Month: October 2021

Roland den Djärve

In Sweden, installments of KEVIN THE BOLD first appeared in the weekly magazine Allas Veckotidning. These tabloid versions, called FALCON Storm fägeln, started running in the summer of 1951. Two years later, Kreigh Collins’ Sunday comics feature found another Swedish outlet, this time as a component of the TOM MIX comic book series.

This incarnation, retitled ROLAND DEN Djärve, initially ran in full color, with three or four original episodes spread across six or seven pages. As was the case in some of KEVIN’s other comic book appearances, the panels’ sequence could be changed, and sometimes panels (other than the throwaways) were eliminated. These edits were necessary to squeeze the art into the smaller confines of the comic books’ pages. Additionally, the color schemes could change compared to he original Sunday versions, and panels originally rendered in a two- or three-color scheme now appeared in full color throughout.

The full-color reproductions are rather unique, as far as comic book presentations of Kreigh Collins’ comics are concerned. KEVIN THE BOLD would appear in color when reprinted in weekly magazines (e.g., Tit-Bits, Hjemmet, and Allas Veckotidning), but comic books from countries such as Australia, France, Italy, and Bosnia were all printed in black and white.

A huge “Thank you” to my friend Roger—all of this artwork originally appeared on his amazing site, RogersMagasin.com. TOM MIX No. 1, which would contain KEVIN’s first four episodes, is missing from that site but we can pick up the action in No. 2.

Here are the corresponding original Sundays.

The action continued in TOM MIX No. 3.

The covers generally featured Tom Mix, but occasionally new illustrations were commissioned referencing KEVIN THE BOLD .

Here are the corresponding original Sundays.

The action continued in TOM MIX No. 4.

Here are the corresponding original Sundays.

The action continued in TOM MIX No. 5.

Another ROLAND-inspired cover, illustrated by Camitz.

Here are the corresponding original Sundays.

The action continued in TOM MIX No. 6.

A compelling TOM MIX cover with a scene pulled from ROLAND, but without the illustrator’s signature.

Here are the corresponding original Sundays.

Next week, a special anniversary.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Turning the Tables

The chapter wraps with scans of three more black and white bromide proofs. Poor Pedro—he is facing death, yet what he fears more is facing his wife.

As Norfolk defies his Queen and sets his plot in motion, the episode ends as a donnybrook begins, with what looks like an ornate brass teapot situated prominently in the foreground of the final panel.

Queen Elizabeth springs into action, conking one of Norfolk’s henchmen with the flying brass teapot, Kevin is able to retrieve his rapier in the commotion, and the rebellion is quashed.

Pedro is fortunate to have a wife as forgiving as she is beautiful, and the action transitions to a new chapter. Look for the story of Cecil Rochester, musketeer, at some point in the future!

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

The Missing Ring

Pedro’s wife has popped over for a surprise visit, but it is Carmine who is in for the bombshell revelation.

Rumors of the plot to kill Queen Elizabeth had been swirling around, and Pedro is swept up, improbably.

As the dramatic confrontation nears, my friend Gregorio’ re-colored half pages end. (I had no color examples of the remaining episodes in this chapter to use as color guides). Thanks again for your efforts!

Even minus the color, the quality of these bromide proofs is pretty sweet. But poor Pedro, he feels so badly about losing his ring that he cannot bear to see his wife, even with his punishment nigh!

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Kevin’s Conundrum

Kevin is shocked to find himself under arrest.

As he realizes he must tell the Queen about Pedro’s involvement in the affair, Kevin’s agony deepens—and it’s about to get worse!

Kevin is so tormented that he doesn’t notice the pretty flower girl, and now he has to face Pedro’s wife, Carmine.

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.

Kevin the Mole

When I first starting collecting Kreigh Collins’s comics, I wasn’t aware of many fruitful places to look for them. I knew of ebay’s existence, but I didn’t think to look there. I can’t remember where I found the listing for my first purchase, but it was printed rather than online. Around this time, I was also collecting books my grandfather illustrated—I found these on a couple used booksellers’ websites.

One 2009 search on abebooks turned up a hit for 37 color KEVIN L’AUDACIEUX third-pages—from a newspaper Québeçois. They weren’t expensive, so I made the purchase—my second, comics-wise. The plan was to translate them back to English, set all the type on my computer, and digitally combine everything—and plug a hole in my collection.

Soon after the comics arrived, my ambitious bubble burst. Their color wasn’t great, most were cropped so tightly that edges were missing, and I realized I’d vastly overestimated how much French I remembered. I soured on the whole deal and changed my mind about buying another similar lot. (The irony is that now I’m most interested in foreign translations). Years later, the item was still listed—as I recall, PRINCE VALLIANT was on the other side—but no longer.

Later, when my “discovery” of ebay made collecting easier, I considered these episodes in French nearly worthless. But recently, through emails exchanged with a friend from Spain, I learned that these unloved thirds did have value. Gregorio graciously offered to combine them with the corresponding bromide proofs, replace le dialogue française with the English from the proofs, and return them. I found his method amazing, and was very impressed with the results. Gregorio also extended the color from the third-pages to the edges of the bromides’ frames, giving them a distinct appearance.

I offer a sincere thank you—this sequence’s remaining color episodes were all produced by Gregorio. Now, picking up where we left Kevin, he has just agreed to infiltrate a gang of conspirators plotting against Queen Elizabeth.

In the last panel, I’m assuming Kevin also has his fingers crossed.

Once Kevin sees Pedro, it seems he’s having second thoughts about his role as a mole.

To be continued…

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For more information on the career of Kreigh Collins, visit his page on Facebook.