Comic book hero is back after 17 years
ICONIC comic book hero Roy of the Rovers is making a comeback with a brand new look.
The escapades of striker Roy Race, known for his amazing footballing skills, were printed between 1954 and 2001 in various forms.
After almost two decades out of print, Oxford-based publisher Rebellion has unveiled a revamped version of the comic strip, which is set to be serialised in BBC Match Of The Day magazine from next month.
The new storyline will follow Roy’s team, Melchester Rovers, as they take part in the Caridad Cup, a charity tournament in Spain that pits them against local rivals Tynecaster, and Spanish teams Varagosa and Real Santana.
Artist Ben Wilsher said: “It was a real honour and a lot of fun to come up with the look of the new Roy.”
Away from the pitch, Roy Race will act as a part-time carer for his disabled father, be an avid user of social media, and come across favourite characters from past editions.
Match Of The Day magazine editor Ian Foster said: “We are delighted to be serialising Roy of the Rovers.
“The new designs are stunning and with a World Cup around the corner it’s the perfect time to bring the adventures of Roy Race to a new generation of young football fans.
“From buying the comic as a child myself in the 1980s I know our readers will be really excited to follow the storylines from Melchester every week.”