little bo creep
Bo Creep is significant for two reasons. First, the art is slightly different because it pretends to be drawn by one of the characters, but it really works. Second, and most important, it is the only badtime book (as far as I know) where the lettering is where it should be.
I mentioned elsewhere that the lettering is a real weakness on Baxendale's Badtime Bedtime Books. In those days (before computers), IPC magazines were still experimenting with mechanical lettering. And like most of the top artists Baxendale was a perfectionist so would seldom deliver a strip early. So the letterer had very little time to letter what was by far the most difficult job he was likely to have. And so I don't blame the letterer, but the lettering usually looks cramped and plain, and takes away from the layout of the story. However, Bo Creep was hand lettered by Baxendale, and you can see the difference!
The lettering perfectly complements the style of the art and adds to the layout. It's just a joy to behold. This Badtime Book shows what they should all look like, at least in terms of layout.
All comic art copyright IPC magazines (1970s) and Egmont International (today).
Thanks to Irmantas, Muffy, the Hornet, Toonhound, Peter Gray, John Pollock, and Andy & Sharon Laney-Davis for most of the scans. Thanks to Kashgar, Lew Stringer, Bustercomic, philcom55 and SteveZodiac of comicsuk.co.uk for general help and information. And of course thanks to Leo Baxendale and all the writers, artists and editors who created these gems in the first place!
