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SEND FOR KELLY

send_for_kelly_cb_champ24 send_for_kelly_cb_champ04 send_for_kelly_cb_toppersummer_1989 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1979 send_for_kelly_cb_champ17 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1989 send_for_kelly_cb_champ23 send_for_kelly_cb_champ19 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1991 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1984 send_for_kelly_cb_toppersummer_1986 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1986 send_for_kelly_cb_toppersummer_1984 send_for_kelly_cb_toppersummer_1991 send_for_kelly_cb_champ15 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1987 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1972 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1990 send_for_kelly_cb_toppersummer_1992 send_for_kelly_cb_champ20 send_for_kelly_cb_champ13 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1973 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1976 send_for_kelly_cb_topperbook_1981 send_for_kelly_cb_champ12
 
Full Name: Nick Kelly
Nationality: British
Organization: Ministry of Secret Information
Occupation Agent

Creator: George Martin
Time Span: 1963 - 1992

ABOUT THE SERIES

Send For Kelly is a common cry for help.

The Kelly that is being so eagerly sought is Nick Kelly, Special Agent. That last bit is what he is normally addressed as. Special in what way is open to debate. Agent for whom is another pretty open question. I have listed above in the Fact Sheet that he is an operative with the Ministry of Special Information and that is true but as we find while following his many, many, many adventures, he seems to work for a good number of organizations or groups or even individual supplicants.

I considered listing Kelly as a private detective because often that is how he operates. He has his own office where would-be clients come to get his help but at other times he gets summoned and directed by the government so ... What seems clear is that Kelly is definitely the man to ask for when trouble is afoot. [Note, later on in his long career, Kelly is seen working out of an office marked 'Nick Kelly Private Eye' so ...]

The government jobs that Kelly accepts (well, he pretty much accepts anything that comes his way) quite often take him to far away places in other countries and continents, usually dealing with kings and princesses and prime ministers, all very important stuff. The private eye stuff is a lot closer to home and can be a whole lot more 'normal' though normal is really relative when Nick Kelly gets involved.

Kelly is a man of fairly standard height and build with no noteworthy traits except for a rather long thin nose. Well, there is the exceptionally long wide chin. That should be a dead giveaway even when he is in disguise, which he does now and then, but apparently he gets away with it.

When not in disguise or dressed for some leisure activity, you can be assured that Kelly will be found wearing a large red trenchcoat and sporting a green felt fedora with a twisted front brim; it is almost a uniform for Kelly and he always has the coat buttoned up.

Kelly is joined in most of his adventures by his assistant, Cedric, a tall, thin man with spectacles and a bowler hat. Looking at him and watching his actions, you would not be remiss if you mistook him for a butler. Or a undertaker. Or an accountant. 

Cedric seems game for just about anything Kelly asks of him and he seldom says very much while doing it. He sometimes asks very intelligent questions but otherwise just looks pleased as punch to be tagging along.

For a time, well into the saga of Nick Kelly, Cedric will take a long break and be replaced by a pretty young (I'm guessing 14 years old) new assistant named Harry who talks a lot more than Cedric nephew. Harry may be young but he is pretty bright and often saves the day.

COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND MANGA

Number of Stories:1710
First Appearance:1963
Last Appearance:1992

In February, 1953, D.C. Thomson & Co launched a major comicbook publication titled The Topper which would run weekly for 37 years before being merged with a sister publication, The Beezer. Both magazines were anthologies depicting usually comic characters involved in a wide variety of mayhem and amusement.

Most of the entries were series in that the next week the character would be back involved in some different escapade - there were not much serialization, just series. As was not uncommon, many of these series would often be dropped to make way for new blood.

One of those replacements was Send For Kelly which make its appearance as a regular feature in 1960 and would stay with the publication until the merger mentioned above and even then would make the transition to the new combined publication and stick around for another year and a half. Considering this was a weekly appearance, that amounts to a very large number of adventures. There were apparently 15 weeks during all that time that SFK did not appear, leaving over 1500 weeks in which he did.

For most of the life of The Topper, an annual was published each year with most of the staple of strips making additional appearances, usually twice. Nick Kelly was no exception and he could be found in each of the annuals, named The Topper Book, from the year Kelly first appeared, 1960, until the end, 1992. Most of these appearances were longer than the weekly stories, sometimes lasting 3 or 4 pages.

