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| Artwork I did for the Beano a few years ago. |
According to The Sunday Post the Beano is changing the name of Fatty (from the Bash Street Kids) to Freddy. It's no big deal, and doesn't affect the stories at all, but hopefully it will avoid readers from considering "fatty" as a justified insult to use against their classmates.
However... the news has caused an uproar on some comics groups and forums. Middle aged men complaining that it's "another nail in the coffin of our childhood" and "our childhood stuff is being destroyed by the snowflake generation". (Actual quotes.) The Daily Express website blamed "Woke Britain" as though being considerate was a crime. These angry guys usually reveal that they stopped reading the Beano decades ago, but somehow they're now personally offended by changes to a children's comic as if it's any of their business.
Of course, the changes haven't destroyed their childhoods. The present can't alter the past. Their old Beano collections haven't been rewritten, and they can still collect back issues they've never seen to experience stories the way they like them.
It comes down to fear of change, and I suppose they feel lost in a changing world, but society has never remained static. There are certainly more important things for adults to get angry about than a name change to a character in a kids comic. Meanwhile, thousands of children still enjoy the Beano every week and long may they do so.
Link to the Sunday Post article:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/bash-street-kids-fatty-freddy/
Article on Down the Tubes:
https://downthetubes.net/?p=127346
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I wasn't aware of the name change but in hindsight it's probably a pretty decent move. Naming a character "fatty" is pretty cruel. I can just hear the outcry though from "it's PC gone mad" to "what about Spotty's name" etc. Good on DCT as long as they don't slim Freddy down as well.
ReplyDeletesome things I don't like when they change cause they can be really stupid, like when they do a film version of a book and change a character name for no reason, though often it's just a sign of how good the film is going to be (If I wanna watch a film based on a book, I kinda want it BASED on the book, not loosely inspired by), some changes make sense and I'm fine with.
ReplyDeleteI see no problem with this change apart from the fact that it won't work.. I don't really remember the other kids calling him fatty as an insult and being a produce of consent bulling throughout school life, I would say that it won't work at all. Kids will still use lines as insults, Kids being bullied would notice that they call one person one name but often people fatter then themselves are 'fine' and not insulted, so the words are meaningless.
To quote a line I really like from the Star Trek (Original) episode 'The Savage Curtain', the line written by either or both Arthur Heinemann and Gene Roddenberry "But why should I object to that term, sir? You see, in our century we've learned not to fear words"
anyway.. won't work but could argue a noble attempt. His name has already been setup as Fred so it's not a change really. Though I do wonder why some of the other somewhat 'insult' names are being left.. I can take it that 'Toots' for a girl is somehow outdated to a point that no kids knows what it means, and the whole Plug thing too.. but Spotty is still an insult so I wonder why not just Jamie but oh well. It's not much of a change, well intentioned but ultimately isn't gonna do much.
Slightly saddened, no more than that, and agree with the sentiment of your comments. Just hope "Freddy" doesn't go on a diet, or become vegan.
ReplyDeleteWell written, well said and bloody well done! Could not agree with you more Lew.
ReplyDeleteIt won't get rid of bullying, Manic, but it's simply the Beano acknowledging that what was considered OK in the 1950s isn't OK now. For the same reasoning, they no longer have Dennis bullying Walter, and children aren't shown to be hit by adults as punishment.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments folks.
"but it's simply the Beano acknowledging that what was considered OK in the 1950s isn't OK now"... last time I looked, it is 2021; the 1950s ended over 60 years ago!
ReplyDeleteConcerned of Bedworth
"but it's simply the Beano acknowledging that what was considered OK in the 1950s isn't OK now"... last time I looked, it is 2021; the 1950s ended over 60 years ago!
ReplyDeleteConcerned of Bedworth
Did the children ask for this ? Yes whackings were given for bad behaviour in The Beano and The Dandy by the fine artists then. .
ReplyDeleteyep. Like i said, won't work but no problem with it and trying.
ReplyDeletethough last issue I flipped through of the Beano... Walter is a pretty nasty bully these days.. but oh well ^_^
Walter is now a devious manipulator but he doesn't physically bully anyone, and his actions are shown to backfire.
