UK Comics Fanzine Archive

[David Price]

I'm going to be putting this on as many comics related boards as I can find. I really want this to work, and I want to go about it in the right way 

"For several months now, I've been gathering and scanning every UK comics fanzine that I've been able to buy or have loaned to me. The intention being, to create a Fanzine archive / repository, celebrating all of the brilliant work that was produced in the 60's 70's and 80's.

Even the most successful of these zines never had a huge print run, but were very important to the people involved, and helped launch many artists and writers into the comics industry itself.

Being by their very nature quite rare now, they don't tend to come up for sale that often, and when they do, they tend to be quite expensive.

The aim of the site is not to damage the collectors market in any way (viewing on screen will never be as good as holding an issue of any publication in your hand, IMHO), but to provide an opportunity for old and new fans to enjoy an insight into a world of printed zines, which, while not being as immediate as the blogs and boards we have today, was just as vibrant and immersive a way to talk about comics.

I've been busy contacting as many editors / publishers as possible, to get their permission to use their work, and have been amazed by the positive response.

The pdf's I'm producing from the original zines will have all personal addresses removed. Partly because after thirty odd years they will no doubt be out of date, and partly because people may not want to be associated with views they held at the time (or indeed, be traceable).
If you were a contributor to any of the zines being featured, the option will be available to have any and all of your work removed from the site.

And there is the main reason for this post really. If you were involved with fandom back then, but have no wish for your work to be included in this archive, please let me know. Equally, if you are happy to be included, I'd love to hear from you and be given formal permission.

My email address is:
david.price@post.com

Thanks for reading,
Dave."

[Richmond Clements]

Sounds like a worthy undertaking!

If you haven't already, I'd suggest you drop Lew Stringer a line.

http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/

[David Price]

Thanks, I hope that when the site launches, everyone will enjoy reading the work.

Lew is one of the editors who has very kindly given permission for me to include his 'general' zines in the archive

[Banners]

I've got quite a few copies of Mondo – which featured 2000 AD alumnus Tom Carney – if that comes under your remit, depending on what you call a fanzine? I expect you can get hold of the former editor Lee Davis through that Facebook link should you wish.

Most of my small-press experience centred around Andy Brewer's Battleground, but I expect you're already aware of that wonderful publication.

I've probably as well got some copies of CopterCops that I wrote, and which got a wonderful 2/10 in Comics International...(!)

[sheridan]

What kind of timeframe are you expecting it all to go live?

[Bolt-01]

Be interested to see this. My very first forays into the SP were in the late '80's.

I've actually still got some 'zines from then as well- I'll drop you a line and see if you need scans.

[David Price]

Thanks for the offer of scans, everything is very welcome. When the site goes live (probably September) I'm hopeful that it will gain a life of it's own and that people will be willing to add their own scans

I'd love to see that, Banners. I never took too much notice of reviews 

[Leigh S]

As you know, David - more than happy to scan in any gaps from my collection. If there are any specific issues you are missing let me know -  When you go live I will compare whats up with waht I have and do the rest!

[David Price]

Brilliant! Thank you 

And just so that everyone knows, this project would have been much poorer without the help of Leigh, who supplied me with a great many zines 

[Bolt-01]

Oh indeed, Leigh is one of the good guys. I know Dogbreath would be a much poorer title if not for his involvement.

[Leigh S]

Cheers, you guys! Although....