Iron Fist: The complete Yaffa cover gallery

Here's a cover gallery of my complete run of Yaffa's Iron Fist series:

 Iron Fist #1, April 1978

 Iron Fist #2, c.September 1979

 Iron Fist #3, c.March 1981

 Iron Fist #4, c.June 1981

 Iron Fist #5, c.December 1981

Iron Fist #6, c.early 1982

Iron Fist #2 is a reprint of #1 albeit with a modified cover.

The first two issues are regular/magazine sized and the rest are digest-sized editions. #'s 3 and 4 are 'short' digests, and #'s 5 and 6 are 'tall' editions.

The Yaffa Iron Fist series reprints the complete Marvel Comics' Iron Fist series from 1975-77. In due course I'll index the individual issues and stories, but in general each issue contains three stories from the original series in the original order of publication.

Update 2 December 2023: I have updated a couple of publication dates due to new information coming to hand.

The Fantastic Four #5: The Newton edition

This is the cover of Newton Comics' The Fantastic Four #5:

The cover is recoloured and slightly reformatted from the original on Marvel Comics' Strange Tales #107:

The story contents:

Captives of the Deadly Duo Part 1, originally published in Fantastic Four #6, September 1962

[Captives of the Deadly Duo] Part 2 When Super-Menaces Unite, originally published in Fantastic Four #6, September 1962

[Captives of the Deadly Duo] Part 3 When Friends Fall Out!, originally published in Fantastic Four #6, September 1962

[Captives of the Deadly Duo] Part 4 Trapped, originally published in Fantastic Four #6, September 1962

[Captives of the Deadly Duo] Part 5 The End...Or The Beginning?, originally published in Fantastic Four #6, September 1962

The Impossible Man, originally published in Fantastic Four #11, February 1963

The Impossible Man was previously published in Australia by Horwitz in Strange Tales #4.

This issue contains a Thor poster:

This image originally appeared on the cover of Marvel Comics' Thor #129. It would resurface a number of times in Newton comics - the poster was also in Dracula #9, and a single-page black and white poster/filler appeared in many issues late in the piece. 

This issue includes the following in-house advertisements: 

 The Amazing Spider-Man #7 

The Incredible Hulk #5 

This issue also contains a single letters page, a Planet of the Apes Tee Shirt offer, and a contest with the expiry date 20 October 1975.

I am uncertain of the publication date -  it may have been 30 August 1975 but the competition expiry date suggests it was published a week after The Amazing Spider-Man #7 on 6 September 1975. TBC.

The Fantastic Four #4: The Newton edition

Newton Comics' The Fantastic Four #4 was published 16 August 1975:

The cover is recoloured from Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four #5:

The story contents:

Prisoners of Doctor Doom!, originally published in Fantastic Four #5, July 1962

[Prisoners of Doctor Doom!] Part 2 Back to the Past!, originally published in Fantastic Four #5, July 1962

[Prisoners of Doctor Doom! Part 3 On the Trail of Blackbeard, originally published in Fantastic Four #5, July 1962

[Prisoners of Doctor Doom! Part 4 Battle!, originally published in Fantastic Four #5, July 1962

[Prisoners of Doctor Doom! Part 5 The Vengeance of Doctor Doom!, originally published in Fantastic Four #5, July 1962

The Human Torch Meets Paste-Pot Pete!, originally published in Strange Tales #104, January 1963 

This issue contains a Silver Surfer poster:

This poster advertises the forthcoming Silver Surfer series. This image is from the cover of Marvel's The Silver Surfer #7 and was on the cover of Newton's The Silver Surfer #6.

This issue includes an inhouse ad for The Amazing Spider-Man #6:

The favour was reciprocated: The Fantastic Four #4 was advertised in The Amazing Spider-Man #6:

This issue includes a subscription page, A Super Hero Tee Shirts offer, a Marvel Mailbag page, and a contest with the expiry date 29 September 1975.

The publication date 16 August 1975 is a guestimate but I'm confident it's accurate based on available information.

