What do you think?
Rate this book
Meet Andy Capp
VINTAGE PAPER BACK. COMPLETE AND COLLECTIBLE CONDTION.
128 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
15 people want to read
About the author
Reg Smythe
328 books6 followersReginald "Reg" Smythe was a British cartoonist who created the Andy Capp comic strip.
Born Reginald Smyth (without the "e"), the son of Richard Oliver Smyth, a shipyard worker, and his wife, Florence (Florrie) née Pearce, he left school at 14. After some years unemployed he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, serving ten years and rising to the rank of sergeant.
During World War II, Smyth saw active service in North Africa, where he developed a talent for cartoon drawing through creating posters for amateur dramatic productions.
After being released from active duty, he settled in London and worked as a clerk for the GPO. He continued to draw poster art but in the 1950s moved to cartoon work, operating through an agent and using the pseudonym Reg Smythe.
By the mid-1950s, he was working for the Daily Mirror, where his "Andy Capp" cartoon strip had its debut in 1957. It made its way to the United States in 1963. Smyth described Andy Capp as having been born "on the A1 road at 60 mph" after he had received, during a visit to West Hartlepool, a request from the Mirror Group chairman Hugh Cudlipp to create a cartoon to boost northern readership. The characters Andy and Flo were based on Smyth's own parents.
Apart from its rapid success in the UK, the Andy Capp strip became popular internationally in at least 34 countries and 700 newspapers Andy became Tuffa Viktor in Sweden, Willi Wacker in Germany, Charlie Kappl in Austria, André Chapeau in France, and Kasket Karl in Denmark, though he remained "Andy Capp" in the US. Smyth received numerous awards, including Best British cartoon strip every year from 1961-1965; major awards in Italy in 1969, 1973 and 1978; and in the US, the National Cartoonists Society Best Strip award in 1974.
"Andy Capp" was adapted as a West End musical and a 1988 television series by Keith Waterhouse, without notable success.
In the mid-1970s, Smythe returned to Hartlepool, where he died of lung cancer in 1998, aged 80.
In 2007, after years of local speculation and fundraising, a bronze statue commemorating Andy Capp was erected near to the Harbour of Refuge Pub in Smyth's home town of Hartlepool. Measuring 5 ft 8 in, the Statue cost £20,000 and was designed by Shrewsbury sculptor Jane Robbins
Born Reginald Smyth (without the "e"), the son of Richard Oliver Smyth, a shipyard worker, and his wife, Florence (Florrie) née Pearce, he left school at 14. After some years unemployed he joined the Northumberland Fusiliers, serving ten years and rising to the rank of sergeant.
During World War II, Smyth saw active service in North Africa, where he developed a talent for cartoon drawing through creating posters for amateur dramatic productions.
After being released from active duty, he settled in London and worked as a clerk for the GPO. He continued to draw poster art but in the 1950s moved to cartoon work, operating through an agent and using the pseudonym Reg Smythe.
By the mid-1950s, he was working for the Daily Mirror, where his "Andy Capp" cartoon strip had its debut in 1957. It made its way to the United States in 1963. Smyth described Andy Capp as having been born "on the A1 road at 60 mph" after he had received, during a visit to West Hartlepool, a request from the Mirror Group chairman Hugh Cudlipp to create a cartoon to boost northern readership. The characters Andy and Flo were based on Smyth's own parents.
Apart from its rapid success in the UK, the Andy Capp strip became popular internationally in at least 34 countries and 700 newspapers Andy became Tuffa Viktor in Sweden, Willi Wacker in Germany, Charlie Kappl in Austria, André Chapeau in France, and Kasket Karl in Denmark, though he remained "Andy Capp" in the US. Smyth received numerous awards, including Best British cartoon strip every year from 1961-1965; major awards in Italy in 1969, 1973 and 1978; and in the US, the National Cartoonists Society Best Strip award in 1974.
"Andy Capp" was adapted as a West End musical and a 1988 television series by Keith Waterhouse, without notable success.
In the mid-1970s, Smythe returned to Hartlepool, where he died of lung cancer in 1998, aged 80.
In 2007, after years of local speculation and fundraising, a bronze statue commemorating Andy Capp was erected near to the Harbour of Refuge Pub in Smyth's home town of Hartlepool. Measuring 5 ft 8 in, the Statue cost £20,000 and was designed by Shrewsbury sculptor Jane Robbins
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 12, 2022
Man, when I was a wee lad, I used to love reading 📖 these paperback collections! I kinda fell away from them as I got older and became interested in superheroes. I recently decided to assess my collection, fill in the missing items and read the entire series.
