1983 would see a major
refashioning of Whoopee!’s contents as the comic underwent a merge
with failed stablemate (and fellow exclamation-mark-adorned) Wow! in
July. However readers would have been unaware of the impending influx of Wowers (Wowites?) when they examined the latest set of poll results in
Whoopee! dated 22 January 1983, just 7 weeks after the previous top
ten had been announced.
Since that earlier set of results, no Top Ten voting coupon had been published, but due to the lead-time required for publication, the responses to coupons printed several weeks earlier were no doubt included, together with the small voting coupons regularly printed on the comic's letters pages, which readers were asked to complete and send in along with their amusing missives. The Whoopee! editor was undoubtedly scouring the results as he spent sleepless nights deciding which strips would be dropped to make room for the Wowees.
No features had started or ended since the previous results were published in the 04 December 1982 edition, so let's just remind ourselves what were the ongoing features in the comic at the time, so that we have an idea of the 'rivals' with which our ex-Cheeky Weekly chums were contending as they strove to maintain (or achieve in the case of Cheeky and Paddywack) a place among the most popular features...
| START_DATE | END_DATE | CE_ELEMENT |
| 09-FEB-80 | 25-JUN-83 | Smiler |
| 09-FEB-80 | 12-JAN-85 | Cover Feature |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Bookworm |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Bumpkin Billionaires |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Calculator Kid |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Frankie Stein |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Lolly Pop |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Mustapha Million |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Paddywack |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Stage School |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Sweeny Toddler |
| 09-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Toy Boy |
| 16-FEB-80 | 30-MAR-85 | Chip |
| 01-MAR-80 | 19-JAN-85 | Top Ten voting coupon |
| 10-MAY-80 | 09-MAR-85 | Top Ten Results |
| 01-NOV-80 | 27-OCT-84 | Guy Fawkes Mask |
| 09-MAY-81 | 25-JUN-83 | Robot Granny |
| 12-SEP-81 | 25-JUN-83 | Tom Horror's World |
| 31-OCT-81 | 05-NOV-83 | Guy Fawkes Supermask |
| 02-JAN-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Teacher's Pets |
| 27-MAR-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Little Ed |
| 01-MAY-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Beaky |
| 01-MAY-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Kids of Class Five |
| 01-MAY-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Smile-In |
| 01-MAY-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Whoopee Winners |
| 22-MAY-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Cheeky (second run) |
| 23-OCT-82 | 30-MAR-85 | Snack-Man |
| 27-NOV-82 | 23-MAR-85 | Calculator Corner |
| 04-DEC-82 | 04-JUN-83 | Rambling Rhymes |
| 04-DEC-82 | 25-JUN-83 | Quizmaster |
These are the poll results as published in the 22 January 1983 issue...
 |
| Quizmaster art: Roy Mitchell |
Calculator Kid, having reached a nadir in the November '82 poll, is slowly climbing again, reaching 3rd position, the second best placing he has achieved so far.
| Poll Date | Feature | Position |
| 10/05/80 | Calculator Kid | 4 |
| 15/11/80 | Calculator Kid | 2 |
| 20/06/81 | Calculator Kid | 5 |
| 20/02/82 | Calculator Kid | 4 |
| 07/08/82 | Calculator Kid | 6 |
| 21/08/82 | Calculator Kid | 5 |
| 02/10/82 | Calculator Kid | 6 |
| 06/11/82 | Calculator Kid | 8 |
| 04/12/82 | Calculator Kid | 6 |
| 22/01/83 | Calculator Kid | 3 |
The kids of Stage School will be pleased with their performance, up from number 8 to 4th place.
| Poll Date | Feature | Position |
| 10/05/80 | Stage School | 8 |
| 15/11/80 | Stage School | 6 |
| 20/06/81 | Stage School | 10 |
| 20/02/82 | Stage School | 7 |
| 07/08/82 | Stage School | 8 |
| 21/08/82 | Stage School | 10 |
| 02/10/82 | Stage School | 5 |
| 06/11/82 | Stage School | 3 |
| 04/12/82 | Stage School | 8 |
| 22/01/83 | Stage School | 4 |
Mustapha Million seems to be falling from favour, dropping from number 4 to 7th place, taking him back to his lowest ever position in November 1982.
| Poll Date | Feature | Position |
| 10/05/80 | Mustapha Million | 1 |
| 15/11/80 | Mustapha Million | 1 |
| 20/06/81 | Mustapha Million | 1 |
| 20/02/82 | Mustapha Million | 3 |
| 07/08/82 | Mustapha Million | 4 |
| 21/08/82 | Mustapha Million | 4 |
| 02/10/82 | Mustapha Million | 4 |
| 06/11/82 | Mustapha Million | 7 |
| 04/12/82 | Mustapha Million | 4 |
| 22/01/83 | Mustapha Million | 7 |
Robot Granny is again absent, having last appeared in the November 82 poll in 10th place. Cheeky and Paddywack have failed to register in any polls whatsoever.
My examination of the fortunes of the ex-Cheeky Weekly funny folk in the Whoopee Top Ten polls continues in part 9.
Freaky Frankie WAS a reprint: Irmantas told us as much nearly 8.5 years ago: http://kazoop.blogspot.com/2014/03/frankie-stein-honorary-editor-of.html. While I’d never criticise someone who’s as committed to celebrating British comics as Irmantas, especially for old farts like us – what do you mean, speak for yourself? – he doesn’t give a precise overall figure from S&S #42 onwards. You could ask him if you want; I’d look it up at the British Library but they’re operating restrictions at the moment and Irmantas might be a quicker option. I'd be grateful for the dates if you do; seems only fair…
ReplyDeleteThanks for confirming that FF was indeed a reprint - the vintage Sid Burgon art made me suspect it was. However, I assumed FF originally appeared in Whoopee prior to the Cheeky Weekly merge (I have no pre-merge issues of Whoopee) - I completely overlooked the possibility that it might be from Monster Fun (which is why I didn't search Kazoop for mention of it). I may be able to find out specific dates of its MF appearances. I'll post a comment here if I can get the details (or if you'd like to email me at the address shown at the top of the page I can email you if I'm successful). In the meantime I'll update my original post with your info. I like the way you keep me alert by submitting your comment on a different post to that which mentions Freaky Frankie!
DeleteThat was a cock-up, pure and simple; as was saying it's 8.5 years since Irmantas' post as opposed of course to 6.5. You memory goes as you get older, you'll find - and you're very welcome.
ReplyDelete