Tag Archives: Fraud

No Joy for Jenny / “Is Bob My Brother?”

Emma, Mandy, , ,

Plot:

Jenny Selby (Ruth in the reprint) is overjoyed when her brother John (Bob in the reprint) returns after being considered lost on a climbing expedition in the Himalayas. Then she begins to suspect the man is an impostor who is after the money John/Bob is set to inherit on his 21st birthday. When her suspicions become apparent, the man sends her away to boarding school. Jenny/Ruth returns secretly and, with the help of her dog Dirk, finds a sick man in a dingy room whom she is sure is her real brother. But the man does not claim to be John/Bob or recognise Jenny/Ruth.

Bob

Notes:

  • Artist: Julio Vivas (Also referenced elsewhere as Julian)
  • The story first appeared in Emma with the title “No Joy for Jenny” later it was reprinted with both Jenny and her brother renamed and a new title “Is Bob My Brother?”.
  • Translated into Dutch as “Jannie” and published in Groot Tina Herfstboek #3/1980.

Appeared:

  • No Joy for Jenny – Emma: #56 (17 March 1979) – #65 (19 May 1979)
  • Reprinted as “Is Bob My Brother?” –  Mandy: #927 (20 Oct. 1984) – #936 (22 Dec. 1984)

 

Poison Penny (1977)

Spellbound, , , ,

Plot

Harrow Hall Boarding School is a miserable place because every pupil is intimidated by Penny Benson, a girl who bullies and frightens them with claims of supernatural powers. Sandra Main is the only one who stands up to Penny and begins to suspect she is just a clever fraud.

Penny

Notes

  • Artist: Carlos Freixas
  • Not to be confused with the Nikki story of the same name Poison Penny [1987]

Appeared

  • Poison Penny – Spellbound: #16 (08 January 1977) – #26 (19 March 1977)

  • Reprint – Mandy: #900 (14 April 1984) – #910 (23 June 1984)

 

The Double Life of Coppelia Brown / The Double Life of Dolly Brown

M&J, Mandy, , , , , , ,

Plot

In Victorian times, the Grimbys blackmail Dolly Brown into a fraudulent act in a travelling fair, where she has to pretend to be a life-size doll. When Dolly is not playing the doll, the Grimbys use her as a half-starved slave. The Grimbys keep Dolly enslaved with a story and poster (only partly intact) that she is wanted by the police. Dolly has lost her memory, so she has no idea what happened there.

Dolly

Notes

Appeared

  • The Double Life of Coppelia Brown – Mandy: #128 (28 Jun 1969) – #138 (06 September 1969)
  • Reprinted as The Double Life of Dolly Brown – Mandy: #482 (10 April 1976) – #492 (19 August 1976)
  • Reprinted as The Double Life of Coppelia Brown -Mandy #818 (18 September 1982) – #828 (27 November 1982)
  • Reprinted as The Double Life of Dolly Brown – Mandy #1188 (21 October 1989) – #1198 (30 December 1989)
  • Reprinted as The Double Life of Dolly Brown(as Mandy Classic) – M&J:  #297 (18 January 1997) – #307 (29 March 1997)

Sheila the Sham

Tracy, , , ,

Plot

Sheila Ward and her younger brother and sister have lived in a children’s home since they were orphaned. When Sheila becomes deaf after an accident, their hitherto disinterested aunt and uncle suddenly take an interest in them. This is because they are after Sheila’s compensation money. So when Sheila’s hearing returns, her guardians blackmail her into pretending to still be deaf.

Sheila.jpg

Notes

Appeared

  • Sheila the Sham – Tracy: #135 (1 May 1982) – #150 (14 August 1982)

Meg and the Magic Robot

Tracy, , , , , , , ,

Plot

In 1925, Syd and Maud Weston force their niece Meg to fake being a Magic Robot. Meg goes along with the fraud because she thinks her uncle is sending money to pay for her brother Tommy’s treatment at a clinic in Switzerland. But the truth is that Uncle Syd is pocketing the money and Tommy is in the care of an old woman in the vicinity.

Meg.jpg

Notes

  • Artist: Rodney Sutton

Appeared

  • Meg and the Magic Robot – Tracy: #142 (19 June 1982) –  #151 (21 August 1982)

Ballerina on a String

Bunty, , , , ,

Plot:

When Jenny Lane realised she was not wanted by her aunt and uncle, she ran away and got a job in a marionette theatre as Sugar Plum, the ballerina puppet.  Someone else at the circus had guessed Jenny’s secret and wanted to help her continue her ballet training, but she could only guess at her mystery friend’s identity.

Ballerina On A String

Notes:

  • Artist: A.E. Allen

Appeared:

  • Ballerina On A String –  Bunty:  #1105 (17 March 1979) – #1119 (23 June 1979)