Cheeky Weekly underwent two revamps in its first year, one a relatively minor tweaking of the comic which happened in June/July 1978, 8 months into the comic's run, and the second, instigated a mere 3 weeks short of the first anniversary issue, a more substantial rejigging of the contents.
Let's compare the contents of the first issue, and issue number 52, to see what changes came about;
Comparison of features: Issues 22-Oct-1977 and 14-Oct-1978
Survivors
The following features began in issue 1 and were still running as of 14 October 1978;
Changes between: Issues 22-Oct-1977 and 14-Oct-1978
| Category | Detail | Start | End |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Mustapha Million | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | 6 Million Dollar Gran | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Skateboard Squad | 22-Oct-1977 | 12-May-1979 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | What's New, Kids | 22-Oct-1977 | 17-Nov-1979 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Pin-up pal | 22-Oct-1977 | 31-Mar-1979 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Interval | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Dec-1978 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Cover Feature | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Friday | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Monday | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Saturday | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Sunday | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Thursday | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Tuesday | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Survivor (started on 22-Oct-1977 and still running as of 14-Oct-1978) | Wednesday | 22-Oct-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
Apart from the daily Cheeky pages, which remained a fixture throughout the comic's life (barring the odd loss as we'll discover later), a core of non-Cheeky's Week strips that helped define the comic survived to the end of year 1. It could be argued that Pin-Up Pal is a less-than-essential survivor, but I'm sure the posters adorned many a bedroom and possibly imparted a modest increase in circulation figures as a result of being seen by young friends who weren't previously aware of the comic. Advertorial feature What's New Kids has little going for it other than presumably being a source of revenue for the publishers. However, Mustapha Million and 6 Million Dollar Gran, who both outlived the toothy funster's comic for several years, joined Skateboard Squad, Interval and the daily Cheeky pages in providing the solid foundations on which to build year 2.
Comparison of features: Issues 22-Oct-1977 and 14-Oct-1978
Newcomers
Changes between: Issues 22-Oct-1977 and 14-Oct-1978
| Category | Detail | Start | End |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Joke-Box Jury | 10-Dec-1977 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Tweety and Sylvester | 21-Jan-1978 | 02-Dec-1978 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Easter Monday | 01-Apr-1978 | 21-Apr-1979 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Calculator Kid | 01-Jul-1978 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Paddywack | 08-Jul-1978 | 26-Jan-1980 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Silly Snaps | 02-Sep-1978 | 20-Oct-1979 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Smurfs competition | 09-Sep-1978 | 09-Dec-1978 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Cheeky's Week | 30-Sep-1978 | 30-Jun-1979 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Why, Dad, Why? | 30-Sep-1978 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Cheeky's Pal Puzzle | 30-Sep-1978 | 02-Dec-1978 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Elephant On The Run | 30-Sep-1978 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Tub | 30-Sep-1978 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Mystery Boy | 30-Sep-1978 | 13-Oct-1979 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Disaster Des | 30-Sep-1978 | 02-Feb-1980 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | The Terrible Trail to Taggart's Treasure | 07-Oct-1978 | 02-Dec-1978 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Laugh and Learn | 07-Oct-1978 | 09-Dec-1978 |
| Newcomer after 22-Oct-1977, still running as of 14-Oct-1978 | Ghouldilocks | 14-Oct-1978 | 14-Oct-1978 |
7 of the strips running as of 14 October 1978 but which hadn't been present in issue 1 had commenced as at the September 1978 revamp, and 5 of those are features from The Mystery Comic. There are 2 strips that were introduced in the July 1978 mini-revamp (Calculator Kid and Paddywack), both of which, at this stage, were framed by Cheeky's Week. Reader participation feature Joke-Box Jury, which joined the comic in December 1977, was a good fit with the comic's gag-based ethos and became a stalwart, surviving until the final issue. Ghouldilocks - a one-off filler reprint - gets scooped up in this category as the strip's single outing occurred in issue number 52.
