EXTRACTS: illustrators issue 3 © 2013 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

81 when the subject is raised of Micron Publications Ltd and in particular the Combat Picture Library . In this feature—or rather by the medium of carefully reproduced book covers and interior illustrations, some scanned from the original art boards—I hope to give the lie to the all-encompassing disparagement of Micron’s output. First a “declaration of interest”: I was an editor at Micron from late 1962 to mid 1964. Much of this feature will concentrate on that period, and may not be entirely objective, although like the good little “Wolf Cub” I was in days even earlier, I will do my best! The company that became Micron, was founded in the 1950s by two disaffected workers from the Amalgamated Press/Fleetway House general office. The story goes that they were backed by some money from an aunt; told the boss what to do with their menial jobs, and launched the G. M. Smith Publishing Co. One of these clerks was a “Michael” Budge, the other ABOVE: The bulk of the early Combat Picture Library covers appear to be the work of Ed Blandford whose CV included a stint as art editor of UK paperback publisher Panther Books. Any shortcomings in his draughtsmanship were more than compensated for with strong layouts and bold lighting effects, all adding to the pulp-like immediacy of the early Micron product.