The Distribution of US Published Comics in the UK (1959~1982) 15 15

[Malacoda]

On 9/13/2021 at 7:00 AM, nmtg9 said:

In the late seventies my dad was young policeman and worked a lot of night shifts. 

Can't remember which day of the week it would be but he would leave a pile on the TV for me when I woke up for school. The wholesalers was on his beat so when they came in he would get first pick of titles. 

So that sounds to me like they would arrive weekly at the wholesalers, at least in Middlesbrough in the late seventies. 

Thanks for this. Just to be sure: were these definitely the US Marvels? Not the UK reprints? 

[Get Marwood & I]

On 9/14/2021 at 10:18 AM, Malacoda said:

 

I used to love it when movies would come back round as double bills, usually linked by absolutely nothing except that they were made by the same studio or had the same distributor (as here, Columbia).  Sometimes the films married up didn't even have the same certificate. 

I distinctly remember seeing the first 2 Spidey 'movies' (they were actually episodes of the TV series bolted together), but I don't know anyone who saw this one: 

 

 

I did 

Me brother was bang into Kung-Fu at the time so it was a must see. 

Some great acting in it too - nothing screams that you're trying not to crap yourself louder than fiddling with your tie 

[Malacoda]

On 9/13/2021 at 8:10 PM, Garystar said:

In Gloucester where I lived in the 70s Marvels became available in most newsagents from August 1974 (immediately after the 4 month period when no Marvels were distributed). I used to spend my pocket money buying every issue each month. Whilst I can’t recall what day of week they arrived I can say with certainty the whole months worth turned up on the same day monthly and bi-monthly titles. This was the case throughout the 70s. 

Thanks Gary.  That's how I remember it too.  Not every outlet got the new comics on the same day, but when they did, it was out with the old and in with the new at the same time (supporting the idea that the returns were exchanged for the new ones). 

That period you're referring to (April to July 1974) could give the 66'ers some competition as the most interesting hiatus.  From our perspective, it seems like chaos that none of our comics came in at all but actually it's a weird moment of stability.  From Aug 1971 to March 1981, Marvel production is in such a state of chaos that the same number of titles is almost never produced from one month to the next, in a constant storm of cancellations and new titles.  In that whole decade, there is only one moment when exactly the same number of titles is produced for 3 months running. And I'll give you three guesses when that is. 

The fact that production stabilises with no cancellations and no new titles (only Doc Strange which was hardly new) at exactly the moment that all exportation to the UK ceases seems like one Hell of a coincidence to me. Given the US increase to 25c is matched with a UK increase to 7p and then almost immediately to 8p and again to 9p, it seems likely that part of the hiatus was choosing a new price.  Another interesting point is that when the Marvels return, they have that 'Marvel All Colour Comics' banner which is an almost unique incidence of the Pembertons getting one over on Ray Wergan. With Al Landau in the driving seat at Marvel, the UK reprints were always first up and best dressed, but this is the one time I can think of when World were given a fair shake. 

[porcupine48]

On 9/14/2021 at 5:52 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

I did 

Me brother was bang into Kung-Fu at the time so it was a must see. 

Some great acting in it too - nothing screams that you're trying not to crap yourself louder than fiddling with your tie 

I have a copy of this on vhs

[Get Marwood & I]

On 9/14/2021 at 5:39 PM, porcupine48 said:

I have a copy of this on vhs

Did you buy it Jim, or did you HI-YAH it 

 

 

[porcupine48]

On 9/14/2021 at 1:27 PM, Get Marwood & I said:

Did you buy it Jim, or did you HI-YAH it 

 

 

Ninja Hoe the hoe ninja named hoe that is a big hoe hoe-ya'd it but I don't think I showed you those comics yet?

[Get Marwood & I]

On 9/14/2021 at 6:29 PM, porcupine48 said:

Ninja Hoe the hoe ninja named hoe that is a big hoe hoe-ya'd it but I don't think I showed you those comics yet?

Once again in Cantonese Jim.

[porcupine48]

Off topic but while you're here I was going through some UK Marvels from Kev I think and found a few mag sized Aussie Spideys! 

Have to wait on pics of those,but near same sized as the Mighty Marvel Hulk ect British books I have

[porcupine48]

On 9/14/2021 at 1:30 PM, Get Marwood & I said:

Once again in Cantonese Jim.

Manderin is all I got

Ninja Hoe 锄头忍者，名叫锄头，是个大锄头，是的，但我想我还没给你看过那些漫画？

[Get Marwood & I]

On 9/14/2021 at 6:33 PM, porcupine48 said:

Manderin is all I got

Ninja Hoe 锄头忍者，名叫锄头，是个大锄头，是的，但我想我还没给你看过那些漫画？

The orange segments?

Post the Aussie Spideys over in the Aussie thread Jim. Bout time it saw some action. 

[porcupine48]

On 9/14/2021 at 1:35 PM, Get Marwood & I said:

The orange segments?

Post the Aussie Spideys over in the Aussie thread Jim. Bout time it saw some action. 

