The same artist drew the `Clever Claire` strip which bisected the first and second `Billy` adventures! The `Clair` strip looks non UK in origin too! said artist also drew `The Snooks` fun strip which ran from March to Dec 1968. In my view, the Snooks is the most unlikely strip for a comic like Sparky!
Next Listing!
SPARKY No 183 ( 20th July 1968, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky` `Sparky` the living scarecrow.
Page 2
`Peter Piper` Guest in this weeks episode is `Big Billy Bigg`.
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Page 6
`Snapshot Sid`
Page 7
`Write to Sparky`
Pages 8 & 9
`The Lonely Lad of Blue Lagoon` The last episode in which Ken and pet toucan, Tommy, finally reach their side of the island. This had been a truly delightful strip which got even better towards its conclusion.
Page 10
`Harry Carry`
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg` This story sees Billy accompany young African girl, Ellie in search of the lost professor Barton. The young coloured girl was represented in a very enlightened fashion, quite a change from the `Sparky` character.
This story got quite violent, with a car full of thugs attempting to machine-gun Ellie and Billy in an early episode.
Page 14
`The Snooks`
Page 15
`Sparky’s Puzzles`
Pages 16 & 17
`South Seas Suzie`
Pages 18 & 19
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora`. Meet `Finny Haddock`.
Pages 20 & 21
`The Old Curiosity Shop` Illustrated wonderfully by Bill Mainwaring, this was another classic novel adaptation.
Page 22
Top half, `Meddlesome Matty. Bottom half, left panel, “Write to Sparky and win a Transistor radio`. Right panel, is an illustrated ad for the `Beano Summer special 1968`.
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
`Top three quarters, `The Moonsters`. Bottom quarter, is illustrated ad for next weeks story, `The Captured Kidds`. This story WAS NOT a follow up to the 1965 strip. It had kidnapping as a theme, but that is the only similarity apart from the title, no matter what Graham Kibble-White may say.
The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
Moderator: AndyB
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alanultron5
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
A Face unclouded by thought.
Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
I havent been on this site recently but just want to say a big thankyou to Ispyshhhguy for letting me know about all the george drysdale work on here... its of massive personal interest to me and very much appreciated, thanks! X
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ISPYSHHHGUY
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
there are more GEORGE DRYSDALE items coming up on this thread Laura.........
next items: .CUCKOO in the CLOCK' 25 MARCH, 1967 [issue 114] and the following 3 from issue 116 [APRIL 8].
elaborate APRIL FOOLERY from the MOONSTERS; check out the detail in the background in this one:
here's more GEORGE DRYSDALE artwork, LAURA:
and lastly for today, some stark medievel artwork:
next items: .CUCKOO in the CLOCK' 25 MARCH, 1967 [issue 114] and the following 3 from issue 116 [APRIL 8].
elaborate APRIL FOOLERY from the MOONSTERS; check out the detail in the background in this one:
here's more GEORGE DRYSDALE artwork, LAURA:
and lastly for today, some stark medievel artwork:
Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
Hi Laura, If you want any particular info on George Drysdale's work please just drop me a PM.LauraC wrote:I havent been on this site recently but just want to say a big thankyou to Ispyshhhguy for letting me know about all the george drysdale work on here... its of massive personal interest to me and very much appreciated, thanks! X
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alanultron5
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
Here we are with the next listing! We arrive at November 1968! A crucial era for the comic as this is the start of the big changes that culminate in the 1st Feb 1969 overhaul!
SPARKY No 199 ( 9th November 1968, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky`. `Sparky` misses the bus.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare` The letters page and puzzles pages were now combined in a double page spread. The `Sparky` character still hosted these pages.
Pages 8 & 9
`Sailor Brown’s Schooldays`. The story of 19th century sea cadets. Very boring.
Page 10
Top half, `Charlie Chutney`. Bottom half, ad for Dandy and Beano books 1969.
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg`. In what I regard as his best story, Billy is faced with the results of an experimental growth serum that `rogue` scientist Professor Beanhoff had dosed an everyday garden with. Soon all plants and insects are a hundred times their normal size! Wonderful stuff!
Page 14
`The Snooks`
Page 15
`Harry Carry`
Pages 16 & 17
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick`. The adventures of an orphaned youth in the old `Wild west`.
Pages 18 & 19
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora`. The sleepy couple meet a `Lightning Conductor`.