Comparison of features: Issues 22-Oct-1977 and 14-Oct-1978
The Departed
Changes between: Issues 22-Oct-1977 and 14-Oct-1978
| Category | Detail | Start | End |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Space Family Robinson | 22-Oct-1977 | 24-Jun-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Old Comic | 22-Oct-1977 | 26-Aug-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Home Movie | 22-Oct-1977 | 10-Jun-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Creepy Sleepy Tale | 22-Oct-1977 | 26-Aug-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Doug's Doodle | 22-Oct-1977 | 14-Jan-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Wednesday (conclusion) | 22-Oct-1977 | 26-Aug-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | James Bold | 22-Oct-1977 | 05-Aug-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Hiya I'm Cheeky | 22-Oct-1977 | 22-Oct-1977 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Sunday evening | 22-Oct-1977 | 23-Sep-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | What a Cheek | 22-Oct-1977 | 23-Sep-1978 |
| Started on 22-Oct-1977 but departed before 14-Oct-1978 | Wile E Coyote | 22-Oct-1977 | 07-Jan-1978 |
This table shows the features that were present in issue 1, but whose end dates fell on or before 14 October 1978, and thus don't survive into year 2. As we can see, 3 Cheeky's Week elements were dropped; Sunday evening, Wednesday (conclusion) and cover feature What a Cheek.
7 features that were framed by Cheeky's Week or otherwise provided the framing were discontinued during year 1 - Space Family Robinson, Old Comic, Home Movie, Creepy Sleepy Tale, Doug's Doodle, the above-mentioned Wednesday (conclusion) and James Bold, but as we have already seen, 2 new 'framed by Cheeky's Week' features had been introduced at revamp 1, Calculator Kid and Paddywack, and the 5 new strips which, along with old hand Mustapha Million, constituted the (framed by Cheeky's Week) Mystery Comic, began at the end of September 1978 (all the framing links to these strips would be discarded during year 2).
Hiya I'm Cheeky was the toothy funster's introductory message in issue 1, so made no further appearances.
Comparison of features: Issues 22-Oct-1977 and 14-Oct-1978
Arrived and Departed
Here's a list of all the features which started after issue 1 and ended before issue 52;
| Started and finished within dates | 4 Comics competition Start 28-Jan-1978, End 28-Jan-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | 5 Papers Competition Start 22-Jul-1978, End 22-Jul-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | 500 T-Shirt Winners Start 11-Mar-1978, End 11-Mar-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Archie's Angels Start 12-Aug-1978, End 16-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Bam Splat and Blooie Start 29-Oct-1977, End 17-Jun-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Basil Brush competition Start 11-Mar-1978, End 11-Mar-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Basil Brush competition winners Start 03-Jun-1978, End 03-Jun-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Boxing Day Start 31-Dec-1977, End 31-Dec-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Buster mini comic Start 08-Jul-1978, End 08-Jul-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Chimp on a skateboard photo Start 04-Feb-1978, End 04-Feb-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Christmas Day Start 31-Dec-1977, End 31-Dec-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Christmas Dinner Start 31-Dec-1977, End 31-Dec-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Christmas Morning Start 31-Dec-1977, End 31-Dec-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Cocky Doodle Start 29-Oct-1977, End 04-Mar-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Crack-A-Joke Game Start 02-Sep-1978, End 23-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Creepy Pantomime Start 31-Dec-1977, End 31-Dec-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Daffy Duck Start 24-Dec-1977, End 11-Mar-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Diary Start 03-Dec-1977, End 24-Dec-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Draw Hid Kid winners Start 05-Aug-1978, End 05-Aug-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Easter Sunday Start 01-Apr-1978, End 01-Apr-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Father's Day Messages Start 17-Jun-1978, End 17-Jun-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Friends of Cheeky competition Start 26-Nov-1977, End 26-Nov-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Hello again Start 29-Oct-1977, End 29-Oct-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Henery Hawk Start 26-Nov-1977, End 04-Feb-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Hickory Dickory Doc Start 16-Sep-1978, End 16-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Hid Kid what does he look like Start 27-May-1978, End 27-May-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Hoi! What do you get up to all week Start 30-Sep-1978, End 30-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Kite Competition winners Start 13-May-1978, End 13-May-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Marx Toys Competition Start 16-Sep-1978, End 16-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Mickey Mouse Mini Comic Start 22-Jul-1978, End 22-Jul-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | More joke strips Start 12-Nov-1977, End 12-Nov-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Name the Snail results Start 22-Apr-1978, End 22-Apr-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | New Year's Eve Start 31-Dec-1977, End 07-Jan-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Oi! What is My Name Start 11-Feb-1978, End 11-Feb-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Readers poll Start 09-Sep-1978, End 09-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Road Runner Start 18-Feb-1978, End 03-Jun-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Saturday - April Fool's Day Start 01-Apr-1978, End 01-Apr-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Send a Father's Day message Start 29-Apr-1978, End 29-Apr-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Skateboard Competition Start 17-Jun-1978, End 17-Jun-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Skateboard Snap Start 04-Feb-1978, End 04-Feb-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Skateboard booklet Start 05-Nov-1977, End 26-Nov-1977 |
| Started and finished within dates | Skateboard competition Start 29-Apr-1978, End 29-Apr-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Sonny Storm Start 23-Sep-1978, End 23-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Suddenly Start 07-Jan-1978, End 24-Jun-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Teacher's Teasers Start 26-Aug-1978, End 23-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Tennis Competition Start 24-Jun-1978, End 24-Jun-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Tweety Start 14-Jan-1978, End 14-Jan-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Whizzer and Chips mini comic Start 01-Jul-1978, End 01-Jul-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf Start 24-Jun-1978, End 30-Sep-1978 |
| Started and finished within dates | Whoopee mini comic Start 15-Jul-1978, End 15-Jul-1978 |
This is something of a rag-bag category of short-lived and little-missed features, competitions, fillers, reprints and cut-out-and-keep promotions. No major losses here, except maybe the Suddenly framing device which was dropped as the comic prepared to welcome the Mystery Comic.
