Ally Sloper #1

1976. Cover price 20p.
36 pages. B&W.
Denis Gifford Creative Comics Production / Alan Class

First British Comic Hero: 1876
First British Comic Magazine: 1976

Edited by Denis Gifford.

Cover by Denis Gifford.

Contents:

 2 Ally Sloper! text introduction by Denis Gifford; border illustrations: (left) Marvelman by UNKNOWN, Nipper by Brian White, Pip, Squeak & Wilfred by UNKNOWN, Harris Tweed(?) by UNKNOWN; (right) Dan Dare by Frank Hampson, UNKNOWN by UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN by UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN by UNKNOWN.

Note: Having spent far, far too long digging through old publications in an attempt to identify the border images, I'm giving up - life is far too short to deal with this, when there are more pressing lists requiring attention. Any suggestions welcome.

 3 Ally Sloper UNTITLED [Ally Sloper's Public Transport] w:/a: Walter Bell.

 4 Steve Dowling: Father of Garth interview by Denis Gifford; illustrated by Steve Dowling.

 7 Swade w:/a: Frank Bellamy.

10 Jarl the Northman [The Fruit of the Korvine Forest] w:/a: Keith J. Luck.

15 Nipper UNTITLED [Shoes for Balloons; Sugar Pig; Cricket Home-Made Cricket Leg Pads; Old News; Delivering Mail; All the Bottles; Trumpet Accompaniment; Chicken Run; Dinosaur Ride; Lock Ness Monster; Donkey Ride] w:/a: Brian White.

r: Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers, Ltd.) #??? (## ### 19??).

18 Nipper's Old Man: Brian White text feature by Denis Gifford; illustrated by Sid Griffiths. / Nipper Nipper Nightmare w:/a: Brian White. / Nipper Nipper Goes To It! w:/a: Brian White.

r: Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers, Ltd.) #??? (## ### 19??).

20 Nipper UNTITLED [Little Monkey; Swingball; Cat Stole; Fashionable Socks; Penguin Pool; A Cage for Pengy; Pengy's Pearls; Penguin Trap; Old Enough for the Cinema; Grumpy Snowman; Scythe; Nipper Comic] w:/a: Brian White.

r: Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers, Ltd.) #??? (## ### 19??).

23 Comic Contest / Free Gifts / Old Pals Updated Alfie the Space Tramp w:/a: Tony Glynn. / Subscribe to Sloper!! illustration by Denis Gifford.

24 The British Comic Comes of Age: The First British Comics Convention text feature by Keith Mackenzie; illustrations by Denis Gifford, Terry Wakefield, Ron Embleton, Frank Hampson.

26 Comic Q+As readers' mail. / The MS's Muse UNTITLED [Remember Boadicea] w:/a: Ann Spano.

28 Dogman Doktor Oktorpus Nonplussed w: Paul Fisher; a: Hunt Emerson.

32 Kaptain Kween The Man with the Golden Hairdryer w: Ed McHenry; a: Ray Peters.

34 Miz Liz UNTITLED w:/a: Ewan L. Masters.

35 In The Beginning #1 Dudley D. Watkins text feature.

35 Our Gymnastic Class w:/a: Dudley D. Watkins.

r: The Beacon magazine (Boots Pure Drug, Co., Ltd.) #? (Mar 1923).

36 Holy Macaroni! in-house advertisement.

There are spectacular artists within the first issue of Ally Sloper, so it is somewhat puzzling that Gifford chose to provide the art himself rather than using, for example, Frank Bellamy or Steve Dowling. Gifford's art, while often extremely effective, isn't as eye-catching as should benefit the launch of a title, especially one which sets out, as this does, to educate readers on the history of comics in Britain. Overall, this issue has so little fanfare about it, lacking riotous celebration in its existence, that there's no sense of just how important it was.

I expect a certain rambunctious pride in the creation being presented, highlighting the very best material available. Swagger, if you will, at having formed something which ought to be noticed. That egotism is lacking here, despite outside pride (a lavish launch party, details of which were featured in a following issue), diminishing the excitement of the issue.

This would also be a problem for Crikey!, and other titles of its ilk.

Quite possibly the greatest British comics magazine ever published, no-one since has managed to pull together such a wide range of top-tier creators to celebrate the medium. This title was an important step in promoting the history of comics and comic strips rather than hyping the latest non-news from superhero publishers, who (presumably) aren't well-enough served by the multitude of existing outlets for their press releases.

The mix presented is something of a problem when it comes to carefully balancing traditional material, mature readers-focused underground creators, and the then-current mainstream. Such an awkward "everything goes" mentality likely hindered uptake on readership, and it can be argued that, by not instituting clearly-demarcated segments from the outset, there was a slight confusion regarding the contents. Also of note for those who would wish to follow in the footsteps of Ally Sloper, not indicating the source of each piece of art is a bad thing.

At which point I ought to add that I have largely given up on sourcing the small illustrations accompanying the editorial. How difficult is it to note where images have been taken from? It is a problem which persists in magazines to this day.

The feature on Steve Dowling is a particular joy, though frustratingly curt. Had there been an accompanying chronology and index of work, along with personal anecdotes, this would an essential read, but I am left wanting from the brief references to other strips he contributed to.

Artwork is consistently great throughout, nowhere more pronounced than Frank Bellamy's Swade, which appears to have been influenced by Spaghetti Westerns as much as anything. Once more the abbreviated nature (a mere three pages) is a setback instead of a strength, though the title is evocative, and what story there is folds out with style.

Not that I'm able to pin a reason on it, Jarl the Northman doesn't feel as if it is a complete story. With such interesting characters, it seems to offer forth a world which is intended for further exploration, replete with a history and texture bubbling under the surface. The ending is rather too neat and clean, lacing a satisfying moment of closure. Brian White's Nipper strips, in a section dedicated to vintage material, is amusing rather than laugh-out-loud funny, and the suggestion of reviving Alfie the Space Tramp with an SF twist to the character, doesn't appeal.

Coverage of Comics 101 isn't given enough room to cover all of the happenings, and with such an impressive roster of names in attendance should have been more in-depth. What we are given, however, is a fascinating glimpse into the event.

An excellent start to a sadly short-lived title, though compromised by such a low page-count.

Ally Sloper

#02