I may have covered the first in this series of giant tomes last Christmas but as a kid this volume was the first time I discovered Big Comic. This book would also lead to the release of Big Comic Fortnightly in June 1988 which I also collected for a couple of years. Christmas 1987 was the first year I received my own comic annuals and I’ll admit it was a while before I read this that festive season because I’d also received The OiNK! Book 1988! Eventually I sat down with what felt like a humongous read at that age and got stuck in.
Once again it sticks to IPC Magazine‘s (taken over by Fleetway Publications) Buster, Whizzer and Chips and Whoopee comics but it was all brand new to me. I’d been collecting OiNK for over a year by this point, a title that often took the hand out of these older comics. However, Big Comic Book 1988 contained a feast of goodies and plenty were still hitting the mark, producing enough smiles for me to see it all the way to the end over the New Year. There’s definitely a marked improvement over the choice of strips compared to last year’s book. With the hindsight of reading this in 2023 more of it holds up to the passage of time too.
I’d say let’s dive right in but that might be too on the nose given my first highlight. Yes, it’s the same as last year and probably will be again next year. Gums was always a favourite in these books and the fortnightly comic, so chances were John Geering‘s strip from Monster Fun and Buster was always going to get included here. Like last year (and as with other characters) he’s in the book several times but this one stood out for me. As obsessed with sharks as I am I’m used to documentaries, books or even Instagram accounts detailing how preparations are made behind the camera when filming these wonderful creatures, but we humans aren’t the only ones who have preparations to make.
What a fun start! Another character I always enjoyed was Toy Boy from the late, great Terry Bave. Appearing originally in Whoopee then Buster from 1985 onwards, it surprises me to find out we never knew his name. Obsessed with playthings of any kind whatsoever he’d often frustrate his well-meaning parents when toys got in the way of their day-to-day lives, or his playing about stopped him from doing something important. Sometimes the toys would help though, so we never knew how the strip was going to go.
OiNK writer Graham Exton wasn’t exactly a big fan of “that bloody snake”
Such is the case with this next highlight. Terry’s art style is just lovely and instantly recognisable from the round faces of all his characters. It’s sad to think he’s no longer with us. He was also one of the few whose signature appeared in these comics at a time when this was frowned upon by the publishers.
OiNK writer Graham Exton wasn’t exactly a big fan of writing for this next character (“That bloody snake”). According to Graham and others I’ve spoken to, Sid’s Snake was often used by the Whizzer & Chips editors as a testing ground for new writers. It was assigned to them to prove their capabilities and hone their skills before moving on to other characters or comics. Drawn by the renowned Mike Lacey, whose work I particularly loved from the covers of each issue of Funny Fortnightly (reprints of his Krazy covers), Sid’s Snake could be very hit and miss.
This could be because the writer kept changing, or maybe it’s simply a difficult idea to get a consistent gag out of. What it always was though, was simple, inoffensive fun and at least in this instance very definitely smile-worthy. I can remember very little from the character in the pages of Big Comic Fortnightly, so this one stood out as something a bit more memorable and funnier than usual.
Another Mike Lacey highlight is up next in the form of Shiner, also from the pages of Whizzer & Chips, first appearing way back in the second issue. However, even being the leader of the Chip-ites (the characters from the inner ‘Chips’ part of the comic) wasn’t enough to see him move to the pages of Buster when his comic folded in 1990. Shiner was an amateur boxer whose mother disapproved of his interest and she was constantly trying to stop her son from getting injured.
That doesn’t sound like a bad thing and it’s why I particularly liked this entry in the series. In this story he would’ve gotten away with it but ends up in a rather worse state than he was in the first place, and all thanks to his mum! Elsewhere on the blog make sure you check out a clever and very funny Buster strip written by Mark Bennington and drawn by Mike in one of the first issues after the OiNK merge.
X-Ray Specs used to be a favourite of mine in the regular reprint comic. He stood out for a couple of reasons. The first was the most obvious: those glasses. These were the unique selling point for the character; a pair of super-powered glasses which could see through anything, although somehow used to various levels of strength. For example, sometimes he used them to see through whole walls, sometimes just the contents of a person’s pockets.
These were paired up with a character who could use them for feel good endings like catching burglars and cheats etc. but also for his own selfish reasons, which was always funny. In the hands of a lesser creative team it could easily have become a very predictable strip but Ray could often surprise us. Below is a good example of what drew me to his pages before many others in these books. Once more we’ve got some Mike Lacey art to enjoy too.
