List of Comet stories

A list of stories published in the J.B. Allen/Amalgamated Press/Fleetway Publications weekly boys' comic Comet between 1946 and 1959.

Air Taxi

Published: 18 June to 30 July 1949[1]
Artist: Reg Beaumont[1]

Air cargo pilot Bill and co-pilot Lynn find their latest assignment - transferring the Red Arrow racing car to France - attracts the attention of thieves.

  • Front cover strip.

The Astounding Adventures of Marco Polo

Published: 10 March to 12 May 1951[1]
Artist: Patrick Nicolle[1]

Explorer Marco Polo and warrior maid Shireen encounter pirates and mystics in the Far East.

The Banner of the Silver Lion

Published: 6 November 1954 to 29 January 1955[1]
Artist: Patrick Nicolle[1]

After his father is killed in battle, noble Simon de Montfort must deal with his avaricious brother Amory.

Billy Bunter

Main article: Billy Bunter
Published: 17 December 1947 to 17 February 1951 (text); 9 February 1952 to June 1958 (strip)
Illustrator: C. H. Chapman (text)[1]
Artists: Reg Parlett, George Parlett, Tom Laidler, Reg Bunn, C. H. Chapman (strip)[1]

The antics of the Fat Owl of the Reach and the Famous Five - rugged Form Captain Harry Wharton, sporting star Frank Nugent, excitable Bob Cherry, stoutly proud Yorkshireman Johnny Bull and Indian Prince Hurree Jamset Ram Singh - at Greyfriars School.

Bob Harley

Published: 10 May 1952 to 13 June 1953[1]
Illustrators: Graham Coton, Steven Chapman, Reg Parlett[1]

Police officer Bob Harley of Scotland Yard investigates the theft of an atomic motor by the treacherous scientist Doctor Nikolas.

  • Text story.

Boss of the Lazy O

Published: 7 February to 16 May 1947[1]
Writer: Trevor Galway[1]

Englishman Roy Summers takes charge of the Lazy-O ranch, and soon finds himself helping neighbour Jeff Willard fight off cattle rustlers.

  • Text story.

Bowmen of King Harry

Published: 29 October 1955 to 28 January 1956[1]

Archers Pip Parkin, Tom Hayfork and Hubert the Minstrel try to play their part in Henry V's French campaign, albeit hindered by their cowardly, rotund superior Sir Rollo Bluster.

Buck Jones

Published: 13 August 1949 to 9 September 1950[1]
Artist: Reg Bunn[a][1]

Lawman Buck Jones keeps the peace in the Wild West.

  • Based on a fictionalised version of the film star.[2] Later continued in Sun. Initial episodes were reprinted from Amalgamated Press' Buck Jones series until new Bunn-drawn material started on 8 October 1949. Jones also appeared in Cowboy Picture Library.[1]

Buffalo Bill

Published: 20 May to 16 September 1950; 17 October 1953 to 17 October 1959[1]
Writer: Mike Butterworth[a]
Artists: Fred Meagher, Geoff Campion, Derek Eyles, Steven Chapman, Patrick Nicolle, Fred Holmes, Jesús Blasco, Colin Merritt, Alejandro Blasco, Francisco Hidalgo, Eugenio Giner, Romeu, Julio Vivas, Adriano Blasco, Edward Drury[1][a]

Buffalo Bill Cody leads the scouts of Custer's 7th Cavalry out of Fort Abraham Lincoln. He soon develops a bond of honour and respect with noble Sioux chief Sitting Bull despite their opposing roles in the Indian Wars.

  • The initial 1950 run was reprints of a European strip. From the return on 17 October 1953 until 23 January 1954 the story was a reprint of the United Feature Syndicate newspaper strip, with some additional material by Philip Mendoza.[1] From 30 January 1954 British creators produced original material, in self-contained 8-page stories; this high page count for a weekly story led to the employment of a rotating group of artists. This also saw the character take over on the front cover. Alongside his appearances in Comet, Buffalo Bill also featured in issues of Cowboy Picture Library and Thriller Picture Library.[2] In 1966 the strips were modified and reprinted in Lion as "Texas Jack".[3]

Cabin in the Woods

Published: 4 May to 24 August 1948[1]
Writer: Arthur Catherall[1]
Illustrator: Bob Wilkin[1]

Young Robin Legrice helps his game warden father Dan fend off villainous trappers Skookum Pete and Yorky, with help from his city girl cousin Jeanne.

