I am really impressed with comparing the first Judy annual to the last one. I wonder what the results would be if we did the same with the Bunty and Mandy annuals? I imagine the contrast would be even stronger because there would be an even longer span of time between them.
Your character Bumble from Colleen and the Last Witch sounds like she comes from a long tradition of witches being portrayed as nuisances (and sometimes even bungling characters) than than evil sorceresses and the effect is more funny than frightening. Sometimes the witches are not even villainous – they are just magical beings, as in Bunty’s ‘Maisie’s Magic Aunt’ or Jinty’s ‘Sue’s Daily Dozen’. But of course there are the really evil ones, such as the ones in Suzy’s ‘The Curse of Carmina’ or Jinty’s ‘Golden Dolly – Death Dust!”.
• Sandra and the Sleeping Beauty [Art: Paddy Brennan]
• Colleen and the Last Witch [Art: George Ramsbottom]
• Backstage Betty [Art: Don Walker]
• Heather in Italy [Art: Giorgio Letteri]
Does the story ‘Joan All-Alone’ in the Judy Annual 1962 include a scene where Joan, who has got lost on the prairie, encounters a group of native American girls who she thinks are going to be hostile toward her but who actually help her on her way? I have a vivid memory of reading a story like this in my sister’s annual. Thanks if you can help!
Afraid not. Joan is daughter of a Pony Express rider who is contemptuous of her because he wanted her to be a boy. When he is shot and wounded by “Indians” while trying to take a message about an attack on the cavalry, Joan takes it instead, taking advantage of a cloak of leaves which enables her to avoid “Indian” pursuit and spy on their encampment, and delivers the message which saves the cavalry.
This sounds rather different from your story. Do you have any further clues as to what annual this might have been in?
I am really impressed with comparing the first Judy annual to the last one. I wonder what the results would be if we did the same with the Bunty and Mandy annuals? I imagine the contrast would be even stronger because there would be an even longer span of time between them.
Your character Bumble from Colleen and the Last Witch sounds like she comes from a long tradition of witches being portrayed as nuisances (and sometimes even bungling characters) than than evil sorceresses and the effect is more funny than frightening. Sometimes the witches are not even villainous – they are just magical beings, as in Bunty’s ‘Maisie’s Magic Aunt’ or Jinty’s ‘Sue’s Daily Dozen’. But of course there are the really evil ones, such as the ones in Suzy’s ‘The Curse of Carmina’ or Jinty’s ‘Golden Dolly – Death Dust!”.
A few names for this year:
• Sandra and the Sleeping Beauty [Art: Paddy Brennan]
• Colleen and the Last Witch [Art: George Ramsbottom]
• Backstage Betty [Art: Don Walker]
• Heather in Italy [Art: Giorgio Letteri]
Does the story ‘Joan All-Alone’ in the Judy Annual 1962 include a scene where Joan, who has got lost on the prairie, encounters a group of native American girls who she thinks are going to be hostile toward her but who actually help her on her way? I have a vivid memory of reading a story like this in my sister’s annual. Thanks if you can help!
Afraid not. Joan is daughter of a Pony Express rider who is contemptuous of her because he wanted her to be a boy. When he is shot and wounded by “Indians” while trying to take a message about an attack on the cavalry, Joan takes it instead, taking advantage of a cloak of leaves which enables her to avoid “Indian” pursuit and spy on their encampment, and delivers the message which saves the cavalry.
This sounds rather different from your story. Do you have any further clues as to what annual this might have been in?