LEGENDARY comedian Bob Monk-house left a legacy of high adventure and strange tales to his favourite Birmingham comic shop. All that remains of the quiz show host's massive collection of comics and pulp science fiction magazines has been gathering dust in the basement of Birmingham's famous Nostalgia and Comics store. And after digging out the rare collection for the Birmingham Mail, the store is set to auction the titles for the Give a Few Bob prostate cancer campaign set up in memory of the late star. The collection of about 150 publications, which includes titles such as Fantastic Tales, Astounding Science Fiction and New Worlds, were handed to the store after Bob's death from prostate cancer three-and-a-half years ago. Although best known as the charming quiz show host with quickfire wit and a one-liner for every occasion, Bob collected a whole range of comics, from the home-grown Dandy and Beano to American superhero titles, with a regular order at the Smallbrook Queensway store. His close friend, Midland comedian Dave Ismay, had discovered the collection when invited by Bob's widow Jacqueline to help clear their attic. Dave said: "The loft was choca-bloc with this stuff, Bob was a hoarder. Much of it had to go into a skip, but we saved what we thought might be of use to someone." The majority of the pulp magazines go back to the 1940s and 1950s, with a mix of American and UK titles. Among them are rare first prints of short stories by science fiction greats such as Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke and Philip K Dick. Dave said: "Bob loved science fiction, he loved the fantastic ideas, the weirder the better. He also enjoyed the lurid, colourful fantasy artwork. He was a keen cartoonist himself and these books inspired him." Managers at the store accepted the collection and put it in storage. As the majority are story magazines, not comics, they have little idea of their value. Deputy manager Dave Dearn said: "We were handed these magazines, which are fascinating both because they were part of the Bob Monkhouse collection and because they represent a fascinating period in history." | 
