Firework fun in JOKER (1934)

Publishers are very cautious about showing fireworks in comics these days. In fact they rarely appear, and certainly never depicted in the reckless way they were shown in comics of the past. Here's an issue of The Joker from 1934 showing firework fun in its most carefree (some might say irresponsible) glory! - and, yes, it was printed on green paper.

The cover strip, Alfie the Air Tramp, is drawn by John Jukes, one of the many artists of the time encouraged to imitate the style of Roy Wilson to give the Amalgamated Press comics a certain look.

Here's a few strips from inside the issue...

Art by Harry Banger?

Art by Arthur Martin I believe.

Art by Albert Pease?

Apologies for the Dickie Duffer strip having a centre crease. This comic is part of a bound set so unfortunately the art in the centre pages is partly lost in the spine. 

Wishing you all a safe time if you're out celebrating Bonfire Night over the weekend, and please show consideration for people's pets, - many of which are traumatised by the loud bangs. 

Meanwhile, this week in 1934...

It's been ages since I posted anything about old comics, and it's mainly been due to the time involved in research. I'm still busy, but here's a quick glimpse into the past with the cover scanned from my collection of The Joker No.359, which was in newsagents exactly 84 years ago in 1934.

It's full of typical slapstick fun that was common in British comics of the time, using the comic strip format perfectly in a visual sequence involving a pie. Artwork by John Jukes. 

The full comic had 8 pages, tabloid size (ie: same size as the Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, etc) and was printed on green paper. All for just 1d. (Half a new pence.)

The JOKER - Summer issue, 1934

Back before Summer Specials became a thing, weekly comics would label one issue of their regular run as a summer edition. This very week in 1934, this "Jolly Summer Holiday Number" of The Joker was in the shops. Let's take a breezy coastline stroll through some of its contents...

The cover strip was the popular Alfie the Air Tramp, drawn by John Jukes, ending with a slap-up feed. 

This issue was its regular weekly size (regular then being 8 pages, tabloid size, printed on green paper) and despite being a "Summer Holiday Number" not all the strips had a holiday theme. Here's Monty the Mountie, drawm by Harry Banger, who, years later, illustrated many strips (and quite a few covers) for the independent publisher Swan. 

Midge and Moocher has a beach setting for its slapstick hi-jinks. Art by Arthur Martin.

Perky the Park Keeper uses the standard theme of the hero accidentally thwarting a wrong 'un. In this case, someone stealing flowers! Art by John Turner.

Phil Pott, The Saucy Sea Cook has some nice art by Harry Banger. A pity it's marred by the racial slurs and stereotyping that was around at the time. Sadly, this kind of thing was prevalent everywhere back then in books and periodicals. 

The Joker ran from 1927 to 1940 (when presumably wartime paper restrictions had an impact), merging into Illustrated Chips.