Worzel Gummidge Monthly

Publisher: Marvel U.K.

Format: Monthly single story magazine

First Issue: Worzel Gummidge #1 (October 1981)

Last Issue: Worzel Gummidge #12 (July 1992)

Annuals and Specials: Worzel Gummidge Summer Special 1982

Absorbed: None

Absorbed into: None; relaunched as a weekly

Strips: Worzel Gummidge

Comments: Originally created by author Barbara Euphan Todd, living scarecrow Worzel Gummidge had been adapted to radio in the 1930s and television in the 1950s, but he'd largely fallen out of the general public's consciousness until a new TV series based on the stories and produced for Southern Television began airing on 25th February 1979. It starred Jon Pertwee, who only a few years prior had played the third Doctor on Doctor Who, with his love interest Aunt Sally played by Una Stubbs, probably better known to younger viewers these days as landlady Mrs Hudson in the BBC's Sherlock series, and his creator the Crowman portrayed by Geoffrey Bayldon, who had previously played the time-displaced wizard Catweazle. In April 1979 a comic strip based on the character debuted in Look-In, and, with it being common in the U.K. for the right to produce annuals being awarded separately from the rights to weekly comics, later that year Brown Watson launched the first Worzel Gummidge Annual while rival publisher Purnell also released a hardcover Worzel Gummidge Storybook based on the TV show; another rival publisher, Grandreams, would later publish some of the annuals.

   Despite the ongoing Worzel strip in Look-In (which would not end until September 1982), in October 1981 Marvel U.K. got an apparently non-exclusive license to produce comics for the character and launched a monthly Worzel Gummidge magazine. Stylistically, it was in a similar vein to Doctor Who Magazine, perhaps because Marvel UK creators believed that since Pertwee had also played the third Doctor they could entice the same readership to pick up their new title. Low sales indicated they had misjudged their target audience, and Worzel Gummidge was cancelled and replaced by a weekly  title aimed at a slightly younger readership.

   Though only titled Worzel Gummidge on the cover, the inside front page confirmed the full title to be Worzel Gummidge Monthly. Each issue carried around three short Worzel comic strips, as well as an illustrated Worzel text story, as well as behind the scenes features on the TV show, a Worzel-themed joke page and puzzles.Each issue also included removable posters in the centre of the magazine, the first issue's subject being Pertwee as Worzel and the second's being Stubbs as Aunt Sally.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Worzel Gummidge Monthly should not be confused with:

First Posted: Circa 13/10/2019
Last updated: 07/06/2023

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