The Beano comic from D.C. Thomson made it's first appearance seventy-five years ago July 2oth 1938.
The Beano was an institution, an essential part of childhood - comics once as integral to being young as was tree climbing. ( Talking for myself there aren't I? I have met folk who never read comics. Always think of that as a deprived childhood, a situation where out of respect for their disadvantages one tries to hide ones natural sense of pity.)
When I started having my weekly Beano fix Big Eggo was still on the front cover. The heros and heroines Beano produced still have a place in universe of my imagination. Lord Snooty and his Pals, Morgyn the Mighty, Pansy Potter, The Strongman's Daughter, Jimmy and His Magic Patch . . .
Looking at the list (below) it seems Beano characters ceased to imprint themselves on my mind about the time I was aged eleven and went to 'big school'.
There is a list of all the characters and strips the Beano created and the artists ( oddly not writers) who created them at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Beano_comic_strips . Be wonderful if there were pictures.
Images copyright of D.C. Thompson.
Comments
I'll bet you got up to all sorts of mischief with your 'Whoopee Mask' on, Arthur. Those were the days!
I was quite into Buster and Whizzer & Chips myself back in the 90s.
I lament the fact that there are so few to no old bookshops where you can buy old comics and all sorts! At least over here. The world has changed. Can't say always for the better.
Bheki
Hullo Bheki,
a few years too young to have got the Whoopee Mask. One of my brothers probably did.
Where is 'over here?
Don't know that is any different here. Guess the internet is the place to look for old comics nowadays and I admit to thinking that is not such a comforting
experience as visiting a book shop.
Best,
Arthur
I guess what can be said about searching for comics online is that almost everything seems ultimately traceable (bar REAL rarities of course). However the lack of exotic, musty smells and a bohemian owner sitting in the corner is indeed sadly lacking!
Cheers,
Andy.
Hullo Andy,
as somebody said - nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
Best,
Arthur
Greetings from Durban, South Africa, Arthur. I practically built my collection of your work from using second-hand book shops.
There used to be this one place where I think they were able to obtain surplus published materials from the UK, and initially they sold them by weight, but they eventually abandoned that. And eventually, sadly, they closed down.
But the internet helped me complete my collections, and still does. My first international order was a copy of Button Man, the American collected edition. The world has changed, and it's got me thinking...
How much would you need, Arthur, to get a decent printed edition of a book combining your Beatles and Elvis work?
Hullo Becki.
that's interesting. If you ever wanted to write a piece about comics in South African I would be more than happy to produce it as a blog. Presently trying to encourage a New Zealander to do the same for his country. Could be a whole new series which I would love to give space to.
As to 'how much would you need', if that is more than a hypothetical question best we do it by email. me@arthurranson.com.
Best,
Arthur
I surprised myself by actually doing it, Arthur. I didn't think I had anything to say, but then it started formulating in my head, and that's when I decided to start typing. It will be done soon, hopefully before the bloke from New Zealand completes his (or would it better if it came after?). By the way, is it Andy?
As for the other thing, I think the first thing I should ask is what is the status of your other music-related strips, ABBA and the Sex Pistols? Do you have the rights to those like you do with Elvis and the Beatles? Would there be any issues in publishing those? You see, I think they should all be compiled into a book, something like Music Icons by Arthur Ranson and Angus Allan, for the whole world to see!!!
The only thing I'm doing now is researching how we would go about getting it in print. I was inspired by Alan Moore with his use of Kickstarter, as a means to obtain funding, but since the work has already been done (the art), the only thing that remains is to compile it and get it printed. But is getting funding for printing the same as getting funding for 'the project'?
Your thoughts on this would be appreciated, Arthur. If all goes well (and despite the fact that it's forcing me to step out of my comfort zone) this could become a real thing, with as many people getting involved as possible - much like they did for Mazeworld (those are the people we might need). I really just want to see these works in print in my lifetime.
Sincerely
Bheki
Hullo Bheki,
your thoughts on comics in South Africa would be very welcome and it is first come first served. Use my email address where it would be possible to attach any images of any local comic work which would be great.
We could discuss the other thing there too if you are interested. Abba and Sex Pistols are not mine and I have no artwork from either. IPC was where they finished up.
Best,
Arthur
PS. No it is not Andy.