Thunder (British comics)

Last updated

Thunder
Thunder211170Cover.jpg
The cover of Thunder from 21 November 1970.
Publication information
Publisher IPC/Fleetway Publications, 1970-1971
ScheduleWeekly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication date17 October 1970 – 13 March 1971
No. of issues22
Main character(s) Adam Eterno
Black Max
Cliff Hanger
Fury's Family
Gauntlet of Fate
The Spooks of St. Lukes
Steel Commando
Creative team
Written byKen Mennell
Frank S. Pepper
Tom Tully
Artist(s) Eric Bradbury
Mario Capaldi
Alfonso Font
Alex Henderson
Tom Kerr
Joseph Lee
Francisco Solano López
Reg Parlett
Mike Western
Editor(s)Jack Le Grand

Thunder was a weekly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications from 17 October 1970 to 13 March 1971. A boys' adventure comic, the title only lasted for 22 editions before being merged with another Fleetway title, the long-established Lion .

Contents

Publishing history

On 1 January 1969 International Publishing Corporation (IPC) merged Fleetway Publications and Odhams Press into a single division, IPC Magazines. This left them in charge of a large number of weekly comics aimed at younger readers, including seasoned titles such as Eagle, Lion and Valiant. The new company swiftly launched a spate of new titles - girls' comic Sally in June 1969; humour title Whizzer and Chips in October 1969; and the sports-themed Scorcher in January 1970. [1] Thunder was IPC Magazines' first attempt at a new boys' adventure weekly, and the experienced Jack Le Grand was assigned to assemble the new title. [2] The title cost 8d, twice the cost of competitor DC Thomson's The Beano at the time. [3]

In common with most new British comics of the time, initial issues featured a cover-mounted free gift - the first featured an 'Amazing Jumping Kangaroo' that tied into strip "Fury's Family", [4] which British comics expert John Freeman would later regard as "the daftest free gift we’ve ever seen to be used to launch a boys’ adventure comic", [5] while the second - featuring art by Mike Western - promised readers 'Black Max's bat' (actually a cardboard bat). [6] Freeman would later recall being unimpressed with the early covers of Thunder, [5] which soon switched to fore-fronting the educational "Famous Firsts". [7]

The 20 February edition announced a trio of new strips - "Dr. Mesmer's Revenge", "The Mighty Ones" and "The Jigsaw Journey" - would be arriving in Thunder soon. However, three issues later the comic abruptly informed readers it would be merged into Lion after 22 issues. [3] While merging titles was common practice at Fleetway, the combining of Lion and Thunder was unusual. Firstly, normally the subsumed title's name would quietly disappear from the pages of the comic after a few weeks; however, Lion would retain the title of Lion and Thunder until it itself was merged into Valiant in 1974. Secondly, inside the first merged Lion and Thunder on 20 March 1971 six of the 11 features were continued from Thunder rather than Lion, and many would stay until the title folded, [8] while the trio of announced strips would also appear in Lion and Thunder. [3] Despite the demise of the weekly comic, IPC issued Thunder Annuals for 1972, 1973 and 1974. [9]

Thunder was one of several 1970s Fleetway/IPC titles cancelled after 22 issues (as were Jet , Tornado and Starlord ); long-serving editor Barrie Tomlinson stated that with the technology of the time it took 22 weeks for meaningful sales trends to emerge and for crude market research on the title to be analysed. [10] The method was known within the company as "hatch, match and dispatch", and was instigated by managing editor John Sanders. New titles with fresh strips would be "hatched", features would be "matched" with the audience and then the comic would be cancelled and its popular features would be "dispatched" to another of the company's weeklies. [11] The popularity of features was largely based on readers' letters; across the company's titles children were encouraged to write in with their top three favourite features of each anthology; those that scored well from new titles would be retained and those that did not were dropped. [12] Strips that scored well from new titles continued after the incorporation with another comic, replacing that publication's underperformers. The subsequent merged publication would typically then receive a considerable boost in sales. Sanders has defended this model, citing the cost of around £30,000 to launch a new title as proof they were not designed to fail, pointing to the commercial success of the process and noting staff were never sacked or penalised for a failed title but simply moved to other comics in the company. [11]

In 2016 Thunder was among the titles purchased from Egmont Group by Rebellion Developments, [13] who have since reprinted some material from the title in their Treasury of British Comics collected editions. [14]

Stories

Due to its short length, Thunder had a consistent run of strips. [3] Only one started after the first issue.

