This revised and greatly expanded `Sparky File` is more detailed on dates where possible and far more comprehensive in description where possible, of adventure stories in the comics early years.

I have striven to list ever issue number and date where a strip begins and ends in the comic. I have also supplied names of artists where possible and of writers, who are far harder to gain details on. This latter data comes via the folks on the `Comics UK` site who I have credited at the end of this article. Their help has been invaluable and I thank them fully.

The year 1966 was awkward as I only have (so far) eleven issues, plus my memory, to work on. However, I do think this is the `definitive` guide to the history of Sparky comic.

Now, almost forgotten, apart from those devout fans such as members of the `Comics U.K board (like myself) `Sparky comic, when remembered, is thought of as the `odd-man-out` in the stable of D.C Thomson `fun` comics.

It was the last of the D. C Thomson big five fun titles to appear (23 January 1965) and the first to founder on 16 July 1977. Its twelve year life seems to be poorly recalled by many U.K comics’ aficionados. Graham Kibble White has sadly got virtually all his factual data incorrect concerning Sparky in the small chapter on it in his book.

I hope to give readers as comprehensive as possible history of Sparky comic and its assorted strips, both `fun` and `adventure` Sparky comic has been sadly neglected by many comic historians, here’s hoping that the balance can be redressed somewhat.

The comic was set up by the `Boy’s and Girl’s comic department of D. C Thomson rather than the juvenile department which `Dandy, Beano, Topper and Beezer` originated from.

The comic had a different look to its strips as many of the artists had not worked on those sisters `fun` papers. The first Editor was Willie (Bill) Mann who had previously helmed `Victor` comic.  Sparky in its early years carried strips that featured surrealistic themes not seen in the other Thomson stable of comics. There was also a high preponderance of animal themed adventure strips in the first two and a half years of its life.

It possessed a mixture of `fun` strips, which were, at one or two pages,  simply drawn (in comparison with the `adventure strips) and the `adventure` strips which were drawn to a higher degree of artwork; these were always two page efforts. The comic also ran a text (with some illustrations) strip for its first few months. Anyhow, that’s enough introductions, now on with the show!

Sparky No 1 entered the market on Friday 23rd January 1965. It had been advertised just after New Year’s Day 1965 on telly with scenes of youngsters playing with the free gift, the “Flying Snorter”. This was a yellow balloon with a flattened red coloured air hole which let the air out in sort of controlled way to give a rasping sound! You blew it up, and let if go, and there it went, rasping away till all the air inside was depleted.

Sparky No2 gave away the `Big Banger` and No3 the `Red Racketty`

My Mom bought me the new comic (I was eight years of age in early 1965) The “Snorter” was great fun indeed! Wish I’d kept it. Anyhow, this was the start of a long and happy association for me with Sparky comic. In fact, I had purchased (and later bought myself) all but four Sparky’s (and kept them) to about June / July 1971. Oh! How I wish I’d kept them.

At a cost of 5d (old pence) it was 2d dearer than Dandy or Beano; but it had a page content of 24 pages instead of 16 as with Dandy, Beano or the A3 sized Topper and Beezer (they were 5d in price too). Unlike Dandy and Beano, who increased their price (to 4d) in 1968, Sparky stayed at 5d right up to decimalisation day in February 1971, rising to 2. ½p. this was equivalent to 6d in the old coinage.

Friday was the day Sparky came out and it stayed Friday until late 1969.

The comic was aimed at a slightly younger readership than Dandy or Beano for the first three or so years of its life.

At the time, I didn’t know Sparky had updated old 1940s strip and conceived new adventures using old characters! My Mom wasn’t pleased with the content, but I begged her to please continue buying it as I was quite happy with it.

By 1967 I was buying the comic (and Dandy, Pow & Smash) with my pocket money. Friday’s was Sparky day and after school, I would have my tea, then I would change out of my school clothes and dash to my local newsagents (With my street clothes on of course!)  For my Sparky!
                                  
My early favourites were “Flubberface” (the friendly monster), “Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora” (whose dreams led to wonderfully surreal adventures). I also liked the “Jeff Ye Jolly Jester” strip too! In all, I thoroughly enjoyed my Sparky comic each Friday. After reading, I would store my Sparky along with my Dandy’s and other comics in my wall set clothes store! No sunlight got in, so they were in superb condition.

The `Sparky` character was drawn by Ron Spencer and Jimmy Glenn. He has caused some debate in his years as `cover` star regarding his supposed race and colour. Only issue seven gave a hint to this in his treatment, but I can see why he is deemed Non P.C today. Speaking personally, I find two 1970s `L. Cars` episodes were far worse in this respect.

`Hungry Horace` and `Keyhole Kate` were drawn by George Drysdale who would sadly pass away in 1967. George also drew the `Me and my Grockle strip in 1966/67.

`Flubberface` and `Jeff Ye Jolly Jester` were drawn by Bob Webster. He would also draw strips `The Slowdown Express`, `Fireman Fred` and from 1968, the Pansy Potter` strip, taking over from Bill Hill who had drawn her from 1965.

The covers (first & last pages) and the middle colour ones were full colour.
Pages 2, 11, 14 and 23 were always a mix of Red, Black and White. All other pages were in monochrome.

The `Sparky` Logo was curved similar to the `Dandy`. Colours of Logo were the same as Dandy too. The word Sparky was in bright red on a yellow surround. This was complimented by a royal blue background which made it an identical colour scheme to the Dandy.

The comic was a repository for old Beano and Dandy strips such as Pansy Potter, Keyhole Kate, Ma Jolly and her Brolly, Hungry Horace, Freddie the Fearless Fly, Frosty McNab, Black Jack the Sweep, Dick Turpentine, Peter Piper, Hairy Dan etc! These were `updated` versions.

Thankfully, some new strips such as `Flubberface` and the Moonsters were also included. The wonderfully surreal `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` which occupied the middle two pages (in colour) was perhaps the best of the early strips.

The comic had a letters page titled “Write to Sparky” and also a puzzles and conundrums page.

