Vampirella (UK, 1975)

I've only recently discovered that there was a UK version of Vampirella magazine. Published by IPC in 1975 it lasted just 4 issues and was presumably Warren reprints all the way - rather than new, UK originated material.

All images from this ebay seller

Frank Hampson art

These magnificent Frank Hampson pieces were up for sale recently and I'm just using the blog to record their existence (and hammer price). Sold on 7th October 2025 by auctioneer Sworders in their 'Modern & Contemporary art' auction.

Digby

size is 35.5cm x 25.5cm

Hammer price = £500

Dan Dare

size is 41cm x 29cm

Hammer price = £750

The Mekon

size is 41cm x 29cm
Hammer price = £950

All other mentions of Frank Hampson on the blog can be found here

All other mentions of Dan Dare Hampson on the blog can be here found here

Stan Lee book signing - 1975

A look, for posterity, at this recent excellent item sold by (always interesting auction house) Excalibur Auctions (here). The hammer price was £110.

It's a photo album commemorating the Stan Lee book signing for Captain Britain launch. It was held on the Charing Cross Road in October 1975.

Aly Fell & Ken Reid

I've looked at 'letters from the editor' a couple of times (here and here) and I've now (c/o amazing comic artist Ally Fell) been provided with a 3rd example. 

Aly got a letter because he'd suggested a 'World-Wide Weirdie' to be drawn by Ken Reid and, whatdayaknow, he got chosen! 

I'm indebted to Paul Griffiths for the cover scan of Whoopee! from 13th September 1975

You can follow Aly here here and here - he's great!

Mike Noble - Look-in

I've started (thanks to friend of the blog Bill Storie) showcasing just some of the art of Mike Noble. I've grouped together the images into a number of 'themes'...

Captain Scarlet was here

Look and Learn was here

and now we have Look-in...

That'll be the day!

A rarity/oddity from June 1975...a one-off tabloid sized comic (from Fleetway) all about the (then) upcoming referendum on 5th June 1975. Artists include Alf Saporito & Martin Honeysett. 

My thanks for Steve Marchant for highlighting the existence of this comic to me - all the scans are his too. Someone recently donated a copy to the Cartoon Museum and Steve kindly took these images.

Like he said, not much info available about this online, I'd love to know more about it - can you help? 

UPDATED: Buster Puzzle Books - incomplete listing, can you help?

Spotted this on ebay the other day and I thought I'd see if I could scoop up images of the cover of the 'Buster puzzle book' as they were a series I'd not come across before. Here's what I've found so far...The series ran from 1975 to at least 1985...

Now added in the 1976 special (thanks to Cristiano Pereira) - so that just leaves 1980 and 1986+ to find 

Buster puzzle book 1975 (25p)

Buster puzzle book 1976 (25p) 



Buster puzzle book 1977 (30p)

Buster puzzle book 1978 (35p)

Buster puzzle book 1979 (40p)

Buster puzzle book 1980 (??p)
no image to hand

Buster puzzle book 1981 (45p)

image c/o Comics UK website

Buster puzzle book 1982 (50p)

Buster puzzle book 1983 (50p)

Buster puzzle book 1984 (55p) 

Buster puzzle book 1985 (60p) - on the right

UPDATED: Denis Gifford books

Having recently failed to acquire this book below it made me wonder of there are any other Denis Gifford books I don't know about out there.

So I thought I'd better see what books I think exist and then see if anyone can spot any gaps, right then, in date order we have as follows...

New addition this time is a collection of comics reprints.

A). Comic reference books

Discovering comics (1971)

Stap me! The British newspaper strip (1971)

The British comic catalogue 1874-1974 (1975)

Happy days - one hundred years of comics (1975)

(published by Jupiter books)

Victorian comics (1976)

British comics and storypaper guide! 1982

The international book of comics (1984)

This book is available with a variety of covers and comes in softback and hardback...

First up a WH Smith exclusive (softback)

Next up a WH Smith exclusive (hardback)

Next, normal edition (hardback)

Next, normal edition (softback)

and then there's this edition too...(softback, 1990)

The complete catalogue of British comics (1985)

Encyclopedia of comic characters (1987)

Happy days - one hundred years of comics (1988)

(published by Bloomsbury books)

Comics at war (1988)

The Eagle book of cutaways (1988)

The best of Eagle annual, 1951-1959 (1989)

The story paper price guide (1989)

The comic art of Charlie Chaplin (1989)

The international book of comics (1990)

The best of Girl annual, 1952-1959 (1990)

Christmas comic posters (1991)

Discovering comics (1991)

Super Duper Supermen! (1992)

(also available as a book of postcards)

Space aces! (1992)

(also available as a book of postcards)

B). Other Denis Gifford books with comic content

Run, Adolf, run: the world war two fun book (1975)

Stewpot's fun book (1977)

The Morecambe and Wise comic book! (1977)

Quick on the draw (1978)

Eric and Ernie's TV fun book (1978)

The two Ronnies comic book! (1978)

C). Catalogues of Denis Gifford's collection

Here are some more images relating to the book that made me write this post initially...

And now a book in Italian...

and now we can add in another Denis Gifford production from 1975...a one-off this, yes, it's "Penny comics of the thirties". A 2nd volume was planned but never produced.