Another bumper Dandy

Here's a sneaky preview peek at a comic that's not out this week OR even next week, but the week after!  These Chris McGee covers are very funny with their 'weekly world News' look, and the comic is stuffed full of the usual unusual stuff.
So, come on, why not take out a subscription, especially if you're in one of those areas where WHSmith has decided not to stock it. Don't make me come down there.

Top Comic Secrets Revealed!

The late comedian and TV game show host Bob Monkhouse was famous, of course, and rightly so, as a 'human joke machine'. In 1991 he was guest of Honour at a Charity Dinner in Birmingham and made a speech that was hilarious, informative and moving. But mainly hilarious.

And he had a less well-known side in his younger years as a cartoonist- and not just any old cartoonist, but a comic cartoonist! Editor/publisher Mick Anglo (still totally with us in 2011 at the age of 95 I'm happy to say) gave the teenage Bob pretty much free rein but over at DC Thomson, young Bob was forced to draw 'house style' when he drew Pansy Potter.
Here's a dedicated postcard he made out for me once, with an extra cartoon on the reverse just to prove it!

Smart and Bright

How can one comic contain Two such Titanic talents?? Well, click

here to find out!
Steve Bright looks like he's really enjoying drawing this!

Who's this?

Any ideas?















I know.
And all is revealed!

Kinky Friday

My Pal Dave Davies of The Kinks is being celebrated on BBC4 next Friday with a big documentary and a big scoop of Kinks TV and live perfromances from 1964 to 1994. I'll be watching, sounds brill!
If you still don't know who he is or why he's the Godfather of Rock,here's a link or two:
Dave Davies on wiki
Kinks All Day and All of the Night 1965
Dave Davies Death of a Clown 1967
Kinks Picture Book 1968



View it here on Dave's website.

The Dandy!

This week's Dandy is another good 'un!  Especially if you like The Antiques Roadshow, Fiona Bruce, or Morris Minors. What a Venn diagram they'd make. And if you're in there, this is the comic for you! Look for Harry channel surfing on the cover. See what we did there?

Harry's got a note from his Mum.

The Dandy annual 2012 is almost upon us - they're published earlier every year! Eagle-eyed readers will spot there is one character that has been a mainstay of the Dandy over the past nine months that isn't represented- I can confirm there's No Harry Hill in the annual. This isn't because it was prepared before he joined the Dandy line-up, it's due to boring, complicated stuff that's of no interest except it means that he will be absent from the book. But never fear, he's in the weekly (isn't it nice to call The Dandy a weekly again!) and there's plenty of great stuff in the annual, so who's complaining!

Back! Back!!

Owen Goal! He's BACK in this week's Dandy! Well, for one frame. Seemed the right place for him!

Summer Specials are back!

Colours Nika, in the style of old seaside postcards

Although sadly only in 'period' form- after the Beano 'compilation', here's another "haven't I seen that before" moment. Yet again those nice people at Men's Health magazine have asked me to come up with a vintage-style Summer Special cover for this year. And this is it. it'll have text on the image (hence the three blank-ish areas) and will most likely be on an inside page. I think it's the August issue, which will be on sale soon, all you Healthy Men.

Bad Publicity?

Last Year (on my birthday, thanks!) my latest Beano strip came in for a bit of Press attention from the late, unlamentable News of the World and others. When I initially heard the proposed name of the strip, I did have misgivings . . . but I felt we did a good job on it, Alan Digby, who wrote it, me, who drew it and Nika who coloured it, including all those crimson faces and steam the strip required.

Of course, it was all over-hyped and contradictory. How often do the press accuse The Beano and Dandy of being 'too Politically Correct', and here they are lambasting us for being 'defiantly un-politically correct'! Still, never let facts get in the way of a good story.

I appreciated, however, their highlighting the picture of 'Calm Uncle Clive', obviously in paroxsyms of rage, as it was the only 'sight gag' I contributed ( I think) during the brief run of only four strips.