Krazy

Krazy was a short-lived British comic (79 issues) published weekly by IPC Magazines from October 1976 to April 1978, when it merged with the long-running Whizzer and Chips.

Billed as “a comic for kids only,” it featured an anarchic, unpredictable style heavily inspired by MAD Magazine.

The comic’s central strip featured The Krazy Gang, a mob of wacky kids including Liz, Sporty, Freaky, Brainy, and the mischievous Cheeky.

Their sworn enemy was Pongo Snodgrass, an unhygienic bully who later formed his own rival gang called The Stinkers.

The gang member Cheeky was spun off into his own comic – Cheeky Weekly –  in October 1977.

The new comic lasted until February 1980, when it was merged with Whoopee!

Other Krazy strips included:

• Buytonic Boy: A parody of The Six Million Dollar Man. Steve Ford was the 12½p Buytonic Boy.
• Birdman and Chicken: A Batman parody.
• Detective Fumbly’s (Nut) Case Book: A text-based detective story that usually featured a single illustration.
• Handy Andy: A boy whose hand-shadow creations would magically come to life.
• Hit Kid: A young boy who took revenge on bullies on behalf of smaller children.
• Krazy Look at TV: A recurring feature that mocked popular television programmes of the era.
• Micky Mimic: An “impressionist extraordinaire” who could mimic anyone or anything.
• Paws: A strip about a mischievous dog.
• Pongalongapongo: Featured the unhygienic antagonist Pongo Snodgrass and his rival group, The Stinkers.
• Ray Presto: A comedy strip about a clumsy boy magician.
• Scaredy Cat: A cowardly cat who was constantly terrified of mundane things.
• Fit Fred and Sick Sid: A classic “bully and weakling” duo.

Each issue of the comic featured a “cunning disguise” on the back page – such as a school exercise book, a newspaper, or a fake book spine – designed to help kids hide the comic from parents or teachers.