Wednesday 23 April 2014

Beano boost

Here's a panel from my latest Rasher strip that's in today's Beano. I've enjoyed drawing the fat pig over the three series it's run but I sent off my final one this week. Yes, Rasher's having a rest, and the last one will appear in June. 

All is not doom and gloom though. I'm still doing another mini-strip for the weekly, and hopefully that will be starting soon. Also, I have a lot of pages to write and draw for next year's annuals. The first scripts have been approved and I'll be drawing The Smasher tomorrow for The Dandy Annual 2016.

On a wider scale, I was pleased to read that thanks to the recent free special issue in the Mail on Sunday, The Beano's sales have increased 25%! It's also gained 1,400 new subscribers. Proof that if more kids are aware of the comic, more will buy it! Never Be Without A Beano!

17 comments:

George Shiers said...

25%! Wow! That's excellent news - far more than I was expecting.

Lew Stringer said...

Yep, not to be sniffed at. Very pleasing too, considering that distribution is still a problem. None of my three local shops will stock it, and the shops in town did not increase their orders. I bought two copies from my local WH Smith today so that's them out of stock now until next issue! How many potential readers are missing out I wonder?

Presumably supplies were increased in other areas for them to achieve the sales boost, but I have to wonder how much higher they might have been if more copies reached newsagents.

Lew Stringer said...

It seems that the news of The Beano's improving fortunes annoyed someone so much that they posted an anonymous personally insulting comment. Really? The good news irritated you that much Anon? That's just weird. I'm not publishing your comment or any others of a similar nature you might send so give up gracefully and try and be pleased that sales on Britain's longest running comic have picked up.

Graham said...

You have to wonder what kind of person posts abuse on blogs. Anonymous? A coward then.

Lew Stringer said...

Absolutely. Back to more important matters, any comment on the Beano news?

Graham said...

I don't read Beano but it's good news.

Anonymous said...

Still making things up as you go along then? Although having conversations with yourself is weird.

Lew Stringer said...

I get paid for making things up, but there's nothing fictitious about your trolling, - and your trolling in order to tell me I'm making up a story of being trolled is just shooting yourself in the foot. But thanks for the unintentional laugh!

Now push off, you sad creep.

Anonymous said...

That's abuse. I thought you didn't do that. Remember, one man's troll is another man's hero. You say you're laughing but you're crying inside. Bye fatty.

Lew Stringer said...

Nice lyrics. How does the tune go?

Graham said...

I'm real but my girlfriend is imaginary.

Lew Stringer said...

Ha!

Kro said...

For the life of me I cannot figure out why someone would become so horrible after reading the news you posted Lew. Please ignore this creature and continue bringing us good comics.

paul widing said...

really is time to call the thunder god ... these damn trolls are getting brazen coming out in daylight :) paul

Lew Stringer said...

But never brazen enough to reveal his name. A lesser spotted yellabelly troll methinks. :)

Mondeo Lad said...

Ignore abusive people and keep up the fantastic work Lew.

The Beano sales news is awesome, I hope they can build on that now as well.

Lew Stringer said...

Thanks ML. Yes, there will probably be a bit of a drop again as not every kid will get into the habit of buying it every week, but hopefully it'll keep above the previous sales figures. The news of subscriptions picking up is good too.