(MAIN HOMEPAGE)

 

The Rover was the second of the ‘Big Five’, first published March 4th 1922 it ran to 1855 issues, with the last issue (1855) January 14th 1961.

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.

 

Below are some of the characters featured in The Rover:

ALF TUPPER,  MATT BRADDOCK, KID LAINE, MORGYN THE MIGHTY, NICK SMITH, TELEGRAPH TIM,  THE WONDER MAN,  THICK-EAR DONOVAN,  NICKEL, THE ROBOT BOY, WALLY BRAND.

 

And the stories:

THE BIG TREE, PONY EXPRESS, V FOR VENGEANCE, I FLEW WITH BRADDOCK, THE TOUGH OF THE TRACK, THE DIXIE DRUMMER, THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER, THE BARROW BOY FROM MARS, THE BIG FELLOW, THE ‘TEC NOBODY KNOWS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A SELECTION OF THE ROVER COVERS

 

 

5

9

10

20

24

 

April 1st

1922

April 29th

1922

May 6th

1922

July 15th

1922

August 12th

1922

 

 

28

36

40

42

53

 

September 9th

1922

November 4th

1922

December 2nd

1922

December 16th

1922

January 13th

1923

 

 

563

1047

1131

1152

1246

 

September 16th

1933

December 26th

1942

March 16th

1946

December 21st

1946

May 14th

1949

 

 

1251

1269

1272

1323

1410

 

June 18th

1922

October 22nd

1949

November 12th

1949

November 4th

1950

July 5th

1952

 

 

1542

1704

1712

1714

1726

 

January 15th

1955

February 22nd

1958

April 19th

1958

May 3rd

1958

July 26th

1958

 

 

1732

1736

1740

1791

1855

 

September 6th

1958

October 4th

1958

November 1st

1958

October 24th

1959

January 14th

1961

 

SCHOOL BADGES

 

 

SCHOOL BADGES

first appeared on the front cover of: ‘THE ROVER’ October 21st 1950

and later the back cover of ‘ROVER AND ADVENTURE’

 

I have checked my collection of comics and formulated a list.

If you have any information you wish to add please email me.

And between us we could compile a comprehensive list.

 

 

1400

April 26th 1952

Maybe your School/College is listed. To check out the list Click here

1439

January 24th 1953

 

 

 

 

 

The Rover Title List 1948 - 1961

The Rover and Adventure Title List 1961 - 1963

The Rover and Wizard Title List 1963 - 1969

Following are a selection of stories featured in THE ROVER:

ADVENTURE STORIES

THE ARMY OF THE FLAMES:

Read about the R.A.F. of the future, its wonder pilots and the amazing aircraft they use in their death – or glory battle against an enemy that threatens to obliterate the earth from 5000 miles away in space!

 

Click here to read the first double episode of The Army of the Flames.

 

THE BLUE FLASH:

A man could freeze to death on a trouble-shooting job. “Sparks” Hendrie knew that, none better.

This first episode appeared in the Rover in 1949.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Blue Flash.

 

THE DUEL OF THE GIANTS:

Two giants of the iron road fight a tremendous duel to decide a “war” between rival railway companies.

This complete story appeared in the Rover in 1957.

 

Click here to read The Duel of the Giants.

 

EXPERIMENT “X”:

British scientists are preparing to explore new worlds with the help of rockets, but a strange and sinister peril threatens their project.

This first episode appeared in the Rover in 1949.

 

Click here to read the first episode of Experiment “X”.

 

THE FLOATING THING:

Where did this thing come from? What nameless horrors did it contain?

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Floating Thing.

 

THE FRIGHTENED YEAR OF THE FIREFLIES:

Britain is under attack from an Eastern power launching “Fireflies” (nuclear rockets).

Britain is protected from this menace by an invisible umbrella.

 

Click here to read the last episode of The Frightened Year of the Fireflies.

 

GIPSY JEM OF THE BOW STREET RUNNERS:

One man stood between Jem Hawthorn, the gipsy, and the Championship of England. That was the champion himself, the famous Ned Crabb.

 

Click here to read the last episode of Gipsy Jem of the Bow Street Runners.

 

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.

 

KEEPER OF THE BRANDS:

A masked stranger appoints himself guardian of the book that Old Memory Mason has died for!

This first episode appeared in the Rover in 1951.

