List of British comic strips

The following is a list of British Comic Strips. A comic strip is a sequence of drawings arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often serialized, with text in balloons and captions.

The coloured backgrounds denote the publisher:

  – indicates D. C. Thomson.
  – indicates AP, Fleetway and IPC Comics.
  – indicates Viz.
  – indicates a strip published in a newspaper.
Strip Publication(s) Dates Notes
The 12½p Buytonic Boy Krazy, Whizzer and Chips 1976 - 1986
Ace Trucking Co. 2000 AD 1981 - 1986
Addie and Hermy The Dandy 1940s
Alex London Daily News, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph 1987 -
Andy Capp[1] Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror 1957 -
AXA The Sun 1978 - 1986
Beat Your Neighbour Knockout,[2] Whizzer and Chips 1971
Beau Peep Daily Star 1978 -
Beelzebub Jones Daily Mirror 1937 - 1945
Belinda Daily Mirror 1936 - 1959
Beryl the Peril[3] The Topper 1953 -
Bessie Bunter The Schoolgirl 1919 - 1949
Biff[4] The Guardian 1985 -
Biffa Bacon Viz
Biffo the Bear The Beano 1948 - 1986
Big Vern Viz
Billy Bunter The Magnet, Knockout, The Comet 1908 - 1958
Billy's Boots[5] Tiger, Scorcher, Eagle, Roy of the Rovers 1961 - ?
Billy the Bee Evening Standard 1950s
Billy the Fish Viz
Billy Whizz The Beano 1964 -
Birdman and Chicken Krazy
Black Bag Viz
Bobby Bear Daily Herald 1919 - ?
Bobby's Ghoul Whizzer and Chips, Buster
Bookworm Whoopee!, Whizzer and Chips
Brickman Harrier Comics 1979 - 2009
Bristow Aberdeen Press & Journal, Birmingham Evening Mail 1961 - 2010 [6]
Brown Bottle Viz
Buck Ryan Daily Mirror 1937 - 1962
The Bumpkin Billionaires Whoopee!, Whizzer and Chips, Buster 1974 - 2000
Buster Capp Buster
Buster Gonad Viz
Cannonball Kid Nutty 1980 - 1985
Captain Biplane
Captain Morgan and his Hammond Organ Viz
Captain Star NME, The Observer
Celeb Private Eye
Charley's War Battle Picture Weekly 1979 - 1985
Charlie Peace Valiant, Buster 1964 - 1974
Clare in the Community The Guardian
Cliff Hanger Buster 1983 - 1999
The Cloggies Private Eye, The Listener 1967 - 1986
Cockney Wanker Viz
Colonel Pewter
Countdown Countdown (Polystyle Publications) 1971 - 1973
The Crimson Ball The Dandy 1963–1964
The Critics Viz
Dan Dare Eagle 1950 - 1994
Dangerous Dan The Beano 2011
Dennis the Menace The Beano 1951 -
Desert Island Teacher Viz
Desperate Dan The Dandy 1937 -
Dirty Dick The Dandy 1960s
Doctor Poo Viz
Doomlord Eagle 1982 - 1991
Dredger Action 1976 - 1978[7]
Drunken Bakers Viz
Eight Ace Viz
Em The London Paper, The Sun 2006 - 2010
Ernie Eagle 1982 - 1983
Emperor of the Daleks Doctor Who Magazine 1993
Faceache Jet, Buster 1971 - 1988
Farmageddon Hartlepool Mail 1992 - 1994
Farmer Palmer Viz
The Fat Slags Viz 1989 -
Felix and his Amazing Underpants Viz
Ferdinand the Foodie Viz
Finbarr Saunders Viz
Fishboy Buster 1968 - 1975
Flook Daily Mail 1949 - 1984
The Fosdyke Saga Daily Mirror 1971 - 1985
Fred Basset Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday 1963 -
Fru T. Bunn Viz
Fuss Pot Knockout, Whizzer and Chips, Buster 1971 - 2000
The Gambols Daily Express, The Mail on Sunday 1950 -
Garth Daily Mirror 1943 - 1997
Genius The Observer 1978 - 1983
George Bestial Viz
Gilbert Ratchet Viz 1990 - ?
