United Kingdom.
United Kingdom
1862
British comics began with Ally Sloper in 1867, and Ally Sloper's Half Holiday (1884) is regarded as the first comic strip magazine.
Weekly comics followed, from The Dandy (1937) and The Beano (1938) to Eagle (1950), home of Dan Dare, and 2000 AD (1977), home of Judge Dredd.
586
161
1862
2000s
Artists from United Kingdom in the archive.
Comics from United Kingdom in the archive.
Japan Punch, the earliest comic from United Kingdom in the archive.
The decade when the most new comics from United Kingdom began.
comics
United Kingdom in 3 chapters
A short history you can leaf through. Click a page, use the arrow keys, or press Turn the page to read on.
United Kingdom.
3 chapters
1867
to 1936
Chapter 01
Ally Sloper and the first comics
Ally Sloper first appeared in 1867, Ally Sloper's Half Holiday (1884) is regarded as the first comic strip magazine, and Comic Cuts and Illustrated Chips debuted in 1890. In 1936 Dudley D. Watkins's Oor Wullie and The Broons began in The Sunday Post.
1937
to 1976
Chapter 02
The weeklies
The Dandy first appeared in December 1937 and The Beano on 30 July 1938. Eagle ran from 1950 to 1969 with Frank Hampson's Dan Dare, and Reg Smythe's Andy Capp began on 5 August 1957.
1977
to today
Chapter 03
2000 AD and after
2000 AD's first issue appeared on 26 February 1977, with Wagner and Ezquerra's Judge Dredd from prog 2. Alan Moore, author of Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell, and Posy Simmonds belong to the later generation.
The comics to know
- Ally Sloper's Half HolidayCharles H. RossUnited Kingdom, 1884Regarded as the first comic strip magazine; Ally Sloper first appeared in 1867.
- Comic CutsAlfred HarmsworthUnited Kingdom, 1890 to 1953
- Oor WullieR. D. LowUnited Kingdom, 1936Dudley D. Watkins. In The Sunday Post, with The Broons.
- The DandyR. D. LowUnited Kingdom, 1937 to 2013First issue December 1937.
- The BeanoR. D. LowUnited Kingdom, 1938First issue 30 July 1938; 4,000th issue in August 2019.
- EagleChad VarahUnited Kingdom, 1950Ran until 1969; relaunched 1982 to 1994.
- Dan DareFrank HampsonUnited Kingdom, 1950Frank Hampson. Ran until 1967.
- Andy CappReg SmytheUnited Kingdom, 1957Reg Smythe. Since 5 August 1957.
- 2000 ADAlan GrantUnited Kingdom, 1977First issue 26 February 1977.
- Judge DreddJohn WagnerUnited States, 1977Wagner and Ezquerra. In 2000 AD from prog 2.
The people to know
- Dudley D. WatkinsCartoonist, 1907 to 1969Oor Wullie and The Broons.
- Mary TourtelComics artist, 1874 to 1948Rupert Bear, in the Daily Express.
- Frank HampsonComics artist, 1918 to 1985Dan Dare.
- Reg SmytheComics artist, 1917 to 1998Andy Capp.
- Leo BaxendaleComics artist, 1930 to 2017Bash Street Kids and Minnie the Minx.
- Posy SimmondsComics artist, born 1945
- Alan MooreComics artist, born 1953Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell.
More artists from United Kingdom
All 586 artists- Neil GaimanComics writer, Born 1960
- Grant MorrisonComics writer, Born 1960
- Warren EllisComics artist, Born 1968
- Dave GibbonsComics artist, Born 1949
- Dave McKeanComics artist, Born 1963
- Mark MillarComics writer, Born 1969
- Mark BuckinghamComics artist, Born 1966
- Alan GrantComics artist, 1949 to 2022
- James RobinsonComics artist, Born 1963
- Alan DavisComics artist, Born 1956
- Kevin O'NeillComics artist, 1953 to 2022
- Raymond BriggsComics artist, 1934 to 2022
More comics from United Kingdom
All 161 comics- V for VendettaAlan MooreUnited Kingdom, 1980 to 1989
- HeartstopperAlice OsemanUnited Kingdom, 2016
- From HellAlan MooreUnited Kingdom, 1989
- Modesty BlaiseJim HoldawayUnited Kingdom, 1963 to 2002
- Captain BritainChris ClaremontUnited Kingdom
- Rupert BearMary TourtelUnited Kingdom, 1920
- The AuthorityWarren EllisUnited Kingdom, 1999
- PrometheaAlan MooreUnited Kingdom, 1999
- HildaLuke PearsonUnited Kingdom, 2010
- The Trigan EmpireMike ButterworthUnited Kingdom, 1965
- SláinePat MillsUnited Kingdom, 1983
- Ally SloperCharles Henry RossUnited Kingdom, 1867 to 1916
