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Publisher: Thorpe & Porter
Years in Operation: 1951 - 1979
Disclose Detail
Country: Flag United Kingdom Web Site: Brands: 3 Indicia Publishers: 12 Series: 165 Printings: 3284 (2932 Issues) Disclose Notes: Mostly published US reprints.

In the early 1960s, Thorpe & Porter either acquired or distributed a number of Arnold Book Company's titles. Also in the early 1960s, the imprint Strato was launched, but lasted only a few years. Another imprint, Top Sellers, was more successful and lasted until well into the 1970s.

The company was bought by DC Comics in 1965. In 1965-1966, a number of original-material titles were published.

From 1959, Thorpe & Porter were the sole distributor of both US DC and US Marvel comics in the UK. Marvel comics were issued with the covers altered (in the USA) to show a UK price instead of US price; whilst the cover month was removed. DC comics were franked with a circular UK price stamp, after their arrival. A few Marvels were also price-stamped in similar fashion.

Marvel importation was erratic, due to Marvel UK's promotion of their own reprints, which meant some titles were not offered for periods [Amazing Spider-Man (Marvel, 1963 series) is a prime example].
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Series Name Years in Print Issues (Printings)
1001 Laffs {Comic Books} 1970 - ? 11
87th Precinct {Comic Books} 1962 - 2
Action Double Double Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Four remaindered DC (and occasionally Marvel) comics with a UK cover. For more info see http://themagicrobot.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/thorpe-and-porter-double-double-comics/ or http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/fea11DoubleDouble.html
1967 - 1973 4
Adventure Double Double Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Four remaindered DC (and occasionally Marvel) comics with a UK cover. For more info see http://themagicrobot.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/thorpe-and-porter-double-double-comics/ or http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/fea11DoubleDouble.html
1967 - 1973 3
Adventures into Weird Worlds {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist.
1952 - 1952 2
Adventures of Biggles {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Issues of this series are undated, but later than the mid-1950s Australian reprints. This series has nine issues -- higher numbered issues are likely to be the Australian original which had some UK price variants.
1955 - 1959 15
Airboy Comics {Comic Books} 1953 - 5
American Eagle Western {Comic Books} 1955 - 1
Archie Comics {Comic Books} 1953 - ? 1
The Avengers {Comic Books} 1966 - 1
Batman Annual {Comic Books} 1970 - 1970 1
Batman Bumper Book {Comic Books} 1979 - 1
Batman Double Double Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Four remaindered DC (and occasionally Marvel) comics with a UK cover. For more info see http://themagicrobot.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/thorpe-and-porter-double-double-comics/ or http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/fea11DoubleDouble.html
1967 - 1973 3
Benjy All Colour Paperback {Comic Books} 1973 - 1
Benjy and His Friends {Comic Books} 1971 - 1972 30
The Bible Illustrated [The New Testament] {Comic Books} 1960 - ? 4
The Bible Illustrated [The Old Testament] {Comic Books} 1960 - 1960 5
Blackhawk {Comic Books} 1956 - 1958 37
Blackhawk Album {Trade Paperbacks} 1957 - 1957 1
Blackhawk Annual {Comic Books} 1959 - 1959 1
Bonanza [Western Classics] {Comic Books} 1970 - 1972 15
Boy Detective Comics {Comic Books} 1952 - 1
The Brave and the Bold Annual {Hardcovers} Disclose
Note: Rebound edition of six remaindered comics with a new cover. One copy contains Our Fighting Forces #97, Batman #191, Superboy #132, Action Comics #350, Adventure Comics #356 and Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen #99. Other contents may vary.
1967 - 1
Bugs Bunny {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues probably exist.
1972 - 1973 1
Bugs Bunny Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: #4 and #6 have an indicia title of "Bugs Bunny Comics", yet plain "Bugs Bunny" on the cover. #1's indicia and cover titles are currently unknown.
1953 - 2
Cain's Hundred {Comic Books} 1962 - 1962 1
Calimero {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: There are 12 known issues in the UK. In Sweden, 12 issues were published.
1973 - 1974 12
Candida the Marchesa {Comic Books} 1974 - 3
Casper the Friendly Ghost {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist.
1973 - 1974 24
Challengers of the Unknown {Comic Books} 1960 - ? 4
Charles Rand {Comic Books} 1966 - 1
Charlie Chaplin {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may remain to be documented.
1973 - 1974 6
The Classics Companion of Great Indian Stories {Comic Books} 1950 - ? 1
Classics Illustrated {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Most issues are reprints from the US Classics Illustrated series from Gilberton. However, some issues appeared in the British series before they did in the American. After the American series was cancelled several new titles appeared in the British and European series. When reprinting issues, some issues were dropped, resulting in multiple issues, such as two versions of #152.
1951 - 1963 181 (227)
Classics Illustrated Deluxe Edition {Hardcovers} 1950 - 1953 5
