DFC comic rises as The Phoenix

01.08.11 | Caroline Horn - The Bookseller 

The former DFC comic is being revived as The Phoenix, under an independent company backed by an anonymous investor.
The comic was launched by Random House in May 2008 but closed a year later. The Phoenix will launch in January 2012. Editor Ben Sharpe, who previously edited the DFC, said it will be aimed at boys and girls aged eight to 11. As well as around four regular comic strips, the magazine will include stand-alone stories, puzzles and activities.
Authors and illustrators involved in the relaunch include Faz Choudhury, Daniel Hartwell, Neill Cameron and The Etherington Brothers. They will each retain the copyright to their work.
The 32-page, full-colour comic will be mailed to subscribers weekly and the company said it hopes it will be available to buy through independents. Marketing manager Ross Fraser said: "We want to create a community feel for everyone involved in the comic and we hope that the indies will get on board."
The comic will have a cover price of £2.99, although the subscription rate has not yet been confirmed. It will be targeted at individual readers as well as schools and libraries.
The company in charge of The Phoenix is David Fickling Comics although Fickling himself, the publisher and comic's founder, will be independent of the project. Fickling said: "We need this comic in our culture, for children to see and read and get excited about. It's wonderful to see it back."
While the life of the DFC was cut short by the recession, The Phoenix has backing for at least three years and aims to build around 10,000 subscribers.