The Last Great British Comic

[jim244]

This may be controversial to some but perhaps not,I'm uncertain.
In my opinion the great British comic book ended in the last century.
Feel free to disagree.
No poll but what in your opinion was the last great British comic?
Or do you believe that such still exist today?
Just be interested in hearing everyones' thoughts on this matter.
For me personally,the only British comics I enjoy today are Commando,2000ad,The Megazine and Dr Who magazine (more of a mag than a comic but it has Lew Stringer).
What does everybody think??
Are there other great comics still being produced nowadays?
And if not.... What was the last produced great British comic????

[stevezodiac]

There was a short lived comic called Meltdown (1990s?). I have a few issues but didn't really read it so can't say if it was great. I'd say Countdown but that was early 70s and there must have been something since then that qualifies.

[Captain underpants]

The last great comic in my opinion was Countdown which was the 70s version of TV21, Action was a very close second ( before it was sanitised) . I know many people think 2000AD is the best comic ever but I always found it hit or miss. Perhaps it’s a age thing I’m in my late 60s but I can’t think of any great comics since the the 1970s . I’m lucky I lived through the golden age of British comics good story’s, art and the occasional trill of a often naff free gift . I also had fun hunting what is now know as the silver age of American comics to get my fix of superhero full colour comics . Last minute comic to get a bronze medal was look-in , I could fill this with good comics eg Victor, Eagle etc all fun escape reads. I’m gonna sit in the garden later enjoying the late summer sun reading my copy of volume 2 of the comic anthology of UFO .

[stevezodiac]

Captain Underpants - reading a previous topic I see you have issue 14 of Super DC. Can you confirm that as I'd be pleased to know it actually exists. Did you manage to acquire issue 13?

[jim244]

While I agree that Countdown was an excellent comic,I don't personally see it as the last great British comic.
After Countdown we had Action,Bullet,Cheeky Weekly,Misty,Monster Fun,Roy of the Rovers,Speed,Starblazer,Warlord..........
I think the seventies was a great decade for comics.
As for 2000ad,I think it is wonderful that it still exists and that the first 200 issues are comic gold.
So my vote for last great British comic goes to Starlord (1978).
But ultimatelly,I think when The Hotspur finally closed down in 1981,that was the end of British comics.
That was the day the music died.

[Captain underpants]

Captain Underpants - reading a previous topic I see you have issue 14 of Super DC. Can you confirm that as I'd be pleased to know it actually exists. Did you manage to acquire issue 13?

Good morning
Yes I can confirm that I have a copy of issue 14 of super Dc comic , unfortunately I’m still on the hunt for issue 13 , one day a reasonable priced copy will turn up. I can remember when the comic first come out I was Able to buy the first 5 or 6 issues then none of the newsagents in my seaside town stocked the comic any more , I remember the same happened with Solo and many other comic’s. But plenty of spinner racks full of mostly American DC comics so I was never short of my comic fix.

[davidandrewsimpson]

Everybody seems to be thinking of old-fashioned weekly anthology comics, like the ones we read when we were young. By that measure we're down to The Phoenix, 2000AD, The Beano, and possibly The Megazine and Commando. However, if one looks at the broad field of comics Britain continues to produce great comics in many formats, and will continue to do so long after I'm dust.

[jim244]

Everybody seems to be thinking of old-fashioned weekly anthology comics, like the ones we read when we were young. By that measure we're down to The Phoenix, 2000AD, The Beano, and possibly The Megazine and Commando. However, if one looks at the broad field of comics Britain continues to produce great comics in many formats, and will continue to do so long after I'm dust.

Yes David, I agree and in my original post should have perhaps been clearer.
I was referrring to what I personally view as "the great British comic",ie a paper based periodical anthology of more than one story with art and text.

[jim244]

As for your 5 examples, personally I would not include The Phoenix (as it is more specialist than general);The Beano (as in my opinion it is no longer the much loved comic that we all grew up with and an embarrassment to the great DC Thompson) nor The Megazine as while I love that mag,it is a derivative of 2000AD.
However yes to 2000ad and Commando.
Please do not be offended by my words, simply my opinion and not fact, just subjective.

[SID]

For me, the Last British Comic will always be 2000 AD.

But ignoring that, I would opt for Eagle (1982) as it was the last anthology comic of the 50s/60s/70s/80s era - to me the golden days of the British comic.

Yes, there's Commando but it isn't an anthology and, I felt, apart from the comic gang. I must admit though, I do love the issues that feature vintage DCT characters.

[jim244]

For me, the Last British Comic will always be 2000 AD.

But ignoring that, I would opt for Eagle (1982) as it was the last anthology comic of the 50s/60s/70s/80s era - to me the golden days of the British comic.

Yes, there's Commando but it isn't an anthology and, I felt, apart from the comic gang. I must admit though, I do love the issues that feature vintage DCT characters.

Great choice SID but I would argue that The Eagle of the eighties was a continuation of The Eagle from the fifties.
I agree that 2000AD is really the clear winner here but even though Starlord merged with 2000AD ,it was initially independent and was later than 2000AD which is why,in my opinion,Starlord was the last great British comic.
But in general I agree with everything you say.