Sparky comic never enjoyed the sales of Dandy or Beano; in fact Topper and Beezer seemed to better it here as well. The comic seemed to be the `oddball` of the Thomson output and really struggled to find an identity or a loyal readership!

The first few months of the comics life saw the unusual mode of `strip rotation` which meant that strips such as `Flubberface` `Joe Bann` `Freddie the Fearless Fly` and `Jeff Ye Jolly Jester` were taking turns to appear. No wonder the comic struggled early on as it was difficult to get readership identification with characters if they didn’t appear every week! In fact, this bizarre practice was still in operation in late 1967-early 1968, rotating the `Pansy Potter` and `Tom Tardy` strips.

The rotation system affected all fun strips except for `Sparky`, `The Moonsters`, `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora`, `Hungry Horace` and `Keyhole Kate`; who were the only regular weekly fun strips.

The Moonsters strip was in the style of the early `Bash St Kids` when that strip was `When the Bell Rings` circa 1954. Similar to the `Bell Rings` strip, the Moonsters had one or two (sometimes none!) small panels leading to one large panel featuring several the Moonsters trying vainly to achieve that weeks subject. It soon became obvious this Moon had oceans, forests, and many other similarities to Earth. Until the late 60s `space-race` this lack of scientific accuracy didn’t matter much. It was drawn by Bill Ritchie.

Other `fun` strips were `Minnie Ha-Ha, and Running Kick, her pet talking Raven` the fun adventures of a young Red Indian squaw and her talkative pet. There was `Cuckoo in the Clock` A wooden, but living clock cuckoo who would often leave his clock to get up to mischief!

There was `Hockey Hannah` The fun adventures of a schoolgirl and her hockey stick. I must admit that I barely recall this strip at all.

The `Slowdown Express` fun strip, drawn by Bob Webster arrived in mid 1965, it was strange that the comic run a strip about a steam train service just as they were ending in real life.

One character who I recall in his debut issue, No 3 was `Peter Piper`. The strip began with Peter taking a stroll in a park. Suddenly two bullies began picking on him (a regular hazard for `fun` characters). A nearby statue of Pan came to life and scared the bullies away (never?). Pan then gifted Peter his set of pipes. He told him they would bring any icon to life; be it statue, sculpture or any drawing if he blew the pipes at them.

This done, Pan popped back on his plinth and became a statue once more (sans pipes). Only years later did I find out that Peter Piper was an old comic character.

Yet another old character updated was `Pansy Potter` the strongman’s daughter and `Nosey Parker` an interfering old busybody. They often shared one page split between them.

Also arriving in mid 1965 was `Winnie the Witch`. The fun adventures of a novice witch. Sadly, the artwork on this strip was quite poor indeed.

Now! Here is an example of a very early `Sparky` line-up.

Page 1
 (Cover) Heading “Free Inside `Big Banger` (it was one of those `Crack-Bang` efforts which the brown paper always split after about three `bangs`

Sparky clears the snow with his Vacuum cleaner, hitting a policeman with a burst of cleared snow. (Full Colour)

Page 2
`Joe Bann and his Big Banjo`. Comic adventures of Cowboy Joe Bann and his all-purpose Banjo! (This page in Red, Black & White)

Page 3
`Keyhole Kate. ` I had no idea, that Kate was an old character, now updated.

Pages 4 & 5
`The Young Castaways` Story concerned two babies from a shipwreck who were raised by friendly occupants of a South Seas island. Drawn by the artist (Tony Speer)who would later sketch Invisible Dick`.

Page 6
`Cuckoo In The Clock` Comic adventures of a wooden, but living, Cuckoo.

Page 7
`Hockey Hannah` The comic adventures of a schoolgirl and her hockey stick. This is one strip I have virtually no recollection of at all!

Pages 8 & 9
`Wee Tuskey` Adventure strip, light hearted, which was about a young Elephant and his life in the jungle of south Asia. The Sparky comic had a real taste for animal based stories in its early years.

Page 10
`Hugry Horace. `This was the only strip to be ever present from Sparky No 1, to 652 (final issue). At the time I had no idea he was an old Dandy character.

Page 11
Adverts for next weeks free gift, the `Red Racketty` and for a choice of Ten shilling postal order or a transistor radio if readers wrote to the comic and letter was published. B/W & Red.

Pages 12 & 13
Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` One of my favourites; I loved the early adventures which could get really surreal. Unlike later stories, the early ones did not often turn into nightmares! This issue sets Dave and Dora to rescue the children of Hamlin Town. In full colour.

Page 14.
`Minnie Ha-Ha` Comic adventures of a young Red Indian Squaw, and her pet `talking` Raven; `Running Kick`. In B/W & Red.

Page 15
`Sparky’s puzzles` As it says, a page full of puzzles. Maze, spot the difference, etc.

Pages 16 & 17
`The Kidnapped Kidds`
A very strong (for 1965) story of two children who witness a train robbery and are subsequently held captive by the crooks. This was pretty gutsy stuff for Sparky! Gang leader Gus is not averse to physical violence to children or of holding his gun to their heads. I have no idea; but I would not be surprised if parents complained about this strip.

Pages 18 & 19 and top half of 20.
`The Palace of Secrets` This was a text story, along with a few illustrations, concerning the adventures of young Mary at the palace of Kra.  This story is definitely aimed at female readers.

Page 20, bottom half.
The Editor and the rest of the Sparky staff introduce Pansy Potter to the readers, stating she will begin her adventures from next week’s issue.

Page 21
`Jeff Ye Jolly Jester `. The comic adventures of medieval Jester, Jeff!

Page 22
Freddie the Fearless Fly. Another rejuvenated old character. Again, I had no idea he was an old character until my Mother stated so.

Page 23
Top third, `Frosty McNab` A sort of `Jack Frost` character.
Middle third, `Grandma Jolly and her Brolly`
Bottom third, `Black-Jack` Chimney Sweep.  You could tell these were old characters because, though the stories were contemporary, they were drawn in 1940s style. Even to me then, they looked terribly old fashioned! It was a stupid move by the staff and `Frosty` and `Black-Jack` departed very quickly.