My next choice is a character who appeared in the very first edition of Cheeky Weekly, later making the move to Whoopee! She was drawn by a favourite OiNK contributor, fellow Northern Ireland native Ian Knox (Roger Rental, He’s Completely Mental). Robot Granny was a state-of-the-art mechanical person originally crafted in top secret by a mysterious team of inventors. However, people were quite scared of how it looked, so in order to keep it secret and fit in with humans it was disguised as a little old lady. The strip started life as ‘Six Million Dollar Gran‘ so no prizes for guessing the influence here.
It was later renamed again as Gran’s Gang, however here the reprints are from the middle years of the strip and tell the tales of how this seemingly innocent and quiet retiree is just trying to fit in with her much younger friends. I’ve yet to read any of her stories that don’t raise a big smile. That might be because she somehow reminds me of my own late nanny, who always seemed to have so much more energy than all of us kids when we were younger. The strip may be far-fetched but it rekindled some lovely personal memories and that’s another reason I’m including her here.
Granny’s stablemate from Cheeky Weekly and Whoopee! comics, Mustapha Mi££ion also has a handful of strips in this book. He made a further transition to Whizzer & Chips too when Whoopee! folded, such was his popularity. Having discovered oil, making him and his father extremely wealthy, his dad sent him to the UK for his education and supplied him with a mansion, land and staff to keep him occupied. Originally drawn by the legendary Reg Partlett, the early stories had him desperately trying to fit in and often misinterpreting the needs of others, going far beyond what was actually needed because he had the wealth to do so.
Joe McCaffrey soon took over and his strips are reprinted here. In these stories Mustapha was the opposite of all the filthy rich kids we’d normally find in our comics; he was kind hearted, playful and would do anything for his friends. I do mean anything. Nothing was too much for this young boy as far as treating his friends was concerned. Most importantly, it never felt like they were taking advantage of him; they were always shown enjoying his company whether he was being extravagant or not. But of course the strip had to have the indulgence, that was the whole point and in the McCaffrey years it was all about Mustapha simply having fun.
After he moved to Whizzer & Chips, Frank McDiarmid took over and apparently (I’ve never read them) there wasn’t always a happy ending. From what I’ve found out, sometimes Mustapha would do things with his wealth that would annoy his friends at the end of the stories, but for me the boy in the strip above is the one I know and love to this day.
The final selection from the 1988 book I have for you took two strips with two main characters each and merged them together into the mouthful of (deep breath) Ivor Lott and Tony Broke with Milly O’Naire and Penny Less. The two male characters started off in the pages of Cor! comic, eventually making the shift into Buster (everyone seemed to at some stage), while the two young ladies ended up in the same comic after making the transition from Jackpot in 1982. The girls may have left again in 1987 but Ivor and Tony stayed put and would cling on all the way through to the final Buster in the year 2000. Despite the final years being all reprint material, that’s still an incredible 30 year lifespan for their strip.
It looks the part on any book shelf rather than a pile of comics in a cupboard somewhere
Originally brought to the page by Reg Partlett, it was Sid Burgon who nurtured them throughout the years and it’s his work you can see below. When reading up on these characters I was surprised to find out they started off very differently. Originally Tony Broke was a very bitter young boy and Ivor Lott would get away with all manner of mischief simply thanks to having lots of money. That doesn’t feel right to me so I’m happy they changed into the characters we have here, where Ivor would come a cropper from showing off his spoilt lifestyle, while upbeat and lovable Tony would always show us that money can’t buy happiness.
This particular strip of theirs stood out for inclusion on this blog. I’ll leave it up to you to figure out why.
I know there are an awful lot of characters I haven’t featured but there’s simply not enough space to show them all. I was able to pick up this huge book on eBay for about a fiver and that can only be described as a bargain. The 1988 book seems to pop up the most so you shouldn’t really have any difficulties in tracking it down. While last year’s book was really enjoyable I’d opt for this one over it. It feels like a more considered selection, the strips complimenting each other that little bit better. Or it could be because I’ve a personal fondness for this volume.
Whatever the reason for my recommendation it’s a great book and reads well even today. For a ‘Best Of’ collection of some classic comics you can’t do better than this one. 256 pages with an impressive hardback cover, it also looks the part on any book shelf rather than a pile of comics in a cupboard somewhere. Whether it’s for yourself or as a perfect surprise gift for a comics fan in your life, you really should check out The Big Comic Book 1988.
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