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RED DAGGER COMICS.....ONLY 30 IN THE SET.
Issued monthly, first one out was October 1979, the last being produced June 1983.
Several of the pictures in the Red Dagger were originally included in the comics they were intended for , several had changes done by in-house artists to cut out say the name of the character of the story title.
One of these such changes was The Sniper! Originally in the 171 issue of Warlord, it was then altered and added to for the Red Dagger series. In the original Sniper Kelly is shown: hand on belt, and then in the Red Dagger version a longer arm and carrying a gun. The word SNIPER taken from the top of the strip. This can be viewed on the downthetubes.net site.
No1 Twisty.
Firstly advertised on the inside cover as "Criminal-in-the-making....or Soccer Star of Tomorrow?
Twisty was the story of one Twisty Lunnon who lived in a grimy backyard in Sleethorpe. Twisty kept pigeons and walked with a limp after suffering injury in a car crash, he lived with his horrible Uncle Charlie, and was aware that people didn't take kindly to him. He was especially hated by Badger Smith's mob.
It was whilst swipping the football from Smith's gang and showing them a footballing lesson on a disused site that Twisty was spotted by Mr Barney Hollis the Sleethorpe United Youth Team Manager.
After a scrape with the law over a stolen watch that he was to sell on for money for his Uncle Charlie, Twisty was asked by Mr Hollis to sign a contract.
It was either this or face the law, so Twisty agreed. On returning home, Twisty had found that his Uncle had sold his pigeons, again Mr Hollis came to his rescue and got the pigeons back.
After the United club Manager was hurt in a car crash, Mr Alf Meeker was his replacement, but after seeing Twister play in the training session, Meeker's mind was concentrating more on how much he could make by selling him.
When Twisty was supposed to be substitute for the apprentices, Meeker had organised for Twisty to play for the reserves against a hard side instead, it was planned that Twisty gets a surprise in the way of scouts from several First Divisions. His plan back-fired and Twisty was once again under the wing of Hollis. Further exploits in this issue saw Twisty play his socks off and win a cup. This once hated rogue, turned out to be a much loved footballer indeed.
No2 The Tough of the Track.
Tough of the Track hero Alf Tupper is the character everyone is talking about in this second of these Red Dagger stories. Fed on Fish and Chips, Alf the character created for The Rover comic by Bill Blaine, written by Gilbert Dalton and illustrated in the Victor comic by Pete Sitherland has appeared in several British comics strips over the years.
Alf Tupper lived with his aunt Meg and worked for several people in his hard-working career! Alf was said to have paid his aunt £1.2s and 6d for rent and kept 2/6d for himself. Alf was often seen to give cups and trophies to his aunt too and was also seen to be burning the candle at both ends, having his favourite fill of fish and chips and then going out running and having a time of his life.
No3 Morgyn the Mighty.
Morgyn the Mighty was a character of D.C. Thomson that had his own book written about him circa 1951 published by Thomson/Leng. Morgyn was a "Tarzan" like man, who first appeared in the Beano. In 1951 he as drawn for The Rover and then found himself in The Victor in 1963. He was drawn by the reknown artist Dudley Dexter Watkins, who had earlier drawn a similar character called Strang the Terrible. Morgyn was a fictious strong man who supposedly lived on Black Island with his mentor Adam(another D.C. Thomson idea) Morgyn was to appear in many stories throughout the Victor's publication run!
No4 Sniper.
The Sniper first appeared in the Warlord 1977, it was drawn by the D.C. Thomson artist Spaniard Carlos Cruz. Sniper Kelly was a favourite character to many readers and his exploits were second to none. Starring in the Second World War, this fictious man saw his skills take him through several scrapes. Sniper Kelly, the British Army's deadliest marksman of World War II sets out to avenge the murder of his army pals. His target - the ruthless S.S. officer, who ordered the executions. Kelly's story is told in No4 of these stories.
No5 Midge.
Malcolm "Midge" Miller was the main character in this No5 of these comics.
Sixteen year old "Midge" Miller worked for Callaghan's the builders who were erecting a prefabricated shed at Marrow's shipyard. Midge started off as a 7 stone weakling and was bullied by his macho co-workers. However, in his spare time he took up a bodybuilding course at the S.W.I.S.H., the Shipyard Workers Indoor Sports Hall and at the end of the story became a hunk to be reckoned with.
No6 Cast Iron Bill.
This story takes on Bill as a goalkeeper playing for Kendale Butchers. His team were playing Borrow Swifts in Kendale Public Park in the Lake District. Cast Iron Bill's real name was Bill Steele, and a man of steel was he! Bill owned two trail-hounds Rikki and Lora, they had an instictive nature about them and warned Bill which way a shot was being taken, they would bark and warn him, Riki one side and Lora the other. The story tells of Bills new side he signs for and their fight against relegation. Despite being injured several times Bill soldiered on.
No7 Killer Kane.
