Comics UK

Yes! Sparky comic! Do `you` have a favourite year of its 1965-77 run? Maybe it will surprise those who know the comic; but my own most fondly recalled year is 1968, especially the first half of the year. My guess that for the majority of Sparky fans it would probably be 1969.

To elaborate. During 1967, I felt the comic was not quite as entertaining as it was in Autumn 1966 (Another good era for me) and the huge September 1967 `overhaul` I felt was very much needed. In this returned favourites `Klanky` and `Davey Spacer` plus new fun pals such as `Meddlesome Matty` and `Deputy Dawg`. Entering 1968 strips such as ` The Floating Farrells` `Blondel, the `Wandering Minstrel` were-for me- most welcome. `Fun` strips such as `Big Billy Bigg` `Clever Claire` and `The Snooks` (Euro imports-but I didn't know that back in 1968) I liked very much. At the same time, the adventure strip `The Lonely Lad of Blue Lagoon` (A `Hotspur repeat -original title `Lonely Larry`) hit a purple patch when our hero was trapped in underground volcanic caverns inside the island.

All this made January to July `Sparky` my most fondly recalled era of the comic. Yes! I know that the 1969 comic was most likely more influential in the comics style; but for me, in sheer enjoyment, it was the period I have highlighted here.

Shouldnt this go in the Retired DCT Titles category?

I wish I had enough issues of the Sparky to have a favourite year. I've only got a few annuals plus issue 500. I aim to collect more Sparky annuals in the near future. Regarding a favourite year it would have to be some where in the early/mid 1970s. I really like John Geering's Puss and Boots and I feel the mid 1970s is when Sparky started having more of an identity of its own dropping a lot of the older Beano and Dandy characters like Hungry Horace and Keyhole Kate.

I got my sections mixed up. If admin can shift it to `retired` please? Sorry about that.

Horace stayed with the comic right to its merger with Topper. He stayed in Topper & Sparky until Topper was merged with Beezer.