Page 24
`The Moonsters`. In issue No2 Penny and Peter Pleasant are about to land on the Moon. Last week, Peter pressed a button while he and Sister Penny were exploring at the Rocket Ship exhibition (as you do). They land safely and are greeted by little green `Moonster` people who lay on a big feast for their Earth visitors. Note! One of the Moonsters has pointed `Spock-like` ears. This was not apparent in later adventures.

 The final three inches of page 24 consisted of adverts for next weeks new pal `Peter Piper`. Also, the comic asks “Have you written to Sparky Yet?”  All page 24 in full colour.

A very varied comic indeed! I had no idea that some strips were updated adventures of old characters. The `Kidnapped Kidds` was very strong stuff indeed! The text story was for girls only in my view! I looked forward to next Friday’s comic.

The `Young Castaways` strip is etched in my memory. It ran from the first issue to No 16, dated 8th May. The story featured on two babies who barely survived the sinking of the yacht their mother and father seemingly perished on.
The babies were washed up on the Indian Ocean island of Akavu. They were found by the friendly natives who took care of them. The native leader, Queen Lemba, had worked as a nurse in Australia and had after some years had returned to the island she was born on.

The Queen taught the babies as they grew to children, English and gave them the names Mark and Marina. The youngsters believed their parents must be dead as did the Queen who looked after then best as she could.

Mark and Mary had many adventures on the island. One day Mary was badly injured by a falling tree and though Lemba had some medical knowledge, she knew that a surgeon must operate on the child to save her. The island was often visited by a plane from nearby Australia and a message was relayed regarding Marina’a condition. A surgeon, Mr Maxwell, agreed to fly to the island.

Amazingly, the surgeon turned out to be the Childs father! Both he and their mother had survived and both had believed their children had drowned. It all ended happily with Mark and Marina finding out their real name was Charles and Mary Maxwell. The strip was drawn ably Tony Speer. He would later draw the abysmal `Invisible Dick` strip.

Running from issue No 1 to No 15, 1st May 1965, was a story that was anything but `fey` or `twee`. `The Kidnapped Kidds` saw two children John and Mary Kidd, witness a train robbery. They are caught by the husband and wife leaders of the gang, Gus and Betty.

Gus in particular is a very nasty piece of work. In episode seven he hits young John severely across the face. Gus also holds the gun to the children’s head on more than one occasion. The final time he did this in issue 15 when the police have them cornered, Betty comes to her senses and knocks his arm away and the children are then rescued.

It was a very hard hitting strip which was drawn by artist David Ogilvie who succeeded admirably in giving Gus a very cruel look indeed. Had this story been mooted for inclusion a few months later it may not have been accepted for publication due to the real life horrors of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.

As it was, it still stands today as the most harrowing adventure strip in the comic’s history. Nothing like it was ever attempted again and I think that maybe concerned parents wrote to the editor about the content.

A possibly controversial (by today’s standards) front cover story was issue No 7 dated 6th March, Page 1. Cover `star``Sparky` gets pushed into vats of coloured paint (for snooping) Police can’t scrub all the colours off, so they paint the rest of him with black paint!!   If a comic did that storyline today, we would all be hearing about it in the resulting prosecution! What incredible stupidity.

There was a surfeit of animal based strips early on. Some were humorous such as `Wee Tusky` (young Burmese elephant), `Kipper feet` (young walrus) and `McGinty’s Goat` (regimental mascot). Others were more serious in tone such as `Watch` who was a Newfoundland rescue dog, and `Rory` the horse of many masters. There were fourteen of these animal themed stories from the comics inception to September 1967, a case of `overkill` me- thinks!

`Wee Tusky` ran from issue No 1 to No 22, 19th June 1965. It relayed the `fun` adventures of a young Burmese elephant. Wee Tusky had a higher I.Q than many humans if any of the `adventures` are to be believed! Tusky was replaced, in issue No 23 by `Kipper Feet` who was a young walrus. It was basically the same style of nonsense; both strips were drawn by the same artist, Jack Monk.

`Kipper Feet` left for good on issue No 34, 11th September, being replaced by another stint of `Wee Tusky`. The second series of `Tusky` only lasted eight issues to No 42 dated 6th November 1965.

The far more serious strip `Watch` drawn by George Radcliffe concerned the adventures of a Newfoundland rescue dog at a 19th Century fishing community, stands up far better today. It had many well executed storylines and is enjoyable to me on current reading. It ran from issue No 16, 8th May, to No 35, 18th September 1965.

The comic also had a text strip `The Palace of Secrets` from its first issue to No 14, 24th April. It was most certainly aimed at girl readers. Replacing this text story in issue No 15 was another text story `Will O` the Well`. This was a bizarre effort about a pixie like boy who lived at the bottom of a wishing well (and never got wet!); who granted wishes to whoever threw coins into the well and made a wish. Will spent all money `earned` on ice lollies.

Those wishing unselfishly on behalf of others fared best, while those wishing with selfish or cruel intentions got their wish; but in a manner that taught them a lesson! It was a very inventive series and an early favourite of mine.

I was sad to see the text stories of `Will` end at issue 25, 10th July as it helped my reading ability and made me use my imagination to great effect. `Will` did return in comic strip form from No 53, 22nd January 1966, but that wasn’t as successful as the text story as the text leant to the imagination being used. The cartoon version only lasted to issue 59, 5th March 1966, a mere six issues!

Yet another comedy based animal strip was `McGinty the Goat` drawn by Bob Webster who also drew the `Joe Bann` fun strip. This strip was the fun adventures of a very aggressive Army regimental mascot. My nomination as possibly the worst animal styled story of all time. For me, it is abysmal. It ran from issue No 17, 15th May, to issue 29, 7th August 1965, fifteen issues.

Now, let us take another look at a 1965 line up; this time from issue No 20.

