BUT WHERE DID MICKY GO...?

Frankie Stein's 1st appearance in Wham! # 4

FRANKIE STEIN, drawn by KEN REID, first appeared in issue #4 of LEO BAXENDALE's WHAM! on July 3rd, 1964. (Issue dated 10th.) The comic was intended as a 'SUPER-BEANO' by publishers ODHAMS PRESS, to be a direct rival to DC THOMSON's then twenty-six year old companion to THE DANDY.

Wham! only lasted for about three and a half years, so measured against the longevity of the Beano, plus its own aspirations, it must be considered a failure; although, truth to tell, it no doubt made its money back - and then some - for Odhams. FRANKIE STEIN, on the other hand, managed a respectably long run in one form or another, especially in the later ROBERT NIXON incarnation of the '70s.

After Wham! ended, Frankie (sans Professor Cube's son, Micky) popped up again in SHIVER & SHAKE in 1973, moving to WHOOPEE! when the two titles merged in 1974. He also appeared in MONSTER FUN COMIC in 1975, as well as eight HOLIDAY SPECIALS (1975 - 1982) devoted to himself - and a couple of softcover annuals (1976 & 1977). He continued to appear in reprinted form in various publications by IPC/FLEETWAY/EGMONT in the late '80s and early '90s, before finally succumbing to the oblivion that had engulfed his birth-comic back in early 1968.

Although the Bob Nixon version had its own charm for a new audience, nothing could really compare to the original Ken Reid Frankie of the '60s - utter comic lunacy at its very best.

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SPECIAL BONUS: Feast your eyes on this photo of an original piece of Ken Reid Frankie Stein art, first published in Wham! #134, December 31st, 1966. (Issue dated January 7th, 1967.)