Comics UK

I wonder if anyone can shed some light on how many runs of the Girl comic there were? I know the second series started in 1981 and ran 'til around 1987/8. Then there appears to be another Girl weekly from 1988 which doesn't have any of the previous run's stories or features (there is no Patty's World in these later issues).

To confuse matters even more there also appears to be a Girl monthly as well at some stage. The latest issue I have of Girl that is of interest to me (i.e. has Patty's World) is no 375 dated 16th April 1988 (though the Girl logo has changed by this issue). Does anyone know when this particular run ended? All of these "Girl" publications were published by IPC.

As far as I can make out, the 1980s version of Girl was either relaunched or revamped in 1988 to become more similar in tone to the teenage girls' and pop mags like J17 and Smash Hits. That's probably when Patty's World was dropped, as it was a hangover from the early days when it was primarily a story comic like Tammy or Jinty. The last issue of this 'new' version of Girl appears to have been dated 7 March 1990, after which it was amalgamated into My Guy (although the first issue of My Guy to feature the Girl logo on the cover may have been as late as May – a bit like the three-month delay between Tammy closing and that logo appearing on the cover of Girl back in 1984). My Guy eventually closed in 2000, but I don't think any of the original Girl stories ever appeared in it. Hope that helps a bit…

Thanks for the info, Desne. I think that the 16th April 1988 issue of Girl must be almost near the end of that particular run, as I think (if my calculations are right) the 3rd run must've started in around May 1988, when Patty's World was dropped.

It is amazing that Patty went on for so long and managed to survive so many mergers of publications over the years. A deservedly popular creation with beautiful detailed art work.

I'd imagine that Patty's popularity in other countries gave IPC a strong incentive to keep producing new stories for as long as possible (though DC Thomson's experience with their own Wendy title has proved that a series can generate income without publishing a UK version at all).

Does anyone know when the original scripter Philip Douglas died by the way? Maybe this was the point at which IPC finally decided to call it a day, giving permission for the strip to be taken over by a Spanish writer and editorial team instead (...or did the English-language version continue to appear for a while beyond this point?).

- Phil Rushton

Philip died in the early nineties (1992 I think). This has nothing to do with Glénat publishing the stories in Spain again as Purita got now all the copyrights to her name. Patty's end in the UK was due to the editorial decission by IPC to sell his comic part to DC I think. In fact, there are many pages that Purita had already done and were never published in the UK and now will be printed for the first time in Spain.
As for the Spanish new writer (Carlos Portela) he's only responsible for the New Adventures of Patty.
Hellbels, I can get you a copy of the three books next time I go to Spain (it will be soon as I probably have to go to sort out some graphic aspects of my upcoming book on Patty's World precisely. As you know, Patty now is thirty-something with a 13 year old girl and separated from her husband (David), which she knew in College. She became a nurse while Juanito married to sometone else (hehe, someone from the original characters) and became the Chelsea coach.

Hi Ruth, thanks very much for the offer of getting the Patty books- just let me know when you are getting them and how much I need to send you.
By the sound of your post, does Johnny end up with Doreen Snyder? How awful!! Your upcoming book about Patty intrigues me - will it be widely available when it comes out? Good luck with completing the book, it all sounds really exciting and I hope it goes well for you.

Hi Helen! The book is finished and ready to go into all the editing process. Purita has to do a cover and there will be loads of illustrations inside. To tell you the truth this is the first forum I have said it publicly, I still didn't say anything in Patty's Forum because I want it to be a surprise later on, maybe next month or so. I don't want them asking me questions for months! XDD
No, Johnny doesn't end up with Doreen, I don't know how much I should say without giving away much of the plot, but he marries Fenella Lord and she is very very sick... Doreen now pretends to be Patty's best friend and works in the hospital as well.
And do not worry about money!

Wow, very shocked about the development with Johnny and Fenella!! What an exclusive for comics UK! I can't wait to see the book, sounds fanatastic. Also thanks again re the Patty books.

I think I need a Spanish-English dictionary

So by the way....

How many of these Girl were published? 377?

I reckon you must be right, Ruth. As I said before the latest issue of Girl I had was no 375 and the Patty's World story was still continuing. If there were 377 issues that would have taken it to the end of April 1988 so the last version of Girl probably began in May 1988.

Thanks!

Ruth - thank you so much for the Patty book, it arrived today! It's a lovely book and I've even attempted reading it (I haven't read Spanish since school many years ago!). I'm thrilled that Purita has signed it, too. Muchas gracias!

Glad you got it!!!
Purita was really thrilled to know she had fans still in UK.