[Osgood Peabody]

I'm not sure about PRINCE VALIANT. Do I have to get volume 5 from Fantagraphics? Apparently, Valiant courted and married Aleta in the 1946 continuities. In the 1947 stories, the couple come to Canada--um Vinland--and Aleta gives birth to Prince Arn. This story introduces Tilicum. At least that's my rough understanding--not being a Prince Valiant expert, I don't know for sure if I have to get volume 5 which apparently covers the wedding, but I assume I ought to get volume 6.

I'm sure there are some Prince Valiant experts on here, so maybe one of you can steer me in the right direction.

If you're looking for just the narrative that deals with Val's adventures in North America, then volume 6 is what you want.

The first part of that volume, which contains the tale of the abduction of Aleta, and Val's transatlantic pursuit, is Foster at his best.

It's a three month epic, as we watch them traverse the Shetlands, the Faroes, Iceland, Greenland, and ultimately a mysterious new continent. It culminates at the edge of the Niagara maelstrom, with a beautiful wordless panel.

It's among the best four color adventures I've ever read - enjoy!

[jimmm kelly]

Thanks for that. I've seen some of the Sundays from that continuity and it looks really good. I'll be picking up volume 6 as soon as I can.

By the way Frank Frazetta's WHITE INDIAN just arrived in the mail. The actual story relating to Leif the Lucky, Viking Adventurer, is one of the extras at the back of the book and is only four pages long. But I'll be reading the rest of the contents in this book, of course--it's Frazetta after all.

[jimmm kelly]

A new research question for anyone out there. There are many internet sites for all the Hostess comic book ads that appeared in the '70s and '80s, but on none of these sites do I see credits for who did the art (or for that matter the script). With some DC artists, I can guess, but it would be nice to have a full list of who did what.

[narfstar]

GCD has many/most of them with credits
http://www.comics.org/feature/name/hostess/sort/alpha/

[jimmm kelly]

Thanks. Funny thing is I tried to do a "hostess" search on the GCD and nothing came up. And then I looked for an issue that I knew had a hostess ad in it and there was nothing indexed for that. The GCD is always hit and miss with me--never know exactly what I'm going to find or how to find it.

[jimmm kelly]

Most of the Hostess ads that the GCD identifies are the ones I could've spotted on my own--especially the work of Swan and Colletta as Vinnie's inks are so so easy to spot. The Dick Giordano inks are also usually easy to identify.

But for the DC ads that aren't identified, there are some that might be Swan pencils, but the inks aren't Colletta. I'm thinking either Tex Blaisdell or Bob Oksner.

[jimmm kelly]

Some more research help. I should say that I'm planning a future blog on Bob Oksner's females and I'm looking on the internet for material to include for that. I came across this blog from Kevin Nowlan (posted in 2011) where he shows some original art pages for a story featuring Miss Holly Wood--apparently from the '70s.

http://kevinnowlan.blogspot.ca/2011/02/holly-wood-celebrates-oksner-night-with.html

Seems like an update of Miss Beverly Hills from the '40s. But Nowlan isn't sure where this story was published--someone thinks it could've been in A DATE WITH DEBBI. Anyone know where it actually appeared (if it was published)? It's interesting how much Miss Holly Wood looks like Bob's version of Mary Marvel (with more curves).

[jimmm kelly]

Some help from anyone in Britain in particular--or anyone with knowledge about this sort of thing. I was wondering if there are any comic books, comic strips or story papers that trace back to Liverpool--preferably already on CB+ (or if they aren't on here, I could do a search on the internet to try and turn them up).

For my blog, sometimes I do these On The Fly posts--and the theme that has emerged is that they feature a different city in the world. My self-imposed rule is that it should be a city I've visited in the past. I have some good memories of Liverpool (well mostly good) so I'd like to do a blog on that city--but only if I can find some funnies that come from there and/or by a Scouse cartoonist/writer/artist.

Of course, I could do something Beatle related but that would be too easy. There must be more than the Fab Four, from Liverpool.

[MarkWarner]

Not exactly a light note .. but the ports and slave trade might produce comic book material. Also check up on the two football (soccer) clubs Liverpool and Everton.

[jimmm kelly]

There are cartoons about the FC clubs that I've found searching the internet--as well as a book collecting such cartoons--but that doesn't interest me much.

Actually, I was thinking about this because when I was in the navy our ship went to Liverpool--just so the crew could have some shore leave before heading back to Halifax. However, we came into port over the long Easter weekend and all the shops were closed when I got my shore leave. The only thing I could find to bring back as a souvenir for my Dad was a Liverpool FC penant.

[paw broon]

Jimmm, I'm a bit frustrated that I can't find more on your query.  I need to dig a bit deeper, which needs time I might not have for a while.  However, John Higgins is from Liverpool so have a look at his work.  I'll see what I can find, if anything, later on.

[jimmm kelly]

Take your time. There's no hurry. John Higgins is a bit late in the history of comics for me as I like to do blogs about things that go farther back in time. Not that I have a specific topic in mind, but when I find just the right thing for my blog I will know it.

[jimmm kelly]

Can anyone tell me if there's a known reason for ARCHIE GIANT SERIES MAGAZINE jumping ahead one hundred issues from No. 35 to No. 136 and then jumping ahead two hundred issues from No. 251 to No. 452 with no issues in between?

Is it one of those unsolved mysteries or is there an explanation?