Comics UK

For such an excellent artist Otway really deserves to be better known. I'm also finding a surprising number of stories he drew for Fleetway's Picture Libraries aimed at girls and women. I remember how much I loved reading sister's Princess Tina for Otway's lovely artwork. If you're able Phil, we'd ...

In June, Leslie Otway drew the last few episodes of a story started by Geoff Campion in #1, "Against All Odds". These panels are from the final episode in June #13 (June 10, 1961). I tracked down a scan online and thought I'd share the whole episode Tristan.Well spotted! http://i67.tinypic.com/64fc...

Well Norman, there's a coincidence. A couple of the Americans on CB+ expressed interest in Mr Bellamy's work. They had some examples and wanted more info. I searched the internet and found your excellent site and I'm just on the point of posting the link in case they want a shufty. Thanks for doing...

I started reading comics illicitly as my eldest brother didn't want grubby little hands getting hold of his DC comics! But then I remember getting TV21 #1 in '2065' and how excited I was as it wasn't his, it was mine! My first interaction with fandom was via Doug Gifford's "Thing" fanzine where he a...

philcom55 wrote:I think a lot of boys' comics were influenced by classic 'monster' films. For example Valiant's long-running Mytek the Mighty strip was clearly based on King Kong.

Have you seen this extensive FRENCH review? Who knew Mytek was THAT popular???

philcom55 wrote:Actually I did Norman, but I don't think you ever read the PM I sent you!

And here's my public apology! You did indeed - I don't remember getting an email alert for this one. Many thanks Phil. I should have known better!

The cover of an early Watch With Mother book featuring Janet and Anne's own versions of Bill and Ben, Andy Pandy, Teddy, Looby Loo, and Rag, Tag and Bobtail. You should ashamed of yourself Phil for not mentioning (to me!) that Raymond Sheppard did some work in this book (which I've owned for quite ...

philcom55 wrote:The art looks as though it could be by Leslie Otway.

I wondered where Otway went after "Alona" in Princess Tina. Thanks for sharing

Standby, I didn't realise that was your blog! It's brilliant and certainly a credit to you. I certainly used it when I did my review of the Comics Unstripped exhibition. Thank you very much. I always wonder how Lew and Steve Holland and John Freeman and Kid Robson do so many! I do recommend you con...

Also finding a glorious Frank Bellamy Lawrence of Arabia picture just goes to show how much more needs to be catalogued. Hey Colcool007, I hope you're following my blog so you see new Bellamy artwork when it turns up, which it did recently and the website catalogues all his work I have seen...and I...

philcom55 wrote:Leslie was a regular contributor to boys' papers and annuals before the war, producing hundreds of illustrations like the one shown below.

That was well spotted Phil- if not for the signature on your colour plate, I'm not sure I would have seen that! Thanks for sharing

I was clearing some old magazines out and came across Mr Otway using - what Phil describes as 'electric blue - great description Phil - in Boy's Own Paper September 1945
You'll just see his signature on the right hand page!

It has to be TV21 Number 1 published in 1965 (with that lovely device of one hundred years in the future!). Why you ask? 1) Well, it was my older brother's and contraband is always more exciting! 2) It didn't have cartoons on the front like most of that reading considered OK for little 7 year olds, ...

His son told me "I am currently working on copying and binding many episodes of his two daily newspaper comic strips "Better Or Worse" and "Keeping up With The Joneses"" so well done Mr Simpson. I'll share anything I get.

For those people who monitor this thread, I have had an email from Leslie Caswell's oldest son Hamilton - see the comments under this thread:
https://standby4action.wordpress.com/20 ... e-caswell/
Hamilton has given us a potted biography.
~Norman