Happy Retirement, Sid Burgeon

By John Freeman on October 25, 2012

(via Lew Stringer, the Berwick Addvertiser and with thanks to XXX at DC Thomson): Cartoonist and comic artist Sid Burgon (who also used the pseudonym ‘Swab’) has decided to retire at the age of 75, reports The Berwick Advertiser today.

Born in October 1936, Sidney William Burgon learned the basics of sketching from his mother and although he became a mechanic he still enjoyed drawing. Sid’s co-workers encouraged him to take drawing up professionally, which he did in 1963. One of the many publications he freelanced for was The Weekly News for which he provided cartoons under the alias SWAB (based on his initials).

By 1970 Sid began freelancing for IPC, which would lead to a long career drawing strips such as Joker (Knockout), Hit Kid (Krazy), Lolly Pop (Whoopee!) and many more. oker debuted in the first issue of IPC’s revived Knockout in 1971 and proved so popular that the character moved to the cover in later issues and survived various mergers with other comics. In 1982 Sid received the Children’s Cartoonist of the Year Glen Grant Award for the strip.

From 1989 Sid began freelancing for DC Thomson on strips such as Adrian the Barbarian (Beezer), Keyhole Kate (Dandy) and Biffo the Bear (Beano). He retired from comics a few years ago but continued to draw for his local church magazine.

Sadly, with his eyesight deteriorating, Sid has decided it’s time to put down his pens, but he leaves behind a marvelous amount of artwork that has entertained millions over the course of his career. Sid’s clear and distinct artwork was always of the highest quality and he naturally knew how to convey a story that was easily understood, lively, and amusing. Highly regarded by editors, readers, and his fellow professionals, Sid Burgon will always be remembered as one of the best cartoonists in British comics of the past 40 years.

My personal best wishes to Sid for a long and healthy retirement and thanks for the many happy memories that his work brought to readers.

Below: The very first Joker strip from Knockout No.1 (12th June 1971)…

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.