Adam Eterno

Writer: Tom Tully [15]
Artists: Tom Kerr, Francisco Solano López [15]

After quaffing the Elixir of Life, Adam Eterno is doomed to immortality and drifts through time trying to find a solid gold weapon that can kill him. [16]

Black Max

Writer: Ken Mennell, Frank S. Pepper [15]
Artists: Eric Bradbury, Alfonso Font [15]

Baron Maximilien Von Klorr is Germany's most fearsome ace pilot of World War I - partly due to being helped by a gigantic bats. With his Fokker Dr.I painted black, he soon earns the nickname Black Max. His opposition comes from the Royal Flying Corps, particularly plucky Lieutenant Tim Wilson. [17]

Cliff Hanger

Adventurer Cliff Hanger and his Gurkha batman Kukri battle fiends in South America. [3]

Dusty Binns

Artist: Geoff Campion, Alfonso Font [15]

Son of a rag-and-bone man, Plantagenet "Dusty" Binns must balance helping his father with his business and his calling as a talented footballer. [3]

Famous Firsts

Fury's Family

Young boy Fury works at a circus and discovers he can talk to animals. As a result, he is able to lead an escape from tyrannical new circus owner Archer Spang, [3] with the likes of Bengal tiger Khan, gorilla Chang, chimpanzees Petto and Tikka and kangaroo Ozzie joining him on the run. [20]

Gauntlet of Fate

A medieval gauntlet is still haunted by the fearsome Judge Flint gives whoever wears it superhuman strength and invulnerability, and is discovered by ne'er-do-well Tom Stokes. [21]

The Jet Skaters

The Gang - Andy Jackson, Gordon Stone and brothers Jimmy and Peter Clarke - are gifted rocket boots by Andy's American uncle, use the amazing technology to help around town. [22]

Phil the Fluter

Artist: Mike Western [15]

Phil Taylor finds a tin flute in the ruins of his local abbey, and discovers he can freeze time when he plays it. [23]

Sam

Cunning troublemaker Sam one-ups passing unfortunates with a mixture of quick thinking and violence. [3]

The Spooks of St. Luke's

Artist: Joseph Lee [24]

Amiable ghosts at a school work with the pupils to terrorise the school's teachers. [3]

Steel Commando

In World War II, Professor Brayne devises the Mark 1 Indestructible Robot for the British Army. Unfortunately a programming error means the fearsome war machine will only respond to the voice of Lance corporal Ernest "Excused Boots" Bates, a Cockney layabout. Nevertheless, the pair are sent into combat in France with successful results - at least whenever Bates feels like ordering 'Ironsides' into battle. [25]

The Terrible Trail to Tolmec

Tom Taylor's father is missing, presumed dead in the jungles of South America, when the boy discovers a coded map among his effects. With the help of explorer Dr. Wolfgang Stranger he sets out to find him. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Battle Picture Weekly</i> British weekly comic

Battle Picture Weekly was a British weekly boys' war comic published by IPC Magazines from 8 March 1975 to 23 January 1988, when it merged with the new incarnation of Eagle after 644 issues. Most stories were set in World War II, with some based on other conflicts, while factual features also focused on warfare.

<i>Tiger</i> (British comics) British weekly boys comic

Tiger was a weekly British comics periodical published by Amalgamated Press, Fleetway Publications and IPC Magazines from 11 September 1954 to 30 March 1985. The title was initially launched in a large tabloid size to mimic newspapers; while it featured some action-adventure stories Tiger contained a large number of sport strips. The most famous of these was "Roy of the Rovers", which debuted in the first issue and was the comic's most popular feature, eventually transferring to its own comic in 1975. Tiger would go on to become one of the company's longest-running titles, notching 1573 issues before being merged with Eagle in 1985. Over the course of its run, Tiger featured columns by numerous famous sports figures, including Ian Botham, Geoff Boycott, Tony Greig, Trevor Francis, and Charlie Nicholas.

<i>Ranger</i> (magazine) British weekly comic

Ranger was a weekly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications from 18 September 1965 to 18 June 1966. Intended as an educational publication, the cover described it as "The National Boys' Magazine" and the content mixed comic strips with a much larger quotient of factual articles than most other Fleetway childrens' titles of the time. Ranger lasted 40 issues before being merged with Fleetway's fellow educational title Look and Learn in 1966.

