A Short Stop at the Transylvanian Brain Surgery

A Short Stop at the Transylvanian Brain Surgery aka TBS was a comics/science fiction/fantasy fanzine published in the United Kingdom between 1974 and 1975. It ran for five issues plus a bonus sales listing zine. The contents were an eclectic mix of comic/book/music reviews, opinion pieces, comic strips and a fandom marketplace for comics, books and music. The first issue was edited by Graham "Gray" Pearce, George Barnett and Ian Goral; subsequent issues seem to have been the work of Peace and Barnett only. 
The name of the zine came from a song by the band Amon Düül.
The zine became The Panelologist comic news sheet, edited by George Barnett, in February 1975.
==Issue #1==
Issue 1 was published in 1974 and had 36 pages. The editors were Gray Pearce, George Barnett and Ian Goral, with Gray Pearce contributing the art and George Barnett most of the articles.
Contents
*Front Cover by Gray Pearce
*Editorial by George Barnett
* "Goracle" by Ian Goral - opinion piece on comic fandom.
* "Comics For Sale" - listing of comics available for sale.
*Illustration - "Superman" by Gray Pearce
*Preview of TBS #2. Art by Paul Hudson.
*"Marvel vs DC" by George Barnett, research by Gray Pearce - article comparing similar characters from each franchise. Includes a Superman vs Hulk comic strip.
*"Comics For Sale" continued.
*Random poetry and art by Tim Bennion
* "Comics For Sale" continued.
*"Biography: Michael Moorcock" by George Barnett - article on writer Michael Moorcock, including a bibliography.
*"Comics For Sale" continued.
*Art Credits and Subscriptions/Advertising information.
*"Amon Düül" by George Barnett - article on the band, Amon Düül, including a discography.
*"The Prince in the Scarlet Robe" - comic strip adapted from "The Knight of Swords" by Michael Moorcock, with art by Graham Pearce, inks by George Barnett and lettering by Tim Pilsbury.
*"Observations from a Deckchair" by Jim Goddard and closing notes from George and Gray.
*Back Cover by Gray Pearce
*Includes a flyer for Comic Mart at Holborn Assembly Hall, London.
==Issue #2 ==
Issue 2 was published in 1974 and had 48 pages. The editors were Gray Pearce and George Barnett, with Gray Pearce contributing the art.
Contents
*Front cover by Gray Pearce.
*"A wacky wonderful IQ test" by compiled and written Dave Broughton, edited by George Barnett.
*Editorial by George Barnett, art by Gray Pearce.
*"A Tribute to Tolkien" by Paul Hudson, art by Gray Pearce and Paul Hudson.
*Cover to Fantasia #1 (an unpublished 1970 zine), art by Trevor Goring.
*"Underrated Bands 2: Spirit" by George Barnett, art by Gray Pearce.
* "DC vs Marvel" by Dave Collins.
*"A Personal View by SC (Not DC)" by Steve Collins - response to Issue #1's "DC v Marvel".
* "The Hulk vs Lois Lane" by George Barnett - comic strip.
*"FOOM, Or How I Joined Marveldom" by Pete Barnett.
*"The Adventures of Super-Bear" by Paul Hudson.
*"Feed-Back" - letters of comment
*Marketplace - paperback books, records, comics and zines for sale. Art by Gray Pearce and R. A. McBride.
*"Arlon of the New Men" by Andrew Rawling - fiction.
*"Made in Hong Kong" by Peter Barnett - article on Hong Kong action films.
*Illustration by Tim Bennion.
*"The Prince in the Scarlet Robe" - comic strip adapted from "The Knight of Swords" by Michael Moorcock, with art by Graham Pearce, inks by George Barnett and lettering by Tim Pilsbury.
*Poetry: "Mother's Day", "Loneliness" and "Songwriter" by Jim Goddard, "In Guatemala" by Paul Hudson; art by Chris Smith and Jill Pearce.
*"Editorial" continued, plus advertising rates and subscriptions.
*Buying List.
*Back cover by Gray Pearce.
==Issue #3==
Issue 3 was published in 1974/75. The editors were Gray Pearce and George Barnett.
Contents
*Front cover by Gray Pearce.
==Issue #4==
Issue 4 was published in 1974/75 and had 40 pages. The editors were Gray Pearce and George Barnett. Artists included Phillip Ruffell, Alan Hunter, Paul Rose, Gray Pearce, Greg Chown, Leigh Balsh, Chris Bullock, San Martino, Ken Woodward and Andrew Rawling.
ContentsTBS Issue #4 TOC page, taken from "Transylvania Brain Surgery 4 (Volume 1)" at rootsoftheswampthing.com April 4/2014, plus comment thread
*Front cover by Phillip Ruffell.
*Editorial
*Doc Savage - article
*The Stomp by Greg Chown - comic strip
*Von Daniken - article
*The Farmer - fiction
*Fantastic Four - article
*Monster Mirth - article
*Creators - comic strip
*The Weapons of Omega by Andrew Rawling - fiction
*The Devil Riders by Phillip Ruffell - comic strip
*Motion Heroes - article on small screen superheroes.
*Satisfactory to Both Sides - fiction
*Advertisements/Marketplace.
==Issue #5==
Issue 5 was published in 1975. The editors were Gray Pearce and George Barnett. Artists included Phillip Ruffell, Gray Pearce, Leigh Balsh, Chris Bullock, George Brown, Tony Schofield, Mark Gordon, David Lloyd, Hugh Spencer and P. Nickson
Contents
*Front cover (Adam Warlock) by Gray Pearce, alternate cover by Alan Hunter.
*"Edit-Speak" - by George Barnett and Gray Pearce - editorial, including excuses for the delay in printing, plus the announcement of the merger with George's new project, The Panelologist.
*"Comix Insight" by Nigel Edwards and Jeremy Pick - "a somewhat unusual look at two of Marvel's most acclaimed comics"
*“Dick Soup” by Steve Sneyd [on slapstick elements in Philip K. Dick's work ]PKD Otaku #20, PKD Otaku website
*"Visions of Faust" by Andrew Darling - original science fiction
*"The Devil Riders" by Philip Ruffell - final episode of the comic strip.
*"Chrononaut" by James Blandings - original science fiction
*"Talking With Stan Lee" by Ian Penman - "a veteran fan quizzes a veteran pro"
*"Annoying Stories" by Hugh Spencer - "a strip designed to frustrate"
*"Lost Horizons" by James Blandings - "a tribute to Star Trek. The Horizon continues where the Enterprise left off."
*"Superman" by Paul Kirton - "a personal look at Superman's career through the 1960s and 1970s".
*Back Issues - "Spend your money while stocks last!" (layout by Gray Pearce).
File:TBS5B.png|Issue #1 Alternative Cover - Alan Hunter
File:ShortStop5 TOC.jpg|Table of contents (art by Chris Bullock) and Edit-Speak (collage by Gray Pearce, includes fanart by Pete Rose, Alan Hunter, and others)
File:TBS5 interior.jpg|Issue #5 interior - interview with Stan Lee, art by David Lloyd
File:TBS5 interior art.jpg|Issue #5 interior - Rob Moran 
==Sales List==
The TBS Sales List was published in 1975. The editors were Gray Pearce and George Barnett. The front cover was by Phillip Ruffell.
== References ==
Category:1974 Zines
Category:1975 Zines
Category:Comics Zines
Category:Science Fiction Zines