The issue of Shiver and Shake that went on sale this week 41 years ago saw the introduction of not one, not two but "four super fun features". The full-page advertisement from the previous week's issue shows what they were.
Although it isn't the order in which they appeared inside the comic, I'll look at them as they appeared on the advertisement, starting with Charlie Williams and moving clockwise. Williams was a Shake resident, appearing on page five of the elephant's comic or page fifteen overall. Illustrated by Alf Saporito this strip is rather similar in format to the celebrity strips that appeared in Buster in the early 1960's. Below is Charlie's page with a Charlie Drake page underneath for comparison. Illustrated by Arthur Martin, it can be found in Buster dated 19th May 1962.
Wizards Anonymous is next, and it appears just over the page. This strip is my favourite of all the new features - it has a good, fun story with excellent accompanying artwork by Brian Walker.
The other two new features both appear in the Shiver section. Ghouldilocks is next on the above advertisement, and appears on page eight. The artist is Stan McMurtry and this particular episode is a reprint from Jag, although some fresh pages were drawn for her run in Shiver and Shake.
The final of the "new fun features", both on the advert and in the comic, is Grimly Feendish, a character originally created by Leo Baxendale as Eagle Eye's arch nemesis in Wham. Here the artist is Stan McMurtry and this episode is a reprint from Smash no. 58. Some new strips were produced for Shiver and Shake by a young Tom Paterson.
200 separate auctions have been put up on ebay by comics dealer Phil Shrimpton, better known as Phil-Comics. Here is some of the best stuff.
The first thing that caught my eye when looking through was this very early Broons book from 1949. This is the fourth Broon annual and is very rare; already bidding has reached £100!
You can see a lot more photos of the book on at auction:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Broons-Book-Annual-1949-RARE-G-VG-Oor-Wullie-Dudley-Watkins-phil-comics-/360658876847?pt=UK_Books_comics_Magazines_UK_Comics_ET&hash=item53f8f1b9af
Next up is the 1963 Beano summer special, in fine - near mint condition! One in similar condition sold for £1,371 back in 2010, and going by the condition of this one I wouldn't be surprised if it sold for a similar amount - if not more. Saying that, I don't know how many people are willing to pay that much, maybe the one person who was has already got one.
There are some fantastic photos of this one so I'd recommend you check them out.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dandy-Beano-comic-Summer-Special-1963-1-RARE-FINE-phil-comics-/360658879783?pt=UK_Books_comics_Magazines_UK_Comics_ET&hash=item53f8f1c527
Also in great condition is this Dandy Monster Annual from 1947, which has been graded fine - fine + condition.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dandy-Monster-Comic-1947-FINE-FINE-Lovely-Book-Beano-phil-comics-/271208048351?pt=UK_Books_comics_Magazines_UK_Comics_ET&hash=item3f254266df
One thing I'd really like but is probably going to shoot up in price is this bound volume of Jag, with issues is VG to Fine condition.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jag-comic-BOUND-VOLUME-1-4th-May-1968-to-15th-Feb-1969-VG-F-phil-comics-/271208048837?pt=UK_Books_comics_Magazines_UK_Comics_ET&hash=item3f254268c5
And finally the first issue of Smash, in VG- condition. So far only one bid has been placed, but I suspect there will be a few more.
As I've said there are 200 auctions up right now, with bidding ending on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd June, so you've got plenty of time to look through them! Here is a link to take you to the home page to browse through all of his comics currently online.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/phil-comics/m.html?item=360593426983&pt=UK_Books_comics_Magazines_UK_Comics_ET&hash=item53f50b0a27&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
Phil also has a website, which you can find here:
http://www.phil-comics.com
Jag No.1 hit the stores on 27th April 1968, and was the last traditional boy's comic. It was originally a 16 page tabloid sized paper, but by the end of it's run it was a 32 page regular sized comic. Jag truly was britains best doing britains best. Eric Bradbury drew the mouse patrol, a war story from 1941 set in the North African desert. It was about some boys who set out in a stolen german tank in search of their farthers, who had been kidnapped by the Nazis. They were assisted by Cleo, a Chimpanzee, who only appeared in the last box in issue one. 
Captain Codsmouth was the first story to grab my attention. It's about Codsmouth and his stupid crew, Fred Needle, Bos'n Mulligan and Stoker Splitpin. In the first episode, the captain discovers why they only just made it out of the harbour after three months at sea (they'd forgotten to raise the anchor)an, so he threatens his crew no pay! Brilliant art by Joe Colqhoun, and later Doug Maxted. 
One of Jags full colour pages was taken up by Custer, from 'The Ledgend of Custer'. The opportunity gave artist Geoff Campion a brilliant opportunity to produce some amazinghand coloured artwork. 
Unfortunatly it didn't last long, and merged with Tiger after 48 issues. 
..................................... Just thought it would be intresting to include the Beano from the same week. This issue includes one of my favorite Dennis The Menace stories, by David Law. 