Page 1
`Sparky` joins a brass band.
Page 2
`Joe Bann and his Big Banjo`

Page 3
`Keyhole Kate`

Pages 4 & 5
`Watch` The Victorian period adventures of a Newfoundland rescue dog and the fishing community he worked for. One of the more serious animal based stories in Sparky and quite a good effort indeed.

Page 6
`Hockey Hannah`

Page 7
`Freddie, the Fearless Fly`

Pages 8 & 9
`McGinty the Goat` The fun adventures of a regimental mascot. For me, this was one of the worst examples of how very poor many of the `fun` animal stories in the comic were.

Page 10
`Sparky’s Puzzles`

Page 11
`Cuckoo in the Clock`

Pages 12 & 13
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` This week the twins meet a king who never smiles.

Page 14
Top half, `Pansy Potter` Bottom half, `Nosey Parker`

Page 15
`Write to Sparky`

Pages 16 & 17
`Wee Tusky`

Pages 18, 19 & top 2/3 of page 20
`Will O’ the Well` Delightfully inventive text strip about a strange elf-like boy who lives in a well and grants wishes to whosoever throws coins into the well and makes a wish.

Page 20 Bottom 1/3
`Hairy Dan` Another updated old character. Unbelievably old-fashioned stuff!

Page 21
`Hungry Horace`

Page 22
`Jeff Ye Jolly Jester`

Page 23
`Minnie-Ha-Ha! And her talking Raven`

Page 24
`The Moonsters`

                               
The comic also gave readers two sci-fi, alien invasion adventures in 1965. The first titled `Raiders from the Red Planet` was a `blink and you’ll miss it` affair commencing in issue 30 (14 August 1965) to issue 34 (4 September) just five episodes! It was in black and white and drawn by the artist who drew the 1965 `Peter Piper` strip. The `Martians` themselves, looked identical to humans in every way (except for their space suits).

These Martians were armed with `gas` guns that could immobilise. They also set up parabolic shaped devices that operated as `heat` rays. Thankfully for the human race, the Martians were susceptible to the common cold, so that as in `The War of the Worlds`; mankind’s saviour was a microbe.

In issue 35 (11 September 1965) the far better `The Year of the Vanaks` appeared in colour on the middle pages (bumping Dreamy Dave and Dora to black and white).

The strip looks like it could be a reprint from an earlier Thomson comic as it has a 1950s look to it. There were three different classes of Vanaks. The humanoid types were small (about four foot) fellows who were bright purple and possessed large bulbous (and bald) heads with pointed ears. Their robotic counterparts were cylinder like creations, also around four feet in height, but could hover above the ground. The third, rarely seen Vanaks, were large cumbersome humanoid shaped Robot types, crimson in colour.

The Vanaks were armed with weapons that fired either green paralyzing rays or red death beams. Most of the earth had been conquered by the Vanaks in a surprise attack, before nuclear weapons could be utilised.

However, a resistance movement gathered itself together and slowly the Vanaks weaknesses were uncovered. They could be immobilised themselves if their green rays were transmitted at a slightly higher frequency. This was achieved by humanity by turning a Vanak world link-up television broadcast against them.

Earlier, it had been discovered that the aliens were very susceptible to wasp stings, dying in seconds on receiving stings. The humans then concocted formic acid devices (Wasp stings are basically formic acid) to use against them.

It was an entertaining strip which ran to issue 56 (12 February 1966).
The `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` fun strip which inhabited the two centre colour pages through September 1965 produced some of the best and innovative surreal stories I have ever seen in any comic.  Many of the early and most surrealistic stories were drawn by Pam Chapau. As with the characters in the 1935 film `Peter Ibbotson` Dave and Dora` would always experience each others dreams. An example of how inventive this format could be is the example from issue No 30 (14th August 1965) 

Dave and Dora are in their beds trying to sleep, but they just cannot nod off! They imagine sheep, and lo and behold! A flock of sheep appear in their bedroom. They have to imagine up a shepherd to remove the sheep. They realise that whatever they think of will appear so they think up an elephant.

It fills their bedroom so they `think` it smaller and then into a porcelain figure. Enjoying this power of thought, they then think themselves onto the seaside. However! All the people on the beach laugh at them as they are still in their pyjamas.

Upset at this derision Dave and Dora think everyone away! Now finding themselves alone on the beach they don’t care for it and Dora wonders if it will rain. It then does to Dave’s chagrin! Dave wishes they were back in their beds and so they are-but! They are both in their beds on the beach with rain falling on them.

Before anything else happens they are being woken up by their Mother who tells them it is time for school. Dave and Dora realise they had been dreaming about `not` being able to sleep all along!

Other themes were trips by rocket to the centre of the earth. Adventures at the end of a rainbow, trip in a time machine. Visits to the places where time and weather are made. There were also trips to a mirror world, to the land of lost children and other strange dimensions.

Storylines such as these made this strip a truly captivating read and one of the early successes from Sparky comic. I loved the more surrealistic plots very much indeed. Other artists took turns in drawing the strip in rotating order through 1966 to 68; these were James Malcolm, George Ramsbottom, Ian Makay, Ian Judge and more entries from Pam Chapau.

Issue No 25 dated 10th July 1965 saw the debut of Enid Blyton styled `Riddle of the Roughlands`. This story featured youngsters Frank and Pat Freeman encounter smugglers while on holiday on a area called the `Roughlands`.

They encounter a young lady that they think is part of the gang, but it turns out that she is an undercover policewoman who rescues the children and their dog `Nip`. With her help, the smugglers are captured in issue No 34, 11th September.

The following week of 17th July, issue 26, there commenced an adventure strip that mixed education with adventure. `Lonely Wood` featured youngsters Dick and Cherry Grainger who helped their father who was a warden for a nature reserve called `Lonely Wood`.

The strip often gave many interesting details on wildlife and flora and fauna of the region. I learned many interesting facets of the natural woodland from this strip.

