1973 No.18 and 1981 No.24 (full issues)...

Two nice issues here from my collection, No.18 from 1973, which has a feature introducing us to The Tomorrow People, which began on TV that week, one of my favourite programmes at the time, it does not really stand up to great scrutiny now, it's still fun to watch though.  Also there is No.24 from 1981, and another great series - CHiPs, begins a picture strip in this one.  Thanks to Dan for the Williams poster/feature in the 1973 issue...

28th April 1973 - No.18 (Full Issue)

Cover: Andy and David Williams by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson), The Adventures of David Cassidy (Alan Parry), The Fenn Street Gang (Unknown), Doctor in Charge (Tom Kerr), Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson), Elephant Boy (Unknown), Follyfoot (Mike Noble) and Pathfinders (Unknown).

6th June 1981 - No.24 (Full Issue)

Cover: Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury), Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Smuggler (John M. Burns), CHiPs (Jim Baikie), and Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).

Michael Noble 1930 - 2018...

MICHAEL NOBLE 1930 - 2018

It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you of the death of possibly the greatest comic artist ever, (and there are a handful who could compete with him, so that is not an easy thing to say).  Mike Noble has died according to the Gerry Anderson Facebook page, at the age of 88.  It is no surprise that it doesn't get a mention on the net, but it may have just happened in the last few hours, anyway comic artists are not the sort of people the net tends to make a fanfare about, but they should do for Mike.  Anyone who has interviewed him says he was the nicest guy.  He is my favourite artist, and although he did not work exclusively for Look-in, it is a real privilege that we got him into our pages.

After success with Alan Fennell on TV21 drawing Gerry Anderson strips, first Fireball XL5 and Zero X, later moving on to Captain Scarlet, which he's probably most famous for doing, he joined the Look-in ranks, and in the very first issue drew Timeslip.  He went on to draw a succession of amazing strips, Freewheelers, Kung Fu, Follyfoot, Black Beauty, Tomorrow People, Space: 1999,  Man from Atlantis, Famous Five, Worzel Gummidge, Into the Labyrinth, Star Fleet, When they were Young and Robin of Sherwood.  His prowess with animals shone in Follyfoot, Beauty, Atlantis and Five, this is where for me he excelled.  He is with the possible exception of Arthur Ranson Look-in's most used artist and if you look at his stuff you can see why,  he was exceptional in his field and everything he did was amazing, we really won't see his like again and we were so lucky to live in his lifetime and see his wonderful work first hand.

He was with Look-in until 1986, and didn't do much after this, but his work appeared in reprint form in the early 90s Anderson comics.

Condolences to all his family and friends, thank you and enjoy your well deserved rest Mike...RIP.

1973 No.17 and 1981 No.23 (full issues)...

Here a the next two, No.17 from 1973, thanks to Dan for the Donny feature and also thanks to Zeg again for No.23 from 1981, which has the last appearance of the Angels, CHiPs arrived in the next issue to replace them...

21st April 1973 - No.17 (Full Issue)

Cover: Donny Osmond by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson), The Adventures of David Cassidy (Alan Parry), The Fenn Street Gang (Unknown), Doctor in Charge (Tom Kerr), Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson), Elephant Boy (Unknown), Follyfoot (Mike Noble) and Pathfinders (Unknown).

30th May 1981 - No.23 (Full Issue)

Cover: Richard Hunt, Peter Mayhew, Vincent Price and Boris Karloff by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury), Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Charlie's Angels (Bill Titcombe), Smuggler (John M. Burns) and Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).

The Whole Story - Follyfoot stories 27 and 28...

The last 3 stories all segue into each other so here are the first two parts for you, the second part is the first black and white story, which went into a third short part with a different artist,  you can get that next month...

Story 27 The Forgers

Story: Angus P Allan

Art: Mike Noble

Story 28 The Circus

Story: Angus P Allan

Art: Mike Noble

1973 No.15 and 1981 No.21 (full issues)...

Next two are here, No.15 from 1973  which includes Rod poster/feature supplied by Dan and we jump one in 1981 to No.21, hopefully Dan can supply the missing issue soon, if anyone else can help with issues that are needed we'd love to hear from you...also the problem with the checklist site has been sorted, pictures now appear as normal...

7th April 1973 - No.15 (Full Issue)

Cover: Rod Stewart by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson), The Adventures of David Cassidy (Alan Parry), The Fenn Street Gang (Unknown), Doctor in Charge (Tom Kerr), Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson), Elephant Boy (Unknown), Follyfoot (Mike Noble) and Pathfinders (Unknown).

16th May 1981 - No.21 (Full Issue)

Cover: Madness by Harry North.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury), Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Charlie's Angels (Bill Titcombe), Smuggler (John M. Burns) and Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).

1973 No.14 and 1981 No.19 (full issues)...

There is something wrong with the checklist site at the moment, it is not letting me insert pictures, as a result the pictures do not have the red borders yet, but they will take you to the full issues nonetheless...on with the next two, first we go back to No.14 in 1973 with a now fixed issue and also the next 1981 issue is No.19, thanks to Dan and Zeg for help here...

 

31st March 1973 - No.14 (Full Issue)

Cover: Donny and Jimmy Osmond by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: On the Buses (Harry North), Settle Down Now! with Ken Goodwin (Arthur Ranson), The Adventures of David Cassidy (Alan Parry), The Fenn Street Gang (Unknown), Doctor in Charge (Tom Kerr), Les Dawson is Superflop (Arthur Ranson), Elephant Boy (Unknown), Follyfoot (Mike Noble) and Pathfinders (Unknown).

2nd May 1981 - No.19 (Full Issue)

Cover: Shakin' Stevens by Arnaldo Putzu.

Strips: Elvis the Story (Arthur Ranson), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Martin Asbury), Worzel Gummidge (Mike Noble), Charlie's Angels (Bill Titcombe), Smuggler (John M. Burns) and Meet the Smurfs! (Peyo).