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    

 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.  21^st 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 17^th 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 12^th 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.