Thursday 25 February 2021

WHEN UNCANNY TALES WAS A STAPLE REQUIREMENT...

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Regular rabid readers of my worthy words of wisdom (I don't get another reality pill for an hour or two) may remember me saying a couple of posts back that I managed to obtain a replacement for my original copy of Creepy Worlds #130 recently, along with Uncanny Tales #91 and Suspense #121, both of which I thought I already had.  Well turns out I didn't, so I can only assume that I once had them, or that the covers were familiar to me through reprints of them in my DC Comics collected volumes of Thunder Agents.

If I did once have the Suspense issue (and I think I did), it would've been a mid to late '70s printing priced at 10p (not 6p), and the same goes for the Uncanny Tales issue, though I couldn't swear I actually had that one (though I've got the original Tower Comics mag).  The interesting thing about the latter ish is that it's not square-bound, instead being a traditionally folded and spine-stapled comic just like regular Marvel and DC publications, which makes me wonder why.  Was it a try-out that was abandoned because it didn't seem as thick (and therefore less value for money) as its square-bound counterparts, or was it a one-off because they'd run out of glue on the day it was printed?

I don't recall ever seeing another Alan Class comic with staples as opposed to glue and wonder if any Crivvies have ever come across such a thing?  If so, spill the beans and enlighten us with your knowledge and insight, o faithful seeker and sharer of truth - it wouldn't be fair to let us wallow in our ignorance.  The comments section awaits your august presence.

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Copyright MARVEL COMICS

9 comments:

Phil S said...

Yet again you manage to find a comic I don’t recall seeing . Hey I follow Tony Isabella on Facebook and he talked about editing Marvel UK and the famous Spider-man giveaway bag mask! He was worried us kiddies would somehow hurt ourselves with the mask but the UK people told him don’t worry it’s only a paper bag.

Kid said...

I have fond memories of MWOM and SMCW, but looking at them now, they have a 'makeshift' quality about them. I presume that was down to Mr. Isabella's editing 'skills', if he was working on them at the time. Someone's surely to blame.

Colin Jones said...

Kid, did you know that today is the 50th anniversary of Mr. Benn's first appearance on BBC One?

Kid said...

I did, yes - Left a comment on a blog mentioning it yesterday, CJ.

Kid said...

Tell a lie - it was two days ago. What was the blog? Strange Tales - it's in my blog-list.

Colin Jones said...

I've just read that comment, Kid. I'd only just turned five when Mr. Benn began so it's possible I watched the original broadcasts as I probably didn't start school for another few months. Amazingly, only 13 episodes were ever made but they were repeated ad infinitum so it seemed like a lot more. I only know about the 50th anniversary because the new issue of SFX magazine (which I bought this morning) has an article about it (which I'll read in depth later when I have more time).

Kid said...

If I ever saw any episodes when they were first broadcast, CJ, I've forgotten, as I only remember seeing them in my present house when they'd have been repeats. I've got quite a few dvds of classic shows - Bagpuss, Captain Pugwash, Mr. Benn, Paddington, etc., but I still haven't watched them, even though I've had them for years. One day maybe.

McSCOTTY said...

I had Suspense 121 until quite recently - I gave it and some other comics to a local charity shop - pity if had know you could have had my copy. I didn't realise Tony Isabella edited issue 1 of SMCW , I thought the early Marvels especially the paper covers , were really well presented / edited maybe not as slick as todays PC inspired standards but very nice indeed (the free gift was total pants as were most of them) - certainly after 2 years in some Marvel weeklies were a total shambles.

Kid said...

I'm not sure that Tony Isabella was involved with the UK Marvels as early as that, McS, it may have been later. However, whoever it was, they deserve a kick up the backside for the way these classic tales were cropped in some panels to fit the UK page size better. Having said that, I thought the early issues were great at the time, but once the colour disappeared from the insides, the mags lost some of the magic.



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