Comics UK

phoenix4ever wrote:

alanultron5 wrote:Sparky seemed to be a kind of `Sargasso` sea for old stories & characters!

We can also include concepts like the flying horse and the city under the sea, both of which were used in Thomsons' text tales in the Thirties. I wonder what revelations future contributions hold.

I think when it comes to 'The Horse with Wings' in Sparky we have to give credit to the Greek myths as the horse in question is that grand-daddy of all winged equines Pegasus, he who sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa when Perseus lopped off her head.

Kashgar wrote:the horse in question is that grand-daddy of all winged equines Pegasus, he who sprang from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa when Perseus lopped off her head.

I do think, Kashgar, that you could have given some credit to Poseidon. Horses do have sires when all is said and done, whether winged or not. You do point this out yourself, of course, when you mention that Pegasus is a 'grand-daddy'.

Useless bit of information that is totally baffling to anyone else but me on here, No 275 The `Hollies` on their November 1967 L.P `Butterfly` had a track called "Pegasus The Flying Horse" So-there!!

the first 3 items of today are from issue 134; [12 AUG, 1967];





above; attractive young women were something of a rarity in THOMSON comics of the period.

next; a late entry for grockle, surely one of GEORGE DRYSDALE'S latter works:





and lastly for today, JIMMY GLEN work from his more elaborate [and preferable to me!] era: his later SNOOTY stuff wasn't quite as accomplished as this:

`Clever Claire` (1968) was quite a pretty young lady!. `Meddlesome Matty` would obviously grow up to be a stunning double of Melinda Messenger! `Julie` of the Sparky people wasn't too bad-but she didn't suit Mini-Skirts-she had `Cilla Black` type legs!

`Pansy Potter` and `Keyhole Kate`? Better not go there!

Not much female representation in the `I. Spy` strip apart from `Grannie Spy`.

Julie out of SPARKY PEOPLE had a nice face...[at least, by MINX artist JIM PETRIE standards!] : she was a bit of a 'cheeseboard', like........if you get my drift.

I apologize for that past sexist comment, readers: and now for today, a real technicolor treat:



above: a typically inventive MOONSTERS outing.

below; a more 'tradish' SPARKY character offering from JIMMY GLEN; the giveaway is the light blue-jacketed gent, who brings to mind JIMMY'S later SNOOTY stuff.

the next few items are dedicated to a superb strip plundered from the NEW HOTSPUR: normally, I don't approve of reprints, but in this instance
, SPARKY came up trumps:





above: issue 166, [23 MARCH, 1968, followed by 30/3/68}:

And there I was thinking that reprints weren't used in that era!

something I only discovered myself, Digi....

The artwork on `Lonely Lad` from April to 20th July 1968 (Final ep) was quite superb! Those underground scenes -really wonderful!

Talking of artwork, might anyone be able to help with artists for `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` please? I know James Malcolm penned some from 1967 & 68, and I think Bill Mainwaering may have produced some in the B & W 1966 eps!

The original Dave & Dora artist was still working on the strip during 1968-but I don't know who he is! I think he drew some `Mr Bubbles` eps when that strip started in 1970.

If you look at Dave & Dora eps over their tenure (1965 to Dec 68) they do age! They are barely more than toddlers in 1965-say Six to Eight years old! By 1968 they are 11 or 12 years in looks!

OK, please post a side by side comparison of an early picture of Dave and Dora and a late one. I want to see exactly what you mean about them aging.

Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora was a strip that was often shared around amongst Thomson staff artists. So as well as freelancers like James Malcolm and Pam Chapeau you got episodes drawn by the likes of George Ramsbottom and Ian Mackay.

Pam Chapau was also closely associated with MR BUBBLES artwork later on.

The younger Dave and Dora are already on this thread Digi! the older duo are posted on Rab's I. Spy thread where he posted their final adventure! They most definately do age a bit over their tenure! Honest!