WARLORD was the boys comic published by D C Thomson that was the main rival to Fleetway's Battle. Indeed it was the success of Warlord that led to Battle being launched in the first place.It ran from 1974 - 1986 and notched up 627 issues. The main character was Lord Peter Flint, Codenamed Warlord who was a world war II James Bond - indeed the physical look of the character seemed to be based on Roger Moore who was the screen's current 007.
In 1978 the comic had Bullet, another Boys title that had started strongly but was now experiencing falling sales, merged into it but the only story that remained for any length of time was Fireball about a character who was Lord Peter Flint's nephew.
Another long running story was Union Jack Jackson who was a limey soldier fighting with the Americans in the Pacific theater.
I was never a regular reader as a kid, much preferring Battle but I did pick it up from time to time and joined the Warlord Fan Club for which I paid 20p and got a wallet, a badge and a secret code breaker that allowed me to read coded messages in the comics themselves. This was something DC Thompson did across a few of their titles and I remember also being a member of the Dennis the Menace fan club also.
9 comments:
Man, I would have enjoyed these. I almost bought a Sgt Rock retrospective the other day.
Charles - I'm sure I remember one UK title runing Sgt. Rock stories for awhile. I'll have to check this out.
It constantly amazes me how you find the time and energy to keep up your various interests, Gary. I have boxes of the old Thomson boys' weeklies -- not the comic papers you knew in your boyhood, but the text story ones that preceded them. When I read your piece this morning, I knew Union Jack Jackson, the limey fighting with the US marines, had featured in one of the papers I used to buy in the 1950s -- but was it The Rover, The Wizard, Adventure, or The Hotspur? Day's work done, I've just had a look. It was The Hotspur. . . One day, when I can make the time, I've promised myself I'll sit down and re-read all those great old war, western, and sport yarns!
Like you Gary, I much preffered Battle to WarLord and read it occasionally. I sure remember Peter Flint. I seem to remember reading Bullet too.
Ah, Keith, those Hotspur days! When boys actually read text in comics; even Eagle did it for a while, starting with an O Henry story. One wonders if the loss of these text comics had a knock on effect; no men's magazines seem to feature fiction these days.
I can never remember text stories in comics except in the annuals which did this from time to time. I probably started reading comics in the early to mid 70's. I think the oldest title I can remember being for sale was Lion.
Given the choice between today's coated paper digital colored comics or these with spot color, screens and cheap newsprint, I'll take the latter. Another educational post, Gary! Thanks much!
I was a member of the Warlord Club with my 'Winged W' badge, wallet and codebook when I was about 9 years old in the late 70's, I seem to recall some scall friends were members of a club called 'Fireball' too.
I'd forgotten all about this until I saw your posting.
Anyone have any idea how much the warlord wallet set would be worth...complete with badge ,letter and code book
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