Space Commander Kerry
Entry updated 13 February 2023. Tagged: Comics, Publication.
UK Comic (1953-1954). Six issues, numbered #50-#55. L Miller & Son. Artists include Mick Anglo and Denis Gifford. Usually three stories per issue. Cover in colour, strips in black and white.
Space Commander Steve Kerry of the Interplanetary Special Service (ISS), assisted by his lieutenants Rick Shaw and Tubby Low, battles the criminals of the spaceways – including spacewaymen ("highwaymen in space" it is helpfully explained) who raid space freighters. Another story has waves of violent pressure hitting the Earth, with one heading towards London. They appear to originate from the planet Lystor, despite their friendly relations with Earth seemingly ruling out any such "jiggery-pokery". Kerry goes to investigate and discovers the planet Kvor, wishing to dominate interplanetary trading, is the source of the waves: these are fired towards a reflector they have built on Lystor, thus shifting the blame. Whilst searching for space pirates Kerry's Spaceship is blown apart. but he manages to survive without a helmet by holding onto a piece of wreckage: though clearly in outer space, he says he is relieved not to be "in outer space. Must be in an air belt. I'm breathing OK" (see Scientific Errors). He sees the pirate ship and directs the wreckage towards it, leaps aboard and arrests the pirates. Another story has a Mad Scientist who has perfected a device to remove oxygen from the air and threatens to use it on Earth.
Events take place in the same universe as Captain Valiant (see Space Comics), who is referenced on occasion. This forgettable comic usually has two Kerry stories plus a third strip – at least one included Rafe Marlow, who also appeared in Space Comics. [SP]
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