Pages 20 & 21
`The Coral Island` The final adaptation of classic novels, this was Sparky comics take on the novel by R.M Ballentyne in which three youths are shipwrecked on a South-Seas coral island.
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`. This was the comic adventures of a cheating rogue. Charlie would do anything to get his way in various humorous situations. He always ended up losing badly.
This strip only lasted a bare four months; possibly it was felt by incoming editor, Ian Chisolm, that the character might be a bad role model for readers.
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
Top three quarters, `The Moonsters`. Making `Guy’s` for ` Guy Fawkes night`. This was the very last `Moonsters` strip. It was like losing an old friend that you had known for years! Though I had never found the strip more than vaguely amusing, I felt a pang of sorrow when realising they would be gone forever.
Bottom quarter, “It’s A Dog’s Lifeâ€. Next week, and every week with `John Bull Dog`. The replacement strip for the `Moonsters` John bull Dog was, of course, soon to be cover strip, `Barney Bull Dog`. We never found out why his name got changed.
This edition of Sparky was the start of a series of changes to the comic that would alter its outlook as radically as the 1967 re-haul.
I am one who doesn’t find the 1 February re-launch really that radical. If the `Moonsters`, `Sparky` and `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` had all carried on up to 25 January 1969, I `would` agree on the 1 February changes as the comics biggest overhaul.
I believe that new editor Ian Chisolm actually joined the comic in October 1968 and started a piecemeal style change first with dropping old characters gradually, before undertaking a further overhaul on 1 February 1969.
If anyone has any info on the exact date Mr Chisolm helmed the comic I am happy to be corrected. Until such correction my view is that he took over as editor in around October 1968.
SPARKY No 199 ( 9th November 1968, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky`. `Sparky` misses the bus.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare` The letters page and puzzles pages were now combined in a double page spread. The `Sparky` character still hosted these pages.
Pages 8 & 9
`Sailor Brown’s Schooldays`. The story of 19th century sea cadets. Very boring.
Page 10
Top half, `Charlie Chutney`. Bottom half, ad for Dandy and Beano books 1969.
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg`. In what I regard as his best story, Billy is faced with the results of an experimental growth serum that `rogue` scientist Professor Beanhoff had dosed an everyday garden with. Soon all plants and insects are a hundred times their normal size! Wonderful stuff!
Page 14
`The Snooks`
Page 15
`Harry Carry`
Pages 16 & 17
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick`. The adventures of an orphaned youth in the old `Wild west`.
Pages 18 & 19
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora`. The sleepy couple meet a `Lightning Conductor`.
Pages 20 & 21
`The Coral Island` The final adaptation of classic novels, this was Sparky comics take on the novel by R.M Ballentyne in which three youths are shipwrecked on a South-Seas coral island.
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`. This was the comic adventures of a cheating rogue. Charlie would do anything to get his way in various humorous situations. He always ended up losing badly.
This strip only lasted a bare four months; possibly it was felt by incoming editor, Ian Chisolm, that the character might be a bad role model for readers.
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
Top three quarters, `The Moonsters`. Making `Guy’s` for ` Guy Fawkes night`. This was the very last `Moonsters` strip. It was like losing an old friend that you had known for years! Though I had never found the strip more than vaguely amusing, I felt a pang of sorrow when realising they would be gone forever.
Bottom quarter, “It’s A Dog’s Lifeâ€. Next week, and every week with `John Bull Dog`. The replacement strip for the `Moonsters` John bull Dog was, of course, soon to be cover strip, `Barney Bull Dog`. We never found out why his name got changed.
This edition of Sparky was the start of a series of changes to the comic that would alter its outlook as radically as the 1967 re-haul.
I am one who doesn’t find the 1 February re-launch really that radical. If the `Moonsters`, `Sparky` and `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` had all carried on up to 25 January 1969, I `would` agree on the 1 February changes as the comics biggest overhaul.
I believe that new editor Ian Chisolm actually joined the comic in October 1968 and started a piecemeal style change first with dropping old characters gradually, before undertaking a further overhaul on 1 February 1969.
If anyone has any info on the exact date Mr Chisolm helmed the comic I am happy to be corrected. Until such correction my view is that he took over as editor in around October 1968.
A Face unclouded by thought.
Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
That's a reused idea - it sounds like the G for Giant strip, on the Beano centre spread in 1961. Maybe Billy's artist was a Beano reader? If not, it's a coincidence, since the Big Billy Bigg story wasn't written and drawn internally at Thomsons. Did that final Moonsters strip leave it open for a later revival (which of course never happened)?alanultron5 wrote:Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg`. In what I regard as his best story, Billy is faced with the results of an experimental growth serum that `rogue` scientist Professor Beanhoff had dosed an everyday garden with. Soon all plants and insects are a hundred times their normal size! Wonderful stuff!
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ISPYSHHHGUY
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
The Moonsters was a great loss to the comic, I thought, one of the more unforgettable strips of SPARKY'S early period.
meanwhile, here's the final WILLIE the WOEFUL WIZARD:
ALBERT HOLROYD'S work was always more effective when he introduced more varied elements, as in this case:
and lastly for today, another BOB WEBSTER offering:
all above pages are from issue 116: 8 April, 1967.
meanwhile, here's the final WILLIE the WOEFUL WIZARD:
ALBERT HOLROYD'S work was always more effective when he introduced more varied elements, as in this case:
and lastly for today, another BOB WEBSTER offering:
all above pages are from issue 116: 8 April, 1967.
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alanultron5
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
Here's the next listing!
SPARKY No 204 ( 14 December 1968, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky`. `Sparky` finds that his umbrella is more of a hindrance than a help in a heavy snowfall.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare`
Pages 8 & 9
`Sailor Browns Schooldays`
Page 10
Top half, `Charlie Chutney`. Bottom half, left panel, “Win a Transistor radioâ€. Right panel, ad for the `Sparky book 1969`.
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`.
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg`. Big Billy versus the international criminal known as `Krimson`. This was quite a violent story with limpet mines, electrocution and machine gun fire used in many attempts to kill Billy.
Page 14
`The Snooks`
Page 15
`Harry Carry`
Pages 16 & 17
`The Coral Island`
Pages 18 & 19
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora`. The end of an era! Dave and Dora encounter all types of `pairs`. Sadly, this episode was a very poor finale for this once truly inventive strip. Again, it was like saying goodbye forever to an old friend.
Bottom of the strip, “Look out! The L. Cars are coming!â€
Pages 20 & 21
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick`
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
Top three quarters, `John Bull Dogg`. Bottom quarter, `Next week in Sparky, `L.Cars`. Crazy capers with three comical coppers`. Pictures of Frederic, Cedric and the Inspector accompany this announcement.
This edition was another step towards the different look to the comic that would occur through 1969. 70 and 1971 until Sparky was radically different to its early years. `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` were the second of the original line –up to depart. There would be more!
SPARKY No 204 ( 14 December 1968, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky`. `Sparky` finds that his umbrella is more of a hindrance than a help in a heavy snowfall.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare`
Pages 8 & 9
`Sailor Browns Schooldays`
Page 10
Top half, `Charlie Chutney`. Bottom half, left panel, “Win a Transistor radioâ€. Right panel, ad for the `Sparky book 1969`.
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`.
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg`. Big Billy versus the international criminal known as `Krimson`. This was quite a violent story with limpet mines, electrocution and machine gun fire used in many attempts to kill Billy.
Page 14
`The Snooks`
Page 15
`Harry Carry`
Pages 16 & 17
`The Coral Island`
Pages 18 & 19
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora`. The end of an era! Dave and Dora encounter all types of `pairs`. Sadly, this episode was a very poor finale for this once truly inventive strip. Again, it was like saying goodbye forever to an old friend.
Bottom of the strip, “Look out! The L. Cars are coming!â€
Pages 20 & 21
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick`
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
Top three quarters, `John Bull Dogg`. Bottom quarter, `Next week in Sparky, `L.Cars`. Crazy capers with three comical coppers`. Pictures of Frederic, Cedric and the Inspector accompany this announcement.
This edition was another step towards the different look to the comic that would occur through 1969. 70 and 1971 until Sparky was radically different to its early years. `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` were the second of the original line –up to depart. There would be more!
A Face unclouded by thought.
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alanultron5
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
Only a weeks jump now to highlight the continuing changes wrought in late 1968.
SPARKY No 205 ( 21st December 1968, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky` `Sparky` goes mountain climbing.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare`
Pages 8, 9 & 10
`Sailor Browns Schooldays`
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg` Continuing Billys battle against international criminal `Krimson`.
