Lion (comic)
Encyclopedia
Lion was a weekly comic
published by Fleetway
(a subsidiary of IPC, the International Publishing Corporation
) from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues.
. Lions first issue contained a mix of text stories and comic strips; its flagship story was Captain Condor - Space Ship Pilot, a science fiction
adventure in the Dan Dare mould. The premiere issue also contained the first adventure of Robot Archie
(called The Jungle Robot in early adventures) who would go on to become one of the title's most popular characters.
By the 1960s Lion had settled into being one of the most popular British weekly titles of the time. It began to feature an increasing number of anti-hero
characters such as The Spider and The Sludge (who would later battle Robot Archie in his own strip).
Lion merged with several other comics during its life, including Eagle in 1969 and Thunder in 1971. But by the early 1970s sales were slipping, and in 1974 it was merged with Valiant
. Several strips continued in Valiant, but that title merged with Battle Picture Weekly
in 1976.
In 2005 many of IPC's
characters, including several from Lion, were featured in a mini-series called Albion
published by the Wildstorm
imprint of DC Comics
.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
published by Fleetway
Fleetway
Fleetway, also known as Fleetway Publications and Fleetway Editions, was a UK publishing company which mainly produced comic magazines. For a time owned by IPC Media, they are now a division of Egmont Publishing....
(a subsidiary of IPC, the International Publishing Corporation
IPC Media
IPC Media , a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Inc., is a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a large portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year.- Origins :...
) from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues.
Publishing history
Lion was first published on the 23rd of February 1952, and was a weekly boys’ adventure comic designed to compete with Eagle, the popular weekly comic that had introduced Dan DareDan Dare
Dan Dare is a British science fiction comic hero, created by illustrator Frank Hampson who also wrote the first stories, that is, the Venus and Red Moon stories, and a complete storyline for Operation Saturn...
. Lions first issue contained a mix of text stories and comic strips; its flagship story was Captain Condor - Space Ship Pilot, a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
adventure in the Dan Dare mould. The premiere issue also contained the first adventure of Robot Archie
Robot Archie
Robot Archie is the name of a fictional comic book character who first appeared in Lion #1 published in February 1952.-Publishing history:...
(called The Jungle Robot in early adventures) who would go on to become one of the title's most popular characters.
By the 1960s Lion had settled into being one of the most popular British weekly titles of the time. It began to feature an increasing number of anti-hero
Anti-hero
In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
characters such as The Spider and The Sludge (who would later battle Robot Archie in his own strip).
Lion merged with several other comics during its life, including Eagle in 1969 and Thunder in 1971. But by the early 1970s sales were slipping, and in 1974 it was merged with Valiant
Valiant (comic)
Valiant was the title of a British boys adventure comics anthology which ran from 1962 to 1976. It was published by IPC Magazines and was one of their major adventure titles throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.-Publication history:...
. Several strips continued in Valiant, but that title merged with Battle Picture Weekly
Battle Picture Weekly
Battle Picture Weekly, at various time also known as Battle Action Force, Battle and Battle with Storm Force, was a British war comic published by IPC Magazines from 8 March 1975 to 23 January 1988, when it merged with Eagle...
in 1976.
In 2005 many of IPC's
IPC Media
IPC Media , a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Inc., is a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a large portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year.- Origins :...
characters, including several from Lion, were featured in a mini-series called Albion
Albion (comics)
Albion is a six-issue comic book limited series plotted by Alan Moore, written by his daughter Leah Moore and her husband John Reppion, with covers by Dave Gibbons and art by Shane Oakley and George Freeman. As a result of a deal forged by Vice President Bob Wayne of DC Comics and Publishing...
published by the Wildstorm
Wildstorm
WildStorm Productions, or simply WildStorm, published American comic books. Originally an independent company established by Jim Lee and further expanded upon in subsequent years by other creators, WildStorm became a publishing imprint of DC Comics in 1999...
imprint of DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
.
Notable stories
- Adam Eterno A man who lived forever and could not be killed except by gold. He was transported through time each week.
- Battler Britton - World War Air Ace
- Carson's Cubs
- Captain Condor - Space Ship Pilot
- Karl the Viking
- Maroc the Mighty, about a returning English crusader whose magic armlet The Hand of Zar gave superhuman strength.
- Paddy Payne - Fighter Ace.
- Phantom Viking. Donning a magic helmet, a professor transforms into a Viking with great strength and the ability to fly but can lose his powers when the wind blows from the wrong direction.
- Robot ArchieRobot ArchieRobot Archie is the name of a fictional comic book character who first appeared in Lion #1 published in February 1952.-Publishing history:...
. A powerful robot under the control of two men. - The Sludge.
- The Spellbinder. An ancient sorcerer in modern times.
- The Spider. Part villain, part hero, he would fight master criminals using his skills and weapons.
- Zip Nolan - Highway Patrol. A one page comic story where he would spot a clue and so catch a crook.
- The Bartoc Brothers. A 2 page text story. Bartoc, a scientist makes four duplicates of himself. One has strength, one speed, one courage and one genius and they fight crime. However two doubles are finally killed because the courageous one wanted more excitement and betrayed them. He and the genius died, and the series ended.