When Ratta, dictator of Dort, finds his planet has fifty years before being destroyed by its sun he identifies the Earth of 2000 as the only suitable home for his people. To force Earth into agreeing, he announces he will be unleashing ten thousand disasters on Earth. Sure enough, New York is destroyed when Ratta's technology renders all of the metal in the city unstable; Paris is made uninhabitable due to an aggressive alien weed; Melbourne is overran by enlarged animals; tea is used to most of the population of London are transformed into violent maniacs; incredible weaponry is given to the savage Jamali tribesmen of central Arabia; all electricity on Earth is temporarily removed; a brief ice age freezes the English Channel; Germany is overran by a plague of ants; thousands are blinded by an artificial sun; and 90% of the remaining population reduced to a bestial state by tainted wheat. Opposing Ratta is Britain's top scientist Mike Dauntless, aided by French orphan Gaston.
The story was reprinted in Lion from December 22, 1973, to May 18, 1974; this second run featured a modified conclusion so the story finished before the merger with Valiant. In 2023, Rebellion Developments produced a trade paperback containing the entire serial as part of their Treasury of British Comics series of collected editions.[2][4]
A globetrotting hero helps out the helpless with jujitsu and expert shooting skills, keeping his identity a secret to ward off reprisals.
Originally an illustrated text story, before a switch to comic strip format from August 23, 1958.[1] The character is no relation to the earlier strip "The Amazing Mr. X" from DC Thomson's The Dandy.
Sailor Captain Jack Wonder gets caught up in a civil war in tropical banana republic Losana. Used as a guinea pig by evil scientist Varan, he is accidentally given the ability to change into any object. Breaking free, he and his chirpy first mate 'Lofty' Locke overthrow the country's dictator Quantro. Later, the pair signed up to the RAF and fought the Nazis.
Andy's Army
Published: September 28, 1968, to April 26, 1969[1]
Wanting to emulate his father, a Colonel in the British Army, 14-year old Andy springs a trio of prisoners from the brig and heads behind German lines to fight a guerrilla war.
Honduran circus strongman Hank tries to launch a career as a heavyweight boxer with the aid of friend and acrobat Tich Wilson. While Hank has the strength for the sport he is held back by his reluctance to actually hit anyone without provocation.
Baron Maximilien Von Klorr is Germany's most fearsome ace pilot of World War I – partly due to being helped by a gigantic bats. With his Fokker Dr.I painted black, he soon earns the nickname Black Max. His opposition comes from the Royal Flying Corps, particularly plucky Lieutenant Tim Wilson.
A private investigator, Brett Marlowe is an expert in detective work and frequently unravelled cases with only the smallest of clues, before bringing miscreants down in a two-fisted fashion. Marlowe was assisted by his faithful chauffeur Rusty Race.
Only made sporadic appearances. For the majority of the strip, "cases" lasted a single two-page episode, though later some serial stories were created.
After a five-year mission in space, the probe ship Explorer – crewed by astronauts Captain Vic Lacey, Doc Keelson and 'Technical Twins' Harvey and Tragg – crash on landing. Due to Earth Time and Space Time running at different speeds, they discover 200 years have passed, and the Britain of 2170 has regressed to a primitive state. The group uses the remnants of technology that still work to survive warring groups of savages – particularly the barbaric Snakemen – and strange monsters as they try to rebuild civilisation.
Detective Bruce Kent and feckless sidekick Jim solve crimes, encouraging readers to use the same clues available to them to guess the result of the case first.
From 1962 the strip's title was modified to the more competitive "Bruce Kent Challenges You to Spot the Clue". The interactive "spot the clue" format was later adapted for Zip Nolan.[10]
Upon leaving school four friends set their hearts on travelling around the world and begin a number of unconventional fundraising activities – much to the ire of a retired Brigadier turned local busybody.
Ace pilot of the year 3000, Condor spearheaded the Space Patrol's victory over the megalomaniac Dictator after being banished to Titan. He was aided by the moon's natives, the unintelligent but amiable Geeks. This achieved, Condor led further Space Patrol missions with his customary derring-do.
