© Adrian Banfield, 2008.
This page is spilt into three sections. The first part lists other British comic and other useful websites, whilst the second part is a selection of British comic reference works. The third section is to thank various sponsers and individuals.
Links to other British Comic websites
Bear AlleySteve Holland is well known in British Comic circles for publishing various reference books. (For further information please see the second section below). But he also writes a daily illustrated blog devoted entirely to British Comics. Previous blogs have looked at characters, artists, comic news, new comic collections, projects Steve is currently working on and new published comics such as the revived Dan Dare written by Gareth Ennis, illustrated beautifully by Gary Erskine and published by Virgin Comics. You didn't know! The comic's a cracking read, go buy it!
But whatever Steve is writing about, you know it will be well researched, written and entertaining.
Vic Whittle's site is a companion website to mine. Whereas my site looks at two of D.C. Thomson's first strip comics, Vic's British Comics website tells the story of the earlier D.C. Thomson's adventure paper comics for example, Adventure, Hotspur, Rover, Skipper and Wizard. Want to know about Commando comics (including new issues being published) or any of the Fleetway comics such as Battle Picture Library, Combat Picture Library and so on? You'll find all the information you need on Vic's site.
Talking of D.C. Thomson I would be remiss if I didn't mention their website. After all, without them, those of us lucky to have read or are re-reading the comics or those of you reading them for the first time, would be missing out on so much fun and enjoyment!
British Library's website, comic collection
Fed up with trying to locate that elusive comic or paying over the odds for particular issues? Then this next site is probably for you. It is a well kept secret that The British Library holds many complete runs of British comics. And not only can you view the comics, you can also have a photocopy or scanned copy for a small charge. (Only one story from each comic though, so as to not infringe copyright laws). At the present time they are kept at the Colindale Newspaper Library, at Colindale, North London, but are being moved at some point to the main British Libary next to St. Pancras station. Note, I believe that the various annuals are already located at the latter location. Please also note that it is inadvisable to just turn up on the day, and you need to provide two documents for example, your passport and a utility bill to prove your identity. It's worth reading the British Library's guidelines carefully before you make your journey. (Another tip is to order up to four items several days before your visit and bring a pencil, pens are not allowed in the libraries, but I believe laptops are).
Enquires that I have made to other countries national libraries to find out if they hold copies of The Victor and The Hornet has so far produced the following information:-
Australia:- National Library of Australia catalogue. This library has a complete collection of The Hornet, but not The Victor.
New Zealand:- Sadly, neither of the comics are held in any national library in New Zealand.
This also appears to be the case for India, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa, Cyprus, Malta and Canada. If anyone knows differently, or knows of a library that holds either comic please let me know.
Want to find out about a particular artist and see some examples of their work? This is a useful site providing a listing of artists with brief biographical information and examples of their comic work. Lambiek.net is also a famous comic shop in Amsterdam, Holland.
If your looking to start or even expand your comic graphic novels this publisher is a good place to start. They publish collections of Modesty Blaise, Dan Dare, The Complete Frank Bellamy Robin Hood, Charley's War, Albion Origins and the newly published Achtung Commando book and many others.
If you read British comics today then the chances are high that the above website link will be familiar to you. If your new to 2000AD and its marvellous characters such as Judge Dredd, Johnny Alpha, Sinster Dexter, Savage and so on, you can catch up on previous thrills by purchasing graphic novels from this site.
I confess that I haven't viewed every nook and cranny of this large and well run website, but from what I've read it's of great value to any comic enthusiast. Run by John Freeman he says his 'site was originally created to be a resource base for people seeking comics artists and writers but has mushroomed over the years to deliver British comics news, and a home for Eagle Flies Again on the web. It also includes information on events and other SF resources on the web.' Recent additions to the site as of May 2008 include an interview with the new Commando editor Calum Laird
Want to find out about British comics, (The Beano, Crisis, Eagle, 2000AD and so on) or artists or comic characters (Dan Dare, Adam Eterno, The Broons and so on) or blogs about British comics, then the above website will be able to point you in the right direction. But Alan Notton's website has much more to offer and, 'aims to relive the history [of British comics] and let everyone know what an enjoyable pastime comic reading was.'
Reference books
It's surprising, but even with most of the information anyone could want, can be found on the www, most people would rather have that information in book form. And long may that continue. A book can be read anywhere, (without worrying about battery power failure, for example), whereas a computer can't. Below is a small list of useful British Comic reference works. If anyone thinks any other works should be added to the list, please let me know. This list is a work in progress.
CLARK, Alan Dictionary of British Comic Artists, Writers and Editors.- (I've never seen a copy of this work, but from what I've read, it's an excellent addition to anyone's British Comic reference libary).
GALLAGHER, Brendan Sporting Supermen : The true stories of our Childhood comic heroes.- (Featuring Alf Tupper, William Wilson, Roy of the Rovers, Gorgeous Gus and others).
GRAVETT, Paul Great British Comics.-
HOLLAND, Steve The Fleetway Companion.- Rotherham, South Yorkshire: CJ Publication, 2002.- ill. b+w.- softback.- 385p.- (Note that CJ Publications publish many other British comic indexes. Please contact dmirfin@qsf.com (Note:- all of these indexes have been published privately, so they may well be out of print).
The information is arranged A to Z by comic titles, but the various strips that appeared in each comic aren't. However, this is easily solved by using some strong post-it tabs to mark the relevant pages of your favourite comic strips. For second hand copies check e-bay and second hand book websites such as www.abebooks.com
HOLLAND, Steve and David Roach.- The Fleetway Picture Library Index Volume 1: The War Libraries.- London: The Book Palace, 2007.- ill. col, b+w.- 196p. ISBN9780955159626.-
KIBBLE-WHITE, Graham The Ultimate Book of British Comics.- (This is an A to Z arrangement of every British comic published complete with a page or so biography of each publication).
Acknowledgements
D.C. Thomson for allowing me to use images from The Victor and The Hornet comics, York College for their 'Build a website course', Dan Courtis for helping out with technical details, Vic Whittle, James and Joyce Halley, Keith Shone, Bill Graham and Bill Moodie.
Flags courtesty of virtuallandmedia. and fg-a.com.
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