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

The new Dandy: Who Did What, then?

Following up on yesterday's post about the new Dandy, editor Craig Graham has kindly taken time out of his busy schedule to give fans a run down of the creative team behind the brilliant revamp revealed in Issue 3508, which sees Harry Hill now fronting the back-to-weekly frequency comic along with a cover price drop to £1.50.

• Nigel Parkinson is drawing Harry Hill, The Phantom Pharter, Little Simon and chief Harry-knowing comics nut.He began working in comics back in 1980, and started working on The Dandy in 1982 and The Beano in 1997, on strips such as Bea and Ivy the Terrible. He's also occasionally drawn The Bash Street Kids.

"His contribution has been incalculable - and should be applauded to the hills," says Craig.

• Jamie Smart draws Desperate Dan, Pre-Skool Prime Minister, and created the new comic's the Style Guide. "Jamie's been a part of The Dandy for six years now, and when we came to set up the style guide, Jamie's name was first on our list. He was also author of a remarkable email to me which coincided, in emotion and timing, with the initial proposal for these changes."

• Wayne Thompson draws The Mighty Bork, Pepperoni Pig, Shao Lin Punks, Bananaman and Noel or No Noel -- "a remarkable artist and friend." Wayne also drew Billy Whizz for The Beano (now drawn by Nick Brennan). Wayne had been drawing Agent Dog 2-Zero for Dandy Xtreme as well as Jak.

• Lew Stringer draws Postman Prat and Kid Cops. "Lew's a long-time champion of comics, artist and one of the first names on the list of new artists we hoped to get on board," notes Craig. downthetubes fans will know him for his work on TOXIC and as creator of Combat Colin for Marvel UK.

• Nigel Auchterlounie draws The Bogies (which were created by Mark Greenbaum and Paul Kell) and Professor Dandy. "He's a great writer, artist and ideas man. Look out for much much more from Nigel in The Dandy. He's also an early morning Sky TV superstar!"

• Duncan Scott draws Simples! 101 Ways to Use a Meerkat, Count Snotula and What's In Cheryl's Hair Today?. "There really will be 101 Meerkat episodes!" Craig assures us, "but not so many of Cheryl's Hair. He's a top guy and great artist." Duncan has also worked for Hallmark Cards and The Beano (drawing strips such as The Neds) and TV Times.

• David Mostyn who has been drawing comics for 40 years and says he likes cats and red wine, draws Dr. Doctor. "David is supremely talented as a children's book illustrator and also a past Dandy artist," Craig notes. "It's a huge pleasure to have him onboard again, and you can all look forward to some absolutely top-notch work from him in the near future." (You can follow David on Twitter)

• Chris McGhie draws iDad. "Chris is very busy with things far more important than comics, but he always finds the time to help us out," says Craig. He previously drew Bananaman for the comic.

• Alexander Matthews draws Robot on the Run. "Alexander is well-known in more grown-up cartooning circles, but new, I believe, to kids' comics," Craig reveals. Robot on the Run is, in fact, a serial, and it's a good 'un!" Alexander has drawn cartoons for The Guardian, Private Eye and many more magazines.

• Andy Fanton draws George vs. Dragon. "Andy's a friend of Jamie's, recommended by him, and one of the first new artists we found for The Dandy. He's doing more stuff as we speak.

• Phil Corbett draws longtime Dandy favourite Korky the Cat, who Craig admits wasn't coming back until Phil and staff artist Chris combined their energies to fight his corner. "It turns out it was good enough to make the cover, so what do I know?!"

"Drawing Korky means a lot to me as I grew up on comics," says Phil in a blog post. "Korky was always one of my favourites and who would ever have thought I would get to be working with him.

"It's a real treat to be bringing back a character with such a history after his couple of years off - I believe he was away travelling - and hats of to the Dandy people for letting me change him so much."

• Garry Davies draws TV Teaser. "Gary's a great guy. It's a simple idea and kids love it. What more do you want?"

Behind the scenes, Craig also gives a tip off the hat to Dandy office staff Michelle, Ally, Katy, Mark and Chris. "Their efforts have been unstinting," he enthuses, "even when putting together Dandy Xtreme and working on this project."

Initial reaction to the revamp is very positive, Criag revealed over on ComicsUK yesterday. "A lot of research, experience and plain hard work has gone into it since we kicked the project off," he says, "and its success as a comic is all down to its contributors, whether freelance or DCT-employed."

• The first issue of the new look weekly Dandy is officially on sale on now

Web Links

• Official Dandy web site: www.dandy.com
• The Dandy on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dandy/121479097908918
• Follow The Dandy on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DandyComic

• DC Thomson Artists on Kelly's Comics

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.