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| The 1st issue of Monster Fun |
MONSTER FUN COMIC was released on June 7th, 1975 (dated the 14th) and heralded the start of renowned creator LEO BAXENDALE's swan-song in British comics, with his series of BADTIME BEDTIME STORYBOOKS being given the entire centrespread of the weekly comic. (Other artists also contributed from time to time.) After this, he would go on to create his 3 volume WILLY The KID run before fading from high-profile comics consciousness - his madcap, anarchic drawing style being kept alive by the likes of artists TOM PATERSON and Leo's son MARTIN.
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(FRANKIE STEIN, who'd first appeared back in 1964 in the fourth issue of WHAM! illustrated by the legendary KEN REID, was the comic's figurehead editor, an obvious choice given its 'comedy-horror' theme. He was 'resurrected' in 1973 in SHIVER & SHAKE, this time drawn by the amazingly prolific ROBERT NIXON, before moving over to WHOOPEE in 1974 when S&S was merged into it.)
Sadly, Monster Fun comic lasted for only 73 regular issues before being merged with BUSTER in October, 1976. By that time, however, Leo's Willy The Kid was about to explode onto an unsuspecting British public. Here, then, is the first of Leo's last weekly comics output - enjoy. And be sure to visit his website by clicking on the link in the right-hand side (from your point of view) column.
Ah, Monster Fun! I loved that comic back in the day. I was 8 years old and the blend of monsters and humour suited me down to the ground. I didn't keep the actual comics but I did pull out some of the ( wonderful ) Badtime Bedtime Storybooks, which I've still got somewhere. The Mr. Punch story in particular always gave me the creeps...
ReplyDeleteYup. It should've lasted a lot longer than it did.
ReplyDeleteI was really disappointed when I found out that a lot of the stuff I thought Leo Baxendale was responsible for was actually ghosted by Tom Paterson, Dave Sutherland, Jim Petrie and Mike Brown.
ReplyDeleteShows you how good they were to be able to fool you. Imagine...most people from over the last 30-odd years nowadays would think a Leo Baxendale page was by Tom Paterson. He's become so associated with Bax's style, people think it's his. He does a great job with it 'though.
ReplyDeleteGraham Allen was another artist with a Bax-ish style.
ReplyDelete