A nice surprise at the weekend....

[SteveD]

I've been away at the weekend to a village near Buxton to meet up with some old friends for a bit of a reunion. On the Saturday afternoon me and the missus went for a bit of a trip into Buxton for a stroll around and a bit of the lovely water etc. Filled with my usual hope when I go to these little town of old toy stores brim full of twenty five year old stock they've never sold, I was a little disappointed when there wasnt a toy store at all (as is usually the case!).

Anyway, as the other half is into her old books and stuff, I found myself wandering around a big old dusty book store. The usual pattern started to develop - I wandered off, asked the owner if he had a Gornenghast first edition, got told no, wandered off some more, lost the other half somewhere (it was a five storey book store!) the usual. Things started to get interesting when I began to recognise the smell of old comics wafting at me from a small side room! Like a fat kid smelling a pie I followed my nose for the source of the devine smell, only to find, tucked at the back of the side room, a load of boxes of old comics! Roy of the Rovers, Look In, Wizzer and Chips, the Beano, the Dandy, all sorts. "Lets have a look for some BAF" I obviously thought, even though I only now need one from the regular run to complete my full run. Alas, none.

Tucked at the back of them all however were some old Eagles! Now, I'm partial to a bit of the Eagle too, as I still have a box full of mine from when I was a kid, so I had a rummage. "Wouldn't it be cool if I could find the ones with the free AF mini comics" I thought, as I dont yet have them. Just as the thought was drifting off into my mind, what do I find??? The July 83 issue, in perfect (no exaggeration) condition! Tucked still safely inside? The Enemy mini comic!!! I was over the moon! A quid!

You can only imagine how chuffed I was as I flicked further through and there was a full run of July/August Eagles, each with the relevant Mini comics still tucked inside, and they really are in the best condition I have ever seen a 25 year old comic to be! Needless to say, I snapped them all up!

Sooooo chuffed to not only have the mini comics after all this time, but to find them unexpectedly like that, and to also get the Eagles that they came with, with all of the AF adverts in etc (Buy three figures get onen free plastered all over the back cover!!!! Ahhhh, the memories!)

Anyway, not quite a Snake Eyes level toy store find, but for a collector like me a very exciting find!!! Hurrah!!!

[gung-hoeddie]

good on you Steve! unexpected suprise are always the best ones.

[The Baron]

Brilliant! I've not read many Eagles but a few years back I saw some too-good-to-miss offers in the local ad-mag and snapped up a damn-near complete collection over a matter of weeks. I finally found the elusive final issues a few months ago.

Which BAF issue are you hunting again, Steve?

[Lady Jaye]

Those are the moments! Cool!

[SteveD]

Just the one now I think - 5th November 1983.

I say "I think" as I've yet to put them into order and stuff, but according to my spreadsheet list I should only be missing that one to give me the full BAF run, mini comics, annuals and holiday specials. Micro Comic was won at the weekend too, so it is literally just one issue now I think.

The beauty of the weekends find was the fantastic condition and totally unexpected nature of it. I always look, but you never expect to find really. My eyes were literally as I danced a merry jig around the deserted side room!

[The Baron]

Worth looking. I got outbid several times over on an elusive issue of Action, the last one I needed. Then one day was I was tidying up I realised that I already had it, my collection had been completed long ago!

[Chopper]

Congrats mate. I had a few Eagles as a lad, but they went like my BAF's. In the bin. Sob. Deep breath.... move on...

Oh that's right, Dan Dare. Great stuff and was it Mekon or something like that? Oh, sweet memories.

As fate would have it, I've been ebaying for that minicomic. Found a couple but the missus discovered that little Roboskull purchase. Long story and I'll fill you in later but it ended better than expected but deleted all my ebay watched items. Again.

Anyway, happy Eagling chum.

[Double-Tap]

Congrats mate. I had a few Eagles as a lad, but they went like my BAF's. In the bin. Sob. Deep breath.... move on....

i had a pretty decent run of BAF comics and annuals at my grannies but about 5 years ago my dad had some health issues and moved in with my granny. all the comics where in a drawer in my old room and the old c--t threw them all out so he had room for his socks.
SOCKS!!!!!!!!!
wasnt as bothered about it then as i am now as i hadnt fully gotten back into AF

[gung-hoeddie]

i'm getting the idea your not best pleased Bill.

[Chopper]

wasn't as bothered about it then as I am now as I hadn't fully gotten back into AF

Same hear. Now its just like salt on a wound. I'm just compensating now.