I'll do me besters when the phone picture taker thing gets back home

[nmtg9]

On 9/14/2021 at 10:21 AM, Malacoda said:

Thanks for this. Just to be sure: were these definitely the US Marvels? Not the UK reprints? 

Definitely US Marvel. 

Seeing other people responses since I've posted has made me think. This was 42 years ago and I was 7. Maybe they didn't come in every week. Can't ask my dad anymore and it's possible we can't trust my memory after all this time. 

[Malacoda]

On 9/15/2021 at 7:25 AM, nmtg9 said:

Definitely US Marvel. 

Seeing other people responses since I've posted has made me think. This was 42 years ago and I was 7. Maybe they didn't come in every week. Can't ask my dad anymore and it's possible we can't trust my memory after all this time. 

Given that most actual sources are gone, I think the great strength of this board on topics like this is for all of us to say what we remember and see if it gels with what other people remember and actually makes sense.  We all need to stick our necks out. 

I suspect that your memory is accurate - that your Dad did pick up a bunch of US Marvels for you, (maybe not?) every week, directly from the wholesaler in Middlesborough, so 7 year old you assumed they came in like that, which is certainly how my mind worked at that age ('I experience it as this, therefore it is this'). Love to know how he avoided duplication, but then your Dad sounds like a pretty cool dad. 

I also suspect that if your Dad was getting them directly from the wholesaler because he was on friendly terms with them on his beat, some of them might have been returns, which at minimum doubles the frequency.  

[David Buck]

apologies if I am repeating something that I found on here in the first place but I think it was actually an amazon recommendation instead where I learned of it., Alan Austin's memoir - a bargain at 77p on Kindle, I've just started reading it and am enjoying it, I read his interesting fiction collection on the adventures of a secondhand bookdealer which I can also recommend first - I'm sure the main participants here are aware of it but some people enjoying the thread may not be

 

[Malacoda]

On 9/15/2021 at 9:21 PM, David Buck said:

apologies if I am repeating something that I found on here in the first place but I think it was actually an amazon recommendation instead where I learned of it., Alan Austin's memoir - a bargain at 77p on Kindle, I've just started reading it and am enjoying it, I read his interesting fiction collection on the adventures of a secondhand bookdealer which I can also recommend first - I'm sure the main participants here are aware of it but some people enjoying the thread may not be

 

 

Agree David. I'm very much enjoying it at the mo.  Also, just in case anyone here is more old school than Kindle (what are the chances?) it's only £3.73 in paperback.

Edited September 15, 2021 by Malacoda

[nmtg9]

Oh didn't know about this. Ordered. And yes, I'm old school and prefer paperback when it comes to books. Maybe the only area of my life that hasn't gone digital yet. 

[Garystar]

On 9/15/2021 at 11:21 PM, David Buck said:

apologies if I am repeating something that I found on here in the first place but I think it was actually an amazon recommendation instead where I learned of it., Alan Austin's memoir - a bargain at 77p on Kindle, I've just started reading it and am enjoying it, I read his interesting fiction collection on the adventures of a secondhand bookdealer which I can also recommend first - I'm sure the main participants here are aware of it but some people enjoying the thread may not be

 

Wasn’t aware, thanks for tip. Will be ordering this - I wasn’t a regular reader of fantasy/comics unlimited but I did buy (and still have) Alan’s price guides and index’s. 

[Malacoda]

Hey DC fans, I have a question if you can point me in the right direction, please.  After the Donenfelds were escorted off the premises in 1968, who took over Irwin's role at DC?  Harry D and Jack Liebowitz were already gone.  Harold Chamberlin took over at IND (for the short period it lasted), but who took over at DC?  Thanks

Edited September 24, 2021 by Malacoda

[Get Marwood & I]

On 9/24/2021 at 9:07 PM, Malacoda said:

Hey DC fans, I have a question if you can point me in the right direction, please.  After the Donenfelds were escorted off the premises in 1968, who took over Irwin's role at DC?  Harry D and Jack Liebowitz were already gone.  Harold Chamberlin took over at IND (for the short period it lasted), but who took over at DC?  Thanks

I don't know myself Rich, sorry, but someone here likely will. May I say though, it's the sort of question I've come to expect you to be answering, not asking 

[Malacoda]

On 9/25/2021 at 9:00 AM, Get Marwood & I said:

I don't know myself Rich, sorry, but someone here likely will. May I say though, it's the sort of question I've come to expect you to be answering, not asking 

I know.  Actually, I don’t think there was one as such.  Irwin Donenfeld was Editorial Director in 1952 and became Executive Vice President in 1958.  I think Jack Liebowitz officially retired in 1965 but was still on the board at DC and stayed on as ‘publisher’ which is a very ill defined term. Carmine Infantino was promoted to Art Director in 1966, then to Editorial Director (Irwin’s old title) after Kinney took over in 1967. He then became Publisher in 1971 and was replaced by Jenette Kahn in 1976.

The key thing for me is that with the Donenfeld’s gone in 1967, IND and DC became much more separate under Kinney’s reign at National. This, rather than all the changes at Marvel (Sparta/Cadence/Curtis) is actually the key moment in the Marvel explosion of 1968.

 

Edited September 25, 2021 by Malacoda