The identities of many comic artists, for many years never credited in the British titles they worked on, are no longer unknown, thanks to the diligent research of many comic archivist. But when it comes to nursery titles – still a staple of the British newsstand – things sometimes get a little tricker.
downthetubes reader Tom Hill recently contacted us to ask for help identifying the artists who worked on several artworks for titles such as the weekly magazine Pippin, published by Polystyle Publications, who also published TV Comic; and companion title, Playland, which was launched in 1968 and ran alongside Pippin until 1975 when the two titles merged.
The first edition was published in 1966, cover dated on 24th September, and the final edition, number 1044, was cover dated 26th September 1986, where it was announced that the title would be merging with Buttons. Known Pippin artists included Neville Main, Bill Melvin and Peter Longden, as well as utilising original artwork from Peter Firmin for stories based on the animated series Bagpuss and Ivor the Engine.
Can you help? If so, please comment below. Thank you.
This art for “Tog”, which appeared in Pippin in 1968 is, we believe, the work of Bill Mevin. He’s perhaps best known for his work on TV Comic‘s “Doctor Who” strip and his work on later episodes of “The Perishers” with Maurice Dodd for the Daily Mirror.
Is this “Tivvy” strip, based on the TV Times mascot, presumably for TV Comic, by Bill Hopper, the artist whose work on the character for ITV’s weekly listing magazine went uncredited? We believe it was published in 1966 or thereabouts.
The following four artworks appear to be from the same strip, but does anyone recognise it – and is it also drawn by Bill Mevin, and was it ever published?
“I wonder if these were ‘prototype’ pieces for a comic strip that was never picked up?” Tom muses. “But it’s very hard to jump to conclusions.
We do know this marvellous “Ivor the Engine” strip, published in Playland in 1968, is the work of Peter Firmin, who co-created the animated series with Oliver Postgate for Smallfilms. But if you can provide information and fill in some of the blanks on the other strips, that would be much appreciated.
“I was very lucky to find these,” Tom tells us. “I’m a Smallfilms collector and recognised the ‘Ivor the Engine’ by Peter Firmin.”
The artworks belonged to illustrator called Donald Myall, who went to the Colchester Art School, the same school as Peter Firmin.
“I really like the nursery comics from this period,” Tom adds. “The artists spent an incredible amount of energy to make pieces so skilfully, and for a comic that’s probably thrown out at the end of the week. The same for the authors.
If you have any information on the artists (and writers!) who worked on these strips we would really appreciate any ideas or thoughts readers might have. Thank you!
Can you help? If so, please comment below. Thank you.
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Our thanks to Tom Hill for sharing these artworks
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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, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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