Animal Planet cancelled in Thomson cutbacks

No doubt you've heard the news that D.C. Thomson announced massive cutbacks yesterday with 300 redundancies and several magazines being cancelled. 

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/feb/09/beano-stylist-dc-thomson-cut-staff

One of the titles ending is the superb Animal Planet magazine, which just goes to prove that quality is no guarantee of success. Animal Planet (recently retitled Animal Planet Kids) was a fun magazine about animals and the environment that was presented with more depth than most kids' mags. Its free gifts were also of a higher quality, created especially for the magazine and made of card or paper, not plastic, to reflect the magazine's respect for the environment. On the occasions where it was "bagged", even the bag was paper, not plastic.

I was an occasional contributor to Animal Planet, with the Bad Pets strip which was written by Nigel Auchterlounie. It'd rotate with other strips so it didn't appear every month but it was always a pleasure to contribute. There are still two unpublished strips; one featuring a moose (panel shown at the top of this post) and another featuring an octopus. I've no idea where or even if they'll ever be used but thank you to DCT editor Claire Bartlett for commissioning me for the gig. (Claire also works on the Beano.)

A far bigger blow of course is for the 300 staff who are about to lose their jobs. These are terrible times for publishing, or in most industries really, and my thoughts are with them.

With rising bills and less work it's hard to see any positive future in publishing. I wish I could end this post on a more upbeat note but I hope you'll enjoy these two examples of the Bad Pets strip that were so enjoyable to draw...

 

 

Another BAD PETS strip this month

I'm happy to say that there's another Bad Pets strip I've drawn in the latest issue of Animal Planet Kids magazine (No.25). Written by Nigel Aucterlounie and illustrated by me, the strip only appears now and then as it alternates with other strips but it's always fun to do. 

The magazine itself is a great educational publication for children, teaching them about animals of the world and their environment in a fun way. One of the best kids' mags on the market.

Animal Planet Kids No.25 is out now from newsagents and supermarkets.

https://www.animalplanetmagazine.com/

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Currently in print...!

It's been a while since I listed all the comics, mags, and books that my work currently appears in. These aren't all freshly published... Most of these have been out for quite some time but at the moment they're still currently available so if you wanted to check out my work, here's where to find it...

 

The77 Annual No.1:

Published in 2021, this brand new hardback book includes a variety of stories from creators such as Steve Pugh, Glenn Fabry, Andrew Sawyers and many more, plus The Origin of Doctor Plank, the villain from my Sgt.Shouty strip. You can buy it directly from the publisher at the following link, along with back issues of The77 comic in which Sgt.Shouty also appears...

https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/

 

This Comic Is Haunted No.1:

A new horror comic from The77 Publications which includes my newest strip, Short Sharp Shocks, complete comedy-horror one pagers. This great new comic is also available directly from the publisher at this link:

https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/

Doctor Who Magazine No.584

A great jumping-on point for new or lapsed readers with the start of Alan Barnes' and Lee Sullivan's exclusive 13-part 14th Doctor comic strip, continuing directly from the TV show! Plus my Daft Dimension mini-strip every month with a comedy spin on the Doctor Who universe. Available from Smiths, supermarkets, and comic shops.

https://doctorwhomagazine.com/doctor-who-magazine/doctor-who-magazine-584/

Animal Planet Kids No.23

Every now and then, I'm asked to contribute a Bad Pets mini strip to this magazine with Nigel Auchterlounie on scripts. The strip doesn't appear every issue as it alternates with mini strips by other creators but it's in the one that's currently on sale (until tomorrow) so it made the list. Available from newsagents and supermarkets.

Liverpool Heartbeat comics:

An occassional publication that has a different focus every issue. Fun, educational comic strips for children. So far I've contributed four pages each to Statues of Liverpool, The Queen, and Everest 2022, with scripts by the editor Tim Quinn. Available directly from the publisher at this link:

https://www.liverpoolheartbeat.co.uk/shop/

 

 

 

The Most Important Comic Book on Earth:

That's quite a grand title but it's justified as the whole intention of the book is to raise awareness and provide information about our changing climate. We all contibuted our work for free on this one and my page was a revival of Pedantic Stan the Comics Fan with writer and co-creator John Freeman. This mighty 350 page book is published by DK/Random House and is available from bookshops or from the places at this link...

https://linktr.ee/mostimportantcomic

The Dandy Annual 2023:

It's always a pleasure to contribute to this long-running annual and in this year's edition I've written and drawn several Postman Prat pages and eight Keyhole Kate mini-strips. Available from bookshops everywhere.

