New readers start here... After Cheeky Weekly folded and was
incorporated into Whoopee as of February 1980 six strips that had
originated in the toothy funster's title survived the merge and
continued to appear in the amalgamated comic. Whoopee itself foundered
in March 1985 and was merged into Whizzer and Chips. Three of the
surviving Cheeky Weekly strips successfully negotiated this second merge
and went on to appear in the newly combined publication, rather
inelegantly titled 'Whizzer and Chips now including Whoopee'. The
survivors were Mustapha Million, Calculator Kid and (appearing only
twice) Stage School. Cheeky continued to appear, but as a member of The
Krazy Gang, who had moved into W&C when Krazy, the comic in which
the Gang originated, expired in April 1978. However, the Krazy Gang's
Whizzer and Chips run ended in the issue dated 08 February 1986. Calculator Kid survived a little longer, his run of reprints coming to an end in the 26 July 1986 edition and leaving Mustapha Million as the sole Cheeky Weekly survivor.
Can you spot the interloper in Mustapha's story from Whizzer and Chips dated 18 October 1986? Scroll down to discover the identity of the raider...
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Whizzer and Chips 18 October 1986
Art: Barry Glennard |
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Yes, it's Winnie the Royal Nag, who made her debut in Whizzer and Chips dated 02 August 1986, to coincide (more or less) with
that year's royal wedding. Here's her first appearance...
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Whizzer and Chips 02 August 1986
Art: Ian Knox |
It's good to see in Mustapha's story above that he remained pals with Jimmy, a friendship that developed way back in the early days of Cheeky Weekly, where Jimmy was first named in the 04 March 1978 edition.
By this point Mustapha was the sole survivor from the toothy funster's comic, so I won't be continuing to report an the tally of raids suffered and perpetrated by our ex-Cheeky Weekly chums since, with just the one representative remaining, there's no way our Cheeky pals can emerge triumphant.
But watch for more raiding fun soon!
I liked Winnie. There was something wonderfully old-fashioned about the strip, and it became even more delightful when her foal came along. Positively adored rereading it W&C earlier this year or last. Rekindled some warmth in my embittered 40+-year-old heart. Pshaw I say to the likes Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill, who’ve no time for this sort of strip!
ReplyDeleteIt was only when writing the above post that I realised the play on 'whinny' in the character's name. Only took me 31 years to get the joke!
DeleteNice to see the first one...
ReplyDeleteYou can see more Winnie here.
Delete