Henry, a fearless German Duke, presented as a comic strip for newspapers all over the world. These intelligent, splendidly designed comics invite the reader to smirk to himself, laugh outright or sometimes to simply reflect a little on the unexpected vagaries of life. The medieval setting has a gentle charm all of its own that underscores the soft humour of these portrayals of everyday human themes. Henry is a comic series for weekly publication in print and the internet. More [49 KB]
Comics add character, draw readers to a newspaper.
German comic strip Henry the Lion is an entertaining addition to newspapers in Germany and Russia. It’s popularity with audiences has lead to its incorporation into newspapers’ marketing efforts.
Comic strips give newspapers that something extra. They add flair and entertainment. TBM Marketing in Burgwedel, Germany is an enterprise that specialises in newspaper marketing. Also, along with author and artist Mario Valentinelli, it has been developing the Henry the lion comic strip series over the last three years.
Henry, a fearless German duke, is presented as a weekly comic strip for newspapers in a number of countries. These intelligent, colourfully designed comic strips invite the readers to smirk to themselves, laugh outright, or sometimes to simply reflect a little on the unexpected vagaries of life. The medieval setting has a gentle charm all of its own that underscores the soft humour of these portrayals of everyday human themes.
Henry’s storylines are sometimes topical. Particularly cutting Henry instalments were supplied to the newspapers on the banking crisis in autumn 2008. A satirical comic strip in the business section can stand out strongly to readers. And it’s a change from the photographs that many newspapers are running: shots of traders in front of their computer screens.
The first 80 Henry instalments appeared in German and Russian newspapers in 2007. In addition, the first book has been published in Germany. TBM Marketing plans on expanding the strip to a broader audience, seeing worldwide potential for the comic strip.
Germany’s Peiner Allgemeine Zeitung celebrated the launch of the Henry strip with the headline “Easter Surprise for Our Readers” on the front page and with a whole page in the local news section.
Jörg Schmidt, editor-in-chief of Germany’s Peiner Allgemeine Zeitung said, “Henry is a really nice comic. Some of our readers have told me that they wait for him every Saturday. We don't use Henry for marketing campaigns, but we sell a little book, in which the greatest adventures of Henry are collected. Maybe it's a good idea, to have little figures or bags or something else, to sell them.”
To further its connection with local markets, the Henry comic strip has gone through some level of customisation. In Stadthagen, Germany, between 1370 and 1404, there lived the Duke Otto I. Part of his castle still stands in Stadthagen. To better fit this historic background, in the local newspaper, Schaumburger Nachricten, Henry runs as Otto.
The editor-in-chief of Schaumburger Nachrichten, Dr. Uwe Graells, said “We plan to bring our Otto to all elementary schools. Additionally we plan to illustrate of our town’s history with Otto.”
The comic strip also gives newspapers another tool that they can use to engage their readers and advertisers. Schaumburger Nachrichten plans to place life-size Otto/Henry figurines throughout the pedestrian areas of Stadthagen in 2009. Advertisers will purchase the individual figurines and the newspaper’s readers will decorate them. Ultimately, readers will judge which Otto/Henry they think is the best decorated.
The German-language Russian newspaper Neues Leben highlights the Henry comic in its marketing to readers. Promoting the features readers will find in the newspaper, it says “A comic strip from Mario Valentinelli, a popular German cartoonist.”
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