Corporal Clott

'''YAHOO! I've been scalped!'

The above exclamation was a typical response from the ever-suffering Colonel Grumbly, at the usual recieving end of the latest of CORPORAL CLOTT'S half-baked schemes, in this case after the inept private has converted propellor blades into a ceiling fan.

This strip in the Dandy was the final creation from D.C. Thomson legend Davey Law, with his 'nervous-energy' inkings dominating the comic's colour centrespread for the majority of the Sixties, having debuted in issue 990 [12th November, 1960]. The tales revolved around CLOTT'S bungling exploits, which often brought the entire Army to it's knees: or at least, to the vast base that he resided in. His 'superior', the bulky, beefy Colonel Grumbly was an agressive, dominant authority figure who often bore the brunt of Clott's innocent-but-chaotic misdemeanours. Most of the action centred in the Army camp itself, and rarely ventured into the outside world. The accident-prone Private was often seen driving an Army Jeep, with the oft-viewed ICU2 number-plate.

Fans of Davy Law's artwork have often pointed out that come the 60s, his previously detailed sets had become noticably stark and less elaborate, however for many readers growing up in the Swinging Sixties, this work brings back happy recollections of Clott's anti-establishment character, and the discipline neccessary to Army protocl was ribbed and mocked mercilessly, possibly the prime reason that this concept struck a chord.

The final Law contribution arrived on July 25, 1970 [issue 1496] so there were almost a decade of undisciplined frolics from the original master. Later issues were solidly rendered by Jimmy Hughes, though Law's spirit was sorely missed by his many admirers. Sporadic Law repeats turned up on occassion, to the delight of many original fans. The strip was revived, much later, in 1987 with b/w artwork by Steve Bright.