BBC4 Comics Season

[king mob]

This looks to be quite wonderful.

BBC Four celebrates comic strips
Classic comics such as The Beano, The Dandy and Viz are to be celebrated in a three-part series on BBC Four.
Writer and satirist Armando Iannucci will narrate Comics Britannia, which is to feature some of the illustrators who wrote and drew the original strips.

And special graphics will bring some of the two-dimensional characters to life.

The series is part of a comics season, which also sees Jonathan Ross tracking down reclusive cartoonist Steve Ditko, one of the creators of Spider-Man.

And BBC Four will be showing episodes of Batman, starring Adam West.

Comic strip stars Dennis the Menace, Roy of the Rovers and the Bash Street Kids will receive special treatment using technology which "allows the audience literally to step inside the comics", the channel said.

The season will be broadcast in September

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/6940239.stm

However it looks like Ross may not have actually got Ditko if this bit from Ditko's Wikipedia entry is true.

The site BestOfMostOf.com reported in April 2007 that Jonathan Ross of the UK television network BBC was producing a one-hour documentary, In Search of Steve Ditko, for the arts channel BBC Four.[14]. The report stated that comics creators, editors and others including Jerry Robinson, John Romita Sr., Neil Gaiman, Paul Levitz, Ralph Macchio, Flo Steinberg, Alan Moore, Mark Millar, Stan Lee, and Cat Yronwode are among the interviewees. A follow-up report three days later stated that Ditko himself declined to be interviewed, and that not all the announced interviewees may be in the final cut

Ditko aside, this does look bloody brilliant.

[Charles RB]

Awesome stuff.

[king mob]

In case anyone missed it, Rich Johnston's latest column (http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/index.cgi?column=13)features more details about this season of documentaries.

After last week's coverage of "Stalking Steve Ditko" as I now have to refer to it...



...BBC4 sent me DVDs of their entire Comics Britannia series. "The Fun Factory," "Girls And Boys" and "Anarchy In The UK."

The shows are a run through the history of mainstream British comics since the thirties and narrated by "The Thick Of It's" Armando Ianucci.

The first looks at the Dundee-based publisher DC Thompson and its three most prominent comics creators. Dudley D Watkins who created Desperate Dan and Lord Snooty for "The Dandy" and "The Beano" (and whose influence can be seen most significantly today in Frank Quitely) was considered too important to morale to be sent to war. Leo Baxendale, behind "Little Plum," "Minnie The Minx" and "The Bash Street Kids," and Ken Reid, responsible for "Jonah," echo current industry trends, as the show follows the publisher's loss of its main talents over creators rights in the 1960s. The show looks at how culture shaped these children's weekly anthologies and then how the comics affected modern day culture. Commentators include the writers, artists and editors of the day, as well as notable figures who read the comics as children. It cites "The Dandy" as the first comic to use the modern day speech balloon, explores why children reveled in anarchic mischief, looks at the boom and bust of the comics industry in the seventies and the influence on British Empire thinking on the assumptions behind many strips. It's a dry documentary, befitting the channel, and has a tendency to whizz over the decades, but for an hour long show, it's fairly comprehensive and attaches a seriousness to a subject often dismissed.

The second takes on the boys and girls's adventure comics in the UK. Inspired by the American post-war horror comics, we see the launch of the far-more-moralistic "Eagle" and its central character Dan Dare (originally a space chaplain), through the emergence of the Girl comic with "Tammy," "Bunty," "Jackie" and more, and its eventual discovery of the storytelling niche of putting its central female characters through hell with the aim of making the reader cry, and the boys action and adventure comics, which would take the lessons learned from girls' comics and apply them to their own war stories. Pat Mills, co-creator of "Judge Dredd" and "Marshall Law," talks about his experiences writing for "Tammy" and how he'd use them in "Charley's War" and the like. This show, given a smaller time frame to cover, benefits from being more detailed. The work in question is more properly dissected and discussed, and the more mature content allows for great examination, as well as having the likes of Frank Skinner recount his very emotional attachments to specific stories. There's even teen comic photo stories on show, starring young jobbing actors/models such as Hugh Laurie and George Michael.

