Reg Parlett on 'Bewitched Belinda' for Whizzer and Chips
Posted: 16 Jul 2008, 15:36
I got an old "best of Whizzer and Chips" comic from a charity shop, which included several pages of "Bewitched Belinda." I'm ashamed to say I never noticed before (or more likely forgot), but Reg Parlett was an AMAZINGLY good artist. And does anyone know who wrote that strip? The writing seems a cut above the other strips too.
Possibly these were just unusually good examples of his work, or maybe I was tired (it was late at night), but these just shone.
I happened to read this comic through several times (long story). On the first read through, Belinda is just another strip. But on the second or third read it really starts to shine. I have to say that for me, Belinda and Paws are head and shoulders above all the others, and Belinda probably has the edge. Though their styles are TOTALLY different. There are so many things to praise! Where to start?
1. The first thing I noticed was the cleanness of the lines. Impecable draughtsmanship, not a line wasted.
2. The next thing that jumps out is the faces. Every face has something to say, and is so expressive. Such a range!
3. And the bodies. Again, nobody just stands there, everyone is doing something interesting, something that helps to build the story.
4. And even the limbs! Even the arms and hands and legs have something to say.
5. The the layout. Every panel seems full of activity, yet leaves plenty of space. The characters' sizes and positions are so pleasing. Heck, I feel like some pompous French art critic. But he really is that good.
6. And the characters. They each have a personality of their own. There was a stip about a fox hunt, and another about Belinda's mother trying to get a job. And another where she goes to a party. Belinda's mother could be the subject of a long essay just from the two strips where she appeared. There is nothing two dimensional about her.
I could go on and on and on... I wonder how much of this is the writer? It wasn't written by a woman by any chance was it? Belinda seems more moral than other characters, more sensitive to others' feelings, and there are social issues all over.
I've gone on long enough. I've never taken the time before to read Reg Partlett's stuff in any depth. Like I said, on a casual scan it just looks like another comic, but it really gets better and better the closer you look. Maybe I was just lucky to see some unusually good examples, I dunno.
That's just my view anyway.
Possibly these were just unusually good examples of his work, or maybe I was tired (it was late at night), but these just shone.
I happened to read this comic through several times (long story). On the first read through, Belinda is just another strip. But on the second or third read it really starts to shine. I have to say that for me, Belinda and Paws are head and shoulders above all the others, and Belinda probably has the edge. Though their styles are TOTALLY different. There are so many things to praise! Where to start?
1. The first thing I noticed was the cleanness of the lines. Impecable draughtsmanship, not a line wasted.
2. The next thing that jumps out is the faces. Every face has something to say, and is so expressive. Such a range!
3. And the bodies. Again, nobody just stands there, everyone is doing something interesting, something that helps to build the story.
4. And even the limbs! Even the arms and hands and legs have something to say.
5. The the layout. Every panel seems full of activity, yet leaves plenty of space. The characters' sizes and positions are so pleasing. Heck, I feel like some pompous French art critic. But he really is that good.
6. And the characters. They each have a personality of their own. There was a stip about a fox hunt, and another about Belinda's mother trying to get a job. And another where she goes to a party. Belinda's mother could be the subject of a long essay just from the two strips where she appeared. There is nothing two dimensional about her.
I could go on and on and on... I wonder how much of this is the writer? It wasn't written by a woman by any chance was it? Belinda seems more moral than other characters, more sensitive to others' feelings, and there are social issues all over.
I've gone on long enough. I've never taken the time before to read Reg Partlett's stuff in any depth. Like I said, on a casual scan it just looks like another comic, but it really gets better and better the closer you look. Maybe I was just lucky to see some unusually good examples, I dunno.
That's just my view anyway.
sorry its not complete...
nice work...like the little funny details..now you have to look at my cartoons.. 
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