The Famous Five Illustrators Compared

[pete9012S]

Eddie,I can't see Nigel and John letting you get away with such a provocative statement as that!

[pete9012S]

Jolyne Knox: Any appreciators?

[Daisy]

They all look cross-eyed in that coloured one. Absolutely awful!

[pete9012S]

Eric Parker anyone?

[Rob Houghton]

I do quite like Eric Parker. I don't look on him as a 'replacement' for Eileen Soper, but as an alternative. I love his lively comic-book style.

I absolutely hate Jolyne Knox. I think she was completely lacking talent as an artist and I've given any Famous Five books with her illustrations in them away! I would put her even lower than the artist who provided that colour 'character identification' strip you posted above!

I have three personal top favourite Famous Five illustrators.

Eileen Soper

The sadly uncredited artist for the Famous Five annuals I grew up with -



And Betty Maxey (but really only her coloured cover artwork)

If I had to pick one favourite Famous Five artist which meant more to me emotionally, nostalgically, and artistically, it would be the unidentified artist of the 1970's annuals. This is because these were how I pictured the Five throughout my childhood and teenage years, until I first encountered Eileen Soper illustrations in the late 1990's.

[John Pickup]

Eileen Soper is the undisputed Number 1 illustrator for the Famous Five.
I quite like Eric Parker as well.
Betty Maxey couldn't draw water from a well.

[pete9012S]

Don't know who this illustrator is but it fits in with my own 1960's/70's childhood?

[Rob Houghton]

I'd say that was more 1980's, Pete! That's how I feel about the Famous Five annuals and the 1970's TV series. As a child, the Famous Five did wear flared trousers, ride 'Chopper' bikes and have 'Beatles haircuts' Oh - and they sang in rather off tune voices 'we are the fa-mus-five'!

[Tony Summerfield]

Don't know who this illustrator is but it fits in with my own 1960's/70's childhood?

It tells you who it is in the Cave, Pete!

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Barrie Mitchell - whoever he is!

[pete9012S]

Many thanks Tony. I think for a contemporary illustration Barrie Mitchell has depicted the Famous Five rather well.

Barrie Mitchell did a four-year apprenticeship as a comics artist with Link Studios, alongside John M. Burns. His early work was for girls' comics like Bunty (including "The Four Marys"), Mandy and Diana, and also drew for Bonanza annuals, Pow!, Wham!, Smash! ("Brian's Brain", 1966-68; "His Sporting Lordship", 1969-72) and Sparky. In 1967 he drew three motor-racing related strips, "Tales from the Tracks", "Lightning Storm" and "Drive for your Life", for Lion....

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[pete9012S]

illustrator: Phil Gascoine



This article contains a few examples of Famous Five comic book illustrators work:

The Famous Five at 75: The Comic Strip Stories

http://downthetubes.net/?p=38153" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Julie2owlsdene]

Nice to see all the different illustrations, but for me, there is only one who can illustrate The Famous Five, and that is Eileen Soper. All the other illustrators, just draw children. Eileen Soper draws the Famous Five.

[pete9012S]

The Famous Five : Overview of different styles

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[Daisy]

All the other illustrators, just draw children. Eileen Soper draws the Famous Five.

What a lovely way of describing how many of us feel Julie.

[Rob Houghton]

I'm disappointed there aren't more illustrations from the annuals - particularly Smugglers Top and Mystery Moor.

I know we now all associate Eileen Soper with the definitive Famous Five depictions - but to me, growing up, the annual Famous Five were the ONLY Famous Five.

I'm sure many will hate these illustrations - but I still have a great affection for them to this day!