Despite serving up such interesting offerings (to me at least!) the comic was struggling sales wise. By late 1965 sales were obviously sluggish so the first of many promotions took place, hence =

This issue saw something of a `re-vamp` to the comic. Issue 35 saw the first Logo change. It was the colour red in the word Sparky, which now changed place with the yellow surround. Hence, Sparky in yellow on a red surround. The blue background stayed the same though.
The `Sparky` character strip and `The Moonsters` swapped front and back cover places from this issue up to issue 140.

The comic gave away a free gift; the `Squeezy Wheezy` balloon.

Page 1
`The Moonsters`. They swapped places with the `Sparky` character, who now took over the back page. The Moonsters decide to make a film.

Page 2
`Keyhole Kate`

Page 3
`Peter Piper`

Pages 4 & 5
`New Story`. `Gilpin, the Lost, Lost Boy`. A strange offering this! Set in the 16th century, it concerned the adventures of a `sprite` (Gilpin) who had a spell placed upon him (by whom it was never revealed) that compelled him to become the servant of the first mortal he met.

Gilpin looked human except for his large eyes. He possessed some magical powers to help him in his tasks. I don’t have enough Sparky’s to figure out what the story was all about! A very puzzling affair indeed!

Page 6
`Hungry Horace`

Page 7
`Winnie the Witch`

Pages 8 & 9
`Wee Tusky`

Page 10
`Write To Sparky`

Page 11
Top two thirds are an advert for next week’s free gift, the `Spin Din` (illustrated). The bottom third of the page showcases both this weeks new stories `The Year of the Vanaks` and `Gilpin, the lost boy`, with a panel from next weeks adventures in both.

Pages 12 & 13
 `New story`, `The Year of the Vanaks`. This was another space invasion, but in a much more serious mode.  In full colour, we see an advance guard of crimson robots who prepare the earth populace for the arrival of their masters; the Vanaks!. These turn out to be about four foot tall with large bulbous heads. They are bright purple in colour.

Page 14
`Cuckoo in the Clock`

Page 15
`Sparky’s Puzzles`

Pages 16 & 17
`Watch` This was the final episode.

Pages 18 & 19
`New story`, `The Flood that Mother remembers`. This story featured a coastguard and his family who were stationed in Southampton in 1953. I think it was loosely based on the true story of the great flooding of 1953.

Pages 20 & 21
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` The pair find themselves in `Topsy-Turvey` land. For the first time, the strip was moved away from the centre pages and was now illustrated in black and white.

Page 22
`Freddy the Fearless Fly` Bottom of the page “Next week; Jeff Ye Jolly Jester”.

Page 23
` The Slowdown Express`

Page 24
Top three quarters, `Sparky` Who was now on the back page. Bottom quarter of the page was devoted to illustrated advert for next weeks new story `Floating Along, Singing a Song`. The adventures of a musical family; who live on a canal barge.

Issue 35 was the first in a series of `re-vamps` for the comic through the sixties. It probably gave away more free gifts 1965 to 1969 than any other Thompson comic in this period. My guess for this move was due to none too healthy sales. Here is a list of new strip and those replaced over weeks of 18th and 25th September 1965. All were adventure strips, no change in `fun pals`.

    New Strips Introduced, issues 35 & 36, September 18th & 25th 1965.

In

`Gilpin, the Lost, Lost Boy` (2 Pages)

`The Year of the Vanaks` (2 Pages)

`The Flood That Mother Remembers` (2 Pages)

`Floating Along, Singing A Song` (2 Pages)

`Wee Tusky`* (2 Pages) * = Returning Strip.

 Out

`Lonely Wood` (2 Pages)

`Kipper Feet` (2 Pages)

`Raiders from the Red Planet` (2 Pages)

`Watch` (2 Pages)

`Riddle of the Roughlands` (2 Pages)

There were five new `adventure` strips over issues 35 and 36, these were `Year of the Vanaks` `Wee Tusky` on his second run in Sparky. `The Flood that Mother Remembers` and `Gilpin the Lost, Lost Boy` in issue No 35 and `Floating Along, Singing a Song` in issue No 36.

The `Gilpin the Lost, Lost Boy` strip which began in issue No 35 was a pretty strange affair indeed! Readers were introduced to Gilpin as he addressed readers bemoaning his plight! A spell had been cast upon him (we never found out by whom as far as I know!) so that he must be the servant of the first human he encountered. Gilpin was what was known as a `sprite`, an elf-like creature, but not of the water variety.

He encountered Henry Cranstoun and insisted he become Cranstoun’s servant! The power in his eyes made Cranstoun accede to this. Gilpin’s task was to bring about a marriage between Cranstoun and young lady Mary Scott. The Cranstoun and Scott families had been at war for years and only such a marriage could bring about peace.

A major problem for Gilpin was Mary’s mother, Lady Janet Scott. She was a witch who could read Gilpins thoughts. She was against any peace between the families as the war suited her purpose. It ran to issue 49, 25th December, when Gilpin eventually worked things to a happy resolution.

`The Flood That Mother Remember` which also commenced in issue 35; was loosely based on real life flooding that had happened in the 1950s. The strip also mixed in a smuggling theme to liven things up a bit! It was drawn by Tony Speer.

Issue 36 brought the strip `Floating Along, Singing A Song` to readers. It concerned a family who travelled the country on the `Nancy Lee` canal barge. The children formed themselves into an amateur pop group who entertained towns and villages they stopped at. It was drawn by Edward Drury.

They were followed by two mysterious characters that seemed like villains. The `villains` turned out to be friendly and informed the children that one of them was actually heir to a Dukedom! To me, it was most unlikely fare, but enjoyable.

Issue No 43 brought us `The Downside Donkeys` which concerned a donkey reserve owned by the father of Mick and Cathy Murphy. Two silver donkeys they had purchased were wanted by foreign crooks, which was the base of the story. Rather dull stuff to me. Tony Speer took artistic duties on this one.

In the 18th December issue, No 48, yet another animal based story commenced. `Goldie` was a golden eagle who became a pet of sorts to children, Steve and Betty Martin. It ran to issue No 61, 19th March 1966 and for me was utterly tedious! Yet again Tony Speer helmed the pens and pencils.

