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| Dinger's debut - Whizzer and Chips 02 January 1971 Art & script - Terry Bave |
I am extremely grateful to Stephen Archer who has researched Ringer Dinger's original run in Whizzer and Chips during 1971. As all Friends of Cheeky know, Dinger was first exhumed from the mouldy vaults of IPC to help fill the Cheeky Summer Special of 1978, and went on to make a total of 36 appearances across Cheeky Specials, Annuals and 3 issues of the weekly comic...
| Date | Title | Element | Episodes |
| 01-Jul-1978 | Cheeky Summer Special | Ringer Dinger | 5 |
| 01-Sep-1978 | Cheeky Annual 1979 | Ringer Dinger | 4 |
| 01-Jun-1979 | Cheeky Summer Special | Ringer Dinger | 4 |
| 01-Sep-1979 | Cheeky Annual 1980 | Ringer Dinger | 5 |
| 06-Oct-1979 | Cheeky Weekly | Ringer Dinger | 1 |
| 26-Jan-1980 | Cheeky Weekly | Ringer Dinger | 1 |
| 02-Feb-1980 | Cheeky Weekly | Ringer Dinger | 1 |
| 01-Apr-1980 | Cheeky Holiday Special | Ringer Dinger | 4 |
| 01-Sep-1980 | Cheeky Annual 1981 | Ringer Dinger | 4 |
| 01-Jun-1981 | Cheeky Summer Special | Ringer Dinger | 3 |
| 01-Aug-1981 | Cheeky Annual 1982 | Ringer Dinger | 4 |
| TOTAL | 36 |
The telephone-toting tyke had a very year-specific original outing, dialing in to 1971's new year issue of the mighty two-in-one title, appearing in every edition, and hanging up in the same year's Christmas comic, with a call into Whizzer and Chips Holiday Special 1971 along the way. Stephen has provided dates, and details of the characters summoned by the magical but unreliable communication device, for each of Dinger's Whizzer and Chips appearances. I have given the Holiday Special a notional cover date of 01 June. As I'm not familiar with the early years of Whizzer and Chips, I was interested to learn from Stephen that in two Dinger tales our young hero summons characters who had previously featured in Whizzer and Chips strips of their own - 06 Feb 1971's Mummy from The Mummy's Curse, and Miss Fizz and Ivy who formerly starred in The Scareys of St. Mary’s. The Mummy episode was not one of those reprinted in the Cheeky titles, but the Scareys' escapade was resurrected in the 1982 Cheeky Annual.
Below are details of Ringer Dinger's 54-episode original run - thanks once again to Stephen Archer for the information.
| Title | Cover Date | Element | Summoned |
| Whizzer and Chips | 02-Jan-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Father Time, animated numbers 1,9,7,1 |
| Whizzer and Chips | 09-Jan-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Cannibal |
| Whizzer and Chips | 16-Jan-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Ferno the fire-eater |
| Whizzer and Chips | 23-Jan-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jack Frost |
| Whizzer and Chips | 30-Jan-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jolly Roger |
| Whizzer and Chips | 06-Feb-1971 | Ringer Dinger | The Mummy (former W&C character from The Mummy’s Curse) |
| Whizzer and Chips | 13-Feb-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Dinger’s teacher |
| Whizzer and Chips | 20-Feb-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Hippie artist |
| Whizzer and Chips | 27-Feb-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Royal Engineer |
| Whizzer and Chips | 06-Mar-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Swordsman |
| Whizzer and Chips | 13-Mar-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Loch Ness Monster |
| Whizzer and Chips | 20-Mar-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Old King Cole |
| Whizzer and Chips | 27-Mar-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Baron von Flugel |
| Whizzer and Chips | 03-Apr-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Captain Ahab |
| Whizzer and Chips | 10-Apr-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Egg Egg-spert |
| Whizzer and Chips | 17-Apr-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jester (Dinger, bored with TV, dials Jester to entertain him) |
| Whizzer and Chips | 24-Apr-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Miss Fizz and Ivy (former W&C characters from The Scareys of St. Mary’s) |
| Whizzer and Chips | 01-May-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Speed Spring Cleaning man |
| Whizzer and Chips | 08-May-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Highwayman |
| Whizzer and Chips | 15-May-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Danny the discus thrower |
| Whizzer and Chips | 22-May-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Cap’n Cutlass |
| Whizzer and Chips | 29-May-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Dinger’s double |
| Whizzer and Chips Holiday Special 1971 | 01-Jun-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Wagon master, Lift Attendant |
| Whizzer and Chips | 05-Jun-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jumping Jack |
| Whizzer and Chips | 12-Jun-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Shriek of Araby |
| Whizzer and Chips | 19-Jun-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Walter Tapitt |
| Whizzer and Chips | 26-Jun-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Hans Upp |
| Whizzer and Chips | 03-Jul-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Hazel Nut |
| Whizzer and Chips | 10-Jul-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Chimney sweep |
