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Arnold Book Company

From Alfawiki
Arnold Book Company
Company typePrivate
IndustryComic book publishing
Founded1948
FounderArnold Louis Miller
Defunct1958
FatePurchased by Thorpe & Porter in 1953; ceased operations in 1958
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Area served
United Kingdom
Key people
Arnold Louis Miller, Mick Anglo, Denis Gifford
ProductsComic books (original series and reprints)

Arnold Book Company (ABC) was a UK-based comic book publisher primarily active between 1950 and 1954. It released original series such as the war-themed Ace Malloy of the Special Squadron and the sci-fi title Space Comics, alongside reprints of American horror and crime comics featuring artists like Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. Notable reprint titles included Adventures into the Unknown, Black Magic Comics, and Justice Traps the Guilty. Prominent British creators contributing to ABC's output were Mick Anglo and Denis Gifford. The company maintained a close association with fellow publisher L. Miller & Son.

During the 1950s, ABC encountered significant criticism over some of its horror comic reprints, a factor that contributed to its eventual shutdown in 1958. Arnold L. Miller, the founder, later shifted his career toward filmmaking, specializing in nudist and sexploitation films.

History

Established in 1948 by Arnold Louis Miller,[1] who had connections with L. Miller & Son, Ltd., a British reprint publisher founded in 1943 that focused on American comics, especially those from Fawcett Comics. (L. Miller & Son became well-known for Mick Anglo’s 1954 creation of Marvelman, a clear derivative of Fawcett’s Captain Marvel.)

From 1950 to 1952, Mick Anglo crafted several strips for ABC, including "Captain Valiant" featured in Space Comics and Ace Malloy of the Special Squadron. He also created Space Commando Comics for L. Miller & Son.[2] In 1954, Anglo produced two issues of Captain Universe for ABC, a character bearing strong resemblance to Captain Marvel and Marvelman, who used the magic word "Galap" to transform—mirroring Captain Marvel's "Shazam" and Marvelman's "Kimota."

Relationship with Thorpe & Porter

Between 1951 and 1953, British distributor and publisher Thorpe & Porter (T & P) obtained several reprint series from ABC, including Justice Traps the Guilty, Young Brides, Young Eagle, and Young Love. While T & P retained the original numbering for Justice Traps the Guilty, they restarted numbering at issue #1 for the other titles.

In 1953, Thorpe & Porter purchased Arnold Book Company as a distinct imprint. This branding appeared on T & P publications such as Justice Traps the Guilty, Kid Colt, Outlaw, Young Brides, and Young Romance through to 1958. Subsequently, T & P issued a second series comprising 13 issues of Justice Traps the Guilty.

Horror comics controversy and closure

Starting in 1950, American crime and horror comics—particularly EC Comics' titles like The Haunt of Fear, Tales from the Crypt, and The Vault of Horror—were introduced into the British market mainly via port cities. The graphic nature of these comics triggered widespread moral concern.

In 1952, Arnold Book Company leveraged the popularity of horror comics by reprinting the less intense Prize Comics title Black Magic Comics until 1954. That year also saw ABC produce British single-issue editions of EC titles utilizing imported American printing plates; these were distributed through small newsstands. The public backlash was swift, resulting in negative media coverage and political scrutiny.

Consequently, Parliament enacted the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1955, which specifically targeted horror comics—particularly those EC reprints published by ABC. This wave of opposition compelled Arnold Book Company to largely halt its comic production after 1954 and ultimately cease operations entirely by 1958.

Original Publications

Reprint Editions

  • Adventures into the Unknown (20 issues, 1950–1951) — originally published by American Comics Group
  • Black Magic Comics (16 issues, 1952–1954) — Crestwood Publications' Prize Comics series; issued under ABC's Prize imprint
  • The Haunt of Fear (3 issues, 1952–1954) — reprints from EC Comics titles The Haunt of Fear and Shock SuspenStories
  • Justice Traps the Guilty (28 issues, 1951–1953) — Crestwood Publications/Prize Comics series; rights acquired in 1957 by Thorpe & Porter, who continued publication for 15 additional issues under Arnold Book Company branding
  • Tales from the Crypt (2 issues, 1952–1954) — reissued content from EC Comics' Tales from the Crypt, Shock SuspenStories, and Crime SuspenStories
  • The Vault of Horror (1 issue, 1954) — originally an EC Comics title
  • Young Brides (10 issues, 1952) — a Prize Comics publication; ownership transferred to Thorpe & Porter in 1953
  • Young Eagle (8 issues, 1951) — title from Fawcett Publications; acquired by Thorpe & Porter in 1951
  • Young Love (12 issues, 1952) — Crestwood Publications series; obtained by Thorpe & Porter in 1953

Arnold Miller's Subsequent Career

After the Arnold Book Company ceased operations, Arnold Miller ventured into publishing with the glamour magazine Photo Studio. He later pursued filmmaking, specializing in nudist and sexploitation genres. This professional shift caused a rift with his father Leonard, culminating in Arnold's departure from L. Miller & Son, which was subsequently renamed L. Miller & Co.

From 1959 through 1970, Miller directed seven feature films and produced multiple projects alongside Stanley Long, also collaborating with Tigon British Film Productions. His key directorial projects include:

In addition to these films, Miller directed numerous short films throughout the 1970s. He passed away on April 26, 2014, in Hertfordshire, England.

Sources consulted

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Fowler
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named CW43
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