For a handful of years, D.C. Thomson put out The Topper Summer Special, another annual, and Send For Kelly was there as well from 1983 to 1992.

If that was not enough, the strip was part of the landscape for yet another sister publication, Champ, from the time it started in 1984 to a half year later (29 appearances).

By my count there were around 1700 tales of Nick Kelly over those 30 years and all of them were written and drawn by the amazing George Martin.

So, when you check out this very small subset of adventures, this is just a tip of the iceberg. Most of them I have gotten hold of yet - and probably never will.


1 'The Case Of The Missing Adventurer' 'The Case Of The Missing Adventurer'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1963

Printed in The Topper Book 1963 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly is sent by the government to Africa to find Dr. Steppingstone, a famous man who sent to that continent in search of a legendary tribe of giants.
Click here to read the story.

2 'The Case Of The Jewel Consignment' 'The Case Of The Jewel Consignment'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1964

Printed in The Topper Book 1964 - 4 color pages.
Mr. Hardcash comes to Nick Kelly with the need of a guard for a shipment of jewels being transported to Birmingham.
Click here to read the story.

3 'The Case Of The Hunt For Blackbeard' 'The Case Of The Hunt For Blackbeard'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1965

Printed in The Topper Book 1965 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly is heading to South America on vacation in the hopes of catching the rare Blackbeard butterfly, the only one missing in his collection. A notorious bandit, also named Blackbeard, thinks Kelly is after him.
Click here to read the story.

4 'The Case Of The Ghost Gang' 'The Case Of The Ghost Gang'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1966

Printed in The Topper Book 1966 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly and Cedric are stranded miles from home when their bubble car breaks down. They go in search of a train station but find that the countryfolk are frightened of the place, for good reason!
Click here to read the story.

5 'The Case Of The Missing Prospector' 'The Case Of The Missing Prospector'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1967

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1967 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly is concerned it has been two months since his friend Prospector Dan reported he found gold in Canada and no word from him since. Kelly and Cedric catch a flight to look for him.
Click here to read the story.

6 The Case Of The Crafty Crown-Snatchers The Case Of The Crafty Crown-Snatchers
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1967

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1967 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly and Cedric have been given the job of protecting the very valuable Crown of visiting King Klonk of Kokostan.
Click here to read the story.

7 'The Theft Of Nick Kelly's Wax Figure 'The Theft Of Nick Kelly's Wax Figure
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1968

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1968 - 4 color pages.
Visiting the famous Waxworks Museum to see the new wax figure of himself, Nick Kelly lands a new assignment - find who stole it!
Click here to read the story.

8 'The Case Of The Stolen Bear (Statue)' 'The Case Of The Stolen Bear (Statue)'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1968

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1968 - 4 color pages.
Lady Phatt-Whallet calls Nick Kelly to hire him to find her stolen stuffed bear, a present from family in Canada. Inside it is said to be a map to a long-lost gold mine!
Click here to read the story.

9 The Case Of The Haunted House The Case Of The Haunted House
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1969

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1969 - 4 color pages.
A friend of Nick Kelly, Lord Lolly, has loaned he and Cedric his sea-side manor for a weekend. Lord Lolly has not visited the place in months and it needs an airing out. What was not known was that smugglers were using it as a hideout and they want to keep it that way.
Click here to read the story.

10 'The Case Of The False Wiggy Wam' 'The Case Of The False Wiggy Wam'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1969

The second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1969 - 4 color pages.
The Chief of Scotland Yard brings in Nick Kelly for a case. The jewel thief, Diamond Desmond, has just snatched Lady Hooter's diamonds and fled the country, heading to rock Gulch in Canada. That is where Nick Kelly and Cedric head.
Click here to read the story.

11 'The Case Of The Smuggled Gum' 'The Case Of The Smuggled Gum'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1970

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1970 - 4 color pages.
The Ministry of Secret Information has a new assignment for Nick Kelly. "Bubble-gum is being smuggled into this country! It must be stopped!"
Click here to read the story.

12 The Case Of The Exploding Eggs The Case Of The Exploding Eggs
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1970

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1970 - 4 color pages.
Professor Brainstorm has invented a new secret explosive and Nick Kelly has been hired by the government to transport it. Naturally foreign agents would love to get their hands on it.
Click here to read the story.

