Jump to content

The Beezer: Difference between revisions

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Eric Corbett (talk | contribs)
45,616 edits
→top: ce
Unlinking circular redirects: Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/The Beezer Book closed as redirect (XFDcloser)
 
(18 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British comic magazine}}
{{About|the British comic||Beezer (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the British comic||Beezer (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
⚫
{{Infobox Magazine
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
⚫
{{Infobox magazine
|title = The Beezer
|title = The Beezer
|editor = [[Leo Baxendale]], [[Gordon Bell (artist)|Gordon Bell]], [[Paddy Brennan]], [[David Law (cartoonist)|David Law]], [[Tom Paterson]], [[Bill Ritchie]], [[Dudley D. Watkins]], [[Malcolm Judge]], [[John Geering]]
|editor = unknown
⚫
|editor_title = Cartoonists
|image_file =
|image_file =
|image_size =
|image_size =
|image_caption =
|image_caption =
⚫
|editor_title =
|staff_writer =
|staff_writer =
|circulation =
|circulation =
|frequency = [[Week]]ly
|frequency = [[Week]]ly
|category = [[British comics]]
|category = [[British comics]]
|company = [[D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd]]
|company =
|publisher = [[D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd.]]
|publisher =
|firstdate = 21 January 1956
|firstdate = 21 January 1956
|finaldate = 21 August 1993
|finaldate = 21 August 1993
Line 22: Line 25:
}}
}}


'''''The Beezer''''' (called '''''The Beezer and Topper''''' for the last 3 years of publication) was a British [[comic book|comic]] that ran from (issues dates) 21 January 1956 to 21 August 1993.
'''''The Beezer''''' (called '''''The Beezer and Topper''''' for the last three years of publication) was a British [[comic book|comic]] that ran from (issues dates) 21 January 1956 to 21 August 1993, published by [[D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd.]] Comic strips in ''The Beezer'' were a mix of irreverence, slapstick, and adventure; notable creators included [[Leo Baxendale]], [[Gordon Bell (artist)|Gordon Bell]], [[Paddy Brennan]], [[David Law (cartoonist)|David Law]], [[Tom Paterson]], [[Bill Ritchie]], [[Dudley D. Watkins]], [[Malcolm Judge]], and [[John Geering]].


== Publication history ==
Like its sister comic, ''[[Topper (comic book)|The Topper]]'', ''The Beezer'' was an A3 ([[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]) publication, twice as big as most other comics. It shrank to [[A4 paper size]] in 1981.
Like its sister comic, ''[[Topper (comic book)|The Topper]]'', ''The Beezer'' was an A3 ([[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloid]]) publication, twice as big as most other comics. It shrank to [[A4 paper size]] in 1981.


Comics that merged into ''The Beezer'' during its 37-year run were ''[[Cracker (comic)|Cracker]]'' in 1976, and ''[[Plug (comic)|Plug]]'' in 1979.
Comics that merged into ''The Beezer'' during its 37-year run were ''[[Cracker (comic)|Cracker]]'' in 1976, and ''[[Plug (comic)|Plug]]'' in 1979.


The Beezer launched an annual, ''[[The Beezer Book]]'', in 1957; this continued in publication following the closure of the weekly comic, and ran until the 2003 book (published 2002).
The Beezer launched an annual, ''The Beezer Book'', in 1957; this continued in publication following the closure of the weekly comic, and ran until the 2003 book (published 2002).


==''Beezer and Topper'' and closure==
=== 1990 merger with ''The Topper'' ===
⚫
In September 1990, DC Thomson decided to rationalise their comics portfolio, and merged the ''Beezer'' with ''The [[Topper (comic)|Topper]]''. Whereas most previous comic mergers saw the name of one of the 'absorbed' comics disappear, the ''Topper'' was considered significant enough for its name to be retained despite the merger, and as such the comic was renamed ''Beezer and Topper'' following the relaunch. (''[[Whizzer and Chips]]'' was conceived as a double comic, and was not the result of a merger.)