The final show will probably get the most attention from the column's readers, covering as it does the rise of the modern British comic, looking at the influence of punk in the emergence of "Action," "2000AD" and "Viz Comic," as well as acid house music and "Deadline," and the move of British comics creators to work in America. How they missed the visual influence of "Watchmen" on acid house, I don't know, but it's made up for by Alan Moore reading from "V For Vendetta" and "Watchmen." Again, with a smaller time frame to cover, the programme can linger, at one point spending five minutes dissecting "Viz Comic" character Johnny Fartpants, more than anyone else has ever done. The story ends with "Alice In Sunderland" and "Lost Girls" as the modern face of the British comic scene, which may be a little misleading, but both projects worth significant BBC4 coverage.

It's a fun series of comic documentaries, clearly aimed at the non-comics reader, but with new and original takes on the work which current comics readers will lap up. And, naturally, its vindication and validation of the artform we all enjoy, so we can get off on that as well.

"Comics Britannia" runs through September on BBC4, starting Monday the 10th, including the Steve Ditko documentary reviewed last week, and other comics-related programming such as "Modesty Blaise." You can see unused footage featuring Leo Baxendale and Alan Moore right here.



The second one about boys and girls's adventure comics could be an absolute cracker, but the whole season looks to be essential viewing.

[king mob]

Anyone in the UK should turn on Five Live right now to hear a discussion of the series featuring Paul Gravett being offended by Simon Donald.

[The Confessor]

I'm really looking forward to this whole season of 'comics' programs on BBC4. It's about time they put something serious about comics on the tele! I'm slightly disappointed that most of the programs seem to be about the British comics industry (with the exception of the Steve Ditko documentary), a few more about the US comics scene would’ve been nice as well. But still, I'm betting it will be a hugely enjoyable set of programs.

The full schedule has yet to be announced as far as I'm aware, but they have confirmed that they’ll be showing some choice episodes of the 60's Adam West Batman TV series.

Holy kitsch television, Batman!!

[Captain_Video]

I am looking forward to this too, especially the Ditko documentary, as Ditko to me is a fascinating character.

Hopefully this will get some folks into the comic shops.

BBC4 is such a great channel though, it is one of the many reasons why I would never suggest doing away with the T.V license fee, you simply would not get this stuff on an ad revenue driven network.

[king mob]

I'm slightly disappointed that most of the programs seem to be about the British comics industry (with the exception of the Steve Ditko documentary), a few more about the US comics scene would’ve been nice as well. But still, I'm betting it will be a hugely enjoyable set of programs.



I'm impressed they've not went (with the exception of the Ditko programme) for the easy route and cover (as most documentaries do) American comics. It's wonderful that British comics are getting their moment of mainstream recognition, & it might show a more general audience that there's more to comics than just superheroes.

[king mob]

Hopefully this will get some folks into the comic shops.



I hope shops are taking advantage of this series & pushing it to their punters.

I love the poster (http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/preview2.php?image=litg/2007/0904/POSTER.jpg) in this week's LitG, it's a reminder how truely brilliant Leo Baxendale is.

[king mob]

Don't forget the first part is on tonight & deals with DC Tompson's The Beano & Dandy. Expect this on the usual places in the next few days if anyone misses it (or they don't live in the UK) tonight.

[king mob]

Forget to add the link that features some gems.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/comicsbritannia/

[Haydn C]

Did any one see Jonathon Ross In search of Steve Ditko last night?

I enjoyed it alot, I learned all sorts of stuff I never knew and the Stan Lee interview was very interesting indeed. Oh and Alan Moore was as funny as every, his lyric recital had me in stitches.

What did anyone else think?

[king mob]

I loved it. It's the sort of thing that reminds you just how good Ross can be when he isn't just cashing his pay cheque.

Tonight's programme is about girls & boys comics from the 60's & 70's and looks cracking.

[The Confessor]

I loved it. It's the sort of thing that reminds you just how good Ross can be when he isn't just cashing his pay cheque.

Tonight's programme is about girls & boys comics from the 60's & 70's and looks cracking.

I agree. I thought it was a great little documentary and although the fact that we never got to see Steve Ditko being interviewed at the end was a bit of a let down, it was exactly how I expected it to end in all honesty.