Captain Condor was created by Frank S. Pepper as a competitor to Eagle's Dan Dare.[15] The strip was on the front and back covers (initially the only pages featuring colour) until being ousted by "Paddy Payne" in 1957. New adventures continued until 1964, when Captain Condor switched to reprinting old adventures until ending entirely in 1966.[16]
Carson's Cubs
Published: September 10, 1966, to July 21, 1973[1]
Retiring after a glittering playing career, football legend Joe Carson takes up the management reigns of old club Newton Town, who are languished in the third division with no funds thanks to penny-pinching, asset-stripping director Arthur Braggart. Despite this Carson strives to improve the club, building a competitive side around young players like teen hotshots Andy Streak, Rocky Stone and Tiddler Smith.
Shortly after the merger with Eagle the strip guest-starred the Circus Wanderers as opposition.
Code Name – Barracuda
Published: September 10, 1966, to February 24, 1968[1]
Superhumanly strong United Nations special agent Barracuda and his similarly enhanced partner Rollo use an array of high-tech gadgetry to keep the world safe from American supervillain King Cobra and his criminal organisation W.A.M. (War Against Mankind).
Barracuda and Rollo also appeared in Fleetway's Secret Agent Super Library digest series, alternating with Johnny Nero[19]
The pilot from the future fends off the threat of Treen leader the Mekon.
Inherited from Eagle. Budget cuts had already seen the strip switch to reprints in 1967, and these continued in Lion. The repeats aborted the end of the "Rogue Planet" storyline which had been running in the last Eagle to start the stint in Lion from the beginning of "Reign of the Robots". In contrast to its original colour format, the art was rendered in greyscale. After a reprint of "The Phantom Fleet" with a compressed conclusion, "Dan Dare" disappeared from Lion after October 24, 1970.[20]
Special agent John Drake carries out numerous hazardous missions against corrupt governments and criminal organisations.
Uniquely among Lion's oeuvre, "Danger Man" was a licensed strip based on the ATV television series of the same name, with the art using the likeness of star Patrick McGoohan. Years later it was crudely modified as "Matt Mason – Secret Agent" for Bumper Story Book for Boys.[21][22]
The Day the World Drowned
Published: November 30, 1968, to April 26, 1969[1]
A colossal underwater earthquake radically alters Earth's geography. Having survived the quake in a reinforced diving vessel, research scientists Bill Sterling and Don Worth find themselves in the middle of an arid wasteland, while their brothers Jamie and Bobby have to deal with a suddenly flooded London. Reunited, the quartet search the radically changed planet for other survivors while avoiding the insane Ark-building Drage family.
Dr. Mesmer's Revenge
Published: October 16, 1971, to October 21, 1972[1]
When thieves raid the collection of hypnotist Dr. Mesmer, he uses magical cat statue Bulbul to control 5,000-year-old mummy to punish them. His brutal methods soon see him become a feared villain.
The strip was originally announced to be part of Thunder's line-up but debuted in Lion after the titles were merged.[26] Both Dr. Mesmer and Angor would reappear as villains in Rebellion Developments' The Vigilant.[25]
Drive For Your life
Published: December 6, 1969, to January 31, 1970[1]
Balkan aristocrat and racing driver Count von Dracca is exposed as a coward and drummed out of motorsport. He spends the next five years devising a series of brutal traps and kidnaps his six old rivals – German Urich Krutz, British Roland Howard-Price, Italian Alberto Guilo and Americans 'Porkchop' Porter, 'Big Mike' Murphy and Rev Ryder – and forces them to take part in a series of racing challenges as revenge, with only one to survive.
Flame o' the Forest
Published: February 7, 1970, to November 7, 1970[28]
When his mummers' troupe is massacred by cruel Norman warlord the Raven in 1066, Saxon orphan Hal is taught a variety of skills by his mortally wounded uncle Sarl, enabling him to become the Flame o' the Forest, taking vengeance on the Raven and his knights.
