Peter Gray has just posted Frank McDiarmid's first Willie Bunk strip from the debut issue of Whizzer and Chips, 1969. The same strip can also be seen on George Shiers' Whizzer and Chips blog.
I've always wondered if Willie Bunk was inspired by TV's spectacle-wearing super-spy puppet, Joe 90, who made his debut in 1968.
UPDATE: Peter has posted the first strip of the new Willie Bunk series that Frank drew in Whoopee! starting in 1981, when the Cheeky strip in that comic was reduced from 4 to 2 pages.
i've also put up the new adventures in Whoopee!! 1981...fun to compare them both...
ReplyDeletethanks for the advert Niblet..
Willie Bunk bore a considerable resemblance to Mickey Merlin, which Frank drew for Eagle in 1968 - 69. After being hit by a piece of meterite clumsy Mickey became a brilliant athlete when he focused his mind. The strip is also reminiscent of Billy Binns and his Wonderful Specs, which appeared in Boys' World and later moved into Eagle in 1964.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Steve. I didn't know that Frank drew for Eagle. Would love to see some examples.
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