CRIVENS! COMICS & STUFF!: "DOWN IN THE MEADOW WHERE THE WIND BLOWS FREE..." (FOLLYFOOT)

Friday, 8 May 2015

"DOWN IN THE MEADOW WHERE THE WIND BLOWS FREE..." (FOLLYFOOT)

FOLLYFOOT, the TV show, had finished in September of 1973 (though the three series were repeated at regular intervals), but the Annuals (there were five of them) continued until '76, when the one for '77 was published. I don't remember if I ever actually watched the show, other than snippets of the odd episode, but the theme tune is surely burned into the brain of everyone who heard it back in the day. (Sing up at the back there.)

The art in the strip below is interesting, in that it's clearly trying to look like the style of MIKE NOBLE (who drew the strip in LOOK-IN), but isn't entirely consistent. I'd tenuously suggest it could be by JOHN COOPER, but I wouldn't bet my last bag of jelly babies on it. Anyone know for sure?

Anyway, today's trip into the past is only just short of 40 years, which, if you're my age, is no distance at all. You up for it? We'll be back home before you know it. So let's go!

Oh, go on then - give the theme a spin...

8 comments:

DeadSpiderEye said...: Mike Noble did some really excellent Follyfoot stuff, really pushed the genre, he made it look more like the wild west in some parts. There was some original artwork going for a stupid bargain price for ages, I haven't looked to see if it's still around. This isn't bad, in parts I had to do a double take, not quite up there though.; 8 May 2015 at 21:23
Kid said...: I'd love some Mike Noble Fireball XL5 art, but I doubt I could afford it. I'll have to settle for the Signum reprints.; 8 May 2015 at 21:46
Bill Storie said...: Hey Kid - just been looking at the Moonbase Central blog - was it you who asked to be mentioned to mike as per:
http://projectswordtoys.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/mike-noble-and-kid.html

Kudos mate!! Bloody good call- I did have the pleasure of interviewing him yonks ago and he really is one of nature;s gentlemen - he sent me a couple of signed posters of XL5 and TBirds and also did an original Garth illustration for me (long story) but wouldn't take a penny for it!! Anyhoo - the main reason Im contacting you apart from being a fellow Noble fan is this - look at the pics on the wall behind Mike!!!! These look like brand new illustrations to me - what do you think? I've Been collecting Mike's art for years and although I have copies of about 95% of all his printed art these are all new to me. I know he has done a few commissions I've never seen these ones - do you have any info on them by any chance??
I'm not on google but you can get me at billstorie@hotmail.com if you want to discuss further.
Cheers bud!!!
Bill Storie; 4 July 2015 at 20:31
Kid said...: Yup, that was me! Just to know that Mike Noble once heard my name and knew that I love his work is a big thrill for me.

As for the illos behind Mike, they're certainly 'new' to me, but I've not got a clue whether they're commissions, published work, or done for his own amusement. Regardless, they're brilliant. One of my favourite pieces of MN art is the cover to the 1966 Fireball XL5 Annual. Perhaps Woodsy or Scoop at Moonbase Central might know more about the illos in the photo.; 4 July 2015 at 22:41
Bill Storie said...: That's a good idea - could you maybe ask if they have any other pics which show more of the illo's? I'll make enquiries through some other contacts - if I still have his address I'll maybe ask Mike himself because if he is still doing commissions I definitely to get one - but even decent copies of the ones he has done for my archive would be OK. Will report back later.; 5 July 2015 at 10:48
Kid said...: Actually, looking at those images again, I'd say they were probably drawn for Thunderbirds The Comic in the early to mid '90s. I'm fairly certain that the one on the right (partially obscured by someone's shoulder) was.; 5 July 2015 at 11:38
Bill Storie said...: That had crossed my mind - having bought the entire run I know they were definitely not printed in the comic but maybe they were stockpiled for future issues had it not been cancelled. I know there is at least one guy who has had Mike do commissions for his personal collection - have a copy of one featuring the Scarlet crew plus Fireball and Zero x all flying under Clifton Bridge) but he's some industry bigwig apparently and very hard to get hold off but i do know a guy who knows a guy....it's worth a shot anyway.; 5 July 2015 at 23:06
Kid said...: Hope it pays off, Bill. Keep me posted.; 5 July 2015 at 23:44

About the artist:

From 1985 to 2000 A.D. (little joke there), I contributed to a variety of high profile comics and magazines for various companies.

For IPC/FLEETWAY/EGMONT, I freelanced as a lettering and logo artist on various weekly comics and monthly magazines, and also as a resize comic artist and spot illustrator on pocket books, summer specials and annuals.

For MARVEL U.K., BLACK LIBRARY, REDAN and USBORNE BOOKS, I again freelanced as a lettering artist, also working as a restoration artist for MARVEL U.S., restoring and re-creating certain pages of JACK KIRBY art for their MARVEL MASTERWORKS editions.

I also lettered the MARVELMAN sample pages submitted to MARVEL U.S. when they were considering acquiring the character, which - as we all now know - they DID.

Supplied comic strips, cartoons and illustrated advertisements for local business campaigns and newspaper publication on a professional basis since the age of 16. Did my first paid art job for publication at 14 or 15 for Lanarkshire Education Board.

Have also made TV appearances as a collector of memorabilia.

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Just some of the titles I worked on are:

2000 A.D. * JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE * DICEMAN * SONIC The COMIC * JUDGE DREDD, LAWMAN Of The FUTURE * CRISIS * REVOLVER * EAGLE * TIGER * BATTLE ACTION-FORCE * BUSTER * WHIZZER & CHIPS * WHOOPEE * NIPPER * SCHOOL FUN * ACE VENTURA, PET DETECTIVE * The REAL GHOSTBUSTERS * DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE * COUNT DUCKULA * RUGRATS * The TRANSFORMERS * DEATH'S HEAD * THUNDERCATS * GALAXY RANGERS * DRAGON'S CLAWS * SINDY * MARVEL MASTERWORKS * The TROLLS * LOADED * INFERNO * WARHAMMER * ROSE BLACK.

Copyright Notice:

Images remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are used here only for the purpose of review, promotion, and nostalgia.

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In the case of images culled from my own collection where copyright of an item isn't mine, I impose no copying restrictions on fellow bloggers.

(Although, if you don't allow copying on your own site, then you really shouldn't be copying from others, should you?)

And while you can credit this blog if you like, it's not mandatory. Who has time to make notes of every casually visited site during an idle browse of the internet?

In the case of anyone copying images of my own artwork and calligraphy, I affirm my right to be identified as the creator, and any such copying should not be for the purpose of monetary or material gain. (Unless it's mine.)

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Please also note that this blog is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or connected to, any organisation, business, or group, and is wholly independent.