An Adzine / Aftermath

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This article is about is about the 1970s UK comic adzine. You may be looking for Adzine (British adzine) a UK multimedia adzine from the 1980s-1990s.
Zine
Title: An Adzine (Issues 1-4); Aftermath (Issues 5, 6, 7)
Editor(s): Alan Austin
Organizer(s):
Author(s):
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Type: adzine
Date(s): 1970-1971
Topic:
Medium: print
Frequency:
Fandom: Comics
Rating(s):
Warning(s):
Language: English
External Links: An Adzine #2-4 and Aftermath #5-6; The Fanscene Project
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

An Adzine which was first published in 1970 and renamed as Aftermath in 1971 began as a comics adzine, with fanart submitted by various contributors. In 1972 the zine became Fantasy Unlimited for issues #8-30, a combination ad- and fan-zine and then in 1975 it was renamed Comics Unlimited and continued from Issue #31 to Issue #53.

The zine was, first and foremost, an adzine, for the advertising of comics, books, posters and zines for sale and wanted for purchase. Later issues introduced short articles, quizzes and fanart.

Alan Austin's first fanzine was 'An Adzine' which ran for four issues, appearance in April, May June and August of 1970. It was as implied by its titled, a collection of 'For Sale' and 'Wants' advertisements from comics fans. Among those advertising were Peter Taylor, Steve Horowitz and Doug Gifford. The most prominent advertiser was Alan F. Austin.... These early issues were produced on a Roneo No. 5 hand-operated, hand-feed duplicator ((It's now in the British Museum. Seriously, does anyone know how old a Roneo No. 5 would be? I suspect it could go as far back as the 20s. It cost me [one pound] from a junk shop in the local high street - and I still think it was an amazing bargain to get your very own printing outfit for a few weeks' pocket money - Alan)) Issues 3 and 4 had the luxury of being typed ((The first two I scratched onto a stencil with a knitting needle! - Alan)). Artwork appeared on the covers only, some tracings from comic books and others drawn by Paul Stannard, J. Davies and Ray Hopkins.

 [1]

An Adzine

Issues #1-2

April and May, 1970. Editor, printer and publisher, Alan Austin, with assistance and art from Paul Stannard. The first two issues were hand-written. It is unknown how long the first issue was - only a cover was shared via The Fanscene Project - but the second issue was nine pages. Issue 2's contents comprised of:

  • the front cover (with a fan-drawn copy of a Tarzan comic Austin had for sale, drawn by Stannard);
  • an editorial, along with abbreviations used for the quality of products advertised, advertising rates and subscription information;
  • seven pages of advertisements for comics to buy, sell or swap. Each page is be headed with the name of the individual and their location.

Issues #1 and 2 cost one penny, aka, as the cover says, "this is all this is worth".

Issue #2's editorial:

Well, I've changed my mind; the cover now has an illustration!! It's a reproduction (have you ever seen worse!) of the cover of the Tarzan comic I have for sale in this issue. The printing hasn't improved much, but I'm still hoping to get a typewriter/ Anyway, the Function of an adzine is to sell comics, which this 'zine does cheaply! (By the way, this issue is ahead of schedule!)

Editorial by Alan Austin - An Adzine #2

Issue #3

June 1970. Editor, printer and publisher, Alan Austin, with assistance and art from Paul Stannard. For Issue #3 Austin got access to a typewriter, which vastly improved readability. The issue was 13 pages and still cost one penny.

Cover illo by Paul Stannard. He's no artist but at least he's filled up the cover with something.This issue is typed, believe it or not. Quite an improvement on the first two issues, i think. I hope to improve the printing quality even further in future.


There's a good chance that there'll be a comic strip in the next issue (or maybe in this issue, I'm not sure yet). I've got a few ideas drawn out but I'll have to see how things go. Any of you artists out there who'd like to draw the strip, let me know and send a sample of your work where possible.

(Notus Bonus- I highly recommend ULTIMA THULE toanybody [sic] who has the slightest interest in Comics. It's excellent!)

Editorial by Alan Austin - An Adzine #3

Contents:

  • Front cover by Paul Stannard - a vampire urging the audience to "Be a blood donor! Give generously!
  • Editorial by Alan Austin; plus advertising rates, publishing credits and Austin's personal Wanted Comics list;
  • Five pages of advertisements;
  • "Odds and Ends" - a new segment featuring comics-related news/gossip and a competition to match the super-hero with their creator.
  • Three pages of advertisements;
  • Back cover by Paul Stannard - a reproduction of the cover of Superman #1.
ODDS AND ENDS


This is a new feature, starting this issue and, as the title suggests, it consists of odds and ends-anything to do do (sic) with comics and any other items of interest. Well, here goes-
Did'ja know Jack Kirby has left Marvel? The reason being that Stan Lee refused to allow Jack to write scripts for some of the Marvel titles. Jack will now be doing scripts and art for three new DC titles. It seems as if Marvel are losing good artists as DC gain more and better ones.

Rumour has it that Jim Steranko is forming his own comic group! When in full swing (in about 7-10 years time?) he plans to have about 50 titles! As if Stan hasn't got enough competition already!

You probably already know, but anyway Stan Lee's real name is Stanly Lieber and Larry Lieber is his brother.

The Beano is a comic full of reprints! The first ten years of the Beano comic is reprinted every ten years. Nobody notices this because readers are small children who start reading the Beano at the age of, say eight, and give it up by the time there (sic) eleven. (Ahem; with a few exceptions!)

