Tony Hancock celebrated in graphic novel
Tony Hancock is to be immortalised in a comic ... again.
Coming out on April Fool's Day, nearly 99 years after the legendary comedian's birth, Hancock: The Lad Himself promises to tell the story of his life in "words, pictures, and not without a few interruptions from The Lad Himself, who proves to be a little infuriated at how his story is told".
Written by Stephen Walsh, who previously wrote the humorous bedsit adventures of Shem and Sam, a fictionalised account of the relationship between writers James Joyce and Samuel Beckett, and with artwork by Keith Page, whose credits include the Beano, Dandy and Commando, the 290-page volume from B7 Comics also features a foreword by Louis Barfe, biographer of Les Dawson and Morecambe & Wise.
However, it is not Hancock's first appearance in a comic. In 1958, The Tony Hancock Comic Strip first ran in Film Fun magazine, which regularly featured stories about the popular comic actors of the day, and subsequently appeared in a further 218 issues until 1962.
Here's an appreciation of one such issue from comics reviewer Andrew Buckle:
Earlier this month, the Gold channel paid homage to Hancock with a documentary fronted by fan Jack Dee and the colourisation of two classic episodes of his BBC series, The Blood Donor and Twelve Angry Men.
"Tony Hancock's legacy as a comic is still filtering down the generations, refreshing his fan base year on year as he continues to inspire writers and comedians," says Helen Quigley, Creative Director of B7 Comics. "There are just as many 20 and 30-somethings today who appreciate his work as there were when he was still with us.
"The Lad Himself is not a comic about a comic - Hancock's life and career is illustrated warts and all, whilst maintaining the qualities for which he was loved. To be able to tell his story in this new way is both hugely exciting and a great honour."
Hancock: The Lad Himself retails at £34.95 and is available to pre-order.
Tony Hancock: The Lad Himself
Tony Hancock: The Lad Himself tells the story of the legendary comedian in words, pictures, and not without a few interruptions from The Lad Himself, who proves to be a little infuriated at how his story is told... as those who know and love his work would fully expect!
Tony Hancock somehow seems a natural subject for a comic - and, of course, he's been in them before. At the height of his television fame, he appeared in Britain's top-selling weekly, Film Fun. Since his death, he's been the subject of biographies, radio dramas, and even a couple of television films. With the advent of satellite TV and DVD, he seems to be everywhere.
This funny, powerful and poignant graphic novel charts the life of the often troubled comedian with searing honesty but great affection - with Hancock contributing acerbic commentary in the telling. It's a unique approach to recounting Hancock's life story - as you would expect when dealing with such an extraordinary talent, whose enduring appeal is testament to his comedy genius.
Foreword by author and Private Eye journalist, Louis Barfe.
First published: Saturday 1st April 2023
- Pages: 290
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