Fred Baker, 19XX-2008



The longtime British comics writer Fred Baker died June 4 from complications due to pneumonia. Baker was best known for his sports stories, particularly a two-decade run on the "Billy's Boots" feature lasting from 1970 into 1990. Baker's run with the strip started in Scorcher, moved to Tiger, then to Eagle in the mid-1980s and finally to Roy of the Rovers. He worked with John Gillatt for the majority if not entirety of that run. In addition to the strip's appearance in English, the "Billy's Boots" stories were translated into Dutch, Finnish and Swedish.

Baker's comics career began as editor working at Almagamated Press before moving onto Fleetway's teenage romance books in the 1960s. He turned freelance in 1966. According to Steve Holland's obituary, his titles included "Skid Kids" (Buster, 1966-1971), "Martin's Marvelous Mini" (Tiger, 1971-1980 or so), "Tommy's Troubles" (Roy of the Rovers, 1976-1985), "Skid Solo" (Tiger, 1970s-1980s) and perhaps his other most fondly-remembered strip, "Hot-Shot Hamish" with artist Julio Schiaffino. Baker retired from writing in the 1990s.
 
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