Frank Bellamy begins his five year run on Garth

Today in the Daily Mirror newspaper we see the beginning of Bellamy's original story that started his 5 year run on the strip. As mentioned earlier, Allard hung around in a role that confused even Bellamy at the time and - in my opinion - hindered Bellamy's artwork in places. When you see horizontal dashes in the background for clouds - Allard; when you see zip-a-tone/letraset - Allard.

Jim Edgar was the author of Garth from the story called "The Brain" (dated 25 April 1966) taking over from Peter O'Donnell at that time and provided Bellamy with scripts. The men later found out they were both Kettering boys and together with their wives met up socially!

The first episode Frank Bellamy illustrated was on 12 July 1971 (E162) and follows yesterday's episode where Garth, in the woods, is chasing and killing a grizzly bear. He is weakened by the tussle and swoons.

"As Garth slumps towards the ground he hears a booming gutteral voice... "The tall white-eye with yellow hair from the great iron bird will come among our people"...and the mysterious time spiral attuned to the hyper-sensitive psyche swings him away into the past"

Martin Baines has kindly sent Bellamy's first episode along which he is colouring. So off you go and enjoy. And don't forget to follow the story in the Daily Mirror today onwards in full colour

© Daily Mirror

New Garth Story: Sundance

"But in the moment of death, the wheel of time has carried Garth back into the present..." and Garth leaves the world of Cortes and the Aztecs and starts another time-travelling adventure

© Daily Mirror

Martin Baines, has forwarded the opening panels for the latest Garth story. The art above is by John Allard - not Frank Bellamy - and Bellamy came on board on episode 13 of the story - so by my reckoning we will see Bellamy's first episode on Tuesday 12 November, a week's time.

This story originally ran from 28 June 1971 to - 11 October 1971 (E150-E226)  with Bellamy's first episode being 12 July 1971 - E162. It has been reprinted a few times, but never coloured before.  It was reprinted in the Daily Mirror Book of Garth London: IPC Limited, 1975, during Bellamy's lifetime,  Garth Book One: The Cloud of Balthus London: Titan Books, 1984 and Menomonee Falls Gazette #40 (18 September 1972) - #52 (11 December 1972) Issue #51,  4 Dec 1972, was misprinted as #52 on cover just to confuse you perfectionists!

You might be interested in my previous short piece on Sundance where we learn about Allard's involvement in the art after Bellamy took over the art chores on Garth, as well as a bit about the ritual 'Sundance'. See you next week for the first Bellamy episode of a great story Sundance!

And just for the person who sent an anonymous request via the blog, - (and to ensure we have some Bellamy artwork on Frank Bellamy blog!) here's the Garth strip from the  story just finished - the Mask of Atacama - dated 11 October. If I'm wrong, email me directly and I'll see if I downloaded it or I could scan it. But be aware that the Mirror is not loading every episode - after all they are trying to sell newspapers so it may have to be a scan!

© Daily Mirror