Seven

This short-lived British nursery comic was published by Gresham Juvenile Publications in 1971.

Unlike other comics which based their strips on existing material (often from television), Seven was full of completely new original characters – amongst them, Esmeralda the Happy Witch, Gerald the Giant and the Minifolk, Dream-a-day Daniel, Wispy the Scarecrow, Robin the Cobweb Gnome and Septimus Hedgehog – all conceived by top writers and artists.

Since the stories were intended to be semi-educational, each one was designed to entertain and instruct the young readers but never to frighten them.

Each 24-page issue also featured seven games – riddles, maze puddles, pictures to colour, jigsaw games, dice games, and counting puzzles – each designed to stretch a child’s mind and stimulate the powers of observation, creativity and ingenuity.

The comic was printed in full colour on good-quality paper and published each Monday. It cost 7½p.

When the title folded after only 16 issues, the character of Esmeralda the Happy WItch received her own comic, which lasted for 33 issues.

Regular strips included: