Two Comics In One - Originality is Best

Over on my other blog Wacky Comics I've just published a post looking at the "Two In One" comics and asking myself why Shiver and Shake and Score 'n' Roar failed whilst Whizzer and Chips was a flying success.

It took me three days to write and research it so if you do read it I hope you like it. You can find the post here:

http://www.wackycomics.com/2013/12/two-comics-in-one-double-fun.html

Comic Library

There was, as there was with Buster, a "Comic Library" series for Whizzer and Chips. This format was different from other Comic Libraries in that two issues were on sale at once and one was a 'Whizzer' comic and the other a 'Chips'.

I've had four or five of these comics for some time now and for a while have been trying to find out just how many of them there were, a fruitless task with which an answer could not be found in the comics or by anybody I contacted and asked.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel and Kid over at his blog 'Crivens! Comicbooks, Cartoons & Classic Collectables!' revealed there to be fourteen, and accompanied this fact with a complete cover gallery.

So, if you didn't see the post here they are - all fourteen smashing covers!

The original post can be found here:

http://kidr77.blogspot.co.nz/2013/10/whizzer-chips-comic-library-cover.html

The Best Of Whizzer and Chips Monthly

The Best Of Monthly's were, as the name suggests, monthly comics collecting the very best of a particular title, whichever title they were representing. Amongst others there were best of comics for Buster, Whoopee and, of course, Whizzer and Chips! The first one came out for November 1984, and was 68 pages for 55p - that's less than a penny a page!

Like the weekly, the comic was divided into two parts, with Chips being the pull-out section in the middle. However, the front and back cover aside, there was no colour in the comic, not even on the front cover of chips or the center spread.

It strived on well after the weekly comic died and even the annuals, until February 1995. Now, it's interesting to note that by this point it was now called just Whizzer and Chips, not The Best Of Whizzer and Chips Monthly, meaning that the comic actually lasted until 1995! Erm... didn't it?

The reason for it ending, along with all the other 'Best Of Monthly' comics, is because Fleetway were merging them together (in a way) and producing BVC - Big Value Comic.

BVC spelt the end for Whizzer and Chips by ending the last product under the 'Whizzer and Chips' logo. BVC itself was a failure, lasting for only a few months from February 1995 to November 1995, before vanishing without a trace.

Is Whizzer and Chips coming back?

Whizzer and Chips might be making a comeback very soon! Egmont has launched a new project called Classic Comics, which will reproduce classic Fleetway comics in digital form (and hopefully printed as well)!

If you look at their Twitter page you will notice a few Whizzer and Chips pages in the background, so this might be a hint for its return!

I asked them if they'd bringing back Whizzer and Chips, and here's what they said:

Let's hope so anyway!

Main Website:
http://classiccomics.egmont.co.uk

Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Classic_Comics

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/EgmontClassicComics?fref=ts

Pintrest:
http://pinterest.com/classiccomics/

Look at all those lovely Whizzer and Chips pages!

The Loony Martians

Oh, what wonderful characters the Loony Martians were! Illustrated flawlessly by Mike Green each episode they would spy on Earth and produce a plan to steal our food, as there is nothing to eat on Mars. Unfortunately for them, it would go wrong in various ways, leading to hilarious consequences!

Here's a four page Loony Martians strip from the 1983 Whizzer and Chips annual for you to enjoy! As always, click on the image and then again to view in full size!

Mergers

Four comics merged into Whizzer and Chips during its 21 year run. The first, Knockout, merged in 1973. This was followed by Krazy in 1978, Whoopee in 1985 and Scouse Mouse in 1989. Three of these mergers were celebrated with a free gift, a joke book for Knockout, a poster for Krazy and a fun wallet for Scouse Mouse.

Knockout, and its gift:

Krazy, and its gift (part 1 of 3):

Whoopee:

Scouse Mouse, and the assembly instructions for the fun wallet.

I don't have a photo of the fun wallet that came with Scouse Mouse, but it does look very similar to the quiz wallet given away in 1986:

If anybody can provide a scan of photo of the fun wallet I'd be very grateful!

FUN FACT! Three of the four merges occured in April, although none of them on the same week.

Some Possible Logos

Here are three possible logos for the top of this blog, one with a strapline and one without, and one with brighter colours (the current one). I might make a fourth one with a price, and possibly even a fifth with a strapline and a price! Please let me know what you think.

Original Cover Art - 16th April 1988

Here's some awesome original cover art by Tom Paterson for issue dated 16th April 1988. This particular artwork is in the latest Compal Comics auction at lot #156, with an estimate of £60 - £80.

http://www.compalcomics.com/catalogue/lot156.htm

Also in the auction are some early comics with free gifts. I might try and buy these so I can share them with you here, but time will tell... (and I already have some images of them on 'The History' page).

1971 Annual

I've uploaded information and pages from the 1971 annual onto the History page, and hopefully other annuals will follow soon. 

I might list the full contents, I'll see if I can get round to it shortly!

Terry Bave Talks About Whizzer And Chips

If you haven't yet picked up a copy of Cartoons and Comic Strips by cartoonist Terry Bave, then be sure to do so as an entire chapter is dedicated to Whizzer and Chips! he talks about the launch, advert and strips he drew for it, most interesting for me was Scribbler - a character who was ended because he was TOO popular!

Go grab a copy now!

http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-bave/cartoons-and-comic-strips/paperback/product-20625272.html

A Very Late New Years Resolution

Well, last year I wrote only 23 posts on this site, which really isn't very many - and theres a lot to cover! So for 2013 my resolution is to update this site more often! Look - I've written one already and we're only 21 days in!

Stay tuned for Whizzer and Chips fun!