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Initially the terms 'underground' and 'alternative' are defined British underground periodicals and comics displayed a distinct influence from American underground publications, both in terms of their political ideas and their visual styles. After 1973 a less politically motivated form of alternative comic developed. The comparative financial failure of the majority of these comics is discussed. It can be said that these comics reflect their ideas and meanings through their drawing styles as well as their obvious political and social content. A wide range of comics is then examined in terms of their construction and underlying narrative structure, using a series of empirical tests devised for this purpose. The aim of these tests is to see if underground or alternative comics can be distinguished from mainstream comics by their form and structure rather than just their content. The influence of alternative comics can be felt both in the growing sophistication of mainstream British comics and in the reuse of comic imagery in graphic design and advertising.

A new method of collecting X-ray diffraction data which eliminates 90% of the Compton scattering component has been developed. The subsequent data analysis is described in detail with specific reference being made to the analysis of liquid carbon tetrachioride. X-ray diffraction measurements have been made on two samples of amorphous phosphorus. The obtained radial distribution functions have been analysed via the fitting of Gaussian curves and the results compared to the local correlations obtained by other studies and from the crystalline allotropes of phosphorus. The results show a marked difference in the degree of crystalline order present in the samples and the inability of current models to describe the observed structure. Neutron diffraction measurements have been made on liquid antimony pentafluoride at a variety of temperatures between 5 and 80°C. The obtained radial distribution functions have been described in terms of a cis-bridged molecular chain. Little alteration in the structure was observed in the temperature difference results. Neutron diffraction measurements have been made on carbon and germanium tetrabromide. The results were analysed using a molecular form-factor which yielded bond lengths in good agreement with those obtained by other investigators. The intermolecular distribution functions obtained for the two samples compare favourably with those obtained from a RISM analysis.