from our launch,including some highly favourable reviews for ALLY,regrettably we couldn’t get the required support necessary for this new and different publication –it just didn’t sell,and after perservering for nine or ten issues I’m afraid ALLY sloped off into the night taking our losses with him!! 

TERRY:I should have asked –how were you involved in the UKs first comic get together,Comics 101? 


ALAN:Comics 101 was a grand and memorable event.I attended solely as a member of the public,but was not involved in the organisation or presentation arrangements.   

TERRY:At one point there were one -off titles under the Class imprint;were they meant to be one-offs or was it a case of simply reducing the number of titles you published for commercial reasons? 

ALAN:One-offs came about as a means of “putting a toe in the water” to see how popular or unpopular another type of comic might be. I was already publishing/distributing  six monthly Suspense-Sinister-Mystery comics and I thought that possibly a War-Western-Detective comic might prove equally popular  –let me say that none ever did.  

We had limited success with a few other titles,and even tried a Romance title for girls and a “JUST DENNIS”  comic featuring Dennis The Menace.   However,none came close to the original six,and I ended up publishing more titles of Weird and Space. 


 
TERRY: I ought to point out here that Alan is not talking about D.C. Thomson & Sons Dennis who appeared in the BEANO  on 17th March,1951,but Hank Ketcham’s DENNIS THE MENACE,published by Standard Comics/Post Hall –as the late Denis Gifford pointed out,there was a weird comic book coincidence here. The U.S. Dennis saw print on the 12th March,1951 –the same day that Thomsons Dennis saw print [confusing,yes,but the BEANO cover date is five days ahead of when it actually appears]. 

ALAN:One thing that has always annoyed some collectors [especially Americans -yes,you have fans there also!] is that there is no indication of publication date such as “January,1970″,etc.. 

Was this purely because the comics were seen as disposable entertainment rather than collectibles? Is there a ledger somewhere showing which issue number was published when? [I'll admit it never bugs me because the Class titles are timeless in a way and I'll pick one up and think "I got this Summer..." and that's all I need to know!]  



ALAN:I appreciate and understand that having a comic with only a number and no date is a ‘pain in the butt’,but from my point of view there was good reason for this. As already explained I was working on the tiniest of margins.  
 

Every copy was of value to me,and some wholesale houses wanted to ‘shred’ unsold copies.  I insisted that all unsold copies were returned back to me complete.  I had good reason for this because during the Summer period,May-September,a new market would become available. Beach and coastal resorts were thronged with thousands of holiday-makers with their children,who at certain times had to be kept quiet and happy,and what better way than to read a comic! 



So,be it Blackpool,Brighton,Bournemouth to Weston-Super-Mare,orders came in from 10 copies to 100 copies for each “different” issue that we had available. In my view a date meant that it could have been first released months or even over a year before,and could spoil the readers’ enjoyment or even prevent the purchase,even if he or she was keen to read it. With this in mind copies were only numbered. 

Looking back it certainly wasn’t the perfect remedy,but at the time it assisted sales and worked. Of course all collectors were easily able to check from the numbers whether the copy was already in their collections. Unfortunately,no ledger or guide exists for dating the copies,but I do have some references in my records which may enable me one day to sit down and clarify dates for many of the issues.  
   


TERRY:I can well recall Summer bus trips to Weston-Super-Mare and how I always got one or two Class Comics to read on the bus journey which,in the 1960s/early 1970s took about 40 minutes if you were lucky!  The rest of the day was an anti-climax as I wanted to read the comics again!  To be honest I couldn’t have cared less if there was a cover date –even today if I find a copy the last thing I think about is publication date.  I can see the commercial sense in no cover date now you’ve explained it. 

But right up until the early 1980s Class titles were commonly found in newsagents,at bus and railway stations then…they started disappearing.  I know collectors wrote to comic magazines explaining how they placed orders at W.H.Smith for issues but were then told no new issues had been delivered. They were later told that deliveries had been delayed and,finally,that the comics would not be appearing. 


If I recall rightly,you explained to me back in 1985[?] that you had delivered copies to the W.H.Smith warehouse for distribution and later returned to find them still in the warehouse….I think you said you were later told they’d gone for shredding!! Just what happened with Smiths and their distribution [I know IPC suffered in certain areas due to the same problems]?  


ALAN:All comics were being published and released until 1989.  At no time was I told or made aware of any wholesale distribution problems. I would also say that every copy printed gave our name and address,and also the printers name and address,and a note to either would have received a speedy response,with an offer of direct subscription,and a check on what was going wrong.



TERRY:At what point did you decide to wind up the business -it must have been a sad day after so many years and you must miss the publishing business –fond memories? 


ALAN:After thirty years of non-stop monthly publishing,I made the decision to call it a day,and yes it was sad.  It was a life-times work which I had worked and organised more or less on my own,and which I hoped had given some measure of enjoyment and pleasure to a few. The reality was in 1989 costs were escalating,sales were falling –Marvels were on everybodies wish-list,and my comics were at 55p which I didn’t feel could be increased –enough was enough! 

