LEO BAXENDALE'S 'A VERY FUNNY BUSINESS'...

Images copyright relevant owner

Here's a book that everyone should read, although lovers of comics fortunate enough to have grown up any time during the '50s, '60s & '70s will be particularly able to relate to it.  To those too young to have experienced the times first-hand, this engrossing tome will still manage to conjure up images of a long-vanished era when there were more weekly periodicals for children on sale in British newsagents than you could shake a stick at.

It tells the story of LEO BAXENDALE's humble beginnings as an aspiring cartoonist, and his ultimate triumph as one of Britain's pre-eminent contributors to the U.K. comics scene - arguably 'the' pre-eminent contributor. He shone at D.C. THOMSON's (where perhaps the only strip artist held in greater esteem was DUDLEY D. WATKINS) and then led the charge against his erstwhile employers by creating a 'Super BEANO' for ODHAMS, although, sadly, the comic (WHAM!) managed to survive for only three and a half too-short years.

From The Beano, dated 21st June 1958

Next was IPC/FLEETWAY, where again he stood almost atop the heap - until he decided to quit comics due to his dissatisfaction at not being paid for reprints of his earlier work.  What should have happened next is an unending line of hilarious WILLY The KID Annuals, but alas, 'twas not to be; after only three books, his contract with DUCKWORTH's was not renewed and, as far as mainstream comics were concerned, he languished in limbo, only known through occasional reprints of his earlier comics work and other artists emulating his style.

Simply put, this is a great book and, as I said, if you were a youngster in the times Baxendale re-creates in startling clarity through his rigorously-recalled reminiscences, this is a 'must-read' for you.  I got my copy back in 1978 in GRANT'S Bookshop in Glasgow, but one thing I regret doing at the time is purchasing the softcover edition instead of the hardcover volume.  (I really should've bought both!)

Nevertheless, if you're a comics fan of yesteryear, or an admirer of the man who helped change the face of traditional British comics forever, then you should get straight onto eBay and see if you can track down a copy.

    

PART FOUR Of JOHN BYRNE'S FANTASTIC FOUR - COVER GALLERY...

Images copyright MARVEL COMICS

Right, let's not waste a second - there are ten lovely FANTASTIC FOUR covers to be savoured, so let's get straight into them.  If you have any favourites, don't be shy about telling your fellow Criv-ites all about them in the comments section.