Comics Britannia reviewed

kevf · Post by **kevf** » 11 Sep 2007, 13:46

Comics Britannia wasn't a bad survey, and good to have names mentioned that most viewers won't be familiar with. I was under the impression this was going to be a whole season with lots of other fringe programmes - like last week's "gay week" which saw half a dozen new shows surrounded by hours of appropriate repeats.

This could at least have had a comic-themed panel game (a special QI maybe?), and comics movies? But apart from re-running the Batman TV series, it's slim pickings.

In my personal VHS archive there's a Dan Dare/ Frank Hampson doc, a couple of Alan Moore docs, an old Newsnight special of Batman, and one on Superman, Comics Confidential, that episode of the Avengers with pictures by Frank Bellamy, and hordes of comics related b movies from Judge Dredd and Tank Girl to Barbarella, oh surely they could have dug something out?

What about those 1960s rubbish Marvel animations, surely 5 minutes of those every night would have kicked BBC4 off in style?

ajsmith · Post by **ajsmith** » 11 Sep 2007, 15:17

Re: Tank Girl; this was hugely popular, way outside of Camden! A very iconic character in her day, much feted by pop stars etc. There was even a film, you must recall! (though a bad one)

Deadline was an influential comic and well worth a place in any history of British Comics. It's highly arguable that it marked the last time that original British comics were at the forfront of any pop culture zeitgeist.

chrissmillie · Post by **chrissmillie** » 11 Sep 2007, 17:44

I have to agree, Deadline was hugely popular, though I never really got on with it. Crisis and Revolver to my mind were far superior but in the indie clubs I used to frequent, Johnny Nemo was more talked about than World War Three.

Chris

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 11 Sep 2007, 18:17

chrissmillie wrote:I have to agree, Deadline was hugely popular, though I never really got on with it. Crisis and Revolver to my mind were far superior but in the indie clubs I used to frequent, Johnny Nemo was more talked about than World War Three.

Chris

I used to buy Deadline too, but I never felt it moved the comics industry forward in the same way that the other comics highlighted in Comics Britannia did. Admittedly by the time Deadline came out perhaps I was losing touch with yoof culture.

Lew

Peter Gray · Post by **Peter Gray** » 16 Sep 2007, 01:01

Enjoyed the first program...these four comic artists mentioned David Law, Leo Baxendale, Ken Reid and Dudley D Watkins should all have been knighted!

The reprint market is going well e.g Bumper book of Look and Learn...Look-in Seventies book..etc.. Hopefully the sales will inspire the next generation of comic artists and editors. Lets learn from the past.

I'm a kid from the 80's and loved comics like Buster, Whizzer and chips and Whoopee!!...the art in the comics were very good and feel they should be represented in a new BBC comic program.

Artists like Tom Paterson (Sweeny Toddler, Calamity James), David Sutherland (Dennis, Bash Street), Jim Petrie, (minnie), Robert Nixon (Frankie Stein, Ivy the Terrible), Reg Parlett (Creepy Comixs, Buster), John Geering (Bananman, Puss and Boots), Gordon Bell (Spoofer, Pup Parade) Terry Bave (Odd Ball, Sid Burgon (Joker), Trevor Metcalfe (Junior Rotter) ..Dudley, Ken Reid, Leo Baxendale and David Law are of course great But the artists I've mentioned are also great!

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 16 Sep 2007, 02:01

Kev etc - there has also been an documentary on Herges and TINTIN and (as previously noted on this site) they will also be showing the Broons documentary that was on Scottish TV recently - Although like yourslef its not what I thought it would be.

philcom55 · Post by **philcom55** » 16 Sep 2007, 02:02

Peter Gray wrote:these four comic artists mentioned David Law, Leo Baxendale, Ken Reid and Dudley D Watkins should all have been knighted!

Actually I think there was a campaign to get some sort of honour for Reg Parlett at one point - unfortunately the powers-that-be weren't interested.

I remember when Stanley Matthews was the first footballer to receive a knighthood...I wonder who'll be the first comics artist/writer to do so?

