This is another post in the series that sees me ruthlessly unmasking the traitorous characters who posed as both Whizz-kids and Chip-ites during their appearances in Whizzer and Chips. My investigation covers Whizzer and Chips' weekly editions dated 06 April 1985 to 28 April 1990. For the reasons why, see the first post in this series.
The uncompromisingly fastidious Fuss Pot evidently found favour with more than one generation of comic fans, since she enjoyed a career in weekly/fortnightly comics which spanned just over 28 years, commencing in the 12 June 1971 debut issue of IPC's Knockout, and concluding in Buster Fortnightly dated 29 September 1999.
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| Whizzer and Chips 25 January 1986 Art: Norman Mansbridge |
Having arrived in Whizzer and Chips following Knockout's 1973 cancellation, Fuss Pot was dropped from the 'two comics in one' title at some point between 1973 and March 1985 (a period outside the scope of this series). The finicky female was reintroduced (for what may have been a trial outing, an emergency gap-filling exercise or an opportunity to plug the Best of Whizzer and Chips Monthly) in Whizzer and Chips dated 25 January 1986 (on page 23, within Chips), then returned in the edition dated 28 February 1987 (page 18, again in Chips territory). Our pointy-nosed pal thereafter featured in 108 of the 191 remaining Whizzer and Chips issues to be published, including an appearance in the comic's final edition dated 27 October 1990. However, for all her fussy fulminations, she wasn't too fussed about remaining true to the Chip-ite cause.
In the 13 August 1988 edition Fuss Pot was to be found on page 30, placing her inside Whizzer. This change of allegiance was not remarked on in the comic, and our choosy chum returned to the Chips fold the following week, remaining there until crossing over into Whizzer again in the 01 October 1988 issue. This was the beginning of what was to be a 3-week sojourn inside Whizzer. Again there was no acknowledgement of Fuss Pot's move across the border, and she returned to Chips as of the 22 October 1988 comic, remaining a Chip-ite until 28 April 1990, which was the final 32-page Whizzer and Chips and is the cut-off point for the investigations undertaken in this series of posts.
The picky subject of this post made a promotional visit to Cheeky Weekly dated 07 April 1979 as part of that year's Star Guest campaign. UPDATE 06 October 2024 - Fuss Pot also appeared in Cheeky Weekly dated 01 July 1978, where she was included in that issue's Whizzer and Chips Mini Comic.
This summer I engaged in my second favourite pastime (let’s not go into the first): matching reprint dates to originals, in this case our antiheroine Fuss-Pot’s. Between July ’78 and February ’80 W&C reprinted her early Knockout stories. I don’t suppose it’ll come as a surprise that I was able to pinpoint them all. Alas, I didn’t make note of the storylines so while the 25/1/86 tale you picture is familiar the dates are not, so I can't assist on this front. Should’ve added a third column with a brief synopsis really. Could always call them up again for this purpose?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure whether you're offering to track down the original appearance of the above story, but if you are that would be great. I will of course give you credit for your research when I update this post with the info, if you decide to undertake the task.
DeleteYes, I meant to cover all stories. As you perceive this may take a while given my other research plans: thinking of Footsie the Clown's mid-70s W&C reprints from Wham. Also got testicular cysts on my mind (as it were) and concomitant tests; nothing cancerous in evidence thus far, don't worry. May tackle Fuss-Pot early next year.
ReplyDeleteHope all goes well with the testes tests.
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