Ted Cowan
Encyclopedia
Ted Cowan, being the best known familiar name of Edward George Cowan, is a British comic book
writer.
His early career included working as a laboratory assistant prior to World War II
when he enlisted firstly in the Royal Air Force
and subsequently in the British Army
where he was a dispatch rider. After the war he initially continued in the Services in a clerical capacity when he began to make the change to writing.
Having long been fascinated by the comics of the day, it was in response to a friendly challenge that he submitted a story for an amateur writing competition in a newspaper. Shortly afterwards he landed work for The Champion
, scripting the strip Ginger Nutt. An increasing number of commissions prompted him to resign his regular job in order to turn professional as a freelance scriptwriter.
This was the start of nearly four decades of working in the British comic industry where at his peak he was considered among the most prolific writers of children's scripts in Fleet Street
, London
. He not only wrote for Comics, but also Annuals, 'Libraries' and short stories for many publishers including: Odhams Books Ltd., Fleetway Publications Ltd., IPC Ltd.
and extensively in later years D.C. Thomson & Company Ltd. of Dundee, Scotland.
Undoubtedly his most famous creation was for Lion
, for which he conceptualised Robot Archie
(initially known as The Jungle Robot) which he would script for much of the strip's run. Archie, which first appeared in Lion's launch issue published on 23 February 1952, was 'operated' by the fictional Ted Richie and his best friend Ken Dale. Archie has been translated and published in foreign languages including French where he is known as both Archie Le Merveilleux Robot (The Marvellous Robot) and Archie l'homme d'acier (The Man of Steel) and Dutch, Archie de Man van Staal (The Man of Steel).
Another famous creation also for Lion was the 'anti-hero' The Spider
, which after the character's conception and first two complete stories was subsequently scripted by Jerry Siegel
(though Cowan would return to script "The Bubbles of Doom" for the character's Super Library Stupendous Series). These first two stories by Ted Cowan were reprinted in full in 2005 in a new hardback picture strip book, the King of Crooks, together with other content.
His Tarzanesque jungle story Saber King of the Jungle for Tiger
was later reprised in France as Yataca.
Please be aware there are other unrelated authors who have written under the name of George Forrest. The content will tend to indicate which scripts were written by Ted Cowan, who wrote almost exclusively for the boys / girls / comic market.
Short Stories in Hard Cover Compilations:
(No ISBN); First Published 1965, Golden Pleasure Books Ltd., London
ISBN 0-600-38452-7; ISBN 978-0-600-38452-6
1st edition (1968), The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd.
ISBN 0-361-05769-5; Published 1983, Purnell Books, Bristol
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
writer.
His early career included working as a laboratory assistant prior to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
when he enlisted firstly in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and subsequently in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
where he was a dispatch rider. After the war he initially continued in the Services in a clerical capacity when he began to make the change to writing.
Having long been fascinated by the comics of the day, it was in response to a friendly challenge that he submitted a story for an amateur writing competition in a newspaper. Shortly afterwards he landed work for The Champion
The Champion (comics)
The Champion was a British weekly boys' story paper published by Amalgamated Press, which ran from January 28, 1922 until March 19, 1955. Its original editor was F. Addington Symonds. From 1929 until 1940 it had a monthly, pocket-sized companion paper, The Champion Library, containing characters...
, scripting the strip Ginger Nutt. An increasing number of commissions prompted him to resign his regular job in order to turn professional as a freelance scriptwriter.
This was the start of nearly four decades of working in the British comic industry where at his peak he was considered among the most prolific writers of children's scripts in Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He not only wrote for Comics, but also Annuals, 'Libraries' and short stories for many publishers including: Odhams Books Ltd., Fleetway Publications Ltd., IPC Ltd.
IPC Media
IPC Media , a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Inc., is a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a large portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year.- Origins :...
and extensively in later years D.C. Thomson & Company Ltd. of Dundee, Scotland.
Undoubtedly his most famous creation was for Lion
Lion (comic)
Lion was a weekly comic published by Fleetway from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues.-Publishing history:...
, for which he conceptualised Robot Archie
Robot Archie
Robot Archie is the name of a fictional comic book character who first appeared in Lion #1 published in February 1952.-Publishing history:...
(initially known as The Jungle Robot) which he would script for much of the strip's run. Archie, which first appeared in Lion's launch issue published on 23 February 1952, was 'operated' by the fictional Ted Richie and his best friend Ken Dale. Archie has been translated and published in foreign languages including French where he is known as both Archie Le Merveilleux Robot (The Marvellous Robot) and Archie l'homme d'acier (The Man of Steel) and Dutch, Archie de Man van Staal (The Man of Steel).