[starscape]

The 80s Eagle was very different to the original. It had the same name, of course. Similarly, Dan Dare was not the same as the original. He'd already appeared in 2000AD as well, and was later in Revolver of course. In fact, he had more in common with Revolver than either 80s Eagle or 2000AD, although the storytelling was very different.
I find it very difficult to answer the question, as I'm not sure what counts? Knights of Pendragon vol. 1 was terrific but not traditional. The likes of Crisis and Revolver were great but adult in nature. Viz was hilarious and revolutionary but is that a traditional British comic or a pastiche of one? Tornado was after Star*Lord and, IMO, better than Eagle. Buddy much underrated by having that stupid kid on the front cover. Scream was later than them all and cannot be ignored. Then again, we've also got the likes of Wildcat and Oink! Could they be considered great?

[jim244]

The 80s Eagle was very different to the original. It had the same name, of course. Similarly, Dan Dare was not the same as the original. He'd already appeared in 2000AD as well, and was later in Revolver of course. In fact, he had more in common with Revolver than either 80s Eagle or 2000AD, although the storytelling was very different.
I find it very difficult to answer the question, as I'm not sure what counts? Knights of Pendragon vol. 1 was terrific but not traditional. The likes of Crisis and Revolver were great but adult in nature. Viz was hilarious and revolutionary but is that a traditional British comic or a pastiche of one? Tornado was after Star*Lord and, IMO, better than Eagle. Buddy much underrated by having that stupid kid on the front cover. Scream was later than them all and cannot be ignored. Then again, we've also got the likes of Wildcat and Oink! Could they be considered great?

Thanks for your input here Starscape and you make some excellent points.
1) In my opinion (and this is just subjective) ,I wouldn't count Eagle as whilst it was indeed a very different publication it's a continuation of the same title.
2)However...I WOULD certainly count Scream and Tornado.I liked both a lot.My personal preference is for Starlord but if you believe that Tornado/Scream were better then certainly the answer is one of them as both fit the criteria of my original question.

[SID]

For me, the Last British Comic will always be 2000 AD.

But ignoring that, I would opt for Eagle (1982) as it was the last anthology comic of the 50s/60s/70s/80s era - to me the golden days of the British comic.

Yes, there's Commando but it isn't an anthology and, I felt, apart from the comic gang. I must admit though, I do love the issues that feature vintage DCT characters.

Great choice SID but I would argue that The Eagle of the eighties was a continuation of The Eagle from the fifties.
I agree that 2000AD is really the clear winner here but even though Starlord merged with 2000AD ,it was initially independent and was later than 2000AD which is why,in my opinion,Starlord was the last great British comic.
But in general I agree with everything you say.

I can see your logic about the 1980s Eagle being a continuation of the 1950s Eagle but not sure that I would agree.

Rethinking your question though, my choice for the Last British Comic of the last century is Judge Dredd Megazine.

I do think there are a couple of gems from this century. Spaceship Away - although some say a little old fashioned, I do feel it captures the spirit of the 50s comics and I love their strips particularly Dan Dare. However, my personal favourite could have been Strip Magazine. So much potential. A pity that it couldn't overcome its scheduling problems.

Saying all that, I do like some of the modern comics that have come out in the last few years with my favourites being Quantum and This Comic is Haunted. Who's to say that in 10 or so years time, one of them could be The Last Great British Comic?

A great question, Jim.

[jim244]

For me, the Last British Comic will always be 2000 AD.

But ignoring that, I would opt for Eagle (1982) as it was the last anthology comic of the 50s/60s/70s/80s era - to me the golden days of the British comic.

Yes, there's Commando but it isn't an anthology and, I felt, apart from the comic gang. I must admit though, I do love the issues that feature vintage DCT characters.

Great choice SID but I would argue that The Eagle of the eighties was a continuation of The Eagle from the fifties.
I agree that 2000AD is really the clear winner here but even though Starlord merged with 2000AD ,it was initially independent and was later than 2000AD which is why,in my opinion,Starlord was the last great British comic.
But in general I agree with everything you say.

I can see your logic about the 1980s Eagle being a continuation of the 1950s Eagle but not sure that I would agree.

Rethinking your question though, my choice for the Last British Comic of the last century is Judge Dredd Megazine.

I do think there are a couple of gems from this century. Spaceship Away - although some say a little old fashioned, I do feel it captures the spirit of the 50s comics and I love their strips particularly Dan Dare. However, my personal favourite could have been Strip Magazine. So much potential. A pity that it couldn't overcome its scheduling problems.

Saying all that, I do like some of the modern comics that have come out in the last few years with my favourites being Quantum and This Comic is Haunted. Who's to say that in 10 or so years time, one of them could be The Last Great British Comic?

A great question, Jim.

Many thanks Sid for understanding my logic but not necessarily agreeing with it and I completely get your point.
Eagle 2 was so different from the original it should indeed count on its own but I'm just going by my own rules and they can be very pedantic and I freely admit such !

I personally agree with you that The Megazine is absolutely brilliant and perhaps the last great British comic BUT .......
Sorry......Don't hate me....
It's based on 2000AD so I don't think it counts.
As for "This Comic Is Haunted".....It's brilliant !!!! But even the publishers admit it is based on "Scream".
I have bought a few issues from Ebay of "Spaceship Away" and I am a massive Dan Dare fan and believe this is indeed the last great British comic BUT.............
It's based on The strip from the Eagle so my pedantic nature cannot except it !!!!!
As for "Quantum"....I think it's a contender !!!!

All the best Sid