Grassy Knollington Viz
Great Pop Things Record Mirror, NME
Grimbledon Down New Scientist 1970 - 1994
Grimly Feendish Wham!, Smash! 1964 - ?
Harlem Heroes 2000 AD
Harold's Planet Online, Financial Times, The Scotsman 1998 -
Hellman of Hammer Force Action 1976 - 1978[8]
The House of Dolmann Valiant 1966 - 1973
If... The Guardian 1981 -
Ivan Jelical Viz
Ivor Lott and Tony Broke Cor!!, Buster
Jack Black Viz
James Bond Daily Express, The Sunday Times 1958 - 1983
Jane Daily Mirror 1932 - 1959
Japhet and Happy The Daily News, News Chronicle 1919 - ?
Jeff Hawke Daily Express 1955 - 1974
Jet-Ace Logan The Comet, Tiger, Thriller Picture Library 1956 - 1972
Joe Soap Eagle 1982 - 1983
Johnny Fartpants Viz
Joker Knockout, Whizzer and Chips 1971 - 2000
Judge Dredd 2000 AD, Judge Dredd Megazine 1977 -
Junior Rotter Whizzer and Chips, Buster
Just Jake Daily Mirror 1938 - 1952
Karenni the Minx Viz
Kewl Chix Viz
Kid Chameleon Cor!! 1970 - 1972
Laurie Driver Viz
Lazy Bones Whizzer and Chips 1978 - ?
The Leopard from Lime Street Buster 1976 - 1985
Leviathan The Independent on Sunday 1990s
Lost Consonants The Guardian, The Observer
Luck of the Legion Eagle 1952 - 1961
Luvvie Darling Viz
Major Misunderstanding Viz
Master Mind Buster 1980 - 1983
Maxwell the Magic Cat Northants Post 1979 - 1986 Written by Alan Moore under a pseudonym.
Memory Banks Whizzer and Chips, Buster
Mickey the Monkey The Topper 1953 - 1970s
Mickey's Miniature Grandpa Viz
Mickey's Monkey Spunk Moped Viz 1993 - 2010
Millie Tant Viz
The Modern Parents Viz
Modesty Blaise Evening Standard, Evening Citizen, Modesty Blaise Quarterly 1963 - 2002
Mr Logic Viz
Mrs Brady the Old Lady Viz
Mummy's Boy Monster Fun, Buster
Mustapha Million Cheeky Weekly, Whoopee!, Whizzer and Chips 1977 - 1990
Nobby's Piles Viz
Norbert Colon Viz
Odd Ball Whizzer and Chips, Buster
Ogri Bike, Back Street Heroes 1970s -
Ollie and Quentin 2002 - 2011
Oojah Daily Sketch 1919 - 1958
One-Eyed Jack Action 1975 - 1977[9]
Orson Cart Viz
Pathetic Sharks Viz
Paul Whicker Viz
The Perishers Daily Mirror 1959 - 2006 ( re-prints from 2010 -)
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred Sunday Pictorial, Daily Mirror 1919 - 1956
Pirates of the Caribeano The Beano 2006 - 2009
Postman Plod Viz
The Purple Cloud The Dandy 1961 (re-run 1968–1969)
Queens Counsel The Times 1993 -
Raffles, Gentleman Thug Viz
Rat Boy Viz
Rob Riley Ranger, Look and Learn
Robot Archie Lion 1952 - 1974
Rogan Gosh Revolver 1990
Roger Irrelevant Viz
Roger Mellie Viz
Romeo Brown Daily Mirror 1954 - 1963
Roy of the Rovers Tiger, Roy of the Rovers (comic) 1954 - 1995
Rupert Bear Daily Express 1920 -
Scarth A.D. 2195 The Sun
School Belle School Fun, Buster 1983 - 2000
The Seekers Daily Sketch 1966 - 1971
Sexton Blake Halfpenny Marvel, Union Jack (magazine), Detective Weekly,
The Boys' Friend, Penny Pictorial, The Sexton Blake Library,
Knockout, Valiant, Tornado
1893 - 1979
Sid's Snake Whizzer and Chips 1969 - 2000
Sid the Sexist Viz
The Silent Three School Friend 1950 - 1963
Skid Kidd Buster
Spider Lion, Vulcan 1965 - 1971
Steel Claw Valiant 1962 - 1973
Store Wars Whizzer and Chips
Striker The Sun, Nuts 1985 - 2010
Strontium Dog Starlord, 2000 AD 1978–present
Student Grant Viz
Suburban Satanists Geek, Herman Hedning 1997 -
Suicidal Syd Viz
The Suicide Six Tiger
Super School The Beano 2008 -
Sweary Mary Viz 1994 - 1995
Sweeny Toddler Shiver and Shake, Whoopee!, Whizzer and Chips 1973 - 2000
Sweet Tooth Whizzer and Chips 1973 - 2000
Tamara Drewe The Guardian 2005 - 2007
Tasha Slappa Viz
Teddy Tail Daily Mail 1915 - 1960s
Tharg the Mighty 2000 AD 1977 -
The Things Viz
Thrud the Barbarian White Dwarf 1981 - 2007
Tinribs Viz
Toby Twirl 1946 - 1958
Tom Thug Oink!, Buster 1986 - 2000
Tomboy Cor!!, Buster
Tommy "Banana" Johnson Viz
Tranny Magnet Viz 2000 - ?