This was the first and Andy quickly establishes himself as a lazy, drunken wife beater with no job and less ambition. He might be an acquired taste in the current age, but I found him funny as a boy 👦 and I still find him amusing as an adult. YMMV.
This was the first and Andy quickly establishes himself as a lazy, drunken wife beater with no job and less ambition. He might be an acquired taste in the current age, but I found him funny as a boy 👦 and I still find him amusing as an adult. YMMV.
October 25, 2015
Dean Martin wäre stolz auf ihn
Ach, die gute alte Zeit, in der Alkoholismus noch witzig und Frauen noch Hausfrauen waren! Hier sind, stilistisch gesehen, recht frühe Andy-Capp-Strips aus den 60ern, teilweise als Einzelbild, gesammelt. Andy Capp, oder Willy Wacker, wie er in Deutschland hieß, polarisiert - wer nicht mit dem ironischen Blick auf alle negativen Eigenschaften des Unterschichtmachos, gebündelt in einer Person, umgehen kann: buzz off.
Ach, die gute alte Zeit, in der Alkoholismus noch witzig und Frauen noch Hausfrauen waren! Hier sind, stilistisch gesehen, recht frühe Andy-Capp-Strips aus den 60ern, teilweise als Einzelbild, gesammelt. Andy Capp, oder Willy Wacker, wie er in Deutschland hieß, polarisiert - wer nicht mit dem ironischen Blick auf alle negativen Eigenschaften des Unterschichtmachos, gebündelt in einer Person, umgehen kann: buzz off.
July 23, 2011
Smythe’s panel (later strip) is old fashioned, misogynistic, and guilty of trying to make adultery, alcohol addiction, and being on the dole cute. It is also a brilliant example of the gag writer’s art and a perfect blend of writing and illustration. This was seen as harmless fun in the sixties (it wasn’t), and so probably had an easier time finding an audience than it would today. I give it a big 4 stars because I used to write cartoon panels and I know how hard it is to come up with ideas as brilliant as the best in this book (one is on the cover), and how much harder it is to mesh the brilliant idea with an ideal illustrative style. Reg Smythe may not have been a genius (and so this does not get the fifth star), but he was an amazing talent.
July 15, 2018
Andrew Capp is a working class chap from Hartlepool in Northeast England. Despite his “class”, Andy’s hardly ever in work, roundly despising all forms of paid labor. It’s up to his long-suffering wife Florrie to support them with charwoman jobs. Andy enjoys sleeping, gambling, flirting with the ladies, and especially drinking.
Andy Capp was created in 1957 by Reg Smythe (1917-1998) for a comic panel in the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers which eventually turned into a horizontal strip. This volume reprints some of the earliest gags.
It’s said that Mr. Smythe based his characters on his own parents, with a few exaggerated local stereotypes tossed in. In real life, Hartlepool had severe unemployment problems because of endemic economic issues after World War Two ended and the shipbuilding industry withered.
But with Andy, it’s more or less voluntary. He dodges employment like a pro, and the rent is always late, but somehow he manages to scrape up enough money for drinks. He and Florrie fight often (and in these early panels, with their fists) but do in the end get along well enough to stay together.
Those familiar with the current run will find it very recognizable–everyone just kept wearing the fashions of the late 1950s-early 1960s, including Andy’s never-removed cap.
But there have been changes. Andy stopped smoking in 1983 when his creator had to give up the habit for his health. And now instead of brawling, Florrie and Andy trade verbal barbs at the marriage counselor’s office.
There are some gems in here–such as Andy telling a barmaid he can tell when he’s had enough, falling over and admitting, “I’ve ‘ad enough.” Or Andy tearing up a losing greyhound racing ticket and snarling at the cringing also-ran as Florrie notes, “That’s a terrible thing to say to a dog.” Others are cringey, as the one where he chases a woman he saved from drowning for his “reward.” Continuity is unimportant, as the characters are types and don’t need to grow over time.
Over the years, there have been a number of collections of Andy Capp strips, one much like another; if you like the character, they’re all good enough.
Consider reading this while munching on one of the Capp-endorsed snack foods!
Andy Capp was created in 1957 by Reg Smythe (1917-1998) for a comic panel in the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror newspapers which eventually turned into a horizontal strip. This volume reprints some of the earliest gags.
