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The Wizard was the third of the ‘Big Five’, first published September 22nd 1922, ran to 1970 issues.

The last issue of The Wizard (1970) was published November 16th 1963.

 

424

424

January 17th 1931

January 24th 1931

 

There were two issues numbered 424. Issue 425 was issued January 31st, 1931.

 

 

 

The Wizard merged with The Rover and the first issue of Rover and Wizard was issued the following week November 23rd 1963.

The title ran to 447 issues before reverting to The Rover August 16th 1969.

The Wizard was relaunched February 14th 1970 and so after nearly 56 years, June 10th 1978 saw the last issue of The Wizard with issue 435.

 

Below are some of the characters featured in The Wizard:

WILLIAM WILSON, COOL CASSIDY, CAPTAIN SCARLETT, CATAMOUNT JACK, RED MACGREGOR, GEORGEOUS GUS, RED STAR ROBERTS, TOM SMITH, LESLIE THOMSON, ARNOLD TABBS, MAGNUS THE MUSCLE MAN, THRUSTER JOHN.

 

And the stories:

THE “Q” TEAM, THE HAUNTED HEAVYWEIGHT, THE VOICE ON THE WIRE, THE CIRCUS OF SUDDEN DEATH, SMITH OF THE LOWER THIRD, V FOR VENGEANCE, THE TRUTH ABOUT WILSON, LIMP ALONG LESLIE, MY NUMBER IS NINE, THE SECRETS OF THE HANDCUFF KING, KASHGAR THE TERRIBLE, THE WOLF OF KABUL.

 

 

 

A SELECTION OF THE WIZARD COVERS

120

189

350

494

529

January 3rd

1925

May 1st

1926

August 17th

1929

May 21st

1932

January 21st

1933

578

628

683

754

786

December 30th

1933

December 15th

1934

January 4th

1936

May 15th

1937

December 25th

1937

801

883

898

1169

1289

April 9th

1938

November 4th

1939

February 14th

1940

April 10th

1948

October 28th

1950

1326

1599

1686

1744

1970

July 14th

1951

October 6th

1956

June 7th

1958

July 18th

1959

November 16th

1963

#1970 November 16th 1963 Was the last issue merged with The Rover

 

The Wizard Title List 1942 - 1963

Following are a selection of stories featured in THE WIZARD:

ADVENTURE STORIES

4 CHALLENGES FROM “Z” ISLAND:

Two of the world’s greatest masters of magic are face to face in a challenge that means death for one of them!

Click here to read the last episode of 4 Challenges from “Z” Island.

 

CAPTAIN JANUARY:

Read about Captain January, of the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police.

Click here to read an episode of Captain January.

 

THE CLUTCHING HAND:

Inspector Lannigan has finally caught up with the man behind the Clutching Hand.

Click here to read the last episode of The Clutching Hand.

 

FAMOUS MEN OF THE WEST (WILD BILL HICKOK):

FAMOUS MEN OF THE WEST also had stories of: Doc Holliday, Jesse James, Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid and others.

Click here to read the Wild Bill Hickok episode.

 

I WAS WITH DARWIN:

John Caldicott sails on the Beagle with Charles Darwin, a mixture of fact and fiction.

Click here to read the first episode of I was with Darwin.

 

THE MONSTER IN HYDE PARK

Overnight in the heart of London, a plant has sprung up.

It’s already 300 feet high – and still growing.

Click here to read the First episode.

 

THE VOICE ON THE WIRE:

Police are assisted in solving various crimes by an anonymous telephone caller.

Also printed under the title: “It’s The Voice on the Wire” & “The Telephone Terror”.

Click here to read the first episode of The Voice on the Wire.

Click here to read the last episode of The Voice on the Wire.

 

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

SMITH OF THE LOWER THIRD:

Lipstone College, a famous public school, has a new pupil, Tom Smith, a council schoolboy who wins a scholarship. The series continued under the title: “Smith of the Fourth Form”.

