The Mergers

THE MERGERS

The last issue of Adventure (1878) was published January 14th 1961, when it was merged with The Rover.

Hornet, Valiant & Victor were published in the 1960’s these publication’s featured the story paper heroes like Alf Tupper, Braddock, The Wolf of Kabul & V for Vengeance in picture strips.

The last issue of The Hotspur (1878) was published January 14th 1961, when it was merged with The Rover.

The New Hotspur was launched October 24th 1959 and contained picture stories.

There were several mergers with this publication inc: The Hotspur and Hornet 1976, Victor and Hotspur 1979, Hotspur and Crunch 1980, and the final demise January 24th 1981 with issue 1110, when it was incorporated with The Victor.

The Rover was merged with Adventure and the first issue of Rover and Adventure was issued the following week January 21st 1961, the title ran to 142 issues before reverting to The Rover October 12th 1963 and then merging with The Wizard issue 148 November 16th 1963.

Rover and Wizard was published the following week November 23rd 1963 and again it reverted back to The Rover with issue 448 August 16th 1969 and so after nearly 51 years, January 13th 1973 saw the last issue of The Rover with issue 626.

The last issue of The Wizard (1970) was published November 16th 1963, when it merged with The Rover to form the Rover and Wizard.

A new publication The Wizard was launched February 14th 1970 this ran to 435 issues, with the last issue June 10th

1978.

Below are some of the characters featured:

There were old favourites like:

BRADDOCK, THE WOLF OF KABUL, BERNARD BRIGGS, MORGYN THE MIGHTY, THE WONDER MAN, WILLIAM WILSON.

With new characters:

BLACK SAPPER, KING COBRA, RED STAR ROBINSON, FLASH HARRY, KATO.

And the stories:

HUNTER’S WAR, THE BLACK SAPPER, PHANTOM OF THE STADIUM

AND THE COMPLETE STORIES.

A SELECTION OF COVERS

Rover and Adventure

The Rover

Hotspur

568

Hotspur

616

October 21st

1961

May 22nd

1971

September 5th

1970

August 7th

1971

The New Hotspur

Wizard and Rover

The Wizard

August 27th

1960

January 27th

1973

September 7th

1973

October 27th

1973

Rover and Wizard

Hotspur

924

Wizard

Hotspur and Crunch

1086

December 28th

1968

July 2nd

1977

October 22nd

1977

August 9th

1980

Following are a selection of stories featured:

THE YELLOW JERSEY:

Cycling story with mystery rider Tom Tetford.

Click here to read the first episode of ‘The Yellow Jersey.

THE WOLF OF KABUL:

Along the untamed North-West Frontier of India two dauntless men were famed, even among the brave, for their bravery.

Click here to read the first episode of The Wolf of Kabul.

THE WORLD’S SPELLING CHAMPION:

Schoolmaster, Bartholomew Bandy, can spell every word in the English language correctly. Fairground promoter, Tich Kelly, plans to make a fortune out of Bartholomew.

Click here to read the first episode of The World’s Spelling Champion.

THE SECRET WAR OF H.M.S. WADDLING DUCK:

Lieutenant-Commander Radstock takes H.M.S. Thunderer (Waddling Duck), a First World War monitor ship, into battle against German U-boats during the Second World War.

Click here to read the first episode of The Secret War of H.M.S. Waddling Duck.

THE GOLD BADGE OF COURAGE:

The story of Harry Clint, whose aim is to wear the badge of Britain’s toughest fighting men – THE ROYAL MARINES!

Click here to read the first episode of The Gold Badge of Courage.

Vic Whittle 2007