The following list is completely subjective, and represent long-gone [in my time-span] characters/strips that I have only fragments of memories of..........most are from early-70s 'WHIZZER and CHIPS' or 'COR!!'-----also, a few of these strips ARE fairly memorable, but somehow seem to get overlooked in comic histories..........here goes:
20: 'TIN TEACHER' -----I associate this with '60s 'BUSTER', ---actually quite memorable [if a bit violent] but rarely gets a mench.....
19; 'GAL CAPONE' by MURRAY BALL........I can visualize this, but that's about all.
18: 'GINGER'S TUM': this was about a cat aboard a ship.
17; 'WEBSTER': I can only recall the appealling title-heading on this spider-strip.....not as memorable as 'I FLY' in 'SPARKY'.
16:'EAGER BEAVERS': another great title-heading, I recall this being quite funny.
15: ' WEAR-'EM -OUT WILF': I can only just picture this bespectacled character........my memory ends there.
14: 'FULL HOUSE': this was a cut-away of a chaotic family home [front page of 'KNOCKOUT [?]'------actually quite a sound idea.
13: 'SPACE SCHOOL' ------pretty strange stuff, with two-headed alien pupils, and maybe a Scottish teacher.
12: 'AQUA LAD': again, i can only visualize this character; TERRY BAVE'S other contemporary strip, 'ODD-BALL' was much more memorable.
11; 'HEE-GEE and his NAG' -----pretty stylishly-drawn horse-strip [the style reminded me slightly of 'ASTERIX'-type stuff].
10: 'LOSER': possibly the most difficult-to-remember strip listed here; ----I can't recall a single comic incident involving this character.
09: 'TIMOTHY TESTER': this was drawn in a very bold, thick-lined style,---I can't recall this artist ever drawing anything else.
08: 'CRUNCHER': this termite strip by FRANK MCDIARMID in all-out cartoon mode was O.K, but somehow has managed to escape serious cultural discussion.........
07: ''SCAREYS of ST. MARY'S': have to admit, I clean forgot all about this TERRY BAVE strip until I saw it reprinted in the early '90s.
06; 'DAISY JONES' LOCKET'; I think there may have been some blue used in colouring this strip.
05: 'SLOWCOACH'; ----maybe even an ODHAMS strip [I ain't completely sure], but there wasn't enough mileage to sustain a one-off gag, let alone an ongoing weekly strip.
04: 'DOUGHNUT and RUSTY'; ----this was actually a well-drawn, handsomely-mounted strip from TREVOR METCALFE about two robots [one snobbish, the other a tin-can job]----pretty good stuff, but rarely gets a look-in.
03: 'STORE WARS'; ----quite possibly I.P.C.'S weakest-ever one-note 'gag' idea.......
02; 'GASWORKS GANG': -----a pretty good comicstrip from FRANK MCDIARMID in BAXENDALE mode.....I quite enjoyed this 'COR!!' [?] page, but I never seem to hear of it now.
01: 'the PERILS of PAUL WHITE' [or was it PAULA WHITE?] ---not neccessarily the most forgetful strip here.
........Of course, I fully understand if you do not agree with my lists.........some of you may feel some of the above are amongst the greatest-ever creations spawned from the very bowels of that bastion of printed japery, I.P.C....................NEXT WEEK: 20 DEFINATELY-forgotten I.P.C. comic-strips............
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
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ISPYSHHHGUY
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- Joined: 14 Oct 2007, 13:05
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Re: 20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
(Whoops - double posted)
Last edited by Raven on 10 Nov 2007, 14:15, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
ISPYSHHHGUY:
"GAL CAPONE' by MURRAY BALL........I can visualize this, but that's about all."
Her face does stick in the memory! This was from Shiver and Shake.
"'GINGER'S TUM': this was about a cat aboard a ship."
No, you're thinking of Stoker, Ship's Cat, also drawn by Terry Bave. Ginger's Tum was in colour on the back page of Chips (in W+C) about a grub-hungry alley cat (though Hot Rod the dragon had that colour page for a good while first.) Stoker was in Whoopee.
" 'WEBSTER': I can only recall the appealling title-heading on this spider-strip.....not as memorable as 'I FLY' in 'SPARKY'."
This was quite good - a rather sweet Terry Bave strip. Webster was just a blob of ink with legs, but Terry gave him a personality. Miles better than I Fly, I reckon! Lots of bouncy web humour. Another from Shiver 'n' Shake.
" WEAR-'EM -OUT WILF': I can only just picture this bespectacled character........my memory ends there."
I remember liking the original artist's work on this Chips character much more than the one who took over.