 

Click here to read the first episode of Keeper of the Brands.

 

THE LAST DAYS OF THE GUNMAN:

The final reckoning between Wal Loader and the killer, J.A. Slade.

This story appeared in the Rover in 1951.

 

Click here to read the first  and last episodes of The Last Days of a Gunman.

 

MORGYN THE MIGHTY:

The exploits of the world’s strongest man on an island of terror!

 

Click here to read the first episode of Morgyn the Mighty.

 

SIX MEN HEAR THE WHISPER:

The thrilling story of six men with a strange mission and their only guide is an unknown voice!

With Morgyn the Mighty.

 

Click here to read the first episode of Six men hear the whisper.

 

THE MOUNTAIN MOVED:

Slim Garson investigates the mysterious mountain overlooking the Welsh mining village of Pontwyd.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Mountain Moved.

 

THE 99 DEADLY DAYS:

The Planet Earth is attacked by a strange ray emanating from Nimbis; this ray causes the Ice Caps of the world to melt. Scientists have 99 days to save Earth from destruction.

 

Click here to read the last episode of The 99 Deadly Days.

 

THE PERILOUS DAYS OF THE BLACK CLOUD:

A new horror for the South Coast of England—a cloud that leaves blindness in its wake.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Perilous Days of the Black Cloud.

 

PONY EXPRESS:

An epic story of the pony express and two bitter rivals, J.A. Slade & Wal Loader, who set aside their feud, to get the mails through.

 

Click here to read the first episode (first series) of Pony Express.

 

Click here to read the last episode (first series) of Pony Express.

 

THE PUZZLE OF THE PURPLE SAND:

Shortly after the start of the war, a British agent working in a German laboratory discovered a purple sand which he suspected the Germans were using to manufacture an explosive of an atomic nature which could win the war.

 

Click here to read the last episode of The Puzzle of the Purple Sand.

 

THE ‘TEC NOBODY KNOWS:

John Martin was a member of the Scotland Yard Ghost Squad and the greatest authority on missing persons in the country.

 

Click here to read a complete episode of The ‘Tec Nobody Knows.

 

TELEGRAPH TIM:

Read an episode about No. 229 Timothy B. Grimm, boy messenger.

 

Click here to read the first episode of Telegraph Tim.

 

THE WONDER MAN:

What lies below Britain.

Follow the amazing adventures of H.K. Rodd as he sets out to answer that intriguing question!

This first episode (Fourth Series) appeared in the Rover in 1950.

 

Click here to read this episode of The Wonder Man.

 

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.

SCHOOL STORIES

THE SCHOOL BEHIND THE HIGH WALL:

Wrongly accused David Garfield is sentenced to a term in Ashfield Approved School and uses his time to prove his innocence. A follow up to this story entitled “His Number’s 99” concerned troublemaker Jim Hawkins.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The School behind the High Wall.

 

THE SCHOOL IN THE SCARLET FOG:

Dick Carr, the school, head boy and captain, becomes suspicious following a strange dream. Then the next morning his suspicions are further aroused, when he notices changes in and around the school.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The School in the Scarlet Fog.

 

THICK-EAR DONOVAN:

British schoolmaster Thick-Ear Donovan is the Sheriff and Schoolmaster of Moose Springs, North-West Canada.

 

Click here to read a complete story of Thick-Ear Donovan.

 

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.

 

SPORTS STORIES

 

ALF TUPPER – THE TOUGH OF THE TRACK:

Alf Tupper was eighteen years of age when he first appeared in THE ROVER in 1949, he continued his adventures in VICTOR in the early 1960's. He lived with his Aunt Meg in Anchor Alley, Greystone. The house had one room upstairs and one room downstairs; Alf's bed was a mattress on the kitchen floor. He was employed as a welder working in Ike Smith's welding shop which was located under a railway arch, his wages were £1.5s (£1.25p) per week of which he paid his Aunt £1.2s.6d (£1. 12½p) for rent. This meant he had 2/6d (12½p) for himself. Following a bust up with his Aunt Meg, he moved into Ike Smith's welding shop, sleeping on a mattress by his workbench.

Alf joined the Greystone Harriers paying a subcription fee of half a guinea; he was only a member of the Harriers for three weeks and was instructed to return his membership card by Bob Richards the Hon Secretary, following an ontrack fight with Vic Mason in the 440yards at the Greystone Harriers Sports meeting. Alf's staple diet was fish & chips wrapped in newspaper.

