 |
| Art: Produced by copy-and-paste from artwork drawn by Frank McDiarmid. See text for details |
The
above-title banner again refers to 6 Million Dollar Gran as bionic
whereas, as readers who've been following the title since issue one will
know, she's a robot.
The
rather minimalist, odd-looking cover illustration this week is the
result of cover cannibalism - the images of Manhole Man, Cheeky and
Jogging Jeremy first appeared on the front pages of the 09 June 1979,
11 August 1979 and 20 January 1979 comics respectively. However, the
most striking thing about this cover is the absence of something.
This is a landmark issue of the toothy funster's comic, yet there's
no mention of that fact on the front page (nor anywhere inside). The
1970s has seen new comics regularly terminate with unseemly haste.
Krazy, the title from which Cheeky Weekly erupted, managed to survive
for only 79 issues as did Shiver and Shake, while Monster Fun
troubled newsagents' delivery boys and girls for a mere 73 weeks. One
would think that IPC would be keen to celebrate the relative
longevity of our grinning pal's comic as it reaches its 100th
issue. Anyway, the fact that Cheeky Weekly has reached its century is testament to the
talented artists and writers whose work on this groundbreaking title has kept it buoyant, thus thwarting the accountants who are so keen to cull comics
that are perceived to be underperforming.
MikeLacey is the artist depicting Cheeky's Sunday on page 2, but it seems
the toothy funster concluded his paper round immediately after the cover gag as there is no sign of the deliveries we usually witness in this location.
 |
| Art: Mike Lacey |
Despite
the fact that the 100th issue is not celebrated, Cheeky and his pals
do get to enjoy a party thanks to Gran...
 |
| Art: Nigel Edwards |
The
final panel of Gran's story, with a caption carrying a phrase such as “Join the party in our 100th
issue”, would have made a better front cover for this edition. But who is the character wearing glasses and chomping on a sausage roll in front of Elephant? Nigel Edwards did a great job in depicting a selection of characters from across the comic but did he, seeking reference material for his artwork, somehow confuse Dads As Lads (which made its debut in Whoopee! in 1976), with Cheeky Weekly's own paternal/filial feature Why, Dad, Why?
 |
| Whoopee! 01 March 1980 Art: Bill Mevin (thanks Andy!) |
Page
11 does carry news of a special celebratory comic, but it's an advert
for the 10th anniversary issue of Whizzer and Chips, containing a free gift plus part one of a mini facsimile of the debut edition.
The aspiring artistes of Stage School appear only in the final two panels of
this week's story, and even then they are unrecognisable.
 |
| Art: Robert Nixon |
The Chit-Chat page contains another reference to celebrations, but this time the festivities are in honour of the art editor's birthday.
 |
| Tub - Art: Nigel Edwards |
JimmyHansen takes over the Cheeky artwork duties as of Thursday...
 |
| Art: Jimmy Hansen |
Beneath a banner reading 'Here's a special appearance of a Cheeky Annual favourite' is a tale of telephonic tribulations starring Ringer Dinger, a reprint from Whizzer and Chips. Dinger had indeed made 4 appearances in the 1979 Cheeky Annual (published in late '78), and rung up a bumper 5 adventures in the toothy funster's current 1980 Annual, which was first advertised in Cheeky Weekly dated 22 September 1979. I wonder whether something happened to the artwork that was originally intended for the Sunday page in this issue, necessitating the shunting forward of another day's art onto page 2 and thus the inclusion of this phone-fun filler. Dinger will be called upon to make up the page count in a further 2 editions of Cheeky Weekly. Ringer Dinger in the Cheeky Weekly Index
 | ||
| Art: Terry Bave Dinger's dad appears to lose his voice in the final panel judging by the empty speech bubble |
On
Saturday Cheeky is tasked with walking the neighbour's dog, a Saint
Bernard. Canine comedy ensues, before attention turns to the back
garden in Snail of the Century which, as has become the tradition,
brings the comic to a close.
Mike Lacey and Jimmy Hansen each provide 4 Cheeky's Week elements this week, with Frank McDiarmid being represented thanks to the art assistant's work with scissors and glue on the front cover.
