Arturo Del Castillo - Film Fun/Lion Comics by Fleetway UK 1 1

[Yorick]

I would greatly appreciate any assistance in developing a list of issues from the UK weekly printed comics in the late 50's and early 60's of Arturo Del Castillo's comic artwork.  Specifically Del Castillo's Man in the Iron Mask and Three Musketeers stories.

My understanding (from various web sources) is that these two stories were printed initially in the 50's in the Fleetway publication Film Fun.  I have not been able to verify this.  Then, Fleetway reprinted the Musketeers story in their Lion comics title beginning in 1963.  After finding bits of information on the approximate dates of publication for the Lion reprints, I found (after some REAL digging) two September issues and one October issue from 1963.  Fortunately I struck gold with one of the issues: October 5th, 1963.  The story title is "The King's Musketeers" and is merely two pages before it ends with "stand by for more exciting adventure in next Monday's LION!".

Since my two September issues have no Musketeer story (Sept. 14 and 21), I assume the story begins either with the Sept. 28 copy, or with the Oct. 5 copy I own.  I did find a few lots on Ebay of Lion issues from this period, but was outbid (you have to perform an advanced ebay search of international sellers in order to even see many of the listings for Lion comics, and even then is difficult to find 1963, 64, or 65 issues).  I debated placing higher bids, but without any guarantee of acquiring more of this story, I could not convince myself to pay the high shipping cost to have 20 newsprint comics sent over to the USA (in addition to the actual bid price).  I am unsure whether the story is printed each and every week until its conclusion or if there are breaks between the weekly issues.  In addition, I have no idea if the Man in the Iron Mask was reprinted in Lion.

Amazon shows a collected limited edition of these Del Castillo works which is "not currently available".  Other book sellers that show this search result have a similar statement that it is not available.  After more searching for this collected edition, I read that it was never published.  Something to do with the copyright.

I have been a fan of Del Castillo's Musketeers and Iron Mask artwork since I was exposed to it on Comicartfans.  I missed an opportunity to acquire a page of original art from the Musketeers story which showed up on ebay not too long ago and sold for over $2k.  Here's a scan of a panel from that ebay sale:

 

[Yorick]

I ordered several issues from 30th Century Comics and from what I have received I have narrowed the Lion issues to Sept. 28, 1963 through Feb. 22, 1964.  I am still unable to verify the starting issue (either Sept. 28 or Oct. 5).

I have also found that the King's Musketeers is the same story as the Man in the Iron Mask.  The title changed between the Oct. 5, 1963 issue and the Nov. 9, 1963 issue (I don't have the issues between).

 

[Comiccol]

Hello. I also follow this artist and have a good knowledge of British Comic History. In fact I have all the issues of Film Fun and Lion where the artwork exists from 28-09-63 to 22-02-64 (Lion). Let me know how I can help. 

[Comiccol]

PS the original artwork was bought by Book Palace and is offered for sale by them ( I think).

[Yorick]

On 11/8/2017 at 12:59 PM, Comiccol said:

PS the original artwork was bought by Book Palace and is offered for sale by them ( I think).

Isn't that amazing?!  Unfortunately, it looked like there was only one action page.  Still a good deal - if you are able to afford the bulk purchase price.

[Yorick]

On 11/8/2017 at 12:57 PM, Comiccol said:

Hello. I also follow this artist and have a good knowledge of British Comic History. In fact I have all the issues of Film Fun and Lion where the artwork exists from 28-09-63 to 22-02-64 (Lion). Let me know how I can help. 

So the Lion issues of 3 Musketeers begin at Sept. 28, 1963.  Thank you!

I picked up some more copies, but have not yet scanned them.

[Yorick]

On 11/8/2017 at 12:57 PM, Comiccol said:

Hello. I also follow this artist and have a good knowledge of British Comic History. In fact I have all the issues of Film Fun and Lion where the artwork exists from 28-09-63 to 22-02-64 (Lion). Let me know how I can help. 

What are the dates of the Film Fun run?  Does Lion reprint the same material?

[nmtg9]

Good luck with the search.

I assume you've checked out Duncan Mcalpines site already as it iss full of info on UK comics http://www.comicpriceguide.co.uk 

[Yorick]

Here's my current list:

Lion - Fleetway Publications Ltd.
The Kings Musketeers/The King's Musketeers and The Man in the Iron Mask
Sept. 28, 1963 to Feb. 22, 1964?
Issue dates:
1963.09.21 Owned & no Musketeers
1963.09.28
1963.10.05 CONFIRMED
1963.10.12
1963.10.19
1963.10.26 CONFIRMED
1963.11.02
1963.11.09 CONFIRMED
1963.11.16 CONFIRMED
1963.11.23 CONFIRMED
1963.11.30
1963.12.07
1963.12.14
1963.12.21
1963.12.28
1964.01.04
1964.01.11
1964.01.18 CONFIRMED
1964.01.25
1964.02.01 CONFIRMED
1964.02.08
1964.02.15 CONFIRMED
1964.02.22 CONFIRMED (the end)
1964.02.29 Owned & no Musketeers

[Yorick]

Book Palace has now published a limited edition Del Castillo Three Musketeers volume which apparently reproduces EVERYTHING.  What is interesting is that they note 3 separate Musketeer stories.  I should be able to confirm that when my copy arrives.

[Yorick]

I have a complete list of the Arturo Del Castillo Musketeers work (thank you Book Palace for publishing a reproduction of the works and the listing of the original publications).  However, after seeing what an original page of Del Castillo Musketeers art LOOKS like, I am not satisfied with the Book Palace edition.  This material needs an Artist Edition treatment.

There was a set of 1963 and also 1964 issues of Lion on feebay not too long ago, and I was sniped!  NOOOOO!!!  I wasn't expecting competition. 

[themagicrobot]

[Yorick]

On 6/25/2022 at 10:42 AM, themagicrobot said:

 

 

What a lovely scan!  So bright and clear.  You must have a nice white page copy to work from?  Photoshop?

[themagicrobot]

Back in the day I used to capture stuff via file sharing sites. The Three Musketeers were in Film Fun January  to May 1961. Perhaps this will help:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155044833877?hash=item2419646a55:g:PtYAAOSwg7VisEWP

 

[Yorick]

My scans are yellowish - which is the newsprint paper....

[themagicrobot]

I'm no computer whiz but images can be messed about with. I've just spent 10 seconds on your first image.