Also in issue 48 was `Lost Children of the Forest` which was set in the Second World War. Linda and Barry wrights London home is destroyed by a bomb and they believe their parents were killed in the blast. The homeless children team up with fellow orphans Peter, Robin and Sue Miles.

All try to survive in the New Forest region but find it very tough going. Salvation comes when they discover their parents had indeed survived the blast! They and their new friends make a new life away from London. It lasted to issue No 55, 5th February 1966.

1965 wasn’t quite the roaring success that had been hoped for the new comic as a fairly comprehensive overhaul with free gifts had to be promoted in September that year. The new comic had survived its first year and entered 1966, hoping for better sales. It was to be a tough struggle though!

1966 was obviously a critical period for Sparky as it had two free gift and new story / Fun pal promotions that year. The scarcity of editions on E.Bay or other sources seems to bear out very low sales in 1966.

1966 saw an easing of the amount of fun strips in rotation. This meant the loss of `Flubberface`, `Minnie Ha-Ha`, `Hockey Hannah` and `Jeff Ye Jolly Jester` and `Freddie the Fearless Fly, throughout the year. Other fun strips, `Joe Bann and his Big Banjo`, `The Slowdown Express` and new strip `Fireman Fred` were still rotated in what must have been a puzzling way of presentation to readers.

The first issue of the year, No 50 dated 1st January presented the strip `Quest of the Wandering Wingates`. It was set during the time of the holy crusades. The father of Dickon and Norah Wingate was forced into Prince John’s army and their farm destroyed. The children ended up in the holy lands and their attempts to get home were the main story.

A surprise move in issue 53, 15th January, was the return of `Will O’ the Well`. This time it was as a picture strip. It was a bad move as the imaginative text stories could never be matched by pictures and it ran for only seven issues to No 59, 5th March 1966.

Issue No 56, 26th March 1966 gave an even shorter strip, `Pocahontas`. The tale of the daughter of a Red Indian chief and her encounters with early `new world` settler Adam Smith. This dull affair lasted just five issues to No 60, 12th March 1960.

Issue No 57, 2nd April, saw the return of `Lonely Wood` but it was a real `blink and you’ll miss it` affair, only lasting three issues to No 60, 12th March. Surely, the briefest strip of all time!

Sales must have been sluggish and so another two weeks of free gifts and new stories began on issue No 60 dated 12th March. New stories were `Huffy, Muffy and Tuffy` which was in the same vein as `Wee Tusky` and `Kipper Feet` and drawn by the same artist, Jack Monk. It did not appeal to me at all. `Huffy, Muffy and Tuffy` were three bears (where have I heard that title before?) who lived in the foothills of the Andes Mountains. Their `adventures` were every bit as daft as `Wee Tusky` or `Kipper Feet`.  They departed in May 1966.

There was `Seven at One Blow` the adaptation of the tale of the tailors apprentice, Peter Pretzel (who thought that name up!?) who made his fortune by his wits rather than brawn. This strip ran to issue No 72 date 4th June.

Best of all, occupying the centre pages in full colour, was `City under the Sea`. This futuristic tale featured John and Janet Lowe who lived in a great underwater metropolis that was the centre of a huge fish-farm. The children assisted their father in his duties at the `farm` having many exciting undersea adventures.

This strip was very similar in artwork to the `Year of the Vanaks` strip the previous year, and similar to that story, most enjoyable. I don’t know which issue it finished in, but it certainly lasted at least ten issues. When it finished, `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` returned to the middle pages (in full colour)

Here now, is the line up of issue No 60.

Above the title of the comic it announced the free gift inside: `The Sparky Spinner`. This was a cardboard disc that when spun on the string that intersected it, produced a hypnotic pattern and a whirring sound.

Page 1
`The Moonsters` The Moonsters hold a funfare.

Page 2
`Keyhole Kate`

Page 3
`Peter Piper`

Pages 4 & 5
New story-`Seven at One Blow` This was the loose adaptation of the old tale of the Tailors apprentice.

Page 6
`Hungry Horace`

Page 7
`Winnie the Witch`

Pages 8 & 9
New story- `Huffy, Muffy and Tuffy`. This strip featured the adventures of three South American bears. They dwelt at the foothills of the Andes Mountains. This strip was in the style of `Wee Tusky` and `Kipper Feet`, the artist was the same as drew those.

Page 10
`Write to Sparky`

Page 11
Top two thirds is an illustrated ad for next weeks `Crack-Bang!` free gift. The bottom third of the page is a preview of next weeks new story, `Children of the Secret Pool`.

Pages 12 & 13
New Story-`City Under the Sea` The futuristic adventures two children who are part of the community of an undersea city.

Page 14
`Cuckoo in the Clock`

Page 15
`Sparky’s Puzzles`

Pages 16 & 17
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` Dave and Dora are in television advertising world.

Pages 18 & 19
`Pocahontas` This was the adaptation of the meeting between new world explorer Adam Smith and Pocahontas who was the daughter of a red Indian chief.

Pages 20 & 21
`Goldie` The adventures of a golden eagle. Goldie was the `pet of sorts` to Steve and Betty Martin.

Page 22
`Hockey Hannah`

Page 23
`The Slowdown Express`

Page 24
Top ¾ `Sparky`. Bottom ¼ Three panel ads for next weeks free `Crack-Bang!` gift (left panel) and new story `Children of the Secret Pool` (middle panel). The right panel was a showcase of the comic’s fun characters!

Here is the list of new strips (and those departing) over issues 60 and 61. As with issue 35 and 36 in September 1965, the turnover is of adventure strips: no `fun pals` affected.

      New Strips Introduced Issues 60 & 61, 12th & 19th March 1966.

In

`Seven at one Blow` (2 Pages)

`Huffy, Muffy and Tuffy` (2 Pages)

`City under the Sea` (2 Pages)

`Children of the Secret Pool` (2 Pages)

Out

`Pocahontas` (2 Pages)

`The Year of the Vanaks` (2 Pages)

`Will O’ the Well` (2 Pages)

`Quest of the Wandering Wingate’s` (2 Pages)

In the second issue of the new stories / free gift promotion, No 61 dated 19th March, began an intriguing story. This was `Children of the Secret Pool`. Young Jack and Jill Hardiman’s parents had been killed in a car crash in Scotland (where they lived), and the two toddlers were sent to an orphanage.