<i>Lion</i> (comics) British weekly comic

Lion was a weekly British comics periodical published by Amalgamated Press from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. A boys' adventure comic, Lion was originally designed to compete with Eagle, the popular weekly comic published by Hulton Press that had introduced Dan Dare. It debuted numerous memorable characters, including Captain Condor, Robot Archie, Paddy Payne and the Spider. Lion lasted for 1,156 issues before being merged with stablemate Valiant.

<i>Valiant</i> (comics) British weekly comic

Valiant was a weekly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications and later IPC Magazines from 4 October 1962 to 16 October 1976. A boys' adventure comic, it debuted numerous memorable characters, including Captain Hurricane, The Steel Claw and Mytek the Mighty. Valiant lasted for 712 issues before being merged with stablemate Battle Picture Weekly.

<i>The House of Dolmann</i> British comic book story

"The House of Dolmann" is a British comic strip published by Fleetway Publications and later IPC Magazines in the boys' comic anthology title Valiant between 29 October 1966 to 11 April 1970, with a brief revival from 7 September to 26 October 1974. Written by Tom Tully and primarily illustrated by Eric Bradbury, the strip centred on the exploits of genius inventor Eric Dolmann and his army of crime-fighting robot 'puppets'.

Tom Kerr was a British comic strip artist whose work has appeared in comics such as Look-in, the Eagle, Valiant, and TV21. He has also drawn for many annuals of the 1960s and 1970s, including the Monkees annuals, Look-in annuals, etc. He is not to be conflated with the Australian cartoonist of the same name, who was responsible for such creations as Daddles, an animated duck that would walk along the TV screen when a cricketer scored a duck.

<i>Wildcat</i> (British comics) British weekly comic

Wildcat was a fortnightly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications from 22 October 1988 to 25 March 1989. A science fiction adventure comic, the title only lasted for 12 editions before being merged with another Fleetway title, Eagle.

<i>Sun</i> (comics) British former weekly comic

Sun was a weekly British comics periodical published by J. B. Allen, Amalgamated Press and Fleetway Publications between 11 November 1947 and 17 October 1959. During this time it was also known as Sun Comic, Sun Adventure Weekly, The Cowboy Sun Weekly, The Cowboy Sun, The Sun and Sun Weekly at various points, and ran for 551 issues before merging with Lion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Vigilant (comics)</span> Comic book superhero team

The Vigilant are a British superhero team who appear in comics published by Rebellion Developments. The team is mainly made up of updated versions of extant IPC/Fleetway Publications characters that are now owned by Rebellion, mixed with some original characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Eterno</span> Comic book character

Adam Eterno is a fictional British comic book superhero who has appeared in comics published by Fleetway Publications and, since 2018, Rebellion Developments. The character was created by Jack Le Grand and Tom Tully, debuting in the first issue of Thunder in October 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karl the Viking</span> British comic book story

Karl the Viking is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by Fleetway Publications. Centred on a Saxon-born Viking warrior in the 11th century, the strip mixed historical adventure with fantasy, and first appeared in the boys' anthology title Lion on 29 October 1960. Drawn by Don Lawrence and written by Ted Cowan, the character's appearances ran for four years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steel Commando</span> British comic book character

The Steel Commando is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by IPC Magazines. Created by Frank S. Pepper, the character first appeared in the first issue of the short-lived boys' weekly adventure anthology comic Thunder, dated 17 October 1970. After Thunder ended in March 1971 the strip continued in Lion until 1974. The character is a robotic soldier fighting for the British Army in World War II; due to a programming error the mechanical man will only obey the orders of layabout Private Ernest 'Excused Boots' Bates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mytek the Mighty</span> British comic book story

"Mytek the Mighty" is a British comic adventure strip, appearing in titles published by Fleetway Publications. The story revolves around Mytek, a large and powerful robotic ape. The strip first appeared in the boys' anthology title Valiant on 26 September 1964. The story was written by Tom Tully and initially drawn by Eric Bradbury, with Bill Lacey later taking over.

<i>Jet</i> (British comics) British weekly comic

Jet was a weekly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications from 1 May to 25 September 1971. A boys' adventure comic, the title only lasted for 22 editions before being merged with another Fleetway title, the long-established Buster.