Fleetfoot Fights the Redskin Rebels
Published: January 7, 1956, to September 8, 1956[1]
Chief Fleetfoot of the Cawlees plans to make a peace treaty with settlers but a brave named Blank Panther vehemently disagrees and starts a civil war within the tribe.
When Professor Synton finds the ruins of a forgotten advanced civilisation in the jungles of Africa, his assistant Buloff imprisons him and uses the technology to build saucer ships, ray guns and robots. Fortunately for the natives, white cameraman Danny Malloy and his friend Ted is present to film white rhinoceros, and teams up with Mr. Zaka to combat Buloff's plans for world domination.
Troopers Don Drew and Nobby Pounds are tasked with tracking down a secret Italian naval base wreaking havoc on Allied Mediterranean convoys during World War II.
Cryptid Gargan and superannuated sage Reega the Wise are kidnapped from the Himalayas by cruel American exhibitor Cash Maddack. Their friend, a boy called Rhurki, resolves to free them.
After his exceptional skill at wargaming is applied to real-life World War II battles, schoolboy Johnny Quick is given the rank of General and given tactical control of a chunk of the British Army.
Small-time racer Don Dentry wrecks his garage-built car saving the life of champion driver Milton Halder, who rewards Dentry by letting him take his place with the top team while he recuperates. However, Dentry and his loyal mechanic's big break is complicated by ongoing sabotage shenanigans within the team.
A young boy from Jupiter gets stranded on Earth, and is taken under the wing the George Gilbert and his kindly family until he can return home. Jimmi's Gamma powers often activate at inopportune moments, placing him in danger of exposure.
Reprinted as "The Boy From Jupiter" from October 31, 1970, to March 13, 1971.[1]
Young Jingo is given an Invisibiliser by his eccentric uncle Septimus. The device produced a ray that could turn anything invisible until the reverse control was activated. Jones and best friend Bob Day used this as a boon to combat local bullies and spivs.
Jinks' wish to simply have some peace and quiet at home is constantly undermined by innumerable catastrophes, usually caused by one of his oddball acquaintances.
Raised in the jungle by animals, Jef and his 'family' – Cheeko the chimpanzee, Boko the parrot and Tusker the elephant – try to avoid getting eaten by lion Yellow fang.
Karl the Viking
Published: October 29, 1960, to September 26, 1964[1]
Viking chieftain Eingar takes a shine to Saxon orphan Karl, taking him back to his village. When Eingar dies Karl takes up leadership of the tribe with cousin Godwulf as his right-hand man, leading them in battles to fend off the Picts, the callous Earl of Eastumbria and legendary monsters.
The strip was initially called "The Sword of Eingar" before being renamed after the protagonist from the second story. Ken Bulmer co-created the character with Cowan and Lawrence. The complete series was collection across two volumes by Rebellion Developments as part of the Treasury of British Comics series[47] – Karl the Viking Volume 1 – The Sword of Eingar compiled the material from October 29, 1960, to December 1, 1962;[48]Karl the Viking Volume 2 – The Voyage of the Sea Raiders contained the strips from December 8, 1962, to September 26, 1964, as well as material from Lion Annuals.[46]
The King of Keg Island
Published: November 14, 1970, to March 13, 1971[1]
Peter Cable is an orphan and is stunned when he finds a distant relative has left him the deed to Keg Island. He begins to move in to his new land along with a trio of friends from the orphanage, but former custodian Simon Lashley plans to swindle him out of his windfall.
Cowhand Larry West and Mexican pardner Pedro are forced to go on the run when they are framed for a stagecoach robbery by the corrupt Sheriff of Sunset City and the Red Diamond Gang.
Jug-eared Joe Harker is the sole surviving member of the Harker sporting dynasty. With help from the ghost of similarly endowed ancestor Sir Stanley Harker and his own stretchy arms, Joe is able to excel at numerous sporting events and refill the family's trophy cabinets, while rag-and-bone men Bert and Arnold Swizzle schemed to stop him so they could take over Harker Hall on the cheap.