Click here to read an episode of Smith of the Lower Third.

 

SPORTS STORIES

 

BERNARD BRIGGS:

Bernard appeared in WIZARD, HOTSPUR and HORNET.

Bernard (Bouncing) Briggs was a powerful young fellow who earned his living as a General Dealer, he had a yard of his own in Slagton, and he rode a motor bike with a sidecar made from an old bathtub. He was a keen amateur sportsman taking up various sports including Baseball, Boxing, Football, Ice Hockey, Rugby League, Tennis and Wrestling. Bernard excelled at all the sports he tried.

Click here to read an episode of Bernard Briggs – Bernard takes up tennis.

Click here to read another episode of Bernard Briggs - This time he’s a goalkeeper.

 

THE BOYHOOD OF BERNARD BRIGGS:

Bernard is eleven and following the death of his parents and a bust up with his only relative, Uncle George, Bernard becomes a dealer in scrap to keep his independence.

Click here to read episodes 1 - 5 of The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs.

Click here to read episodes 6 - 10 of The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs.

Click here to read episodes 11 - 15 of The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs.

Click here to read episodes 16 - 20 of The Boyhood of Bernard Briggs.

 

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.

 

LIMP ALONG LESLIE:

Leslie Thomson (Limp along Leslie) a lame boy had two ambitions: to play football for the famous Rangers (based in the town of Darbury) and to train 'Pal' his sheepdog into a champion. Nicknamed because of a limp caused by a childhood accident, Leslie, a young sheep farmer was torn between his love of farming and football.

Click here to read a double episode of Limp along Leslie, in which Leslie meets Nick Smith in an F.A. Cup semi-final.

 

MAGNUS THE MUSCLE MAN:

Magnus carries out amazing weight-lifting feats, accompanied by his coach, Charlie Corbett, and Clifton, his stately manservant. The Muscle Man’s adventures begin in Moscow.

Click here to read the first episode of Magnus the Muscle Man.

 

MY NUMBER IS NINE:

Centre forward, Stan Stagg, plays for Bradwick City, which is fine except the fans hate the club.

Click here to read the first episode of My Number is Nine.

 

THE BAFFLING BOWLER FROM NOWHERE:

Broadshire’s spin bowler, Bob Gregory, has a secret past as a wanted criminal.

Click here to read the first episode of The Baffling Bowler from Nowhere.

 

THE Q TEAM:

The Q Team taken from The Wizard 1946.

This is the first story entitled The Q Team and not to be confused with the second story which appeared in The Wizard 1962.

Click here to read the first episode of The Q Team.

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT WILSON:

William Wilson was born at Stayling village in 1795.

At the age of 14 he ran away, and determined to improve his physique beyond normal, lived wild on Ambleside Moor. There he met a hermit who passed on to him the secret of long life.

First recorded sighting of Wilson was at the British Summer Championships held at Stamford Bridge, London in 1938.

At these Championships, Wilson leaped over the barrier onto the track, just before the start of the mile race; Wilson won the race running the mile in just three minutes.

Up to the start of the war in 1939, Wilson’s athletic feats at home and abroad astounded the world.

During the war he served in the Royal Air Force as a Spitfire pilot. After winning 25 air victories he was shot down in the Battle of Britain.

After the war he devoted his skill and knowledge to helping wounded and disabled men back to normal at an Army Convalescent Hospital.

Wilson next took on the task of finding and training men to represent Britain in the 1948 Olympic Games.

He next penetrated into the African Congo, alone, and discovered an ancient Greek civilization—an African Athens. He competed against the picked Greek athletes of this secret city.

Following this, he then pitted his astounding athletic skill against Chaka’s black athletes.

Wilson saved Africa from warfare to which the Zulu leader was bringing the country.

As a supreme test of mental and physical powers, Wilson set out to conquer Mount Everest.

Read some of the chapters below:

Click here to read an episode of Wilson.

