Today in pulp I look back at a few forgotten British comics from the 80s... #FridayFeeling 
Let's start with Load Runner. Launched by ECC in 1983 it was an attempt to cash in on the home computer boom. A mash up of tech-noir, school stories and the Oric 1 it lasted 13 issues before it was game over.
Eagle was relaunched by IPC in 1982, giving traditional hero Dan Dare a bit of a Star Wars makeover. However its novelty factor came from its extensive use of photostrip stories: Doomlord, Sgt. Streetwise etc. Sold to Robert Maxwell in 1987 the Eagle finally crashed in 1994.
Nikki was possibly the last of the traditional girls' comics in Britain. Launched by D.C. Thomson in 1985 it featured a gritty story set in *gasp* a comprehensive school! Merged into Bunty in 1989 at least it offered readers a fruity pencil topper whilst it lasted.
Buddy was another traditional D.C. Thomson comic which first hit the shelves in 1981. A sort of Hotspur for the 80s it pinched teen crimefighter Billy the Cat from the Beano, but was sadly merged with Victor comic in 1983.
Warrior was Dez Skinn's attempt to create a British Marvel and it nearly paid off. Launched in 1982 with stories by Alan Moore and art by Dave Gibbons it gained a ton of awards but not that many sales. 26 issues later Warrior bit the dust, having shaken things up enough.
Crisis was in some ways the heir to Warrior. Launched by Fleetway in 1988 to promote mature, more political strips it also carried the '2000AD presents' strapline to boost sales. Plenty of Pat Mills stories gave it serious gravitas and later gave birth to 90s comic Revolver.
IPC launched Wildcat in 1988, before merging it with Eagle after only 12 issues. Five strips, each based on characters who lived on the same spaceship, it was half John Carter and half Doc Savage. A nice idea pitched at the wrong time...
As was Princess, a reboot of the original 1960s comic launched in 1983 by IPC to cash in on Princess Di. Basically this was Girl comic with nicer paper, and by 1984 it had been merged with Tammy and quietly forgotten.
Scream was a horror comic that tried not to be too horrible in case parents complained. Launched by IPC in 1984, and featuring Dracula, Ghastly McNasty and deformed Uncle Trevor, it was fatally hobbled by industrial action and buried in an unmarked grave after 15 issues.
Tops (later TV Tops) was D.C. Thomson's 1981 attempt to publish a rival magazine to Look-In. Despite the inspired 'Adam Ant fights eternal evil through time' comic strip it was painfully old fashioned and by 1984 was merged with perky girls' magazine Suzy.
But by a country mile the most successful new British comic in the 1980s was... Nutty! Launched by D.C. Thomson in 1980 it brought us Bananaman - the greatest British superhero ever!! Shamefully merged with The Dandy in 1985 Nutty remains the pinnacle of proper British comics.
More comic fun another time. Mind the ink doesn't stain your hands...