Hard work for small reward are the facts,but if you enjoy what you are doing,and it gives you pleasure to do it,then this makes up for a lot and you certainly wouldn’t remain in the business for all those years if it didn’t mean a great deal to you.  Yes –it was a very sad moment,but it had been a very exciting period with numerous challenges,many ups and downs,and contact with so many helpful and enthusiastic collectors.  


TERRY: I know you went into a London Comic store one day to see whether anyone remembered your comics –how did that come about ?  I know I used to have an “open house” and artists used to visit or pop in on trips to or through Bristol. There was a lot of rummaging through my comic boxes and there was always a smile when someone found the Class Comics because of fond memories.   

One artist had a wide smile on his face and held up a copy of Astounding Stories and said:”Oh great:Class Comics –cheap and wonderful!”  If someone said something like that about a book I’d done I’d feel satisfied,knowing there were fans and that they had such fond memories.  I’m not sure what sort of feed-back you get now that you’ve been ‘re-discovered’[!] but did you have any idea before how many people were Class Comic fans or that these middle aged kids still had very fond memories of them?  

 ALAN:It was 2004,over fifteen years since the termination not only of my comics publishing business but also of my overall interest in the comics market,and during this time I can honestly say that I had never seen or heard any mention of my comic publications  –I had just assumed  that they were long forgotten,never to be heard of again. It was a Wednesday afternoon and I was off with my wife to see a matinee of the show “Woman In White” at the Palace Theatre,Cambridge Circus. 

We had some lunch and to then reach the theatre we were walking along Charing Cross Road. We were passing Paul Henderson’s shop,Comic Showcase,and stopped to look in the window.  The vast array of comics and books on show fascinated me,and I stood there thinking back in time.  My wife said “Why don’t you go in and see if they’ve ever heard or know anything of your comics?”  My first reaction was to say “No way –you must be joking”,but she was insistent and in we went. I went to the central sales point,and with tongue-in-cheek,inquired if by any chance they had ever heard of the Alan Class Series  of comic books.  

 The response staggered me –yes they did know the series;they didn’t have any in stock,but yes there was a demand for them from old and new  collectors,and they could be referred to as Classic comic issues which were quite sought after.  

  Some sixties pop bloke reading Class Comics


You could have knocked me down with a feather,and my wife said that I went pale and quiet.  After chatting with the sales person for a few minutes,he asked if I had any connection with the series,and when I said that I was actually Alan Class,it was his turn to be astounded!  He said that he often received  inquiries from comic writers and magazines about the comics and the publisher Alan Class [who I think most people thought had long passed on!],and would I leave my telephone number for contact?  This I did,and it wasn’t long before the phone was ringing with interview requests and queries. It goes without saying that initially to be “re-discovered”  was a real shock to the system,I couldn’t believe after all these years that collectors not only remembered them,but looked on them in such a loving light.  

The greatest benefit for me is to realise now just how much pleasure and enjoyment all those comic fans were getting from my books way back in the early 1960s.  

I wish I would have known then what I know now,as it would have helped immeasurably when the chips were down and the going very tough. TERRY:I think that,in the UK,fans were never brave enough to write to publishers or creators in the past.  I know at Comics 101 Denis [Gifford] said that Steve Dowling,the creator of GARTH ,was almost in tears at the fan response to him –he had no idea for years that people admired his work!  
But,Alan,for all the middle-aged kids out there or the people re-discovering your books now -any final words?

ALAN: I would like to say to the older folks out there,who in the 1960s bought these books for 5p,right up to today’s fans who are still buying them at current prices –I never anticipated in my wildest dreams the support and goodwill that has come my way.  

Thank you so much,you have made an old boy very happy.  I even have a website and if you have a spare moment it can be reached on www.alanclass.co.uk 

Finally,Terry,my sincere thanks to you for your interest,patience and excellent questions which have enabled me to resurrect memories which had long been forgotten! 

TERRY:And,Alan,thanks from myself and fans who grew up enjoying the Class Series of Comics!                       
fin  
                                                ***********************


 A Guide To Contents Of SOME Class Comics


In the 1960s, when it was "hit or miss" as to what title your local newsagents [in my case,Mina Road had Jarman's -a shop with a glass fronted cabinet displaying toy soldiers and a rotating rack with comics!] might carry,there was was one publisher who offered us a mix of Atlas,Charlton,Marvel and other publishers' strips....

....ALAN CLASS!

Yes,you could find the Silver Surfer,Avengers or even Daredevil intermixed with Captain Atom,Mercury Man,the Mysterious Traveller,Charlton war and horror as well as science fiction.  I don't think it occurred to us at the time that these characters came from different companies!

For a 1/- [5p] I had a good read on the long bus trip to Weston-Super-Mare in Summer-time.  My gran and grand-dad weren't stupid -they knew comics would keep a restless kid in check!  One that always stuck in my mind was Paul Reinman drawn "THE LAST PATROL!" [Sinister Tales no.208];as I studied history and,for my own comics work,uniforms,I was amazed at Reinman's uniform accuracy!

