Leo Baxendale - what was his best style?

[Kid Robson]

The legendary Leo Baxendale is described as the most imitated artist in the history of British comics, with a style that evolved down through the years. Which would you say was the best (or your favourite) of his various styles? His '50s, '60s, '70s or '80s work - and why? Or don't you think there was much difference?

[ajsmith]

prime 50s/60s style - the 70s Willy The Kid looked a bit sparse in comparison for my tastes. Although it is interesting how Baxendales later style bled into and was definitely a template for the early work of Tom Paterson, who then refined it into another style all together.

[Dunder Ed]

His banana bunch was perhaps his best artwork. But I think Leos work was always good throughout his career.

[philcom55]

My favourite period was his early Odhams work, starting with a 2-page splash in Boys' World's first birthday issue then moving on to the launch of Wham!

- Phil R.

[stevezodiac]

Late 60s early 70s in Smash! I was looking through some the other night and there was one Swots and Blots strip that consisted of just two full page panels. And i liked it when he drew as if it was a diary entry having each panel drawn as an open book. Also he did the strip in the style of a snakes and ladders game in one issue - he was very inventive at that time.

[Raven]

Late 60s early 70s in Smash! I was looking through some the other night and there was one Swots and Blots strip that consisted of just two full page panels.

Was it this one, reproduced on Peter's blog?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Jm70Jx1fU-Y/S ... wots2a.jpg

I think the ever-evolving style was part of what makes LB's work so interesting; his work never stood still. My least favourite is the Odhams period Wham material - the wild inventiveness seemed to start again immediately after, and my favourite is that early 70s Valiant Swots and the Blots style, as above.

Those sets looked unlike anything else. And what followed: The Badtime Bedtime Books, Nellyphant, Clever Dick, Sam's Spook reprints in the loose, barmy, cartoony style, etc. used to really fascinate me as a young reader. They departed so markedly from the norm.

Come on, Kid, let's have your own opinion, too, when launching these topics!

[Peter Gray]

Leo Baxendale is my favourite comic artist....I like all his work in any period..
His Banana Bunch period is wonderful...

[Kid Robson]

Late 60s early 70s in Smash! I was looking through some the other night and there was one Swots and Blots strip that consisted of just two full page panels.

Was it this one, reproduced on Peter's blog?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Jm70Jx1fU-Y/S ... wots2a.jpg

I think the ever-evolving style was part of what makes LB's work so interesting; his work never stood still. My least favourite is the Odhams period Wham material - the wild inventiveness seemed to start again immediately after, and my favourite is that early 70s Valiant Swots and the Blots style, as above.

Those sets looked unlike anything else. And what followed: The Badtime Bedtime Books, Nellyphant, Clever Dick, Sam's Spook reprints in the loose, barmy, cartoony style, etc. used to really fascinate me as a young reader. They departed so markedly from the norm.

Come on, Kid, let's have your own opinion, too, when launching these topics!

What? Someone inviting my opinion? That's a first for me. I liked most, if not all of his styles, but his Smash! Swots & The Blots style is perhaps my favourite.

[Mr McScotty]

Some of the "Swots and the Blots" (his "looser" style) from Smash (the IPC version where I think he unveiled this version/style of his work) are to me some of the best humour strips ever created - he kept up that amazing amount of "fun" in his art (along with some fantastic cartooning on the underrated "Sams Spook" strip) when the strip moved over into the Valiant (and Smash) up until around 1973 when it changed his style again although very slightly but for me it just wasn't as good after that period (his DCT / Odhams work in the 60s was course excellent as well - the guy was just pretty good at what he did really)

[Kid Robson]

Some of the "Swots and the Blots" (his "looser" style) from Smash (the IPC version where I think he unveiled this version/style of his work) are to me some of the best humour strips ever created - he kept up that amazing amount of "fun" in his art (along with some fantastic cartooning on the underrated "Sams Spook" strip) when the strip moved over into the Valiant (and Smash) up until around 1973 when it changed his style again although very slightly but for me it just wasn't as good after that period (his DCT / Odhams work in the 60s was course excellent as well - the guy was just pretty good at what he did really)

Ah, Sam's Spook - I remember when it first started in Smash!, McScotty. That first story was later reprinted in the 1974 Monster Fun Holiday Special - complete with 'Starts Today!' blurb. Actually, Bax's first Willy the Kid book had some really detailed art in it, but was looser in some stories than in others. Shame the books weren't popular enough to continue.