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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 |
48 |
122 |
209 |
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September 9th 1922 |
November 4th 1922 |
January 23rd 1923 |
June 28th 1924 |
February 27th 1926 |
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313 |
483 |
528 |
564 |
637 |
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April 14th 1928 |
July 18th 1931 |
May 28th 1932 |
February 4th 1933 |
June 30th 1934 |
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682 |
764 |
800 |
866 |
933 |
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May 11th 1935 |
December 5th 1936 |
August 14th 1937 |
November 19th 1938 |
Mar 2nd 1940 |
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1016 |
1044 |
1133 |
1151 |
1192 |
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October 18th 1941 |
November 14th 1942 |
April 13th 1946 |
December 14th 1946 |
January 17th 1948 |
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1215 |
1240 |
1276 |
1388 |
1485 |
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August 14th 1948 |
April 2nd 1949 |
December 10th 1949 |
February 2nd 1952 |
December 12th 1953 |
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1541 |
1632 |
1740 |
1826 |
1855 Last Issue |
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January 8th 1955 |
October 6th 1956 |
November 1st 1958 |
June 25th 1960 |
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 1941
- 1961
The Rover and Adventure Title List 1961 - 1963
The Rover and Wizard Title List 1963 - 1969
The Rover Title List 1969 - 1973
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.
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 MENACE IN PIT 19:
Follow seven men on their rescue bid along the strange
tunnels from nowhere.
From the Rover issue 1306 July 8th 1950
Click here to read the first & last episode.
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 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.
THE PHANTOM FLYER
Straight out of the sun came the three German
Messerschmitt 110
Twin-engined fighters…..
Taken from the Rover issue 1313 dated August 26th
1950.
Click here to read the First episode.
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