Bristol Bus Station was the best place to pick up  copies,but that was on day trips.  Normally,Jarman's or a dark little newsagents in Sussex Place,where I got my Plastacine,would have copies.

Americans say to me:"But it's all in black and white!!"  I say "so what?" Most weekly comics,or titles such as The Purple Hood,Miracleman,etc.,     were in black and white in the UK!   My brother,Peter,may have argued with me as to which was best -Marvel [my choice] or DC [his]- but we both read Class!
From the 1960s to the 1980s,Class published his titles,some strips reprinted in other titles later on,but it wasn't until the late 1970s when Marvel realised it's weekly comics were being out-done that they stopped Class from reprinting their strips!  After all:weekly comic =a US comic broken into one part each week over,say,two months,but Class =full story in one issue....for less money!!

When I corresponded with Alan in the 1980s,after Denis Gifford put me in touch with him,he noted the distribution problem.  He was delivering 1000 or so copies to W.H.Smith to distribute but after complaints that the titles were not appearing in shops,he discovered the copies had been sent away for shredding/pulping!   Even placing an order with W.H.Smith was no guarantee that you'd get a copy -just your deposit back!

Of course,in the 1970s,Alan co-published the ALLY SLOPER "Nostalgicomic" and even a "Penny Comics of the Thirties" collector's set with comic historian Denis Gifford.

I think that it was a sad day when Alan Class stopped publishing his titles. But the question remains -does his re-printing agreements with companies still hold?

Unless you were a kid in the 1960s/1970s,you'll never understand the nostalgia of seeing these titles.
Hopefully, I'll be able to add the contents of other issues to this site once acquired.           





ASTOUNDING STORIES
NO.8
VISITORS FROM AFAR ["FANFARE SERIES"]
BURIED BY THE CENTURIES [  DITTO   ]
DESTINY KNOWS MANY ROADS  [MYSTERIES OF THE UNKNOWN]   HARRY LAZARUS       ABOVE ALL ACG?
VERDICT:NOT GUILTY        JOHN FORTE
MYSTERIOUS LEADER         JOHN FORTE
THEY WONT LISTEN  [TEXT]
NEW STATUE                PETE CONSTANZA     ACG
YOU'LL MAKE A MILLION BUCKS UP THERE!  CHIC STONE  ACG?
THE MIRROR THAT STOLE FACES!  PAUL REINMAN
ALTER EGO[MYSTERIES OF THE UNKNOWN]
JEWELLED SCEPTRE

NO.76
MIGHTY AVENGERS:BETRAYAL   BARRY SMITH & SYD SHORES                                MARVEL
MORTON THE MAGNIFICENT MAGICIAN
MIGHTY AVENGERS:WE STAND AT ARMAGEDDON  BARRY SMITH & GEORGE KLEIN                   MARVEL
MIGHTY AVENGERS:AND WE BATTLE FOR THE EARTH!  SAL BUSCEMA &  SAM GRAINGER                MARVEL
PAST HAUNTING           A-2228         CHARLTON


NO.76 IS BADLY DAMAGED AND SO IT MAY BE SOME PAGES ARE MISSING.
NO.81

DAREDEVIL;THE TORPEDO  GENE COLAN & SYD SHORE MARVEL
THE TRAIN THAT VANISHED!  JOHN BUSCEMA
THE LITTLE MAN WHO WASNT THERE!
THE PHANTOM CITY!    OGDEN WHITNEY
GHOST OF A GIRL      PAUL REINMAN


N0.93
GIANT-MAN:THE HUMAN TOP  KIRBY & DITKO   MARVEL
JINGLES AND WILD BILL HICKOK;THE RIGHT MEDICINE  S1129
STONE AGE MAN     PAUL REINMAN
TARGET AND THE TARGETEERS
LITTLE GREEN MAN      KEN LANDAU
OVER THE LINE [WAR STRIP]


NO.94
THE SHIELD VS THE BLACK HOOD               ARCHIE
THE SHIELD;BEWARE THE KNAVE! PAUL REINMAN  ARCHIE
CHEYENNE KID;THE AVENGER DION[?]DIMINGUEZ
SPIRIT OF FRANKENSTEIN
THE MAN WHO STOLE THE SUN!  L718              ACG?
THE MAN WITH YELLOW EYES   DICK AYERS      MARVEL?
THE FLY;THE JUSTICE OF CHEN FANG!           ARCHIE


NO.122
THE BLACK HOOD:THE NIGHTMARE WORLD OF THE SKULL  REINMAN?                                    ARCHIE
A LIVING DOLL       DITKO
MR JUSTICE AND THE COSMIC TERROR  REINMAN   ARCHIE
DROP 43298A  [TEXT]
THE PERFECT SERVANT      4743
THE FLY;SIR FLY!                            ARCHIE
COLD STORAGE
MESSAGE FROM THE BEYOND     PAUL REINMAN


