Not Really About Comics, But Still...

The database is still concerned, first and foremost, with publications, but there are things which touch on comics - and which have importance to the history of British comics - which aren't often discussed, or which, if they are discussed, are not thought of in the same way as print items. One of these almost-hidden pieces of history is best exemplified by the Great Eagle Travelling Exhibition of Modern Wonders. Despite a lot of digging, I haven't found out anything about the fate of these vehicles which were used to tour around various towns. At least one of them should have been saved for future generations. It is highly unlikely, after all this time, that contents have been preserved, but at least one van ought to be.

It is interesting (and truly frustrating) that I can't find photographs of Eagle vans. The illustrations printed in The Eagle can't be the only mark of their existence, and my curiousity can't let the print information in the comics be the entire story. Who bought them? Where did they go after the Exhibition was over? Without a paper trail to chase, these are questions which refuse to go away. Most importantly - was their presence in town so common as to negate the possibility of some youngster snapping a pic or two?

Then there were the Eagle cars. None of the cars (LYV 479, LYV 480, LYV 481, LYV 482, LYV 483 and LYV 484) have been mentioned in all these years, and searching the usual places hasn't turned up anything on their lives after the comic. I'm not 100% sure of the make and model used, so haven't searched vehicle MOT websites for possible information. It would be a real treat to see one of these turn up at a convention, if only for the puzzlement on the faces of some of the attendees.

I've still to uncover a single photograph of the Junior Mirror car, a Bond Mark C Minicar, reg 783 CML, which seems to be so obscure a comic-related car as to have no commentary whatsoever in intervening years. There's nothing to indicate if it was the sole vehicle used for promotion of Junior Mirror, nor how it was painted. There is one vehicle I know exactly how it was painted. In the early 90s a small pastel-yellow panel van (of unknown vintage) with a black Disney logo decal on the side was driving around Kent, but I'm not sure of any connection to a print title.

The Candy and Andy car has had some coverage, thanks to Steve Holland and Roger Perry (here and here). The striped Austin 7 Mini (which was notable enough to receive a Dinky model based on it), is one of the odder vehicles with a comic connection - mainly though association with one of the most disturbing comics ever published - and is iconic enough warrant more information being available. Again, there's nothing to indicate what became of "Stripey."

Then there are familiar branded vehicles from retailers.

Lets hope that Forbidden Planet have learned from the lessons of the past, and preserve at least one of their early vans for the future.

There are spots of hope - because I can't neglect to mention the happy discoveries - as there are definitely vehicles related directly to comics still in existence. Much of the trains featured in Eagle cutaways, such as Mallard (the Flying Scotsman), still exist, as do a number of the racing cars. The green bus seen in Eagle Vol.3 24 can be seen here, and looking rather good. Travel enthusiasts can probably pick out a great many of the vehicles from Eagle cutaways which are still extant,

Of course, it isn't just cars and vans which have disappeared from the history of comics, but they represent a visible line of items which have long been forgotten or disregarded. Costumes and props which are occasionally deployed for advertising sometimes (though not always) get mention in comics, such as the Death's Head II outfit and mask seen during the 90s. While I'm not the most ardent Marvel fan, even I can recognise the importance of items like that being preserved.

Next post will actually be about comics. I swear.