Yearly Archives: 2015

The Troubles of Tessa

Mandy

Plot

Tessa Blake’s brother John is crippled in a mine accident that also kills their father, and life gets tough for the Blakes. Tessa makes friends with Ruth Grayson, a rich crippled girl who wants to buy John’s paintings. Tessa discovers Ruth’s grandfather, Mr Grayson, owns the mine and also the woollen mill where she makes a hard living. Then Tessa and Mr Grayson discover that crooked managers have been stealing the money that Mr Grayson invested into both businesses for safe working conditions and proper machine maintenance.

Tessa

Notes

Appeared

  • The Troubles of Tessa –  Mandy: #671 (24 November 1979) – #681 (2 February 1980)

 

It’s a Dare!

Mandy

Plot

Kay Harper, a junior reporter at the Mexfield Weekly News, runs a feature called “It’s a Dare!”. Readers are invited to send in unusual or interesting challenges for Kay, and each dare accepted wins £10.00 for the reader.

Dare

Notes

  • Kay Harper first appeared in another Mandy journalism story, Wedding of the Week.

Appeared

  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #486 (08 May 1976) – #493 (26 June 1976)
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #499 (07 August 1976) – #503 (4 September 1976)
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #521 (08 January 1977)
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #599 (08 July 1978) – #602 (29 July 1978)
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #677 (05 January 1980)
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #681 (2 February 1980)
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #683 (16 February 1980)
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy: #685 (1 March 1980)

Other Appearances:

  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy Annual 1979
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy Annual 1981
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy Annual 1983
  • It’s a Dare! –  Mandy Annual 1986

 

The Girl with Flaxen Hair

Mandy, ,

Plot:

According to an old family curse, flaxen-haired Rosemary Polworth is not to see the second full moon after her thirteenth birthday. Rosemary does not believe it, but runs away rather than see her parents suffer on the night she is foretold to die. However, the parents send an agent out to find her, and he is not a pleasant type.

Flaxen

Notes:

Appeared:

  • The Girl with Flaxen Hair –  Mandy: #637 (31 March 1979) – #649 (23 June 1979)

 

The Farmer Wants a Wife

Mandy, ,

Plot

Sue (renamed Ann in the reprint) and Helen Harrow feel their widower father needs a new wife to help look after the family and farm. So they set out to find a suitable woman, without telling him, but are not having much success.

Notes

  • Reprinted and translated into Dutch as “En de boer die kiest een vrouw” (“And the Farmer Picks a Wife”) – Groot Tina Vakantieboek #2/1980

Appeared

  • The Farmer Wants a Wife – Mandy: #314 (20 January 1973) – #327 (21 April 1973)
  • Reprinted –  Mandy: #639 (14 April 1979) – #652 (14 July 1979)

 

Judy’s Joker

Mandy, ,

Plot

Judy Foster, an English orphan, goes to live with her relatives in the American state of Wyoming. The local people scoff at Judy because of her English ways, and even more so when she buys an odd-looking horse called Joker. Judy is sure that she and Joker can make her uncle’s farm prosperous. Judy and Joker make a great team in turning the tables on Jackson, who is giving trouble because he wants no competition.Joker

Notes

  • Writer: Maureen Hartley

Appeared

  • Judy’s Joker –  Mandy: #636 (24 March 1979) – #646 (02 June 1979)

 

Parents Wanted!

Mandy,

Plot:

The Jonson children advertise for foster parents when their parents’ marriage fails and the mother is hospitalised with a nervous breakdown. There are plenty of replies, but none of the applicants seem to work out.

Parents

Notes:

  • Reprinted and translated into Dutch (as “Ouders gezocht”) –  Debbie #26 (1981).

Appeared:

  • Parents Wanted!–  Mandy: #633 (03 March 1979) – #644 (19 May 1979)