9 Comments

Used to pick up Alan Class comics as a child on family holiday at Butlins, didn’t know until reading this they were Alan Class comics!? Knew they were reprints but starved of regular American comics they were a good holiday read - especially the sometimes disturbing horror stories.

Expand full comment

Yes, there was something appealing about those, and I didn't mind the fact that they were in black & white. They felt kinda chunky too!

Expand full comment

Used to do exactly the same on foreign hols. I actually have the same copy with Rhino of L'Uomo Ragno. As you suggest, it was a bit of a waste of bloody time really, but that was being a Marvel fan for you. FOOM's the only club I've ever joined.

Expand full comment

FOOM was great fun! I’m glad I kept all of my issues, well, the Steranko designed ones anyway.

Expand full comment

yes. these are utterly thrilling. I remember stopping in my tracks while en route to see Masaccio frescos on my first trip to Florence.

in a thrift store: a pile of L’Uomo Ragno and Capitan America among others I still pore over to this day. (eventually made it to the early Italian painters too of course)

Expand full comment

Glad to hear!

Expand full comment

I do the same! My favourite is a Spanish paperback format collection of Kirby's Captain America, collecting issues 206 - 213 in black-and-white. The repro was really good too.

Expand full comment

And that first example from Majorca - what a weird design. The drawing of the Thing looks like it was produced by A.I. Very clunky but oddly appealing.

Expand full comment

Yes, I agree, Dave. It's odd, plus he's the wrong colour, but I love the simplicity of that cover, and the 4 logo he's standing on. Unlike any other Marvel comic at the time.

Expand full comment