Mike Lacey and Jimmy Hansen each provide 4 Cheeky's Week elements this week, with Frank McDiarmid being represented thanks to the art assistant's work with scissors and glue on the front cover.
Cheeky's Week Artists Cover Date 06-Oct-1979
| Artist | Elements |
| Jimmy Hansen | 4 |
| Mike Lacey | 4 |
| Frank McDiarmid | 1 |
| Cheeky Weekly | Cover Date: 06-Oct-1979, Issue 100 of 117 |
| Page | Details |
| 1 | Cover Feature 'Jogging Jeremy and Manhole Man' - Art Frank McDiarmid |
| 2 | Sunday - Art Mike Lacey |
| 3 | Calculator Kid - Art Terry Bave |
| 4 | 6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Nigel Edwards |
| 5 | 6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Nigel Edwards |
| 6 | 6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Nigel Edwards |
| 7 | Monday - Art Mike Lacey |
| 8 | Ad: Trebor (final appearance) 'Olympic Game' 2 of 2 |
| 9 | Joke-Box Jury |
| 10 | Tuesday - Art Mike Lacey |
| 11 | Ad: IPC 'Whoopee Guy Fawkes mask' 3 of 3 Ad: 'Whizzer and Chips 10th birthday issue' |
| 12 | The Gang reprint from Whizzer and Chips - Art Robert MacGillivray |
| 13 | The Gang reprint from Whizzer and Chips - Art Robert MacGillivray |
| 14 | Paddywack - Art Jack Clayton |
| 15 | Mystery Boy reprint from Whizzer and Chips |
| 16 | Elephant On The Run - Art Vic Neill (first art on feature) |
| 17 | Elephant On The Run - Art Vic Neill (first art on feature) |
| 18 | Wednesday - Art Mike Lacey |
| 19 | Stage School - Art Robert Nixon |
| 20 | Chit-Chat |
| 21 | Chit-Chat\Tub - Art Nigel Edwards |
| 22 | Thursday - Art Jimmy Hansen (final art on feature) |
| 23 | Speed Squad - Art Jimmy Hansen |
| 24 | Mustapha Million - Art Joe McCaffrey |
| 25 | What's New, Kids |
| 26 | Friday - Art Jimmy Hansen (single art on feature) |
| 27 | Ad: IPC 'Buster Book' 1 of 2 Ad: 'Top Soccer' 3 of 3 |
| 28 | Ringer Dinger (first appearance) reprint from Whizzer and Chips - Art Terry Bave (first art on feature) |
| 29 | Disaster Des - Art Mike Lacey |
| 30 | Saturday - Art Jimmy Hansen (single art on feature) |
| 31 | Saturday - Art Jimmy Hansen (single art on feature) |
| 32 | Snail of the Century - Art Frank McDiarmid |
Dads as Lads was by Bill Mevin :)
ReplyDeleteOops, I got me Bills mixed up - thanks, will change it!
DeleteSadly, in W&C this week, The Slimms gave way to reprints; and perhaps W&C’s birthday the following week was IPC’s main concern, not Cheeky’s 100th issue. Were it not for the horrors of the final weeks of 1978, both for Cheeky and other comics, the 100th issue would have been 15/9/79 but I’m sure you don’t need reminding of that. It’s interesting and saddening in equal measure that in W&C earlier that year, Sid was thwarted from getting his “surprise” presents, with Slippy complicit in Sid’s parents’ machinations. Clear reuse of Christmassy material. I’ll have to check if The Slimms from the end of 1978 is similar in style to the Christmas story seen in Dec 1979, as it’s not a reprint.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I'm not sure whether IPC ever celebrated the 100th issue of any of their titles. As regards the repurposing of Christmas material, you'll no doubt be aware that the Cheeky Weekly editor (who was probably also the W&C editor - Bob Paynter?) was a past master at such modifications.
DeleteWell there was Eagle’s 100th in Feb ’84, and W&C’s 700th issue in May ’83. The Slimms’ ‘creaking scales’ logo was replaced by a black and white version on 2/12/78, just in time for the strike, he said with undisguised acrimony. This was seen on 22nd (I think) and 29th Dec ’79, indicating they were holdovers.
ReplyDelete