Cheeky Weekly cover date 14 January 1978

It's not hard to guess the answer to Cheeky's question on this week's cover.

Proving that no joke is too hoary for use, even on the front cover, the What A Cheek strip shamelessly gives another outing to a venerable gag.

Can you spot the Humphrey on the Sunday page?  Those seeking enlightenment may find the Unigate ads here instructive.

On Sunday evening, as Cheeky returns home to watch 6 Million Dollar Gran, we see the first appearance of the 'Save a comic - buy Krazy' slogan (Krazy's demise was mere weeks ahead).  In Gran's adventure, she rescues a coachload of school kids who have been buried in an avalanche.


On the What's New Kids page, Cheeky is advertising The Morecambe and Wise Comic Book by Denis Gifford and Terry Wakefield.  Straining to read what's on the cover of the book, there seem to be references to famous comic characters - Ally Sloper's topper, Kate's keyhole, Lord Snooty's collar, etc.

A mad motorcyclist makes several appearances in the Cheeky's Week strips in this issue, tearing across the background.  He is eventually revealed to be one Evil Karneevil.  There's possibly an Emerson, Lake and Palmer reference there.

Like last week's Mustapha Million tale, this week's is reduced from the normal two pages to one.  This is also the first Mustapha tale to be drawn by Joe McCaffrey, and sees our wealthy hero discover that the local playground is as dilapidated and broken-down as the attendant.  Big-hearted (and walleted) Mustapha provides a spanking new playground.


There is evidently some sort of mix-up in compiling the elements of this week's comic.  On the Interval page, just as the titles for this week's Space Family Robinson episode appear, one of Cheeky's pals says that in last week's episode Mrs Robinson vanished.  However, we can clearly see she's present in the first panel of the ensuing episode, and actually it's at the end of this week's instalment that she disappears.  Nevertheless there's some nice artwork in this instalment, as the Robinsons encounter those frigid fiends, the Icemen.

 

 

The comic rounds off with two more sections of the spotter book.

All the Cheeky's Week art this issue is by Unknown Cheeky Artist 1, the first time this artist's work has featured in the comic.

We say farewell (and in one case, hello as well) to 2 minor characters from Cheeky's Week this issue.  The short-sighted dustman makes his fourth and final appearance - I suspect it was felt the comic had room for only one refuse-disposal-related character, and Sid the Street-Sweeper prevailed.  Mad Scientist, who had featured in the 'Ello It's Cheeky strip in Krazy, makes his first appearance during the Interval, but is never seen in the comic again.

Also bowing out is the Doug's Doodle gag feature, although aspiring artist Doodle Doug will return.

The Tweety feature makes what is mercifully its only appearance in the comic's run.  I'm not sure why Sylvester isn't credited in the title, as he is present in the story.  The bad news is that we will be forced to endure 28 episodes of Tweety and Sylvester in the coming weeks.

Cheeky Weekly	Cover Date: 14-Jan-1978, Issue 13 of 117
Page	Details
1	Cover Feature 'Lily and Ursula' - Art Frank McDiarmid\What a Cheek - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
2	Sunday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
3	Skateboard Squad - Art Jimmy Hansen
4	Sunday evening - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
5	6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Ian Knox
6	6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Ian Knox
7	6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Ian Knox
8	Monday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
9	James Bold 'The Ghost Highwayman' 2 of 9 - Art Mike White
10	James Bold 'The Ghost Highwayman' 2 of 9 - Art Mike White
11	Suddenly - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
12	Tuesday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
13	Old Comic reprint from School Friend 'Dilly Dreem' 1 of 2
14	What's New, Kids
15	Wednesday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
16	Creepy Sleepy Tale - Art Keith Reynolds
17	Creepy Sleepy Tale - Art Keith Reynolds\Wednesday (conclusion) - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
18	Joke-Box Jury
19	Thursday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
20	Home Movie 'Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp' - Art Jack Clayton
21	Friday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
22	Mustapha Million - Art Joe McCaffrey (first art on feature)
23	Ad: IPC 'Roy of the Rovers' 3 of 8 Ad: 'Spotter Books promo' 2 of 2
24	Doug's Doodle (final appearance) - Art Artie Jackson (final art on feature)\Saturday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
25	Tweety (single appearance)
26	Tweety (single appearance)
27	Interval - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (first art on feature)
28	Space Family Robinson 'March of the Icemen' - Art John Richardson
29	Space Family Robinson 'March of the Icemen' - Art John Richardson
30	Ad: IPC 'Shoot' 3 of 13
31	The Cheeky Spotter Book of Fun - Art Jim Petrie
32	The Cheeky Spotter Book of Fun - Art Jim Petrie

Cheeky's Week Artists Cover Date 14-Jan-1978

Artist	Elements
Unknown Cheeky Artist 1	12