| Whizzer and Chips | 17-Jul-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Marcel Du Dah |
| Whizzer and Chips | 24-Jul-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Cricketer |
| Whizzer and Chips | 31-Jul-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jock MacGregor |
| Whizzer and Chips | 07-Aug-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Baker |
| Whizzer and Chips | 14-Aug-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jack Boot |
| Whizzer and Chips | 21-Aug-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jack the Reaper |
| Whizzer and Chips | 28-Aug-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Shot-putter |
| Whizzer and Chips | 04-Sep-1971 | Ringer Dinger | New spook |
| Whizzer and Chips | 11-Sep-1971 | Ringer Dinger | William the Conkerer |
| Whizzer and Chips | 18-Sep-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Sniffer the bloodhound & policeman |
| Whizzer and Chips | 25-Sep-1971 | Ringer Dinger | King Pinn |
| Whizzer and Chips | 02-Oct-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Spaceman |
| Whizzer and Chips | 09-Oct-1971 | Ringer Dinger | I. Wirem |
| Whizzer and Chips | 16-Oct-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Big game hunter |
| Whizzer and Chips | 23-Oct-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Joiner |
| Whizzer and Chips | 30-Oct-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Sports curler |
| Whizzer and Chips | 06-Nov-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Gail Force |
| Whizzer and Chips | 13-Nov-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Man with spinning top |
| Whizzer and Chips | 20-Nov-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Lino layer |
| Whizzer and Chips | 27-Nov-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jester (Dinger, playing football, dials for ‘full back’, gets ‘fool back’) |
| Whizzer and Chips | 04-Dec-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Bowman |
| Whizzer and Chips | 11-Dec-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Golfer |
| Whizzer and Chips | 18-Dec-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Tank and crew |
| Whizzer and Chips | 25-Dec-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Lumberjack |
I was curious to learn more about Marcel Du-Dah, who was conjured forth by the magic phone in W&C dated 17 July. This tale was not chosen for reprint, so is one I have never seen. Most of the character names give a good idea of their role, but Monsieur D-D was something of a mystery. Stephen explains, "Marcel Du-Dah was a beret specialist when berries were required". In naming this character Terry Bave was clearly referencing fellow artist Marcel Duchamp, something of a surprise since I don't think Terry's involvement in Cubism was particularly extensive. Or maybe I missed the issue of Whizzer and Chips containing Terry's Odd-Ball Descending a Staircase.
The table below shows all the Dinger elements to appear across the Cheeky titles, and the date of each tale's original appearance. As you'll see, all the Ringer reprints in the 1982 Cheeky Annual were, by means of expanding the artwork, converted from single page to double page adventures. You'll also note that the sequence of reprints completely ignored the original publication order. It's understandable that the Christmas episode wouldn't be appropriate for a Summer Special, but most of the tales I have seen were not specific to a time of year.It's not clear whether the jester who materialised in W&C dated 17 April was the same medieval merry-maker who was summoned in the 27 November comic, but neither Dinger nor jester acknowledged having met before in their November encounter, which is lucky for the Cheeky editor who reprinted the two tales in reverse order (Cheeky Annuals 1980 and 1981).
| Title | Date | Page | Origin | Summoned |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jul-1978 | 9 | Whizzer and Chips 24-Jul-1971 | Cricketer |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jul-1978 | 28 | Whizzer and Chips 19-Jun-1971 | Walter Tapitt |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jul-1978 | 38 | Whizzer and Chips 03-Apr-1971 | Captain Ahab |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jul-1978 | 46 | Whizzer and Chips 31-Jul-1971 | Jock MacGregor |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jul-1978 | 52 | Whizzer and Chips 16-Oct-1971 | Big game hunter |
| Cheeky Annual 1979 | 01-Sep-1978 | 24 | Whizzer and Chips 11-Dec-1971 | Golfer |
| Cheeky Annual 1979 | 01-Sep-1978 | 41 | Whizzer and Chips 18-Sep-1971 | Sniffer the bloodhound & policeman |
| Cheeky Annual 1979 | 01-Sep-1978 | 75 | Whizzer and Chips 21-Aug-1971 | Jack the Reaper |
| Cheeky Annual 1979 | 01-Sep-1978 | 122 | Whizzer and Chips 25-Dec-1971 | Lumberjack |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1979 | 8 | Whizzer and Chips 18-Dec-1971 | Tank and crew |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1979 | 24 | Whizzer and Chips 12-Jun-1971 | Shriek of Araby |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1979 | 43 | Whizzer and Chips 09-Oct-1971 | I. Wirem |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1979 | 64 | Whizzer and Chips 25-Sep-1971 | King Pinn |
| Cheeky Annual 1980 | 01-Sep-1979 | 25 | Whizzer and Chips 27-Nov-1971 | Jester (Dinger playing football, dials for ‘full back’, gets ‘fool back’) |
