Andy Oliver
@andywpoliver.bsky.social
Broken Frontier @brokenfrontier.bsky.social Editor-in-Chief, small press champion, Small Press Day co-organiser, multiple comics awards judge and recreational nihilist. He/Him "Chinless dribbler" (Art by Francesca Cassavetti).
Today I learned that there was a LOOK-IN comic strip of MICHAEL BENTINE'S POTTY TIME and that Arthur Ranson was involved on the art side. No idea if this is his work. Not holding my breath for a Treasury of British Comics collection though...
December 9, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Today I learned that there was a LOOK-IN comic strip of MICHAEL BENTINE'S POTTY TIME and that Arthur Ranson was involved on the art side. No idea if this is his work. Not holding my breath for a Treasury of British Comics collection though...
You will be visited by three spirits.
December 9, 2025 at 1:40 PM
You will be visited by three spirits.
Small show of solidarity today. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
December 9, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Small show of solidarity today. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
As Storehouse East is a 5 minute walk from work I popped over this morning before I started and pleased to say the @brokenfrontier.bsky.social Anthology is still on display as part of the comics exhibit. I am going to confidently say BF is the only comics commentary site to be featured at the V&A.
December 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
As Storehouse East is a 5 minute walk from work I popped over this morning before I started and pleased to say the @brokenfrontier.bsky.social Anthology is still on display as part of the comics exhibit. I am going to confidently say BF is the only comics commentary site to be featured at the V&A.
FIRESTORM #57 (1987) - The title is ever shifting at this point. Another fill-in issue but Barbara Randall’s story is really fun and playful.
December 8, 2025 at 3:19 AM
FIRESTORM #57 (1987) - The title is ever shifting at this point. Another fill-in issue but Barbara Randall’s story is really fun and playful.
THE PHOENIX #727 - the best single periodical comics issue of 2025. Meta genius as the events of one strip invade the rest of the comic.
December 7, 2025 at 4:22 AM
THE PHOENIX #727 - the best single periodical comics issue of 2025. Meta genius as the events of one strip invade the rest of the comic.
FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #54 (1986) - Fill-in issue in the transitional period between Conway’s long run fizzling out and Ostrander’s radical revamp. Villain is Trash, a teenager with a super-powered guitar. And on every level this is sadly one of the worst fill-ins I have ever read!
December 6, 2025 at 3:58 AM
FIRESTORM THE NUCLEAR MAN #54 (1986) - Fill-in issue in the transitional period between Conway’s long run fizzling out and Ostrander’s radical revamp. Villain is Trash, a teenager with a super-powered guitar. And on every level this is sadly one of the worst fill-ins I have ever read!
Early 1980s Marvel UK Classified Ads page including one for the first ever comics shop I visited regularly. The very short-lived Metropolis Media Bookstore in Romford.
December 4, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Early 1980s Marvel UK Classified Ads page including one for the first ever comics shop I visited regularly. The very short-lived Metropolis Media Bookstore in Romford.
Dusting off the @brokenfrontier.bsky.social presentation as I'm talking to students about our work tomorrow.
December 4, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Dusting off the @brokenfrontier.bsky.social presentation as I'm talking to students about our work tomorrow.
BACK ISSUE #155 - Horror issue mostly focussing on anthology comics. Some *really* interesting insights on Bronze Age comics though there’s one article that glaringly omits any substantial discussion of the actual final issue of the series it’s spotlighting.
December 3, 2025 at 4:23 AM
BACK ISSUE #155 - Horror issue mostly focussing on anthology comics. Some *really* interesting insights on Bronze Age comics though there’s one article that glaringly omits any substantial discussion of the actual final issue of the series it’s spotlighting.
"Concerns were mounting that the ANDY PANDY reboot might not be entirely suitable for children."
December 2, 2025 at 7:05 PM
"Concerns were mounting that the ANDY PANDY reboot might not be entirely suitable for children."
DOCTOR WHO: THE MONSTER MAKERS - Visual storytelling is very strong throughout. Not sure we needed yet another Who story though where we discover a historical literary figure based their work on adventures with the Doctor and not their own imagination/talent. Somewhat overplayed at this point.