Page 14
`The Snooks` Final episode. “Turn to the back to find who will be appearing here next week†The Snooks was a strange strip to have in any fun comic! Can’t say I was sad to see them go.
Page 15
Top half, `Meddlesome Matty`. Bottom half, “A Christmas stocking of fun†The Sparky book 1969.
Pages 16 & 17
`The Coral Island`
Pages 18 & 19
New strip! “L. Carsâ€. First ep, `Humdinger Humbugs`. `L.Cars` would run until the final Sparky, No 652 dated 16 July 1977.
Pages 20 & 21
`The boyhood of Deadwood Dick`.
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
`Top three quarters, `John Bull Dogg`. Bottom quarter, a three panel illustrated preview from next weeks new strip `Spoofer McGraw` along with `Bo`.
The changes continue with the introduction of `L.Cars`. and with next weeks debut by `Spoofer McGraw,` the comic was beginning to resemble the post February 1st Sparky’s a bit at a time.
SPARKY No 205 ( 21st December 1968, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky` `Sparky` goes mountain climbing.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare`
Pages 8, 9 & 10
`Sailor Browns Schooldays`
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg` Continuing Billys battle against international criminal `Krimson`.
Page 14
`The Snooks` Final episode. “Turn to the back to find who will be appearing here next week†The Snooks was a strange strip to have in any fun comic! Can’t say I was sad to see them go.
Page 15
Top half, `Meddlesome Matty`. Bottom half, “A Christmas stocking of fun†The Sparky book 1969.
Pages 16 & 17
`The Coral Island`
Pages 18 & 19
New strip! “L. Carsâ€. First ep, `Humdinger Humbugs`. `L.Cars` would run until the final Sparky, No 652 dated 16 July 1977.
Pages 20 & 21
`The boyhood of Deadwood Dick`.
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
`Top three quarters, `John Bull Dogg`. Bottom quarter, a three panel illustrated preview from next weeks new strip `Spoofer McGraw` along with `Bo`.
The changes continue with the introduction of `L.Cars`. and with next weeks debut by `Spoofer McGraw,` the comic was beginning to resemble the post February 1st Sparky’s a bit at a time.
A Face unclouded by thought.
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ISPYSHHHGUY
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
yet more MY GROCKLE and ME! from the pen of GEORGE DRYSDALE:
next: get some colour in yer cheeks!
[all above; 8 APRIL, 1967].
next: get some colour in yer cheeks!
[all above; 8 APRIL, 1967].
Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
All this talk about the Sparky in the mid-to-late sixties and early seventies and its "change of format", so to speak, has prompted an odd memory for me. In a Pansy Potter strip, Pansy (and maybe her dad) went to a fencing school. In the background of one panel, as Pansy and Dad are walking inside said school, two men are carrying a third between them. The third just happens to have a foil sticking in him! 
It was sometimes little bits like that that had me howling! 
Wasn't there a storyline that ran a few weeks whereby the Potters were looking after someone's baby for a while? IIRC, the baby was as strong as Pansy, but an evil little so-and-so who kept getting Pansy and Dad into bother, while Mum was fooled into thinking it was a sweet little kid.
One more thought: Pansy's dad looked more or less like most dads did in comics, and nothing like a strongman. If anything, she was stronger than her dad, IIRC.
It was sometimes little bits like that that had me howling! Wasn't there a storyline that ran a few weeks whereby the Potters were looking after someone's baby for a while? IIRC, the baby was as strong as Pansy, but an evil little so-and-so who kept getting Pansy and Dad into bother, while Mum was fooled into thinking it was a sweet little kid.
One more thought: Pansy's dad looked more or less like most dads did in comics, and nothing like a strongman. If anything, she was stronger than her dad, IIRC.
Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
In the 1930s Beano version, her Dad didn't appear to my knowledge. I guess the tagline The Strongman's Daughter shouldn't have been used on the Sparky version and the Beano's late 80s revival, where the Dad also didn't look like a strongman.
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alanultron5
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
My fave Pansy ep, was one where she pretended to be ill and had lost her strength! Doctor was called and whilst examining her stated "This looks like a bad case of Malingering!" Pansy thought "Rubbish! There's nothing wrong with me". Doctor tests her patella reflex and next thing Pansy's leg has knocked him through the living room wall!
