Comical comics
Comical comics |
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Page 10 of 34  Cover, Mickey Mouse Weekly (Willbank, 1937). Art/script: Anon. A rare example of a British comic with an American theme, and the first in full-colour photogravure. If the entry of DC Thomson into the industry improved comics, it did not improve staff conditions. Pay for creators continued to be calculated by the page, with no royalty and no control over characters. They were not allowed to sign work, ostensibly because then a child could see it was a drawing, but in practice because anonymity was in the publisher's interests and preempted notions of bargaining power. Moreover, DC Thomson had a non-union policy dating back to the General Strike of 1926. So, if anything, the company developed a reputation worse than Amalgamated Press. Nevertheless, DC Thomson's influence was far-reaching, and following the success of The Beano and The Dandy, a comics circulation war was initiated, the likes of which had not been seen since Harmsworth first took on Ally Sloper. The Amalgamated Press struck first with Knock-Out (1939), starring Billy Bunter, 'the fattest schoolboy in the world'. However, DC Thomson soon hit back with Topper (1953) and The Beezer (1956), both of which featured superb work by Baxendale. All were big sellers. |