Classic Action Holiday Special (Fleetway/1990)

Classic Action Holiday Special (Fleetway)

Various (w) & (a)

Nothing to do with the controversial Action comic but a real collection of classic heroes from various IPC/Fleetway comics from the past. In fact when this was published in 1990 all the comics except Buster featuring these comics had been long cancelled. British comics were changing and declining by the end of the decade even the long running Buster had gone.

The great thing about this special is that these are all brand new stories of Johnny Cougar, Kelly's Eye, Galaxus, Captain Hurricane, The Steel Claw, Janus Stark, Skid Solo and Jet Ace Logan. Some in colour, most in black & white, one (Galaxus) is a text story.

Robot Archie who has an adventure in the Special saving elephants from poachers originated in Lion and was a long running character, Skid Solo first appeared in the short-lived Hurricane before becoming a mainstay of Tiger.

 

Johnny Cougar was the redskin wrestler from Tiger and Captain Hurricane the giant British Commando who preferred using hos fists to a gun when in a rage had been with us from the very first issue of the Valiant (second issue pictured).

 

Janus Stark started in the revamped Smash! and also had his own comic in France! Houdini had nothing on this escape artist!

 

The Steel Claw originated in Valiant and was one of my favourite characters seeing his adventures reprinted in picture libraries and the short-lived but highly collectable Vulcan. Hopefully now Rebellion has the reprint rights we will see collected editions of this villain turned hero.

The invulnerable Kelly's Eye original appeared in Knockout and was a mainstay feature in Valiant after the comics merged.

 

Jet Ace Logan originated in the Comet which ran from 1956 to 1959  (even before my time!) before reappearing in Tiger when the failing Comet was merged with the better selling comic, a regular practice of British comic book publishers.



Galaxus of course was from the Buster comic (which ran for some 40 years) A misunderstood alien who was huge but who could shrink as he went around the world with two British schoolboys trying to protect him.



If you can find a copy of this special it's well worth picking up. I hadn't known of it's existence until a copy came up for sale at my local comic shop (30th Century Comics in Putney).  A bit old fashioned perhaps but they could all be adapted for the 21st Century. Rebellion looking at you!