Now! My final Sparky listing from issue 209, which was the penultimate one to the Feb 1969 chageover! I have also listed a comparison from the Sept 1967 overhaul with the Feb 69 one!
SPARKY No 209 (18th January 1969, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky` `Sparky` buys a new bed. After his final appearance on next weeks cover, the `Sparky` character would be demoted to hosting the `Funfare` page; which he had been doing since November 1968 anyway. Promoted to front cover `star` from 1st February would be name changed (from John Bull Dogg) `Barney Bull Dog`.
Personally, I doubt if racial worries removed the `Sparky` character as racial stereotyping was quite evident in many of its humour strips right up to its final edition in July 1977. My theory is the writers had run out of ideas for the character! He still appeared in `character` to promote the `Sparky` book 1971 and 1972.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare`
Pages 8 & 9
`Sailor Browns Schooldays`
Page 10
Top half, `Charlie Chutney`. Last episode. From Feb 1st `Harry Presto` would occupy the half page slot. Bottom half, left panel, `Win a free `Model Miss comb and mirror set in Diana` Right panel, “Write to Sparkyâ€.
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg`. This was the episode where a limpet mine, electrified door and a barrage of machine guns were used in attempts by `Krimson` to eliminate Billy.
Page 14
`Spoofer McGraw`
Page 15
`Harry Carry`. Last episode.
Pages 16 & 17
`The Coral Island`
Pages 18 & 19
`L.Cars`
Pages 20 & 21
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick`
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`. Charlie would finish next week (25th Jan) to be replace by `Helpful Henry`, one of the 1st February new intake.
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
Top three quarters, `John Bull Dogg`. J.B would be back in two weeks replacing `Sparky` on the front page and becoming `Barney Bulldog`. Bottom quarter, “Great news about next week’s free giftsâ€.
Sparky comic was to undergo another overhaul on 1st February. Five new `fun pals` were advertised on next weeks back page; `Klanky and Faithful Hound`, `I.Spy, the Shhh Guy`, `The Sparky People`, `Esky Mo` and `Cap’ N’ Hood and his Merry Men` (who commenced on 8th February).
`Klanky` was actually an old character (who debuted in Sparky mid 1966), though `Faithful Hound` was new. Another new strip `Wyatt Twerp` was only announced on bottom of final `Tom Browns Schooldays` episode. No mention of `Helpful Henry` or `Harry Presto` at all!
Unlike some Sparky fans, I don’t see the Feb 1 changes as a real watershed, just another step in the direction the comic had mapped out over the weeks of 23rd and 30th September 1967. Of the new strips/ Fun pals, only `I. Spy` and `We are the Sparky People` would turn out to be real successes.
I do concede that for the vast majority the 1st Feb re-launch was a cathartic moment in the comic’s history. It was the start of a change of direction by the comic through 1969, 1970 and 1971.
Sadly, from late 1972, the comic went into a gradual decline. There was a wholesale decline in the market for comics from the mid 1970s onwards (to this day in fact!). Sparky was one of the first Thompson titles to falter. It was incorporated as a fold over pullout, for a few selected titles, in `Topper` from 23 July 1977. This only lasted a few years until the last vestiges of the comic disappeared totally. A shame!
THE GREAT SPARKY `OVERHAUL(S)` September 1967 & February 1969.
The Sparky comic went through a few `re-brandings / overhauls` in its twelve year life (1965 to 1977). These were due to dips in sales; hence action taking to try and pick things up!
There were at least a dozen in that 12 year period of its life. What would happen was an announcement of free gifts for a couple of weeks plus new `fun pals` joining the comic (which meant the end of old unsuccessful strips).
On the occasion of a bigger re-shuffle there would be a change of the logo, meant to herald in a new era for the comic.
The first big change was on 18 September 1965 with the comic’s logo changing colour (though not its design). Most re-shuffles were fairly minor, not making too radical a change.
There were two very large overhauls, those on the weeks of 23rd and 30th September 1967; and on 1st and 8th February 1969. I will now list those strips / fun pals exiting and arriving on both the 1967 and 1969 overhauls. Those new strips marked with # mean the strip had been in the comic before!
On both the September 1967 and February 1969 re-newels the comic’s logo was changed. Though the February 1969 changes have been seen as the most influential of the comics many re-jigs! My view is that it was not as radical as that, and that the September 1967 changes were virtually as important in the development of Sparky comic.
