David Walliams piggybacking on the hard work of others

[noblegiraffe]

David Walliams has decided to release a comic book.

I’ve noticed that comic book authors on Twitter are really pissed off that they have spent years working hard to have their comic books taken seriously by publishers, to be promoted in book shops, and to be sold in supermarkets (the last one is key to children’s book sales).

And now Walliams will, on the strength of his celebrity name (rather then talent) have his book push out their offerings.

They are of the opinion that it is a cynical targeting of a burgeoning market rather than any love for the art form,

So I’m going to use his name to start a thread to recommend better modern fun children’s authors and comic book artists.

Put down the Walliams and pick up:

Jamie Smart (obviously) - his Looshkin and Bunny vs Monkey comic books have played a huge part in publishers starting to take comic books seriously

Laura Ellen Anderson - Evil Emperor Penguin comics and the Rainbow Grey books

Neill Cameron - Mega Robo Bros comics and Awesome Robot books

Dav Pilkey - Dogman and Captain Underpants

Any others?

I don't really agree. It's not like he's mainly famous for something else and has dabbled in publishing some ghostwritten kids books. He's a very popular author in his own right. I haven't read any of his older kids books, DD isn't old enough but I must say I really like his picture books. I've basically read every picture book in my local library to her, and the David Walliams ones usually make me think "yes this is how you write a kids book". That is not the case for most celebrity authors! When you can tell it's a pile of crap that only got published because of the name. E.g. Joe Wicks' Burpee Bears book is the only one we've ever put down without finishing it!

James Patterson has dominated library shelves for decades!

One thing that is newish is that the amount of poor quality content is through the roof, but very little comes from celebrity authors, most is created by nobodies for very little money, with poor editing. Boxes and boxes of Disney and Marvel and other shite books.The sheer amount of published crap is enormous.

But the big problems in children's writing are about the way that editors only want certain types of stories and no risk, and the appalling lack of actual editing.

I agree.

My bugbear. As an author it REALLY pisses me off.

I think there are two different markets in this situation. If anything David Williams fans (who these people are I don’t know) might think to buy more comics.

James Patterson isn't a celebrity author! He's an extremely prolific author.

Some are ghost written

My son loves all the Phoenix comics and anything written by the authors such as "dog man" and "bunny vs monkey" Beano is a huge hit as well.

The market for comic books has been built up over the last few years by the hard work and talent of comic book authors. You know, ones who draw comics.

So only now is Walliams interested in producing a comic.

Have to say I think it's reasonable to be pissed off at spending years honing your craft and to have carved out a niche to have someone come in and put their name to a comic that will automatically be put on sale in the most prominent places regardless of quality.

Good shout, they are brilliant!

I've always felt that David Williams did exactly this with Roald Dahl's books, the illustrations all look like Quinten Blake's work and he tries to write in the style of Dahl, but misses the mark.

For example, Roald Dahl's would write about how ugly say The Twits were, but he'd justify it by saying if you think mean thoughts eventually it shows on your face. David Walliams' books just appear to me as straight up rude and mean about the characters for the sake of it.

But easy solution, don't buy them.

Jess Bradley is another great comic author.

Her book on how to draw things so they look really cute is great.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draw-Kawaii-Five-Simple-Steps/dp/1780556756/ref=sr_1_1?crid=S9GBKMQOOD3P&keywords=Jess+Bradley+kawaii&qid=1706735830&sprefix=jess+bradley+kawaii%2Caps%2C72&sr=8-1

And James Patterson = who cant write for toffee = has set up some supposed UK literacy project. I read crime - I like crime. I get that there needs to be books of different levels for different types of readers. But I can read one of his books in 2 hours if I read slowly. And it isnt well written. At all. It is a shame.

I was shocked when I read a James Patterson at how poor the writing was. I had thought he must be good, what with all those books he's had published.

Ditto Len Deighton.

Rabbit and Bear books by Julian Gough and Jim Field.
The Jolly Rogers books by Jonny Duddle (picture books but also chapter books available).
The Frostheart series by Jamie Littler are bigger books but have great illustrations.

I think David Walliams writes his books though, he's not using ghost-writers (Darcey Bussell, I'm looking at you). I don't think it's odd to move from children's books to children's comics.

The world of marketing books isn't 'fair'. I say this as a relatively unpopular author, but I don't feel aggrieved when other people do well. Creating a persona and publicising yourself is all part of selling books, and he's kept himself in the public eye extremely well.

Yes to Rabbit and Bear - I love these! (fortunately so does DD) Can’t wait for the next one to come out!

I heart TG!

There's room for all if bookshops allowed the shelf space. They don't sell because they're hidden in a corner on a solitary shelf.

I'm choosey about the ones I read but recently had to replace my Sandman collection due to water damage and I couldn't track them down anywhere, that's a huge series that's got a netflix show, if that's not widely available then there's no hope for others.

Edit: I agree with pp who say David Walliams is a rip off and poor Roald Dahl wannabe. His books are awful.

Richard osman

I feel like I'm the only person who can't get into his books

@noblegiraffe

Isn't David Williams 😕 that Creepy children's author who likes to copy the style of Rold Dhals books Twits ect?
and likes to get up to misogynistic exhibitionism type of behaviour,

Rember there was a well known mumsnet thread on him before,

Yes, David Walliams also left Britain's Got Talent after making horrible comments about competitors.

Neill Cameron (Mega Robo Bros) has written an article discussing the celebrity author phenomenon here https://archive.is/ype1d

Also an interesting twitter thread discussing the problem with celebrities going into comic books is that one of the massive parts of a comic book is obviously the artwork, but any sales will be attributed to Walliams and not to the artist.

https://x.com/jabberworks/status/1753369666481696815?s=61&t=U9XrcF693-JpMxeIueYG7g