A COMPETITION/ There follows a list of comic heroes. The first three people to name the creator of each hero will receive a free subscription to "An Adzine" plus three old comics of my choice. This competition is only open to those who have paid for "An Adzine".
1. Superman. 2. Batman. 3. The Flash. 4. Green Lantern. 5. The Spectre. 6. Wonder Woman. 7. Submariner. 8. Human Torch. 9. Captain America. 10. Plasticman. 11. Hawkman. 12. The Spirit. 13. Flash Gordon. 14. Dollman. 15. Uncle Sam. The above are all the original heroes from the forties.

Much of the above info' may already be known to many people, but this feature is for people who don't know yet. (There must be somebody!)

That's all for this issue.

Odds and Ends by Alan Austin - An Adzine #3, page 8

Issue #4

August 1970. Printed bi-monthly. Editor, printer and publisher, Alan Austin, with assistance from Paul Stannard. This issue had 22 pages and a much improved printing quality (and art!), and as a result the price increased to I/6 (one and sixpence).

EDITORIAL (not to be ignored)


Yet another improvement! With the covers, back and front. Thanks to Joe Davies for the front cover, and to Ray Hopkins for the back. I'm afraid the inside hasn't improved much (if at all), but I hope it's readable and it should improve next issue.
Apologies for the absence of a comic strip this issue. The reason for it's non-appearance being that I simply haven't had time and space to fit one in. Maybe next issue.
A number of people have written to me suggesting An Adzine should have more pages. Well, I can only print as many pages as I have received adverts for. So send in more ads and make them bigger!
Thanks to Keith Barnes and Steve Horowitz for their articles. Any contributions, artwork for covers and especially articles would be very welcome.

Price per issue of an Adzine has risen to I/6 due to a rise in printing costs, but subscriptions will remain the same, so it pays to subscribe.

Editorial by Alan Austin - An Adzine Issue #4

Contents:

  • Front cover by Joe Davies, featuring Superman and Captain America shaking hands and pondering each other's comic origins.
  • Editorial, Advertising Rates, Subscription Rates, Credits, Code to Condition of Comics and Austin's wanted comics list.
  • Three pages of advertisements.
  • "The Only Superhero" by Keith Haines - short article on Superman (DC Comics). It concludes with the following:
What has the future got in store for SUPERMAN?Will Lois Lane wait for him to propose or will she marry KRYPTO?Will CLARK KENT get arrested for indecent exposure while changing to SUPERMAN in a telephone booth? These and other vitaly unimportant questions will definitely NOT be answered in the next issue!!

"The Only Superhero" by Keith Haines - An Adzine #4

Aftermath

Issue #5

March 1971. Printed six-weekly. Editor, printer and publisher, Alan Austin. This issue had 16 pages.

Contents:

  • Front cover by P. Richardson - Spider-Man.
  • Editorial by Alan Austin, along with advertising rates, subscription rates and advertising condition codes.
Firstly, an explanation - After running An Adzine for four issues, I gave it up because of a lack of time. Now that I have more time, I am able to publish it again, under a new title - Aftermath, continuing the numbering from An Adzine.


Secondly, as apology - for the hurriedly duplicated cover, the small number of pages in this issue and the absence of an article or two. All three are due to the postal strike and I didn't want to delay publication any longer because of the necessity of having Aftermath on sale at the ComicCon. I couldn't get in touch with the litho printer, I could only print the ads I received before the strike began and I was unable to contact any prospective article-writer. Postal authorities permitting, back to normal next issue.

N.B.Thinking that Aftermath would be out before D-Day (February 15th), I printed all prices in #sd. I hope this is more of a convenience than an inconvenience...

Alan Austin - Editorial - Aftermath #5

Issue #6

May 1971. Printed six-weekly. Editor, printer and publisher, Alan Austin. This issue had 15 pages.

Contents:

I think I can truly say that this zine has improved with every issue and this issue is no exception. I was very pleased with the way Denis Lee's cover came out in print. I wish I could say the same for the articles in this issue - I hope they're readable. Aftermath will be all litho some day...


The cover illustration was taken from a book by Richard Meade called The Sword of Morning Star.
As an experiment, I've made a large reduction in the advertising rates for next issue. If I receive more ads as a result of this, I'll be able to afford to keep to these low rates for future issues. I've also introduced a new type of ad (litho), which should be of use to fanzine editors who want to illustrate ads for their fanzines. This type of ad isn't restricted to fanzine editors, though.

Contributions - artwork for covers, articles and money are always welcome.

Alan Austin - Editorial - Aftermath #6

  • Advertising section
  • "The Atlas Westerns" by Chris Smith - article on Atlas Comics' (later Marvel) Western comics. Part 1.
  • Advertising section, including advertisement for the Complete Marvel Superhero Index.

Issue #7

August 1971

Printed six-weekly. Editor, printer and publisher, Alan Austin.

Contents[2]:

  • Front cover
  • Editorial by Alan Austin, along with advertising rates, subscription rates and advertising condition codes.
  • Advertising section
  • "The Atlas Westerns" by Chris Smith - article on Atlas Comics' (later Marvel) Western comics. Part 2.
  • Marvel Superhero Index - part 1

Gallery of Covers

Related Concepts, Fandoms, Terms, Fanworks
See also Fantasy Unlimited, Comics Unlimited

References

  1. ^ "The Fanzines of Alan Austin (or the AA Guide to FU Publications?)" - Allan J. Palmer - Comics Unlimited #50 (1979)
  2. ^ "The Fanzines of Alan Austin (Or the AA Guide to FU Publications?) - Allan J. Palmer - Comics Unlimited #50 (1979)
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