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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.
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A SELECTION OF THE ROVER COVERS |
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5 |
9 |
10 |
20 |
24 |
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April
1st 1922 |
April
29th 1922 |
May
6th 1922 |
July
15th 1922 |
August
12th 1922 |
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28 |
36 |
40 |
42 |
53 |
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September
9th 1922 |
November
4th 1922 |
December
2nd 1922 |
December
16th 1922 |
January
13th 1923 |
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563 |
1047 |
1131 |
1152 |
1246 |
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September
16th 1933 |
December
26th 1942 |
March
16th 1946 |
December
21st 1946 |
May
14th 1949 |
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1251 |
1269 |
1272 |
1323 |
1410 |
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June
18th 1922 |
October
22nd 1949 |
November
12th 1949 |
November
4th 1950 |
July
5th 1952 |
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1542 |
1704 |
1712 |
1714 |
1726 |
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January
15th 1955 |
February
22nd 1958 |
April
19th 1958 |
May
3rd 1958 |
July
26th 1958 |
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1732 |
1736 |
1740 |
1791 |
1855 |
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September
6th 1958 |
October
4th 1958 |
November
1st 1958 |
October
24th 1959 |
January
14th 1961 |
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SCHOOL BADGES |
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SCHOOL BADGES first appeared on the front cover of: ‘THE ROVER’ 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. |
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1400 |
Maybe your School/College is listed. To check out
the list Click here |
1439 |
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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:
Click here to read the last episode of The Frightened Year of the Fireflies.
GIPSY JEM OF THE
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
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
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
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
Along
the untamed North-West Frontier of
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
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,
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
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