September 23rd & 30th 1967.
Out In
`Balloon Family Robison` (2 Pages) `Deputy Dawg` (1 Page)
`Nosey Parker` (1/2 Page) `Big Ossie` (2 Pages)
`My Grockle and Me` (2 Pages) `Charlie Chutney` (1/2 Page)
`Joe Bann and his Big Banjo` (1 Page) `Meddlesome Matty` (1/2 Page)
`Granny Cupp and her- `Snapshot Sid` (1 Page)
Flying Saucer` (2 Pages)
`David Copperfield` (2 Pages)
`Cuckoo in the Clock` (1 Page) `Tom Tardy` (1 Page)
`Prentice Pete` (2 Pages) # `Klanky` (2 Pages)
`The Slowdown Express` (1 Page) # `Davey Spacer in Giantland` (2 Pages)
February 1st & 8th 1969
Out In
`Sailor Browns Schooldays` (2 Pages) `Esky Mo` (1 Page)
`Charlie Chutney` (1/2 Page) `Harry Presto` (1/2 Page)
`Big Billy Bigg` (2 Pages) * Note! Billy would
Return once more in mid 1969. `I. Spy` (1 Page)
`Harry Carry` (1 Page) # `Klanky` (2 Pages)
`The Coral Island` (2 Pages) `We are the Sparky People` (1 Page)
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick` (2 Pages) `Wyatt Twerp` (2 Pages)
`Cheating Charlie` (1 Page) `The Jungle Ark` (2 Pages)
`Sparky` (1 Page) `Helpful Henry` (1 Page)
`Cap’n Hood and his Merry Men` (1 Page)
Now! My final Sparky listing from issue 209, which was the penultimate one to the Feb 1969 chageover! I have also listed a comparison from the Sept 1967 overhaul with the Feb 69 one!
SPARKY No 209 (18th January 1969, 5d)
Page 1
`Sparky` `Sparky` buys a new bed. After his final appearance on next weeks cover, the `Sparky` character would be demoted to hosting the `Funfare` page; which he had been doing since November 1968 anyway. Promoted to front cover `star` from 1st February would be name changed (from John Bull Dogg) `Barney Bull Dog`.
Personally, I doubt if racial worries removed the `Sparky` character as racial stereotyping was quite evident in many of its humour strips right up to its final edition in July 1977. My theory is the writers had run out of ideas for the character! He still appeared in `character` to promote the `Sparky` book 1971 and 1972.
Page 2
`Peter Piper`
Page 3
`Hungry Horace`
Pages 4 & 5
`Invisible Dick`
Pages 6 & 7
`Funfare`
Pages 8 & 9
`Sailor Browns Schooldays`
Page 10
Top half, `Charlie Chutney`. Last episode. From Feb 1st `Harry Presto` would occupy the half page slot. Bottom half, left panel, `Win a free `Model Miss comb and mirror set in Diana` Right panel, “Write to Sparkyâ€.
Page 11
`Pansy Potter`
Pages 12 & 13
`Big Billy Bigg`. This was the episode where a limpet mine, electrified door and a barrage of machine guns were used in attempts by `Krimson` to eliminate Billy.
Page 14
`Spoofer McGraw`
Page 15
`Harry Carry`. Last episode.
Pages 16 & 17
`The Coral Island`
Pages 18 & 19
`L.Cars`
Pages 20 & 21
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick`
Page 22
`Cheating Charlie`. Charlie would finish next week (25th Jan) to be replace by `Helpful Henry`, one of the 1st February new intake.
Page 23
`Keyhole Kate`
Page 24
Top three quarters, `John Bull Dogg`. J.B would be back in two weeks replacing `Sparky` on the front page and becoming `Barney Bulldog`. Bottom quarter, “Great news about next week’s free giftsâ€.
Sparky comic was to undergo another overhaul on 1st February. Five new `fun pals` were advertised on next weeks back page; `Klanky and Faithful Hound`, `I.Spy, the Shhh Guy`, `The Sparky People`, `Esky Mo` and `Cap’ N’ Hood and his Merry Men` (who commenced on 8th February).
`Klanky` was actually an old character (who debuted in Sparky mid 1966), though `Faithful Hound` was new. Another new strip `Wyatt Twerp` was only announced on bottom of final `Tom Browns Schooldays` episode. No mention of `Helpful Henry` or `Harry Presto` at all!