13 'The Case Of The Two Spies' 'The Case Of The Two Spies'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1971

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1971 - 4 color pages.
The Ministry of Secret Information wants Nick Kelly to safeguard some top-secret plans which foreign spies are trying to steal.
Click here to read the story.

14 'The Case Of The Phony Case' 'The Case Of The Phony Case'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1971

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1971 - 4 color pages.
To pull off a bank robbery real close to Nick Kelly's office, thieves know they need to distract him so they pretend to hire him to go to Paris to find who has stolen the Eiffel Tower.
Click here to read the story.

15 The Case Of The Diamond Bangers The Case Of The Diamond Bangers
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1972

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1972 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly and Cedric are hired to transport a valuable bag of diamonds from the airport but some crooks are determined to snatch them making Kelly come up with something clever.
Click here to read the story.

16 'The Case Of The Not-So-Water-Tight Case' 'The Case Of The Not-So-Water-Tight Case'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1972

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1972 - 4 color pages.
An evil scientist is using his rain-making machine to flood London so he can then use his submarine to sneak in and rob banks and jewelry stores.
Click here to read the story.

17 The Case Of Very Fowl Play The Case Of Very Fowl Play
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1973

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1973 - 4 color pages.
Returning from an Xmas shopping trip, Nick Kelly and Cedric stop to admire the demolition of an old chimney stack near their office, not knowing that a gangster out to sideline Kelly permanently is using chicken stuffed with gunpowder around the same time.
Click here to read the story.

18 The Pumpkin Spy Case The Pumpkin Spy Case
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1973

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1973 - 4 color pages.
Foreign agents have kidnapped the Minister of Special Information and is pretending to be him to trick Nick Kelly into fetching top-secret files for them.
Click here to read the story.

19 The Case Of The Buzz-Bomb Gang The Case Of The Buzz-Bomb Gang
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1974

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1974 - 4 color pages.
A farmer appeals for help from Nick Kelly. His farm was raided the night before and all his bees were stolen. That makes the fifth case of bee-pinching in the last two weeks. It intrigues Kelly.
Click here to read the story.

20 The Case Of The Knock-Out Safe The Case Of The Knock-Out Safe
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1974

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1974 - 4 color pages.
Bank robbers have been hitting banks one a day and coming up with ingenious methods to throw off pursuit vehicles.
Click here to read the story.

21 The Case Of The Cash That Isn't The Case Of The Cash That Isn't
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1975

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1975 - 4 color pages.
After being passed some phony coins, Nick Kelly and Cedric go after a coin counterfeiter.
Click here to read the story.

22 The Case Of The Disappearing Doctor The Case Of The Disappearing Doctor
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1975

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1975 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly once again is off in search of a missing scientist, this time it is looking for Dr. Drippingbone, the famous authority on 'Oofrican wild life', last seen in darkest Oofrica.
Click here to read the story.

23 The Case Of The Crooked Santa The Case Of The Crooked Santa
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1976

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1976 - 4 color pages.
A series of robberies at the large Binks department store is being pulled off by a fake Santa and Nick Kelly is after him.
Click here to read the story.

24 'The Case Of The Explosive Duck' 'The Case Of The Explosive Duck'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1976

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1976 - 4 color pages.
Bored with weeks of guarding a secret rocket base has pushed Nick Kelly and Cedric into going fishing for something to do. That interferes with a scheme foreign agents are involved in so they need to eliminate the pair using an explosive duck.
Click here to read the story.

25 The Case Of The Mascot Gold Cup The Case Of The Mascot Gold Cup
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1977

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1977 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly and Cedric are attending the Mascot Gold Cup race after being hired to guard the valuable trophies to be handed out.
Includes a maze puzzle.
Click here to read the story.

26 The Case Of The Staring Eyes The Case Of The Staring Eyes
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1977

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1977 - 4 color pages.
A man with terrific hypnotizing abilities breaks into a television station and mesmerizes scores of people watching at home into stealing all they can and bringing it to him. Cedric is once such victim.
Click here to read the story.

27 The Case Of The Robot Robber The Case Of The Robot Robber
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1978

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1978 - 4 color pages.
Nick Kelly and Cedric have a new, important security job escorting a truck carrying gold bullion. Kelly thought it would be an easy assignment but he had not expected a robot staging a robberty.
Click here to read the story.