=== Cancellation/merger with ''The Beano'' ===
⚫
In September 1990, ''[[D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd|D. C. Thomson]]'' decided to rationalise their comics portfolio, and merged the ''Beezer'' with ''The [[Topper (comic)|Topper]]''. Whereas most previous comic mergers saw the name of one of the 'absorbed' comics disappear, the ''Topper'' was considered significant enough for its name to be retained despite the merger, and as such the comic was renamed ''Beezer and Topper'' following the relaunch. (''[[Whizzer and Chips]]'' was conceived as a double comic, and was not the result of a merger.)
⚫
''Beezer and Topper'' ceased publication as a weekly comic in 1993; when it closed it was essentially (unofficially) "merged" with ''[[The Beano]]'', as this is where the bulk of surviving content from the comic (most prominently ''[[The Numskulls]]'') ended up. Some also went to DC Thomson's other surviving weekly comic, ''[[The Dandy]]''.


== Annuals and other ''Beezer'' publications ==
⚫
''Beezer and Topper'' ceased publication as a weekly comic in 1993; when it closed it was essentially (unofficially) "merged" with ''[[The Beano]]'', as this is where the bulk of surviving content from the comic (most prominently ''[[The Numskulls]]'') ended up. (Some also went to D. C. Thomson's other surviving weekly comic, ''[[The Dandy]]''.)
⚫
Although the weekly ''Beezer'' and ''Topper'' had merged, the two comics' annuals (''The Beezer Book'' and ''[[The Topper Book]]'') remained separate publications. The closure of ''Beezer and Topper'' led to the closure of the ''Topper'' annual as of the 1994 book (published 1993), but ''The Beezer Book'' continued in publication annually for some years thereafter, eventually ceasing with the 2003 book (published 2002). Other ''Beezer'' publications that continued after the weekly comic's closure were ''The Best of Beezer'' (launched 1988, closed 1996) and ''The Beezer Summer Special'' (launched 1973, known as the 'Holiday Special' from 1998 onwards, closed 2002).


⚫
Vintage strips from the ''Beezer'' were published alongside stories from other DC Thomson publications in ''[[Classics from the Comics]]'', which was published from 1996 to 2010.
⚫
Although the weekly ''Beezer'' and ''Topper'' had merged, the two comics' annuals ([[The Beezer Book]] and [[The Topper Book]]) remained separate publications. The closure of ''Beezer and Topper'' led to the closure of the ''Topper'' annual as of the 1994 book (published 1993), but [[The Beezer Book]] continued in publication annually for some years thereafter, eventually ceasing with the 2003 book (published 2002). Other ''Beezer'' publications which continued after the weekly comic's closure were ''The Best of Beezer'' (launched 1988, closed 1996) and ''The Beezer Summer Special'' (launched 1973, known as the 'Holiday Special' from 1998 onwards, closed 2002).


A ''The Best of the Beezer Annual'' was released in 2014, published by [[Pedigree Books]] as part of the ''Retro Classics'' series.<ref>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Retro-Classics-Best-Beezer-Annual-ebook/dp/B0115RTFS4 ''Retro Classics: The Best of The Beezer Annual''] (DC Thomson, 2016).</ref> It contained reprints of old Beezer comics. Despite the name saying "annual", a second book was never released.
⚫
Vintage strips from the ''Beezer'' were published alongside stories from other D. C. Thomson publications in [[Classics from the Comics]], which was published from 1996 to 2010.


==Strips==
==Strips==
''The Beezer'' was home to 120 different comic strips over the years.
{{main|List of Beezer comic strips|List of Beezer and Topper comic strips}}
{{main|List of Beezer comic strips|List of Beezer and Topper comic strips}}


==Notable creators==
== See also ==
⚫
{{see also|List of DC Thomson publications}}
Well known creators who worked for Beezer include:
*[[Leo Baxendale]]
*[[Gordon Bell (artist)|Gordon Bell]]
*[[Paddy Brennan]]
*[[David Law]]
*[[Tom Paterson]]
*[[Bill Ritchie]]
*[[Dudley D. Watkins]]
*[[Malcolm Judge]]
*[[John Geering]]


==References==
==References==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== Sources ===
* Moore, Ray. ''The Book of the Beezer'' (CJ Publications, 1997).

