| Rupert Bear | |
|---|---|
 Logo for Rupert Bear | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Daily Express |
| Format | Text comics, later balloon comics too. |
| Genre | Adventure comics, Fantasy comics |
| Publication date | 1920–present |
| Main character(s) | Rupert |
| Creative team | |
| Written by | Herbert Tourtel (1920–1931) Mary Tourtel (1931–1935) Alfred Bestall (1935–1974) Freddie Chaplain (1965–1978) James Henderson (1978–1990) Ian Robinson (1990–2002) Stuart Trotter (2008–present) |
| Artist(s) | Mary Tourtel (1920–1935) Alfred Bestall (1935–1974) Alex Cubie (1975–1977) John Harrold (1978–2007) Stuart Trotter (2008–present) |
Rupert Bear is an English children's comic strip character and franchise created by Herbert Tourtel[1] and illustrated by his wife, the artist Mary Tourtel, first appearing in the Daily Express newspaper on 8 November 1920. Rupert's initial purpose was to win sales from the rival Daily Mail and Daily Mirror. In 1935, the stories were taken over by Alfred Bestall, who was previously an illustrator for Punch and other glossy magazines. Bestall proved to be successful in the field of children's literature and worked on Rupert stories and artwork into his nineties. More recently, various other artists and writers have continued the series. About 50 million copies have been sold worldwide.[2]
The comic strip is published daily in the Daily Express, with many of these stories later being printed in books, and every year since 1936 a Rupert annual has also been released. Rupert Bear is a part of children's culture in the United Kingdom, and appears in 4 TV shows based on the character.
- ^ "Become an instant expert on Rupert Bear | The Arts Society". theartssociety.org. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ "Rupert the Bear turns 80". BBC News. 8 November 2000. Retrieved 21 June 2018.