Tricky Dicky Cor!!
The Trigan Empire Ranger magazine, Look and Learn 1965 - 1982
Tug Transom
Victorian Dad Viz
Vid Kid Buster 1987 - 2000
Warlord Warlord (DC Thomson) 1974 - 1986
Watch Out Beagle's About Buster
Whacky Cor!!, Buster 1970 - 1973
Wicked Willie 1984 -
Wonder Wellies Buster 1983 - 1985
X-Ray Specs Monster Fun, Buster 1975 - 2000
Yankee Dougal Viz

Lesser known British comic strips edit

  • Belinda[10] was modelled after the American Strip Little Orphan Annie was published in the Daily Mirror. It was drawn by Steve Dowling and Tony Royle during the 1930s & 1940s.
  • Billy and Bunny was a long-running comic strip featured in a Scottish Newspaper. They were drawn by James Crighton better known for drawing Korky the Cat for The Dandy comic. Billy was a young boy and Bunny was an anthropomorphised rabbit. Their stories were set in a fantasy fairytale world where they often got up to mischief. There were several annuals from 1922 to 1941 and in 1948 & 1949. Even on the last 1949 Annual, they were still wearing their early 1920s trademark spats and gaiters, a popular male fashion item from decades before. These annuals were all published by John Leng & Co, London
  • Boy meets Girl was started in the Sunday Dispatch in 1940. It was drawn by Rouson and featured amusing ways of boy meeting girl
  • Carol Day was a strip created by painter David Wright, and continued after his death by Kenneth Inns. It was published initially in 1956 in the Daily Mail, but later in 1971, it was in the Sunday Express. Carol was an ex-fashion model and was drawn as being very elegant.
  • Come on Steve Published initially in the Sunday Express in 1936 and transferred to the Sunday Dispatch in 1941. It was drawn by Roland Davies. The character "Steve" was a cart horse name after the British jockey Steve Donoghue. The expression "Come on Steve" was a cheer used by racing fans to encourage Donoghue.
  • Dot and Carrie was introduced as a three-month trial in the London Evening Standard at the end of 1922. It transferred to the London Evening News on 18 October 1960, finally ceasing on 23 May 1964. its author was J F Horrabin. Dot and Carrie were secretaries in an office under a Mr Spillikin.
  • Eb and Flo were drawn by Wilfred Haughton[11] who also drew the Mickey Mouse Annuals from 1931 to 1939 and the Mickey Mouse Weekly comic covers as well as the Bobby Bear annuals in the 1930s. Haughton first drew this cartoon strip for The Daily Herald before his 1930s Disney work. It was about two Negro orphans, Ebenezer and Florence, who acted as parents to the unnamed Twins. Also featured were Timothy - a school pal, Uncles Joe and Desmond, Auntie Kate, Gran'pa and their pup, Sausage. There was a later annual published in 1939 (as dated by a 1939 inscription as found in a copy) by Deans called Eb' and Flo' annual which featured stories and reprinted cartoon strips all in a similar style to the Mickey Mouse Annuals. From their initial appearance in the late 1920s, an enamelled badge[12] shows Eb and Flo were the characters related to the 'Cheery Coons Club' for the Sunday People newspaper in the early 1930s.