 

Click here to read the first episode (First series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the last episode (First series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the first episode (Second series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the last episode (Second series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the first episode (Third series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the last episode (Third series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the first episode (Fourth series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the last episode (Fourth series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

Click here to read the first episode (Fifth series) of Alf Tupper - The Tough of the Track.

 

GORGEOUS GUS:

Jeepers! A footballer with his own dressing-room, creases in his shorts, a valet to attend him!

Ah, but this is no ordinary footballer, boys! This is Gorgeous Gus.

 

Click here to read the first episode of Gorgeous Gus.

 

IT’S GOALS THAT COUNT:

There have been many stories about professional footballer, Nick Smith. Here are some of the titles: “It’s Goals that Count”, “Football is my job”, “Nick Smith’s Ragged Rovers”, Nick Smith Builds a Team, “It’s Teamwork that Counts”, “All Over the World – It’s Goals that Count”.

 

Click here to read an episode of Nick Smith.

 

IT’S RUNS THAT COUNT:

Rob Higson, England cricket player and Highshire County Cricket Club captain, narrates this cricketing story.

 

Click here to read an episode of It’s Runs That Count.

 

THE LIGHT BLUE STREAK:

You’ve heard of Alf Tupper, the Tough of the Track – here’s the Hon. Piers Mornington, the Toff of the Track.

 

Click here to read the first episode.

 

THE SATURDAY WONDERS:

Jimmy Kane football writer for the "Penstone Evening Telegraph," relates the story of Penstone Rangers in the Saturday Wonders.

The story first appeared in The Wizard in 1947/48 as 'The Red Rangers' and was reprinted as 'The Saturday Wonders' in The Rover from 1958.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Saturday Wonders.

 

THE SPIDER OF THE SPEEDWAYS:

As the bikes hit the first bend, they roar recklessly round, sending up showers of cinders in daring broadsides. They’re wheel to wheel now. What a finish it’s going to be! The crowd is on its toes with excitement. This is the real stuff they think. Little do they know that the heats are all fixed by the most ruthless man ever to own a speedway club. Life and limb mean nothing to Jap Lipsey, as long as his riders supply the crowd with thrills. This was the advertisement in The Rover for this new serial.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Spider of the Speedways.

 

THE UNSOLVED MYSTERY OF THE 11 LOST FOOTBALLERS:

The story of the biggest sensation in the history of football.

This episode appeared in the Rover in 1950.

 

Click here to read the first & last episodes of The Unsolved Mystery of the 11 Lost Footballers.

 

THE YELLOW JERSEY:

Cycling story with mystery rider Tom Tetford.

 

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

 

WAR STORIES

 

THE BOMBS WITH THE PURPLE STRIPE:

World War Two adventures, in which three British soldiers, Corporal Jumbo Whalen, Lance-Corporal Sam Singh and Lieutenant Felton, carry out raids against the Germans using unorthodox weapons.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Bombs with the Purple Stripe.

 

I FLEW WITH BRADDOCK:

Sergeant Matt Braddock V.C., D.F.M., was one of the R.A.F.'s greatest pilots. His various exploits are told by his navigator Sergeant George Bourne. Braddock flew various aircraft including Beaufighters, Hampdens and Mosquitoes. I Flew with Braddock stories appeared in the WIZARD and the ROVER during the 40's and 50's later becoming picture stories in HORNET and VICTOR.

 

Click here to read the (First series) first episode of I flew with Braddock.

 

Click here to read the (First series) last episode of I flew with Braddock.

 

SQUADRON X:

During the Second World War Squadron X was formed, and consisted of a group of top fliers gathered together by their Wing Commander “The Big Fellow” to carry out special missions.

 

Click here to read the first episode of Squadron X.

 

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 SPY WHO LAUGHS:

A new kind of war story. Laughs and shocks from a British spy.

 

Click here to read the first episode of The Spy who Laughs.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

CHARLIE THE CHALLENGER:

Can a man with one hand tied behind his back beat an expert bricklayer at his own game? Charlie Smith thinks he can.

 

Click here to read the first episode of Charlie the Challenger.

 

Vic Whittle 2008

© D. C. Thomson & Co Ltd