  • Text story.

Christine and Patch the Circus Starlets

Published: 15 November 1946 to 29 June 1958[1]
Artist: H. Cornell[1]

Young girl Christine and her dog Patch try to launch a career at the travelling Grand Circus.

  • Cartoon.

Chuckle Club

Published: 14 November 1953 to 17 October 1959[1]
Artist: Rodger[1]
  • Cartoon. Readers' jokes drawn by cartoonist Rodger; successful submissions would be rewarded with 10 shillings.[1]

The Circus of Sandstep

Published: 5 September to 2 December 1947[1]
Writer: Arthur Catherall[1]

Adventurous pair Tony Barstow and Penelope Chambers help find missing circus trick pony Wimsy.

  • Text story.

Claude Duval

Published: 19 September 1953 to 17 October 1959[1]
Writer: Mike Butterworth[1]
Artists: Fred Holmes, Eric Parker, Patrick Nicolle[1]

The dashing Frenchman Claude Duval daringly leads the Royalist cavalry during the English Civil War. He also protects the Crown from the machinations of the duplicitous French and their Roundhead co-conspirator, Major Midas Mould.

Commando One

Published: 28 June 1958 to 17 October 1959[1]
Artist: Ferdinando Tacconi[1]

Captain Rex Royal of the Commandos is parachuted behind German lines to aid the resistance on Crete in 1942.

The Cowboy with a Thousand Faces

Published: 28 February to 9 May 1953[1]
Illustrator: George Parlett[1]

A sheriff and master of disguise uses his skills to deal with outlaws.

  • Text story.

Dick Barton

Published: 11 April to 10 October 1953[1]
Artist: Peter Sutherland, Graham Coton[1]

Detective Dick Barton and partner Snowy White investigate flying saucers.

Don Deeds

Published: 24 August 1948 to 3 March 1951[1]
Artist: R. W. Plummer[1]

Young bank teller Don Deeds finds himself drawn into an adventure when racketeers target colleague Miss Jones. Later Deeds and female friend Mai-Mai got entangled in a Martian invasion of Earth.

Dr. Grunter's Zoo School

Published: 29 March 1952 to 3 January 1959[1]

A mathematically gifted polar bear teaches other animals.

Dr. Pennyfeather

Published: 8 April 1950 to 3 February, 7 July & 11 August 1951[1]
Artist: Denis Gifford[1]

A bumbling schoolmaster is undone by his pupils.

  • Cartoon, paired with "Scamp" on the front cover.

The Flying Gunmen

Published: 20 October to 18 November 1950[1]
Writer: George E. Rochester[1]
Illustrator: Roland Davies[1]

Chick Brown and Polly Western are passengers on an airliner when it is hijacked and taken to a deserted island.

  • Text story.

The Gene Autry Story

Published: 24 February to 15 December 1951[1]

The Golden Scarab

Published: 15 June 1948 to 31 May 1949[1]
Artist: Reg Beaumont[1][6]

British adventurer Mike Thompson is dragged into a Web of intrigue during a visit to Algiers in French North Africa, as - aided by handmaiden Nina - he must recover the Golden Scarab from Sheikh Ali Pasha.

Guy Gallant

Published: 10 February to 23 June 1951[1]
Artist: Edward Drury[1]

Captain Guy Gallant of the Sea Witch hunts for pirate Don Diego - known as the Grandee - in the Sargasso Sea.

  • Front cover story.

Island of Peril

Published: 2 May to 15 August 1959[1]

Searching for pearls on a Pacific island, Bob and Pat Shaw clash with the unscrupulous Red Harry.

Jack the Giant Tamer

Published: 16 February to 29 March 1952[1]
Illustrators: Tom Laidler, Reg Parlett[1]

Arriving on a desert island, Jack soon takes control of one the giant natives.

