Dad's Army Annuals 1973-1978

Dad's Army Annual 1973

Published in Great Britain, World Distributors, 1972
SBN: 7235 0142 4, 80 Pages

Text Stories: Which Way To Walmington? / Parachute Invasion / The Anti-Jerry Device / Souped-up Tactics! / The Platoon on Manoeuvres / False Alarm! / The New Recruits. Cartoon Strip Stories: Guerilla Warfare / Invasion

COMMENT: The 1973 Annual is thoroughly illustrated inside with text stories, cartoon strips and articles on the Second World War. Of particular interest is an introduction to the series characters which gives an insight of their backgrounds. The Front and rear cover feature three publicity stills from the 'Dad's Army' movie . The Text stories are well illustrated in places, but obviously as more than one artist worked on the book, quality suffers (notably the cartoon strips!).

Dad's Army Annual 1974

published in Great Britain, World Distributors, 1973
SBN: 7235 0209 9, 80 Pages

Text Stories: Horror for Hodges / The Regimental Mascot / Mum's Army / The Official Inspection / Sealed Instructions / A Ghoul on the Loose / Dad's Army Joins the Navy. Cartoon Strip Stories: Jones Saves the Day / The Great Defenders

COMMENT: The book illustrations are an improvement in this edition and again, colour photograph's are used to illustrate the front and rear covers. Mrs. Mainwaring, notable for never been seen in the tv series appears in the story "Mum's Army" - not an adaptation of the TV episode from 1970!

Dad's Army Annual 1975

published in Great Britain, World Distributors, 1974
90 pence, SBN 7235 0236 3, 80 pages

Text Stories: Operation Evacuees / Down On The Farm / The Riding Lesson / Midnight Marauders / Take Shelter / The Social Evening / Ready Steady Blow! / The Captain's Lucky Day. Cartoon Strip Stories: Sausage and Bash / Enemy Invasion

COMMENT: The 1975 edition is the last to feature the character of Private Walker. The usual balance of stories and cartoon strips interspersed with features on the Second World War make yet another fine offering from World Distributors. The cover featured an illustration of Captain Mainwaring, Sergeant Wilson and Lance-Corporal Jones. The rear features a combined photo / illustration of the cast stood behind sandbags.

Dad's Army Annual 1976

COMMENT: The 1976 'Dad's Army' annual, not only featured splendid artwork on the front and rear cover but was thoroughly well illustrated inside. The page count was reduced from 80 pages to 64. ARP Warden Hodges, featured very prominently in this years stories, and even stole the title of the opening story of the book!

Dad's Army Annual 1977

published in Great Britain, World Distributors, 1976
£1.10, SBN 7235 0350 8, 64 pages

Text Stories: Gorilla Warfare / Night Manoevres / Tank Tactics
A Case Of Mistaken Identity / A Star Is Born / The Captains Clanger. Cartoon Strip Stories: Raising a Stink / The Magnificent Eleven

COMMENT: The 1977 annual followed the standards set by previous annuals. The book contains the usual dazzling array of stories and cartoon strips as well as features including Private Godfrey's (brief!) Home Guard diary.

Dad's Army Annual 1978

published in Great Britain, World Distributors, 1977
£1.35p, SBN 7235 0438 5, 64 pages

Text Stories: Fire! Fire! / Once a Soldier, Always a Soldier / On Course With the Captain / Friends or Foes? / Operation Evacuees! Cartoon Strip Stories: Getting to Betsy / The Hero

COMMENT: The final television episode of 'Dad's Army' was broadcast on Remembrance Sunday 1977, so this was also the year that World Distributors published their final annual. An excellent cover design, even if the image of Arthur Lowe had already graced two previous covers. The Price this year had increased over double than previous years (25p), but still quite a bargain! (My copy was evermore so - my mother found it on a post-Christmas shopping trip to Asda reduced to 25p!)