Reprints by Month 22-OCT-77 to 14-OCT-78
This table shows, for each month of the comic's first year, the total features, the number of those features that were sourced from reprints, the percentage reprint content, and the number of reprints broken down by source.
The figures for October 1977 and October 1978 of course reflect only 2 issues each, as the first issue was dated 22 October 1977.
| Month | Total Features | Reprint Features | % Reprints | Reprint Sources |
| OCT-1977 | 51 | 4 | 8 | Buster 2, Film Fun 1, Knockout 1 |
| NOV-1977 | 100 | 8 | 8 | Buster 4, Chips 1, Jingles 1, Sun Weekly 1, Tiger 1 |
| DEC-1977 | 122 | 7 | 6 | Buster 2, Film Fun 2, Radio Fun 1, TV Fun 1, Tip Top 1 |
| JAN-1978 | 99 | 4 | 4 | Chips 1, School Friend 1, Swift 1, Tip Top 1 |
| FEB-1978 | 99 | 6 | 6 | Buster 2, Chips 1, Comet 1, TV Fun 2 |
| MAR-1978 | 101 | 6 | 6 | Buster 2, Chips 1, Knockout 1, Swift 1, Tiger 1 |
| APR-1978 | 124 | 6 | 5 | Buster 1, Chips 1, Knockout 2, School Friend 1, Tip Top 1 |
| MAY-1978 | 98 | 3 | 3 | Chips 1, Film Fun 1, Knockout 1 |
| JUN-1978 | 96 | 6 | 6 | Buster 1, Chips 1, Cor!! 1, The Jester 1, Tiger 1, Wonder 1 |
| JUL-1978 | 109 | 1 | 1 | Knockout 1 |
| AUG-1978 | 93 | 4 | 4 | Whizzer and Chips 4 |
| SEP-1978 | 118 | 7 | 6 | Cor!! 3, Whizzer and Chips 4 |
| OCT-1978 | 49 | 5 | 10 | Jag 1, Shiver and Shake 4, Whizzer and Chips 4 |
Thanks to the Old Comic feature, vintage comics were strongly represented among the source of reprints until the feature ended in August 1978. It's interesting to note that the highest percentage of reprints occurred in the final two issues of the first 52, published in October 1978. Is this the beginning of a trend of increasing reliance on previously-published material?
'Semi-reprints' James Bold and Why, Dad, Why? (which were based on previously-published scripts but with new artwork) are not included in the figures above.
Thus the end of year 1 saw a Cheeky Weekly that had undergone a number of changes, although probably no more than any newly-launched comic as it is tweaked in pursuit of maximum circulation. The essential 'Cheeky Weeklyness' was retained - our toothy pal's puntastic, week-long gagfests continued, with the quality of the mighty Frank McDiarmid's work undiminished despite his heavy workload. All the other strips interspersed within the comic were still linked into Cheeky's world by various means, although lumping 5 features within the Mystery Comic seems, in some respects, a bit of a cop-out when previously each non-Cheeky strip had its own individual framing conceit. Nevertheless, the arrival of the Mystery Comic delivered some classic Cheeky Weekly characters in the form of Elephant on the Run and Disaster Des. Also joining during year 1 were Calculator Kid (prior to that the comic was, unbelievably for an IPC title of the period, without a strip by Terry Bave) and Paddywack. These newcomers join stalwarts Mustapha Million, 6 Million Dollar Gran and Skateboard Squad to complete a strong core of humour strips, while Mystery Boy and The Terrible Trail to Taggart's Treasure (both reprints) provide the adventure content that IPC evidently feel is necessary.
Overall, a strong foundation on which to build in year 2.
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