NO.141
NOMAN:THE SYNTHETIC STAND-INS! SEKOWSKY     TOWER
THUNDER AGENTS;DOUBLE FOR DYNAMO  WOOD      TOWER
DYNAMO AND THE GOLEM       WOOD             TOWER
NOMAN IN THE CAVERNS OF DEMO   WOOD & CO    TOWER
WHAT THE MIRROR REVEALED    K511


NO.144
THE JAGUAR IS MISSING!                      ARCHIE
THE JAGUAR;THE DAY THE JAGUAR STOPPED FIGHTING           ARCHIE
THE JAGUAR;GREAT OUTER SPACE HUNT!          ARCHIE
THE FLY;THE MONSTER FLY!                    ARCHIE
MY STRANGE GODFATHER    OGDEN WHITNEY       ACG?
THE PHANTOM CITY!       OGDEN WHITNEY       ACG?


NO.171
MAGIC-MAN;THE CASE OF THE YOUNG OLD MEN! PETE CONSTANZA                                    ACG
THE MAN IN THE BEEHIVE!   KIRBY & AYERS    MARVEL
THE HIDDEN VALLEY!     LOU MORALES         MARVEL?
THE JOURNEY [TEXT]
SAZZIK THE SORCERER     KIRBY & AYERS       MARVEL
FING FANG FOOM![YAY!]   KIRBY              MARVEL


Where-ever possible I have tried to identify artist and company or included the artwork reference such as "g123".  If you can identify strips, etc., or help out with issues I haven't listed please get in touch!

SUSPENSE

NO.98
INSPECTION TOUR     A-1083              CHARLTON
NICK FURY AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D.;THE NAME OF THE GAME IS HATE!   FRANK SPRINGER           MARVEL
MADE OF WAX           S421
SAGA OF THE LUCKY 7;MICHEL'S REVENGE  MIKE SEKOWSKY
THE JAGUAR;A DATE WITH THE JAGUAR!           ARCHIE
YOU COULD BE ONE      A-2351             CHARLTON

NO.102
FLY-MAN;PAWN OF THE ULTRA-FOES  PAUL ARE  ARCHIE
THE THREAT FROM BEYOND       5379         CHARLTON
CAUGHT![TEXT]
THEY CALLED HER WITCH   5712               CHARLTON
CAPTAIN ATOM;ONE SECOND OF WAR   DITKO    CHARLTON
TWO HOURS     5611                        CHARLTON
STRANGER IN THE STORM   A-2133            CHARLTON
THE SHIELD;THE GLADIATOR FROM TOMORROW PAUL ARE  ARCHIE


NO.117  100 PAGES
MIGHTY AVENGERS;THE WARLORD & THE WITCH! JOHN BUSCEMA & TOM PALMER                     MARVEL
MIGHTY AVENGERS;THE BLAZE OF BATTLE..THE FLAMES OF LOVE!   JOHN BUSCEMA & TOM PALMER         MARVEL
BEWARE OF THE STEEL BIRD     A-2903       CHARLTON
THE AMBASSADORS!     CONSTANZA             ACG?
MY FIANCE ABIGAIL!  KURT SCHAFFENBERGER    ACG
THE NIGHT NOTHING HAPPENED  HARRY LAZARUS
HAND OF PROVIDENCE!   LEO MOREY             ACG?
VICTORY OF THE DITROS   A-3457          CHARLTON
DETOUR TO MARS  [TEXT]                  CHARLTON?
THE STONE AGE MAN    JOHN FORTE?         ACG?
THE HYPNOTIC TRANCE!                       ACG?
MYSTERIES OF NATURE!                         ACG?


NO.127
JUDOMASTER...TRAITOR!  FRANK MCLAUGHLIN   CHARLTON
SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING  illegible;"D_GEG"?    ACG?
IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT!    L577                 ACG?
RIDE TO THE FUTURE [TEXT]               CHARLTON
THE DREADFUL DREAM          K826
MENTHOR VS THE ENTRANCER    CHIC STONE?   TOWER
THE MAN IN BLACK    JOE ORLANDO          ATLAS?
HE HIDES BY NIGHT!   "SOLLY"              ATLAS?


