Over on his brilliant Boys Adventure Comics Blog, Richard Sheaf recently posted an image of an early sketch of a cover intended for Mandy Picture Story Library – except it was never used for that title, the final cover art instead used for Judy Picture Story Library for Girls.
Published by DC Thomson, Mandy Picture Story Library launched in 1978, running monthly for 277 issues until 1988. Judy Picture Story Library for Girls, another monthly picture library, launched earlier, in 1963, running until 1994, for 375 issues, often reprinting reformatted stories from the weekly Judy comic.
Judy Picture Story Library for Girls No. 226, featuring the story “Jean at St. Sinisters” was published in 1982, and reprinted the same year as “Mystikk på skolen” in the Norwegian title, Tuppen (No. 23)
Why the swap of titles? Discussion about the art on the Girls Comics UK Facebook Group points to a story that ran in Mandy Picture Story Library No. 182, “The Black Cloud”, publication date unknown. The story involves a chemistry experiment gone wrong, which fits with the artwork, the girls covering their eyes… but the final cover used, as you can see, is far more fantastical.
Was the original cover inventoried in favour of the one actually published, then selected for use for Judy Picture Story Library for Girls later? Or is there some other explanation, lost to time – or perhaps a former DC Thomson staffer out there knows the answer?
• Richard’s original post on Boys Adventure Comics is here
• Girls Comics – UK Facebook Group
Comic Creator Spotlight: Selby Donnison
The art is believed to be the work of Selby William Donnison, born in Tynemouth, Northumberland the son of an advertising designer on 19th August 1921. Initially training as an electrician, he became book and illustrator, his comic credits including “The Four Marys” for Bunty and “Roy Race’s Schooldays” for Tiger in the 1980s (replaced on the latter by Richard Jennings).
His long career in comics, drawing for Fantasy Romance Library (1956 – 1960), Super Detective Library (1953-56), Thriller Picture Library (1952-54), Cowboy Comics Library (1952-57), and The Sun (specifically, “Billy the Kid”, 1953).
He was one of several artists providing illustrations for The Bible Story and Look and Learn magazines in the 1960s, illustrated text stories for both the Champion and Hurricane annuals, and drew for Lion, working on strips such as “Captain Condor” (including the story “The Hole in Space, published in 1965, reprinted in Spain by Ediciones Vertice in Galaxia Illustrada No. 13), and “Tales of Tollgate School”.
Beyond this, we don’t know much about his life: however, a Selby Donnison was a member of Richmond’s Arts Club for a number of years from the late 1940s onwards, their activities regularly reported in the Richmond Herald and Surrey Advertiser, and it seems a little unlikely there are two artists of the same name.
This Selby Donnison exhibited work in Cranleigh, Surrey, in the 1960s and was elected Chairman of the recently-formed Cranleigh Arts and Crafts Society in early 1969, according to a report in the Surrey Advertiser (British Newspaper Archive subscription access).
Mr Donnison explained that the society, founded by Joy Attwell, a Cranleigh resident and renowned potter, was being formed to foster not only the living arts and crafts such as painting silk-screen and lithography, but also the dying arts and crafts such as thatching tanning stained glass and wattle hurdle making.
He reportedly died in Newport, Monmouthshire, in February 1995, but is buried at St Mary Magdalene’s Churchyard, Hewelsfield, Gloucestershire, the inscription on his grave reading ” “Artist & Illustrator, who saw beauty in everything”.
Head downthetubes for…
• Richard’s original post about the mystery “Mandy” art on Boys Adventure Comics
• Girls Comics – UK Facebook Group
• Book Palace – Selby Donnison art
• Look and Learn – Selby Donnison art
• GCD: Judy Picture Story Library Title Guide
• Girls Comics of Yesterday: Judy Picture Story Library Title Listing
• GCD: Mandy Picture Story Library Title Guide
• Girls Comics of Yesterday: Mandy Picture Story Library Title Listing
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Art, Comic Creator Spotlight, Comics, Creating Comics, Features
Comic Creator Spotlight: Alberto Foche Duarte 
Comic Creator Spotlight: Pat Williams, EAGLE and TV Comic artist