The Bash Street Kids the 1985–87 "Simply Smiffy" (where he appears with his brother, Normal Norman). In 2008 he acquires a pet pebble, Kevin, who has his own feature ("Where's Kevin?") in "The Beano" number 3604. First appearing in a 2008 "Singled Out" story, Kevin appears in "Bash Street Kids" stories in 2010 and 2011. In the academy makeover Smiffy has a new brain installed, making him the brightest of the kids. Spotty, whose real name is James Jasper Cameron, is a short boy who wears a blue collared jersey and an extremely long, striped tie. He is proud and protective of the 976
The Bash Street Kids mortarboards and gowns and the students sit at wood desks with inkwells. They are taught by a stereotypical "Teacher", whose wife is "Mrs Teacher". The characters were inspired by the view from the D. C. Thomson & Co. office windows, overlooking the High School of Dundee playground. According to Leo Baxendale, "In fact, the catalyst for my creation of Bash Street was a Giles cartoon of January 1953: kids pouring out of school, heads flying off and sundry mayhems. Straight away, I pencilled a drawing of 'The Kids of Bash Street School' and posted it from my home in Preston