NO.186
REEDY AND THE FIRE APES   A-2256         CHARLTON
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO BE ALIVE?  CHIC STONE  ACG
WILD,PRINCE OF THIEVES
S.S.S.  [TEXT]                          CHARLTON
MYSTERIOUS BIRD     DICK BECK             ACG
NEMESIS;ASSIGNMENT PERILOUS! CHIC STONE    ACG


NO.219
JUDOMASTER;MAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY! FRANK MCLAUGHLIN  CHARLTON
THUNDER AGENTS;THE BLACK BOX OF DOOM!  WOOD & CO.  TOWER
LIGHTNING ;THE BLUE ALIEN    SEKOWSKY       TOWER
THUNDER;ENTER THE RAVEN    CHIC STONE?       TOWER


NO.221
FLASH GORDON MEETS THE CRAGMEN OF THE LOST CONTINENT                                     KING
SIMBA [TEXT]                             CHARLTON
TOKYO ROSE    "S.J.G."                   CHARLTON
THE WATCHERS       S3015                 CHARLTON
AT THE END OF THE ROAD      S1215         CHARLTON
BRICK BRADFORD   PAUL NORRIS


NO.233  100 PAGES
UNDERSEA AGENT MEETS DR FANG                 TOWER
THE DANGEROUS DOLL    KIRBY                 MARVEL
CHILD'S PLAY!  L346
JOURNEY THROUGH TIME       A-3268         CHARLTON
A SLIGHT CHANGE OF LUCK!   PAUL REINMAN     ACG?
THE EIFFEL TOWER PHANTOM!   CITRON-HICKEY   ACG
MISSING;FREDERICK FORBES!  KURT SCHAFFENBERG  ACG
WHILE SIMON SLEPT
THE GHOSTLY PATROL!  HY EISMAN               ACG
LOUIE'S LEPRECHAUN!       H579            MARVEL
THE TROUBLE WITH MARCUS   "FWB"            MARVEL
DAMAGED;POSSIBLY SUSPENSE;
THE MAN WHO CAME BACK    S1395           CHARLTON
THE IMPOSSIBLE SPACESHIP!  DON HECK     MARVEL
THE END OF THE MEDIUM    S371             CHARLTON
THE LAST ROCKET!     X-52 [EARLY GENE COLAN?]
MYSTERIOUS TRAVELLER;SECRET MISSION  DITKO  CHARLTON
WHAT IS X-35?      DITKO               MARVEL
THE MAN IN THE MIRROR!  DITKO          MARVEL
GUNDAR!             DITKO              MARVEL
THE CAVE OF SHAGGDORR!    DON HECK      MARVEL
MIDNIGHT IN THE WAX MUSEUM   KIRBY & AYERS   MARVEL
WORK OF ART!   LARRY LIEBER & SOL BRODSKY  MARVEL
MY PAL JEREMY!    OGDEN WHITNEY              ACG
LAND OF MY DREAMS!    PAUL REINMAN            ACG?
SPOOK DETECTIVE!    TOM HICKEY                ACG
RACE INTO THE UNKNOWN!["FANFARE SERIES"]
BACK THROUGH TIME!

And you  wonder why I grabbed this damaged freebie -the Ditko and Heck strips are classics!










SINISTER TALES
Well, as always, if you can identify where a strip came from or who drew it because you have these issues let me know! Let's get straight to the fun, shall we?


NO.54
NEMESIS;MENACE OF MAGIC    CHIC STONE                   ACG
THE REVENGE OF THE WOODEN WOMAN  DITKO   MARVEL
TARGET AND THE TARGETEERS      JOE CERTA
I WAS A PRISONER OF THE LIVING STATUES!  JOHN FORTE
I DARED TO DEFY MERLIN'S BLACK MAGIC   DITKO   MARVEL
T.V. INVASION  [TEXT]
AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT                                          MARVEL
LOOK OUT! IT'S...WILDFIRE!    EDD ASHE
GOOM!THE THING FROM PLANET X!  KIRBY& AYERS  MARVEL
PREVIOUS EXISTENCE

NO.75
THE SHADOW;SHIWAN KHAN'S MURDEROUS MASTER PLAN! ARCHIE
THE LONG SLEEP!       GRAY MORROW                      MARVEL
I CAME FROM THE BLACK VOID     DITKO                MARVEL
MAN ON THE SCAFFOLD!       DITKO                          MARVEL
THE FROZEN FRIGIDGARTUS [TEXT]
TANK TERROR         NICHOLAS ALASCIA                 CHARLTON
THE INVADERS                 DITKO                                   MARVEL
WAS HE JUST SEEING THINGS?       H459                    MARVEL
NOT NORMAL    EARLY[?] DITKO                                MARVEL
OPERATION BLACKSNAKE      DITKO                   CHARLTON
THE SHADOW;MARGO LANE'S HONEYMOON  REINMAN   ARCHIE


NO.100
FLY-MAN'S TREACHEROUS TEAM-MATES  REINMAN   ARCHIE
WHAT LURKS WITHIN?      KIRBY & AYERS["K+A"]   MARVEL
TROUBLE BUBBLE   [TEXT]
MR MIGGS FROM MERCURY!                                          ACG?
A FORTUNE IN BEANS!           DITKO                        MARVEL


NO.108
CURSE OF THE SEAL MEN [TEXT]  RICHARD KRAUS
X-MEN;WHAT IS..THE POWER?  NEAL ADAMS & TOM PALMER  MARVEL
X-MEN;THE MILLION DOLLAR ANGEL   WERNER ROTH & VINCE COLLETTA                                                MARVEL
X-MEN;WHERE ANGELS DARE TO TREAD   ROTH & GRAINGER  MARVEL
X-MEN;THE FLYING A-BOMB!    ROTH & GRANGER    MARVEL
THE TREASURE OF PLANETOID 12!    DITKO                  MARVEL
THE MANIKINS!               DITKO                                         MARVEL
THE MAN WHO HATED MONSTRO!   PAUL REINMAN  MARVEL
THE DREAM CREATURES    CONSTANZA?                      ACG?


