Rupert

    (Express Newspapers, 1936-Present)
™ and © Express Newspapers

The familiar white bear with the red sweater and yellow checked scarf has delighted readers of the Daily Express ever since late 1920 when Mary Tourtel first began the strip. Alfred Bestall took over in 1935 and in 1936 the collected stories in Annuals began. Bestall drew the daily strips until 1965 and the annual covers until 1973 when most of the work was taken over by Alex Cubie and John Harrold.

Here we have a typical British annual with puzzles, games, and quite a bit of story told on two levels—a rhyming four panel per page tale and a paragraph at the bottom for older readers going into more detail. Young Rupert and his animal friends interact with human characters, both good and bad, but the lovable little bear has a way of coming out ahead, helping those in need and making it home in time for tea and to receive a loving hug from his parents.

— Ron Black
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