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Product Description
Book Description
A celebration of the football comic genre and the many legendary characters they produced
Product Description
Ever since boys' comics were first published in the middle years of the nineteenth century, they have offered readers fun, adventure and escapism. As participation and attendance at sports events rose dramatically in the early years of the twentieth century, so boys' comics focused more and more on sportsmen, with footballers becoming the ultimate favourites.
Millions of boys' comics were sold in the 'golden age' in the 1920s and '30s. The introduction of football stories in cartoon-strip format proved immensely popular, and during the 1950s and '60s comics enjoyed a renaissance, with The Rover, Tiger and The Hotspur among the top titles. The 1970s saw the launch of dedicated football comics such as Scorcher and Score 'n' Roar. Within the pages of these titles, legends were born, but for every 'Hot Shot' Hamish there were dozens of other footballing heroes, and this book tells their stories, too.
Although these comics are no longer in circulation, they still generate a huge level of interest among boys and men of all ages, and the culture of the comic book hero continues. Using the archives of publishers DC Thomson and Co. Limited, IPC Media Limited and Egmont UK Limited, the authors have produced a definitive history of the comic book footballer. This unique and nostalgic account of the football comic book phenomenon will jog the memories of older readers and introduce the magic of these imaginary sporting stars to a whole new generation.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Combining two of my favorite subjects into one finely assembled book was a dead cert for 5 stars for me. I have been an avid collector and reader of comic books for decades, and an ardent fanatic of the beautiful game ever since I can remember.
Oddly enough I didn't read soccer comics as a kid in England; for that matter I rarely read any British comic books at all, preferring instead American superhero publications from the likes of Marvel and DC.
The author Adam Riches delves into a unique facet of the comic book art form, selecting a genre with a fantastically rich and evolved style that at one time saw 350 million comics a year sold in Britain.
Beginning with the narrative laden tracts, the so-called "penny dreadfuls" of the mid to late 1800s, Riches cements the foundation stones of what would become the modern-day football comic. Early on and for some time to come, the heroes of the football world in print were largely upper-class, scrupulous Victorian chaps who "live[d] clean, manly and Christian lives." With the advent of the war years, the football comic became the perfect vehicle to encourage young working class lads towards the battlefields of Europe and beyond, and the comic footballers gradually morphed to more closely reflect the class of the readership. Interestingly the dearth of men able to make up the numbers for competing teams, lead to the formation of 'ladies' football leagues, the most famous of which Dick, Kerr Ladies, pulled a crowd of 53,000 in 1920. Consequently women found their way into the football comic stories; albeit fleetingly.
Some football people in England seem to take perverse delight in mocking Americans use of the term 'soccer' to describe association football, so much so, that you'd be forgiven for thinking Americans invented the slang word for the game. The book however, shows us that the word 'soccer' was common parlance throughout the last century in Britain as evidenced by the comic covers and illustrations reproduced in the book. Speaking of Americans, football comic "Wizard," presciently introduced multi-millionaire, Split O'Keefe, of Arizona who took over fictitious team Rockvale FC for 12 issues in 1932. Many serious issues were tackled by the soccer comics, including race and class, although women and girls were largely invisible in these publications aimed at boys.
Roy of the Rovers, was the final hero to play out his days in the football comic book format, his publication of the same name petering out in 1993, ending completely over a century of fantasy world heroics that enabled millions of boys to dream via words and drawings of playing professionally and as brilliantly as the stars of the football comics. Eventually video games overwrote the minds of the average young lad and did all the dreaming for him; comic books suddenly seemed so 'dad.'
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in comic books, regardless of whether they take an interest in soccer, such is the fascinating presentation Riches gives us. Every page has beautifully reproduced art work in colour and black and white and the narrative is highly evocative and informative. Well worth buying.
Oddly enough I didn't read soccer comics as a kid in England; for that matter I rarely read any British comic books at all, preferring instead American superhero publications from the likes of Marvel and DC.
The author Adam Riches delves into a unique facet of the comic book art form, selecting a genre with a fantastically rich and evolved style that at one time saw 350 million comics a year sold in Britain.