Click here to read double episode of Wilson from 1946.

Click here to read another double episode of Wilson.

 

THERE ONCE WAS A GAME CALLED FOOTBALL:

The year is 2148 and two schoolboys, Phil Mason and Lawrie Hill re-discover the ancient game of Association Football.

Click here to read the first episode of There Once Was a Game Called Football.

Click here to read the last episode of There was once a Game Called Football.

 

WAR STORIES

 

V FOR VENGEANCE:

V for Vengeance was the motto of The Deathless Men.

These were underground fighters who had escaped from German prison camps during the Second World War to wage a war of vengeance and terror against top Nazis. A list of names and members of the Gestapo, and Nazi officials of various ranks, finishing with the final three - Goebbels, Goring and Hitler - would be pinned to the victim after they had been killed, with that victim's name crossed off with a thick red line. They were also nameless men with each member given a 'Jack number'. Wearing black hoods to hide their identity, none were taken alive, as each member would bite on a poison capsule to avoid capture. Their leader Colonel Von Reich, second in command to Himmler in the Black Guards, was Jack One.

Click here to read an episode of V for Vengeance from 1942.

Click here to read an episode of V for Vengeance from 1959. (See below for next three episodes).

Click here to read three episodes of V for Vengeance from 1959.

 

RED VENGEANCE:

The last episodes of V for Vengeance were published in The Wizard in 1961.

The episode below is the very last one.

Where The Faceless Men finally reach Berlin.

Click here to read the very last episode of Red Vengeance from 1961.

 

THE YELLOW SWORD:

Dazed by the suddeness with which their country has been conquered, the people of Britain are handing in all arms.

They are too bewildered to fight back—yet!

This first episode appeared in the Wizard in 1955.

Click here to read the first episode of The Yellow Sword.

The signal to fight for freedom rings round the world—from the Hopebridge school bell.

This last episode appeared in the Wizard in 1956.

Click here to read the last episode of The Yellow Sword.

 

WILL O’ THE WHISTLE:

For a second time, Britain is conquered by the dreaded Kushantis, but again secret fighters dare the invaders’ bullets to free the land.

This last episode appeared in the Wizard in 1956.

Click here to read the first episode of Will O’ the Whistle.

Carried by radio, the shrill note sounded by Will o’ the Whistle was the signal for resistance fighters all over Britain to rise as one against the Kushantis.

D-for-Deliverance Day had come!

Click here to read the last episode of Will O’ the Whistle.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

THE DOG WITH THE YORKSHIRE ACCENT:

The first of the ‘Talking Dog Series’ from 1946.

Click here to read the first episode of The Talking Dog Series.

 

GO, MAN GO!:

“With a one, two, three—we’ll jive all day.” So begins the story of rock-and-roller Danny Dixon.

Click here to read the first episode of Go, Man, Go!

 

GINGER AND THE DUKE – AND THE WEE BLUE BOOK:

The story of two eleven-year-old loco spotting pals and their tour around Britain in a special railway coach.

Click here to read the first episode of Ginger and the Duke – and the wee blue book.

Click here to read an episode of Ginger and the Duke – and the wee blue book.

Click here To read the last episode of Ginger and the Duke – and the wee blue book.

 

PAUL TERHUNE IN QUEER TOWN

The “Wizard’s” famous detective in an amazing Christmas mystery.

First episode taken from the The Wizard issue: 1066 December 23rd 1944.

Click Here to read the First episode.

 

THE COMPLETE STORIES

 

Click here to read: The Demon Barber of Hut 15.

Click here to read: Hank the Swank – the crook with the look.

Click here to read: The Spring-Heeled Spy.

Click here to read: The Twisted Trail of the Forty Fakes.

Click here to read: The Weird One on my Wing.

Click here to read: The Wrong Road for Big Willie.

 

 

Vic Whittle 2019

© D. C. Thomson & Co Ltd