Sir Pat Mills? Sir Leo Baxendale? Sir John Wagner?

...Lord Moore of Northampton???

Can anybody think of a suitable candidate if such a campaign were to be launched today - or are most of the real 'greats' now dead?

(Come to think of it I'm pretty sure Chad Varah was awarded a CBE, though that probably had more to do with founding the Samaritans than writing comic strips for The Eagle!)

- Phil Rushton

chrissmillie · Post by **chrissmillie** » 16 Sep 2007, 10:53

I just have the sneakiest of feelings Pat might decline somehow. John Wagner's American, so not him either.

colcool007 · Post by **colcool007** » 16 Sep 2007, 11:09

chrissmillie wrote:I just have the sneakiest of feelings Pat might decline somehow. John Wagner's American, so not him either.

John Wagner has a funny accent for a Yank then! I know that Ian Gibson's wife is American, but don't know of any other US connection that the current giants have. George Low would be a good one to nominate.

Lew Stringer · Post by **Lew Stringer** » 16 Sep 2007, 11:25

philcom55 wrote: Can anybody think of a suitable candidate if such a campaign were to be launched today - or are most of the real 'greats' now dead?

Does anyone consider "Knighthoods" etc to carry the same gravitas as they once did? Who's impressed with such "titles" in this day and age? So many people have been on the honours list now that it's become as common as being on tv, - you're unique if you haven't had that "status"!

Lew

Steve Bright · Post by **Steve Bright** » 16 Sep 2007, 11:50

Lew Stringer wrote:
philcom55 wrote: Can anybody think of a suitable candidate if such a campaign were to be launched today - or are most of the real 'greats' now dead?

Does anyone consider "Knighthoods" etc to carry the same gravitas as they once did? Who's impressed with such "titles" in this day and age? So many people have been on the honours list now that it's become as common as being on tv, - you're unique if you haven't had that "status"!

Lew

I blew my chances quite a few years back with the following, and many, many others like it. Ah, well! Cue ELP's Fanfare For The Common Man...

[img:600:423]http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0QwAMGaUU ... Royals.jpg[/img]

chrissmillie · Post by **chrissmillie** » 16 Sep 2007, 14:45

Greatest comic artist ever - 'Sir' Ian Kennedy.

Wagner was born in the US and is insistent his nationality is American. The famous US duo of X-Men's Chris Claremont and John Byrne, however, are both Brits! Byrne being closer to Canadian though than American - it's a funny old world.

Chris

Raven · Post by **Raven** » 16 Sep 2007, 19:32

In part one, I thought it was quite strange seeing people roaring with booming laughter at some of the original strips. Much as I loved them, and even at their best, I never thought the British humour comics ever induced room-shaking belly laughter like maybe a Fawlty Towers episode might - more like quiet inner chuckles or delight at best, and I think at least one other participant said they didn't think they ever actually laughed at their favourite humour comics as kids, but read them quite seriously.

Did anyone else here ever actually laugh out loud at the Beanos, Sparkys, Dandys, Cor!!s and Whizzerzes and Chipses? Despite their claims, they were never really funny in *that* way, were they?

colcool007 · Post by **colcool007** » 16 Sep 2007, 20:07

chrissmillie wrote:Greatest comic artist ever - 'Sir' Ian Kennedy.

Wagner was born in the US and is insistent his nationality is American. The famous US duo of X-Men's Chris Claremont and John Byrne, however, are both Brits! Byrne being closer to Canadian though than American - it's a funny old world.

Chris

Chris, you have educated and elucidated me. Oh to hear that Ian Kennedy was knighted. I would pay to go to that investiture.

Cap Haggis · Post by **Cap Haggis** » 16 Sep 2007, 20:09

NOT SURE IF THIS HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BUT Just to add to the Comics Britannia series there is also a Modesty Blaze film on tonight andalthough not UK comics a documentary ou all should watch if you are comic fans on one of the true greats STEVE DITKO with Jonathon Ross

Comics UK