| Cheeky Annual 1980 | 01-Sep-1979 | 36 | Whizzer and Chips 30-Oct-1971 | Sports curler |
| Cheeky Annual 1980 | 01-Sep-1979 | 49 | Whizzer and Chips 04-Sep-1971 | New spook |
| Cheeky Annual 1980 | 01-Sep-1979 | 97 | Whizzer and Chips 13-Mar-1971 | Loch Ness Monster |
| Cheeky Annual 1980 | 01-Sep-1979 | 113 | Whizzer and Chips 20-Mar-1971 | Old King Cole |
| Cheeky Weekly | 06-Oct-1979 | 28 | Whizzer and Chips 11-Sep-1971 | William the Conkerer |
| Cheeky Weekly | 26-Jan-1980 | 7 | Whizzer and Chips 13-Feb-1971 | Dinger’s teacher |
| Cheeky Weekly | 02-Feb-1980 | 11 | Whizzer and Chips 09-Jan-1971 | Cannibal |
| Cheeky Holiday Special | 01-Apr-1980 | 13 | Whizzer and Chips 08-May-1971 | Highwayman |
| Cheeky Holiday Special | 01-Apr-1980 | 23 | Whizzer and Chips 28-Aug-1971 | Shot-putter |
| Cheeky Holiday Special | 01-Apr-1980 | 27 | Whizzer and Chips 01-May-1971 | Speed Spring Cleaning man |
| Cheeky Holiday Special | 01-Apr-1980 | 39 | Whizzer and Chips 23-Oct-1971 | Joiner |
| Cheeky Annual 1981 | 01-Sep-1980 | 7 | Whizzer and Chips 16-Jan-1971 | Ferno the fire-eater |
| Cheeky Annual 1981 | 01-Sep-1980 | 84 | Whizzer and Chips 17-Apr-1971 | Jester (Dinger bored with TV, dials Jester to entertain him) |
| Cheeky Annual 1981 | 01-Sep-1980 | 103 | Whizzer and Chips 30-Jan-1971 | Jolly Roger |
| Cheeky Annual 1981 | 01-Sep-1980 | 113 | Whizzer and Chips 29-May-1971 | Dinger’s double |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1981 | 26 | Whizzer and Chips 27-Feb-1971 | Royal Engineer |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1981 | 27 | Whizzer and Chips 27-Feb-1971 | Royal Engineer |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1981 | 41 | Whizzer and Chips 06-Mar-1971 | Swordsman |
| Cheeky Summer Special | 01-Jun-1981 | 49 | Whizzer and Chips 27-Mar-1971 | Baron von Flugel |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 44 | Whizzer and Chips 24-Apr-1971 | Miss Fizz and Ivy (former W&C characters from The Scareys of St. Mary’s) |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 45 | Whizzer and Chips 24-Apr-1971 | Miss Fizz and Ivy (former W&C characters from The Scareys of St. Mary’s) |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 62 | Whizzer and Chips 10-Jul-1971 | Chimney sweep |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 63 | Whizzer and Chips 10-Jul-1971 | Chimney sweep |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 76 | Whizzer and Chips 07-Aug-1971 | Baker |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 77 | Whizzer and Chips 07-Aug-1971 | Baker |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 104 | Whizzer and Chips 26-Jun-1971 | Hans Upp |
| Cheeky Annual 1982 | 01-Aug-1981 | 105 | Whizzer and Chips 26-Jun-1971 | Hans Upp |
These are the original stories which weren't reprinted in any of the Cheeky titles...
| Title | Date | Feature | Synopsis |
| Whizzer and Chips | 02-Jan-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Father Time, animated numbers 1,9,7,1 |
| Whizzer and Chips | 23-Jan-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jack Frost |
| Whizzer and Chips | 06-Feb-1971 | Ringer Dinger | The Mummy (former W&C character from The Mummy’s Curse) |
| Whizzer and Chips | 20-Feb-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Hippie artist |
| Whizzer and Chips | 10-Apr-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Egg Egg-spert |
| Whizzer and Chips | 15-May-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Danny the discus thrower |
| Whizzer and Chips | 22-May-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Cap’n Cutlass |
| Whizzer and Chips Holiday Special 1971 | 01-Jun-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Wagon master, Lift Attendant |
| Whizzer and Chips | 05-Jun-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jumping Jack |
| Whizzer and Chips | 03-Jul-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Hazel Nut |
| Whizzer and Chips | 17-Jul-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Marcel Du-Dah |
| Whizzer and Chips | 14-Aug-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Jack Boot |
| Whizzer and Chips | 02-Oct-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Spaceman |
| Whizzer and Chips | 06-Nov-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Gail Force |
| Whizzer and Chips | 13-Nov-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Man with spinning top |
| Whizzer and Chips | 20-Nov-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Lino layer |
| Whizzer and Chips | 04-Dec-1971 | Ringer Dinger | Bowman |
So following publication of the Cheeky Annual 1982 in the autumn of 1981, there were a further 17 Dinger adventures which had not been revived (re-using 10 April's story, which I'm assuming had an Easter theme could have been problematic, and to reprint the first Dinger tale at this late stage was clearly not possible). However, for some reason no further Ringer Dinger stories would feature in the upcoming Cheeky titles, namely the Cheeky Summer Special of 1982, which would be the final Cheeky Special, and the Cheeky Annuals dated 1983-1985. It's certainly not the case that these publications would be free of reprints, but for some reason the editor chose to extract historic material from elsewhere in the catacombs of IPC to use as fillers. Maybe those 17 Dinger pages had been misplaced or no longer resided in IPC's vaults.
