London Falling facts for kids

"London Falling" is a cool comic story that came out in 2006. It was published in a British comic magazine called 2000 AD. The story was created by writer Simon Spurrier and artist Lee Garbett. It's about scary creatures from old English stories and myths, called bogeymen, causing trouble in modern-day London. The title "London Falling" sounds a bit like the famous song "London Calling" by The Clash.

Meet the Characters

The characters in "London Falling" are all based on old stories and myths, especially from places like England and other parts of northern Europe. A bogeyman is a scary monster or spirit from old stories, often used to scare children into behaving. Folklore means the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed down through generations.

Here are some of the main characters:

• Jack Capelthwaite is a normal family man, but he has a secret. He is actually a shapeshifting monster, a bogeyman, and his old life is about to catch up with him.
• Black Shuck is the leader of the group of monsters. His name comes from a scary, ghostly black dog that is part of old stories from eastern England.
• Hedley Kow is a type of Elf or Hobgoblin from old tales. In the story, this character can change shape, just like a monster.
• Jenny Greenteeth is a scary water hag from English folklore. She is often described as having green skin and sharp teeth, pulling children into ponds.
• Peter Struwwel is a character from a German children's picture book from the 1800s. He is known for his messy hair and long fingernails.
• The Tailor is another scary character from the same German book. He is famous for cutting off the thumbs of children who suck them.
• Tommy Rawhead is an Irish hobgoblin. In folklore, he is a scary creature that enjoys scaring children.
• Black Annis is a scary witch-like figure from English folklore, often described as having a blue face and iron claws. She is said to live in a cave and eat people.
• Cailleach Bheur is a powerful old woman or witch from Scottish and Irish mythology. She is often seen as a spirit of winter and mountains.
• Dando the Huntsman is a Cornish priest from old stories. He is linked to the idea of the Wild Hunt, where a ghostly group of hunters rides through the sky.
• Bucco-Boo is another type of Bogeyman. This name likely comes from "bugaboo," which is a scary imaginary creature.
• Mujina is a Japanese bogeyman. In the story, this character appears as a faceless ghost, just like in some Japanese legends.
• Horndon Worm was a dragon from a place called East Horndon. This dragon was said to have been killed by James Tyrrell (who also appears in the comic) using shiny, mirror-polished armor.

Story Parts

Each part of the "London Falling" story was given its own special title when it was published:

• Part 1: City Folk (in 2000AD #1491)
• Part 2: Loredogs (in 2000AD #1492)
• Part 3: Let Me Take You By The Hand (in 2000AD #1493)
• Part 4: That Go Bump (in 2000AD #1494)
• Part 5: Smoke and Mirrors (in 2000AD #1495)