Smash! comic the swots and the blots- Leo Baxendale

[Peter Gray]

'The Swots and the Blots' was another Baxendale creation although drawn by other hands until his memorable and brilliant run began when Smash! was 'taken over' by IPC at Easter 1969. Early in this 3 year run, Baxendale adopted a new, looser style that influenced many others in the comics field just as his Beano work in the previous decade had.

who drew the Swots and the blots after the first few issues...when did Mike Lacey start...was it when it was on the cover...Leo started in Easter 1969 when did he stop...was there a few other artists near the end?





this is issue 10 and already Leo isn't drawing it...who was the artist? is it Graham Exton..

thanks its interesting to see what Leo drew and who the other artists were on the Swots and the blots..

[steelclaw]

Another strip from No.50

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

the top strip looks like it's by RON SPENCER of LITTLE PLUM fame, PETER.

NO disrespect to the current crop of comics artists [some who frequent this site]: but you seldom see quality like this nowadays........

[Lew Stringer]

the top strip looks like it's by RON SPENCER of LITTLE PLUM fame, PETER.

NO disrespect to the current crop of comics artists [some who frequent this site]: but you seldom see quality like this nowadays........

How do you know? Didn't you once admit to not reading today's comics Rab?

The elongated Doctor's body from Smash No.10 does indeed look like a telltale sign of Ron Spencer's work. However the one from issue 50 is by Mike Lacey.

Peter, I assume you meant Graham Allen? Graham Exton is a comics scriptwriter but he was only a kid in 1966. The above samples are definitely not Graham Allen's work anyway. Styles are completely different.

Lew

[Raven]

Leo's The Swots and the Blots - a revamp - started in Smash on 12th March 1969 and went on till about 1974, I think, continuing in Valiant after it joined with Smash in 1971. Great double-pagers.

There is the odd ghosted strip in the Valiants, I think (reprints?), but mostly all fab Leo work.

[Lew Stringer]

Leo's The Swots and the Blots - a revamp - started in Smash on 12th March 1969 and went on till about 1974, I think, continuing in Valiant after it joined with Smash in 1971. Great double-pagers.

There is the odd ghosted strip in the Valiants, I think (reprints?), but mostly all Leo.

Yes, most of the S&B strips from 1969 onwards are by Leo Baxendale with some fill ins by Les Barton. I'm sure we've covered all this before.

Lew

[Raven]

Yes, there's a fair bit of Swots and Blots info to be found via the forum's search engine.

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

I do often flick through the 'BEANO', RAVEN,but I don't actually read the strips, and haven't done for years.

I am always keeping an eye out for new talent, however. I spent around 10-15 secs looking at the SWOTS artwork, which is about the same I give a modern BEANO page.

I've been studying comic art for over 40 years, and for me, the best quality was from before the 80s.

The artwork above is clearly drawn to a larger scale than the majority of today's artwork which gives it an advantage over most comics artwork today: I draw small strips myself [4 inches high, so I reckon I know the difference between the restrictions placed upon today's comics artists [which is no fault of their own, and indeed some are likely more than happy working in today's more compressed format.]

[Raven]

I do often flick through the 'BEANO', RAVEN,but I don't actually read the strips, and haven't done for years.

It was Lew who said "How do you know? Didn't you once admit to not reading today's comics ... ?", not me!

[Peter Gray]

Ron Spencer of course...
Mike Lacey later..

thanks for the info..
What do people think of The Swots and the blots?

I love all the little fun details..and the l;arge props they often use...also the many funny snowman in the winter Swots and the blots..

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

sorry, Lew.......must pay attention.......[!]

I'm going to have to stop drawing and posting on here at the same time..........bad for the concentration...........

[Raven]

thanks for the info..
What do people think of The Swots and the blots?

I think it's one of the reasons you need to start collecting early 70s Valiant, Peter! They're really inventive and the strips look like nothing else. I think I prefer them to Leo's old Bash Street Kids strips - much madder.

[Peter Gray]

I like the lettering having capitals and lowercase lettering giving it a unique mad look...

The large props often used to great effect..often to bump people on the head.

The fact that all Swots wear glasses and are spotty..probably from swotting and reading books indoors all the time..

The breaking of the fifth wall as editors..artists..readers are involved in the stories..

The many arrows pointing out what this object will do next...building up the situation..

The pockets filled up until it is brimming over.

The many objects of every kind thrown at teacher...often an arrow is sticking out of his back...

I love the battles and games that the Swots and the Blots have in stopping various tricks and pranks from happening mostly on teacher..

The characters are different to the Bash Street kids..its not just a clone from The Beano.

Buying early Busters I'm enjoying Leo's work in that...
Valient for another day..

[Lew Stringer]

thanks for the info..
What do people think of The Swots and the blots?

Compared to the rest of the Odhams output I thought it was a fairly average strip until Baxendale went to town on it in 1969.

Lew

[Peter Gray]

Love to see the first Swots and the blots can anyone put it up here..
did Leo just draw 1 or 2 at the beginning before Ron Spencer took over? I know Ron drew from issue 10 which is what I have..