Fantasy Advertiser

Fantasy Advertiser, later abbreviated to FA, was a British fanzine focused on comic books, founded in 1965[1] by Frank Dobson, the "Godfather of British Fandom."[2] Starting out as an adzine focused on the sale of primarily second-hand comics, it eventually transitioned into a true comics fanzine. FA now operates as a comics webzine.

Fantasy Advertiser
Cover of Fantasy Advertiser #115 (1989), art by Dave Sim.
EditorMartin Skidmore (1984–1991, 2010–present)
Former editorsFrank Dobson
Dez Skinn
Colin Campbell
Martin Lock
Categoriescomics, criticism, interviews
Frequencymonthly
PublisherTrident Comics (1988–1991)
First issue1965 (1965)
Final issue1991
CountryUnited Kingdom
Based inLondon
LanguageEnglish
Websitecomiczine-fa.com

Publication history

Frank Dobson established Fantasy Advertiser as an adzine — essentially an advertising service for comic collectors. Dobson published 31 issues of Fantasy Advertiser, but when he emigrated to Australia in 1970 he handed the zine on to two contributors, Dez Skinn and Paul McCartney, to continue.

Skinn and McCartney expanded the magazine to include more articles and artwork. Regular contributors included Dave Gibbons, Steve Parkhouse, Paul Neary, Jim Baikie, and Kevin O'Neill. Skinn left in 1976,[3] at which point Dobson returned to publish five more issues in 1978–1979.

Fantasy Advertiser went dormant for a couple of years, until Martin Lock revived it as editor in 1981. (Lock had previously published BEM.) Lock handed over the editorial reins to Martin Skidmore[4] in 1985,[5] to focus on his next venture, Harrier Comics.

Skidmore shortened the name to FA — he didn't want it to "sound like a sexual contacts mag," and wanted to move away from the equation of comics with fantasy, expanding coverage of different genres.[6] Skidmore made the magazine more provocative and political.[4]

In 1988 it was taken over by Neptune Distribution/Trident Comics, but was closed in 1991[1] when Trident went bankrupt.

Online relaunch

In October 2010 Skidmore relaunched FA as an online zine, including reviews, articles, interviews and original comics.[7] FA is now published by Tony Keen, Andrew Moreton, and Will Morgan.

Editors
  • Frank Dobson — issues #1–31 (1965–1970), #65–69 (1978–1979)
  • Dez Skinn (with Paul McCartney) — issues #32–58 (1970–1976)
  • Colin Campbell — issues #59–64 (1976–1977)
  • Martin Lock — issues #70–89 (1981–1984)
  • Martin Skidmore — issues #90-115 (1985–1989)

Awards
  • 1977 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite British Fan Publication[8]
  • 1978 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Fan Publication[9]
  • 1985 Eagle Award for Favourite Speciality Comics Publication[10]
  • 1986 Eagle Award nomination for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication[11]

See also

References
  1. "Fantasy Advertiser (International FA the comiczine)". Classic UK Comics Zines. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  2. Skinn, Dez. "Early days of UK comics conventions and marts," Archived 2012-02-01 at the Wayback Machine DezSkinn.com. Accessed Mar. 3, 2013.
  3. Dez Skinn, "Fantasy Advertiser: the Big One!"
  4. Gavin Burrows, "Comics & My Life part 2" Archived 7 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Vicious #5, July 1996, hosted at BugPowder
  5. Gavin Burrows, "Bookmark this, comic fans! The return of sweet 'FA'", Lucid Frenzy Junior, 8 November 2010
  6. About Comiczine FA
  7. John Freeman (8 November 2010). "Sweet! FA returns after 20 years in onine form". downthetubes Comics News. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  8. Previous Winners: 1977, at the official Eagle Awards website, archived at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 9 September 2018.)
  9. Previous Winners: 1978, at the official Eagle Awards website, archived at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 9 September 2018.)
  10. TH. "1984 Eagle Awards announced," The Comics Journal #101 (Aug. 1985).
  11. Previous Winners: 1986 at the official Eagle Awards website, archived at The Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 22 September 2018.)

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