It seems almost inconceivable that both of the strips collected in the recent Treasury of British Comics collection of classic 1970s/1980s comics for girls are missing writer credits. But such was the lack of creative acknowledgement of the era that this is hardly a unique situation. Fortunately we do know the name of the artist involved and, as such, A Spell of Trouble acts as a tribute volume to the glorious work of the Catalan illustrator Trini Tinturé.
From the pages of the long-running British anthology weekly Jinty this volume contains both the title story and another, longer serial Creepy Crawley. What links both tales outside of Tinturé’s contributions is that they have a mystical theme to them. Unlike the harder supernatural/horror strips of the cult favourite Misty comic, which the Treasury have also been collecting, these stories have a more whimsical nature, with the implied menace coming more from schoolgirl rivalries than the magical aspects themselves.
A Spell of Trouble has a sitcom kind of feel as long-lost cousin Angela White comes to stay with her cousin Carrie Black. Unbeknownst to Angela the Blacks are from a long line of witches, something that has added to Carrie’s successes and popularity at school. But Angela’s presence is about to become more than a nuisance when Carrie discovers she must turn her awkward cousin into a witch too or lose her powers in forfeit.
In the second story Creepy Crawley, Jean Crawley is the most popular girl in school until her nose is put out of joint by the arrival of new girl Mandy, who becomes her unwitting rival. When Jean discovers an Egyptian scarab brooch in a local junk shop she uses its unearthly powers to create ongoing problems for Mandy at school. But as the weeks go on the brooch begins to slowly take over Jean completely.
While Creepy Crawley is darker in tone than the largely light-hearted A Spell of Trouble both serials feature protagonists on a journey to some form of redemption. While that makes for a satisfying conclusion in both cases it does mean that these strips feature lead characters who are difficult to empathise with, given they are either often selfish or spiteful. This shifts our sympathies as readers towards the secondary cast members instead.
It’s the visuals though that, beyond the nostalgia factor, are the true pull here. Tinturé’s art is from a school of illustration that comics have largely left behind and that’s an incredible shame. Gorgeous linework, art that knowingly plays to the strengths of black and white, and an aesthetic that somehow embraces both realism and caricature. For those wanting to see new Tinturé A Spell of Trouble work the hardcover also features an all-new cover from the artist.
As ever the restoration work is excellent given the archive nature of the material concerned. A Spell of Trouble and Creepy Crawley are endearingly silly, escapist fun for those looking for some classic comfort reading.
Unknown (W), Trini Tinturé (A) • Rebellion/Treasury of British Comics, £14.99/£24.99
Review by Andy Oliver
