"We are United" Champ/Football Monthly Artists and

ridders1977 · Post by **ridders1977** » 14 Mar 2006, 17:45

Hello,

When i was but a lad i used to read the Football Picture Story Monthlies that started around the time of the World Cup in 1986 - i then collected them all for about 3 years until i stopped reading them.

My favourite stories where the "We Are United" stories that would follow the story of one particular club. I did some research at DC Thompson who published them and got a list of all "United Stories" and there is about 40odd of them which i am now trying to collect via the internet and comic stalls. These stories started with the same charcters in CHAMP comic, also by DC Thompson.

What i am having difficulty with is information about the writers and the artisits behind these stories. I am aware that this kind of information, particularly to do with DC Thompson is scarce, but wondered if anyone out there knows how i can get hold of an email address or website of the artists/story writers involved in these stories, that were featured in CHAMP and VICTOR comics.

Did anyone else out there enjoy these stories, mainly centered around Terry "Big 'Ead" Evans, Alex "Hedgehog" Jones, Chalie "Iron" Barr et al?

Oh, happy days!

rod2402 · Post by **rod2402** » 15 Mar 2006, 02:44

No info on the writers and artists for these but covers at http://www.britishcomics.20m.com
Late in the run in Starblazer they listed all the issues along with artists, it may be worth checking some late Football issues.

I've just got a full set of Spike comics and have started to read them. Iron Barr is in these and it is a good read. I'm Australian so not a big soccer ( football ) fan, but I always enjoy these stories.

ridders1977 · Post by **ridders1977** » 15 Mar 2006, 14:24

Yeah, id read on the internet that Iron Barr had been acharacter with his own stories in another publication ... is he like his character in "We Are Unired"? Is he a goalkeeper?

You where lucky getting those Spike comics! I wouldnt mind getting my hands on a set of Champ comics, they're hard to find though!

tonyodonnell · Post by **tonyodonnell** » 16 Mar 2006, 11:45

Football Monthly Artists.
It was a nice surprise to visit these new forums to find the old Football Monthlies being discussed, as I was once one of the regular artists.
I dont know who all the other artists were but I can put names to some of the main contributors. They were John Stokes, Neville Wilson, Barrie Mitchell, Mike White. Near the end of Football Monthly I spotted some strips by Mike Western and John Cooper. ( I have recently seen John Cooper Art on the Channel 5 News)
Neville Wilson was my favourite and he was a regular in the Victor on Football stories. There were lots of other artists, some Spanish and some were no doubt DCT veterans. I was strictly part time as my main income was from Illustration at that time....though I did get to draw the very last issue.

ridders1977 · Post by **ridders1977** » 16 Mar 2006, 13:54

No way Tony O'Donnell!!!! I was reading about you on the internet yesterday at work, as im really trying to research and find out as much as i can about the Football Monthlies and more specifically the "We Are United" ones ... great to have you on the forum posting.

Do you have a website or anything like that with your artwork to view? Do you remember drawing any of these United Stories? Although, having to draw a footballer called "Hedgehog" Jones with a spiky, Punk-style hairdo would be fairly memorable if you did!?!?!

Thanks very much for the names of the artists involved with the Footy Monthlies, i suppose they were all involved with Commando as well, and other DCT staples?

Also, (dont ask for much do i?

) do you know who wrote the "We Are United" stories, as they seemed fairly continuous with players relationships developing etc - finding the names of story writers from DCT is even harder than the artists!!

Great to hear from you Tony, as a regular artist on Football Picture Story Monthly, your a hero of mine i suppose, and ive grown up with your work, so thanks for adding to this thread.

tonyodonnell · Post by **tonyodonnell** » 18 Mar 2006, 01:37

I have to confess that I was never as keen on drawing Football stories as
I was too draw other themes like Science Fiction but my earliest samples for an Art Agent, included a first attempt at drawing a Footie strip...and that led to my first job for DCT drawing Hoodoo United for SCOOP way back in .....1981.
The artists I named all worked for IPC/ Fleetway on comics like Roy of the Rovers and Battle etc as well as working for DCT. John Stokes may well have been the artist on We are United...I do remember the spiky haired player...but my collection is in storage at present. Did you know that John Stokes transferred from DCT to DC Comics, USA as an INKER on comics like The Invisibles.
I dont know the names of any of the writers - although some were written by editorial staff no doubt. In general, most of the stories were very good...my favourite to draw..concerned a woman getting to run the team but as my collection is in storage ..I cant recall the title!?

big bad bri · Post by **big bad bri** » 20 Mar 2006, 16:26

go to bookpalace.com i think they have nearly all the champ comics and spike as i intend to get them next after finishing their busters.

rod2402 · Post by **rod2402** » 21 Mar 2006, 02:51

Yes Iron Barr is the Goalie and plays as an amateur ( ie is not paid ). Also in the team is Limp Along Leslie ( From Hotspur ? )

It would be interesting to see a bigger history of these stories as you say they are interrelated.

rod2402 · Post by **rod2402** » 21 Mar 2006, 13:15

In the last issue of Iron Barr in Spike Charlie Barr agrees to transfer from Darbury Rangers to United. Then there is a one page into to United.