"'FULL HOUSE': this was a cut-away of a chaotic family home [front page of 'KNOCKOUT [?]'------actually quite a sound idea."
Yes, Knockout, and it provided some of the best, most inventive IPC fun comic covers. Eventually became a conventional strip on the inside, but great in its front cover run.
" 'AQUA LAD': again, i can only visualize this character; TERRY BAVE'S other contemporary strip, 'ODD-BALL' was much more memorable."
I loved Aqua Lad - I've always liked sea beasties and Terry Bave's weird squiggly undersea critters were great, I thought. Wish it lasted much longer. In those early days of both strips, I thought Aqua Lad was much weirder and far more creative than Odd Ball - but yes, nobody ever mentions it. (Except me!) I don't think this one deserves to be forgotten - Terry Bave's work was on fire at this point.
" 'HEE-GEE and his NAG' -----pretty stylishly-drawn horse-strip [the style reminded me slightly of 'ASTERIX'-type stuff]."
Sexism galore in Whoopee! Horse husband whose wife never shuts up.
" 'LOSER': possibly the most difficult-to-remember strip listed here; ----I can't recall a single comic incident involving this character."
And he lasted years. Quite a depressing strip, really.
"'SLOWCOACH'; ----maybe even an ODHAMS strip [I ain't completely sure], but there wasn't enough mileage to sustain a one-off gag, let alone an ongoing weekly strip."
Again, Whizzer and Chips, and though the artwork was very primitive in its early days, by 1972 it became quite busy and interesting, in its red, black and white. Possibly by the Gasworks Gang artist from this 1972 period - looks a similar style and the strip was much better for it. I thought this one got quite wild and creative at times, all the bizarre ways the boy ended up being late for school.
Now, how about:
Rotten Egghead from W+C; a villain with a Hitler-egg for a head. Nobody seems to recall this double-pager.
Plum Duff (or Duffy) from the Topper about a plum pudding (with legs) on the run. (Same period as Ghastly Manor?)
Little Geyser: quite a creative strip about a spout of water's adventures from early Cor!!
Now, *those* are obscure!
Timothy Tester was drawn by Cliff Brown, by the way. I think he also did quite a few games and puzzles for the IPC titles too, and wrote some material (strips like Scream Inn) which he didn't draw, at least.
"GAL CAPONE' by MURRAY BALL........I can visualize this, but that's about all."
Her face does stick in the memory! This was from Shiver and Shake.
"'GINGER'S TUM': this was about a cat aboard a ship."
No, you're thinking of Stoker, Ship's Cat, also drawn by Terry Bave. Ginger's Tum was in colour on the back page of Chips (in W+C) about a grub-hungry alley cat (though Hot Rod the dragon had that colour page for a good while first.) Stoker was in Whoopee.
" 'WEBSTER': I can only recall the appealling title-heading on this spider-strip.....not as memorable as 'I FLY' in 'SPARKY'."
This was quite good - a rather sweet Terry Bave strip. Webster was just a blob of ink with legs, but Terry gave him a personality. Miles better than I Fly, I reckon! Lots of bouncy web humour. Another from Shiver 'n' Shake.
" WEAR-'EM -OUT WILF': I can only just picture this bespectacled character........my memory ends there."
I remember liking the original artist's work on this Chips character much more than the one who took over.
"'FULL HOUSE': this was a cut-away of a chaotic family home [front page of 'KNOCKOUT [?]'------actually quite a sound idea."
Yes, Knockout, and it provided some of the best, most inventive IPC fun comic covers. Eventually became a conventional strip on the inside, but great in its front cover run.
" 'AQUA LAD': again, i can only visualize this character; TERRY BAVE'S other contemporary strip, 'ODD-BALL' was much more memorable."
I loved Aqua Lad - I've always liked sea beasties and Terry Bave's weird squiggly undersea critters were great, I thought. Wish it lasted much longer. In those early days of both strips, I thought Aqua Lad was much weirder and far more creative than Odd Ball - but yes, nobody ever mentions it. (Except me!) I don't think this one deserves to be forgotten - Terry Bave's work was on fire at this point.
" 'HEE-GEE and his NAG' -----pretty stylishly-drawn horse-strip [the style reminded me slightly of 'ASTERIX'-type stuff]."
Sexism galore in Whoopee! Horse husband whose wife never shuts up.
" 'LOSER': possibly the most difficult-to-remember strip listed here; ----I can't recall a single comic incident involving this character."
And he lasted years. Quite a depressing strip, really.
"'SLOWCOACH'; ----maybe even an ODHAMS strip [I ain't completely sure], but there wasn't enough mileage to sustain a one-off gag, let alone an ongoing weekly strip."