Classics Illustrated Junior {Comic Books} 1953 - 1954 16
Classics Illustrated Special Issue {Comic Books} 1957 - 1970 8 (9)
Comic Collection {Comic Books} 1980 - ? 2
Comics to Hold You Spellbound {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist.
1953 - ? 2
Daffy Duck {Comic Books} 1972 - ? 4
Danger Man {Comic Books} 1966 - 1
Dead-Eye Western Comic {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist.
1953 - 1953 1
Detective Double Double Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Four remaindered DC (and occasionally Marvel) comics with a UK cover. For more info see http://themagicrobot.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/thorpe-and-porter-double-double-comics/ or http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/fea11DoubleDouble.html
1967 - 1973 3
Doctor Dolittle {Comic Books} 1973 - 1974 2
Dracula {Comic Books} 1962 - 1
Edgar Rice Burroughs Korak, Son of Tarzan {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Title from cover. Indicia title might differ slightly.
1971 - 1976 71
Edgar Rice Burroughs Korak, Son of Tarzan [cent covers] {Comic Books} 1971 - 1974 58
Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan of the Apes [cent covers] {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Published by Top Sellers / Williams Publishing in the UK and printed in Europe, these issues were intended for distribution in Australia (and possibly other countries such as New Zealand). While Australian issue #115 matches UK issue #30 and appears to have been published at about the same time, there is no simple one-to-one correspondence across the whole series. In the mid-1960s, DC's distribution arm IND bought Thorpe & Porter. In 1967/68, National Periodical Publications (DC) was purchased by Kinney National Company, which merged in 1969 with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts and was renamed Warner Communications, Inc in 1972. Around 1971/72, Thorpe & Porter's Top Sellers imprint was incorporated into Williams, which became DC’s European publishing division. This was composed of various local companies, such as Danish Williams Forlag, Germany Williams Verlag GmbH, and Williams Nederland B.V. The stylised "W" logo on the covers are a Warner Communications brand. The Australian versions of Tarzan and Korak, despite the UK publisher, are linked to the series from Classics Nederland N.V. and subsequently Williams Nederland B.V. The Australian edition starts at #115, aligning with the Dutch issue #12115. The series numbering and contents then align with the Dutch version, despite similarities with the UK edition. While there is no direct alignment with the UK-distributed editions, there are similar sequences of issues at times and a couple of later issues have the UK issue numbers on the bottom of the cover (as secondary numbering). Other Williams editions in Europe are similar, but only the Dutch version appears to match the order, numbering and cover colouring of the Australian distributed edition.
1971 - 1975 91
Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan of the Apes [First Series] {Comic Books} 1970 - 1971 7
Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan of the Apes [Second Series] {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Indicia publishers include Williams Publishing and Distributing Co. Ltd, and Top Sellers. In the mid-1960s, DC's distribution arm IND bought Thorpe & Porter (and its Top Sellers imprint). National Periodical Publications (DC) was then purchased by Kinney National Company in 1967/68, which merged in 1969 with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts and was renamed Warner Communications Inc in 1972. During this time, Thorpe & Porter and Top Sellers were incorporated into Williams, which became DC's European publishing division. From about 1973 to 1976, Top Sellers and Williams comics carried the Warner Communications stylised "W" logo. Warner sold the Williams group in 1976, although the name continued on some European publications until at least 1978. It is reported at www.comicpriceguide.co.uk that the first issue of this series is actually remaindered (unsold) copies of #7 in the previous series with the addition of a sticker in the top left hand corner stating "No.1 Fortnightly". Issues with numbers from #115 and cents pricing that are published by Top Sellers/Williams belong to separate, but similar-looking, Australian-distributed series: www.comics.org/series/95388.
1971 - 1975 116 (118)
Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan of the Apes Bumper Album {Comic Books} 1972 - 1
Eerie {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Typically consists of an issue of Eerie (Avon, 1951 series) and an issue of Strange Worlds (Avon, 1950 series). Denis Gifford (in The Complete Catalogue of British Comics, 1985) has this series starting in October 1951.
1952 - ? 3
Fantastic Tales {Comic Books} 1963 - 21
Fargo Kid {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist.
1959 - ? 3
First Love {Comic Books} 1959 - 1961 18
The Flash {Comic Books} 1960 - 1962 5
The Flash {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: British reprint of American (DC) series.
1962 - 4
Forbidden Worlds {Comic Books} 1950 - 1951 145
Fotostrip {Comic Books} 1970 - 1970 3
Fox and Crow {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist. #17 was mistakenly titled "Flax", which is the Swedish and Norwegian version of the title.
1970 - ? 31
