Richie Wraggs
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Richie Wraggs is a fictional comic strip character in the British comic Jackpot. He appears with his black cat Lucky.[1]
Wraggs has similarities to IPC's 'Bumpkin Billionaires Comic Strip' and was drawn by the same artist, Mike Lacey.[2] Starting from Jackpot Comics' first issue, dated 5 May 1979,[3] he appeared weekly for almost three years until issue 140 was released on 30 January 1982. He was featured on the cover of many early issues, and his character remained in the comic strip until the penultimate issue. Richie Wraggs and Lucky's last full cover appearance was on issue 67.[4]
In the first issue, Richie is kicked out of the village school in "Little Drudgebury" by the teacher after bringing a smelly cheese into class. He leaves with the words, "C'mon Lucky - we'll seek our fortune in the big wide world." Often, he is rewarded in each issue with a £5 note or a large meal. In issue 137, [5] Richie is rewarded with a £10 note for lending his candle to a man whose lock had frozen on a freezing day. The two friends are able to spend the night in a posh hotel watching TV and keeping warm in bed under an electric blanket with hot drinks and central heating. Sometimes Richie or Lucky do find jobs. In issue 138,[6] he applies for a job as an odd-job person at a theatre, however, he walks onto the stage during a pantomime performance so does not get the job. They reward him for getting the biggest laugh of the season and a cheer from the audience. He has enough for a meal and fish for Lucky at Restaurant de Posh. In issue 140, Richie and Lucky hide in an old barn with some cows to shelter from the rain.
Richie's longevity was due to the readers' votes for 'Top 10 Comic Strips,' where his character was voted fourth top strip by the readers in issue 11 [7] and ninth most popular strip by the readers in issue 19.[8] Richie continued to be consistently voted as a top comic strip. He was voted ninth most popular strip by the readers in issue 96,[9] 10th most popular strip by the readers in issue 116,[10] and fifth most popular strip by the readers in issue 124.[11] Finally, in the last printed Jackpot readers' top 10, he was voted eighth most popular in issue 134.[12]
Richie was also featured in some of the Jackpot Annuals and the 1981 and 1982 "Jackpot Summer Specials." Two new comic strips drawn by Mike Lacey[13] were also in the 1982 Jackpot Special.[14] These were printed after the merger with Buster Comic. In the first story, Lucky hurts his paw on a diamond ring, and upon its return, the happy owner gives Richie a £20 note. The second and last new story showed Richie and Lucky sheltering under a Café umbrella and receiving an uneaten meal left behind by a large coach tour that had to leave quickly. Richie's last words were, "Well, Lucky, are you going to apologize?" Lucky replied, "Mumble... chew... certainly... when my mouth's empty!"
References
[edit]- ^ "Fleetway St - Richie Wraggs". www.toonhound.com. Archived from the original on 19 October 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ "Comiclopedia - artists" http://www.lambiek.net/artists/l/lacey_mike.htm Archived 2 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Jackpot issue 1, 5 May 1979". Printed and distributed by IPC magazines in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Malaysia
- ^ "Jackpot issue 67, 30 August 1982."
- ^ "Jackpot issue 137, 2 January 1982."
- ^ "Jackpot issue 138, 9 January 1982."
- ^ "Jackpot issue # 11. Cover dated 14 July 1979."
- ^ "Jackpot issue # 19". Cover dated 8 September 1979.
- ^ "Jackpot issue # 96". Cover dated 21 March 1981.
- ^ "Jackpot issue # 116".
- ^ "Jackpot issue # 124". Cover dated 3 October 1981.
- ^ "Jackpot issue # 134". Cover dated 12 December 1979.
- ^ "Book Palace" http://www.bookpalace.com/acatalog/Home_Mike_Lacey.html Archived 19 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Jackpot Special 1982." Printed and distributed by IPC Summer 1982