NO.117
DAREDEVIL;THE MYSTERIOUS MATADOR!   WOOD   MARVEL
JINGLES & WILD BILL HICKOK;CARNIVAL OF FEAR   S1130
MY SON THE CREATURE    PAUL REINMAN
CLEVER CARAVAN  [TEXT]
OLD CAP HAWKINS' TRUE TALES  R.S.RIOUS[?]
TEXAS RANGERS IN ACTION;THE OWLHOOT RANGER      PAM [PETER A MORISI]                                                        CHARLTON
BARTON STREET                  A-4129                            CHARLTON
MESSAGE FROM  THE BEYOND  REINMAN


NO.144
THUNDERBOLT;THE EVIL THAT IS EVILA!  PAM    CHARLTON
THE ATMOSPHERE                           A-5262                 CHARLTON
THE THREAT!        L886
JU-JU!          L-406
THE NIGHT OF MARCH 5TH       ROBERT Q  SALE     MARVEL?
IT GROWS ON TREES!           G-87
THOSE WHO DISAPPEAR!      JOHN FORTE
MISTER  MASON'S STRANGE PROBLEM     M112    MARVEL?
INSIDE THE IRON MAN        PAM                           CHARLTON
DON'T ANSWER THE PHONE!   GRAY MORROW?
I SAVED MANKIND!         JOHN FORTE                   MARVEL
PICTURES ON THE WALL   CONSTANZA                    ACG?
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN!     DICK AYERS             MARVEL
2PP AD FOR DENIS GIFFORD ALLY SLOPER T-SHIRT AND THE ALLY SLOPER NOSTALGIA COMIC [co-published by Alan Class & Gifford]


NO.208
THE GHOST CAME C.O.D.    M283
THE EERIE EXPERIMENT!     JOHN Q  SALE          MARVEL?
THE LAST PATROL!     PAUL REINMAN
TURN BACK THE CLOCK!   JAY SCOTT PIKE        MARVEL
THE GUERILLA!         T-234
I UNLEASHED SHAGG UPON THE WORLD!  KIRBY & AYERS   MARVEL
THE SECRET OF THE MYSTIC RING   ROBERT Q SALE  MARVEL?
WITHDRAWL!      DICK AYERS
THE ENEMY!        JOE ORLANDO        
I LEARNED THE MONSTROUS SECRET OF BOMBU!  KIRBY& AYERS    MARVEL


NO.214
DYNAMO;THE SECRET IS....       WOOD                        TOWER
THE MAN IN THE IRON BOX!       T-230
DYNAMO;DYNAMO'S DAY OFF!    CHIC STONE          TOWER
ESCAPE TO TOMORROW     PAUL REINMAN
THE CREATURES FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT!   DITKO
THE WORLD THAT WAS LOST!    KIRBY & AYERS      MARVEL
DYNAMO;THE WEAKEST MAN IN THE WORLD!   CHIC STONE  TOWER


NOTE; It is quite likely that the text stories are from Charlton as in at least two the Phantom Traveller is illustrated -ditto text stories from other Class Comics!
 
SECRETS OF THE UNKNOWN
Where-ever possible I have noted the comic company where the strip originated.  If I cannot then I'll identify, if possible, the artist.

If anyone can add to this list and provide cover scans please get in touch!


No.104
THE JAGUAR'S LAST STAND     artist:Constanza      ARCHIE
THE LIVING PROOF                     "      :Pete Tomlinson     ATLAS
THE MERRY-GO-ROUND            strip code G216
FROM OUT OF THE SMOG              "           G733
JAGUAR;THE LADY GODIVA                                        ARCHIE
OF ELEPHANTS
THE RAG DOLL!                              TARTAGLIONE       ATLAS
THE MOVING WALLS                                      L-778
THEY VANISH AT NIGHT              TARTAGLIONE
JAGUAR;TIME OUT FOR TERROR                                        ARCHIE
THE DEEP FREEZE                                                 G83           ATLAS
THE INVENTORS                              BILL BEMIKS
FAIR EXCHANGE                                                    G181          ATLAS


NO.139
THE MAN IN THE SKY                                            J581          ATLAS
NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK                                      J797          ATLAS
THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF                  BILL WALTON            ATLAS
THE PEACE-MONGER                        PAUL REINMAN         ATLAS
THEY PASS BY NIGHT                                             G778
THE BLACK BEARD                            GRAY MORROW
THOSE WHO VANISH                         GRAY MORROW        ATLAS
THE TOTEM                                           BILL EVERETT
POWER! 
THE ONE WHO WATCHES                   GENE COLAN
WHEN THE YOGI SPEAKS!                                   L78
THE STRANGE SEED!                                             L56             ATLAS


