RED ROVER

RED ROVER

Created by Ed Furness “Red Rover” and his partners “Skipper” & “Knuckles” first appeared in Grand Slam Comics vol. 3, no. 10, September 1944 along with first appearances by “Commander Steel” and “Dr. Destine”. These features completely replaced the U.S. imports. In this issue Ed Furness asked readers to give them feedback on the new characters.

“Red Rover’s” origin story bares a remarkable resemblance to the “Freelance” origin story in that like “Freelance” he is raised by aboriginals and has no knowledge of the identity of his parents or country of origin. In this story he is a toddler on a yacht with his parents in the South Pacific. A typhoon strikes and everyone is drowned but the youngster. He is found by Polynesians and raised by the King as his son. Although rivals try to kill him several times he survives and grows to manhood. One day he travels to an island far from his own and meets his first white man “Skipper who teaches him English and names him “Red’ for his hair and “Rover” because he roved over to the skipper’s island. At the end of the story we a introduced to “Red Rover’s” second partner “Knuckles”

In “Wings of Adventure” Furness said he used the Canadian bush plane Noorduyn Norseman as the reference, although it is hard to see the similarity.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:                                                                          All published by Anglo-American Publishing Ltd.

Content serial:

Grand Slam Comics…:  “Red Rover …” Contributors unidentified. Black & white .
3- 10, September 1944: “Introducing”: 17-30.

3-11, October, 1944: “… and the Mysterious Call For Help”: 17-30.

3-12, November 1944: ”17-30.

4-2, January 1945: “… The Exploding Seed Pods.”: 19-32.

4-3, February 1945: “…  and the Fugitive Dragon”: 33-46.

4-4, March 1945: “…  and the Mad Sorcerer of Rakatiwa.” 29-37.

4-6, May 1945: 33-46:  “…  The Jumpin’ Jive.

4-6 (actually 4-7), June 1945: “… and the Revenge Of Denu Naki”: 33-46.

 

Grand Slam Comics/Three Aces…: “Red Rover ….” Contributors unidentified. Colour
IV-45, August 1945: “… Saves Bird Island.” 1-10.

IV-46, September 1945: No story..

 

IV-48, November 1945: No story.

IV-49, December 1945: “… Champion of the South Seas”: 23-32.

V-50, January 1946: “… in Wings of Adventure”:  12-21.

 

Grand Slam Comics…: “Red Rover …” Contributors unidentified.  Colour.
V-51, February 1946: Untitled:  2-10.

 

V-53, June/July 1946: “…  and the Dope Czar of the South Seas”:  32-45.

5-54, August/September 1946: “… and the South Seas School Scandal”: 33-46.

5-55, October/November 1946: “…  The Skipper’s Secret”: 28-37.

5-56, December/January 1946: “… and the Planted Pearl Mine”: 2-15.

Cover front:

Grand Slam Comics…: Illus., Unidentified. Anglo-American Publishing.
4-4, March 1945.

V-51, February 1946.

 5-55, October/November 1946

5-56, December/January 1946.

MERCHANDISE:

Crest Glo.

RED ROVER Day-glo crest

SOURCE:

Interview:

Telephone with Ed Furness Nov. 27, 1985.

GALLERY:

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON R\RED ROVER Grand Slam 4-4 March 1945 fc.jpg First Red Rover cover. Grand Slam, 4-4, March 1945: Front cover.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON R\RED ROVER, Grand Slam Comics, 4-4 March 1945, 33.jpg “Red Rover.” Grand Slam Comics, 4-4, March 1945: 33.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON R\RED ROVER Grand Slam V-55 Oct Nov 1946 fc.jpg Last Red Rover cover. Grand Slam, V-55, October/November 1945: Front cover.

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE CARTOON\IMAGE CARTOON R\RED ROVER, Grand Slam Comics, 5-53, 43.jpg “Red Rover and the Dope Czar of the South Seas.” Grand Slam Comics, V-53, June/July 1946: 43.

 

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