28 The Case Of The Smuggling Whale The Case Of The Smuggling Whale
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1978

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1978 - 4 color pages.
On holiday, Nick Kelly and Cedric are excited about going fishing off the Bolvanian coast in South America. They did not expect to be caught themselves, this time by a submarine disguised as a whale.
Click here to read the story.

29 'The Case Of The Super-Hot Spray' 'The Case Of The Super-Hot Spray'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1979

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1979 - 4 color pages.
Walking down a street, Nick Kelly and Cedric see a robbery of a store in progress. Giving chase, they are stymied by a spray from an aerosol can which turns the concrete sidewalk burning hot.
Click here to read the story.

30 A Case Not To Be Sneezed At A Case Not To Be Sneezed At
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1979

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1979.
The Sheikh of Bakhscratcha calls to ask Nick Kelly for help when he learns there is a plot against him.
Click here to read the story.

31 'The Case Of The Funky Petrol' 'The Case Of The Funky Petrol'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1980

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1980.
Running out of gas and miles from a gas station, Nick Kelly is relieved to see he was close to Professor Wright-Nitt's workshop. He and Cedric drop by and are given a new car fuel the man had invented, made up of water and old mushrooms. Strange things then come to pass.
Click here to read the story.

32 The Case Of The Kidnapped Gorilla The Case Of The Kidnapped Gorilla
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1980

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1980.
Nick Kelly and Cedric are flying to New York to meet with millionaire Herman C. Buckfast who needs their help because someone has threatened to kidnap his favorite pet. He neglected to say what kind of animal it was.
Click here to read the story.

33 The Case Of The Troublesome Tree The Case Of The Troublesome Tree
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1981

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1981.
Nick Kelly is certain carrying a case of jewels to the strong box at the bank for Mr. Binks would be a simple job. Then a tree steals the box!!
Click here to read the story.

34 The Case Of The Soaring Snatchers The Case Of The Soaring Snatchers
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1981

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1981.
While traveling through a small country village, Nick Kelly stops at a pillar-box (mailbox to we Yanks) to drop off a letter. He is more than a little surprised when the box levitates high into the sky, pulled by a powerful magnet of some crooks in a blimp.
Click here to read the story.

35 The Case Of The Mysterious Mole The Case Of The Mysterious Mole
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1982

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1982.
The Minister of Secret Information tells Nick Kelly they suspect the organization has a 'mole' which turns out to maybe be an actual mole. Big fellow!
Click here to read the story.

36 The Case Of The Jewel-Snatching The Case Of The Jewel-Snatching
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1982

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1982.
Nick Kelly and Cedric receive invitations to Lady Ponsonby's fancy-dress garden party where they are expected to keep an eye on her valuable collection of jewels.
Click here to read the story.

37 The Case Of The Disappearing Dogs The Case Of The Disappearing Dogs
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1983

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1983.
Nick Kelly is less than thrilled to find that since there was no 'really big special agent business' to do, he was being assigned to investigating the recent theft of a bunch of dogs. The matter becomes more serious when the Minister's dog disappears.
Click here to read the story.

38 The Case Of The Horrible Holiday The Case Of The Horrible Holiday
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1983

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1983.
Upset because despite days on the case he has not figured out a string of recent thefts, Nick Kelly listens to Cedric's advice to take a bit of holiday. At the resort, though, he must contend with a pair of nogoodniks who cause him considerable trouble to keep him from causing them the same.
Click here to read the story.

39 The Case Of The Mystery At The Ministry The Case Of The Mystery At The Ministry
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1984.
Nick Kelly and Cedric learns the hard way the results of budget cuts at the Ministry of Secret Information.
Click here to read the story.

40 The Great Flying Saucer Mystery The Great Flying Saucer Mystery
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1984.
When Nick Kelly and Cedric pop into a local bank for some cash, they interrupt a bank robbery by apparent aliens, complete with their flying saucer.
Click here to read the story.

41 The Case Of The Slick Oil Thieves The Case Of The Slick Oil Thieves
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1985

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1985.
A major oil spill at a North Sea oil rig puzzles the Ministry of Special Information because none of the oil is coming to short. Nick Kelly is sent to investigate.
Click here to read the story.

42 The Case Of The Hi-Jacked Horse The Case Of The Hi-Jacked Horse
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1985

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1985.
The horse that Nick Kelly was backing in a race at the track is ridden by its jockey into a waiting hauler and whisked away in a horse hijacking.
Click here to read the story.

