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Fantasy Advertiser
Cover of Fantasy Advertiser #115 (1990), the magazine's final print issue, with art by Dave Sim.
EditorMartin Skidmore (1985–1989, 2010)
Former editorsFrank Dobson
Dez Skinn
Colin Campbell
Martin Lock
Howard Stangroom
Categoriescomics, criticism, interviews
Frequencymonthly
PublisherTrident Comics (1988–1989)
First issue1965; 59 years ago (1965)
Final issue
Number		1990
115
CountryUnited Kingdom
Based inLondon (1965–1988, 1990)
Leicester (1988–1989)
LanguageEnglish
Websitecomiczine-fa.com

Fantasy Advertiser, later abbreviated to FA, was a British fanzine focused on comic books, founded in 1965[1] by Frank Dobson, the "Godfather of British Fandom."[2] Considered the first British comics fanzine,[3] Fantasy Advertiser started out as an adzine focused on the sale of primarily second-hand comics; it eventually transitioned into a true comics fanzine. FA now operates as a comics webzine.

Publication history

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1965–1979: Dobson/Skinn/McCartney era

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Frank Dobson established Fantasy Advertiser as an adzine — essentially an advertising service for comic collectors. Dobson published 31 issues of Fantasy Advertiser, but when he emigrated to Australia in 1970 he handed the zine on to two contributors, Dez Skinn and Paul McCartney, to continue. (Dodson, meanwhile, returned from Australia and opened a comics retailing location, Weird Fantasy Bookshop, on Lewisham Way in New Cross.)[4]

Skinn and McCartney expanded the magazine to include more articles and artwork. Regular contributors included Dave Gibbons, Steve Parkhouse, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie, and Kevin O'Neill. Skinn left in 1976,[5] at which point it was taken over by retailer/distributor Colin Campbell, who edited FA until 1978. Dobson returned to publish five more issues in 1978–1979, when the fanzine went dormant.

1981–1985: Lock era

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After two years of dormancy, Fantasy Advertiser was revived in late 1981 by Martin Lock, fresh off publishing his long-running fanzine BEM. Lock incorporated the "BEM News Service" comic industry news feature into Fantasy Advertiser, as well as two other fanzines: Mike Taylor's Masters of Infinity and Colin Gould's Ogre.[6]

1985–1989: Skidmore & Neptune/Trident era

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In 1985,[7] after four years overseeing FA, Lock handed over the editorial reins to Martin Skidmore[8] so Lock could focus on his next venture, the publishing company Harrier Comics.

Skidmore shortened the name to FA — he didn't want it to "sound like a sexual contacts mag," and wanted to move away from the equation of comics with fantasy, expanding coverage of different genres.[9] Skidmore made the magazine more provocative and political.[8]

Fantasy Advertiser won the 1985 Eagle Award for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication/Trade Publication—UK.

With issue #100 (March 1988), Fantasy Advertiser's publication was taken over by Neptune Distribution. Skidmore stayed on as editor of FA, while also becoming lead editor for Neptune's own Trident Comics line. During this period, writer Mike Carey wrote reviews and profiles for FA before launching his own career as a comics writer.[10]

FA carried the Neptune logo through issue #107 (Oct. 1988), and the Trident Comics logo from that period forward.

Editor Skidmore and Neptune/Trident's final issue of FA was #114, dated October 1989.

1990: Issue #115

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In 1990, a new, London-based, publisher, 30th Century Comics, revived FA and published issue #115, edited by Howard Stangroom (another long-time member of British comics fandom). Although intended to be produced on a bimonthly schedule,[11] issue #115 proved to be FA's final print issue.[1]

Online relaunch

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In October 2010, after a 20-year hiatus, Martin Skidmore relaunched FA as an online zine, including reviews, articles, interviews, and original comics.[12]

Skidmore died less than a year after the return of FA;[13] the e-zine is now published by Tony Keen, Andrew Moreton, and Will Morgan.[9]

Editors

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  • Frank Dobson — issues #1–31 (1965–1970)
  • Dez Skinn (with Paul McCartney) — issues #32–58 (1970–1976)
  • Colin Campbell — issues #59–64 (1976–1977)
  • Frank Dobson — issues #65–69 (1978–June 1979)
  • Martin Lock — issues #70–89 (Nov. 1981–1984)
  • Martin Skidmore — issues #90-114 (1985–1989)
  • Howard Stangroom — issue #115 (1990)

Awards

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  • 1977 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite British Fan Publication[14]
  • 1978 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Fan Publication[15]
  • 1985 Eagle Award for Favourite Speciality Comics Publication[16]
  • 1986 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication[17]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Fantasy Advertiser (International FA the comiczine)". Classic UK Comics Zines. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  2. ^ Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts"". DezSkinn.com. Archived from the original on 1 February 2012. Retrieved 3 March 2013.
  3. ^ Stock, Karl (2023). Comic Book Punks: How a Generation of Brits Reinvented Pop Culture. Rebellion Publishing. ISBN 9781786189837.
  4. ^ Sallis, Ed (August 1976). "Fan-Things". Bemusing Magazine. No. 10. p. 7.
  5. ^ Skinn, Dez. "Fantasy Advertiser: the Big One!". DezSkinn.com. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  6. ^ Lock, Martin (November 1981). "Editorial". Fantasy Advertiser. No. 70.
  7. ^ Burrows, Gavin (8 November 2010). "Bookmark this, comic fans! The return of sweet 'FA'". Lucid Frenzy Junior.
  8. ^ a b Burrows, Gavin (July 1996). "Comics & My Life part 2". Vicious. BugPowder. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
  9. ^ a b "About Comiczine FA". FA: the Comiczine. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  10. ^ Kane, Paul; O’Regan, Marie (2014). "Part One: Writers". Voices in the Dark: Interviews with Horror Writers, Directors and Actors. McFarland, Inc., Publishers. p. 20. ISBN 9780786456727.
  11. ^ Stangroom, Howard (1990). "Editorial..." FA. No. 115 – via Classic UK Comics Zines.
  12. ^ Freeman, John (8 November 2010). "Sweet! FA returns after 20 years in onine [sic] form". downthetubes Comics News. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  13. ^ FREEMAN, JOHN (28 July 2011). "In Memoriam: Martin Skidmore". DownTheTubes.net.
  14. ^ "Previous Winners: 1977". Official Eagle Awards website. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  15. ^ "Previous Winners: 1978". Official Eagle Awards website. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  16. ^ TH (August 1985). "1984 Eagle Awards announced". The Comics Journal. No. 101.
  17. ^ "Previous Winners: 1986". Official Eagle Awards website. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2018.
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