Beginning with the narrative laden tracts, the so-called "penny dreadfuls" of the mid to late 1800s, Riches cements the foundation stones of what would become the modern-day football comic. Early on and for some time to come, the heroes of the football world in print were largely upper-class, scrupulous Victorian chaps who "live[d] clean, manly and Christian lives." With the advent of the war years, the football comic became the perfect vehicle to encourage young working class lads towards the battlefields of Europe and beyond, and the comic footballers gradually morphed to more closely reflect the class of the readership. Interestingly the dearth of men able to make up the numbers for competing teams, lead to the formation of 'ladies' football leagues, the most famous of which Dick, Kerr Ladies, pulled a crowd of 53,000 in 1920. Consequently women found their way into the football comic stories; albeit fleetingly.
Some football people in England seem to take perverse delight in mocking Americans use of the term 'soccer' to describe association football, so much so, that you'd be forgiven for thinking Americans invented the slang word for the game. The book however, shows us that the word 'soccer' was common parlance throughout the last century in Britain as evidenced by the comic covers and illustrations reproduced in the book. Speaking of Americans, football comic "Wizard," presciently introduced multi-millionaire, Split O'Keefe, of Arizona who took over fictitious team Rockvale FC for 12 issues in 1932. Many serious issues were tackled by the soccer comics, including race and class, although women and girls were largely invisible in these publications aimed at boys.
Roy of the Rovers, was the final hero to play out his days in the football comic book format, his publication of the same name petering out in 1993, ending completely over a century of fantasy world heroics that enabled millions of boys to dream via words and drawings of playing professionally and as brilliantly as the stars of the football comics. Eventually video games overwrote the minds of the average young lad and did all the dreaming for him; comic books suddenly seemed so 'dad.'
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in comic books, regardless of whether they take an interest in soccer, such is the fascinating presentation Riches gives us. Every page has beautifully reproduced art work in colour and black and white and the narrative is highly evocative and informative. Well worth buying.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
It's not often that a book manages to bridge the interest of young and old but this one has everything for the older football fan like me and also for the youngster. Adam Riches has not just written a book about football comics, in so doing he has re-traced the development of British (mainly working class) history and it is a fantastic read. Kids who have been brought up on a diet of Nintendo football games and being bought their favourite team's new strip each season, may not fully understand how the sound of the Hotspur landing on the doormat was the highlight of many a young boy's week all those years ago. Characters like Limp Along Leslie and the players of the Ragged Rovers were heroes because they were ordinary lads from humble origins who made good. You could relate to them - unlike today where players who have barely made the first team can be earning ridiculous money.
This reads like a labour of love for Riches and it's a book that's hard to put and impossible to dislike. It's well-informed, beautifully presented and would make the ideal Christmas gift for anyone with the mildest interest in comics, football or social history. There is a vast treasure trove of comic titles and some bizarre characters - what about Dozy Danny Lorimer who got his nickname from catching 'forty winks' whenever he could! Or 'Hot Shot Hamish who could break the net with the ferocity of his shooting! Fantastic stuff.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough and Riches should be proud of his achievement. Four Four Two magazine - eat your heart out - you can't hold a candle to the football comics!
This reads like a labour of love for Riches and it's a book that's hard to put and impossible to dislike. It's well-informed, beautifully presented and would make the ideal Christmas gift for anyone with the mildest interest in comics, football or social history. There is a vast treasure trove of comic titles and some bizarre characters - what about Dozy Danny Lorimer who got his nickname from catching 'forty winks' whenever he could! Or 'Hot Shot Hamish who could break the net with the ferocity of his shooting! Fantastic stuff.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough and Riches should be proud of his achievement. Four Four Two magazine - eat your heart out - you can't hold a candle to the football comics!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Beautifully presented and illustrated this hefty tomb will gladden the heart of any comic reader of a certain age.
The meticulous research is exemplified by the incisive writing and graphic illustrations.
An absolute joy and highly recommended even by my twelve year old football mad son.
The meticulous research is exemplified by the incisive writing and graphic illustrations.
An absolute joy and highly recommended even by my twelve year old football mad son.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sporting fun
My brother was the one who had to have the latest football comic, didn't stop me from picking it up and reading it myself though. Brought back loads of memories.
Published 1 month ago by S. W. Wright
A veritable gem.
This book is lovingly produced and extremely well researched.The authors have done their homework well. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2010 by G. Bailey
Football Comic Heros
Adam Riches has captured the magic of our football comic book heros magnificently. Whilst reading you are transported back in time to when you eagerly opened your new copy of Roy... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2009 by Andrew Simmons
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