Superheroes feature but show focuses on the importance of British talent to what some perceive as a very American genre
Action 1976-77, by Jack Adrian and Mike White. Photograph: Egmont UK Ltd
The first comics show in Britain was organised by the National Union of Teachers in 1954 as a way of scaring people off them. It was a bit of a failure – funnily enough, the exposure to titles such as Tales from the Crypt with their horrifying, sexy covers did not quite have the desired effect.
"It was meant to alarm and horrify opinion formers and parents," said Paul Gravett. "But they took the comics to schools and kids went 'wow' and it probably boosted sales."
Sixty years later the British Library is staging the UK's biggest comic book exhibition, curated by Gravett and John Harris Dunning. This time the message is positive, singing the praises of comics as a legitimate art form which addresses serious issues as well as being entertainment.
Gravett said: "Part of the challenge is to get across to people that comics aren't just for kids. We love kids and we want kids to read comics but we don't want them just to be for kids."
So Dennis the Menace being unspeakably mean to Walter the Softie is in the show; as are comics which address more meaty issues around sex, sexuality, violence, race and drugs.
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"It was meant to alarm and horrify opinion formers and parents," said Paul Gravett. "But they took the comics to schools and kids went 'wow' and it probably boosted sales."
Sixty years later the British Library is staging the UK's biggest comic book exhibition, curated by Gravett and John Harris Dunning. This time the message is positive, singing the praises of comics as a legitimate art form which addresses serious issues as well as being entertainment.
Gravett said: "Part of the challenge is to get across to people that comics aren't just for kids. We love kids and we want kids to read comics but we don't want them just to be for kids."
So Dennis the Menace being unspeakably mean to Walter the Softie is in the show; as are comics which address more meaty issues around sex, sexuality, violence, race and drugs.
More
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