  • Flint of the Flying Squad was published in the Daily Express, starting in 1952. It was written by Alan Stranks and drawn by George Davies. The characters were used on a BBC Radio Home Service series in 1952, starring Bruce Seton, Mary Mackenzie & Norman Claridge. This used the same title
  • Jimpy was drawn by Hugh McClelland (cartoonist). It started in the Daily Mirror on 5 January 1946 and lasted for six years. Set in medieval times the main character was a youth trying to become an apprentice wizard. Selection of title frames
  • The Larks drawn by Jack Dunkley in the Daily Mirror, it was first seen on 5 August 1957.
  • Lord God Almighty by Steve Bell appeared in The Leveller in the 1970s
  • The Nipper started during 1933 in the Daily Mail and was drawn by Brian White (cartoonist). An annual was produced for many years. The nipper was a child of about 2 years age, who was able to get into the mischief of children of that age [1]. It should not be confused with the Canadian comic strip by Doug Wright about a similar child, but about 4 years old, and in a Canadian suburban setting.
  • Paul Temple a strip based on Francis Durbridge's radio detective started in the London Evening News 19 November 1951 and lasted over twenty years, The graphics were by Alfred Sindall.
  • Penny by George Davies appeared in the Sunday Pictorial during the 1940s and 1950s. The strip is featured in the film Penny and the Pownall Case (1948).
  • Psycops. A strip that appeared in The Sun between 1994 and 1999. Written by Pete Nash (Striker) and illustrated by Nash, John Cooper and John M Burns.
  • Sporting Sam was thirty years from 1944 in the Sunday Express. It was produced by Reg Wootton.
  • Spotlight on Sally by Arthur Ferrier appeared in the News of the World at the end of World War II. It was contemporary and competed with the strip Jane.
  • Tim, Toots & Teeny' were a cartoon strip in the Daily Chronicle newspaper from at least 1929, and there were several annuals issued starting in 1930 to at least 1937, as the undated 1931 to 1938 Annuals inclusive. These annuals were published by George Newnes of London, and feature Tim (a cat), Toots (a pig) and Tiny (a duck). The first 1931 Annual states 'A Whole Year Of Adventure with the Famous Pets'. No artist or linked newspaper name is mentioned in these annuals, leaving them remaining unknown until two Christmas and Birthday postcards revealed their origins. A copy of the 1934 annual was found in the printer's archives, Jarrold & Sons Ltd, Norwich, stamped 'Jarrolds Factory Book Dept.' To identify the set of eight Tim Toots & Teeny Annual books, 1931 Orange Car, 1932 Leapfrog, 1933 Train, 1934 Bicycle, 1935 Toy Plane, 1936 River Boat, 1937 Treehouse & 1938 Fairground are the front covers.
  • Varoomshka by John Kent[13] appeared in The Guardian in the 1970s.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Home town gains Andy Capp statue". BBC News. 28 June 2007. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  2. ^ "26Pigs.com : UK Comics : Knockout". Archived from the original on 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2010-02-27.
  3. ^ (July 21, 2008). "I was the inspiration for Beryl the Peril, reveals gran," Daily Record.
  4. ^ Guardian retrospective, accessed 26 April 2008
  5. ^ Honeyball, Lee (2003-11-30). "The 10 best comic book footballers". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2007-01-19.
  6. ^ "Frank Dickens".
  7. ^ "Inside Action: Dredger". 22 August 2016.
  8. ^ "Inside Action: Hellman of Hammer Force". 22 August 2016.
  9. ^ "Exclusive: Rebellion returns John Wagner's One-Eyed Jack to duty in first Fleetway archive collection". 16 November 2016.
  10. ^ Perry, George and Aldridge, Alan. The Penguin Book of Comics (Penguin, 1967)
  11. ^ "Eb and Flo comic strip".
  12. ^ "Eb and Flo badge".
  13. ^ McNay, Michael (19 April 2003). "Obituary: John Kent". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-02-12.