 

Beano Annual 2023:

I'm not a frequent contributor to this annual but I am in this current one, with eight Biffo the Bear mini-strips I've scripted and drawn. A privilege to work on such a classic character! Available from bookshops everywhere.

 

Cor!! Buster Bumper Fun Book:

Published by Rebellion in 2020, this 100 page softback book is still available. Collecting stories from the two Cor!! Buster Specials of recent times, I had great fun drawing brand new Buster strips (reviving the character for the first time in decades) and filling the pages with guest appearances by characters from the history of UK comics, - plus I also drew one of the Gums strips. Buster was written by John Freeman, whlst Gums was witten by Lizzie Boyle. Currently available at a discounted price from the publisher at this link:

https://shop.treasuryofbritishcomics.com/catalogue/RCA-H0018

 

Derek the Troll and Combat Colin comics:

My own self-published comics that I did a few years ago. Issues still available are the Derek the Troll special (which also includes the complete Rock Solid saga), and issues 2 and 3 of Combat Colin, reprinting my strips from over 30 years ago. You can buy them as brand new signed editions exclusively from me at my eBay store here:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/graphite47/m.html?item=203554298786

 

...and, yes, Combat Colin No.5 will finally be out next year, as will issue 6 hopefully! 

 

Monster Fun Halloween Spooktacular 2021:

The first special from Rebellion that revived the old Monster Fun Comic. For this I drew a two page strip written by Kek-W that brought back the 1960s Pow! strip, Wiz War for a new one-off story. Enjoyed that. Sadly I'm not involved with the ongoing Monster Fun comic for unknown reasons. You can buy this special from Rebellion's online shop:

https://shop.treasuryofbritishcomics.com/catalogue/RCS2152P

 

The Kirknewton Story:

The history of the Scottish town of Kirknewton, edited by Tony Foster and written by Colin Maxwell with chapters illustrated by various artists. I had the pleasure of drawing the two pager entitled Close Encounters! The comic was distributed free to every home in Kirknewton but you can buy a copy from the Shift Store at this link:

https://theshift.store/products/the-kirknewton-story

 

EXTRA: I should include digital comics too, and you'll find brand new Combat Colin three-pagers in the following issues of the digital anthology Aces Weekly published by David Lloyd. All issues of which are still available to read online...

You'll find the first one in Aces Weekly Volume 1 No.1. Colin and Semi-Automatic Steve encounter a new menace in the form of the Zombie-Yeds!



The second new complete story appeared in Aces Weekly Vol.8 No.7, with a guest appearance by The Giggly Sisters leading to Colin and Steve encountering their old enemy Madprof!



The third new Combat Colin strip appeared in Aces Weekly Vol.16 No.6, with our heroes flying into space to avert the Ass-teroid!



The fourth new strip appeared in Aces Weekly Vol.21 No.7, and saw Colin and Semi-Automatic Steve battle each other!
 

...and the fifth one in Vol.50, No.7.

https://www.acesweekly.co.uk/ 

If you're a professional publisher / editor and you're interested in commissioning me to contribute to your comics, books, or magazines please contact me at lew.stringer@BTinternet.com

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Another BAD PETS strip this month

There's a new Bad Pets mini-strip by me and writer Nigel Auchterlounie in the latest issue of Animal Planet Kids (No.23) which is in shops today.

It's not a magazine I contribute to every month. I'm commissioned to draw a strip now and then but it's always a mag I enjoy being in. Animal Planet Kids is a fun educational mag about animals and their environment and is a more substantial read than some kids' mags around today. 

