Letter from London

By Julia Eccleshare, Children's Bookshelf -- Publishers Weekly, 5/22/2008

David Fickling and Philip Pullman, at The DFC launch party. Photo: Dominic Turner.

The DFC Launches in London
The David Fickling Comic, or The DFC as it is known, was launched in great style in London and Oxford last week. Until then the precise nature of the content had been kept secret although, since as a publisher Fickling works with some of the biggest children’s writers and illustrators including Philip Pullman, there were some educated guesses about who might contribute. Fickling mooted the idea of a comic more than two years ago and publishers and distributors have waited with great interest as the ideas behind both the content and the distribution have unfolded.

Compared with the rest of Europe, the U.K. has little to show in either comics or graphic novels. As PW reported earlier this year, Fickling plans to change that, with a weekly comic that will initially be delivered to subscribers only. With a rolling program of stories and strips which will last different lengths of time thus giving space for new ones to come on board, The DFC will include around seven stories in each issue. The names of the contributors, which have now been revealed, include Philip Pullman, Chris Riddell, Adam Brockbank and John Aggs, among others.

The cover of the launch issue.

Many would-be contributors and their agents attended the launch party on May 15 at the British Film Institute, at which contributing authors and illustrators, agents, booksellers and friends toasted the two-week-hence arrival of the first edition of The DFC’s arrival at subscribers’ homes. The party included comic animation workshops, a session for children on storytelling by Philip Pullman, and an appearance by Malorie Blackman, who stepped in for an unwell Jacqueline Wilson.

A limited-edition teaser was available for viewing at the launch, showing some of the initial stories, including a weekly strip called “The Adventures of John Blake” by Philip Pullman. Pullman, who is passionate about The DFC, remembers the excitement of receiving a weekly comic as a child. “Comics have all the pleasure of the cinema with all the advantages of a book,” he told PW. “I’m convinced that a new generation of children will happily wait for the next episode. As the comic will arrive each week addressed straight to the child, it will be irresistible.”

Like Pullman, Fickling’s passion for the comic lies in the strength of his childhood memories. His enthusiasm for The DFC is infectious and the goodwill behind this enterprise, including the desire of authors and illustrators to

Fickling and friends.

contribute, is tangible. Fickling believes that, as great story carriers, comics are the natural first step towards all kinds of reading. Determined to build his audience carefully, Fickling has designed a comic which, initially, will be on subscription only. “At this point it is absolutely personal,” Fickling said. “That’s what is remarkable about getting a comic, and I hope that that will always be exciting.” Longer term, however, Fickling plans for The DFC to be universal. “It’s a challenge to get it out to everyone,” he said. “But that’s what we intend to do. We’re in this for the long row.” The DFC is backed by a Web site that will open up a world of interactivity beyond the comic.

Given that at the launch there were unconfirmed rumors that Amazon might be interested in distributing The DFC as well as confirmed news that the rights for newspaper serialization of “The Adventures of John Blake” had been bought by the Guardian, it’s likely that The DFC will soon have a wider release. As author/ illustrator Ted Dewan told PW, “If comics are ever going to fly in the U.K., today is the day it will happen.”

The Roald Dahl Funny Prize

Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen suggested the idea of a funny prize when he first took up his role. Now it is going to happen. Administered by Booktrust and launched as part of the U.K.’s National Year of Reading, the Roald Dahl Funny Prize will be awarded annually to an author or illustrator in two page groups, for promoting “laughter and humor.” Rosen will chair the panel of judges who will award two prizes: for ages 0–6 and 7–14. The announcement of the winners will be made on Roald Dahl Day, September 13.

Naming the Funny Prize in honor of Roald Dahl seemed natural to Rosen, who said, “If there had been a prize for funny books when Roald Dahl was writing, he would have won it with every book he wrote. Children love funny books but when adults draw up lists of the best books they nearly always leave the funny ones out.”

Waterstone’s Children Champion

Waterstone’s has appointed Carol Gill to develop the children’s books category and, according to a release, “to champion children’s bookselling for Waterstone’s within the business and the book trade.” Gill has been a consultant to many children’s publishers, including Random House Children’s Books and HarperCollins. The company has also confirmed Toby Bourne’s permanent status as Children’s Category Manager, the job he has been doing since Wayne Winstone’s departure in November 2007. Sarah Clarke remains as buying manager with responsibility for children’s book ranging.