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Too easy overall, but I can't see how 20d fits with the theme, or is it missing a clue?

20d is thematic. It (or rather they) are recent.

Gawdelpus, I may have stumbled upon the same article you reference; one written by Doc to mark a 50th anniversary. Actually very interesting.

Ah, thanks. My bad. I printed off the puzzle in a rather faded black and white filter and then lightly crayoned in the shaded cells by hand for completeness. Bungled it on the yellows. No loss, just a red face :)

Poor old Octet and Smurf didn't get a look in ....

I know what the answer must be because I have the first 5 letters from either other answers or else the unclued theme but I can’t quite parse 4D:

Mist conceals last bits of deciduous trees (6)

4 letters ‘mist’, 2 letters ‘conceals last bits’

Oh, of course - thank you! Couldn’t see it, I was even trying to use ‘z’ for ‘last’…

20 Down, ?IRE. I have no idea and it is not mentioned in Doc’s article.

See puzzle 2705. It’s a collaboration. The answer (in Danish) is their number.

Where is the article by Doc to which you refer?