Again, Whizzer and Chips, and though the artwork was very primitive in its early days, by 1972 it became quite busy and interesting, in its red, black and white. Possibly by the Gasworks Gang artist from this 1972 period - looks a similar style and the strip was much better for it. I thought this one got quite wild and creative at times, all the bizarre ways the boy ended up being late for school.
Now, how about:
Rotten Egghead from W+C; a villain with a Hitler-egg for a head. Nobody seems to recall this double-pager.
Plum Duff (or Duffy) from the Topper about a plum pudding (with legs) on the run. (Same period as Ghastly Manor?)
Little Geyser: quite a creative strip about a spout of water's adventures from early Cor!!
Now, *those* are obscure!
Timothy Tester was drawn by Cliff Brown, by the way. I think he also did quite a few games and puzzles for the IPC titles too, and wrote some material (strips like Scream Inn) which he didn't draw, at least.
Last edited by Raven on 11 Nov 2007, 13:21, edited 2 times in total.
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ISPYSHHHGUY
- Posts: 4275
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- Location: BLITZVILLE, USA
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
I certainly remember the 'PLUM DUFF'-type strip that you mention, RAVEN........very surreal----I am almost certain that this was from 'TOPPER'....refreshingly, this character often adressed the reader directly...........I apologize if some of my details are not completely accurate.........practically everything i write here is totally gleaned from [almost] 40-year-old memories.......
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ISPYSHHHGUY
- Posts: 4275
- Joined: 14 Oct 2007, 13:05
- Location: BLITZVILLE, USA
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
'ROTTEN EGGHEAD' sounds intruiging, how I fail to remember this, I don't know........it sure sounds well-worth seeking out..........as I have absolutely NO copies or reprints of any I.P.C. comics of this era, these strips have now taken on a greater value.....
One consequence of putting in comments here, is that I will likely seek out a few token copies of these I.P.C. comics, though I doubt if I will stretch to seeking entire runs..........the 'GUSHING GEYSER' strip sounds vaguely familiar: if I ever re-visit this, I may well recall it then.
The early-'70s 'TOPPER' tended to go a bit deliberately silly at times, I preferred the '60s model overall, however, the aforementioned 'PLUM PUDDING' strip I remember well, in fact I rated it as a 'TOPPER' highlight at the time........it was an ongoing 'cont. next week' silly saga, and it ran to a half-page with red-and-pink added colour........it was drawn by the same artist who penned the later version of 'KEYHOLE KATE' in 'SPARKY'.
'WHIZZER and CHIPS' in it's earlier period featured some work by pioneering comics historian DENIS GIFFORD,I seem to remember......he done an illustrated puzzle page and something else, which has eluded me for now........
One consequence of putting in comments here, is that I will likely seek out a few token copies of these I.P.C. comics, though I doubt if I will stretch to seeking entire runs..........the 'GUSHING GEYSER' strip sounds vaguely familiar: if I ever re-visit this, I may well recall it then.
The early-'70s 'TOPPER' tended to go a bit deliberately silly at times, I preferred the '60s model overall, however, the aforementioned 'PLUM PUDDING' strip I remember well, in fact I rated it as a 'TOPPER' highlight at the time........it was an ongoing 'cont. next week' silly saga, and it ran to a half-page with red-and-pink added colour........it was drawn by the same artist who penned the later version of 'KEYHOLE KATE' in 'SPARKY'.
'WHIZZER and CHIPS' in it's earlier period featured some work by pioneering comics historian DENIS GIFFORD,I seem to remember......he done an illustrated puzzle page and something else, which has eluded me for now........
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felneymike
- Fence Sitter
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- Location: Cambridgeshire
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20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
I'm sure i've read some Do-nut and Rusty from something i had as a kid, perhaps an old Classics, or one of the "classic" hardback annuals they started doing around the same time... or perhaps even one of the old annuals i got off car boot sales when i was young. For some reason i have Monster Fun or Beezer in my head (still got a 70'a Beezer annual in decent nick, all colour too... some very funny stuff in it)
Re: 20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
felneymike wrote:I'm sure i've read some Do-nut and Rusty from something i had as a kid, perhaps an old Classics, or one of the "classic" hardback annuals they started doing around the same time... or perhaps even one of the old annuals i got off car boot sales when i was young. For some reason i have Monster Fun or Beezer in my head (still got a 70'a Beezer annual in decent nick, all colour too... some very funny stuff in it)
Yes, they were in Monster Fun. They had a front cover pic on one of the early issues - poss. issue 2.
ISPYSHHHGUY, good to know that Plum Duffy(?) had an impact on someone else, too. I also remember its colour scheme and it being quite way out - it would be good to discover which period it ran exactly.
