Help re. Bunter

[paw broon]

I'm trying to find out if Bunter ever appeared as a cover feature in a comic. This is for someone who thinks he remembers, as a lad, seeing a Bunter front page. Hopefully an expert here can help. Thanks.

[Digifiend]

I don't know if he was ever a cover story, but he was once to Knockout what the bellboy was to The Dandy, even had his name on the masthead:

[philcom55]

I think he was a cover feature on the original Knockout for a while, during which time the title changed to Billy Bunter's Knockout. He also starred on the cover of at least one issue of Valiant as part of its 'Greatest' series (I think he was the Greatest Glutton or something! ).

- Phil Rushton

(Oops! Digi beat me to it!)

[Digifiend]

Yeah, I beat you to it, but notice that the example I posted (which is from the Comics UK gallery, don't forget to check the main site guys!) actually has Battler Britton, Fighting Ace as the cover star. I'm guessing Bunter was originally on the cover when he got his name in the masthead, but later got moved back inside?

[philcom55]

'Sright! Here's one of the Bunter covers with art (I think) by Albert Pease:



- Phil Rushton

[ISPYSHHHGUY]

I love this artist's style! [assuming it's Pease]. This comic was quite expensive compared to BEANO/DANDY which were thruppence for most of the 60s------was there more pages in IPC comics I wonder, even in the early 60s ?[IPC also carried a lot of outside advertising in the later 60s, unlike DCT who only started this in the later 80s].

There's shades of MAD-Magazine influence in this stuff, also FUNNY-WONDER-style Roy Wilsonesque vibes, which is a good thing.

[philcom55]

Yes, I think Pease tends to get unfairly neglected compared to Reg Parlett who took over the strip after it had transferred to Valiant.

Incidentally, here's Parlett's version on that Valiant cover I mentioned earlier:



- Phil R.

[paw broon]

Thanks chaps. That is excellent and Uncle Robin will be delighted to find his memory is not playing tricks. I've suggested he might like to sign up and thank you all in person. We'll see, but he is a real comics fan.

[Bob Frankland]

Front cover of The Magnet Issue 136 1911. 'Billy Bunter on the Bawl Once Again.

Featured in 'Football's Comic Book Heroes' page 24.

If I knew how to attach images I could give you sight of our hero in action.

[Al]

Here you go Bob. Freshly scanned in from page 24.

[felneymike]

Bunter was on the cover of virtually every Magnet, from 1908 to 1940. Not to infer that any of our contributors are older than they claim.