ReplyDeleteYes Anon. I chose the 1950s because that's where The Bash Street Kids originated, and because some of the older complainers haven't read it for decades.
Yes Anon 2. Apparently children have been asking why he was called Fatty. The links provided explained: “We’ve recently received a number of letters from kids asking us why Frederick Brown was called Fatty by himself and his classmates. Although it’s always been used affectionately, and never pejoratively, we agreed it’s time it changed.”
@manicman What won't work? It's simply a name change its not a mission to stop bullies.
ReplyDeleteThey made the exact same change to Fatty Fudge (he's now Frederick Fudge) a few years ago and nobody complained about that. Of course, he's also now Minnie's friend and not someone she picks on.
ReplyDeleteThey'd have complained if they'd known about it. The people moaning aren't even buying the comic so they only react if it gets into the news, even though it doesn't affect them in the slightest. The abrasive reactions to this have been very strange indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for answer Lew, did not mean to send my question so many times.
ReplyDeleteConcerned of Bedworth
James: Fatty Fudge, like Fatty of the BSK, was Frederick as far back as (at least!) the 1990s—it just wasn't his more common name. It does seem a little odd to me that BSK Fatty was given the same name.
ReplyDeleteFred has long been a commonly used name in humour comics. I suppose there's enough distinction between "Freddy" of BSK and "Frederick" of MM to avoid any confustion.
ReplyDeleteActually, to avoid even more confusion (or cause it) I've just been informed that Fatty Fudge has been FRANCIS Fudge for some time now.
ReplyDeleteHe should only stop being called fatty if he loses weight and eating all those donuts certainly won't help. That's why he's so fat.
ReplyDeleteSo you're in favour of bullying. No surprise you didn't put your name to your comment.
ReplyDeleteBit late on this one Lew, sorry!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, the other commenters, and The Beano on Freddy/Francis. While there are legitimate arguments against 're-writing the past', this is not one of them, for the reasons stated at the beginning of your article.
I can remember an occasional character called 'Fatty Haddock' appearing as a TV cook in the Beano strip 'The Three Bears', when the bears were watching their TV and drooling over whatever she was cooking. The amusement came purely from the play on the name of an actual celebrity which comics used to do - in this case, an obvious reference to the then popular TV chef Fanny Craddock. And of course, Fatty Haddock was a 'grown-up' character, which probably changes things slightly.
I wonder what the people who made those 'outraged' comments would say about Colonel Blink (tagline 'the short-sighted gink'), from The Beezer? As always, people take a position and defend it incessantly, instead of at least trying looking at an issue objectively.
My final point would be that a story like Colonel Blink finished it's run a long time ago, whereas The Bash Street Kids are still going strong 60+ years later, so it's only logical they should adapt as they go along - long may they continue!
Thanks for your thoughts, Ian. Must admit I can't remember Fatty Haddock (although I remember Fanny Craddock). Fair point about Colonel Blink. He was rebooted as Blinky in The Dandy in the 1990s and there are reprints of him in the latest Summer Special (and I drew him in a new pic) so he's still around in a way. Same goes for 'Erbert in The Bash Street Kids, often looking the wrong way because of his eyesight, although I don't think the strips make a big issue of it now.
ReplyDeleteYes, comics have always moved with the times. Changes have been gradual so might not have been noticed. There has often been an element of cruelty to the humour in British comics and, like Tom and Jerry cartoons, it can be funny if it's played really over the top. (See Ken Reid's 1960s stories for example.) Name calling is another matter I suppose, and a nickname like 'Fatty' stands out more in our more thoughtful culture today.
Can someone tell the name of a British comics in which a detective named Jeremy Drake and his lady cousin finds a wooden cat which when put on a map shows where the bulion is by lighting it's eyes.the vilian of this comics is Mr. Shadow.this comics has color cover but interior pages are black and white
ReplyDelete.the bullion is found in an island.
Might be better to ask on a comics group than on my art blog?
ReplyDelete