  • Text story.

Jet-Ace Logan

Main article: Jet-Ace Logan
Published: 15 September 1956 to 17 October 1959
Writers: Mike Butterworth, David Motton[1]
Artists: Geoff Campion, John Gillatt[1]

A hundred years in the future, RAF pilot Jim "Jet-Ace" Logan and his trusty co-pilot Plumduff Charteris keep Earth safe from alien aggressors.

Jimmy and Jacko the Merry Monks

Published: 15 November 1946 to 29 June 1958[1]
Artist: H. Cornell[1]

Two English-speaking monkeys get into scrapes in the jungle.

Jimmy's Magic Cat

Published: 11 November 1950 to 17 February 1951[1]
Writer: George E. Rochester[1]
Illustrator: Robert MacGillivray[1]

Jimmy and June Watson discover their cat Tutty is actually a transformed Egyptian sorcerer.

June

Published: 13 August to 17 December 1949[1]
Writer & Artist: Norman Pett[1]

Naïve but plucky young girl June is sent back to the time of King Arthur by her uncle's time machine.

Jungle Lord

Published: 21 February 1947 to 1 June 1948[1]
Artist: Reg Beaumont[1][6]

Searching for his lost parents in the jungle, Dick Seymour soon comes into conflict with the Ivory trader Snape. Seymour is aided by multiracial local girl Bibi.

  • Front cover story.

The King's Captain

Published: 3 November 1951 to 19 January 1952[1]
Writer: Leonard Matthews[1]
Artist: Sep E. Scott[1]

Prince Rupert of the Rhine and his female comrade Black Velvet attempt to protect King Charles II from revolutionary factions.

Kit Carson

Published: 16 September 1950 to 1 August 1953 (strip); 8 August to 10 October 1953 (text)[1]
Writer: Joan Whitford (under the pseudonym Barry Ford) (text)[1]
Artists: Geoff Campion, Patrick Nicolle, Ron Embleton, Stephen Chapman, Robert Forrest, R. W. Plummer, Ron Smith, Peter Sutherland, Derek Eyles, Bill Lacey[1]
Illustrator: Derek Eyles (text)[1]

Buckskin-clad Pioneer Railway Company trouble-shooter and scout Kit Carson fends off bandits and natives with his twin six-shooters.

Laredo - Texas Ranger

Published: 28 June to 20 December 1958[1]
Artist: Bob Schoenke[1][7]

The exploits of Texas Ranger Laredo.

The Last of the Commanches

Published: 22 December 1951 to 8 March 1952[1]
Writer: Joan Whitford (under the pseudonym Barry Ford)[1]

Red Hand deals with unscrupulous cowboys.

  • Text story.

The Lone Ranger

Published: 2 March 1957 to 18 January 1958[1]
Writer: Fran Striker[1]
Artist: Charles Flanders[1]

The masked hero known as the Lone Ranger challenges the guilty and finds justice for the innocent with the help of partner Tonto.

Mick the Moon Boy

Published: 29 March 1952 to 23 May 1959[1]
Illustrator: C.M. Montford, Reg Parlett, George Parlett[1]

A technologically advanced boy from the Moon arrives in the Old West and helps lawmen.

  • Text story.

Mickey's Pal the Wizard

Published: 30 May to 1 August 1953[1]
Artist: Reg Parlett[1]

Mickey Royston and his sister Betty gain revenge on their cruel uncle Silas Marley when the boy discovers a brass bottle containing the wizard Akbar Al Bagrag.

More Tales of the West

Published: 2 June to 7 July, 29 September to 29 December 1951[1]
Writer: Joan Whitford (under the pseudonym Barry Ford)[1]
Illustrator: Derek Eyles, Steven Chapman[1]
  • Text story. Renamed "Barry Ford's Tales of the West" from 29 September 1951.[1]

The Mystery of the Moor

Published: 30 May to 22 August 1947
Writer: Trevor Holloway[1]
Artist: Bob Wilkin[1]

Camping in Devon, Dick and Jill Martin stumble on criminal activity at a nearby abandoned mine.

  • Text story.

