Scorcher's skipped week

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Lew Stringer
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Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Lew Stringer »

Looking through my set of Scorcher comics to research my blog posts on Ken Reid I noticed there was no issue published dated 2nd March 1974. There's no gap in the storylines between the 23rd Feb issue and the 9th March issue so I'm presuming that week was skipped due to industrial action. (Sorry if this has been mentioned before.)

Unusually there doesn't seem to be any mention of it, or apology for the delay, in the comic itself.
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Phoenix
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Phoenix »

Lew Stringer wrote:There's no gap in the storylines between the 23rd Feb issue and the 9th March issue so I'm presuming that week was skipped due to industrial action.
The gap may well have been due to industrial action, Lew, but there is a gap in the storyline in every serial. Remember that the issue for 2 March and for the next few weeks will already have been either printed or completely prepared.

NIPPER (23 Feb.) : Nipper's vital penalty is in next week's terrific issue.
NIPPER (9 March) : No instalment. The two pages are allotted to an advert for issue 1 of Whoopee!
JACK AND JIMMY (23 Feb.) : The final episode of this super story. Kick off a super new adventure in the next issue.
JACK AND JIMMY (9 March) : Part two of a four-part serial.
HOT-SHOT HAMISH (23 Feb.) : Manager Hendy is in big trouble for transferring Hot-Shot from Princes Park.
HOT-SHOT HAMISH (9 March) : Hot-Shot is back with Princes Park, but is allowed to play in a friendly for Crawford Town.
BILLY'S BOOTS (23 Feb.) : Billy is due to run a cross-country race next week. Will his tough training pay off?
BILLY'S BOOTS (9 March) : The events in this episode take place after Billy has won the cross-country race.
THE BOY IN THE VELVET MASK (23 Feb.) : Manager Blake thinks goalie Hemmings is deliberately trying to lose the first leg of a cup-tie against a Dutch side. Team losing 1-0.
THE BOY IN THE VELVET MASK (9 March) : At the beginning of the instalment they are already losing 2-0.
BOBBY OF THE BLUES (23 Feb.) : Bobby puts the Blues level against Sandport. Will they clinch the winner? Find out next week.
BOBBY OF THE BLUES (9 March) : The Blues are not playing Sandport, they are playing Ironcastle.
LAGS ELEVEN (23 Feb.) : In a match in Casablanca Brilliant climbs onto the crossbar to distract the opponents. Next week can Brilliant escape the angry mob?
LAGS ELEVEN (9 March) : The players are all in bed seasick on the boat taking them to their next match, which kicks off in 12 hours time.
ALF'S ALBION (23 Feb.) : Several disenchanted, previously dropped, players decide to sabotage some heating equipment to prevent the club thawing their pitch out.
ALF'S ALBION (9 March) : The match is already in progress from the first panel, and the pitch is becoming a quagmire.

Lew Stringer
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Lew Stringer »

Well this is bizarre, Derek, because my Feb 23rd issue has different episodes to yours. However there is a gap between the 16th Feb and 23rd Feb episodes with some not following on. My 16th Feb issue has part 3 of the 4 part Jack and Jimmy story, but part 1 of a new 4 parter begins in the 23rd Feb issue.

Sounds like an almighty muck up at the printers with some areas of the country getting different content.
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Phoenix
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Phoenix »

Out of interest, this morning I've checked my issue for 16 February. There is no doubt that all eight serials lead naturally into my issue for 23 February. There will have been an issue prepared for 2 March, which just wasn't printed. and those instalments would have segued naturally into my issue for 9 March.

My issue for 16 February also has part 3 of the 4-part Jack and Jimmy serial but as I said earlier part 4 does appear in my 23 February issue. The fact that part 2 of the next serial appears in my issue for 9 March obviously implies that part 1 will have been in the 2 March issue that was never published. This means that the issues that I have are the proper ones, and that yours have suffered, as you say, from some almighty muck up.

Unfortunately, I cannot shed any light on which part of the country mine were originally acquired because I bought all of them a couple of years ago from a Birmingham dealer at an antiques fair at Bolton Wanderers' football ground. It would be interesting to get the views of other members who have the issues in question, especially if someone has one of the thirty for 2 March that may well have been printed for checking purposes, as happened with Action.

Lew Stringer
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Lew Stringer »

I bought mine on eBay, and I can't remember the seller's location now. I'll post some images later of the episodes you have missing, Derek. It sounds like every reader missed out in some way or another.

It seems that there are two versions in circulation of the issue dated 23rd February 1974. Yours, Derek, which is the correct one, and my version which has the content that should have been in the unpublished 2nd March issue.
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davidandrewsimpson
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by davidandrewsimpson »

Since there seem to be two different issues dated 23rd February, could it be that the 2nd March issue was mistakenly dated 23rd February?

Lew Stringer
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Lew Stringer »

davidandrewsimpson wrote:Since there seem to be two different issues dated 23rd February, could it be that the 2nd March issue was mistakenly dated 23rd February?
Yes, that's what seems to have happened. The cover of my Feb 23rd issue has Birmingham City as the 'Spot the Team' cover feature. Perhaps Derek's is different.

Deadlines loom so won't have time to do scans/photos today but will show some asap.
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Phoenix
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Phoenix »

The team featured on the cover of my 23 February issue is Blackburn Rovers.

Lew Stringer
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Lew Stringer »

Phoenix wrote:The team featured on the cover of my 23 February issue is Blackburn Rovers.

Here's mine. I'll show more when I have more time.

Image

Raven
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Raven »

I have two issues, both dated 23rd February but different issues, one with Blackburn Rovers on the cover, one with Birmingham City. It does seem like the 2nd March issue was mistakenly dated.

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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Lew Stringer »

Raven wrote:I have two issues, both dated 23rd February but different issues, one with Blackburn Rovers on the cover, one with Birmingham City. It does seem like the 2nd March issue was mistakenly dated.
Thanks for confirming that. Looks like I need to hunt down the Blackburn one to have a complete set. :up:
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Phoenix
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Phoenix »

I've taken the liberty of putting on one side for you at 30th Century Comics a 23 February 'Blackburn' issue of Scorcher. It's in Fine condition and only costs £2.50 plus p&p. You just need to ring them on 0208 788 2052 to confirm or cancel. I hope you don't mind.

Lew Stringer
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Re: Scorcher's skipped week

Post by Lew Stringer »

Phoenix wrote:I've taken the liberty of putting on one side for you at 30th Century Comics a 23 February 'Blackburn' issue of Scorcher. It's in Fine condition and only costs £2.50 plus p&p. You just need to ring them on 0208 788 2052 to confirm or cancel. I hope you don't mind.
Wow! Thank you, Derek. I'd looked on eBay but not on 30th Century. I've never bought anything from them before but I'll give them a call to confirm.

I hope you find a copy of the Birmingham City issue!
The blog of British comics: http://lewstringer.blogspot.com
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Blog about my own work: http://lewstringercomics.blogspot.com/

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