The story was not continued when Lion merged into Valiant.[51]
After being seriously injured in a crash, top racing driver Dan Stormm is wheelchair-bound and moves into team management. His team, the Slambangers, included his long-term mechanic Cappy Ricks, run young rough diamond drivers Tommy Kidd and the Boyd brothers Pete and Rod.
A continuation of "Lightning Strikes Again" from Eagle. After 12 issues the story was renamed "Tales from the Tracks", switching to a format of Stormm narrating former glories from his racing career.[20]
On his journey home to from the Crusades in the 13th century, John Maroc discovers the ancient bracelet of Sun Warrior Zar. The Hand of Zar makes him invulnerable and superhumanly strong when the bangle is in sunlight, helping him fight his way back towards his home in Devon.
"Maroc the Mighty" was devised as a replacement for "Karl the Viking", and was initially called "The Hand of Zar".[1] The story was reprinted from October 3, 1970, to March 6, 1971.[57]
Marooned Shipmates of Shark Island
Published: September 28, 1957, to March 1, 1958[1]
After getting shipwrecked on an island surrounded by shark-infested waters, Jerry Morgan and two other survivors – Irish stoker Conner O'Conner and Aborigine Bingo – try to make the deserted landmass habitable as they await rescue.
A text story which incorporated detailed explanations of survival and scouting tips for readers.[30]
After escaping death and being inadvertently rescued by Nick Dexter and Ron Redding, Professor Krait seeks out Ezra Creech and the pair pool their resources in a bid for world conquest.
Schoolboys Steve Smith and Bob Jones investigate a haunted mansion, only to find it full of alien blobs who can control minds. The rest of the village rapidly falls under their control as the lads try to raise the alarm.
Morg of the Mammoths
Published: October 19, 1963, to January 18, 1964[1]
Neolithic tribesman Morg is banished from his village after refusing to kill a mammoth. Once out in the tundra, Morg finds himself adopted by the mammoth, who he names Karga.
Gullible cowpoke Joe Murphy believes himself to be in possession of a magic belt. He isn't, but a combination of his increased confidence and good luck mean things tend to work out for him anyway, and Murphy is unflinching in his faith in the pants-retainer.
Weedy botanist Albert Oates discovers a formula that transforms his body into an athletic marvel. He uses this to win numerous sporting events while keeping his secret formula out of the hands of evil-doers led by Doctor Vulpex.
Operation Fire-Mountain
Published: February 26, 1955, to August 27, 1955[1]
Writer: Rex King
Artist: Peter Gallant
Max Steel and a group of demobbedCommandos investigate the mysterious Fire-Mountain Island at the behest of the Secret Service.
RAF pilot Paddy Payne and his trusty wingman Dick 'Dicko' Smith defend the skies. Payne was a talented aircraft racer before the war, and served in the Battle of Britain flying a Spitfire. By 1942 Payne was a Squadron Leader and 'troubleshooter', shipped from unit to unit for tricky missions. Later Paddy's number two became the eager but luckless Pete Prendergast.
Payne's role serve in many theatres. In Europe, he was involved defending England from Luftwaffe bombers and V-1s; pathfinding for bombing missions to Germany; protecting the English Channel from U-Boats before bombing their pens in Kiel; sinking the battleship Tirnhorst in a Norwegian fjord; defending Malta; working with partisans to liberate Yugoslavia; thwarting crack Luftwaffe hunter-killer unit the Double Eagles; destroying secret German weapons like the Viper rocket-fighter and old racing opponent Von Engel's dirigible-mounted Sun-Gun, aiding the French Resistance and capturing Field marshal Reichstag. In the Middle East, he supported the Eighth Army from Cairo ahead of the Battle of Alamein, while in the Pacific he was responsible for frustrating a Japanese invasion of India from a Royal Navy battlegroup centered on aircraft carrier HMS Swiftsure, and leading a squadron of raw recruits against Japanese ace Major Kimura over the Coral Sea.
