Alan Class was a British publishing company that produced several thick anthology comic books that are still fondly remembered by those of us of a certain age. Alan Class published around 25 comics titles during its time (1959 to 1989) many of these were one off titles but included six core titles; Astounding Stories, Creepy Worlds, Suspense, Sinister Tales, Uncanny Tales and Secrets of the Unknown which were regularly distributed throughout the UK each month. Each title was published with glossy colour covers with the internal pages printed (at times poorly) in black and white on rough pulp paper. The main selling points of Alan Class comics for myself was in the multitude of comic characters published from a diverse range of comic companies including Marvel, Charlton, Tower, Archie , Kings Features and the American Comics Group. It wasn’t unusual to pick up a title and find tales of Spider-Man, the Mighty Crusaders, Judomaster and a Wally Wood drawn Agents of T.H.U.N.D.E.R tale.
My first and most abiding memory of Alan Class comics was the above issue of "Creepy Worlds" issue 67 from around 1966/7. I remember it was a Saturday and my pals weren’t around and my mum sensing I was bored asked me what I would like as a “treat“ from the shops. As always I asked for a comic and was expecting to receive a copy of the latest issue of the Dandy or Buster and was pleasantly surprised to receive the above comic, possibly my first ever “Avengers” comic. I can still recall pouring over ever page of that Avenger story (originally printed In Avengers issue 6, 1964) in wonder at all the amazing characters that were new to me.
Alan Class would also often reprint the same issues only changing the number and cover price as can be seen above from my copy of "Creepy Worlds" issues 133 which is simply a reprint of issue 67. In some cases the same comic would be published 3 or 4 times with only the issue number and the price being changed. By the 1970’s Alan Class comics were a regular feature in many UK seaside holiday resorts where they could be found piled high in newsagents , on piers and other shops. I can remember picking up several of these on family holiday’s to Blackpool and other UK towns. Some of my favourites are shown below:
In 1976, Alan Class published a short run of an original title called Ally Sloper (the title taken from a popular character from the 1800's) The comic/mag was edited by Denis Gifford a famous comic historian of the time, and featured work by the likes of Frank Bellamy, Frank Hampson, Hunt Emerson and Kevin O’Neill. Despite the talent on show Ally Sloper only lasted 4 issues .
By the late 1980s, slow sales and distribution problems, combined with the rise of specialist comic book shop signalled the end of the line for the Alan Class Comics and the final set of comics were published in April 1989.
Creepy Worlds issue 249 - The last issue. A rather prophetic looking cover in some ways as it was the end of a UK comic publishing institution.
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I was probably about seven years old when I walked into my local newsagents in Cambuslang (near Glasgow) with my pocket money firmly he...
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Nearly a half-century on I still consider 1973 to be the year that cemented my destiny in becoming a lifetime comic book fan. It was a yea...
I was first introduced to these wild Alan Class comics when the Grand Comics Database came into being allowing me to get a glimpse of comic book covers from not only the U.S. but from around the world. I was immediately attracted to Alan Class reprints because of the high profile Charlton Comics seem to have. They look no end of fun.
ReplyDeleteIt was through Alan Class comics that I first became aware of strips\characters like Sarge Steel, Judomaster, Thunderbolt, T.H.U.N.D.E.R agent's and so many others - they were indeed wild and fun Rip.
DeleteAlan Class comics are where I first discovered THUNDER, as well.
DeleteHi Steve, yeah I found so many Tower strips via Alan Class No-Man on the the THUNDER agents, was a bog favourite of mine.
DeleteA "big" favourite 😄
DeleteI have around 25 Alan Class comics, but only 2 of them can be found in the dozen you've shown. Despite the often poor printing, they were generally good value for money. Some of the asking prices by eBay sellers are ridiculous, reaching up into the thousands. In some cases, it would be less expensive to buy a decent condition back number of a US original, than its UK AC counterpart.
ReplyDeleteI have about the same amount of Alan Class comics, most reacquired over the years from Arthurs old shop in Byres Road in the late 1980s to 1990s. Some of the 1\- comic prices being asked for in particular are a joke that's why I bought the pence issue of issue 67 as it only cost me £1.50.
DeleteUnfortunately, the renumbered 133 won't have the full contents of 67, but if you don't remember what's missing then it won't matter much. Is your copy stapled, or is it square-bound? Whichever, £1.50 is a great price.
DeleteYeah I think the original isue 67 was 68 pages and my issue 133 is 52 pages. It's only really the cover and the Avengers story I wanted though Kid as a memory of that time . I'm simply not paying the money asked for the 1/- issues which are just poor reprints...... but I still look out for a cheapish copy lol.
ReplyDeleteSo is your copy stapled or square-bound?
DeleteHi sorry for delay I had put them away in the loft. Just checked it's squarebound
ReplyDeleteAh, that's interesting, 'cos mine is stapled. H'mm...
DeleteAll the comics noted above were squarebound except the last one which I took from the Web so not sure on what that was.
ReplyDeleteThe position of the vertical crease near the spine suggests it was square-bound, McS. Square-bound comics where the cover has been folded over the spine usually have such creases.
DeleteI mean folded backwards over the spine to facilitate easier reading.
DeleteAhhh right got you . I was just looking at the spine otself for a staple I'll recheck later Kid. Nice weather so we're off out for a drive in the country
ReplyDeleteI was referring to issue 249 about the crease in the spine, not 133, just in case I've confused you, McS. If your 133 has a square-bound spine as you say, then it won't have staples.
DeleteOh right. I don't have a copy of 249 Kid it's just a screebshot from the Grand comic book database ( I forgot to add that). I have all the rest in my collection ( except Creepy Worlds 67).
ReplyDeleteI believe that the first American comic I ever read around 1965 was an Alan Class reprint of some 50s Marvel monster/ghost stories, but it is too far removed that I can remember the cover other than it had a whitish background, and I found the story (printed in black and white) rather unsettling at my tender age. Still, it did the job of getting me interested in comics, for which I am grateful.
ReplyDelete