NO.194
DYNAMO OPERATION ARMAGEDDON     WOOD           TOWER
LIGHTNING:THE AIR LASER              SEKOWSY             TOWER
NoMAN MEETS ANDOR                                                       TOWER
THE PHANTOM OF THE FARM!        B.KRIGSTEIN           ATLAS
THE MAN WHO DARED!                     DITKO                   MARVEL
I WALK THROUGH WALLS!              P. REINMAN
I LIVED A MILLION YEARS!              P. REINMAN


NO.206
VULCAN;FURY OF THE WAR GOD   FRACCIO & TALLARICO
                                                                                             CHARLTON
MAGIC IN THE CIRCUS [TEXT]
THE TWO-HEADED GLIP                                                 CHARLTON
MOON TRAP                                                                     CHARLTON
THE INCREDIBLE RULERS OF A.OG!                            CHARLTON
ACTION AT STATION 4!


NO.229
THUNDERBOLT:GORE THE MAN-APE   P.A.M.         CHARLTON
MURDOCK'S BRAIN!               JEF? EDWARDS             MARVEL
THE THOUGHT STEALER                                                  MARVEL
BEHIND THE MASK                  JERRY ROBINSON
WHO WAITS IN THE FOG!                                               MARVEL?
SECRET OF THE GLITTERING GLOB              
THE WAX MAN!                            RICHARD DOXSEE


NO.230
THE SHADOW:THE GAME OF DEATH      REINMAN        ARCHIE
NOT ALL GOLD GLITTERS
THE RETURN OF THE GORILLA-MAN    KIRBY                MARVEL
THE FLY;THE INVASION OF THE ROCKET MEN              ARCHIE
CREEPY WORLDS
Where-ever possible I have tried to identify the artist and originating company or strip reference number marked  on artwork by the company. If you can identify or have issues not on this site please get in touch.


NO.133
THE AVENGERS:MASTERS OF EVIL   KIRBY/STONE MARVEL
CONQUEST               LIEBER & BRODSKY     MARVEL
THE WISH [TEXT]
MEET MR MEEK         DON HECK                   MARVEL
NO HUMAN CAN BEAT ME     KIRBY              MARVEL
NO.138
CAPT ATOM:THE 5 FACES OF DR SPECTRO  DITKO  
                                                             CHARLTON
THE VOICE FROM NOWHERE  G.WOODBRIDGE
THE EDGE OF MADNESS   TARTAGLIONE
THE RECIPE [TEXT]   
MOON AHEAD                                 
THE NIGHTMARE MEN    MAC PAKULA
THE MAN WHO SAID "NO"    D. HECK         MARVEL?
DIVING DISASTER [TEXT]
PAID IN FULL!                     F689
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE U.F.O.?    A-4084 CHARLTON


NO.141
INSIDE THE HOUSE!               G968             MARVEL
ABRA CADABRA                      G920             MARVEL
THROUGH THE VEIL!     ROBERT Q. SALE        MARVEL
NIGHTMARE!                                               MARVEL
THE MAN WHO HAD NO FEAR  BILL FERULIS   "
[originally from JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #31]
NIGHTMARE AT NOON   A.TORRES                  MARVEL
MAN WITH WINGS                       K208          MARVEL
WHEN THE WALLS CLOSE IN!         K222        MARVEL
TIMETABLE               DAVY BERG  H451
WHEN DAVE OPENED THE DOOR JOE SINNOTT
THE OLD MAN'S SECRET  "SG"                        MARVEL


NO.165
THE FLY:LXO III'S SECRET WEAPON                ARCHIE
THE FLY:THE MAN WITH THE CHLORDANE HANDS!   "
LAST OF HIS KIND!    PETE CONSTANZA
THE CASE FOR E.S.P.!    CHIC STONE                 ACG?
THE FLY;THE CYCLOPS FROM SPACE              ARCHIE
ONE THIEVING CROW!   CONSTANZA                 ACG?


NO.204
BLUE BEETLE:THE EYE OF HORUS  FRACCIO & TALLARICO                                          CHARLTON
THE GLADIATOR'S WAR   F & T?               CHARLTON
ODD SKILLS  [TEXT]
FOR THE BIRDS  signature inelligible
FROM OUT OF NOWHERE!  DICK AYERS        MARVEL
"TRUE" GHOSTS OF HISTORY
GROTESQUE!             DICK AYERS?
THE BLANK            A. TORRES
HOTEL HOLD UP  [TEXT]
THE IRON BRAIN!      BILL FERULIS       MARVEL
           
           


IMPORTANT NOTE ON PRICING!

Oh boy.  When I first posted this the amount of vitriolic attacks against me on the internet by dealers I got -and still do- was unbelievable. And my comments at the end of this re-posting will serve as a warning.