The Mysterious Mr. Midson

Published: 29 November 1946 to 24 January 1947[1]
Writer: Ronald Meade[1]

Camling College student Derek Elliot finds out his grouchy master Mr. Milson is involved in a conspiracy.

  • Text story.

Nelson

Published: 4 June to 22 October 1955
Artist: Eric Parker[1]

Horatio Nelson commands the Royal Navy to some of its finest victories.

Odd Job Jack

Published: 28 June 1958 to 11 April 1959[1]
  • Cartoon. Later reprinted as "Odd Job Bob" in Valiant.

The Old Timer

Artist: Alan Frazer[1]

An elderly employee's poor timekeeping causes stress for his co-workers.

  • Cartoon, front cover strip.

Paul Clifford

Published: 7 February to 25 April 1959[1]
Artist: Robert Forrest[1]

Highwayman Paul Clifford falls in love with lawyer's niece Lucy Brandon and vows to go straight,

Phantom of Gravestones Grange

Published: 4 February to 28 April 1956[1]
Artist: Eric Parker

Captain Dick Dashwood and his batman Tom Twitcher lead a detachment of Royal Dragoons, sent to capture archvillain Creepy Crawley from his trap-filled lair at Gravestones Grange.

  • Creepy Crawley had featured as a villain in "Dick Turpin" in sister comic Sun.[2]

Phil and Fritzi

Published: 28 June 1958 to 3 January 1959[1]
Artist: Ernie Bushmiller[1]

Phil and his girlfriend Fritzi cross wits.

Pirate Gold

Published: 15 September 1956 to 23 February 1957[1]
Illustrator: Paul Hardy[1]
  • Text story. Modified from a S. Walkey serial published in the story paper Chums.

Poochie

Published: 9 December 1950 to 3 February 1951[1]
Artist: Hugh McNeill[1]

Outrageous talking dog Poochie gets totally in the face of miserly owner Mister Fogey.

The Purple Sunflower

Published: 16 December 1947 to 30 April 1948[1]
Writer: Laurence Gill[1]

Kidnappers target teenager Ron Yorke after he finds a mysterious purple flower in the street.

  • Text story.

The Quest of the Jungle Queen

Published: 5 to 19 April 1952[1]
Illustrator: Graham Coton[1]

Jack Swift enters the jungle searching for a missing girl called Peta, finding out that she has been made Queen of a lost African tribe. Swift has to get her to safety before she is killed by treacherous high priest Tharka.

  • Text story.

Riff and Raff the Lads of Our Village

Published: 15 November 1946 to 29 June 1948[1]
Artist: H. Cornell[1]

Two cheerful boys help out the locals.

  • Cartoon.

Robin Hood

Published: 19 November to 17 December 1949; 14 April to 15 September 1951[1]
Artist: Reg Bunn[1]

Sherwood Forest outlaw Robin Hood plunders the prosperous and donates to the downtrodden.

  • The Robin Hood mythos also inspired strips in Sun and Knockout.

Round the World in the Flying Fish

Published: 20 September 1946 to 24 September 1949[1]
Artist: David Williams[1]

Siblings Jack and Jill join their Uncle Bob for a voyage in his new invention the Flying Fish, a technological wonder capable of travelling over land, under sea and through the air.

Rusty Riley

Published: 2 September 1950 to 3 March 1951[1]
Artist: Frank Godwin[1]

After being orphaned in The Blitz, Rusty Riley is adopted by kindly American Quentin Miles and taken to his horse ranch in Kentucky, where he makes fast friends with half-sister Patty and dog Flip.

Sally Bright

Published: 20 September 1946 to 16 July 1949[1]
Illustrators: Bob Wilkin, David Williams[1]

Resourceful teenage girl Sally Bright helps those in need.

  • Text story.

Scamp

Published: 28 January 1950 to 13 January 1951; 10 February 1951 to 6 March 1954[1]
Artist: Fred Robinson[1]

Enthusiastic dog Scamp and partner-in-crime Kitty the cat cause mild disruption to their long-suffering owners.

  • Cartoon. Front cover strip.

