Comic Football bounces back, looking for creators

We've got some good news about Comic Football, the national subscription-only comic that recently informed subscribers it had been cancelled.

It seems that this is only part of the story - the comic will return later this year, but in a new, free online format.

Because of this change of direction, Hinckley-based publishers Comic Football Ltd. stopped taking and have refunded subscriptions for the national version of the comic. It's hoped the digital re-launch as a web comic with a brand new site will happen before Christmas.

The new web comic will be constantly updated and free, hence no subscriptions. There's also iPad, Android and Kindle apps in the pipeline, but more about that when it happens.

The bottom line for the company is that it's responding to the fast-changing world of publishing, particularly as the move to digital platforms gathers pace. New technologies means the market is changing and nobody is quite sure how to launch a comic these days - or even re-launch one, it seems, in some cases.

"They've tried it one way, now they're going to try it another way, and they'll keep on trying until they hit on a sustainable market model," an insider told us.

In the meantime, the company's activities producing comics for individual football clubs - their core business - is going very well. They just signed up with Celtic and Doncaster Rovers, and already deliver publications for Manchester City, Newcastle, Stoke City, Wolves, Wigan, Derby County and Aston Villa, with more in the pipeline.

The company's main activities are bespoke comics for junior fans, featuring the club's mascot, club-based comic strips, player or match strips and packed full of features, aiming to be a comic tailored uniquely for a team's junior membership, acting as a marketing and promotional product, or as a retail product for club shops ... or even made available through the local news trade.

Alongside dedicated club features, Club Football also offers a catalogue of great characters that can be featured in the comics, aiming to help clubs capture the next generation of fans and give them something exciting in return.

Their work is being well received, too. "Comic Football has offered us innovative and well-crafted content that has lit up the junior section of our award-winning Manchester City programme," says Ian Guildford from Ignition Publications.

We're also told they're still on the lookout for artists, so submissions are welcome.

• Creators should send reasonably-sized samples to peteATcomicfootball.co.uk or by post to Comic Football Ltd., 12, Darley Abbey Mills, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1DZ

• Official web site: www.comicfootball.co.uk

Comic Football launches as subscription-only comic

Hinckley-based publishers Comc Football Ltd. have just launched a subscription-only title - also called Comic Football - featuring strips by artists such as Karl Dixon, Nick Brennan and Duncan Scott.

The 32-page title is the latest venture for Pete Wildrianne and Clive Ward, who have been creating football comics such as Rammie, sold at the Derby County matches (see 2008 news story) which have had limited distribution to newsagents.

Comic Football is a more general purpose football comic and is only available at present by subscription.

"We are looking at other outlet opportunities though not the conventional news trade route at the moment" Comic Football director Pete Wildrianne, who is responsible for the sales, marketing and promotion of the company, told Lew Stringer for Blimey! It's Another Blog About Comics. "We launched at the Grass Roots show at the NEC last weekend, and distributed about 4000 comics to kids and parents."

Pete Wildrianne

Wildrianne says that although the title is subscription only at present, they're hoping to wholesale the comic to local junior football clubs, who can sell it to their players and the profit goes to funding grass roots football.

"This is receiving a lot of interest, and we are exhibiting at two further major shows this month which target junior managers, coaches etc.," says Pete. "We have also linked up with a company who provide fundraising nights for clubs, and another company who hold events across the country promoting street football."

A subscription to  Comic Football costs  £9.99 for six months (six issues) or 12 months for £19.50.

• Download a sample issue from www.comicfootball.co.uk

New Football Comic Launches

Rammie, the first issue of an all-new football humour comic for children will go on sale in UK newsagents tomorrow (26th November) featuring work by Duncan Scott, Nick Brennan, Nick Miller, Lee Healey, and Lew Stringer.

With a cover price of £1.95, the comic is the brainchild of Pete Wildrianne and Clive Ward of Comic Football and is produced in association with Derby County football club -- hence the name. Comic Football hope other football clubs will sponsor their own version of the comic (with an appropriate title for each version), with specific content for each club and copies available at their grounds.

The line up of comic creators on the title is impressive. downthetubes readers should already be familiar with Nick Miller, co-creator of The Really Heavy Greatcoat, which features on downthetubes and in Comics International but who has worked in comics since the 1980s on a wide range of titles. Lee Healey is the co-creator of the highly acclaimed Drunken Bakers for Viz, and creator of strips such as Sporting Swine.. Nick Brennan has been working in comics for almost 20 years, and like Duncan Scott, his credits including strips for The Beano, while Lew Stringer has surely drawn strips for pretty much every humour comic published in several years, but whose latest Beano strip, Super School, is proving a runaway hit with its readers.

"Three further issues will follow in February, April and June 2009," Pete Wildrianne says. "Derby County are purchasing a quantity to sell in various outlets, as well as giving [about 3000] copies to their junior club members."

The comic is being distributed wholesale through the news trade with Smiths News and Club Fottball are exploring further direct sales opportunities.

"Cynics who claim there is no longer a British comics industry should consider that recent months have seen the launch of comics with all-new content such as The DFC, Marvel Heroes, and now Rammie," comments contributor Lew Stringer on his blog, "not to mention additions to the Classical Comics line and the publication of Bulletproof No.2. They thought it was all over... but it isn't now!"

• Official Comic Football Site: www.comicfootball.co.uk
• 29/11/08 Update: Please note: Duncan Scott does not feature in this first issue.