Sid Burgon joined Fleetway in 1970, where he illustrated several comic strips such as Bookworm, Lolly Pop and Ivor Lott and Tony Broke. In 1989, he began working with DC Thomson, contributing to a revival of Biffo the Bear in The Beano and creating Adrian the Barbarian for The Beezer.
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Burgon’s deceptively simple style was, without doubt, a firm favourite of mine, and alongside Schulz’s Peanuts it shaped much of my early scribblings as a kid. Even now, my own cartoons look suspiciously like a mash‑up of Joker and Charlie Brown — though I’d never dare claim to be in their league!
Joker was possibly Sid Burgon's most popular creation, first appearing in the debut issue of Knockout in 1971 and surviving the merge with Whizzer and Chips in 1973. Joker appeared throughout the complete run of Whizzer and Chips and, when that folded Joker lived on in Buster until it's close in 2000.
JANUARY 1983
MARCH 1981
Poor Archie — stuck living like a pauper while his dad, Lolly Pop, swims in riches. Each strip kicked off with Archie asking for some basic necessity, only to be brushed off, mocked, or flat‑out refused. Cue Archie wandering off, accidentally unleashing chaos on one of Pop’s businesses, and ending up with not just what he asked for, but a whole lot more.
This popular strip began life in 1973 in the pages of Shiver & Shake, moving onto Whoopee and finally Whizzer and Chips. Before Sid took over the strip permanently, drawing duties were shared with Reg Parlett and Robert Nixon
Lolly Pop from Whoopee Holiday Special 1983. The final scenes of carnage were always pretty spectacular!
This special "cut-out mini-book" from the pages of Whoopee shows Archie now all grown up and announcing his impending marriage. Even true love is not enough to soften the heart of miserly old Lolly Pop!
BIFFO THE BEAR
I was never a fan of Biffo. He looked weird - scary even... and as for his baby-faced sidekick! No thank you. That was until Sid Burgon took over the reins. Side-kick gone, Biffo so cute you'd want to give him a big cuddle and no words needed.
THE BEST OF BURGON
Sid Burgon created or took on far too strips to put examples of all here, so here's a selection of what I consider to be his best. Add to these Handy Andy, Bully Beef & Chips, School Funds, Keyhole Kate, The Haunted Wood, The Invisible Monster... the list never ends!
To round off the page we have a selection of bits and pieces of Burgon genius from across the range of comics. Comic covers, little reminders to get down to your newsagent and order your copy of your favourite titles, full colour posters, and examples of when Burgon took on characters made famous by other artists - Dennis the Menace, Frankie Stein, Minnie the Minx and more.
​Even when the fabulous Krazy comic was to merge with Whizzer and Chips it was left to Sid Burgon to break the news to the readers.
The icing on the cake must be the colourful seaside poster from the 1987 Whoopee Holiday Special featuring Lolly Pop, Supermum, Smiler and the whole Whoopee gang! How many do you remember?
Even Cheeky got the Burgon Treatment!