The stories did not always run in chronological order – for example, the first serial took place in 1942, while one set during the Battle of Britain was run years later. From 1957 Paddy Payne took over the colour cover of Lion until 1964. In 1967 the strip stopped while features from The Champion were incorporated before returning in 1968 and running for another year.[16]
Nebbish teacher Olaf Larson finds a mystical helmet belonging to one of his Norse antecedents at a Viking burial site. Donning the headgear gave him the ability to turn into the mighty Phantom Viking – a popular hero, in contrast to the awkward teacher mocked as "Loopy Larson" by his Woodburn School pupils. The Phantom Viking's only weakness was that his powers would disappear when the a south wind blew. Despite his pronounced general air of weakness, Larsen attracted sympathy from beautiful secretary Helen Yates.
The strip was inherited from the short-lived revival of The Champion, where it had debuted on 26 February 1966.[72]
Hydrapods – living and dangerous plants – stalk the English countryside while Professor Paul Loder and assistant Whittaker attempt to devise a way to stop them.
Reprinted as "Menace of the Killer Plants" in the 1971 Lion Annual.[73]
In the reign of Emperor Nero, enslaved brothers Cardoc, Granus and Edric seem set to be freed by their noble owner Mercius until he is tricked by rival Gelda. The three Britons are then forced to go on the run.
A forgotten Nazi army led by General Von Stern awaken in 2046 after being cryogenically frozen in the last days of World War II. Finding an enlightened society which has long eschewed weapons, the unit swiftly conquers Britain but have to contend with a resistance led by plucky Bill Churchill.
Pals Ted Ritchie and Ken Dale are given control of a powerful robot created by Ritchie's uncle, which they use to hunt for treasure in the jungles of Africa and South America.
The characters initially appeared in "The Jungle Robot" before returning in "Archie the Robot Explorer" in 1957.[16][75] Later years saw much use of reprints.[62] The story was not continued in Valiant after the merger as a regular feature[51] but did make a six-week "guest appearance".[76]
Rod of the Trading Post
Published: February 23, 1952, to September 13, 1952[1]
A smart and honest pupil at boarding school Tollington, Sandy helps out friends like bespectacled best chums Jack Hardy and 'Owl' Watson, swots up on his prep, plays sport and deals with bullies like 'Bossy' Bates and prefect 'Haughty' Hawkins. Further down the line the school was even involved in an espionage plot when Bates was bribed by nefarious foreign Eastern European agents.
The strip was initially called "Sandy Dean's First Term" before being renamed "Sandy Dean's Schooldays" later in 1952. It retained this title until 1961 (throughout which Sandy remained in the fourth form), when it was renamed "Tales of Tollgate School" until 1964. Subsequently, the series switched to smaller storylines – "The Rock That Rocked Tollgate", "Tollgate at Sea!", "The Tollgate Treasure Hunters" and "Sandy Dean and the Ghost Ship" in 1964, and finally "Sandy Dean and the Pirates" in 1965, the last storyline before the strip was dropped.[79]
After helping the Black Max, evil scientific genius Doktor Gratz accidentally places himself in suspended animation and reawakens in the present day, where he plans to avenge Germany's defeat in World War I. Special Agent Bill Wilson plans to stop him.
Evil scientist Professor Krait terrorises the world as supervillain the Snake. Able to wriggle through any gap and hypnotise his prey, the Snake also spoke in a hissing voice.
The travels of a Colt pistol cast in silver intended for a frontier lawman that ends up passing through various unintended owners. The Colt moved forward in time with each owner until last being glimpsed on a World War I battlefield.
Emerging from the sea, the monstrous Sludge moves across the world, possessing any machinery it comes into touch with, and reforming after any attempt to destroy it. The focal point of resistance against the substance were Canadian newsmen Bill Hanley and Rick Slade.
