.jpg) |
| Copyright REBELLION |
Long after the weekly SMASH! had shuffled off this mortal coil, JANUS STARK continued to thrill and amaze readers in the pages of VALIANT & SMASH!, as well as a few more annuals of his original comic's title. He was extremely popular abroad, and zee Frenchies had a licence to produce their own adventures of the character - some of which were re-lettered into English and published over here in the mid-'80s.
However, here is how he first began, way back in March 1969. As far as I know, this strip has only been reprinted once before - in a book called ALBION ORIGINS back in 2007. The pages which follow are scanned from my own first issue of the 'new' Smash!, and are presented here for your very own delight and delectation. (Which are essentially the same thing, but you know how I love alliteration.)
The awesome art is by the prolific SOLANO LOPEZ.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
I loved Smash (my favourite UK originated oomic ever along with Lion, Buster and Valiant) . Re the revamp perhaps IPC/Fleetway just were not comfortable with the US material and thought it may affect their other stable of comics (I think they liked the idea of havimng "companion" comics then and this fitted in as you say, with Valiant) also I read that the editor said he also he hated Ken Reids "Nerves" strip and ditched it asap. In addition first issues (in effect to kids I think we saw it as a new comic) sold better - whatever the reason I loved both version and the re vamp (sadly without Ken Reid for most of its run) was fantastic value - Baxendales " Sams Spook" was a forgotten gem and his "Swots and the Blots" were IMHO his best ever. Great stuff thanks for showing this takes me back (off to look out my old Smah comics now) McScotty
ReplyDeleteHi McScotty. IPC getting rid of the Marvel strips isn't what confuses me as regards the revamp. As I said, they could easily have got rid of them, (and I think the licence was up anyway - or just about to be) but still kept the comic looking the same. What I wonder about is whether the comic was selling well at the time or not.
ReplyDeleteThe usual procedure if it wasn't, was to merge it with another title and combine the readership of both comics. If it was, they usually left it alone, but did try out new strips from time to time.
However, if Smash! wasn't selling, to gut it and start again - and essentially give the comic a new and different identity, while keeping the old name - well, that's somewhat unusual to say the least. You'd think that with what amounted to a 'new' comic anyway, they'd give it a new name - the better to attract new readers.
So I guess it was selling - but to change it almost beyond recognition was quite a gamble as it could have killed it stone dead.
As far as I can remember, Smash! is the only comic that was ever given this treatment.
Sorry about that I really should read posts before commenting (got all excited over seeing Smash again) Perhaps a reason for keeping this one title from Odhams realted to the strange set up they had as a company,ie Odhams was a subsiduary (from the mid60s I think) of Fleetway/IPC and I think I read in a fanzine a while ago that within that arrangment the Power comics line were a seperate company so (clutching at straws) perhaps there was some "board room reason behind the scenes that meant they had to keep a title, then again like "ric mac" I dont know either but it is interesting I never thought of that issue. re revamps I never read the original TV21 (not posh enuff lol) but when IPC/Fleetway took that over they changed it to Valiant type format did the content not change quite a bit there (granted not like Smash) I seem to remember Star Trek being the only TV themed strip the rest were Marvel (strangely) reprints and fillers - McScotty
ReplyDeleteI suppose that TV21 was another comic that changed quite radically, but it happened gradually and seemed like a more natural evolution as Gerry Anderson's programmes waned on TV. Also, that 'Corgi Model Club News - Page 19' on the cover kind of gave it a constant identity, regardless of the contents. I suppose that Spidey counted as a TV character seeing as how his cartoon show was on TV at the time. (As were the Saint and Tarzan, I think - 'though only in repeats.)
ReplyDeletejanus stark
ReplyDeletewonderful.
Yup, not too shabby, eh?
ReplyDelete