Original Cover Art

Here is the original cover art for Whizzer and Chips dated 26th December 1987, by Mark Bennington, next to the final copy.

Here is the original cover art of the 1988 annual next to the final copy by Mike Lacey.

Whizzer and Chips free gifts!

Exciting news today wacky Whizz-kids and crazy Chip-ites! I can reveal the first 3 gifts that came with Whizzer and Chips, with huge thanks to Steven Adamson for providing the photo's! Seen above are the 'Twelve Super Stickers' that came with issue one! Below is the flip book that came with issue two (one can be seen in the free gift's section as well).

And finally, the Guy Fawkes mask that came with #3 (also the first fireworks issue).

Thanks again Steven! And if anybody else has scans or photo's of later gifts please let me know! My email is - whizzerandchips@live.com

Character Profiles - Beat Your Neighbour

Beat Your Neighbour was an ongoing battle between two neighbours, which originally began in issue one Knockout comic on 12th June 1971! It was a very popular strip, so when Knockout merged with Whizzer and Chips in June 1973, this set of neighbours went with it (moving into the Whizzer section)!

Naturally, one pair were skinny and had dark hair, whereas the others were fat and bald, or maybe sometimes illustrated with 3 or 4 strands sticking out the front! The kids always wore the same clothes as to what their dads wore, except they wore shorts whereas the adults wore trousers (except for a few examples, i.e. when they went to the beach - but they still wore matching trunks)!

[This is actually a page from a Knockout comic.]

Also you may notice that the neighbours are on the opposite houses in the title box as to what they are in the actual strip! Of course, it wasn't all based at home, but most of them were!

Here's a few examples of title boxes. The neighbours are always on the wrong side!

The whole concept behind the story was very simple: to beat the neighbour! Here's an example from the 1983 annual. One person got some skates, so the other got some ski's. Jealous, they responded with a sled, who responded with a sled and a dog team! They got a snow scooter, so the others responded with a snow plow. Only there's no snow to play with all these things! You can see where this is going...

And that's all I've got - for now anyway! I plan to get the rest of the annuals and several hundred comics over the next few weeks so this profile should be updated soon - just keep your eyes on the Character A - Z page! -->


Also - can anybody identify the artist for the weekly strip?

Character Profiles - Odd Ball

Odd Ball, a crazy sphere who certainly lived up to his name, began in the first issue of Whizzer and Chips, where he was originally illustrated not by his creator Terry Bave but by Bumpkin Billionaire's scribbler Mike Lacey! Terry Bave would of course draw him for most of the characters run! He was a true, noble Whizz-Kid, guilty of many raids over the comics life! He also eats grass, and in the firt issue where this is revealed Nobby states "Coo - I've got me a real Odd-Ball! It's alive... AND it won't cost me anything to feed it! It eats grass!"

This lively ball was eating grass for years and years (along with a few sweets as well, of course!), as a strip from 1989 revealed!

So, where does our round red pal come from? Well it all started on the plantet Bounce, where two 'spring heeled' inhabitants were enjoying a popular ball game (football by the looks of it). Suddenly one of them kicks it so hard it actually leaves the planet, hit's the head of a passing astronaught and land's right in the middle of Nobby Noodle's footy match!

Odd-Ball was very noble not only to being a Whizz-Kid but also as a pal to Nobby! Throughout the years he would morph into all kinds of bizzare shapes to help and cheer up Nobby, and even get revenge on the bullies or some "Crummy Chip-ites"! 

The duo were so popular that they replaced the also popular Joker on the back cover and appeared in full colour! When the comic revamped in 1988, they were moved inside and appeared in just black, white, red and yellow. For a few weeks the back cover was dominated by adverts, but then the comics returned! Several characters took the spot, including Lazy Bones, Sweet Tooth and Bobby's Ghoul. But by April 1989, Odd Ball and Nobby were back, where they would remain until the comic ended!

[It was confirmed on the letter's page that, even though Greedy Greg annoyed Sweet Tooth and various other Whizz-Kid's, he was certainly not a Chip-ite!]

Odd Ball would survive Whizzer and Chip's 21 year run, and even survive the merge into Buster, where he would remain until the end of the Fleetway Funnies in 2000! But how did it all end? As most of you probably know, on the back page of Buster's final issue, Jack Edward Oliver came up with a way to end most of the comics characters. And how did Odd Ball go? Well - see for yourself!

I'm hoping to write a profile on ALL of Whizzer and Chip's characters, or at least list them all on this page! Yes - it's going to take ages, but every now and then click on the 'Character A - Z' page (under 'The History') and see if there's anything new!

Fleetway Firsts - The Ossies

The Ossies, as it's name suggests, is a comic strip all about a bunch of crazy people who lived in a stereotypical town in Australia! Illustrated by Trevor Metcalfe, the artist behind Sweet Tooth, Junior Rotter and Jasper the Grasper (after Ken Reid left),  The Ozzies began in the Chips section of Whizzer and Chips in issue dated January 21st 1989. Dingo Dog is the main character for the first episode, and he takes us round the tiwn introducing us to all the different characters who are to appear in the stories. Often, it would be continued into the following week, and sometimes one story would end and another begin in the same episode - just to keep you interested!

However, as the weeks progressed, less and less of the characters started to appear, and eventually it was focused on two main characters - Norm and Rick.

However, by early 1990 The Ossies had been reduced from two pages to just one, and by June of that year, it was gone.

This post is from my much more regurlary updated Wacky Comics blog. :)

How much for... the last issue?

Recently over on eBay a seller listed an auction for a bundle of different comics from the final months of Whizzer and Chips. Most of the final issues were included, including the last one from 27th October 1990! There were eight comics in total, and the auction lot had a starting price of 99p. After 33 bids, the auction closed selling for £50!!! 


The issues included were:


11th August 1990
18th August 1990
25th August 1990
1st September 1990
29th September 1990
6th October 1990
13th October 1990
27th October 1990 - Final issue


The last issue is the one on the bottom row on the left hand side.

Lend a Hand!

I've added a new page to the contents called 'Lend a Hand!'. Basically, if I need anything clearing up or any information I need help with I'll put it up in there! Please help if you can!


My email - whizzerandchips@live.com


- George

Good News Chums!

No, don't worry. Unlike when that strapline was printed in comics, this blog isn't going anywhere. In fact, this is very good news! I'm currently updating 'The History' page of this site over on the right hand side ->  I'm also adding in new images, many unseen on the internet before (probably)! The information is very detailed, I'm trying to put as much information as possible - I'm still on 1969, with a small amount of information written for 1970 and 1971! 


Any text that is in red font means that the facts are not certain or I am unsure who drew it etc. Any information would be very helpful! You can email me at whizzerandchips@live.com


Enjoy, and if you use the information or images (which you are free to do) please link back to this site!


- George

Whizzer and Chips Monthly No. 1

If anybody is intrested in purchasing the very first Whizzer and Chips monthly comic from November 1984, there are currently a few up for sale on eBay.


The first one is in tatty condition, but is only 99p (and 99p postage) so your not getting ripped off. Click here for the listing.

This is a buy it now for £4.99 plus £1.75 postage to anywhere in the world. Click here to see the listing. This one is in a very nice condition.

Finally, this one is in ok condition (not as good as the buy-it-now you see above) and can be yours for just £1.20 and the same price for postage. Click here for the listing.