43 The Jumbo Case The Jumbo Case
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1986

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1986.
A visit to the local zoo by Nick Kelly and Cedric coincides with the daring theft of an elephant by a gang using a hot air balloon.
Click here to read the story.

44 The Jumbo Case The Jumbo Case
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1986

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1986.
A visit to the local zoo by Nick Kelly and Cedric coincides with the daring theft of an elephant by a gang using a hot air balloon.
Includes an extra page revealing "Secret of the Secret Service".
Click here to read the story.

45 The Case Of The Abominable Snowmen The Case Of The Abominable Snowmen
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1986

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1986.
A week of skiing at a mountain resort by Nick Kelly and Cedric is disrupted by a pack of Yeti.
Click here to read the story.

46 The Case Of The Runaway Rocket The Case Of The Runaway Rocket
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1987

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1987.
Told by the Minister of Special Information that the Ministry's lab has come up with a top secret rocket. Nick Kelly is told to check out its security.
Click here to read the story.

47 The Case Of The Pinched Parrot The Case Of The Pinched Parrot
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1987

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1987.
An anxious Minister of Special Information summons Nick Kelly and Cedric to his private residence to handle a diabolical event: the kidnapping of his parrot.
Click here to read the story.

48 The Case Of The Hypno-Twister The Case Of The Hypno-Twister
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1988

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1988.
The thieving antics of a man using powerful hypnosis reaches the attention of the Ministry of Special Information when the Minister's clothes off his body are stolen. Nick Kelly suspects Morco the Mesmerist.
Click here to read the story.

49 The Case Of The Soaring Snatcher The Case Of The Soaring Snatcher
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1988

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1988.
The thefts of various objects as if just out of the sky has people baffled and worried and get Nick Kelly called in to investigate.
Click here to read the story.

50 The Strange Case Of The Super Shoplisters The Strange Case Of The Super Shoplisters
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1989

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1989.
Nick Kelly and Cedric have been on a roll catching bad guys but the bad guys have just upped their game. Instead of stealing items from a store, they are using cranes to steal the whole store!
Click here to read the story.

51 The Case Of Bear-Faced Robbery The Case Of Bear-Faced Robbery
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1989

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1989.
The Minister of Secret Information want Nick Kelly and Cedric to solve a very strange new rash of thefts where the only thing stolen are teddy-bears.
Click here to read the story.

52 The Case Of The Bullion Bandits The Case Of The Bullion Bandits
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1990

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1990.
Thieves are taking a strange route to get to their ultimate prize - just ask the Minister of Special Information how he feels about having his belt buckles melted causing his pants to fall down.
Click here to read the story.

53 The Case Of The Toffee Trap The Case Of The Toffee Trap
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1990

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Book 1990.
Someone has stolen Lady Daver's doggy pet, Poochie Poos, and she want Nick Kelly to get him back. Were those thieves the same ones who stock a huge boring machine?
Click here to read the story.

54 'The Case Of The Giant Beetle' 'The Case Of The Giant Beetle'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1991

Extra long adventure printed in The Topper Book 1991 - .
The evil Beetle villain is using a giant beetle-shaped vehicle to destroy Nick Kelly and his young assistant, Harry, or is he?
Click here to read the story.

55 'The Case Of The Bearable Burden' 'The Case Of The Bearable Burden'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1992

Extra long adventure printed in The Topper Book 1992 - .
Nick Kelly and his young assistant, Harry, are asked to fly to Canada to take on a special mission. The job is to deliver a medallion with a secret message on it to Vancouver Office of Secret Thingies. Kelly uses a very unusual transport means.
Click here to read the story.

56 'The Case Of The Stolen Blackpool Tower' 'The Case Of The Stolen Blackpool Tower'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1983

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1983 - 1 double-wide page.
"Nick Kelly and Cedric have taken a week off crime-busting to go on holiday to El Rancid, Mediterranean sun spot - and, as it turns out, thieves' den!"
Click here to read the story.

57 The Case Of The Invisible Crook The Case Of The Invisible Crook
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1984 - 1 double-wide page.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

58 The Case Of The Ice-Cream Thieves The Case Of The Ice-Cream Thieves
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1985

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1985 - 1 double-wide page.
Just when Cedric is in the mood for some ice-cream, he and Nick Kelly learn that someone has been pinching all the delectable dessert all over town.
Click here to read the story.

