1970’s Boys Comics

Boys comics of the 1950s and 60s presented a world of constant, dependable friends and reliable traditions. Easter always brought loads of adventures involving eggs. In August, the sun always shone on the sands, the cliffs, the lighthouses, the sparkling sea and the crabs. In November, the pages and the title whirled with sparks and whooshing rockets. And at Christmas – apart from slap-up feasts of spherical puds and cigars – there would always be snow on the lettering and a cascade of presents and overflowing stockings, often distributed from the open cockpit of a plane by a genial Santa Claus. Reading them required, of course, a complete acceptance of people rolling downhill engulfed in a monster snowball; of dogs, snakes, horses, bears and ostriches being able to talk; and of lightbulbs hovering over people’s heads containing the word “Idea”.

Many boys' comics of the 1970s focused on adventure, humour, and action, often featuring relatable characters and exciting storylines. This era saw a continuation of themes from previous decades, with a strong emphasis on friendship, bravery, and fun. A variety of boys' adventure comics, with titles like Valiant and Tiger gained popularity, featuring new adventure heroes as they continued to adapt to the changing tastes of the audience.
The rise of television and the introduction of colour television in the UK also influenced the comics industry, leading to a shift in focus towards television-related characters. comics began to adapt by incorporating more dynamic and engaging narratives, often reflecting contemporary issues and interests of young readers. The mid 1970s saw a mix of traditional and new styles, as well as a growing interest in science fiction and superhero comics in such titles as Action and 2000AD. These are some I remember perusing in my folks' newsagent shop.

The Dandy

A British children's comic magazine published by the Dundee based publisher DC Thomson whose first issue was printed in December 1937. The most notable difference between this and other comics of the day was the use of speech balloons instead of captions under the frame. The comic has had a number of different cover stars (comic strips appearing on the front cover), firstly Korky the Cat, who was on the cover from 1937 to 1984. Desperate Dan, long since the comic's most popular character, then took over the cover until 1999. Some of the most popular characters include:
  •   Desperate Dan – A wild west character, the world’s strongest man who can lift a cow with one hand. His beard is so tough he shaves with a blowtorch.
  •   Korky the Cat – A black, male talking cat who behaves like a human and is accepted in a world of humans
  •   Hungry Horace – The adventures of a boy who thought of nothing but eating.
  •   Beryl the Peril – Originally in The Topper, she devilishly tormented her parents and other members of her community, causing chaos through menacing her neighbours, parents and school teachers – a female Dennis the Menace (created by the same artist).

The Beano
Anxious to repeat the success of their comic, The Dandy, Scottish publishing house DC Thomson introduced The Beano just 35 weeks later in July 1938. It was practically a replica of the first comic and, again, proved a great success. It is now the longest-running British children’s comic. During World War II, The Beano switched to fortnightly publication to save paper, alternating weekly with The Dandy. Illustrating the great British ability to laugh in the face of adversity, The Beano continued to serve up jokes and stories, laced with a large helping of patriotism as the comic’s characters tackled the Nazis in highly-imaginative ways. Documents found after the war revealed that, along with the editors of some national British newspapers, the editors of The Beano and The Dandy would have been arrested had Hitler’s forces invaded Britain. Some of the most popular characters include:
  •   The Bash Street Kids – Smiffy, Plug, Danny and the other ageless reprobates of Bash Street High School
  •   Dennis the Menace – The crown prince of British comicdom. Lumbered with his lifelong foe Walter the Softy, Dennis arrived on 17 March 1951 and later joined by his pet dog, Gnasher (an Abyssinian wire-haired tripe hound)
  •   Lord Snooty and his Pals – The adventures of Lord Marmaduke Bunkerton (aka Lord Snooty) who wore a Lord Fauntleroy suit without explanation
  •   Minnie The Minx – A feisty, energetic tomboy, preferring mischievous and violent antics over those that would be normal for a typical ten-year-old girl.
  •   Pansy Potter the Strong Man’s Daughter – The strong-arm girl who became a household name

