Each artist who has drawn the strip for any length of time is spotlighted with a bio and examples of their runs on the series. That means we get some vintage Leo Baxendale pages, plus strips by Jim Petrie, Tom Paterson, Ken Harrison, Nigel Parkinson, Paul Palmer... and even Laura Howell's three-page test strip.
There's some previously unseen material here too, such as the original letters from 1950s Beano editor George Moonie to Leo Baxendale on the creation of the character, and the cover to the dummy issue of Minnie's own never-published comic!
Minnie: 65 Years of Minxing is essential for anyone who's interested in the history of UK comics, or who just likes the Beano! You'll find it in branches of WH Smith, or you can order it directly from D.C. Thomson at this link:
https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/minnie-65-years-of-minxing
Is this the first of these histories or have there been others for older characters? Aside from the recent eighty-year history.
ReplyDeleteThomsons aren't new to this. They've published several collections before, such as books for Desperate Dan, Lord Snooty, and Black Bob
Ah! Are these similar histories? And do you have a comprehensive list?
Black Bob. Heh! I remember Black Bag in Viz. The Viz artist really caught the original's style. Perhaps it was the same artist?
saw the poster for book on top shelve in Guildford WHSmiths But no book...will try next week
ReplyDeleteMike, there was a similar bookazine on the Dandy several years ago. No, Jack Prout didn't draw Black Bag. He had left us long before that I'm afraid.
ReplyDeletePeter, if they have the promo for the Minnie mag they must have had it and perhaps sold out or just haven't bothered putting it out yet.
No Minx in Smiths for me. I did find Striker in the football magazines section (I braved the Sports section all on my own, without backup). Some joker had written "File under Football Mags" on the cover. So perhaps the Minx is lost somewhere in the cavernous & desolate vacuum of the Book Stacks, beyond the hallway of the greetings cards, where not even the shop assistants dare to tread.
ReplyDeleteThat's where Striker is supposed to be, Mike. The comics were printed with that topline. I suspect you knew that though.
ReplyDeleteThis looks very detailed and certainly an interesting read. Unfortunately out of my two local WHSmith stores one isn't getting it in (after asking) and one reserved their final copy for someone, so ordered online from DC Thomson. Looking forward to it
ReplyDeleteYes, sadly the idea that one can order a comic from Smiths or any newsagent and they'll get it for you is not always the case these days. I've had shops refuse to order comics too. I'm not sure that even publishers realise this yet.
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