Celebrating the best of British comic art
From the anarchic Dennis the Menace and the surreal Bash Street Kids to the heroic Alf Tupper, the brilliant characters of Britain's foremost comic publisher, DCThomson, are to be celebrated in an art exhibition.
Artist John Reynolds is showing a series of limited-edition screenprints of images drawn from DC Thomson's titles such as The Beano, The Dandy, The Victor and Commando in a forthcoming exhibition called "The Art of DC Thomson".
As well as The Beano's flag-carrier Dennis the Menace and The Victor's legendary long-distance runner Alf Tupper there will be images featuring Korky the Cat,The Bash Street Kids and a Second World War British fighter pilot from Commando!
Reynolds is the only screenprinter to have permission from DC Thomson to make use of its archive material in his work.
"DC Thomson's characters are perfect for screenprinting, with their bold outlines and strong colours," said Reynolds. "I'm privileged to be able to use these great images - they are some of the most appealing and striking this country has produced."
Reynolds's prints are being shown alongside a selection of images of British footballing comic book heroes, to coincide with the football world cup.
The event is the brainchild of local designer Tim Parker, who said: “John’s unique and exceptional work of characters like Dennis the Menace and Alf Tupper complements perfectly the football illustrations on display. From 1880 onwards, when football first started to get really popular, the boys’ comics and story papers featured football characters. The exhibition features characters from then, through the two wars right up until the 1980s."
The exhibition is at Inky Cuttlefish Galleries, 5 Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, London E17 6DS (nearest Tube Blackhorse Road on the Victoria Line), and will last from Sunday June 6 to Sunday June 13, opening to the public on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.
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