A complete, restored issue of Penny Dreadfuls from 1877 — all 16 pages of cheap serialized Victorian sensation fiction — crime, horror, and lurid melodrama, free to page through at ComicBooks.com.

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A complete issue · 16 pages · 1877

Young Briton, No. 422

1877 · Free to read

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 2 of 16 — 2 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 3 of 16 — 3 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 4 of 16 — 4 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 5 of 16 — 5 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 6 of 16 — 6 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 7 of 16 — 7 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 8 of 16 — 8 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 9 of 16 — 9 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 10 of 16 — 10 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 11 of 16 — 11 / 16

Young Briton, No. 422 — page 12 of 16 — 12 / 16

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Young Briton, No. 422 — page 14 of 16 — 14 / 16

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Young Briton, No. 422 — page 16 of 16 — 16 / 16

About this issue

This issue features "The Lake of Light: or The Search for the Diamond Mount," a serial adventure narrative. Chapter XI, "Sam Small's Wedding," follows the protagonist Sam Small among a cannibalistic African kingdom ruled by King Bungerloo. The narrative depicts Sam's forced marriage to the king's daughter, Moselekatze, following his capture. The chapter details a wedding ceremony in a charnel house constructed from human bones and skulls of previous victims, including a missionary. After the marriage ritual, which culminates in Sam being beaten by his bride while held by the king, Sam bites the king in self-defense. Bungerloo orders Sam's execution and preparation as soup, dismissing Sam's pleas and threats. Sam's wife refuses to intercede, displaying filed teeth and threatening manner. The story combines adventure, survival peril, and darkly comedic dialogue as Sam faces imminent death.

In this issue

“The Lake of Light: or the Search for the Diamond Mount” · serial · p.1
“Sam Small's Wedding” · serial · p.1
“Westminster School” · article · p.5
“In Search of Adventure” · serial · p.6

Browse this issue page by page

Each page has its own page — the cartoon, who’s in it, and what the satire means.