TV Comic - which publisher & non-TV strip memories

[Peter Gray]

Again lovely to see..

Sooty and Sweep were also in Pippin in the 80's..

[philcom55]

Sooty and Sweep were also in Pippin in the 80's..

Actually they first appeared in Pippin during the 1960s, and before that they starred in Fleetway's Playhour. If I get the chance I'll scan in a couple of examples tomorrow.

- Phil R.

[Peter Gray]

I didn't realise they were reprints!! I'll be here tomorrow..

love Sooty and Sweep.. got some dvds..

[Shaqui]

This seemed relevant for this topic but can anyone on here provide me with a scan of "Harry Corbett's Sooty" from TV Comic? I'm currently writing a book all about Sooty, and there's not much information/ high quality pictures about it on here. I know Tony Hart drew it, and it ran between 1954-1956. Thanks!

The near entire run of TV Comic is held at the British Newspaper Library at Colindale, North London. If you're writing a book and want to be that completist, I'd recommend a trip to research it. You do have to be a member but can get a day pass with certain identification, and join when visiting. Check out the British Library website for details, or give Colindale a call.

[LordSnooty2]

Thanks for more images Phil (I was a member of your Beano & Dandy club a while back, so that's how I know it's you..) much appreciated- to be honest, I was a bit too young to remember Pippin or Playhour haha; nonetheless, would be nice to see some scans! May also get in contact with British Library too- thanks for the recommendation

[philcom55]

...Er, I think you might be mixing me up with another 'Phil' Lord Snooty.

As far as I can tell Sooty was originally featured in early issues of Pippin, but then switched over to the cover of its companion paper Playland when that was launched the following year. Here's the beginning of a Pippin strip from 1967 in which a bespectacled Sooty appears to be reading about himself:



...followed by a Playland cover from the following year (this scene doubles as a picture puzzle and the introduction to a story which continues on the back page).



Though Fred Robinson was a perfectly good artist I have to say that neither of these strips capture the personality of the mischievous little bear I grew up with as successfully as Tony Hart had been able to.

Much better (in my opinion at least) was this charming flight of fantasy taken from the cover of a 1961 edition of Fleetway's Playhour. Unfortunately the artist is uncredited, but his use of colour is superb.



The late Denis Gifford wasn't always the most reliable authority on such things, but if it's any help his 1987 Encyclopedia of Comic Characters includes this rough breakdown of Sooty's main comic strip appearances up to that point:

TV Comic 1954-56, Playhour 1960-64, Pippin 1967, Playland 1968-75, Playgroup 1984-86.

- Phil Rushton

[Peter Gray]

Wow! more Playhour Sooty and Sweep covers please......I just can't believe the difference in junior comics and todays quality!!!!!!!!
Just love the text and pictures.and as you say the colouring of the moon sky..Sooty is white due to black and white tv..maybe..

[suebutcher]

Fantastic Playhour cover! The artist might be Hutchings; the colour reminds me of the early "Gulliver Guinea Pig".