[IMG:102:167]http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/2158/67068bu.th.jpg[/img]

ridders1977 · Post by **ridders1977** » 23 Mar 2006, 16:22

rod2402 wrote:Yes Iron Barr is the Goalie and plays as an amateur ( ie is not paid ). Also in the team is Limp Along Leslie ( From Hotspur ? )

It would be interesting to see a bigger history of these stories as you say they are interrelated.

They do all seem inter-related throughout various comics.

Charlie Barr first appeared in his own story in Spike, as the United stories started off in Champ at a later date.

Then Charlie Barr joined United in Champ comic.

Did the United stories continue when Champ joined with Victor?

The United stories then carried on in the Football Picture Story Monthlies.

The United stories arent published anywhere else now are they?

Garen · Post by **Garen** » 28 Mar 2006, 12:47

tonyodonnell wrote:...my favourite to draw..concerned a woman getting to run the team but as my collection is in storage ..I cant recall the title!?

Hello Tony - nice to see you here!

Was that story 'Family Fortunes'? Football Picture Story Monthly No.268.

ridders1977 · Post by **ridders1977** » 28 Mar 2006, 13:06

Garen wrote:
tonyodonnell wrote:...my favourite to draw..concerned a woman getting to run the team but as my collection is in storage ..I cant recall the title!?
Hello Tony - nice to see you here!

Was that story 'Family Fortunes'? Football Picture Story Monthly No.268.

Hello there Garen, I presume Garen Ewing?

Can you tell me which Football Comics you've worked on, and if any of them were the "United Story's"? Im just trying to get as much info as i can on these. I read that interview you did where you stated you'd like to do a couple more of the Footy Comic Libraries and even write some, i think its a real shame they arent published any more, if you take into consideration the nationwide appeal of Football right now (especially with the World Cup coming up too) i think its a real opportunity missed by DC Thompson.

The first one, "Stark: Mission in Mexico" was released in 1986 in time for the World Cup of that year. So its the 20th anniversary of the Football Comic Libraries this year.

We should really get a group together and start an online Footy Comic Library relaunch!! Sorry ... i get a bit carried away sometimes

Garen · Post by **Garen** » 28 Mar 2006, 13:46

Hello ridders1977...

I've had very little to do with Football Picture Monthly - it was all as an assistant to Tony, doing a little bit of inking and an even smaller bit of pencilling on some of his titles. I was really lucky to see Tony's professional work up close and learn a lot from him.

I had contributions in FPSM nos. 268, 280, 296, 304, 312 and 341 - all Tony O' Donnell comics. I'm sure none of them were 'United' stories.

I actually quite enjoyed doing footie drawings as there's a good amount of action. One of my favourite strips recently was for Paul Scott's 'Sunny For Girls' where I drew Peter Nagel's 'Kick Like a Girl' - it was great fun.

ridders1977 · Post by **ridders1977** » 28 Mar 2006, 15:13

Hi Garen ....

You'd have been considered royalty round my way and amongst me and my mates at school. We collected the Footy Comics and we'd have considered it an honour to work on them!

Did Tony ever write the stories then? They're funny at DC Thompson arent they? None of their comics ever credit a writer or artist, certainly none of them that i have read.

I like the sound of that strip ... 'Kick like a girl'!! Very good.

I don't suppose you have any more names of any artisits/writers for the FPSM's?

ta,

tonyodonnell · Post by **tonyodonnell** » 28 Mar 2006, 16:37

Hi Garen,

Thanks for remembering that title for me...I must make a checklist someday!?
I will be searching for that Kick like a girl strip as well....it was always a pleasure to see your INKS on my work and I am constantly amazed and intrigued by both story and art in THE RAINBOW ORCHID.
Hi ridders1977...I am sorry that I never worked on a UNITED story, it was always either a back-up story or a one- off main story - like the ones Garen listed.
I can add a couple of other artist names..Jim Eldridge and Alan Burrows
..I Hope the spelling is correct on these. Alan drew the second-last issue, which was I think ,the final UNITED story. Alan previously worked on Commando, Victor, Red Dwarf and Dark Horse Presents.
Hi rod 2402
I think I got some Red Daggers from you last year in a swap deal...anyway..the United page you posted, it looks like it is by one-time Roy of the Rovers artist Barrie Mitchell the EL SUPREMO of Footie artists.

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