I've just been messaging with Dean who is doing a thesis on comics. He told me that the first comic blog he visits every day is CBO. Well, all the important people do.
Anyway, he checked "Top UK based comic blogs" and told me that CBO did not appear on any list. Well, hooperart.com is what CBO is also known as as is British Golden Age Heroes, UK Golden Age Heroes, Alan Class blog, Comic Bits 2, Comics Good Read, Zine Zone etc etc etc. He asked if I did not find that upsetting? My response was "Why?"
It is 1800 hrs in the UK so just under half day here and there are hundreds of views on the other blogs and over 6000 on CBO By the time I stop working on CBO, about 2200hrs the views can be between 12-20k. Views for last month (excluding China which Google does not include) 333,037 and it is 75, 625 so far this month (only the 15th). That is also a truly world wide audience and the UK plays little part in things. That is the decision of those in UK comics and the moral corruption within what was an industry is why I stepped back.
Check those top blogs and you will see everyone is a friend and who compiles these lists -one day of CBO views can cover total views for three of the named blogs. "Ranking" is a silly ego thing. I don't care. I don't care because of those view figures from people around the world who just want to read about comics and other fun stuff.
If you go search hooperart.com online you get this:
- Content: The blog features regular updates, including "Comic Bits" posts, reviews of graphic novels (e.g., Asterios the Minotaur, Authorised Happiness), and discussions on comic history and printing quality.
- Focus: It heavily highlights independent and European comics, specifically those from Hexagon Comics and Black Tower.
- Author: Terry Hooper-Scharf is a commentator and author within the comic industry.
- Recent Activity: As of April 2026, the blog is still active, publishing regular "Comic Bits" segments and reviews.
I started CBO in 1997/1998 and have stood by the principles of making the blog a safe place, non political (with the odd joke) and fun. Rather like the old Comic Bits magazine started in the early 1990s. "It heavily highlights independent and European comics" is something I started doing in the mid 1980s with Zine Zone and....I just love comics.
CBO is more a UK based international comic and pop culture site than a British comic site -Zine Zone and the Golden ages sites cover Platinum, Gold, Silver and Modern ages as well as the small press (ZZ).
I could be ranked number 1 and make no difference. Comics and the subjects CBO covers is the important thing (hey, I get no money or sponsorship!). FUN is what is important.
Enjoy comics.
Enjoy CBO!
😁
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