Frankenstein {Comic Books} 1963 - 1
Frogman Comics {Comic Books} 1952 - 7
Funny Half Hour {Comic Books} 1970 - 1979 171
Gene Autry Comics {Comic Books} 1953 - 1954 36 (37)
Giant Superman Album {Comic Books} 1975 - 1975 1
Green Lantern Annual {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: This annual consists of six remaindered DC comics bound together in one volume, five dating from 1967, the sixth from 1966. While unpriced and without an overall indicia, its format is consistent with Thorpe & Porter's Double Double Comics which were published at around the same time as this.
1967 - ? 1
Gunsmoke {Comic Books} 1970 - 1971 17
Hammer's Halls of Horror {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: The same company published British and American versions of the same title. This is the American series. Contents were text articles and comics stories in roughly equal percentages, excluding advertising.
1978 - 4
An Illustrated History of Great Indian Stories {Hardcovers} 1950 - ? 1
An Illustrated Library of Great Adventure Stories {Comic Books} 1950 - ? 1
An Illustrated Library of Great Indian Stories {Comic Books} 1952 - 1
Jesse James Comics {Comic Books} 1952 - 9
Jimmy Olsen Double Double Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Four remaindered coverless DC (and occasionally Marvel) comics with a UK cover. For more info see http://themagicrobot.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/thorpe-and-porter-double-double-comics/ or http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/fea11DoubleDouble.html One copy of this issue is known to contain: Jimmy Olsen 97 and 98, Plastic Man 3 & Aquaman 28. Another copy contains Jimmy Olsen 97 and 102, Plastic Man 3 & Aquaman 28.
1967 - 1
Jughead {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Dating uncertain. 1950s. More issues may exist.
1955 - 1955 1
Jumbo Comics {Comic Books} 1952 - 1
Justice League Double Double Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Four remaindered DC (and occasionally Marvel) comics with a UK cover. For more info see http://themagicrobot.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/thorpe-and-porter-double-double-comics/ or http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/fea11DoubleDouble.html
1968 - 1972 2
Justice Traps the Guilty {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: British black and white reprints of US comic, Justice Traps the Guilty (Prize, 1947 series). There was a second series, in similar format from the same publisher; see: Justice Traps the Guilty (Thorpe & Porter, 1965 series).
1957 - 1958 15
Justice Traps the Guilty {Comic Books} 1965 - 1965 13
Kaanga {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist.
1952 - ? 1
Kid Colt Outlaw {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: It's possible that issue #1 may not exist, one has yet to surface. All issues are without publication dates, any dates attributed are speculative, unconfirmed.
1952 - 1960 58
Kid Colt Outlaw {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Second UK series. First series was T&P/Strato, this series is T&P/Top Sellers.
1960 - 1961 7
Kid Colt, Outlaw Album {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Reprints from various U.S.A. Marvel western stories, including stories from Kid Colt Outlaw (Marvel, 1949 series). This edition is incorrectly listed in the 'Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide' (up to 2013 edition) as a U.S.A. Atlas/Marvel title.
1958 - 1958 1
Kid Slade Gunfighter {Comic Books} 1957 - 1960 7
Kid Slade, Gunfighter {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Series is a continuation of Matt Slade, Gunfighter: http://www.xowcomics.com/series_issues.htm?series_id=69209
1957 - 3
King Kong {Comic Books} 1970 - 1
Kit Carson Comics {Comic Books} 1952 - ? 2
Korak Son of Tarzan Adventure Album {Comic Books} 1971 - 1
Korak Son of Tarzan Bumper Album {Comic Books} 1973 - 2
Larry Harmon's Laurel & Hardy {Comic Books} 1969 - 1974 143
Larry Harmon's Laurel and Hardy a Special Yuletide Album {Comic Books} 1972 - 1
Laurel & Hardy Bumper Book {Comic Books} 1970 - 1
Laurel and Hardy Extra {Comic Books} 1969 - 1972 8
Lois Lane Double Double Comics {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Four coverless remaindered DC (and occasionally Marvel) comics with a UK cover. For more info see http://themagicrobot.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/thorpe-and-porter-double-double-comics/ or http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/fea11DoubleDouble.html One example is known to contain: Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane 66, 67, 73 & Metamorpho 10 Another contains Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane 69, 71, 73 & Metamorpho 9.
1968 - 1972 1
Lone Ranger {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: More issues may exist.
1970 - 1971 15
Mad {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: Reprinted U.S. editions with original covers. Repackaged from 48 page eight times a year in the U.S. to 32 page monthly in the U.K.
1959 - 1994 290
Marked for Murder {Comic Books} Disclose
Note: No book name in indicia. See Hemmelig brigade (1965 series)(NO) and Geheime Brigade (1965 series) (NL).
1965 - ? 8
Matt Slade Gunfighter {Comic Books} 1957 - 5
Merry Tales {Comic Books} 1970 - 4
Metal Men Annual {Hardcovers} 1967 - 1
Mike Shayne Private Eye {Comic Books} 1962 - ? 3

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