You'll find it in newsagents and supermarkets across the UK.  

https://www.animalplanetmagazine.com/subscribe/

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Bad Pets are back this month

Every now and then, writer Nigel Aucterlounie and me produce a Bad Pets strip for D.C. Thomson's Animal Planet magazine. It's used in rotation with other strips so it doesn't appear very often but there's one in the current issue, out today.

The magazine was recently retitled, and Animal Planet is now Animal Planet Kids, with a brighter, more eye-catching logo. It's a fantastic magazine dedicated to featuring articles about animals and the environment, educating readers in a fun and entertaining way. I'm always pleased to be a contributor to such a worthwhile venture. 

If you have children, or you just want to read a fun mag about the topic for yourselves, Animal Planet Kids No.21 is in newsagents and supermarkets now. Respecting the environment, the magazine is never bagged in plastic and never has plastic gifts. This issue comes in a paper packet and as well as the usual 52 page magazine, includes a poster/board game, stickers, and "2 surprise" gifts. (I got a packet of Viola Seeds and a pack of cards).

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Bad Pets is back this month!

As I've mentioned before, I'm occasionally asked to contribute to D.C. Thomson's ANIMAL PLANET magazine and there's a new one out today that I drew a strip for. Writer Nigel Auchterlounie and I have done another Bad Pets mini-strip for issue 17, in shops now including WH Smith, Sainsburys, Asda, and other supermarkets. 

Comic fans might assume that Animal Planet is set in a future where animals rule the Earth (and would that be a bad thing?) but, no, it's a splendid 68 page mag featuring articles and photos about the animals we share our world with and the environment they live in. 

Official site:

https://www.animalplanetmagazine.com/

You can also buy the digital version from PocketMags:

https://pocketmags.com/animal-planet-magazine

BAD PETS return in today's ANIMAL PLANET Magazine

Every now and then I'm asked to draw a mini-strip called Bad Pets, written by brilliant Nigel Auchterlounie, for D.C. Thomson's ANIMAL PLANET magazine. Very proud to contribute to this as it's a superb kids' mag about animals and the environment. I'm in the latest issue which is out today from all good newsagents and supermarkets.

The publishers have another two Bad Pets strips to use but I'm not sure when it'll be published as that space in the mag is usually given to another strip. Hopefully there'll be more work at some point but I've only been in four issues over the past twelve months so I have to see it as just a nice occassional addition to my portfolio rather than regular work. It's a good mag though and well worth buying for your kids!

 

 

BAD PETS return

Occasionally I'm asked to contribute to Animal Planet Magazine which I enjoy very much as it's a mag educating kids about animals and the environment, - in a fun way of course. Issue 11, out today, features another Bad Pets mini strip written by Nigel Auchterlounie and drawn by me. The issue has something of a winter/snow theme to it so I couldn't resist putting a Christmas tree into the strip. 

Animal Planet Magazine No.11 has 68 packed pages and is out now in all good newsagents and supermarkets, or you can subscribe online...

https://www.animalplanetmagazine.com/

https://pocketmags.com/animal-planet-magazine 

Animal Planet!

Occassionally I contribute to Animal Planet magazine with a comic strip called Bad Pets, written by Nigel Auchterlounie and drawn by me. Two have appeared so far, in issues 4 and 6. (The one from issue 6 is shown above.) They have two more in stock and I've been commissioned to draw another two this week for future issues.

Strips by other artists appear in the issues I'm not in. Sometimes they're mis-credited to me unfortunately but you'd probably spot the difference in styles. (Plus I always sign my strips, so if there isn't my signature on it those aren't by me.)

Animal Planet is an excellent mag, with 68 pages each issue educating kids about the environment and the animals we share our world with. Very proud to be a contributor. I'll let you know when my work appears in it again.

 

 

Bad Pets!

A while back I drew a mini-strip called Bad Pets (written by the Beano's brilliant Nigel Auchterlounie) for the new ANIMAL PLANET magazine, and it's in print today in issue No.4.

Our contribution is just a one off so far but I really hope there'll be more in the future as it was fun to do. Animal Planet is a great kids' mag, themed around (you guessed it) animals and the environment. In shops now. A bargain at 64 pages for £3.99.

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