Comics UK

Does anybody know who the artist that drew Hair Oil Hal for The Dandy? The image is from my Dandy Monster Comic 1942

Darn it! I checked Beano and Dandy: Favourites from the Forties, but the artist isn't mentioned.

The artist isnt credited in the Dandy monster index either just the start and finish issues the character appeared in which are No 126 (27/04/40) to No 204 (27/12/41) and the Dandy Monster Comics 1942,43 and 1944

Not in the index? Blimey, not often Ray's research fails to yield. I hope the forthcoming Art and History of the Dandy book adds that missing info.

Even DC Thomson don't have any record of the artist either!

If DCT (in the person of Morris Heggie) doesn't know and Ray Moore doesn't know, nobody knows - DCT do actually use Ray's indexes for speed.

Cheers Andy probably the artist that drew the Hair Oil Hal page went away to war and sadly didn't return? So it looks as though it'll remain a mystery

I wonder if it could be an American strip, possibly renamed? (If it is, however, I certainly don't recognize it!)

Phil R.

Would they give a reprint character pride of place on the this book belongs to page? This is the only time Hal appeared on it from the Dandy Monster Comic 1944

Certainly a fun and different strip to many others. I can look at home in my reference books, just in case.

Just been looking in my reference books and found that it was Sam Fair who also drew Wig and Wam, Meddlesome Matty, and Addie and Hermy. Hope this clears it up for you all. He also did some strips for Buster, so he didn't die in the war.

If the information on Hair Oil Hal's artist was not in the Dandy Monster Index then what reference books are you refering to Dunder Ed?

Its the British Comic Catalouge 1874 - 1974 a great book if you can get one. I think most of the copies on sale are old libraries ones, well my one is anyway.

...er, I think you've confused it with the credit for Wild Man of the Woods. In my copy there is a blank space next to Hair Oil Hal.

- Phil R.

You are probably right Phil, but I thought that the strips under the Sam Fair name were done by him. Obviously not. So it will probably remain a mystery.