The Treasury of British Comics Presents: The Tom Paterson Collection

Such a great collection of comics, it reminds me of getting the Beano annual each year at Christmas. Although old, the stories are timeless and I can quite imagine even the current young generation enjoying these, and parents quite happily buying it for their kids knowing it contains nothing bad, just normal youthful hijinks

Oh my, what a nostalgia fest this is.
Tom Paterson started out in comics like Jackpot and Buster, charting the early adventures of the perpetually hard-up character Buster and would later go on to draw, among others, the Bash Street Kids and the utterly bonkers Calamity James in the “Beano”. Comics like “Whoopee”, “Whizzer and Chips” (my favourite) and “Shiver & Shake” all showcased his talents. All these classic British comics are represented in this bumper volume. Still working in comics, he regularly contributes to Viz.
Each Paterson panel is stuffed with detail, often like an entire strip in their own right, with hilarious slogans pointing out sight gags and his trademark smelly striped sock taking the place of the then frowned upon artist’s signature. Every strip has the usual Paterson madness and lurid Robert Crumb-esque art.
All Paterson strips are funny, irreverent and downright barking. There are too many highlights in this marvellous book to list. A snapshot of freer times, there’s not a lot of political correctness in a Paterson strip, thank goodness, just honest, not entirely innocent and downright weird fun. This book is perfect for collectors or to keep those of a certain age, who remember reading these comics the first time around, entertained for hours.