== External links ==
*[http://www.26pigs.com/beezer/index.html Beezer on 26pigs.com]
*[http://www.26pigs.com/beezer/index.html Beezer on 26pigs.com]
*[http://thebeezersgoldenyears.blogspot.com/2010/01/history-of-beezer.html The Beezer's Golden Years]
*[http://thebeezersgoldenyears.blogspot.com/2010/01/history-of-beezer.html The Beezer's Golden Years]

<references />
⚫
{{see also|List of DC Thomson publications}}


{{D. C. Thomson Comics}}
{{D. C. Thomson Comics}}
Line 67: Line 70:
[[Category:DC Thomson Comics titles]]
[[Category:DC Thomson Comics titles]]
[[Category:Defunct British comics]]
[[Category:Defunct British comics]]
[[Category:British comics magazines]]
[[Category:Comics magazines published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:British humour comics]]
[[Category:British humour comics]]
[[Category:1956 comics debuts]]
[[Category:1956 comics debuts]]
Line 73: Line 76:
[[Category:Magazines established in 1956]]
[[Category:Magazines established in 1956]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 1993]]
[[Category:Magazines disestablished in 1993]]
[[Category:British weekly magazines]]
[[Category:Weekly magazines published in the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 01:32, 1 May 2024

This article is about the British comic. For other uses, see Beezer (disambiguation).

The Beezer
CartoonistsLeo Baxendale, Gordon Bell, Paddy Brennan, David Law, Tom Paterson, Bill Ritchie, Dudley D. Watkins, Malcolm Judge, John Geering
CategoriesBritish comics
FrequencyWeekly
PublisherD. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd.
First issue21 January 1956
Final issue
Number		21 August 1993
1809
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Beezer (called The Beezer and Topper for the last three years of publication) was a British comic that ran from (issues dates) 21 January 1956 to 21 August 1993, published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd. Comic strips in The Beezer were a mix of irreverence, slapstick, and adventure; notable creators included Leo Baxendale, Gordon Bell, Paddy Brennan, David Law, Tom Paterson, Bill Ritchie, Dudley D. Watkins, Malcolm Judge, and John Geering.

Publication history

[edit]

Like its sister comic, The Topper, The Beezer was an A3 (tabloid) publication, twice as big as most other comics. It shrank to A4 paper size in 1981.

Comics that merged into The Beezer during its 37-year run were Cracker in 1976, and Plug in 1979.

The Beezer launched an annual, The Beezer Book, in 1957; this continued in publication following the closure of the weekly comic, and ran until the 2003 book (published 2002).

1990 merger with The Topper

[edit]

In September 1990, DC Thomson decided to rationalise their comics portfolio, and merged the Beezer with The Topper. Whereas most previous comic mergers saw the name of one of the 'absorbed' comics disappear, the Topper was considered significant enough for its name to be retained despite the merger, and as such the comic was renamed Beezer and Topper following the relaunch. (Whizzer and Chips was conceived as a double comic, and was not the result of a merger.)

Cancellation/merger with The Beano

[edit]

Beezer and Topper ceased publication as a weekly comic in 1993; when it closed it was essentially (unofficially) "merged" with The Beano, as this is where the bulk of surviving content from the comic (most prominently The Numskulls) ended up. Some also went to DC Thomson's other surviving weekly comic, The Dandy.

Annuals and other Beezer publications

[edit]

Although the weekly Beezer and Topper had merged, the two comics' annuals (The Beezer Book and The Topper Book) remained separate publications. The closure of Beezer and Topper led to the closure of the Topper annual as of the 1994 book (published 1993), but The Beezer Book continued in publication annually for some years thereafter, eventually ceasing with the 2003 book (published 2002). Other Beezer publications that continued after the weekly comic's closure were The Best of Beezer (launched 1988, closed 1996) and The Beezer Summer Special (launched 1973, known as the 'Holiday Special' from 1998 onwards, closed 2002).

Vintage strips from the Beezer were published alongside stories from other DC Thomson publications in Classics from the Comics, which was published from 1996 to 2010.

A The Best of the Beezer Annual was released in 2014, published by Pedigree Books as part of the Retro Classics series.[1] It contained reprints of old Beezer comics. Despite the name saying "annual", a second book was never released.

Strips

[edit]

The Beezer was home to 120 different comic strips over the years.

Main articles: List of Beezer comic strips and List of Beezer and Topper comic strips

See also

[edit]
See also: List of DC Thomson publications

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^ Retro Classics: The Best of The Beezer Annual (DC Thomson, 2016).

Sources

[edit]
  • Moore, Ray. The Book of the Beezer (CJ Publications, 1997).
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=The_Beezer&oldid=1221630502"