December 2, 2025 at 3:56 AM
DOCTOR WHO: THE MONSTER MAKERS - Visual storytelling is very strong throughout. Not sure we needed yet another Who story though where we discover a historical literary figure based their work on adventures with the Doctor and not their own imagination/talent. Somewhat overplayed at this point.
Went to a back issues comics mart for the first time in 20 years today. I didn’t recognise anyone and no one knew who the hell I was. Just fun walking the rooms trying to find obscure Bronze Age comics.
November 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Went to a back issues comics mart for the first time in 20 years today. I didn’t recognise anyone and no one knew who the hell I was. Just fun walking the rooms trying to find obscure Bronze Age comics.
Friday’s #GoshBFDD was my last big comics event of the year. 2025 was the first time post-pandemic I felt really back in the events groove. Panels, interviews, gallery tours and socials. Good times! @averyhill.bsky.social @sxbond.bsky.social @captioncomicfest.bsky.social @goshcomics.bsky.social
November 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Friday’s #GoshBFDD was my last big comics event of the year. 2025 was the first time post-pandemic I felt really back in the events groove. Panels, interviews, gallery tours and socials. Good times! @averyhill.bsky.social @sxbond.bsky.social @captioncomicfest.bsky.social @goshcomics.bsky.social
EFFIGY: IDLE WORSHIP - One of those collections where it feels like there’s lots of ideas and not enough pages to contain them all. Another book I meant to read before a certain interview I did at the Lakes this year!
November 30, 2025 at 4:48 AM
EFFIGY: IDLE WORSHIP - One of those collections where it feels like there’s lots of ideas and not enough pages to contain them all. Another book I meant to read before a certain interview I did at the Lakes this year!
Watching THE BOX OF DELIGHTS because it’s that time of year. Love this bit of classic BBC kids TV.
Also I have zero idea what is going on and never have done.
Also I have zero idea what is going on and never have done.
November 29, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Watching THE BOX OF DELIGHTS because it’s that time of year. Love this bit of classic BBC kids TV.
Also I have zero idea what is going on and never have done.
Also I have zero idea what is going on and never have done.
Cool comics night at the @goshcomics.bsky.social and @brokenfrontier.bsky.social drink and draw IN-PERSON. #GoshBFDD
November 28, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Cool comics night at the @goshcomics.bsky.social and @brokenfrontier.bsky.social drink and draw IN-PERSON. #GoshBFDD
Yay! This week’s THE PHOENIX! Best post of the week.
November 27, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Yay! This week’s THE PHOENIX! Best post of the week.
THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #50 (1986) - Cliff Carmichael at his sociopathic worst. Always Firestorm’s greatest villain. Otherwise there’s an interesting return for a Golden Age hero but the unlikely story resolution doesn’t really work.
November 27, 2025 at 4:58 AM
THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #50 (1986) - Cliff Carmichael at his sociopathic worst. Always Firestorm’s greatest villain. Otherwise there’s an interesting return for a Golden Age hero but the unlikely story resolution doesn’t really work.
Look what I just found in my desk drawer at work.
The game begins again…
The game begins again…
November 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Look what I just found in my desk drawer at work.
The game begins again…
The game begins again…
Blue Peter kid or Magpie kid?
November 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Blue Peter kid or Magpie kid?
Whizz-kid or Chip-ite?
November 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Whizz-kid or Chip-ite?
THE KISSING GATE - Aly Fell’s *gorgeously* illustrated ghost story. This was meant to be a re-read for Halloween but it got a bit pushed back!
November 23, 2025 at 6:30 AM
THE KISSING GATE - Aly Fell’s *gorgeously* illustrated ghost story. This was meant to be a re-read for Halloween but it got a bit pushed back!
THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #49 (1986) - I read the first part of this Moonbow story nearly 40 years ago. If only teen Andy had known he’d be in his fifties before he’d see the resolution. Did Moonbow ever appear in costume again?
November 23, 2025 at 5:03 AM
THE FURY OF FIRESTORM #49 (1986) - I read the first part of this Moonbow story nearly 40 years ago. If only teen Andy had known he’d be in his fifties before he’d see the resolution. Did Moonbow ever appear in costume again?