The New Dandy (or Whoopee! or whatever)

[starscape]

Hi all

There's a bunch of us (mainly from Comics UK) interested in starting a new traditional children's comic.  Not a parody.  Not a clone.  In this issue, a superhero dies! (oops, got carried away).  There are professional and small press creators willing to come on board but room for plenty more.  Also, a chance for writers, designers, letterers etc too.

There's 8,000 kids (and big kids) missing their comic, as much as I missed mine when the 'great news for all readers' was announced.  So, why not give it a go?  There's room for a few adventure stories a la Q-Bikes, Billy the Cat etc style but mainly childrens humour stories.

Supermarkets would be very very difficult but there's a chance with comic shops. Yep, it seems to be the wrong market but a record shop was the wrong place to buy CDs...until they started stocking CDs. Why shouldn't a comic shop stock comics of different kinds?

At the moment, it looks like a summer/winter special, approx. 50 pages, or so, for about £3.99 in shops/Amazon etc or less (probably knock about a pound off) if bought online at a dedicated webstore (as distributors take about 50% of the cover price), plus web downloads too.

Things like names of the comic can wait but suggestions (reasonable ones, so no licensed characters, TV commercials or things that cost oodles of money - unless you're paying natch) welcome.

At the moment, it's profit share (sorry, no payment upfront).  Whether it makes a profit or I make a loss all depends if we can get kids excited in it. Having said that, it'll be mostly one to five page stories, so it's not like you have to produce a graphic novel.

There's a thread at Comics UK (http://comicsuk.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5080) but feel free to PM me here, email me at editorATstarscapecomicDOTcom or just add to that or this thread.

[starscape]

Whoops, that's editorATstarcapecomicDOTco.uk

[Bat King]

I'm interested. I am a writer, unpublished in any meaningful way.

I'd probably find child-adventure more my forte than child-humour. But I will think of a few pitches for you. Any I think of that I doubt I can do justice to I will pitch the idea and let you run with it with any writer/artist combo that can do it. A creator credit would be fine

I have three of my own projects already on the burner. One is for books, so you aren't getting that right now, though it could easily be a comic. One is indeed a comic strip, that will be a pitch. The other was comic or book.

Registered over on Comics UK, in my real name Steve Hargett, just now so can't reply there.

[Cthulouis]

I too am interested. Examples of my art can be found on my blog here: http://lrgcarter.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/My%20Art

[M.I.K.]

Sounds like my kind of thing, (rummage around in my blog and you'll see what I mean).

I assume the creators keep the copyright of their stuff?

[starscape]

I assume the creators keep the copyright of their stuff?

Yeah, sure.

Still open for more creators, then I can get back to people with ideas and schedules.

Thanks.

[a chosen rider]

I'd be interesting in contributing as a writer.  I'm thinking probably something in the comedy fantasy genre: wizards, knights and dragons, etc.  No comics credits to my name, but I have some young adult novels published and experience with writing for a reading age of eight.  What's your intended age range for this?

[starscape]

The Dandy states that they are aimed at the 9-14 year olds.  Seems a little high.  I'd have thought 7-12 would be a more realistic figure. Just think when you read the Beano/Whizzer & Chips/Krazy etc and hopefully that will guide you.

[CrazyFoxMachine]

Yep. Again.

[Alski]

I'd love to write a brand new, children's character, just like we used to love!

What format will it be in? Same size as current news stand kids comics? Need to know for panel numbers.

[starscape]

Yep, A4.  US-comic size would have been better but it's just too expensive to do anything in colour unless you can guarantee selling thousands. I hope we do but can't bet on it.

[Alski]

Well that was a fun bit of scripting. Very hard not to fall into doing it Viz style!

[Alski]

There hasn't been a comic called Bonkers.

[Alski]

Never heard back from this - anyone got any news?