Unlike some Sparky fans, I don’t see the Feb 1 changes as a real watershed, just another step in the direction the comic had mapped out over the weeks of 23rd and 30th September 1967. Of the new strips/ Fun pals, only `I. Spy` and `We are the Sparky People` would turn out to be real successes.
I do concede that for the vast majority the 1st Feb re-launch was a cathartic moment in the comic’s history. It was the start of a change of direction by the comic through 1969, 1970 and 1971.
Sadly, from late 1972, the comic went into a gradual decline. There was a wholesale decline in the market for comics from the mid 1970s onwards (to this day in fact!). Sparky was one of the first Thompson titles to falter. It was incorporated as a fold over pullout, for a few selected titles, in `Topper` from 23 July 1977. This only lasted a few years until the last vestiges of the comic disappeared totally. A shame!
THE GREAT SPARKY `OVERHAUL(S)` September 1967 & February 1969.
The Sparky comic went through a few `re-brandings / overhauls` in its twelve year life (1965 to 1977). These were due to dips in sales; hence action taking to try and pick things up!
There were at least a dozen in that 12 year period of its life. What would happen was an announcement of free gifts for a couple of weeks plus new `fun pals` joining the comic (which meant the end of old unsuccessful strips).
On the occasion of a bigger re-shuffle there would be a change of the logo, meant to herald in a new era for the comic.
The first big change was on 18 September 1965 with the comic’s logo changing colour (though not its design). Most re-shuffles were fairly minor, not making too radical a change.
There were two very large overhauls, those on the weeks of 23rd and 30th September 1967; and on 1st and 8th February 1969. I will now list those strips / fun pals exiting and arriving on both the 1967 and 1969 overhauls. Those new strips marked with # mean the strip had been in the comic before!
On both the September 1967 and February 1969 re-newels the comic’s logo was changed. Though the February 1969 changes have been seen as the most influential of the comics many re-jigs! My view is that it was not as radical as that, and that the September 1967 changes were virtually as important in the development of Sparky comic.
September 23rd & 30th 1967.
Out In
`Balloon Family Robison` (2 Pages) `Deputy Dawg` (1 Page)
`Nosey Parker` (1/2 Page) `Big Ossie` (2 Pages)
`My Grockle and Me` (2 Pages) `Charlie Chutney` (1/2 Page)
`Joe Bann and his Big Banjo` (1 Page) `Meddlesome Matty` (1/2 Page)
`Granny Cupp and her- `Snapshot Sid` (1 Page)
Flying Saucer` (2 Pages)
`David Copperfield` (2 Pages)
`Cuckoo in the Clock` (1 Page) `Tom Tardy` (1 Page)
`Prentice Pete` (2 Pages) # `Klanky` (2 Pages)
`The Slowdown Express` (1 Page) # `Davey Spacer in Giantland` (2 Pages)
February 1st & 8th 1969
Out In
`Sailor Browns Schooldays` (2 Pages) `Esky Mo` (1 Page)
`Charlie Chutney` (1/2 Page) `Harry Presto` (1/2 Page)
`Big Billy Bigg` (2 Pages) * Note! Billy would
Return once more in mid 1969. `I. Spy` (1 Page)
`Harry Carry` (1 Page) # `Klanky` (2 Pages)
`The Coral Island` (2 Pages) `We are the Sparky People` (1 Page)
`The Boyhood of Deadwood Dick` (2 Pages) `Wyatt Twerp` (2 Pages)
`Cheating Charlie` (1 Page) `The Jungle Ark` (2 Pages)
`Sparky` (1 Page) `Helpful Henry` (1 Page)
`Cap’n Hood and his Merry Men` (1 Page)
A Face unclouded by thought.
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alanultron5
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Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
Hmm! That edit copy from `Word` hasn't come out so clear-with the `Out` and `In` columns mixing on here! Hope the thing isen't too confusing!
A Face unclouded by thought.
Re: The Sparky File 1965 to January 1969.
Should've used this layout
OUT - Sparky
IN - Helpful Henry
That would stop your copy paste problem. Apparently you can't keep table formatting.
OUT - Sparky
IN - Helpful Henry
That would stop your copy paste problem. Apparently you can't keep table formatting.