Wilson of the Wizard
Encyclopedia
Wilson the Wonder Athlete or William Wilson is a fictional character whose adventures were initially published in the British illustrated story paper The Wizard published by D. C. Thomson & Co.
using the pen name W S K Webb, and a book, The Truth About Wilson collected a number of the text stories in the 1960s. Thought by Paul Gravett
to be the prototype of the "astonishing sporting prodigies" who became popular in British comics, (cf. Alf Tupper
, Roy of the Rovers
), Gravett describes him as an "unassuming totally dedicated loner, [wanting] no glory or publicity". Although his stories were initially told in prose, a move to the comic papers The Hornet and Hotspur saw the character depicted in comic strip form. The character was later revived for D.C. Thomson's Spike
comic of 1984 to 1985, initially within a comic strip with art by Neville Wilson. Referred to as The Man in Black, the character was revealed to be Wilson in the course of the story, with reprints of the older material published within the comic as Wilson's diaries.
The character is depicted within stories as performing a number of improbable events. Wilson was seen in one strip becoming the first man to climb Everest, and another saw him captaining an England cricket
team to The Ashes
in Australia. Depicted as being born in 1795, he is given the secret of eternal life by a hermit. Originally hailing from Yorkshire, and living in a cave on a diet of nuts and berries, Wilson exemplified British grit and the stiff upper lip. According to The Guardian
he "was hailed as a welcome wartime morale booster", while The Telegraph
remembers him as a "focused and intense individual ... [with no] recorded instance of him smiling or cracking a joke." In 2004 artist John Reynolds acquired the licence to reproduce images of Wilson as large screen-print canvases. Former Guinness Book of Records deputy editor and athletics statistician, Ian Smith, cites the character as an inspiration, and he inspired many British athletes in their careers as well as Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx
. The character is still used in newspaper reports on sport as a cultural reference point.
Publication history
The character first appeared in issue 1029 Wizard (24 July 1943) in a story titled "The Truth About Wilson". The first adventure introduced Wilson as a supreme athlete, who joins a race from out of the crowd and manages to record a three-minute mile. The character's adventures were written by Gilbert Lawford DaltonGilbert Lawford Dalton
Gilbert Lawford Dalton was a prolific writer of stories for British boys' comics.He wrote under several pseudonyms so the extent of his writing may not be entirely clear, but is believed to include Wilson the Wonder Athlete, Alf Tupper and Matt Braddock.Clive James wrote that he enjoyed the...
using the pen name W S K Webb, and a book, The Truth About Wilson collected a number of the text stories in the 1960s. Thought by Paul Gravett
Paul Gravett
Paul Gravett is a London-based journalist, curator, writer and broadcaster who has worked in comics publishing and promotion for over 20 years....
to be the prototype of the "astonishing sporting prodigies" who became popular in British comics, (cf. Alf Tupper
Alf Tupper
Alf Tupper was a fictional working class, 'hard as nails' runner, whose adventures appeared in first The Rover and then The Victor, British boys' comics from D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd...
, Roy of the Rovers
Roy of the Rovers
Roy of the Rovers is a British comic strip about the life and times of a fictional footballer named Roy Race, who played for Melchester Rovers...
), Gravett describes him as an "unassuming totally dedicated loner, [wanting] no glory or publicity". Although his stories were initially told in prose, a move to the comic papers The Hornet and Hotspur saw the character depicted in comic strip form. The character was later revived for D.C. Thomson's Spike
Spike (comic)
Spike was a British comics anthology that ran from 22 January 1983 to 28 April 1984. 67 Issues. Published by D. C. Thomson & Co...
comic of 1984 to 1985, initially within a comic strip with art by Neville Wilson. Referred to as The Man in Black, the character was revealed to be Wilson in the course of the story, with reprints of the older material published within the comic as Wilson's diaries.
Fictional character biography
William Wilson was born in the village of Stayling in Yorkshire and claimed to be born on 1 November 1795. However a document dated 11 March 1774 listed him as "clerk to the manor". He was sufficiently old that when writing, he used an "f" instead of an "s". His farmer father died in middle age, leaving Wilson £5,000. He studied medicine and biology in a number of countries around the world and determined not to die early as so many he knew had, he worked out a health and fitness regime and learned how to slow his heart right down, using a formula created by people who could live to over 200. He developed his will power and hardened his body by whole winters spent in the open. Squadron leader W. Wilson D.S.O., D.F.C. and bar, who had 25 victories to his name, was shot down during the Second World War and was officially listed as missing.The character is depicted within stories as performing a number of improbable events. Wilson was seen in one strip becoming the first man to climb Everest, and another saw him captaining an England cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
team to The Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
in Australia. Depicted as being born in 1795, he is given the secret of eternal life by a hermit. Originally hailing from Yorkshire, and living in a cave on a diet of nuts and berries, Wilson exemplified British grit and the stiff upper lip. According to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
he "was hailed as a welcome wartime morale booster", while The Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
remembers him as a "focused and intense individual ... [with no] recorded instance of him smiling or cracking a joke." In 2004 artist John Reynolds acquired the licence to reproduce images of Wilson as large screen-print canvases. Former Guinness Book of Records deputy editor and athletics statistician, Ian Smith, cites the character as an inspiration, and he inspired many British athletes in their careers as well as Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
. The character is still used in newspaper reports on sport as a cultural reference point.
Further reading
- Gallagher, Brendan. Sporting Supermen: Wilson of the Wizard, "Tough of the Track" and Roy of the Rovers: The Life and Times of the Comic-Book Heroes ISBN 1845131657