Buster

Launched in the 1960s, "Buster" continued to be a significant boys' comic in the 1970s. It featured humour and adventure stories, appealing to a wide audience of young readers. The comic was known for its engaging characters and entertaining plots, making it a staple in many households. The title character, whose strip usually appeared on the front cover, was Buster himself, originally billed as Buster: Son of Andy Capp. Andy Capp is the lead character of the eponymous Daily Mirror newspaper strip, and Buster wore a similar flat cap to reinforce the connection. In early issues, Buster often referred to his father, and Andy was seen in the comic attempting to find a gas leak in three frames of the 18 June 1960 issue. Buster's mum was often referred to by name, and was consistently drawn to resemble Andy's wife Flo. The decade saw the incorporation of new characters and stories, such as the mad German scientist in "Von Hoffman's Invasion" and the Sludgemouth Sloggers. Buster's popularity was evident as it celebrated its tenth birthday and continued to be a staple in the UK comic scene. Some popular characters include:
  •   Faceache: A young boy with the ability to change colour at will, known for his mischievous and humorous antics.
  •   Johnny Samson: A young mad inventor with a penchant for creating inventions that often lead to trouble.
  •   Crabbe's Crusaders: A group of young adventurers who embark on various quests and adventures.
  •   The Toys of Doom: A collection of toys that come to life and embark on their own adventures.
  •   The Leopard of Lime Street: A story featuring Billy Farmer, a boy who discovers he has the strength of a leopard after being scratched by one.

Victor
The Victor was a British comic paper published weekly by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. The Victor ran for 1,657 issues from 25 January 1961 until it ceased publication on 21 November 1992. Many of The Victor's stories focused on the exploits of the British military in World War II and each week the front cover carried a story of how a medal had been won by British or Commonwealth forces during the Great War or the Second World War. In addition to these, the comic also featured science fiction stories, adventure stories and sports stories. The emphasis was on the ordinary man or boy involved in action adventures. Stories involved decent, upstanding British or Commonwealth men and boys fighting in wars, or competing on the sporting field or in general adventures, including sci-fiction yarns. Well known characters such as Alf Tupper, the runner; Sergeant Matt Braddock, World War Two pilot; Morgyn the Mighty, the strong man and Gorgeous Gus, the rich owner/sometime football player, who had all appeared in other D.C. Thomson comics, were dusted off and given a new lease of life in The Victor. These four characters were the backbone of the comic and one or all of them appeared almost in every issue for the first twenty years.

Whizzer and Chips

A British comics magazine that ran from 18 October 1969 to 27 October 1990, when it merged with the comic Buster. As with most comics of the time, Whizzer and Chips was dated one week ahead of the day it actually appeared on newsstands in Great Britain. The format of Whizzer and Chips presented the comic as being divided into two separate parts—a novel idea at the time. One part was called Whizzer and the other was called Chips, with Chips existing as a separate pull-out section in the middle. The slogan "Two comics in one, double the fun!" was used. In the offices of publisher Fleetway, Whizzer and Chips was always regarded as one comic. One ongoing concept was that the two comics were fierce rivals. A guest appearance by a character from one of the comic strips in the story of one in the other magazine would be described as a "raid", and the other comic would seek its revenge with a raid of its own the following week.
Readers were encouraged to become either a "Whizz-Kid" or a "Chip-ite", depending on which section they preferred. The leader of the Whizz-Kids was a boy called Sid and his snake Slippy, from the Sid's Snake comic strip. The leader of the Chip-ites was a boy called Shiner from the comic strip of the same name, who had aspirations to become a boxer and always ended up with a black eye (the eponymous "shiner").

Action
Launched in 1976, "Action" was known for its controversial and gritty content, which included stories about war, crime, and adventure. It pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in children's comics at the time, leading to both popularity and criticism. While initially a sales success, the comic quickly received media criticism for its violent content, causing a moral panic that ultimately saw it withdrawn from sale by IPC in October 1976, amid rumours it was to be banned. Action returned two months later in a much-sanitised form, quickly losing readers and being cancelled the following year. The comic was eventually merged with "Battle" but left a lasting impact on the genre.

2000AD

This comic debuted in 1977 and quickly became a landmark publication in British comics. It introduced readers to a darker, more mature style of storytelling, with iconic characters like Judge Dredd, a law enforcement and judicial officer in the dystopian future city of Mega-City One, which covers most of the east coast of North America. He is a "street judge", empowered to summarily arrest, convict, sentence, and execute criminals. Judge Dredd stories often satirise American and British culture, with a focus on authoritarianism and police brutality. The comic's blend of science fiction and social commentary resonated with older boys and teenagers, setting a new standard for comic storytelling. Other series in 2000 AD include Rogue Trooper, Sláine, The Ballad of Halo Jones, Strontium Dog, ABC Warriors, Nemesis the Warlock and Nikolai Dante.