Reading about the crash was an elderly man who the readers learned was the children’s grandfather (his Christian name was never revealed). He strode off to the orphanage but was denied custody of the children by the worried staff (this storyline would really raise eyebrows today).

The grandfather returned at night and took the children. He took them to his home in the mountains. There, he told the children that the waters of the pool and stream that ran past his home had special qualities.

Over the weeks, the children bathed and drank the waters. Like their grandfather, they became super fit and robust. They had many exciting adventures. Edward Drury was the artist on this strip.

It does read in print as a dubious story, but in actuality was pretty innocent; but, I don’t think such a story would see publication these days. I can’t be certain, but I think it ran to issue No 85 dated 3rd September 1966.

Issue No 62 saw a serious animal story, `Rory, the Horse of Many Masters`. Set in the 19th century, it told the story of `Rory` a horse that swapped ownership many times. I can’t recall much of this strip, so it couldn’t have been very special. As far as I know, it ran to about July 1966. It was drawn by George Radcliffe.

I do recall the strip that replaced it in July 1966 though! This was `Big Klanky` drawn by Bob Webster for this, and his second run in 1967. This initial series of the two page strip was titled `Big Klanky`. Subsequent outings were reduced to just `Klanky` thereafter.

Klanky had been sent to Earth by his creators to `help mankind`. This he did most ably, often thwarting various wrongdoers in his adventures. He befriended the Huggins family, in particular youngsters Ernie and Sis. Not until the third series (commencing 1st February 1969) did readers learn his real identity, the rather dull QZ-199. His planet of origin was revealed here too; it was the equally blandly titled planet `J`.
Klanky was very powerful and almost indestructible, he often thwarted wrongdoers.
The Klanky strip did sometimes become repetitive; but never on the scale that the excruciating `Invisible Dick` did. This first series ran to issue No 87, 17th September 1966.

Backtracking a bit to issue No 63 dated 2 April 1966, the first new `fun pal` since 1965 was introduced. This was `Fireman Fred`. Drawn by artist Bob Webster who drew `Joe Bann and `Slowdown Express`, `Fireman Fred`, after a few weekly outings, took his turn in the rotation system.

Issue No 73 dated 11th June, saw `Boy in the Forest of Fear`. This told of a feral boy (name never given) who experienced hostility from forest creatures as he tried to make a home there. It ran to issue No 85, 3 September 1966 and was drawn by George Radcliffe.

The summer of 1966 introduced `The Balloon Family Robinson` Set in the 19th century, it told of the Robinson families adventures in their wooden home that was held aloft by hydrogen balloons. I think it ran from late June to August 1966. It would return (very briefly) in 1967. Tony Speer was the artist.

The comic certainly went through a heavy turnover of stories, both semi-serious and purely fun strips in 1966. It seemed to be struggling for continuity in its effort to garner a loyal readership. By September 1966 yet another two weeks of free gifts and new stories was offered to readers in a bid to increase sales.

No logo change again this time. Anyhow, here is the line up for issue No 86 dated 10th September 1966, which was the first of the two weeks minor re-launch.

Top of page announces the free gift of the `Tweek-Squeak` balloon.

Page 1
`The Moonsters` The moon creatures hold a fun-fare.

Page 2
`Keyhole Kate`

Pages 3, 4 & 5 (this week only)
New story `My Grockle and Me` Young Jimmy Johnson receives a large egg posted by an uncle residing in Africa. He warms it in the oven and it hatches out into a small dragon-like creature which makes the noise “Grockle”. Deciding to name it Grockle, Jimmy keeps it as it grows to the size of a small horse. I didn’t know at the time that this was an updated 1920s `Rover` comic strip called `Jimmy Johnson’s Grockle`.

Page 6
Hungry Horace`

Page 7
Top half, `Pansy Potter` Bottom half, `Nosey Parker`.

Pages 8 & 9
New story, `Willie the Woeful Wizard`. This was the fun adventures of the court wizard to the king of Pom. It was a truly superb offering.

Page 10
`Write to Sparky`

Page 11
Advert for next weeks free gift, the `Bizzy Buzzer` plus a preview of next weeks new story, `Nine Hundred Years Ago`.

Pages 12 & 13
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` Now back in the centre colour pages, the couple visit `Census Land`.

Page 14
`Fireman Fred`

Page 15
`Sparky’s Puzzles`

Page 16
`Peter Piper`

Pages 17, 18 & 19
New story `Terry Had a Little Pig` What I do recall of this, was that it was very dull indeed!

Pages 20 & 21
`Big Klanky` Klanky has been sent to earth by his masters to aid humanity. He aids the Huggins family which is a start.

Page 22
`Winnie the Witch`

Page 23
`Cuckoo in the Clock`

Page 24
Top ¾ `Sparky`. Bottom ¼ of page is another preview of next weeks `Bizzy Buzzer` free gift and `Nine Hundred Years Ago` new story.

 Here is a list of the strip turnover / changes of the weeks of 10th and 17th September. For the first time a new `fun pal` strip was introduced in these changes, this was My Grockle and Me`. I am not totally certain of those strips being dropped the week previous of 3rd September 1966 as I don’t have the issue-yet! Educated guess will have to do for now!

New Strips Introduced, Issues 86 & 87, 10th & 17th September 1966.

In

`My Grockle and Me` (2 Pages)

`Willie the Woeful Wizard` (2 Pages)

`Terry Had a Little Pig` (2 Pages)

`Nine Hundred Years Ago` (2 Pages)

Out

`Boy in the Forest of Fear` (2 Pages)

`Balloon Family Robinson` (2 Pages)

`Huffy, Muffy and Tuffy` (2 Pages)

`Children of the Secret Pool` (2 Pages)
                                    

The `Willie the Woeful Wizard` strip was not especially unique as magic based stories were common in fun comics, but the artwork and plots were superb! Bill Mainwaering drew it to finely detailed precision, which complemented the surreal flavour of the storylines. I can honestly state, that in my opinion Bill Mainwaerings artwork on the `Willy` strip is the finest I have ever seen in any `fun` comic.