59 Tram Trouble Tram Trouble
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1986

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1986 - 1 double-wide page.
The Minister of Special Information asks Nick Kelly to look into the ongoing thefts of trams in Blackpool.
Click here to read the story.

60 The Case Of The Holiday Hold-Ups! The Case Of The Holiday Hold-Ups!
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1987

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1987 - 1 double-wide page.
On holiday for some fishing and swimming, Nick Kelly and Cedric are excited about doing nothing. Unfortunately, nothing will go right.
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61 The Case Of The Funny Footprints The Case Of The Funny Footprints
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1988

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1988 - 1 double-wide page.
On the job to catch a thief who is plaguing a carnival, Nick Kelly notices one oddity - the perp has one foot larger than the other. Now, how can he use that to single the person out in a crowd.
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62 'The Case Of The Stolen Really Big Rock' 'The Case Of The Stolen Really Big Rock'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1989

First of two adventures printed in The Topper Summer Special 1989 - 1 double-wide page.
Someone is pinching the Rock of Gibraltar, a tiny bit at a time. Nick Kelly is on the job.

63 The Case Of The Lollipop Bandit The Case Of The Lollipop Bandit
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1989

Second of two adventures printed in The Topper Summer Special 1989 - 1 double-wide page.
Though he is on holiday, Nick Kelly is still asked by the managers of one local bank to check the facility's security.
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64 'The Case Of The Defective Detective' 'The Case Of The Defective Detective'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1991

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1991 - 1 double-wide page.
Poor Nick Kelly! He appears to have finally cracked from way too many cases.
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65 'The Case Of On-Holiday Detecting' 'The Case Of On-Holiday Detecting'
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1992

Printed in The Topper Summer Special 1992 - 1 double-wide page.
Even though he is on holiday, Nick Kelly cannot avoid having to solve a mystery.
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66 adv 40 adv 40
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #1, February 25, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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67 adv 41 adv 41
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #2, March 3, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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68 adv 42 adv 42
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #3, March 10, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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69 adv 43 adv 43
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #4, March 17, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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70 adv 44 adv 44
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #5, March 24, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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71 adv 45 adv 45
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #6, March 31, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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72 adv 46 adv 46
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #7, April 7, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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73 adv 47 adv 47
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #8, April 14, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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74 adv 48 adv 48
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #9, April 21, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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75 adv 49 adv 49
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #10, April 28, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

76 adv 50 adv 50
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #11, May 5, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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77 adv 51 adv 51
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #12, May 12, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

78 adv 52 adv 52
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #13, May 19, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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79 adv 53 adv 53
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #14, May 26, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

80 adv 54 adv 54
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #15, June 2, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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81 adv 55 adv 55
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #16, June 9, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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82 adv 56 adv 56
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #17, June 16, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

83 adv 57 adv 57
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #18, June 23, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

84 adv 58 adv 58
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #19, June 30, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

85 adv 59 adv 59
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #20, July 7, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

86 adv 60 adv 60
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #21, July 14, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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87 adv 60 adv 60
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #22, July 21, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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88 adv 62 adv 62
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #23, July 28, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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89 adv 63 adv 63
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #24, August 4, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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90 adv 64 adv 64
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #25, August 11, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

91 adv 65 adv 65
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #26, August 18, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

92 adv 66 adv 66
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #27, August 25, 1984.
[plot unknown]
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93 adv 67 adv 67
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #28, September 1, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

94 adv 68 adv 68
Published by D.C.Thomson
Contributors: George Martin (writer & artist)
Copyright: 1984

Printed in Champ #29, September 8, 1984.
[plot unknown]
Click here to read the story.

MY COMMENTS

I liked usually bumbling but often ingenius Nick Kelly and I can see why the different British magazines kept 'sending for' him. George Martin was ingenius at creating silly but interesting little plots and troubles to toss at him and then come up with highly amusing ways to pull off the impossible and get out of them. And to keep doing so for as many years as he did is also highly praiseworthy.

And I adored the ever present and always helpful Cedric. I need a Cedric in my life. Alright, I do not need one but it would be cool to have an assistant/partner such as he for when the trouble starts. For Kelly, that seems a constant occurance.


GRADE

My Grade: B

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