The above note is from famed comics collector and historian, the late
DENIS GIFFORD, to BRYON WHITWORTH, publisher and editor of The ILLUSTRATED COMIC JOURNAL way back in 1995. It concerns the cover to issue #29, which I'd cobbled together utilising a TERRY WAKEFIELD illustration (and some colour pencils), along with a new logo which I had designed, lettered and drawn.
Denis was the world's worst typist (as you can see from the examples displayed on this page), so it was a bit rich of him to upbraid Bryon for the typos in the ICJ. However, he was totally correct about them being Bryon's weakest point. It didn't seem to matter how many corrections I made when proofreading the articles, as Bryon always managed to restore most of the mistakes - and add a few more - when I sent everything back to him.
(In fact, that's why I eventually ceased my involvement with the title - I just couldn't justify all the hours of work I put in when the results weren't making it into print. Being a perfectionist, I found it far too frustrating.)
Denis was much taken with the logo, especially as it featured his STEADFAST McSTAUNCH character from WHIZZER & CHIPS, and in due course I received the following letter from him.
Steadfast McStaunch (along with GINGER'S TUM and HARRY'S HAUNTED HOUSE) had been my favourite strip in Whizzer & Chips, so it's extremely satisfying to know that my humble handiwork met with his approval. Unfortunately, I never got to meet up with Dennis down in London, but just to know that such an esteemed comics stalwart thought so highly of my logo is immensely rewarding and is a recognition I'll always treasure.
Here, for your perusal, are the other four ICJ covers which I lettered, retouched, enhanced and sweated over when putting them together. Also included is the back cover of issue #29, which featured the first published appearance of my KEVIN And His TALKING SOCKS strip. It was drawn close to 30 years ago (1985/'86), so please be kind.
I should perhaps also point out that the variable quality of reproduction is unconnected to how the images were scanned, but instead reflects how they were originally printed. Bryon ran each copy off on his own colour photocopier, hence some colour inconsistencies from time to time.
For another Denis Gifford letter, click
here.
