Comics Britannia

Comics Britannia
Format	Documentary
Created by	BBC Bristol
Starring	Armando Iannucci
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	3
Production
Running time	60 Minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC Four
Original airing	10 September 2007

Comics Britannia is a three part documentary series from BBC Four which started on 10 September 2007. It was then repeated on BBC Two starting on 19 July 2008.

The series looks at the history of the British comic and is also the centre of a Comics Britannia season.

Episodes

The three programs look at the main periods of British comics. They are narrated by Armando Iannucci.

The Fun Factory

First shown on Monday 10 September, this documentary looks at the early years of British comics.^[1]

It features the launch of The Dandy and follows the growth of the British comics industry through to the 1960s.

Boys and Girls

First shown on Monday 17 September, the episode looks at the appearance of a large range of comics in the post-war era specifically aimed at boys (Eagle) and girls (Bunty, Girl).^[2]

X-Rated: Anarchy in the UK

First aired on Monday 24 September, it looks look at the trend towards darker comics in the 1970s and 1980s with the launch of 2000 AD and the rise of Alan Moore resulting in the "British Invasion" of the American comics industry.^[3]

Comics Britannia season

The rest of the season includes documentaries, (not necessarily about British comics and artists):

• In Search of Steve Ditko
• Heath Robinson: Suburban Subversive
• Happy Birthday Broons!
• Happy Birthday Wullie
• In Search of Moebius: Jean Giraud
• Tintin and I
• The Comic Strip Hero, Arena documentary about Superman

As well as relevant films and TV shows:

• My Name Is Modesty, the 2003 Modesty Blaise film
• Tron, the 1982 film (Moebius designed the graphical look)
• Repeats of the 1960s Batman series

See also

• List of Britannia documentaries

Notes

1. ^ Comics Britannia Ep 1: The Fun Factory by Paul Gravett, BBC
2. ^ Comics Britannia Ep 2: Boys And Girls by Paul Gravett, BBC
3. ^ Comics Britannia Ep 3: Anarchy in the UK by Paul Gravett, BBC

References

• Comics Britannia series details at the BBC
• Comics Britannia season details at the BBC
• BBC to screen history of comics, The Guardian, August 10, 2007
• Down the Tubes overview of the season

External links

• Comics Britannia at the Internet Movie Database
• Review of the first episode by Charlie Brooker, The Guardian, September 8, 2007
• Last cowboy in town, The Times, September 8, 2007
• Comics Britannia, thelondonpaper, September 10, 2007
• Last night on television: Comics Britannia (BBC4), The Daily Telegraph, September 11, 2007