David Fickling Books are launching a comic
I used to love comics, I used to read the girlie ones beginning with Twinkle, then Bunty, Judy and Mandy as well as those more aimed at boys Topper, The Beano and The Dandy. A lot of the old titles have disappeared and now children prefer glossy magazines and TV show tie-ins.
Now a respected children's book publishing - David Fickling Books - is hoping to get today's youngsters as excited about the traditional art by launching DFC a weekly comic with brand new comic strips including one by Philip Pullman.
Will it work? Well you can have a look at the website for yourself - www.thedfc.co.uk. If you want to get your hands on a real copy you'll have to subscribe, as unlike comics of old this one will not be available at your local newsagent or even bookstop, you have to sign up via direct debit or credit card. The 36 page comic will be delivered direct to your door beginning on Friday May 30 for about £3 an issue. DFC will be printed on 100% recycled paper and will contain no advertisements.
I think its a bit of a shame kids won't be able to pick up a copy direct with their pocket money - and David Fickling says he does want this 'eventually'. However you can have the first four copies as a free trial and cancel if you don't want to continue, you also get a 50% off Random House books deal. I think I'm going to have to sign up.
Philip Pullman who will contribute 'The Adventures of John Blake' apparantly a supernatural mystery set in the Pacific, said: "I've always loved comics, and when I first heard about the DFC, I leapt at the chance of being involved. The chance to work in this wonderfully fluid and exciting form was too good to miss. I've had a lot of fun with the story of John Blake, and I hope readers will enjoy it as well as all the other great things in the DFC."
Other stories include James Turner's Super Animal Adventure Squad, featuring an eye-patch-wearing unicorn, The Boss, described by a DFC editor as “Grange Hill meets CSI�, Japanese anime-influenced The Spider Moon, Good Dog, Bad Dog and Monkey Nuts by The Etherington Brothers, Mobot High by Neill Cameron and Charlie Jefferson and the Tomb of Nazaleod by Garen Ewing.
David Fickling said: "I still remember the heart pounding excitement of receiving my very own comic on the doormat every week and now the DFC can bring that to every child in the land. But this isn't a revival. For today's children it is almost a brand new form of entertainment."
* The Times newspaper is giving away six three-month subscriptions and six special DFC goodie bags to youngsters who design the best comic strip. To take part they must use the Comic Creator at www.thedfc.co.uk/timescomp. Deadline is May 24. The six best entries, as judged by the DFC team, will each win a subscription and goodie bag, and have their comic displayed at www.thedfc.co.uk. One overall winner will have their comic printed in The DFC. Only children aged 14 or under on May 24 are eligible. One entry per person. See www.thedfc.co.uk/timescomp for full terms and conditions.
- Post to:
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
Nowpublic
Reddit
« Previous | Home | Next »