Another fairly bizarre and quite obscure DCT strip which deserves a mention, from Sparky circa 1972, is the colour double-pager Captain Cutler and his Butler. Some of these idea-packed strips seem much better to me than many of the one-note strips (Billy Whizz, Hungry Horace, Keyhole Kate ... ) which do tend to be better remembered and more celebrated.
I think Rotten Egghead was running in Whizzer and Chips circa 1978. By a Hitler-egg for a head, I mean his head was a big egg, with Hitler's hair, face and moustache. He had a henchman, too, I recall, and did Dick Dastardly-type deeds.
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Cap Haggis
- Posts: 376
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- Location: Glasgow, Scotland
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
For me IPC produced a lot of instantly forgetable strips (in among the classics) some because the idea never caught on , they just got forgotten or some it has to be said that were just plain bad - Forgotten gems (and not so sparkly
Strips I REMEMBER ARE:
The Spooktacular 7: a good strip by Brian Walker I think.
Good New Bad News - not my cuppa tea
Blabbermouth -I think Terry Bave drew this one so always worth a look for his art alone.
CHIP -an everday story of a boy and his micro chip (come on!) there were lots like this such as Calculator Kid, SNACK MAN etc never liked them much.
Family Trees - I thought this was surreal a real forgotten classic by the wonderful Robert Nixon
Boy Butler - a nicely drawn strip in the rich man poor man type story
Petes Pop up Book - Terry Bave again but for me an instantly forgetable strip
Hit Kid - for me another mini classis of kids comics - think Sid Brigeon drew this a child hit man?? only in Britain.
Little and Large Lenny - gawds the things folk drew in the 80's
Blinkety Blink - wonder whje that titel came from - a boy hypnotist
DADS AS LADS - I liked this at the time - story revolved around 2 fathers (pals all their lives) relating stories of their youth to their kids
BLEEP - A wee robot type character - nicely drawn
Kids Court - I think from Knockout (70'S version) loved this but only a vauge memory of it ie kids deciding on the sentences handed out to adults etc.
Need to go now as my head hurts too much thinking.
Strips I REMEMBER ARE:
The Spooktacular 7: a good strip by Brian Walker I think.
Good New Bad News - not my cuppa tea
Blabbermouth -I think Terry Bave drew this one so always worth a look for his art alone.
CHIP -an everday story of a boy and his micro chip (come on!) there were lots like this such as Calculator Kid, SNACK MAN etc never liked them much.
Family Trees - I thought this was surreal a real forgotten classic by the wonderful Robert Nixon
Boy Butler - a nicely drawn strip in the rich man poor man type story
Petes Pop up Book - Terry Bave again but for me an instantly forgetable strip
Hit Kid - for me another mini classis of kids comics - think Sid Brigeon drew this a child hit man?? only in Britain.
Little and Large Lenny - gawds the things folk drew in the 80's
Blinkety Blink - wonder whje that titel came from - a boy hypnotist
DADS AS LADS - I liked this at the time - story revolved around 2 fathers (pals all their lives) relating stories of their youth to their kids
BLEEP - A wee robot type character - nicely drawn
Kids Court - I think from Knockout (70'S version) loved this but only a vauge memory of it ie kids deciding on the sentences handed out to adults etc.
Need to go now as my head hurts too much thinking.
Cap Haggis to the rescue of all deep fried foods
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
I remember liking Kids Court a lot - I think this one was quite popular. It was in Shiver and Shake, though, and later ended up in Whoopee. Punishments would invariably involve kids caning adults. Proof that power corrupts and turns the oppressed into the oppressor.
Another good one from Shiver and Shake was Match of the Week - different teams each week (cowboys vs. Indians, etc.)
Another good one from Shiver and Shake was Match of the Week - different teams each week (cowboys vs. Indians, etc.)
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
See if I can do a spot of artist spotting:
'GINGER'S TUM': Terry Bave
' WEAR-'EM -OUT WILF': Norman Mansbridge
'TIMOTHY TESTER': Cliff Brown (also drew Perry something or other, an inventor kid)
'STORE WARS'; ----quite possibly I.P.C.'S weakest-ever one-note 'gag' idea....... - Doug Goodwin, Jim Watson, Jimmy Hansen
Plum Pudding would be Albert Holroyd
Captain Cutler was the wonderful Bob Nixon
Do-Nut and Rusty was popular in the IPC reprints.
Chip - Mike Lacey (I think)
Boy Butler - Oooh, I've forgotten. Same artist as Country Cousin.
