The Bash Street Kids are such great creations. Originally visualised by Leo Baxendale in 1954 and then followed by the late David Sutherland OBE who drew the strip for an amazing 60 years from 1962 until recently.
David's final Bash Street strip will be published this week. I don't know who will be taking it over and it's inappropriate to speculate at the moment but I'm sure they'll do an excellent job in maintaining the iconic look and humour of these brilliant characters.
They would've known that David would need to be replaced sooner or later, and potentially very suddenly, considering his age. There was a few fill-ins I think a couple of years ago, maybe that was a test run for a potential successor?
ReplyDeleteWriter Andy Fanton should know who's taking over. I'd keep an eye on his Facebook.
Artwork is usually done 8 weeks ahead of publication so several sets will already have been drawn by now. Andy won't necessarily know yet. Writers aren't usually consulted on who's drawing the scripts.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I feel it's a bit disrespectful of us to speculate this early on who's taking over. David was a friend of the staff and they'll be making such decisions with a heavy heart so we'll say no more about it.
ReplyDeleteDon't thinks it's an exaggeration to say that David Sutherland is one of the very finest British artists of the last 70 years. Both his Dennis The Menace and (especially) Bash Street Kids are truly iconic.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree, Paul. His work defined the Beano.
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ReplyDeleteNot being disrespectful or anything but I think Shannon Gallant is the new artist.
ReplyDeleteYes I believe so.
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