School at Castle Grim

Published: 28 December 1948 to 16 July 1949[1]
Writer: Jeffrey Trent[1]
Illustrator: David Williams[1]

A fire forces a public school to temporarily relocate to the foreboding Castle Grim.

Scoop

Published: 24 September 1949 to 22 April 1950[1]
Artist: Fred Robinson[1]

Comet's own reporter Scoop goes to great lengths to get the story - usually in vain.

The Secret of Paul Barron

Published: 22 August to 17 October 1959[1]
Artist: Reg Bunn[1]

Agent Miles Mallory sets out to recover gold stolen by Paul Barron.

The Secret of the Sea Spider

Published: 20 June to 12 September 1953[1]
Illustrator: Philip Mendoza[1]

Digby Everard builds a huge mechanical vessel called the Sea Spider and seems to have turned to piracy; however, when his friend Guy Raynor investigates he finds Everard is instead aiming for illegal arms factories.

  • Text story.

Shorty the Deputy Sheriff

Published: 3 December 1949 to 13 June 1953[1]
Artists: Hugh McNeill, Eric Bradbury, Reg Parlett[1]

A well-meaning, diminutive lawman causes disruption.

  • Cartoon.

Sir Tich

Published: 8 October 1949 to 25 March 1950[1]
Artists: Geoff Campion, Norman Ward[1]

Despite his slight stature, gallant knight Sir Tich triumphs through a mixture of courage and pure luck.

  • Cartoon.

The Sky Explorers

Published: 26 January 1952 to 4 April 1953[1]
Artist: Geoff Campion, Pete Sutherland, W. Bryce-Hamilton, Reg Parlett[9][1]

Young siblings Peter and Ann are whisked away by their Uncle Jolly to visit strange civilisations in his rocket ship - including an island of superannuated pirates, another populated by clockwork robots (built by Swiss inventors Von Tik and Von Tok), and the planet Jupiter.

  • Originally a text comic before being transformed into the front cover strip, drawn by Parlett, from 28 June 1952.

Splash Page

Published: 6 May to 16 September 1950 (strip), 7 October to 4 November 1950 (text)[1]

Artist/Illustrator: Alex Oxley[1] Top Daily World reporter Splash Page's investigative work puts him and his assistant Jill Brent in the centre of the story.

Strongbow the Mohawk

Published: 8 August 1953 to 1 June 1957[1]
Artists: Geoff Campion, Stephen Chapman, Graham Coton, Robert Forrest, Philip Mendoza, Colin Merritt, Patrick Nicolle[1]

After the Mohawk tribe that raised him are slaughtered, white man Strongbow becomes a doctor in the town of TOWN while hunting for the killers. He later faces the likes of Choctaw rebel Black Lynx and evil Huron chief Rattlesnake, gains a doughty ally in Hawkeye the Hunter and meets the likes of General Custer and Davy Crockett.

  • The story launched on the front cover before moving to the interior.[10]

Tarzan of the Apes

Published: 24 February 1951 to 9 February 1952[1]
Writer: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Illustrators: Edward Drury, Eric Parker, Ron Smith, Graham Coton[1]

They Lived By the Gun

Published: 5 to 26 May 1951[1]
Writer: Joan Whitford (under the pseudonym Barry Ford)[1]
  • Text story.

Thunderbolt Jaxon

Main article: Thunderbolt Jaxon
Published: 13 August to 5 November 1949[1]
Artist: Hugh McNeill[1]

The Tobacco Runners

Published: 7 September to 14 December 1948[1]
Writer: David Morris[1]

Peter and June Kelsey stumble across a tobacco smuggling racket.

  • Text story.

Tommy Hawk and Mo Cassin

Published: 14 January to 26 August 1950
Artist: Birch, Denis Gifford[1]

Under the Golden Dragon

Published: 3 January to 29 May 1954[1]
Writer: Mike Butterworth[1]
Artist: Patrick Nicolle[1]

William the Conqueror's Norman army lands in 1066 to face the forces of King Harold.