Hit Kid - Sid Burgon
Little and Large Lenny - Norman Mansbridge
Kids' Court - Tom Williams
Corrections welcome...!
'GINGER'S TUM': Terry Bave
' WEAR-'EM -OUT WILF': Norman Mansbridge
'TIMOTHY TESTER': Cliff Brown (also drew Perry something or other, an inventor kid)
'STORE WARS'; ----quite possibly I.P.C.'S weakest-ever one-note 'gag' idea....... - Doug Goodwin, Jim Watson, Jimmy Hansen
Plum Pudding would be Albert Holroyd
Captain Cutler was the wonderful Bob Nixon
Do-Nut and Rusty was popular in the IPC reprints.
Chip - Mike Lacey (I think)
Boy Butler - Oooh, I've forgotten. Same artist as Country Cousin.
Hit Kid - Sid Burgon
Little and Large Lenny - Norman Mansbridge
Kids' Court - Tom Williams
Corrections welcome...!
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Peter Gray
- Posts: 4222
- Joined: 28 Feb 2006, 00:07
- Location: Surrey Guildford
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20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
I know a lot of IPC strips has I have a lot of those comics...and love them...
Boy Butler Mike Lasey
Do-nut and Rusty by Trevor Metcalfe
Slow coach the Lazy Bones artist Colin W.
P. Brain professor Cliff Brown
my list of forgotten classics-
A very funny strip in Whoopee was the Cavers by Jim Petrie.. cavemen living next door to you
Oink The Wet Blanket by Tom Paterson a guy who wanted to spread misery...his cape was a wet blanket and logo was a sad face...
Buster-
Laser Eraser was great...aliens trying to get it back was fun..
Whizzer and Chips- 3 Storey Sam by Brian Walker the strangest strip ever...3 boys turned into 1.........one was the legs...the other a body and the last was a head....they could fall apart or work together...
Wow!- When he was young... showing how they became the person...i.e Frankenstein...tooth fairy...King Kong...Long John Silver (his first baby words was yo-ho-ho and liked being rocked a lot in his cradle...)plumber... very imagnative and loved this one..by Nigel Edwards......
Boy Butler Mike Lasey
Do-nut and Rusty by Trevor Metcalfe
Slow coach the Lazy Bones artist Colin W.
P. Brain professor Cliff Brown
my list of forgotten classics-
A very funny strip in Whoopee was the Cavers by Jim Petrie.. cavemen living next door to you
Oink The Wet Blanket by Tom Paterson a guy who wanted to spread misery...his cape was a wet blanket and logo was a sad face...
Buster-
Laser Eraser was great...aliens trying to get it back was fun..
Whizzer and Chips- 3 Storey Sam by Brian Walker the strangest strip ever...3 boys turned into 1.........one was the legs...the other a body and the last was a head....they could fall apart or work together...
Wow!- When he was young... showing how they became the person...i.e Frankenstein...tooth fairy...King Kong...Long John Silver (his first baby words was yo-ho-ho and liked being rocked a lot in his cradle...)plumber... very imagnative and loved this one..by Nigel Edwards......
Last edited by Peter Gray on 11 Nov 2007, 21:29, edited 1 time in total.
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
And now I bid everyone remember Croc, from 1972 Whizzer and Chips - the humour strip about a schoolboy with a crocodile's head and tail. (The people around him just seemed to accept this.)
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stevezodiac
- Posts: 5204
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- Location: space city
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
I think Slowcoach was drawn by Pater Maddocks for the first few years and Wear em Out Wilf started out by a Baxendale style artist but was then taken over by Norman Mansbridge who also drew Fuss Pott. Maddocks mainly did newspaper and Private Eye/Punch type work but he did publish a book of how to be a cartoonist.
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HighAndMighty
- Posts: 83
- Joined: 01 Mar 2006, 12:47
- Location: A Happy Place
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
Hit Kid was (I think) a Krazy and/or Cheeky strip where the weaponary was a custard pie (or was it a splurge gun?).
Loser had a lovely loose style with lots of thick black ink that seemed to slop all over the drawings (not messy, just kind of... glossy and still wet from being inked?)
Loser had a lovely loose style with lots of thick black ink that seemed to slop all over the drawings (not messy, just kind of... glossy and still wet from being inked?)
cor!
20 almost-forgotten I.P.C. strips......
How about Disaster Des from Mystery Comic in Cheeky Weekly. People run and hid when they see this Jonah style accident prone lad appear (he used to hum 'do de do de do' or something, Might have been a reprint, not sure. How about Starr Tour from Buster, the Starr family were lost in space (similar story to the Lost in Space tv show), never found out if they ever got home, much like the tv show.
Scccrrruunnge