I really laughed out loud after the first time Ross spoke to Ditko on the phone - "Yeah, just spoke to Steve Ditko...who told me to f*** off essentially!" :D

Tonight's program looks cool too but I'm out this evening, so I'll have to catch a repeat later in the week.

[Captain_Video]

I agree. I thought it was a great little documentary and although the fact that we never got to see Steve Ditko being interviewed at the end was a bit of a let down, it was exactly how I expected it to end in all honesty.

I really laughed out loud after the first time Ross spoke to Ditko on the phone - "Yeah, just spoke to Steve Ditko...who told me to f*** off essentially!" :D

Tonight's program looks cool too but I'm out this evening, so I'll have to catch a repeat later in the week.

I was a bit annoyed that Stan Lee got hatched a bit in the documentary, I felt that was uncalled for and if anything was a bit exploitive, but, I got a damn lot of joy and cheered ( yes I am that sad ) loudly when my favourite creators appeared as talking heads on the Beeb.

Tonight, comics going to the darkside, cool.

[king mob]

The Ditko documentary along with part one of Comics Britannia can be found if one puts 'UK' & 'Nova' into a search engine such as Google..............

[king mob]

Tonight, comics going to the darkside, cool.

It features heavily Dan Dare and other boys heroes but it does seemingly go into great depth about Pat Mills & John Wagner's stint on girl's comics of the 70's, which is something I'm really looking forward to.

[Haydn C]

I'm loving seeing the creators I've never seen before. It gave me a bit of a shock to see Kev O'Neill last week, (I'm assuming that it was the Kev O'Neill of Nemesis etc), looking like my Dad!

Tonight was good as well with the Broons programme, I have never seen Frank Quitely before.

[king mob]

Last part of Comics Britannia tonight featuring 2000AD, Alan Moore & Viz, so it should be as good as the first two.

[Haydn C]

Very much looking forward to tonights programme.

There was a nice little half hour show on Radio4 on Sat morning by Phil Jupitus about 2000AD.

It's on the listen again page under Futureshock! The story of 2000AD

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml#f

[The Confessor]

Very much looking forward to tonights programme.

There was a nice little half hour show on Radio4 on Sat morning by Phil Jupitus about 2000AD.

It's on the listen again page under Futureshock! The story of 2000AD

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml#f

It's weird doing a program about a purely visual medium like comics on the radio though, don't you think?

[Captain_Video]

Nothing is quite as cool as hearing Alan Moore delivering Rorshachs dialogue, it was pretty close to how I heard the guy in my head too.

Also one thought that occured to me was "Well Alan at least you don't have to worry about anyone adapting Lost Girls into a movie".

You know, this series has brought to light that British Comics have a hell of a lot to be proud of, sort of brings a tear to your eye, if we Brits where capable of such displays of emotion.




Quite.

[Haydn C]

It's weird doing a program about a purely visual medium like comics on the radio though, don't you think?

It is a bit, all the comics dialogue bits with dodgy sound effects are very entertaining.

[Haydn C]

Nothing is quite as cool as hearing Alan Moore delivering Rorshachs dialogue, it was pretty close to how I heard the guy in my head too.

Also one thought that occured to me was "Well Alan at least you don't have to worry about anyone adapting Lost Girls into a movie".

You know, this series has brought to light that British Comics have a hell of a lot to be proud of, sort of brings a tear to your eye, if we Brits where capable of such displays of emotion.




Quite.

I love seeing and hearing Moore reading his own stuff, it brings a big smile to my face. He is so into it when he reads. Brilliant.

I had no idea Viz and 2000AD and even Deadline were so old, (well I did but I had never really put it in context before), 2000AD was already twelve years old when I started reading it in 1989!

[king mob]

It's weird doing a program about a purely visual medium like comics on the radio though, don't you think?

Not really, it's much the same as radio programmes about film or visual art. Radio 4 is a little goldmine of programmes like this as well.

[king mob]

You know, this series has brought to light that British Comics have a hell of a lot to be proud of, sort of brings a tear to your eye, if we Brits where capable of such displays of emotion.

Indeed. If anything this season has shown just how wide & varied British comics have been & how underrated a lot of British comics have been over the years. It's nice to see the likes of Leo Baxendale & Dudley D. Watkins get mentioned in the same programme as John Wagner & Alan Moore.