Vic Neill
Encyclopedia
Vic Neill was a British cartoonist who drew for D.C. Thomson and I.P.C.'s comics. His first notable comic work was on Sparky
strip Peter Piper
. In 1969, he replaced Dudley Dexter Watkins on Topper cover star Mickey the Monkey
after Watkins' sudden death. Neill was a big admirer of Watkins' artwork. He made his debut in the Beano with The McTickles
in 1971. In 1974, this was replaced by another Scottish-themed strip, Wee Ben Nevis
.
In 1977, when D.C. Thomson launched their new comic, Plug
, a spin-off from The Bash Street Kids
, Neill became the regular artist of the title character's strip, which he continued to draw after it merged with The Beezer two years later. In the 1980s, Neill drew a lot of material for I.P.C. Magazines. This included strips such as Top of the Class in Buster
comic and Spare-Part Kit in Whoopee. His final strip for them, Nightmare on Erm Street, appeared in Buster in 1990.
Returning to the Beano in the late 1980s, he took over The Germs
from David Sutherland. Neill then started drawing Billy Whizz
in 1992, and became the strip's regular artist the following year when the Beano switched to full-colour printing. While initially drawing the character in a loosely comparable style to David Parkins
and Trevor Metcalfe
when they shared the workload, once he was established as main artist he began making incremental changes to Billy's appearance. Most notably, Billy had always had two long hairs on the top of his head, but in the 9th July 1994 issue of the comic his hair fused into a lightning flash, and his head shape was also changed from oval to round. In the Beano's 1997 reader vote, Neill drew Tim Traveller
, the boy with the time-travelling bike. Tim won the poll, along with Crazy for Daisy
and went on to become a regular in the comic.
He continued drawing for the Beano until his death in January 2000. Billy Whizz was taken over by Graeme Hall, with Keith Reynolds becoming his replacement on Tim Traveller, but The Germs ended. A number of his Billy Whizz strips were later reprinted in the Beano in 2008-2009.
Sparky
Sparky is a common nickname for people and animals.It may also refer to:People nicknamed Sparky:*Sparky Adams , American Major League Baseball player...
strip Peter Piper
Peter Piper
"Peter Piper" is an English language nursery rhyme and well-known tongue twister. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19745.-Lyrics:Common modern versions include:-External links:* at Project Gutenberg...
. In 1969, he replaced Dudley Dexter Watkins on Topper cover star Mickey the Monkey
Mickey the Monkey
Mickey the Monkey was a comic strip which featured the eponymous fictional monkey, Mickey. The character was the cover star of British comic The Topper from its launch in 1953 until the 1970s. The strip appeared throughout the comic's run, until its merger with The Beezer. The final story was in...
after Watkins' sudden death. Neill was a big admirer of Watkins' artwork. He made his debut in the Beano with The McTickles
The McTickles
The McTickles was a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano. Drawn by Vic Neill, it ran from 1971 to 1974.Chief Jock and his highland clan fought a comic war of attrition against their rivals the McNasties, while avoiding the pranks played on them by the "McHaggises", small round animals, with a...
in 1971. In 1974, this was replaced by another Scottish-themed strip, Wee Ben Nevis
Wee Ben Nevis
Wee Ben Nevis was a fictional character in a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano, first appearing in issue 1678, dated 14 September 1974, and continuing until 7 May 1977. It was drawn by Vic Neill, and replaced The McTickles, another Scottish themed strip by the same artist.Wee Ben Nevis was a...
.
In 1977, when D.C. Thomson launched their new comic, Plug
Plug
Plug may refer to:* Plug for the plughole in the bathtub, washbasin and sink* Plug , a short lived British comic that ran from 1977 until 1979, when it merged with The Beezer, which featured a character from The Bash Street Kids called Plug as it's main star.* Plug , a family of fishing lures*...
, a spin-off from The Bash Street Kids
The Bash Street Kids
The Bash Street Kids is an ongoing comic strip featuring in the British comic The Beano. The strip was created by Leo Baxendale under the title When the Bell Rings, and first appeared in The Beano in issue 604, dated 13 February 1954. It became The Bash Street Kids in 1956 and since then, it has...
, Neill became the regular artist of the title character's strip, which he continued to draw after it merged with The Beezer two years later. In the 1980s, Neill drew a lot of material for I.P.C. Magazines. This included strips such as Top of the Class in Buster
Buster
-Works:* Buster , a film starring Phil Collins** Buster , the soundtrack to the film* "Buster", theme song by Nanna Lüders Jensen for the Danish television show Busters verden-Characters and mascots:...
comic and Spare-Part Kit in Whoopee. His final strip for them, Nightmare on Erm Street, appeared in Buster in 1990.
Returning to the Beano in the late 1980s, he took over The Germs
The Germs (comics)
The Germs is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano. It first appeared in issue 2374, dated 16 January 1988.The strip was about a boy called Will who had three germs inside him , and they were constantly making Will ill, requiring many visits to the doctor...
from David Sutherland. Neill then started drawing Billy Whizz
Billy Whizz
Billy Whizz is a fictional character featured in the British comic The Beano, first appearing in issue 1139, dated 16 May 1964, when it replaced The Country Cuzzins. Billy, the title character, is a boy who can run extraordinarily fast. His speed often causes chaos yet at the same time his ability...
in 1992, and became the strip's regular artist the following year when the Beano switched to full-colour printing. While initially drawing the character in a loosely comparable style to David Parkins
David Parkins
David Parkins is a British cartoonist and illustrator who has worked for D.C. Thomson, publisher of The Beano and The Dandy. Now based in Canada, he illustrates children's picture books....
and Trevor Metcalfe
Trevor Metcalfe
Trevor Metcalfe born May 1939 in Brotton, Yorkshire is a British illustrator and comic book artist. Known for his comic strips in IPC Magazines comics such as Sweet Tooth and Junior Rotter in Whizzer and Chips....
when they shared the workload, once he was established as main artist he began making incremental changes to Billy's appearance. Most notably, Billy had always had two long hairs on the top of his head, but in the 9th July 1994 issue of the comic his hair fused into a lightning flash, and his head shape was also changed from oval to round. In the Beano's 1997 reader vote, Neill drew Tim Traveller
Tim Traveller
Tim Traveller was a fictional character and comic strip in the UK comic The Beano. He first appeared in issue 2862, dated 24 May 1997, as part of a continuing set of six new comic strips where the one with the most votes would be voted into the comic by readers.The first strip featured Tim looking...
, the boy with the time-travelling bike. Tim won the poll, along with Crazy for Daisy
Crazy for Daisy
Crazy for Daisy was a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano. First appearing in issue 2865, dated 14 June 1997, it was part of an ongoing selection of six comic strips that were to be voted into the comic by readers. This strip was the winner, beating Camp Cosmos, Have a Go Jo, Sydd and Trash Can...
and went on to become a regular in the comic.
He continued drawing for the Beano until his death in January 2000. Billy Whizz was taken over by Graeme Hall, with Keith Reynolds becoming his replacement on Tim Traveller, but The Germs ended. A number of his Billy Whizz strips were later reprinted in the Beano in 2008-2009.