In the previous
Cheeky Weekly issue summary post, we saw that the 1978 Cheeky Summer Special hit the shops in July. In this blog I intend to concentrate on Cheeky Weekly rather than the annuals (which
Bruce has already covered) and the specials (which I think Bruce is intending to look at in the future), but I couldn't let this landmark pass without some brief comments about the first Cheeky Special.
The artwork benefits from the slightly better quality paper than was used in the weekly comic, and Frank McDiarmid makes the most of this opportunity by using inks to produce grey tones in the opening and closing Cheeky sequences, a technique that he didn't employ in Cheeky Weekly. This makes this Special feel really special, and the fact that Frank handles most of the Cheeky art is very pleasing.
The back cover features more nice artwork by Mr McD, depicting Cheeky and pals returning home from their holiday by coach. The Cracking Crossing Lady has never looked lovelier and I don't know what Herman did to deserve a lapful of Lily, but I'm extremely jealous.
The editor wisely decided to call this mag Cheeky Summer Special, rather than Cheeky Weekly Summer Special, which would have resulted in scenes of confusion in newsagents all over the country as customers returned to the shop 7 days after purchasing a copy and asking for this week's issue of the Summer Special.
Yes, Niblet. I'll start to do the summer specials sometime before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI currently have the 1981 and 1982 summer specials, and am waiting for the other three specials to show up on e-bay.
It will be more likely that I'll probably do the final two specials before I get hold of the other three specials.
A question. What was on the front cover for the 1980 special (I know the 1979 special has Cheeky being pursued by Louise after the Spiv sold him a "Kiss Me Quick" hat.(
The cover of 1980's Holiday Special shows Cheeky with a ginormous ice cream.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your specials posts.
Were IPC's summer specials sold in Australia? If so, they must have been in the shops in the winter over there.
Love Lilypop..just lapped it up..
ReplyDeleteshe an sit on me anytime...now to have a cold shower:)
Probably likely (like they are doing with this years Beano Summer Special) have held it over until our summer.
ReplyDeleteBut as they were heavily advertised, it was probably released during our winter.
An update: Just by chance in the last couple of weeks or so, I have managed to get hold of the 1978 summer special, so when i resume my posts on the summer specials in March next year, the 1978 special will be the first of the posts.
ReplyDeleteNow all I need to locate now is the 1980 Holiday Special :D
The 1978 special is the best in my opinion, so it's great that you've now got it.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with tracking down the 1980 special.