Willie worked for the king in the land of `Pom`. He carried out many varied tasks which presented readers with wonderfully innovative storylines. My favourite was the task for Willie to find `Old Tom’s Almanac`. For this, he had to climb an Indian rope to a land in the clouds in which a library set in the cloudbanks held the tome. Just wonderful!!

Characters such as the `With it Witch` (who played a modern day electric guitar) and `Genie Kelly` (only film musical buffs will catch on to the association of that name) inhabited his world. The local postman was called Jeepio (G.P.O).

Yes! I adored this strip with its delightfully bizarre nature and wrote my first letter to the comic in March 1967 saying how much I enjoyed it. The result being the following month (8th April 1967), issue No 116, was that the strip ended forever!! Ah well! So much for reader feedback!

The week of 10th September 1966 saw the introduction of another updated old fun strip I mentioned earlier; `My Grockle and Me`. Jimmy Johnson grew Grockle from an egg sent to him from an uncle in Africa. Grockle had an amazing appetite, even eating metallic objects, he even drank petrol with apparently no ill effects.

Grockle was prone to bouts of temper, often belching out flame when in a fit of pique. He was a loving pet to Jimmy and could be very helpful to him.

At the time I had no idea this was a contemporary version of the old `Rover` comic strip, `Jimmy Johnson’s Grockle`. It was a very enjoyable fun strip which ran to the big overhaul of September 1967, issue No 140. It featured some of artist George Drysale’s best work.

There other new adventure strip, more serious in tone titled `Nine Hundred Years Ago` commenced in issue No 87, 17th September. I am afraid it is a strip I barely recall, and I don’t think it ran more than about ten issues to about November 1966.

`Terry had a Little Pig` the last of the September 1966 intake was an awfully tedious affair indeed. Terry Hicks won a small pig at a garden fete (as you do!) the strip outlined his efforts to keep the pig a secret from his perceived, disapproving parents. I think this too ended in November 1966, and not a moment too soon!

Also in September 1966 the `Sparky Book 1967` was issued (all D.C Thomson annuals were dated for following year by mid 1960s). The Sparky books were actually compiled more than a year in advance of the year they came out which meant that in some years, particularly in the 1970 book, the strips in the books had ceased in the weekly comic more than a year before!

The fun animal based adventures strips such as `Wee Tusky` and `Kipper Feet` were represented in this first Sparky book, but the only one of the more serious in tone adventure strip to feature in it was `Floating Along, Singing a Song`. This was titled in the book `The Canal Kids` the name the children called their musical group in the comic strip.

The first Sparky book had 128 pages with 48 of them in full colour. It is not too common today, but isn’t as expensive as either the `Dandy` or `Beano` annuals 1967. The cover features the `Moonsters` brass band and is light blue in colour.

Here is the line up of the first Sparky book.

`The Canal Kids` (this was titled `Sailing Along, Singing a Song` in the comic)
`Sparky`
`Pansy Potter`
`Jeff Ye Jolly Jester`
`The Moonsters`
`Nosey Parker`
`Dotty Daydream` # (This was a non-comic story, only appearing in the Sparky book.)
`Freddie the Fearless Fly`
`Wee Tusky`
`Young Ben` # (text and another non-comic story)
`Winnie the Witch`
`The Slowdown Express`
`Minnie Ha-Ha`
`Keyhole Kate`
`Lonely Wood`
`Dolly Dimple` # (another non-comic strip)
`Hungry Horace`
`Kipper Feet`
`Peter Piper`
`McGinty the Goat`
`Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora`
`Joe Bann and his Big Banjo`
`Will O’ the Well` (text)
`Flubberface`
`Hockey Hannah`
`Cuckoo in the Clock`
`The Walk-About Wilsons` # (non-comic adventure strip)

The # sign by a strip means that the strip never featured in Sparky comic, only the book.

Back to the comic itself and in late 1966 a character that would have three series in Sparky circa 1966 to 1969, was introduced. This first outing was titled `Little Davey Spacer`. I am not certain, but I think it commenced in about November 1966.

The first two series were loosely based on Jonathan Swifts `Gulliver’s Travels` with Davey as a sci-fi Lemual Gulliver.

Davey West and his pet space dog `Puff` (Whose vocabulary was mostly based on the word “Boogle”) crash landed their ship on the asteroid `Astra`. Davey was captured by the six inch high Astrian populace, and as with Gulliver, he was secured to the ground by many ropes. Davey managed to free himself, and when it became clear he was friendly, the Astrian population befriended him.

Davey then helped the Astrians when they were invaded by `The Raiders from the Rim` (presumably the galactic rim!) The `Invaders` were human sized intelligent chicken-like creatures who were more prone to firing their ray guns rather than peaceful contact. The hostile creatures led by their cruel commander Oswan, set about capturing the Astrians. Davey though soon sorted those big chickens out! This first series ran to early 1967 and was very popular. I certainly enjoyed it a lot.

Issue No 88, 24th September 1966 saw `Dreamy Dave and Dozy Dora` bumped off the centre pages again (back to two B&W pages) to make way for the adaptation of Pegasus the winged horse titled `The Horse With Wings`

It was a fairly interesting and enjoyable strip. One episode featured a creature called a `Chimera` half lion, half dragon, which was quite a sight! It lasted to issue 106, 28th January 1967 and was drawn by Edward Drury.

1966 had been a struggle for sales with two lots of free gift, new story promotions.  The comic was looking rather archaic compared to the likes of `Wham` and `Smash` from rivals Odhams, and especially against City publications `T.V 21` offering. Even fellow stable mates `Dandy` and `Beano` seemed more contemporary in comparison.

1967 loomed ahead, would Sparky fare better?