Knockabout #13, April
1987, 1ST Print, Fat Freddy’s Cat, by Gilbert Shelton, Hunt Emerson, Mike Matthews, UK Underground Comic, Mint Condition
“There’s a Funny Spell in Her” Volume 13 - 1st
printing. Oversize (8.27 in × 11.7 in) comics anthology from the influential
British publisher of the same name. Jack Alarum by Graham Higgins; Large Cow
Comix and Phenominomix by Hunt Emerson; The House Next Door by Peter Rigg;
Lurchin the Urchin by Steve Gibson; Cannibal Restaurant and Dan Maniac by Mike
Matthews; Fat Freddys Cat by Gilbert Shelton; The Road to Hades by Daniel
Goossens, translated by Gilbert Shelton; naughty Neverland spoof Peter Pank by
Max; and a rare selection of stories from underground comix legend Justin
Green: Winters Tale, Collectors Corner and The Agony of Binky Brown. Cover by
Mike Matthews. Black and white; 64 pages.
Note: We blocked out the words Adult Only on the cover photo.
Knockabout and its
comic book managed to survive, but it abstained from publishing anything too
controversial from that point forward, especially anything related to drugs.
After the 14th issue of Knockabout Comics came out in 1988,
the title ceased publication due to poor sales and the publishing company went
belly up. However, Tony Bennett revived the company some years ago and
Knockabout now publishes a handful of comics, including some by Hunt Emerson,
Alan Moore and Gilbert Shelton.
Knockabout Comics was a solid
anthology series that provided British fans access to underground comics and
helped open the floodgates to more British alternative comic publications.
Early issues in the series are sometimes derided for leaning too heavily on
American underground creators instead of native British talent for its content,
but Knockabout was simply giving the market what it wanted.
Later issues shifted to predominantly non-American contributors.
It's also
questionable whether Knockabout Comics should even be
considered an underground comic publication by fans and historians. David
Huxley, author of Nasty Tales: Sex, Drugs, Rock'n'Roll and Violence in
the British Underground, posits that Brainstorm Comix was
perhaps the last truly underground comic book series published in Britain, and
it ceased publication in 1978. Huxley categorizes Graphixus and Knockabout as
alternative comic titles, but he also quotes a representative of a huge British
comic publishing company, who stated in 1987; "...we're about thirty years
behind" the rest of the comic book world. If that were literally the case,
Britain's underground comic era would have ended in 2010 by my standards.
Knockabout Comics was launched
in 1980, at the very end of the era that I categorize as underground, so it
technically qualifies, just like Rip Off Comix qualifies by
launching in 1977, even though it ran until 1992. So I've got both of those
titles placed in the underground comics category instead of alternative comics.
I've thought about ending the underground categorization in 1979 instead of
1980, which would push Knockabout into the alternative
category along with Raw and Weirdo.
OUR GUARANTEE – With all our books and comics we include an official
Certificate of Authenticity. We have
been buyers, sellers, and collectors of comics for over 30 years. We do
not sell reproductions. Our comics are
guaranteed and authentic. Upon your request
we will send you more actual photos of any individual comic books, from corner
to corner, from inside to outside, to your satisfaction.
SHIPPING AND HANDLING – Your Vintage comics
will be shipped to you immediately after your payment is received. We take extra care and caution in handling,
securing, sealing in plastic, boarding, and packaging your order for your
confident and satisfaction. Our books are kept secure in a smoke free, Virus free,
pet free environment. Unfortunately,
the cost for shipping has been raising and we use USPS Media Mail and USPS
First Class mail when possible. It cost
more for BCW Modern Thick Comic Book Poly Bags, Acid Free Backer Boards,
Corrugated Cardboard Support Boards, #5 Kraft Bubble Mailer Padded Envelopes. Items listed here plus time and labor has an
initial cost as posted for the first book, plus a $1.00 per additional book
purchased. We will combine shipping if notified, prior to payment.
PAYMENT - The only payment method that we
currently accept is through E-Bay. All addresses must be verified and confirmed
with E-Bay, prior to completion of order, and prior to packing and shipment.
FEEDBACK - We will leave YOU positive
feedback upon prompt payment. Please leave positive feedback on E-Bay for US
upon safe arrival of your item. We have confidence that you will be
satisfied and pleased with your purchase.
Check out our
other Underground Comics in our sister eBay store for an even bigger
selection of comics. Minowtcomic https://www.ebay.com/usr/minowtcomic
OUR STORY - While living in Greenwich Village in the sixties. There was a
little store off Bleecker that specialized in underground comics. Every
Friday afternoon after work, I’d go there to see what was the latest version
just hitting the shelves. With several of my hippy friends grooving, and
laughing over Comics, we’d sit around that smoke-filled room, sometimes late
into the night. Fast forward, some fifty years later –
my wife and I discovered some old cardboard boxes hidden behind junk in the
back of our storage locker. It was a dry, cool place and the hundreds of
underground comics that had only been read once, were in beautiful
condition. It felt like we discovered a pot of gold. We wrote to
dozens of book and comic stores with a list of our inventory. They said,
there was no interest, no market and offered us little to nothing for the
collection. We explained to them that these were complete sets, first editions.
To the retail outlets they were worthless, but to us they were priceless.
Now we offer them on E-Bay and the collectors are grabbing them up, at our more
than fair and reasonable prices. Many we had universally certified with
CGC, so you’ll know we’re trustworthy, reliable and have the best of
service. Just check the feedback and reviews to know we’re honest and
responsible. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and hope
you buy them now while they still are available. First come, first
serve. Thank you again for your time and interest.