Cheeky Weekly cover date 21 January 1978

Mustapha Million is the featured character on this week's cover, in a blown-up panel from the Mustapha tale inside.  The What a Cheek strip features an unfortunate stooge who's destined for a plummet down a manhole.  I presume Bump-Bump Bernie was unavailable due to injury.  Somebody really should have a word with Manhole Man about leaving his aperture uncovered.

There may be further evidence of the Cheeky Weekly inconsistent hair colour epidemic as on Sunday evening Cheeky's Mum, who last week had light-coloured hair, is now sporting dark tresses.  However, in fairness, we must acknowledge that maybe she has had her hair dyed in the period since her previous Sunday evening appearance.






On Monday Cheeky meets Mechanic, who for the first time is not under a car. Normally all we see of Mechanic is his feet, but on this occasion only his face remains hidden.

The Old Comic feature this week reprints a page from Tip Top comic, 1953, containing The Happy Family strip plus Merry Moments at Sunnyside School.  Unfortunately the reduction in size necessary to fit the page into Cheeky Weekly renders the contents of the speech balloons practically illegible.  Maybe Tip Top was a broadsheet-sized comic, in which case perhaps it wasn't the best choice to reprint in a tabloid publication.

Pages 22 and 23 feature the Mustapha Million strip, where the mighty Reg Parlett turns in some nice work on a winter-themed tale.

More manhole-related fun is evident in this week's Home Movie, Dr Zuzz.  There was an opportunity to integrate the strip into Cheeky's world by drawing Manhole Man as the irate subterranean worker, but maybe the editor felt that depicting Manhole Man angrily chasing Hooter Harrison and pals in the final frame would upset the readers.






In the cinema interval, as Cheeky settles down to watch Space Family Robinson, he speaks the lines about Mrs Robinson going missing that were mistakenly included in last week's issue.









A half page in-house ad on page 30 announces a competition next week, also running in stablemates Whoopee!, Whizzer and Chips and Krazy.  There's an air of desperation in the underlining of extra comic.

This issue of Cheeky Weekly is turning into something of a manhole special, as there's another missing cover in this week's instalment of the Spotter Book, which closes the issue, art by Jim Petrie.

On Sunday evening Cheeky says he will be introducing some new pals this week, and these new arrivals are Yikky-Boo, Petula, Gunga Jim and Six-Gun Sam.  Skipper from the Skateboard Squad also makes his first appearance in Cheeky's Week as the Squad speed past Cheeky on the way to their latest adventure.

The artwork on Cheeky's Week this issue is a mix of unadulterated Frank McDiarmid (8 elements), Frank McDiarmid pencils (3 elements) and Unknown Cheeky Artist 1 (1 element).

A new feature this week is Tweety and Sylvester (zzzzzz….)

Cheeky Weekly	Cover Date: 21-Jan-1978, Issue 14 of 117
Page	Details
1	Cover Feature 'Mustapha Million' 1 of 2 - Art Reg Parlett (first art on feature)\What a Cheek - Art Frank McDiarmid
2	Sunday - Art Frank McDiarmid
3	Skateboard Squad - Art Jimmy Hansen
4	Sunday evening - Art Frank McDiarmid
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 Frank McDiarmid
9	James Bold 'The Ghost Highwayman' 3 of 9 - Art Mike White
10	James Bold 'The Ghost Highwayman' 3 of 9 - Art Mike White
11	Suddenly - Art Frank McDiarmid (first art on feature)
12	Tuesday - Art Frank McDiarmid
13	Old Comic reprint from Tip Top 'The Happy Family' reprint from Tip Top 'Merry Moments at Sunnyside School' 1 of 2
14	What's New, Kids
15	Wednesday - Art Frank McDiarmid
16	Creepy Sleepy Tale - Art Keith Reynolds
17	Creepy Sleepy Tale - Art Keith Reynolds\Wednesday (conclusion) - Art Frank McDiarmid
18	Joke-Box Jury
19	Thursday - Art Frank McDiarmid pencils
20	Home Movie 'Dr. Zuzz' - Art Jack Clayton
21	Friday - Art Frank McDiarmid pencils
22	Mustapha Million - Art Reg Parlett
23	Mustapha Million - Art Reg Parlett
24	Saturday - Art Unknown Cheeky Artist 1
25	Tweety and Sylvester (first appearance)
26	Tweety and Sylvester (first appearance)
27	Interval - Art Frank McDiarmid pencils
28	Space Family Robinson 'The Plain of Bubbles' - Art John Richardson
29	Space Family Robinson 'The Plain of Bubbles' - Art John Richardson
30	Ad: IPC '4 Papers Kite Competition next week'Ad: 'Shoot' 4 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 21-Jan-1978

Artist	Elements
Frank McDiarmid	8
Frank McDiarmid pencils	3
Unknown Cheeky Artist 1	1