January 4, 2026 - Starting in today's Sunday Express is the delightful Freddie Chaplain story "Rupert and the Penguins'', illustrated by Alex Cubie. The story first appeared in the newspaper on Wednesday June 22nd 1966, running until Tuesday August 2nd. The Daily & Sunday Express gave the Penguins Story a second newspaper reprint, beginning on Sunday October 28th 2007 with the four added illustrations included from the Annual. This run is the story's third newspaper outing. The text has differed each time it has been reprinted, making all the stories extremely collectable to Followers.
The story received its full colour outing as the opening story of the 1979 Annual. An extra four illustrations were created at the end of the story, bringing it up to 38 episodes from the original 36. It also appeared in Rupert Weekly dated August 22nd 1984 in Issue 97, with just two panels featured on page 5.The story ran to Issue 100 on Sept 15th 1984. Rupert Fortnightly Issue Number 4 available on November 29th 1989 also featured the Rupert and the Penguins Story.
The story features the only appearance of the Explorer Captain Chubb, the Imps of Spring, along with Podgy and his cousin Rosalie. Captain Chubb obviously didn't need any planning permission for his Penguin Pool from Nutwood Council back in the mid 60's.
Written by Rod M. Prescott
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- Rupert Annual 1979
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- Rupert Weekly issue 97
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- Rupert Fortnightly Issue Number 4
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- 2006 Newspaper
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- 2026 Newspaper