Artist Ian Kennedy captures the the spirit of war in this story of killer Kane.
Killer Kane is determined to carry the fight to the Germans during the Battle of Britain in World War II. despite the odds his Spitfire is always in the forefront of the action.
Kane's story is told in this No7 of the Red Dagger long complete picture stories for boys special Battle of Britain issue.
No8 Tasker.
The life of rough, tough Tasker, the boy with a big chip on his shoulder! This is how N08 of The Red Dagger portrayed the story. This is the story of Alf Tasker, a teenage tear-a-way who lives by his wits- and his fists. It begins in London's Dockland in the dark hours- The Violent Hours! They can't tame The Tasker!. Alf was sentenced to two years in Ashfield Approved School. Mr Patch was designated to look after Tasker, he would certainly have a task on his hands. After a fall out with another ruffian Stevens, Tasker helps out a weaker boy they call Limpy. Tasker, Mr Patch and Limpy become good friends.
No9 Terror in the Tall Tower.
This is the Ballard Building, situated in Downtown Manhattan, New York, U.S.A. It looked alright but what nameless terror lurks behind its walls? A terror that has kept the building empty for years! Young Don Ballard must find out what brings fear to its rooms and corridors - for Don has become the owner of The Ballard Building. On leaving the airport on his way to the building Don was involved in an attempted kidnap by two thugs working for a gangland boss. The scheme was thwarted however by a man dressed as a hippy. The hippy was an undercover Treasury worker called Jago, Jago's secret was kept until near the end of the story.
Don and Jago also an ex-green beret became close friends, Jago helped save Don's life on several occasions. It turns out that Don's uncle who he had never met vanished when fleeing the police chasing underground villians, Don's uncle was supposed to be involved, but neither he or the gangs stash was ever found. The story thickens when Don and Jago come across a swimming pool in the basement complete with an Octopus "The Terror in the Tall Tower". The octopus had been reared by a villain and he set about getting it to kill for him. During much chasing through false doorways and hidden tunnels, the monster was eventually killed, Don also found the stash hidden from all some 30 years previous. A great read.
No10 Killer Kennedy.
First published in 1971, Killer Kennedy, the skipper the enemy feared to meet. During the Second World War, Sub-Lieutenant Bill Doyle served in motor torpedo boats under Lieutenant-commander "Killer" Kennedy. One night late in 1943, however, they found themselves in an R.A.F. aircraft flying over German occupied Yugoslavia. Their mission was to advise and assist the Yugoslavian partisan fighters in farming a naval force to harass the Germans along the Yugoslavian coast. The plot nearly back-fired when the partisans captured the British naval officers that had parachuted out to help them in their fight against the Germans. Once everything was explained the British and the partisans became allies. The adventure started off with the partisans helping to cease an ordinary fishing boat, very soon though this was swapped in another mission to an enemy E-boat.
No11 Smasher.
Smasher: a 50-foot tall, virtually indestructible robot which destroyed cities. It was controlled from a secret command bubble by Doctor Doom, an evil genius who planned to take over the world. The comic Bullet by D.C. Thomson ran several series for this story - they had to nuke it at the end, thats Smasher, not The Bullet.
No12 Braddock and the Flying Tigers.
No13 The Frozen Man on the Mountain.
On the front cover drawing two men can clearly be seen, one is that of British secret-service agent Jake Jeffords, the other a dead climber who carried a notebook of vital scientific screts. Jake Jeffords against all odds must get to him first. on the North face of the Schneehorn was a sheer seven thousand foot high wind-lashed wall on whicj five mountaineers had died! It was there that a documentry film crew made a gruesome discovery that soon became world news. Meanwhile Jeffords was otherwise engaged, he stood in front of a firing squad waiting for the inevitable. the outcome was not as planned though, for Jeffords was released. It seemed he had high friends in all the right places. after having several plans of killing him go astray Jeffords finally gets what he wants, the notebook and contents from the frozen man is handed in and the story ends. One twist at the end was that the man he was working for was also the man that hired a bunch od fellows called the "Levellers", Jeffords took care of him too!
No14 Morgyn the Mighty 2.
No15 Cast Iron Bill.
Bill Steele the goalkeeper, or Cast Iron Bill as he was called in this, the No15 of the Red Dagger booklets. Bill started his adventures off by training for Sheffleigh Rovers trying to keep in trim by running with his two trail hounds Rikki and Lorna. Bill was staying with the Honourable Percy Lief-Maulde, the owner and chairman of the team.
The chairman was in money trouble and was selling off some family treasures to make ends meet! Bill set off to the ground for early morning trainning, he was met by his trainer Duncan Forbes, a man who didn't like Bill.
The next game for Sheffleigh saw them lose 4-0, Bill was injured during the match, his leg giving way and allowing the opposition to score a goal. Bill's famous record of not conceding a goal in was beaten. He was taken to hospital as it was suspected there might be a break. Nothing was found, and Steele returned to the ground with calls of Scrap Iron. The fans were baying for him as they thought he faked it!