Class Comics have suddenly become "collectible" according to certain sources, however, they were printed in their thousands.

I have seen issues offered for sale at £10, £15 and even £30 -do not buy them at this price!  It is also claimed that "pre-decimal currency" issues will set you back more and, although no. 1s should set you back about £5 if you really want them, the average price of purchasing these comics should be between £1.50 to £2.00 for the rarer ones.

As an example: Astounding Stories no.8, from a dealer who knows his stuff   -and this is a pre-decimal 1/- issue- for £1.50. Sinister Tales no. 54 [1/-],again, set me back....£1.50.  Sinister Tales no. 75 [1/-] cost me £1.50.  These are all pristine, good as new copies.

There is absolutely no reason to pay above these prices -many 1940s/1950s comics from the UK do not go above the £3.00 value mark. Of course, if you do pay large sums it simply encourages dealers to keep pushing up prices on comics which, for years, they would not even consider stocking because they were, to quote a shop owner, "cheap tat".

Pay proper prices and refuse to artificially boost prices.

YES! I WILL BUY CLASS COMICS!!

I am, obviously, open to buying Class Comics.  I'll buy slightly damaged copies at 50p each. Other ranges of quality I'll pay the accepted dealer price of £1.50 or £2.00 for the rarer issues.

Of course, if comics are to be sent via the postal system I will pay the postage.

Let me know what you have and if interested I will send, by mail, a letter quoting price agreed, etc.. A cheque covering postage and the agreed amount will be sent immediately upon receipt -having been ripped off by sending money in advance and getting nothing I have had to adopt this procedure.

You can contact me at the usual e-mail address.


You might get a bit bored with this but...as usual, I have tried to identify the artist[s]  and company.  I may get things wrong so if you have any of the issues mentioned and care to correct me please do!
If you have issues not mentioned here and can provide details -get in touch!
Up-date.
Some of the covers of Class Comics you see above I own.  I never pay more than £2.00 for a copy.  Yet some of these were sold for £15, £20 and even in three cases for £90 a copy. This is a scam.

I do not care one jot if the dealers dislike me. I do not like con-men.

I was contacted by several people who had paid these ludicrous prices and who now found that they had books people would not pay over £5 for let alone what they paid.  They had tried selling back to the dealers and were told "The market isn't there now" and when it was pointed out that these dealers were still selling Class Comics at high prices the response was: (1) "That's none of your business" and (2) "It's a sellers market".

Two of the people who contacted me did so at the suggestion of an auction house that sells comics because their valuation was the same as mine (or any honest dealer).

"Rare"/"Vintage"/"Extremely Rare"/"Highly Collectible" are phrases used.  All phrases the people contacting me fell for. I asked each "Why" they purchased the comics?  Because, I was told, they would be worth some money.  I'm glad people cannot hear you laugh at them over the internet.

"It has the Avengers on the front cover!" wrote one.  So what?  Putting a high price on a comic because it is a low quality, black and white reprint is not a sure sign of riches.  "It had the Fantastic Four on the front cover with the Sub-Mariner and the movies---" I'd have loved to have stopped them there. Even the first two Fantastic Four movies did not increase sales or make the comics more collectible -they are beingt given away now by the kilo!  The last FF movie died such a horrible death that fans will not even refer to it. And the Sub-Mariner movie?  Ever use the internet?  As I pointed out a couple yearsa back, there is no Sub-Mariner movie coming out.  They have even announced all Marvel movies for the next few years.  No Sub-Mariner movie.

You were conned.  Live with it and learn.

Class Comics are nostalgia for people who grew up reading them. I'm a die-hard Class fan and I've spoken to others and they'll pay £5.00 for a number 1 but that's it.

Please, do not be conned. You see the prices on Ebay or in certain shops that are over the suggested worth of the comic DO NOT BUY.  Once these people learn mugs are not there to be conned the prices will fall.  Remember: the comics are all black and white reprint material of US comics.  That's it.

Now, let the dealers hate me more.

2 comments:

  1. Nice article - I saw the vidoe you had and it was great to put a face to the man (he wasn't what I expected - he came over as a real gent - not enogh folk liek tht about)- I havent paid more than £3 for an Alan Class comic but seen them going for £15 - I actually got the Crusaders issues with "too many superheroes " story (issue 4 Ithink of the uS comic?) for £1 at a mart in Glasgow (along with a couple of others) yet the very same Alan Class issue was for sale at another stall for £7 (thais was back in 1990 ish) but £90 yeeechh!!!! great memories of those comics - I still recall my first Alan CLass comic was "Creepy Worlds" with and early Kirbys Avengers tale in it (from around 1968 ish) fighting Baron Zemo (still looking for another copy of that)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Comics are about. Generally comic marts (if you live in a city that has them -I don't) are best. No idea why people will pay so much unless it is down to stupidity! And, yes, he is a class act. Old time publisher. Pity that back in the day so many UK comic fanzines wouldn't support a "reprints merchant". Asses.

    ReplyDelete