Thursday 4 September 2014

CLASSIC U.K. COMIC STRIPS: RAVEN ON THE WING...


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RAVEN On The WING was a very popular strip that appeared in VALIANT (published weekly by IPC MAGAZINES from 1962 to '76) for many years, featuring the adventures of a young gypsy boy who happened to be an amazingly gifted footballer.  Drawn regularly by the talented and prolific Argentinian artist FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ, this particular tale was published in the 1972 VALIANT & TV21 Summer Special.  Enjoy a taste of yesteryear - today! 





14 comments:

John Pitt said...

This strip doesn't ring any bells with me, even though I regularly bought Vaiant in the late sixties.
My favourite story came from '65 - a schoolmate told me of these monsters that were " ....even better than the Daleks.... " So I just HAD to check them out! They were in the Steel Claw and were like a huge head with one giant eye in the middle and moved about on spider legs. I can't remember what they were called. ( Does anyone know? ). I'd love to see this story again. Along with the Beezer's Jellymen, some of the UK's greatest original monster comic creations!

klaus said...

Francisco Solano López is not a prolific Spanish artist: he was an prolific Argentine artist, man!

Kid said...

Can anyone put a name to the creatures of JP's comic-buying youth? I don't think I remember them.

******

Klaus, just checking you were paying attention. (Cough!) Duly amended.

Unknown said...

Klaus the Steel Claw aliens were called the "Kraniums"

You can check them out via the link below (lots of good Steel Claw stuff there)

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=the+steel+claw&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=75A3D41857C8CD56B6C003B7A516C69636D90465&selectedIndex=7

Kid said...

McScotty, the person looking for info on the Kraniums is JP, not Klaus.

You can check it out in the comments above. (Hee hee. Ta, McS.)

Unknown said...

Oooops sorry JP and Klaus (was in a rush as I typed that reply).

I loved these old football strips and "Raven on the Wing" was one of my favourites and it seemed to run for years (only "Hot Shot Hamish" topped it for me). As always excellent artwork by the late great Solano Lopez - I remember some of the regular weekly "Raven" strips having a bit of a mystical edge to them - great stuff there should be a "Raven on the Wing" collection, UK comics were so good at this time with some really amazing UK and overseas talent sigh!

Maybe its just me but "Jo Hagen" could be a contender for a "Babe of the Day" slot??

I seem to recall Solano drew a similar football strip (possibly in the Buster or Lion) that had the word "Wizard" in the title does anyone recall that one?

Anonymous said...

Wow, that's one helluva long link on Paul's comment !

Kid said...

Off the top of my head, McScotty, I think Raven lasted 'til around 1974. Glad to know that I wasn't the only one thinking that Jo's a bit of a babe. Amazing the effect a drawing can have, eh? I can't think what the other football strip is you allude to, but I'll probably remember it once I'm reminded of the name.

******

Knowing McScotty, CJ, it'll no doubt be worth it.

John Pitt said...

McScotty, you are a star, sir! Thanks a lot ( been looking for a few years!)
Kid's blog saves the day!!

Kid said...

Happy to take any credit going, JP - even if I don't deserve it.

Unknown said...

Found an answer to my own question on the Buster fan site (in case anyone was looking for it as well) - the other Solano Lopez football strip I was looking for was called the "Wizard of Football! (considering I had the word "Wizard" and the strip was about football I really should has sussed that out quicker :) )

That link JP, Colin has an amazing amount of Steel Claw strips - I ve been reading them on and off this week was weird that one of them dealt with the "Kraniums"

Kid said...

I was wrong, McScotty - I still don't remember it. I'll have to go and look at an example. The Buster site is great, but it didn't appear to have been updated in some time when I last looked, sadly.

Unknown said...

The BUSTER site only has the logo on it for that strip Kid

Peter Gray's site had a few pages but sometimes they don't seem to appear (404 etc) but saw them yesterday - But the links here if you get a chance

http://petergraycartoonsandcomics.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/solano-lopezs-busters-wizard-of.html

Kid said...

Ta, McScotty.



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