The Fantastic Four #3: The Newton edition

Newton Comics' The Fantastic Four #3 was published 2 August 1975:

The cover is recoloured from the original on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four #4:

The story contents:

The Coming of... Sub-Mariner! Chapter 1 On the Trail of the Torch!, originally published in Fantastic Four #4, May 1962

[The Coming of... Sub-Mariner!] Chapter 2 Enter the Sub-Mariner!, originally published in Fantastic Four #4, May 1962

[The Coming of... Sub-Mariner!] Chapter 3 Let the World Beware!, originally published in Fantastic Four #4, May 1962

[The Coming of... Sub-Mariner!] Chapter 4 Sub-Mariner's Revenge!, originally published in Fantastic Four #4, May 1962

[The Coming of... Sub-Mariner!] Chapter 5 Return to the Deep!, originally published in Fantastic Four #4, May 1962

Prisoner of the 5th Dimension!, originally published in Strange Tales #103, December 1962

[Prisoner of the 5th Dimension!] Part 2 Trapped in Another World!, originally published in Strange Tales #103, December 1962

[Prisoner of the 5th Dimension!] Part 3 The End of Zemu!, originally published in Strange Tales #103, December 1962

The stories appear to be reprinted complete and intact apart from the omission of the original page numbers and the odd job number.

This issue contains a Hulk poster:

This image originally appeared on the cover of Marvel Comics' The Incredible Hulk #105, and was  on the cover of Newton's The Incredible Hulk #2. It was also one of the Nabisco Newton posters.

This issue includes inhouse ads for The Incredible Hulk #3, Conan the Barbarian #1, and Planet of the Apes Annual #1. It also includes a subscription page and a contest with the expiry date 15 September 1975.

The Fantastic Four #3 was advertised in the Sunday Observer 3 August 1975:

The Fantastic Four #2: The Newton edition

Newton Comics' The Fantastic Four #2 was published 12 July 1975:

The cover is recoloured and slightly modified from the original cover on Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four #3:

The story contents:

The Menace of the Miracle Man Chapter 1, originally published in Fantastic Four #3, March 1962

[The Menace of the Miracle Man] Chapter II The Monster Lives!, originally published in Fantastic Four #3, March 1962

[The Menace of the Miracle Man] Chapter III The Flame That Died!, originally published in Fantastic Four #3, March 1962

[The Menace of the Miracle Man] Chapter IV In the Shadow of Defeat!, originally published in Fantastic Four #3, March 1962

[The Menace of the Miracle Man] Chapter V The Final Challenge!, originally published in Fantastic Four #3, March 1962

The Sandman Strikes!, originally published in Strange Tales #115, December 1963 

Both stories appear to be presented complete and intact, apart from the omission of the original page numbers.

The front cover of Strange Tales #115 sans trade dress is also included in this issue:

This issue includes a Fantastic Four poster:

This image is a modified panel from Fantastic Four #139 and was also included in Newton's Dracula #2. Interestingly the cover of Fantastic Four #139 was the source for the poster in Newton's The Amazing Spider-Man #9. and Planet of the Apes #3.

This issue contains inhouse ads for The Incredible Hulk #2, advertised as on sale 5 July 1975, and The Avengers #1 advertised as On Sale Now.

The Fantastic Four #2 was advertised inhouse with an On Sale date 12 July in Dracula #1 and Planet of the Apes #3:

It was also advertised in the Sunday Observer 13 July 1975:

This issue also contains a subscription page and a contest with the expiry date 12 August 1975.

Michael Mauser Private Eye: The Gredown edition

Gredown's Michael Mauser Private Eye was published c.December 1976:

The cover art is unsigned but looks like the work of Phil Belbin, and is based on the opening panel of the story The Inheritance:

Michael Mauser began as a support character to E-Man, and then appeared in his own back feature in Vengeance Squad. This issue reprints all the Michael Mauser stories from the six issues of Charlton's Vengeance Squad, as well as a Vengeance Squad story and a horror story introduced by Mr. Dedd. This issue is fully indexed on the GCD.

This issue appears to be the first collection of Michael Mauser stories ever published.

And I like the frizzy cats on the cover.

Newtonalia: The Planet of the Apes Sunday Observer Special [#2]

Over 10 years ago I posted scans of my copy of The Planet of the Apes Sunday Observer Special.

I now have a copy of The Planet of the Apes Sunday Observer Special [#2]:

This edition is titled Sunday Observer Apes on the inner pages, and is dated 15 June 1975.

These pamphlets were part of Maxwell Newton's campaign launching Newton Comics in June 1975.

Needless to say, the pamphlets are extremely scarce. They are not even found in the Sunday Observer collections in the State Library of Victoria nor the National Library in Canberra. 

