When Tiger comic was just an idea

I spotted this auction too late to be able to highlight it on the blog in time but, for posterity, here are some images from a recent sale that are sure to be of interest to British comic fans...

The lot (200a) sold on 6th January 2024 by Bentley's Auction Rooms in Cranboo, Kent was described thus...

Roy of the Rovers: The collection of the late Derek Birnage, head of the team that created this iconic comic footballing hero, editor of 'Tiger' and 'Champion' comics, writer of the Roy of the Rovers scripts from 1954 -1959, to include original 1st edition 'Tiger' paste-up. bound comics, loose comics, letters, press cuttings, Birnage's typewriter he wrote the scripts on, etc. Provenance: Consigned by the family of Derek Birnage, a unique and rare collection and once in a lifetime opportunity for Roy of the Rovers fans and collectors. The vendor is happy to be contacted by the successful buyer, should they have any questions or require furthering information on its history.

Image on the left clearly shows the 'paste up' version of the dummy issue of Tiger - although at that time its proposed title was Champion. I wonder if this was a suggested re-launch for the ailing story paper The Champion which was just about still in existence (until 19 March 1955 says Wikipedia here - when it merged with Tiger)?

Perhaps the idea of changing from a story paper to a comic was too much for (The) Champion and instead a wholly new title, Tiger, was launched (in September 1954) and The Champion closed down shortly afterwards (in March 1955).

Image on the right shows a copy of Tiger issue 1, dated 11 September 1954

You'll see that Melchester Rovers aren't in their classic yellow & red colours, instead they're playing in pink & blue.

Presumed second page of the dummy (coloured), undated.

There are small differences in the final 2 frames to what was eventually published. This page was eventually published in black & white NOT in colour.

and there's also this...which can't be part of the dummy because it's got the actual publication date (11 September 1954) and there are no differences in this page to what was eventually published

A copy of Tiger issue 1

More pages from the dummy - albeit with the correct publication date again noted so maybe this is a 2nd 'dummy'?

Here's that Dodger Caine page from Tiger #1 [pages 18+19, of 20] 

Sportsfan looks like another dummy for a comic. Never published. a 4d price on it makes it later than the launch of Tiger (which was priced at 3d in 1954) and wouldn't go up to 4d until 1956. Art looks like Joe Colquhoun.

Clippings to do with Derek Birnage

his typewriter!

Bound copies from his collection

A box of ephemera related to Derek and his work - would love to know more about what was in this box!

The hammer price for all the above? £3,600 (before fees)

Derek Arthur William Birnage (13th June 1913 – 18th January 2004) was the founding editor of Tiger, and co-creator of Roy of the Rovers. You can read an obituary by Alan Woollcombe for The Independent here.

Rockfist Rogan - the novels

To celebrate completing my 'collection' of Rockfist Rogan novels I thought I'd share the covers of these rare volumes with you...

For those not in the know Rockfist was an RAF fighter and champion boxer who appeared in The Champion, a boys story paper from the Amalgamated Press (which ran from 28/01/22 to 19/03/55). The stories were written by 'Hal Wilton' (actually legendary British comics writer Frank S. Pepper - creator of Roy of the Rovers and Captain Condor).

There were 3 'tie-in' books published
Rockfist Rogan
Rockfist in the kingdom of the Khan
Rockfist at the North Pole

The stories in this volume are as follows:
The jet-plane spy
Hunting the Hawk
Peril in the explosives factory
What's wrong with Rockfist?
The gold pirates
A shock for Rockfist
A Goal0Break
The land of skulls
The truth about the Tortillo affair

All of these were originally published in The Champion
The book is 135 pages long and the cover picture is from a painting by R. Simmons

Painting is, again, by R. Simmons. Stories had appeared [in their original forms it says - suggesting that perhaps they've been re-written for this novelisation] in The Champion.

There's an ad in the back of here for the 'Rockfist Club', it says "...to enrol and obtain the fine badge together with a Membership Card and a free copy of the Rockfist Gen Book all you need do is send 1/6 and a stamped self addressed envelop to the Secretary of the Rockfist club c/o Stuart Pepper & Son, London Road, Billericay, Essex"

Painting is, again, by R. Simmons. Stories had appeared [in their original forms it says - suggesting that perhaps they've been re-written for this novelisation] in The Champion.

Advertised but not appearing titles were
Rockfist King of the cannibals
Rockfist Rohan - Spy Hunter


All 3 novels are undated and normally cost £20-£30 in their dustwarppers.