"Комета" - Британдық оқу журналының тарихы

British weekly comic

The Comet was a weekly British comics periodical published by J. B. Allen and later Amalgamated Press and Fleetway Publications from 20 September 1946 to 17 October 1959. Initially a children's newspaper, The Comet was transformed into a boys' adventure comic in May 1949 by editor Edward Holmes when J. B. Allen were purchased by Amalgamated Press. Also known as Comet Comic, The Comet Adventure Weekly, Comet Weekly and simply Comet as various points the title continued until October 1959, reaching 580 issues before being merged with another AP boys' comic, Tiger.

After the end of World War II, Sale, Greater Manchester publisher J. B. Allen opted to take advantage of the conflict's impact on story papers and comics. Paper rationing had seen many established pre war titles fold or merge with other publications, while children's literature had naturally been low priority as cargo on Atlantic convoys, ending importation of American comic books. As such, there were gaps in the post war market. Launched on 20 September 1946, The Comet was the first new British comic launched since before the war, and consisted of eight 9.5 inch by 12.25 inch pages, some enhancing the black and white with red ink, and was priced at 2d. The fortnightly paper was a mix of picture strips (initially adventure story "Round the World in the Flying Fish" and literary adaptation "Treasure Island"), illustrated prose stories and comedic cartoons.

The paper was a success, and a third picture strip new cover feature "Jungle Lord" was added in February 1947, which saw the title convert to two tone glossy photogravure. In October 1947, The Comet was joined by companion publication Sun (an overhauled relaunch of bi weekly health magazine Fitness and Sun). while also instigating the creation of early British superhero Thunderbolt Jaxon. Based on this experience, Holmes decided to reinvent The Comet as a through and through boys' adventure title, phasing out the humour cartoons, though briefly featuring the female led "June" a young, innocent but equally disaster prone version of Norman Pett's newspaper pin up icon Jane. Buck Jones and Thunderbolt Jaxon were chosen to spearhead the newly rebranded Comet Comic, initially using the extant art. (who was also appearing in Knockout at the time). Good response to Westerns saw Holmes bring in Kit Carson in September 1950 as a replacement for Buck Jones, while the adventures of 'wonder horse' Gallant Bess and a European import based on the exploits of Buffalo Bill were also featured. Other adventure genres were represented by swashbuckler Guy Gallant, who took over the front page in February 1951, and the exploits of the improbably named ace reporter Splash Page (previously an ally of detective Sexton Blake in the pages of Union Jack), while Billy Bunter transitioned to a picture strip. Fantasy was provided by Professor Jolly and his Sky Adventurers, initially a text comic before becoming a full picture strip and running until 3 April 1953, taking over from Guy Gallant on the front cover. Also popular with readers was Butterworth's retelling of the Norman conquest of Britain in "Under the Golden Dragon", illustrated by Patrick Nicolle on the colour centre pages which would be home to several historical epics. Less enduring was Dick Barton, who appeared on the front cover some three years after the famous radio show had ended, before disappearing nine months later. and the strip was another to run until the final issue. June 1957 saw a format change, dropping the front cover strip in favour of a full page art cover. The various stories created for Comet have been owned by Rebellion Publishing since 2018.