Many years ago I received a phone call out of the blue offering me multiple copies of this edition. Nothing came of it, and I'm not aware of those copies appearing in the marketplace - if indeed they ever existed. 

This copy fell into my hands due to the intervention of Robert Thomas Esq. who is, of course, the king of Newtonalia and all things Ape, and my go-to guy whenever I need to check anything related to Newton Comics. Much obliged, squire!

Marvel Tales #3: The Yaffa edition

This is the cover to Page Publications' Marvel Tales #3:

The cover image is a composite of previously published cover images. The Thor image originally appeared on the cover of Marvel Comics' Journey Into Mystery #89 and was published by Yaffa on The Mighty Thor #3:

The Spider-Man image is from The Spectacular Spider-Man #6:

And the Human Torch figure is from Marvel's The Human Torch #2:

The latter two covers may have inspired the three-point clockwise design.

The contents:

The Return of the Vulture, originally published in The Amazing Spider-Man #7, December 1963

Prisoner of the Wizard Part 1, originally published in Strange Tales #102, November 1962

Wizard' Wiles Part 2, originally published in Strange Tales #102, November 1962

On the Trail of the Tomorrow Man! [Part 1], originally published in Journey Into Mystery #86, November 1962

Flight to the Future Part 2, originally published in Journey Into Mystery #86, November 1962

The Vengeance of the Scarlet Beetle!, originally published in Tales to Astonish #39, January 1963

All of these stories were previously published in Marvel Tales #4, September 1966:

Given this issue reprints the original covers to the stories, it is clear why Yaffa felt the need to contrive an original cover for their edition.

Marvel Tales #3 is a digest-sized edition. My best guess is this was published early-1982.

Blazing War Picture Library #2

The cover to Page Publications' Blazing War Picture Library #2 is by Keith Chatto:

This issue contains war stories from the 1950's, mostly from Atlas/Marvel with a few Charlton stories in the mix, as follows:

Captured by the Nazis!, originally published in Battle #68, February 1960

No Retreat!, originally published in Battle #68, February 1960

Guard Duty!, originally published in Battle #68, February 1960

When We Attack the Commies!, originally published in Battle #68, February 1960

The Reds Were Waiting For Us!, originally published in Battleground #20, September 1957

Advance Under Fire!, originally published in Combat Casey #33, May 1957

The Reds Strike at Night!, originally published in Combat Casey #33, May 1957

The Weak Man, originally published in Attack #55, December 1958

You Can't Retreat, originally published in Attack #55, December 1958

The Congressional Medal of Honor, originally published in Attack #55, December 1958

The Man in the Iron Monster, originally published in Battlefront #41, July 1956

Mysterious Mission!, originally published in Tales of the Marines #4, February 1957

Rockets Away!, originally published in Battle #61, December 1958

This issue was also recycled with new Chatto covers as World War Library #12:

and as War in the Army #7:

This issue appears to have been originally published by Page Publications as Wartime Library #2:

The cover is loosely based on two panels from Captured by the Nazis:

There are probably more Page Publications editions of this issue.

Update 27/12/2021: This issue was also published as Real War Library #1:

Update 23/9/2022: This issue was also published under another Chatto cover as War in The Army #1:

The recycling of Batman #88: The K.G. Murray edition

Colour Comics' Batman #88 was published c.September 1957:

The cover originally appeared on DC's Detective Comics #243, May 1957:

This cover was recycled by Colour Comics for Giant Batman Album #14 c.November 1967:

The contents:

Professor Eureka [Begins "Oh, My--Space Ships! From some other planet!"], originally published in House of Mystery #63, June 1957

Batman the Giant!, originally published in Detective Comics #243, May 1957

Fingerprint Oddities [Begins "In order to read fingerprints, a chemical...], originally published in Big Town #46, July-August 1957

The Strange Circus of Mr. Sinistro, originally published in World's Finest Comics #89, July-Aug 1958

Moolah the Mystic [Begins "Lying on a bed of spikes!"], originally published in Tales of the Unexpected #15, July 1957

The Big Batman Quiz, originally published in Batman #108, June 1957

My copy is missing the rear cover, so it is possible there is another filler strip on page 31.

The contents of this issue - main features and fillers - were recycled in Colossal Comic #24. The main features and some of the fillers were recycled in Giant Batman Album #14.