Art: Frank McDiarmid |
Cheeky bounds boldly into the new decade, despite there being an indication inside our favourite comic that it will not survive very long into the 80s. Nevertheless, Cheeky and pals are putting on a buoyant display for the cover, although Jogging Jeremy (the subject of this issue's Comedy Catalogue) can’t even match the athleticism of Snail.
New Year’s Day 1980 is on a Tuesday, so Cheeky’s Sunday is set 48
hours before the commencement of the leap year, and includes the
farewell appearance of Sid the Street-Sweeper.
Frank again |
Charlie
Counter, lacking funds as is often the case, is unable to watch the
New Year match (the ‘wanting to get into football ground’
scenario being
a stock comic
plot). Thanks to Calc’s plan involving footballs stuck in a tree,
Charlie ends the strip enjoying the match from the comfort of the
Director’s box.
Art: Terry Bave |
Elephant and The Man in the Plastic Mac are considering their
respective and contradictory new year resolutions, but by the end of
the story both have abandoned their plans and the status remains very
much quo.
Art: Robert Nixon |
We’re treated to a 2-page Monday, which commences with the Cheeky
clan gathered around the clock chiming midnight, so strictly speaking
it’s Tuesday. Regular Hogmanay reveller Uncle Hamish (see the new year festivities of 1978 and 1979) is in
attendance, and can
any party be a success without the presence of luscious Lily Pop?
Art: Frank McDiarmid |
The second ‘Monday’ page sees Cheeky’s party in full swing, following which there is further resolution rumination as Sir contemplates his new year educational strategy.
On the (proper) Tuesday page a post-party toothy funster is out and about.
Art: Robert Nixon |
On the (proper) Tuesday page a post-party toothy funster is out and about.
More Frank |
The Soggy the Sea Monster reprint finds the likeable leviathan
encountering a party on a yacht, but whether the story was originally
written with a new year theme, or the ‘Happy New Year’ in the
final panel was added specifically for its reuse here, remains
unclear.
Mustapha is contemplating the new year. His pals are concerned when they see him bulldozing the playground, but are relieved when they learn his plan is to replace everything with brand new equipment – part of his scheme to change things for the new decade (although he sticks with a traditional slap-up feed conclusion).
Art: Joe McCaffrey |
The Gang attend a new year fancy dress party in their reprint
adventure.
Travelling
north of the border to enjoy Hogmanay, 6 Million Dollar Gran and the
Potts family meet another of their Caledonian relatives, Uncle
Hector, (we’d previously met their Uncle Hamish McPotts – not to
be confused with Cheeky’s uncle – in the 28 October 1978
edition). To complicate things further, Gran meets yet another
Hamish, claiming him to be a cousin (presumably of the Potts rather than her own, since she's a robot), at the
conclusion of this week’s tale.
Art: Ian Knox |
On the Chit-Chat page, Cheeky’s cryptic reference to exciting things
to come, and the absence of the solicitation for readers'
contributions that has appeared on all previous outings of this
feature, suggests that the comic may have a limited future.
The toothy funster’s Saturday amble around Krazy Town allows him to
quiz his pals on the progress of their new year
resolutions, before Cheeky's slithering sidekick leaves his grinning companion indoors struggling to write his own resolutions, and heads into the back garden for another Snail of the Century.
Making their final Cheeky’s Week appearences this issue (along with
Sid the Street Sweeper) are Herman, Goalie Cat, Gunga Jim, and
Willie Brushiton.
A pleasingly all-Frank McDiarmid Cheeky's Week issue gets the year off to a promising start.
A pleasingly all-Frank McDiarmid Cheeky's Week issue gets the year off to a promising start.
Cheeky Weekly | Cover Date: 05-Jan-1980, Issue 113 of 117 |
Page | Details |
1 | Cover Feature 'Happy Leap Year' - Art Frank McDiarmid |
2 | Sunday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
3 | Calculator Kid - Art Terry Bave |
4 | Joke-Box Jury |
5 | Elephant On The Run - Art Robert Nixon |
6 | Monday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
7 | Monday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
8 | Stage School - Art Robert Nixon |
9 | Stage School - Art Robert Nixon |
10 | Tuesday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
11 | Soggy the Sea Monster reprint from Shiver and Shake - Art Robert Nixon |
12 | Disaster Des - Art Mike Lacey |
13 | Cheeky's Cut-Out Comedy Catalogue 'Jogging Jeremy Jokes' |
14 | Cheeky's Cut-Out Comedy Catalogue 'Jogging Jeremy Jokes' |
15 | Wednesday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
16 | Mustapha Million - Art Joe McCaffrey |
17 | Mustapha Million - Art Joe McCaffrey |
18 | The Gang reprint from Whizzer and Chips - Art Robert MacGillivray |
19 | The Gang reprint from Whizzer and Chips - Art Robert MacGillivray |
20 | Thursday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
21 | Tub - Art Nigel Edwards |
22 | Paddywack - Art Jack Clayton |
23 | Paddywack - Art Jack Clayton |
24 | 6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Ian Knox |
25 | 6 Million Dollar Gran - Art Ian Knox |
26 | Friday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
27 | Ad: IPC 'Mickey Mouse' 14 of 18 Ad: 'Penny' 2 of 3 |
28 | Speed Squad - Art Jimmy Hansen |
29 | Chit-Chat |
30 | Saturday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
31 | Saturday - Art Frank McDiarmid |
32 | Snail of the Century - Art Frank McDiarmid |
Lily is hot stuff!
ReplyDeleteTeacher got lucky on the second Monday page.
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