<i>The Astounding Adventures of Charlie Peace</i> British comic book story

"The Astounding Adventures of Charlie Peace" is a British comic strip published in the weekly anthology Buster from 27 June 1964 to 15 June 1971, published by Fleetway Publications and later IPC Magazines. It was previewed by a single instalment in Valiant on 20 June 1964. The strip featured fictionalised adventures of the real-life Victorian era criminal Charles Peace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Max</span> British comic book story

Black Max is a British comic character who has appeared in eponymous strips published by IPC Magazines and Rebellion Developments. The character, a German World War I fighter pilot with telepathic control over gigantic bats, first appeared in the launch issue of IPC weekly comic Thunder on 17 October 1970. The comic only lasted for 22 issues before merging with Lion; "Black Max" survived the transfer, and would continue until 21 October 1972; it was replaced by a spin-off strip called "Secrets of the Demon Dwarf", focusing on supporting character Doktor Gratz. Since 2018, the character has returned in new material published by Rebellion Developments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Cat Girl (comics)</span> British comic book story

The Cat Girl is a British comic character who has appeared in eponymous strips published by IPC Magazines and Rebellion Developments. The character, a girl called Cathy Carter who finds a suit that gives her the attributes of a cat and becomes a crimefighter, first appeared in the launch issue of weekly girls' comic Sally on 14 June 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Doom</span> British comic book story

Danny Doom is a British comic character who has appeared in eponymous strips published by IPC Magazines and Rebellion Developments. The character, a boy sorcerer, appeared in boys' weekly anthology comic Valiant between 25 May 1974 and 22 March 1975. The character is a 13th century boy sorcerer accidentally sent forward to the present day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Indestructible Man (comics)</span> British comic book story

"The Indestructible Man" is a British comic strip published by Fleetway Publications and later IPC Magazines in the boys' comic anthology title Jag between 4 May 1968 to 29 March 1969. Written by Scott Goodall and drawn by Jesús Blasco, the story followed an Ancient Egyptian warrior who survived into the present day after learning a number of skills while entombed, and took on the identity of crime-fighter Mark Dangerfield.

References

  1. "On this day, 17 October 1970: Thunder". GREAT NEWS FOR ALL READERS!. 17 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 Freeman, John (20 April 2018). "Who's Who in Rebellion's "The Vigilant" classic comic character revival – and who created the characters". downthetubes.net.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Carroll, Michael (27 March 2020). "Enfari's Syndrome: Thunder".
  4. "Thunder (Comic)". www.internationalhero.co.uk.
  5. 1 2 Freeman, John (16 October 2020). "Adam Eterno sparks some Memories: Which Comics Did You Read Growing Up?". downthetubes.net.
  6. Stringer, Lew (28 November 2010). "BLIMEY! The Blog of British Comics: Free Inside! - Part 1".
  7. "12 December 1970: Thunder". GREAT NEWS FOR ALL READERS!. 9 December 2022.
  8. "Comic Covers - Comics UK". 7 November 2007. Archived from the original on 7 November 2007.
  9. https://comics.bournemouth.ac.uk/publication.php?publication=Thunder+Annual
  10. Comic Book Hero. Pitch. 24 September 2017. ISBN   9781785313585.
  11. 1 2 King's Reach: John Sanders' Twenty-Five Years at the Top of Comics. Rebellion Publishing. 7 January 2021. ISBN   9781781089842.
  12. "An Irishman's Diary on how 'Valiant' heroes Adam Eterno and Janus Stark met their fate". The Irish Times .
  13. Freeman, John (26 August 2016). "Rebellion: The Classic Comics (and characters) 2000AD's Publisher Now Owns". downthetubes.net.
  14. Freeman, John (12 April 2018). "Cover Reveal: The Latest Treasury of British Comics collections, including new Misty, Black Max". downthetubes.net.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Holland, Steve (2002). The Fleetway Companion. Rotherham: CJ & Publication.
  16. 1 2 Freeman, John (14 April 2018). "Calling Adam Eterno… Where are Rebellion hiding you?". downthetubes.net.
  17. "Black Max". www.internationalhero.co.uk.
  18. Freeman, John (13 April 2018). "In Praise of… Comic Artist Alfonso Font". downthetubes.net.
  19. "On this day, 20 March 1971: Lion and Thunder". GREAT NEWS FOR ALL READERS!. 20 March 2017.
  20. 1 2 "Fury's Family". www.internationalhero.co.uk.
  21. "The Gauntlet of Fate". www.internationalhero.co.uk.
  22. 1 2 "the Jet-Skaters". www.internationalhero.co.uk.
  23. 1 2 "Phil the Fluter". www.internationalhero.co.uk.
  24. Freeman, John (3 September 2020). "Comic Creator Spotlight: Cartoonist Joseph Lee". downthetubes.net.
  25. "The Steel Commando". www.internationalhero.co.uk.