US. Starlog. 1984.
A TVTA Special.
Back in the pre-internet days of the eighties, if you wanted to get your hands on unique and cool sci-fi and fantasy merchandise you would most likely end up paying a visit to your local comic book shop. Alternatively you would fill-in and cut out mail order forms found in comics and magazines like Starlog (US) and Starburst (UK). Other options would be attending a convention, or a local swap-and-meet event.
TVTA is pleased to present a selection of adverts featuring the above options. For our superb, in-depth post on London’s first Forbidden Planet store see here
Mail order companies, bricks and mortar comic shops, conventions
Forever People, Bristol. UK. 1982.
Forever People. 1980.
Odyssey 7, Manchester. UK. 1982.
Odyssey 7 small ad. 1988. UK.
Odyssey 7 comic shop advert. 1987. UK.
Forbidden Planet. UK. 1986.
Forbidden Planet 2. UK. 1982.
Forbidden Planet small ad. 1988. UK.
Fantasy World, Stoke-On-Trent. UK. 1983.
The Sheffield Space Centre, Sheffield. UK. 1989.
Virgin comic shops. 1987. UK.
Sheffield Space Centre small ad. 1988. UK.
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- Andromeda comic shop, Birmingham. Starburst. 1980.
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- Nostalgia & Comics. Odyssey 7. Forbidden Planet. 1983. UK.
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- James Bond Convention Photoplay. 1983.
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- Doctor Who at the Comic Mart. ROTJ. 1984.
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- Nostalgia and Comics small ad. 1988. UK.
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- Mega-City, Camden Town small ad. 1988. UK.
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- Wonderworld Bournemouth comics small ad. 1988. UK.
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- Final Frontier Bookshop, Leicester small ad. 1988. UK.
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- Sci-fi on video. Starburst. 1982.
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- Doctor Who records. Starlog. 1984.
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- Thats Entertainment records. 1983
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- Don Post masks. Starlog. 1980.
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- Star Wars. Return of the Jedi masks by Don Post. 1983.
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- E.T., and Dark Crystal masks by Don Post. Starlog. 1982.
Thanks for looking š
Post updated June 2020 with new images.
The Vintage Toy Advertiser 
You would like my interview with Starlog’s Kerry O’Quinn. Just thought I’d share:
https://comicsgrinder.com/2016/09/29/interview-kerry-oquinn-and-the-world-of-fandom/
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Thank you for the link. Enjoyed the interview very much. For some reason I couldn’t comment over there so will just add here that in the 80s I read mags like Starlog, Starburst, Fangoria etc and they were absolutely the internet of the day for pop culture. People like Kerry O’Quinn and his team, and the people before him like Forrest J Ackerman, and all the other magazine creators back then are to be greatly applauded.
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Thanks so much for your comments. Yes, I completely agree. I know that Forry Ackerman and Kerry O’Quinn deserve a lot of credit. As for comments on my site, I think you should be okay to comment there. I wonder what the problem might have been.
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Thanks. I just followed your site so should be able to like and comment on new posts.
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That’s great!
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And I was wondering when I’m gonna start feeling like a museum piece… hehe, well done!!
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Thanks Spira! Soon we might be collectable too š
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Odyssey 7 in the old Phoenix, Mcr. You’ve made me feel young & old at the same time:)
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Hi Graycope14, glad you liked it. I’ve come across a few Odyssey 7 ads but this is the first one I’ve posted. Nostalgia and Comics was my go to comic shop in Birmingham back in the day š
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Wonderful collection of adverts, a very nostalgic trip down SciFi memory lane ! š
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Thanks Paul. Those old issues of Starburst and Starlog are brimming with vintage goodies š
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