Another famous creation also for Lion was the 'anti-hero' The Spider
The Spider (comics)
The Spider is a British comic book character who began as a supervillain before becoming a superhero. He appeared in Lion between 26 June 1965 and 26 April 1969 and was reprinted in Vulcan. He was created by writer Ted Cowan and artist Reg Bunn...
, which after the character's conception and first two complete stories was subsequently scripted by Jerry Siegel
Jerry Siegel
Jerome "Jerry" Siegel , who also used pseudonyms including Joe Carter, Jerry Ess, and Herbert S...
(though Cowan would return to script "The Bubbles of Doom" for the character's Super Library Stupendous Series). These first two stories by Ted Cowan were reprinted in full in 2005 in a new hardback picture strip book, the King of Crooks, together with other content.
His Tarzanesque jungle story Saber King of the Jungle for Tiger
Tiger (comic)
Tiger was a British comic magazine published from 1954 to 1985. The comic was launched under the editorship of Derek Birnage on 11 September 1954, under the name Tiger – The Sport and Adventure Picture Story Weekly, and featured predominantly sporting strips...
was later reprised in France as Yataca.
Pseudonyms
Edward George Cowan has written under variations of his real name as well as pseudonyms, including (but not limited to):- Ted Cowan
- E. George Cowan
- Edward G. Cowan
- Denise Cowan (for the girl's story market)
- George Forrest
- Geo. Forrest
Please be aware there are other unrelated authors who have written under the name of George Forrest. The content will tend to indicate which scripts were written by Ted Cowan, who wrote almost exclusively for the boys / girls / comic market.
Script Accreditations
Script accreditations include (but are not limited to):- Robot ArchieRobot ArchieRobot Archie is the name of a fictional comic book character who first appeared in Lion #1 published in February 1952.-Publishing history:...
- LionLion (comic)Lion was a weekly comic published by Fleetway from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues.-Publishing history:... - The SpiderThe Spider (comics)The Spider is a British comic book character who began as a supervillain before becoming a superhero. He appeared in Lion between 26 June 1965 and 26 April 1969 and was reprinted in Vulcan. He was created by writer Ted Cowan and artist Reg Bunn...
- LionLion (comic)Lion was a weekly comic published by Fleetway from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues.-Publishing history:... - Paddy Payne - LionLion (comic)Lion was a weekly comic published by Fleetway from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues.-Publishing history:...
- Sandy Dean – LionLion (comic)Lion was a weekly comic published by Fleetway from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. It lasted for 1,156 issues.-Publishing history:...
- Roy of the Rovers - TigerTiger (comic)Tiger was a British comic magazine published from 1954 to 1985. The comic was launched under the editorship of Derek Birnage on 11 September 1954, under the name Tiger – The Sport and Adventure Picture Story Weekly, and featured predominantly sporting strips...
- Saber King of the Jungle - TigerTiger (comic)Tiger was a British comic magazine published from 1954 to 1985. The comic was launched under the editorship of Derek Birnage on 11 September 1954, under the name Tiger – The Sport and Adventure Picture Story Weekly, and featured predominantly sporting strips...
- Billy Binns and his wonderful specs - Boys' WorldBoys' WorldBoys' World was a boys' comic published in the UK. It ran for 89 issues in 1963 and 1964 before merging with the Eagle.-External links:*...
- Smokeman / UFO Agent - EagleEagle (comic)Eagle was a seminal British children's comic, first published from 1950 to 1969, and then in a relaunched format from 1982 to 1994. It was founded by Marcus Morris, an Anglican vicar from Lancashire. Morris edited a parish magazine called The Anvil, but felt that the church was not communicating...
- Blackbow the Cheyenne - EagleEagle (comic)Eagle was a seminal British children's comic, first published from 1950 to 1969, and then in a relaunched format from 1982 to 1994. It was founded by Marcus Morris, an Anglican vicar from Lancashire. Morris edited a parish magazine called The Anvil, but felt that the church was not communicating...
- Girls’ Crystal Libraries
- Nick Jolly the Flying Highwayman – Hotspur (comic) 1975, DC Thompson & Co. Ltd.
Short Stories in Hard Cover Compilations:
- On the White Fang - Edward G. Cowan: Boy's Choice
(No ISBN); First Published 1965, Golden Pleasure Books Ltd., London
- The Prey – Ted Cowan: Supernatural Stories for Boys
ISBN 0-600-38452-7; ISBN 978-0-600-38452-6
1st edition (1968), The Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd.
- Not Our Pigeon – Ted Cowan: Purnell’s Book Of Spy Stories
- The Dead Don’t Ride – Geo. Forrest: Purnell’s Book Of Spy Stories
ISBN 0-361-05769-5; Published 1983, Purnell Books, Bristol
External links
- The Spider: King of Crooks - Review
- Comics UK - Lion
- Denise Cowan Pseudonym & Girls' Crystal
- Yataca - Sabre King of the Jungle (Wikipedia France)