Hanley and Slade had been introduced in "The Whirlpool of Weed"; both the intrepid pair and the Sludge would be featured again in sequel "Return of the Sludge" in the 1967 Lion Annual.[84] The Sludge would later emerge a third time to do battle with Robot Archie in 1970, and reappeared in Rebellion Developments' The Vigilant.[85]
The Speed Kings
Published: January 13, 1968, to May 11, 1968; August 10, 1968, to October 5, 1968[1]
Artist: Barracuda
Professional daredevil brothers Sandy and Joe try to earn a job from the mysterious Mr. Kelsey with their reckless bravery and mechanical ingenuity.
Tom Turville inherits crumbling family home Turville Hall. Once inside he is stunned to find his ancestor Sylvester Turville, who had accidentally magically frozen himself in time some 200 years earlier. Upon awakening, he becomes fast friends with Tom, with the pair having to thwart greedy solicitor Mr. Crabtree and his muscle Silas Manson, who thought the house contained treasure, and other parties bent on stealing Sylvester's powerful Philosophers' Stone.
Originally titled "Turville's Touchstone" before being renamed for the second story, "Spellbinder" was briefly continued in the Valiant Book of Mystery and Magic.[87]
The Spider is a master criminal of hazy origins who uses his genius and his army of crime - including safe cracking idiot savant Roy Ordini and amoral scientist Prof Pelham – to become the 'King of Crooks'.
Several stories were reprinted in Lion from April 22, 1972, to December 8, 1973.[88]
A Mountie who patrolled Frozen Hills in North-west Canada, an area plagued by criminal activity despite its sparse population and barren, remote geography.
In World War II, Professor Brayne devises the Mark 1 Indestructible Robot for the British Army. Unfortunately a programming error means the fearsome war machine will only respond to the voice of Lance corporal Ernest "Excused Boots" Bates, a Cockney layabout. Nevertheless, the pair are sent into combat in France with successful results – at least whenever Bates feels like ordering 'Ironsides' into battle.[89]
Boy menace "Stitch" Cotton is such a neighbourhood menace his behaviour is noticed by intergalactic despot Mister Universe, who plans to train him alongside the similarly bratty Varl of Voltar as his apprentice. However, the pair steal Universe's time machine and irritate people throughout history instead.
After his father mysteriously disappears serving on the HMS Seahawk, Mark Darrell sneaks aboard to investigate sinister visually-challenged bosun Patch-Eye.
In ancient Denmark, a sinister fungus begins taking over the population and putting the control of an entity called Helvid; Rolf the Viking leads the battle against the takeover.
A legacy of Chinese curiosities from his uncle plunges Hamish McBone and his friend Alfie Bean into the middle of a Tong plot when they discover a magic gem which transforms them from inept wrestlers to a winning tag team.
Football fan Terry Turner discovers a box of vintage stereoscopic Anstey Albion photos belong to his uncle. When viewed the long-gone legends come to life, and Terry puts them into action to improve the fortunes of the penniless current version of his beloved club.
The story was not continued in Valiant after the merger.[51]
Tex Radley – The Rancher from the Circus Ring
Published: October 18, 1958, to September 5, 1959[1]
After a successful career in a Wild West travelling circus, Tex Radley inherits a ranch and settles down with buddy Jud Clegg – only to find crooked neighbour Spencer Duke is scheming to take their spread for himself.
A close friend of Wild Bill Hickok, Colonel Jonathan Morningstar leads his United States Cavalry by example from horse Fury.
A redrawn version of "Buffalo Bill" from The Comet, with Bill's fictionalised adventures reworked to be those of a fictionalised version of Texas Jack Omohundro.[95]
Player-manager of Division Four football team Redhaven Rangers, the talented Billy Keen struggles to keep good results coming in while balancing the club's parlous budget.
Twins flee the orphanage when the strict governor attempts to get rid of their pet Labrador. Given a ramshackle houseboat by a sympathetic stranger, the boys discover a treasure map aboard and set out to seek their fortune.
Doughty Sergeant Trelawney of the Grenadier Guards leads his unit into battle in World War II.
