There really isn't much as UNfunny as vintage British comic strips based on real people. Whoever was writing and drawing these things seemed to have very little understanding of humor in general, let alone the unique humor of particular comedic performers. And it wasn't just something lost in the translation. Old Mother Riley and George Formby regularly appeared--at least in name--in these same issues, baring little resemblance to their crowd-pleasing real life selves. Still, perhaps due to the just plain consistency of the unfunniness of these kinds of strips, they have an odd appeal and charm all their own.
2 comments:
I agree with your critique of the old "real performer" strips. I could understand English writers not catching the spirit of American comedians, but they treated their own stars the same way. Be it George Formby, Harry Secombe, or Peter Sellers, the stories were indistinguishable. It was as if the publishers bought a pile of generic gag scripts and when it came time to do the artwork inserted the performer of the week. Still, these comics ran forever. Someone must have liked (maybe even laughed at?) them.
The later ons are better. Synchronicity? I am just about to put up some of mine from the late fifties. No link yet, but here is the general one: http://allthingsger.blogspot.nl/
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