Sunday, April 23, 2006
Websites For Comics Research
The following are the best places to go. Links in red are the key sites; those in orange are shortcuts from the key sites...
BBC's History of Comics is very useful and most of you will already know this site. It includes Funny Comics, Girls' Comics and Boys' Comics.
Comics UK is a great site that has a drop-down menu linking to a range of resources. For instance, the section on Comics has further links to The Beano and The Dandy where you can see a selection of covers since they were first published.
Both Wikkipedia and NationMaster have detailed encyclopedia articles on British comics. There are also links from these articles to important areas like American comics.
The Dandy has its own website, as does The Beano, and their publisher DC Thompson too where you can download a detailed Media Information Pack about their two longest-running titles, containing vital information about circulation figures, audience profiles and advertising rates. Also check out this BBC News article about the re-launch of Dandy in 2005.
It is important to consider other titles as well as the big two. Disney Comics Worldwide has a database of all the current titles available that feature Disney characters (like Disney Princess and W.i.t.c.h.) where you can link to sample front covers and info about target audiences and publishers, such as Egmont.
Finally, another big publisher is Panini Comics who provide links to all their titles (including Cartoon Network, Scooby Doo and Marvel titles like Spiderman) with each one featuring a sample cover.
BBC's History of Comics is very useful and most of you will already know this site. It includes Funny Comics, Girls' Comics and Boys' Comics.
Comics UK is a great site that has a drop-down menu linking to a range of resources. For instance, the section on Comics has further links to The Beano and The Dandy where you can see a selection of covers since they were first published.
Both Wikkipedia and NationMaster have detailed encyclopedia articles on British comics. There are also links from these articles to important areas like American comics.
The Dandy has its own website, as does The Beano, and their publisher DC Thompson too where you can download a detailed Media Information Pack about their two longest-running titles, containing vital information about circulation figures, audience profiles and advertising rates. Also check out this BBC News article about the re-launch of Dandy in 2005.
It is important to consider other titles as well as the big two. Disney Comics Worldwide has a database of all the current titles available that feature Disney characters (like Disney Princess and W.i.t.c.h.) where you can link to sample front covers and info about target audiences and publishers, such as Egmont.
Finally, another big publisher is Panini Comics who provide links to all their titles (including Cartoon Network, Scooby Doo and Marvel titles like Spiderman) with each one featuring a sample cover.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Comics Workshop
Well done to all those who turned up to the Year 11 Children's Comics Revision Class/Workshop. There were more than 60 of you and everyone worked really hard and achieved a great deal. Mr Wainwright - our professional comics guru - was very informative and helped you to produce some superb comic strips in your groups, ably supported by Ms Dol, Mr Munro and Ms Twebti.
What you see below are the finished efforts. Click on the image to enlarge it, then click on it again to make it larger still. This will allow you to see the fantastic work produced in fine detail and should inspire you and give you ideas for the Controlled Test in May.
Please post up comments to any of the stories you particularly like - say what you think their strengths are and what you enjoy about them. When you've seen them all, please vote in the poll on the sidebar on the left. The top ten have already been selected for you - now you need to decide which is number one. But the truth is that every single one is a real winner...so well done to you all, again!
And, don't forget...all Year 11s must individually produce a finished colour comic strip (on either A3 or A4 paper) over the Easter holiday for the special cash-prize competition. The deadline is the first lesson back...Thursday 20th April. Good luck!
What you see below are the finished efforts. Click on the image to enlarge it, then click on it again to make it larger still. This will allow you to see the fantastic work produced in fine detail and should inspire you and give you ideas for the Controlled Test in May.
Please post up comments to any of the stories you particularly like - say what you think their strengths are and what you enjoy about them. When you've seen them all, please vote in the poll on the sidebar on the left. The top ten have already been selected for you - now you need to decide which is number one. But the truth is that every single one is a real winner...so well done to you all, again!
And, don't forget...all Year 11s must individually produce a finished colour comic strip (on either A3 or A4 paper) over the Easter holiday for the special cash-prize competition. The deadline is the first lesson back...Thursday 20th April. Good luck!
Billy Bob's Bad Day
The Adventures of Priya
Timid Timothy
Daring Sunny
Monkey Dance
Ruby the Rebel
Alley Cats
Death Glider
Speedy Sukh
Belinder the Boxer
Monkey Man
Milky Malcom
Naughty Girls
The Singhs
The Smoothies
The Big Bang
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Comics Revision Class
Starts at 9am tomorrow (until 4pm) - Monday 3rd April in the Post-16 Centre.Don't miss out on the opportunity to spend the day getting advice from and working with a professional comics artist to help you prepare for the Controlled Test in May.
It is particularly important that you attend if you are considering applying for A Level Media Studies next year as there is a minimum requirement of a GCSE grade B.
You can still come even if you haven't handed in a slip - just turn up on time with a note from home giving you permission.
And please bring any coloured pencils, pens and fineliners you have, as well as your comics folders containing all your comics worksheets.