The debts proved too much for the chairman and eventually he had to sell the club, Bill was told he was able to stay on at the chairman's home but instead Bill decided to move to pastures new! He was to set up home in the Lake District.
No16 Tiger McTaggart.
No17 The Secret of Black Island.
Black Island afore metioned as a fictious Island that bore Morgyn the Mighty. This Red Dagger showed a great front cover of a character swimming in shark infested waters heading for the island.
No18 That Mascot called Monty.
No19 Braddock of the Rocket Squad.
No20 The Black Sapper.
The Black Sapper proved a different challenge as the strip drawn by British artist Terry Patrick in 1971 had been used on the front cover of Hotspur. The cover splash pages from Black Sapper are unique amongst the stories reprinted in Red Dagger and make it much more obvious throughout the issue were each week’s episode started. Full story downthetubes.net
No21 Run Paul Run.
No22 Tough of the Track 2
No23 Dozy Danny.
No24 Flying Fury.
No25 The Blitz Kid.
This is the boyhood story of Arnold Todds, the famous Redburn Rovers and England Left-Half.
One evening in 1941, the wailing of air raid sirens in Stockbridge gave warning that German bombers were on their way to attack the Midlands town, One of the people hurrying towards an air raid shelter was 14-year-old Arnold Tobbs, who had been orphaned during a German air raid on Rudley and who was now working as an engine cleaner in the Stockbridge railway depot. Accompanying Arnold to the shelter was Mrs Harper, his landlady! Suddenly Arnold turned heels and started running in the opposite direction. Despite calls from Mrs Harper, Arnold headed in the direction of the depot.
It was Arnold's intention to see if he could be of use at the engine sheds.
And of use he was, during the bomb raid several trucks caught fire, Arnold and Mr Jones set about moving the trucks to a safer place. After their heroics, Arnold had a short kip and then reported for work the next day. Because a number of workers had been killed in the raid, Arnold was sent in their place. Despite his young age, Arnold coped well. in fact Fred Luker the engine driver said that as a fireman, Arnold was as good as they went.
No26 Death Rider.
The reknown Bernard Briggs tackles the most dangerous job of his career, as a stunt rider on a fairground "Wall of Death"! briggs the famous amateur sportsman who earned his living from general dealing, had called at Carson's Fun Fair to collect an assignment of scrap when a Big Dipper was condemned by a safety officer! Pete Carson an old school chum was the resident Wall of Death rider, when Pete is mysteriously injured and hospitalised, Bernard steps into the brink and takes over the Wall of Death rides. along the way saboteurs try to get the Fair closed down. Bernard does everything he can to make the fair survive. He thinks of several different new schemes to bring in money. The schemes work and Carson's Fun Fair is back in action.
No27 V for Vengeance.
In September, 1939, the Germans invaded Poland. Nothing seemed able to stop their powerful army. It crushed all before it, like a mighty steam-roller. But close to a concentration camp in Bavaria, an incident happened which was to have very unpleasant consequences for the Germans. A HGV carrying an amoured vehicle suddenly had its precious cargo break free. With the tank on its side, it was suggested that the prisoners from the camp should join forces and up-right the tank. It was thought by some that the task was too much for the malnutricianed men.
The task was completed with the help of small jacks, one man a concert violinist was ordered to show his hands as he was wearing gloves, he became friends with another man and then was shot dead. Before dying, the man told his friend that a brother lived nearby, the brother was a plastic surgeon. The brother if contacted would give him a new identity. An escape plan was devised and Herr Gregson managed to contact the plastic surgeon. The new face he chose was one of Von Reich, a second in command of the Gestapo. He was to lead the German army a huge chase around, causing havoc whenever he could.
The first effort was to kill three armed soldiers, and allow twenty starved wretches to escape. A note was placed on the head of the soldiers and they were left to be found. The note read:
V for Vengeance.
The deathless men, those who have died yet still live, strike for freedom. It is the turn of NAZI TYRANTS to die. Let them live in fear, for death is near to each and every one of them.Nothing can stop the just vengeance of the Deathless Men.
With Von Reich killed and disposed of, Herr Gregson took over his identity. The plan to over-throw the Germany army had begun.
No28 Cast, Hook and Strike.
This Red Dagger story follows the life of ficticious angler Joe Dodds, first published in 1971 it appeals to everyone young and old with a liking of fishing. Joe Dodds gives advice on how to fish. Cast, Hook and Strike, The one that got away! Has fishing stories and useful tips in the adventures of Joe, Britain's keenest angler. Joe lived with his grandpa old Ernie Dodds a haulage contractor. They had a lorry in which they carried goods all over the country. In his spare time Joe would angle. He would fish anywhere, even in the most unlikely of places. The story starts with Joe doning his rod in a pit full of bike frames, old baths etc.
No29 Braddock of Bomber Command.
No30 Eleven little Soccer Boys.
