TWO COMICS In ONE - DOUBLE The FUN?

Images copyright D.C. THOMSON & Co., Ltd

It had worked for WHIZZER & CHIPS for 21 years over at rival publishers FLEETWAY/IPC - so why not for D.C. THOMSON's two declining weeklies from the 1950s, The BEEZER and The TOPPER?  The only real difference being, of course, that Whizzer & Chips had only ever been one comic (despite the cover claim), whereas Beezer and Topper were two distinct publications.  However, the decision was passed down from on high - henceforth the two comics would become one - with both logos sharing almost equal prominence on the cover.

The Beezer started life as a tabloid-sized comic in 1956, the first issue being cover-dated January 21st, whereas The Topper had preceded it by three years, the first issue being cover-dated February 7th, 1953.  The latter was likewise tabloid-sized, switching to A4 size in 1980, with the former following suit in '81.  The combined result in 1990 managed to survive for three years before some of the most popular strips were split between The BEANO and The DANDY.

Here, then, is selection of some of the colour strips from the first combined issue (cover-dated September 22nd, 1990) of two once- great classic comics.  Hard to believe it's nearly 20 years since it disappeared from newsagents' shelves.  Tempus fugit.