Friday Flashback: Misty

Publisher: IPC
First issue: 4 February 1978
Last issue: 12 January 1980
Issues: 101

Another absolutely legendary comic from IPC, and one of the very few British girls’ comics centred on a specific theme other than school (there was a lot of story papers about schools).

Misty appeared on the shelves only a few weeks after the demise of DC Thomson’s similarly-spooky Spellbound, so while there was no actual overlap between the two Spellbound was certainly in print while Misty was being prepared.

There’s no denying that Spellbound was a very decent comic, but Misty had a much more lasting impact, with many of its strips still very fondly remembered four decades later.

Along with the regular issues, readers were also treated to a Misty Summer Special in 1978, then (presumably because summer isn’t scary enough), two “Holiday Specials” in 1979 and 1980. There were also eight hardcover annuals from 1979 to 1986, and a monthly reprint title The Best of Misty which ran for eight issues from February to September 1986.

Issues of Misty weren’t numbered, so collectors should note that there was no issue published in the first week of January 1979: this was around the same time that several other IPC titles were delayed due to industrial action (as we’ve noted before with 2000AD and Battle Picture Weekly).

Great as most of the comic strips were, for me the real star of Misty was artist Shirley Bellwood, whose stunning drawings of the title character graced the inside front cover of most issues. Think of Misty as a considerably more self-respecting and demure Vampirella, perhaps. Certainly Misty was a lot more cerebral and enticing than her bloody-thirsty alien vampire predecessor, and much less of a show-off.

With her long dark hair, alluring yet ghostly-pale features, and her flowing white dress made out of dots, Misty welcomed the reader into her spooky realm…

Ms Bellwood’s depictions of Misty also appeared on the covers of fourteen of the regular issues, both Holiday Specials, seven of the eight annuals, and seven of the Best of issues.

I mean, look at the cover for issue #52, dated 3 Feb 1979… You can’t tell me that this isn’t one of the best British comic covers of all time:

Misty was ultimately absorbed into Tammy (making it part of the My Guy Timeline), with “and Misty” remaining alongside the Tammy logo for a further year and a half, albeit shrinking over time. (They should instead have had the Misty logo gradually fading away… like a ghost at the approach of dawn.)

But the story doesn’t end there for our Friend of the Mists… Long after its demise, Misty was so fondly remembered that the fansite mistycomic.co.uk (a thoroughly excellent resource for all Misty fans) produced two officially authorised tribute comics: the 25th Anniversary Special in 2005 (repackaged the following year as the 2006 Halloween Special) and another Halloween Special in 2009. Unfortunately both comics have long since sold out, and the promised e-book editions have yet to materialise, but we remain hopeful!

In 2009, Egmont (which by then had acquired many IPC properties) published a one-off Special Souvenir Issue that reprinted several one-off stories.

Since 2016 Rebellion’s Treasury of British Comics imprint has been producing collections of Misty serials and standalone tales:

Misty: Volume 1 (contains “Moonchild” and “The Four Faces of Eve”)
Misty: Volume 2 (contains “The Sentinels” and “End of the Line”)
Misty: Volume 3 (contains “Wolf Girl” and four one-off stories)
Misty presents The Jordi Badia Romero Collection
Misty presents The Jaume Rumeu Collection

Since 2017 Rebellion has also published an infrequent series of Misty (and Scream! & Misty) specials containing all-new material.

Given that Rebellion’s revived Monster Fun specials have recently been upgraded to an ongoing monthly comic, I have strong hopes that Misty will likewise be revived on a more permanent basis!