Vikings of the Spaceways

Published: 27 January to 28 April 1951[1]
Writer: Paul Flood[1]
Illustrators: Reg Bunn, Patrick Nicolle[1]

Reporter Tom Pennant investigates a spate of spaceship disappearances, leading him and friend Prince Rudolph of Transitania to Deimos.

  • Text story.

War Eagle

Published: 1 February to 21 June 1958[1]
Artist: Ferdinando Tacconi[1]

Raised by sea-eagles on an isolated rock in the North Atlantic, Eagle joins the RAF during World War II. His avian upbringing naturally allows him to swiftly become a fighter ace, and he is soon entrusted with the experimental Whiplash as his personal aircraft.

The Wheezes of Willie Wizzard

Published: 15 October 1952 to 1 August 1953[1]
Illustrator: Hugh McNeill, Reg Parlett[1]

Inventor Willie Wizzard's innovations rarely work as intended.

  • Text story.

The White Fox

Published: 29 July to 19 August 1950[1]
Writer: Jack Lewis (under the pseudonym Lewis Jackson)[1]
Illustrator: Tom Laidler[1]

Visiting his mean uncle Squire Dean, Jack Dean crosses paths with

  • Text story.

Adaptations

The Adventures of Gallant Bess

Published: 3 June to 22 July 1950[1]

Buffalo Stampede

Published: 5 May to 4 August 1951[1]
Artist: Ron Smith[1]

The Coral Island

Published: 22 October 1949 to 25 March 1950[1]
Illustrator: Michael Hubbard[1]

Distant Drums

Published: 19 April 1952 to 3 May 1953[1]

The Elusive Pimpernel

Published: 31 December 1949 to 6 May 1950[1]
Artist: W. Bryce-Hamilton[1]

The Exploits of Hereward the Wake

Published: 26 August to 14 October 1950[1]
Illustrator: Tom Laidler[1]

Julius Caesar

Published: 21 November to 26 December 1953[1]
Artist: Patrick Nicolle[1]

King of the Khyber Rifles

Published: 5 June to 24 July 1954[1]
Artist: Philip Mendoza[1]

Knights of the Round Table

Published: 31 July to 6 November 1954[1]
Artist: Patrick Nicolle[1]

The Last Outpost

Published: 18 August to 27 October 1951[1]
Artist: Ron Smith[1]

The Lion and the Horse

Published: 6 to 27 December 1952[1]

The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw

The Spanish Main

Published: 8 August to 7 November 1953
Artist: Patrick Nicolle

Treasure Island

Published: 30 September 1946 to 16 December 1947[1]
Artist: Bob Wilkin[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Due to most British comics not crediting creators and incomplete records, credits may not be exhaustive

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy cz da db dc dd de df dg dh di dj dk dl dm dn do dp dq dr ds dt du dv dw dx dy dz ea eb ec ed ee ef eg eh ei ej ek el em en eo ep eq er es et eu ev ew ex ey ez fa fb fc fd fe ff fg fh fi fj fk fl fm fn fo fp fq fr fs ft fu fv fw fx fy fz ga gb gc gd ge gf gg gh gi gj gk gl gm gn go gp gq gr gs gt Holland, Steve; Ashford, David (1992). The Comet Collectors' Guide. Colne: Comic Journal/A&B Whitworth.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ashford, David (1992). "Cowboys and Cavaliers: The Comet Comic". The Comet Collectors' Guide. Colne: Comic Journal/A&B Whitworth.
  3. ^ a b Holland, Steve (2002). The Fleetway Companion. Rotherham: Comic Journal.
  4. ^ "BFI Screenonline: Gay Cavalier (1957)".
  5. ^ "Dick Barton - Spy Guys and Gals".
  6. ^ a b "Reg Beaumont".
  7. ^ "Bob Schoenke".
  8. ^ Ashford, David; Allen-Clark, John; Holland, Steve (1997). Knockout Comic - An Illustrated Guide. CJ Publications.
  9. ^ "Reginald Parlett".
  10. ^ 500 Great Comic Book Action Heroes. Barron's. 2003. ISBN 9780764125812.
  11. ^ The British Superhero. Univ. Press of Mississippi. 15 March 2017. ISBN 9781496807380.