EAGLE ANNUAL: BEST OF THE 1960'S

The last annual - The Eagle Annual: BEST OF THE 1950'S did well and so Orion Books have put another best of on the shelves in time for Christmas. This time looking at the 1960's and although this was the decade in which the comic finally folded the features and strips collected here are the best yet.

The annual is features heavy but this is an advantage and offers better value than simply reprinting classic strips (although there are many of them) because they offer a glimpse into what the decade was like and particularly what interested kids at the time. There are many Wild West features and a lot of pop music and sports.

There's a big debate on the letters page on the issue of grammer schools versus comprehensive schools and reader, Paul Riley thinks that comprehensive schools should be banned. Eagle readers were a serious minded lot. Mind you judging by the standard of most comprehensive school teachers these days then Master Paul Riley may just have a point.

Features on hobbies are included and this time subjects range from football program collecting to train spotting. And apparently in the 1960 the UK consumed over 40,000 pounds of jellied eels each week. If these were stretched out they would cover twelve and a half miles. A feature for the strong stomached looks at the process from capturing the slimy creatures to the dinner plate.

They sure don't make comics like they used to.

All of the usual strips and present and correct and expertly reproduced to show the true beauty of the Eagle artwork which was (and is) quite unique. The Eagles was eventually merged into Lion as strip stories began to replace features and text stories. The influence of the comic is still felt down the decades, not only with Dan Dare, but never again would comics look so good.

It's on sale now and makes for a great Christmas gift.