It’s said that Mr. Smythe based his characters on his own parents, with a few exaggerated local stereotypes tossed in. In real life, Hartlepool had severe unemployment problems because of endemic economic issues after World War Two ended and the shipbuilding industry withered.
But with Andy, it’s more or less voluntary. He dodges employment like a pro, and the rent is always late, but somehow he manages to scrape up enough money for drinks. He and Florrie fight often (and in these early panels, with their fists) but do in the end get along well enough to stay together.
Those familiar with the current run will find it very recognizable–everyone just kept wearing the fashions of the late 1950s-early 1960s, including Andy’s never-removed cap.
But there have been changes. Andy stopped smoking in 1983 when his creator had to give up the habit for his health. And now instead of brawling, Florrie and Andy trade verbal barbs at the marriage counselor’s office.
There are some gems in here–such as Andy telling a barmaid he can tell when he’s had enough, falling over and admitting, “I’ve ‘ad enough.” Or Andy tearing up a losing greyhound racing ticket and snarling at the cringing also-ran as Florrie notes, “That’s a terrible thing to say to a dog.” Others are cringey, as the one where he chases a woman he saved from drowning for his “reward.” Continuity is unimportant, as the characters are types and don’t need to grow over time.
Over the years, there have been a number of collections of Andy Capp strips, one much like another; if you like the character, they’re all good enough.
Consider reading this while munching on one of the Capp-endorsed snack foods!
February 7, 2021
Andy Capp is not for everybody's taste. Andy and his wife get into fistfights, Andy boozes a lot, refuses to get a job though he is strong and a powerful swimmer (he is able to rescue drowning people), is often rude and obnoxious to other people, and is essentially an antihero.
So what made him popular? Garfield the cat is much the same way, and I don't find that cartoon funny despite its popularity. But Andy Capp at least has clever jokes, and the humor is very broad and non-topical. You won't find jokes about the latest fashions, at least not in its earlier years. And Florrie is not some helpless victim-she is just as good as fighting as her husband is. Like I said, if you like this sort of humor, this book does the job.
So what made him popular? Garfield the cat is much the same way, and I don't find that cartoon funny despite its popularity. But Andy Capp at least has clever jokes, and the humor is very broad and non-topical. You won't find jokes about the latest fashions, at least not in its earlier years. And Florrie is not some helpless victim-she is just as good as fighting as her husband is. Like I said, if you like this sort of humor, this book does the job.
July 19, 2009
I loved the Andy Capp cartoons. I still have all the books.
May 16, 2024
Most comic strips that go on to be staples of newspapers have a great first few years or even a decade or two and then sorta fizzle out in either endlessly repeating what has come before or having no real purpose. This is true of all the greats. Blondie, Peanuts, Garfield, Big Nate, etc. It's rare that newspaper strips go out while they are still funny. The only two that come to mind are Gary Larson's The Far Side and Calvin and Hobbes.
But there is one way Andy Capp breaks with tradition. It wasn't funny now and even this book, which collects the earliest strips, wasn't that funny either.
But there is one way Andy Capp breaks with tradition. It wasn't funny now and even this book, which collects the earliest strips, wasn't that funny either.
November 26, 2018
A great set of comic strips. I remember reading Andy Capp in the newspapers many years ago. I still find these funny all these years and I'm looking forward to read a few more of the collections of Andy Capp comic strips.
July 31, 2023
Andy Capp is a comic that wouldn't work today.
Everything about him - drunk, broke, short tempered, abusive towards his wife, broke - would offend many different people.
However for the times when it was published, it one of those Perfectly Dysfunctional Married Couples comics.
Everything about him - drunk, broke, short tempered, abusive towards his wife, broke - would offend many different people.
However for the times when it was published, it one of those Perfectly Dysfunctional Married Couples comics.
December 28, 2024
The Punch and Judy of the comics pages.
January 6, 2024
This volume contains some very early Andy Capp. Rather than the usual comic strip we are accustomed to these days most of what is in this volume are one-panel cartoons. As well Andy is taller in these cartoons, roughtly the same height as Florie, his long-suffering wife. However he still likes his drink. I daresay that Andy is totally politically incorrect these days however the cartoons are still amusing. So if you don't mind humour that doesn't quite match up to 21st century sensibilities or are interested in British humour from the sixites then this is as good a place to start as any. Happy reading.
August 14, 2013
Gee, I don't remember any concentration camps or genocides coming about as a result of these cartoons. I don't think we need to convene a war crimes trial for this series of comic books. Yes, they were harmless-- then and now. That is, if you're a grown-up and can handle grown-up humor.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews