Genre; British children's humour/adventure comic
Publisher; IPC
First issue; 22 October 1977
Final issue before merge with Whoopee!; 02 February 1980
Number of issues; 117
Weeks not published due to industrial action; 16 December 1978, 23 December 1978, 30 December 1978.
Pages per issue; 32 (except 02 December 1978 and 09 December 1978 which had 28 pages each due to industrial action)
Total pages; 3736
Hey! It's Cheeky. I remember when it came out - loved it because it was so unlike the other comics at the time. I remember once one of the artists let his nephew or something draw a sneaker.
ReplyDeleteThere'll never be another Cheeky!
DeleteCheeky was indeed a top comic, although my only contemporaneous memories of were innumerable copies in my GP's waiting room circa 1979. Knocked rival Plug for six – one of DC Thomson's infrequent wacky attempts that, for me, didn’t quite work. Still have good memories of my nan buying a heap of Plugs circa 1981 and arranging them chronologically though; not so much pleasure in actually reading them, alas.
ReplyDeleteHave Cheeky’s new owners Rebellion been in touch to say “Keep up the good work”, or conversely, “Oi you, clear off”? Ben Smith’s said he’d tolerate any blog etc. that used IPC material without “taking the piss”. Think you’ll be all right as you aren’t make money for your labours.
My memories of Cheeky Weekly are probably a little different from yours as I was in my early twenties when buying it, but I recognised it was a groundbreaking humour comic of the time. As regards Rebellion, I contacted them to ask for permission to continue blogging and they very kindly consented.
DeleteBy the way, did your trip(s) to The British Library reveal any more episodes of Stage School in Whizzer and Chips other than the one you contacted me about a while back?
DeleteNo, it didn't but reassessed Bottom and although not Nigel Edwards's finest hour it's fairly chucklesome; beat Town Tarzan anyway. Any idea what happened to Edwards – seems to have vanished? Your inference that I go to the BL often is quite right: Jinty (1974), Whoopee (1981) and Cracker (1975) coming up tomorrow. Can only go once a week - there are VERY valid reasons…
DeleteI don't know what became of Nigel Edwards. My re-reading of Whizzer and Chips has just reached the point when Bottom was replaced by NE's Wonder Wimp, which wasn't as good as far as I'm concerned.
DeleteEnjoy your BL visit tomorrow.
Hi Stephen ,
DeleteAgree Cheeky was a Great comic , grew up in New Zealand use to buy a copy every week with my 50c pocket money. Back in 1978 cost about 25c New Zealand.
Have a few annuals and comics I have found in search's of Second Hand Book Shops.
Cool profile picture Stephen.
Regards Stephen Mcilroy.
Wow, that’d make you about Lew Stringer’s age and we all know what an old fart he is! I can’t say too much as I’ll be 43 this month and I’ve no plans to ‘outgrow’ comics. I well remember buying the Dandy/Beano 50th anniversary book in 1987 aged 14, and no consideration of "Should I still be reading this?" entered into it. My key comic memories aren’t really of Cheeky but Jackpot, a brilliant comic if a bit top-heavy on reprints towards the end. Someone should start a blog, maybe…
ReplyDeleteIndeed...will you be taking on the task?
DeleteProbably not, for lack of comics not lack of love. There is the BL to help out though. I think Jake's Seven was an excellent strip although rereading a while back it wasn’t around for as long as I had thought. Much better than THAT TV show – and not the one with the blue box…
ReplyDeleteLoved Cheeky comics and other IPC magazines of around that time = Krazy, Whoopee, Jackpot.
ReplyDeleteUse to buy Cheeky as a kid growing up in New Zealand only about 25c New Zealand in 1978.Still buy the odd Annual and comic if I find any in the second hand shops in New Zealand when visiting. Cool profile picture Stephen.
Hi Steve - hope the blog is bringing back some happy memories.
DeleteI worked as Art Assistant on Cheeky Weekly from Nov 1978 until it's merger with 'Whoopee' in 1980. As an editorial team of 4, Colin Edmonds was Editor and there was also David ?(Sub-editor) and Paul ?(Art Editor). My roles included lettering artist, page resizing (reprints), page design CHEEKY's CHIT CHAT, JOKE BOX JURY and colouring artist for Calculator Kid, Snail of the Century, TUB and Disaster Des. I also worked on the Cheeky Summer Specials and Annuals until 1985, when I left IPC Magazines. This blog is bringing back so many great memories of my time with an Iconic Comic. Thanks Tony.
ReplyDeleteHi again Tony. Thanks for your recollections and for your work on what, as you say, was indeed an iconic title unlike anything before or since. Although it didn't last as long as some comics, it's fondly remembered by many former readers (including myself, and I was an adult when it was being published!). You'll probably recall that your colleagues and yourself were sometimes mentioned on the Chit-Chat pages such as 06 October 1979 and 12 January 1980.
DeleteFantastic blog. such detail. a true commitment to the comic. thanks for the info on Cheeky for myself too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comments on the blog. May I return the compliment and say I've been enjoying your new website. I'll be following developments with interest.
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