Spotlight on newspaper strip layout: Difference between revisions
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== Newspapers - layout == | == Newspapers - layout == | ||
===Daily strips=== | |||
In 1934 the size of newspapers in the United States were about 381 × 578 mm. And where each page was divided into eight<ref group="footnotes">9 columns at pages with small ads</ref> columns. | In 1934 the size of newspapers in the United States were about 381 × 578 mm. And where each page was divided into eight<ref group="footnotes">9 columns at pages with small ads</ref> columns. | ||
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|} | |} | ||
By 1945 KFS offered the Mandrake daily stripes only as 4 or 5 columns, adding a 3 column variant in 1946. The 3 column variat was intended to be split in half. So that the last half of the strip came under the first half | By 1945 KFS offered the Mandrake daily stripes only as 4 or 5 columns, adding a 3 column variant in 1946. The 3 column variat was intended to be split in half. So that the last half of the strip came under the first half. | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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|bgcolor="grey"| column 8 | |bgcolor="grey"| column 8 | ||
|- | |- | ||
|colspan="3"|Mandrake the Magician | |colspan="3"|Mandrake the <br>Magician | ||
|bgcolor="grey"| column 4 | |bgcolor="grey"| column 4 | ||
|bgcolor="grey"| column 5 | |||
|bgcolor="grey"| column 6 | |||
|bgcolor="grey"| column 7 | |||
|bgcolor="grey"| column 8 | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
From 1954 KFS only offered the 4 columns variant. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
!colspan="8"|Newspaper page | |||
|- | |||
| column 1 | |||
| column 2 | |||
| column 3 | |||
| column 4 | |||
| column 5 | |||
| column 6 | |||
| column 7 | |||
| column 8 | |||
|- | |||
|colspan="4"|Mandrake the Magician | |||
|bgcolor="grey"| column 5 | |bgcolor="grey"| column 5 | ||
|bgcolor="grey"| column 6 | |bgcolor="grey"| column 6 | ||
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[[Lee Falk]]'s other comic strip, [[The Phantom]] had a corresponding development in size. It started spanning 6 columns in 1936, and 5 columns variant was added in 1939. In 1942 there was only 4 and 5 columns variant. A 3 columns variant was added in 1947. Then, from 1953 there was only the 4 and 5 columns variants. | [[Lee Falk]]'s other comic strip, [[The Phantom]] had a corresponding development in size. It started spanning 6 columns in 1936, and 5 columns variant was added in 1939. In 1942 there was only 4 and 5 columns variant. A 3 columns variant was added in 1947. Then, from 1953 there was only the 4 and 5 columns variants. | ||
====Differences between the different variants==== | |||
Comparing the size ratio between the 6 column strip and original art by [[Phil Davis]], one find that the strips printed in the newspapers are slightly higher then the original art ''(fig. 1)'' in 1934. Comparing the 5 and 6 column variants of the Mandrake strip in 1935, one find that the 5 column variant is closest to the original art drawn by Phil Davis. The 6-column variant is stretched in height, as seen in the illustration below ''(fig. 2)''. | Comparing the size ratio between the 6 column strip and original art by [[Phil Davis]], one find that the strips printed in the newspapers are slightly higher then the original art ''(fig. 1)'' in 1934. Comparing the 5 and 6 column variants of the Mandrake strip in 1935, one find that the 5 column variant is closest to the original art drawn by Phil Davis. The 6-column variant is stretched in height, as seen in the illustration below ''(fig. 2)''. | ||
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</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
===KFS proof sheets=== | ====KFS proof sheets==== | ||
KFS distributed the strips in a form of proofs, with one week ''(Monday to Saturday)'' of run on each sheet. Each strip the same size as how it appeared in the newspapers. | KFS distributed the strips in a form of proofs, with one week ''(Monday to Saturday)'' of run on each sheet. Each strip the same size as how it appeared in the newspapers. | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> |
Revision as of 11:42, 16 July 2023
Newspapers - layout
Daily strips
In 1934 the size of newspapers in the United States were about 381 × 578 mm. And where each page was divided into eight[footnotes 1] columns.
The first Mandrake story was offered by KFS to the newspapers in a format spanning 6 columbs.
Newspaper page | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
column 1 | column 2 | column 3 | column 4 | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 |
Mandrake the Magician | column 7 | column 8 |
In 1935 the strips were offered in two variants, spanning 5 or 6 columbs, and in 1942 a 4 columbs variant was added.
Newspaper page | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
column 1 | column 2 | column 3 | column 4 | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 |
Mandrake the Magician | column 7 | column 8 | |||||
Mandrake the Magician | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 | ||||
Mandrake the Magician | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 |
By 1945 KFS offered the Mandrake daily stripes only as 4 or 5 columns, adding a 3 column variant in 1946. The 3 column variat was intended to be split in half. So that the last half of the strip came under the first half.
Newspaper page | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
column 1 | column 2 | column 3 | column 4 | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 |
Mandrake the Magician | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 | ||||
Mandrake the Magician | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 | |||
Mandrake the Magician |
column 4 | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 |
From 1954 KFS only offered the 4 columns variant.
Newspaper page | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
column 1 | column 2 | column 3 | column 4 | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 |
Mandrake the Magician | column 5 | column 6 | column 7 | column 8 |
Lee Falk's other comic strip, The Phantom had a corresponding development in size. It started spanning 6 columns in 1936, and 5 columns variant was added in 1939. In 1942 there was only 4 and 5 columns variant. A 3 columns variant was added in 1947. Then, from 1953 there was only the 4 and 5 columns variants.
Differences between the different variants
Comparing the size ratio between the 6 column strip and original art by Phil Davis, one find that the strips printed in the newspapers are slightly higher then the original art (fig. 1) in 1934. Comparing the 5 and 6 column variants of the Mandrake strip in 1935, one find that the 5 column variant is closest to the original art drawn by Phil Davis. The 6-column variant is stretched in height, as seen in the illustration below (fig. 2).
By the end of 1938 it looks like the 5 and 6 columns strips size ratio are identically, but compared to the original they seem significantly stretched in height (fig. 3).
By the end of 1942 the 4 and 5 columns variant are identically with the the original art, but the 4 columns are is slightly stretched in height, while the 5 columns variant are compressed in height (fig. 4).
In 1946 the 4 columns are slightly stretched in height compared with the original (?) art. The 5 columns variant now are reduced in height by cutting away the lower parts of the original (?) art. In the 3 columns variant are reduced in height by cutting away the lower parts, but not as much as seen for the 5 comlumns. In addition, each panel having more art on the sides of the panels (fig. 5).
The size of the column (where a column is about 1.83 inches (46 mm) wide) variants was in 1946 stated to:
- 3c = 4 3/4 inch (= about 138 x 120,65 mm)
- 4c = 2 7/16 inch (= about 184 x 61,91 mm)
- 5c = 2 1/4 inch (= about 230 x 57,15 mm)
KFS proof sheets
KFS distributed the strips in a form of proofs, with one week (Monday to Saturday) of run on each sheet. Each strip the same size as how it appeared in the newspapers.
1936: The Phantom
6 columns[footnotes 2]
This article, or section of an article, is very short. You can help MandrakeWiki by expanding it. |
Note
- ↑ 9 columns at pages with small ads
- ↑ *picture from PhantomRayMoore
Sources
- information for the size and years of the Mandrake strips from "Editor and Publisher", Annual directory of features - Newspaper art features: years 1934-1942 and 1945-1976.