Duffman_Comics

Don't often get a comic I feel is "thread worthy", but after today's incredibly well packed parcel from abracadabra I have to share this. Sure, there was a lovely run of "From Hells" and a couple of moderns but also along for the ride were a few Uncle Scrooges. This one is a stand out. Just a delightful book in hand. Thanks again, William:

I really like this thread. Best in the history of the interwebs? I have to remark though that I also have a huge need to read (and savour the illustrations) of: ""Madam Half-Caste" - She Led Her Guerilla Warriors In The Nude".

Well, I like these sort of books so stop playing in my backyard! Damn kids these days . . .

A lovely group shot, AJD. A set I'd be proud to call my own. You're in the A.C.T., right All kidding aside, this is one difficult accomplishment here. None of the Dell Four Colors ever appeared on publication in Australia. The stories were reprinted (many times) locally, but any originals, like AJD's, that found their way here were imported by collectors. Yes, internet has made it easier to do, but it still requires some dedication. So

great stuff! I quite forgot that City is a sequence of interlinked stories rather than a standard novel. In the end the ants take over the earth. Dammit!! Spoiler alert, please!!

Well now. That's a very "busy" background. Yet Vinnie "we don't need that, Stan" Colletta inked it. Makes me wonder what was omitted? Anyway enough of your fantastic high grade books, and allow me to pollute the thread with some more of my drek, to wit: The long march to Adventure continues. I must be sick to pay good money for the likes of these. Please also note the inability to maintain focus. One more appalling Doom Patrol book in the stash. Next up are Unearthly Spectaculars #1 (craptacular, actually), a pretty neat Strange Suspense Stories #77 (I have an abiding man-love for Ditko) and Two Gun Kid #70. A Marvel super-villain in a western setting. Finally, three Adventures (#429, 358 & 298).Filling more holes, and all the time wondering why I am doing it. Anyway, I now return you to your regular viewing of 9.8 stunners.

I hate hyperbole, but that is freaking AWESOME! Just when one thinks one has seen it all, BZ pulls another rabbit out of the hat Since the thread has taken a pulpish turn, I'd recommend this 1970 tome from Tony Goodstone. Reprints a wide variety of pulp yarns and has about 100 covers reproduced in colour - all the usual suspects. There are a few up on eBay at the moment, pretty cheap too.

Does anyone know where AussieRuss has been? Last post 14 March 2009, last response to a PM (of mine) 19 August 2009. I've PM'd since, they get read, but no response. Was it something I said, Russ? I know he's got a new baby (EDC 10.10.09), but if Thing can keep on truckin' with two of the rug rats . . .

I really like it - the voice of "Mister Ed"

In this case, I think that "looks good for its age" must be considered for understatement of the year! And from an eBay seller, too! Looks great for its age, would be infinitely more appropriate. Excellent grab, Andrew! Looks like a Barks' name on the box. Was that a Kelly or Carl Buettner joke or did Barks do the cover? I don't think it is a Barks cover - GCD doesn't note it as such - and his only "credit" seems to be something like a tribute from Buettner or Kelly (I'd favour the latter). Legend has it his editor(s) were none too happy with the display, but let it slide on the understanding "never again".

Well on the way!!

What a great book to kick off the quest, Andrew - Barks' only cover/story "credit". Only 99 more to go?

I see you had an earlier question, Andrew, that I ignored (Boofhead that I am). There were some EC reprints in Oz, but very, very few. I have this one: Now, this is a flimsy pamphlet of 24 pages, including covers, that reprints Campaign! and Grant! from Two Fisted Tales #31 and Warrior! from TFT #37. I get the impression that the Oz outlet was a little wary about these offerings in terms of a growing outcry regarding the evils of comic books here (as in the US) in the fifties. The upshot is that these reprints are heavily (and hamfistedly) censored from the originals. Forget white-out - we'll just excise entire panels - and leave the resulting blanks in the page

Well, that was fun, Andrew. I am jealousof the Captain Atom - I have been trying to get samples/representative copies for years without result. Some years ago I bumped into artist/writer Arthur Mather in Melbourne and didn't even think of asking if he had any available He just turned 84, so I'd better get cracking though . . .

Lastly, here's one that falls into the "Funny Animal" genre - as if Koalas weren't funny enough already.

It wasn't all spacemen and aeroplanes though. Golly, we even had Westerns, promoting Tex Morton who was actually born in New Zealand, and why did he have the nickname "Tex" - before he even visited the US of A? More cultural cringe from Downunder, I suppose.

Here's one of the oddities of OZ GA. "Tim Valour" was produced in a landscape format. The comic is hinged.staples at the top and has to be turned sideways to be read. Some may recognise the author - John Dixon went on to write and draw the very successful newspaper strip "Air Hawk and the Flying Doctors". In the early offering, his interest in aviation is already obvious.

Anyway, thanks to AJD I've dragged and scanned a few things GA that rarely see the light of day. First up is Silver Starr #5, done by arguably the best GA artist Oz produced, Stanley Pitt. He drew in a very Raymondesque style that later got him work with the "Big Two" - Marvel and DC.

Wait a minute - I resemble those remarks. I have a few things Boofhead around the place, and the closest analogy to a known US strip would be Carl Anderson's Henry both in concept and execution. A gentle gag strip of three or four panels each, drawn in a naive style. It ran in the local papers for almost 30 years until author Clark's death in 1970. It is reported that although it was a successful (and popular) offering, Clark was embarrassed by what he regarded as a his poor draughtsmanship. He wanted to take lessons to improve "the look" but his editors would have none of it - they knew the strip's appeal lay in its "basic" nature. Here's a scan of the cover of one of the collections and another that will give a flavour of its attraction:

Here you go: Linky

Back in the day, it was all about Joe - the original. Still got him.

Just found this this thread. I've posted these before, but the pics are still in 'Bucket so I'll let the ferrets out for another run. While these are definitely Silver I guess they fit the theme here: Before you ask, they are Batman #181, JLA #45, Metal Men #20 and World's Finest #158

Another nice book, Andrew - doesn't it make you wonder who Bill Vaughn is/was?

Agreed. Though technically, isn't it a Larsen copy?

GCD is your friend. Seems "Master of the Universe" was somewhat of a whore - bit like Tarzan as a licensed character. Many publishers, no "home". Marvel had the property (via Star) in 5/86 - 5/88 at least. DC had it 82/3 - in a period that covers the DC Comics Presents. Image had a crack 2002/2003 Mattel self published a buttload. Would be an interesting exercise to collect them all . . .