Early strips included fact pages on the history of the British Infantry. Like Paddy Payne, the stories often shifted backwards and forwards chronologically. From July 29, 1967, the story was renamed "Trelawny's Mob".[1]
A tough secret agent in an alternate Britain, Vic Gunn and assistant Tubby fight to free the country from the evil Baron Rudolph. Rudolph has devised a sound weapon that paralyses much of the population and runs Britain as a police state.
Gunn debuted in "Britain in Chains" and remained the focus when it was renamed "Public Enemy No. 1" and then "The Battle for Liverpool". Later storylines featured the character's name in the title.[99]
Septimus Creech was once curator of the now-decaying Palace of Villainy waxworks museum. Able to make wax figures of history's most evil men and send them on criminal rampages. His activity attracts attention from PC Mick Martin but his tales of a highwayman in 20th century Britain see him drummed off the force. Martin resolves to expose Creech's schemes and clear his name.
Liverpudlians Whacker and Mac move to a tumbledown country house Hardnutt Hall. In the garage they find an old jalopy fitted with a computer brain that takes them on adventures.
A boy quizzes his father over his service in World War II. After initially boasting of various heroics, the elder is ultimately revealed to have greatly exaggerated or otherwise fudged some menial or bizarre antic.
Canadian journalists Bill Hanley and Rick Slade discover a huge island of seaweed moving across the Atlantic. It is under the control of Diodin, who plans to use his army of sea creatures to take over America.
Hanley and Slade would subsequently return in "The Sludge".
The White-Eyes
Published: January 29, 1972, to October 21, 1972[1]
Artist: John Catchpole
A gas turns people into white-eyed, superhumanly powerful aggressors. Later, wheelchair-bound megalomaniac Ezra Creech exposes himself to the gas and targets the island of Doomcrag as the first step towards global domination, but local boys Nick Dexter and Don Redding plan to stop him.
Creech is not shown to be related to Septimus Creech from "The Waxer" but did later team up with The Snake in "Masters of Menace".[102]
An American highway patrolman from Pensburgh, equipped with detective skills and a Harley Davidson Electra Glide motorcycle. Nolan often clashed with desk-riding superior Captain Brinker over his hunches, and as such usually ended up taking down the criminal single-handedly after divining his guilt. At one point both Nolan and Brinker were sent to England for six months to study British police techniques.
The character debuted in straightforward detective strip "Zip Nolan – Highway Patrol" before being reconfigured as the 'interactive' "Spot the Clue with Zip Nolan". Nolan would thus spend parts of the strip breaking the forth wall, firstly to directly invite their help and then in a wrap-up explaining the crime after apprehending the villain of the week. The strip continued in Valiant after the merger, albeit in reprint form.[51] Nolan himself appeared as a major character in Albion.[107]
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"The House of Dolmann" is a British comic strip published by Fleetway Publications and later IPC Magazines in the boys' comic anthology title Valiant between 29 October 1966 to 11 April 1970, with a brief revival from 7 September to 26 October 1974. Written by Tom Tully and primarily illustrated by Eric Bradbury, the strip centred on the exploits of genius inventor Eric Dolmann and his army of crime-fighting robot 'puppets'.
The Champion was a weekly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications from 26 February to 4 June 1966. The series revived the name of the story paper of the same name printed by Fleetway's predecessor, Amalgamated Press; however, while the first version of The Champion had run from 1922 to 1956, the new title lasted little more than three months before being merged with another Fleetway boys' comic, the established Lion.
Karl the Viking is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by Fleetway Publications. Centred on a Saxon-born Viking warrior in the 11th century, the strip mixed historical adventure with fantasy, and first appeared in the boys' anthology title Lion on 29 October 1960. Drawn by Don Lawrence and written by Ted Cowan, the character's appearances ran for four years.
Hurricane was a weekly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications from 29 February 1964 to 8 May 1965. The title was billed as "the companion paper to Valiant" in reference to the weekly launched by Fleetway in 1962 that had rapidly become one of the company's best-selling publications. However, while Valiant would run until 1976, Hurricane was less successful and lasted just over a year before being merged with Tiger in 1965.
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