BIRNEY

Birney was created as a hero for young boys. Part of Hampson’s skill is he makes Birney hard to put an age to. It is unlikely he is a teenager since he owns a travel agency. Let us say that he (and his sister) are in their early twenties; they still look young enough for the boys to identify with.

The first episode is drawn as a full page, meant for a comic. But in subsequent episodes Hampson changes tack, and starts to draw Birney as a strip for a national newspaper, to appeal to grown-ups. Instead of whole pages, the strip appears as three or four frames a day, with a ‘curtain’ (cliff-hanger situation) at the end of each episode.

There's no written story but part of the plot can be surmised from frames that still exist. Birney is persuaded to go to Russia; as a travel agent he can apply for a visa on the pretext of researching holidays (remember it's 1961). But the real purpose is to find, and return to Gulbenassis, a precious ring.

BIRNEY Birney was created as a hero for young boys. Part of Hampson’s skill is he makes Birney hard to put an age to. It is unlikely he is a teenager since he owns a travel agency. Let us say that he (and his sister) are in their early twenties; they still look young enough for the boys to identify with. The first episode is drawn as a full page, meant for a comic. But in subsequent episodes Hampson changes tack, and starts to draw Birney as a strip for a national newspaper, to appeal to grown-ups. Instead of whole pages, the strip appears as three or four frames a day, with a ‘curtain’ (cliff-hanger situation) at the end of each episode. There's no written story but part of the plot can be surmised from frames that still exist. Birney is persuaded to go to Russia; as a travel agent he can apply for a visa on the pretext of researching holidays (remember it's 1961). But the real purpose is to find, and return to Gulbenassis, a precious ring. Trouble is, he’s not the only one looking for it, and the rival searchers are on his tail. Birney and Sam pass through Russia’s biggest cities. He is chased along the roof of the Moscow/Kiev express, clubbed in the catacombs, and all the time we wonder whether this sly millionaire who hired him can really be trusted.


'SCAMP' FRAME VERSUS FINISHED ART In the scamp, Onastotle is reaching for his drink. In the finished art, he's holding the glass. Venetian blinds, lamp shades and a patterned carpet appear in the finished frame, and the folding chair has all is integral parts.
The real difference though, is in the 'tone' of the art. In the finished frame we know Frank has his tongue in his cheek; the strip's underlying humour helps us suspend our disbelief. We'll go along with the story, however 'boy's-own-paper' it may be, because artist and reader are sharing a joke.

BIRNEY

'SCAMP' FRAME VERSUS FINISHED ART