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'Jet Black, racing driver', a comic book series by Terry Trowell


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#1 Repco22

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 14:22

The Australian illustrator, the late Terry Trowell, was previously introduced and some of his work shown on the thread; 'Cartoons by Rod Waller'. I'm proud to say Terry was a friend and mentor and as a teenager I avidly collected all of the above series. Until the fifties there was a booming comic industry in Australia and Terry was very much a part of it, working in both his home town of Perth and in Sydney.
As mentioned, he was a keen racing fan, he and brother John were on the organising committee of the '57 AGP and Terry loved racing slot cars. His deep knowledge of the racing scene is evident in the Jet Black comics, cars and locations being accurately depicted. Some inspiration was obviously derived from that other Australian 'JB' as this one, too, travels to England and joins a small constructor, in this case 'Cougar' a broken down business inherited by his friend, George Faversham. Rhymes with Caversham!
Drama is maintained and racing interrupted, with a steady stream of villains and beautiful female Interpol agents while a good pair of fists is as useful as a four-wheel drift.
The inside back covers offered photos and news of current happenings in the real racing world and there were board games featuring famous circuits on the back page.
Altogether a delightful package. A pity it only ran to thirteen issues but American comics were being dumped cheaply on Australia and our industry drew to a sudden halt.
Terry's son Mark has kindly permitted the posting of images and here is the cover of issue one;
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#2 garyfrogeye

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 14:47

Wonderful cover.
You've got to love the name on the back of the Baddie/victim

#3 Terry Walker

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 15:48

I remember it well. Jet Black. His girlfriend was Rusty Redd (I think); the goodies all had colour names, shades of John D MacDonald and Travis MacGee.

My memory is that Terry Trowell used the brush technique, but it's that long since I've seen a strip that I might be wrong. I know he used brush rather than pen in his lively cartoons in The Visor.

Lots of action, and authentic backgrounds and authentic cars. Thirteen issues would make one nice hardback book, assuming 64 pages per comic including covers.

Terry Trowell also painted a long mural around Sydney Anderson's service station in Perth. I think it portrayed the triumphant rise of the motor car from Benz Velo to the latest fifties cars. Both garage and mural now long gone, replaced by a freeway on-ramp.

#4 GMACKIE

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Posted 28 February 2012 - 22:04

Geez Rod, talk about nostalgia. In the late '40s/early '50s I went to Bexley [Sydney suburb] school, and on the way home there was a small book shop, run by a very sweet old lady. She had shelves full of comics, which could be 'swapped' for 1d or 2d. As we could only afford the occasional 'new' comic, this was a great way to satisfy the 'comic addiction'. The old dear would even allow us to read them in the shop. :up:

Most of them, such as Captain Marvel, Brick Bradford etc., were imported from the US, however the Aussie ones, like Jet Black, Wocko-The -Beaut, etc. were my favourites, although hard to find. I still find it easier to relate to 'local content' stuff, than imported.......but I don't care. :blush:

#5 Repco22

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 05:17

I remember it well. Jet Black. His girlfriend was Rusty Redd (I think); the goodies all had colour names, shades of John D MacDonald and Travis MacGee.

My memory is that Terry Trowell used the brush technique, but it's that long since I've seen a strip that I might be wrong. I know he used brush rather than pen in his lively cartoons in The Visor.

Lots of action, and authentic backgrounds and authentic cars. Thirteen issues would make one nice hardback book, assuming 64 pages per comic including covers.

Terry Trowell also painted a long mural around Sydney Anderson's service station in Perth. I think it portrayed the triumphant rise of the motor car from Benz Velo to the latest fifties cars. Both garage and mural now long gone, replaced by a freeway on-ramp.

Hi Terry. TT favoured the brush for its versatility and expressive line. I recently spoke to Don Baker, an artist I worked with at The West Australian. At one point he and Terry were freelancing and shared a 'rathole' where they eked out a living. When Terry was under pressure with a comic deadline to meet, he would prevail upon Don to bang in the hand-lettered captions and sometimes even the backgrounds.
The Syd Anderson service station ['Crystal Park'] mural is partly visible in a photo in an old 'Visor' magazine. Terry painted a number of other murals around Perth; I think he did the one in the Australia Hotel which from memory was next to Boans dept. store in Murray Street. I vaguely recall it featuring cartoon characters in all kinds of trouble as they crossed the Nullabor. There was one in Winterbottoms, the BMC agents, several in Steve's Hotel in Nedlands and the last one Terry showed me as he was painting it on sheets of hardboard in Arthur Collett's ad agency. Arthur, of MGTC racing fame, and Terry were old friends. The mural was for 'The Quokka Arms' over on Rottnest Island.
A dream was realised for me some years later when I worked In John Trowell's ad agency and landed two mural jobs 'just like Terry' in the Beaufort Hotel. One had a motoring theme and included Don O'Sullivan's Lola T70 and, from memory, Howie Sangster in another big banger. But I digress..
Here's a page showing Jet & George visiting the Cougar factory for the first time;
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Greg, great childhood memories! I believe some blokes spend vast amounts of time and money trying to return to their childhood while others are accused of never having left it! :lol:

#6 E1pix

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 05:28

... Greg, great childhood memories! I believe some blokes spend vast amounts of time and money trying to return to their childhood while others are accused of never having left it! :lol:

Yes, and the latter's less confusing and much less shocking to the Missus! :rolleyes:

Great thread, Repco! :up: Glad to see you archived your early inspirations.

#7 GMACKIE

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 06:20

Now you've dunnit, Rod. I [and probably many others] HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! :eek: Did Chalky cop a slug, or was it George......hope it wasn't Jet. You can't leave us hanging there, fire up the scanner. :wave:



#8 Repco22

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 07:18

Now you've dunnit, Rod. I [and probably many others] HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! :eek: Did Chalky cop a slug, or was it George......hope it wasn't Jet. You can't leave us hanging there, fire up the scanner. :wave:

Greg, we came in at page nine and Jet had already avoided three narrow squeaks! Out of consideration for some older TNFers who may have dodgy hearts, I thought it best to by-pass these 'incidents'. Too much of a good thing could be a bad thing! :smoking:
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PHEW! THAT was close!

#9 Glengavel

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 07:28

Greg, we came in at page nine and Jet had already avoided three narrow squeaks! Out of consideration for some older TNFers who may have dodgy hearts, I thought it best to by-pass these 'incidents'. Too much of a good thing could be a bad thing! :smoking:
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PHEW! THAT was close!


So...Chalky just happened to be carrying a pipe wrench on him? You never know when such a thing may come in handy...



#10 Repco22

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 09:35

So...Chalky just happened to be carrying a pipe wrench on him? You never know when such a thing may come in handy...

Well he HAD just been tuning the Webers... [ Don't be a kill-joy!] :)


#11 GeoffR

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 09:46

So why didn't I come across these as a 'little tacker'? Maybe a bit before my time, I can clearly remember 'Air Hawk & The Flying Doctors' though!

#12 Repco22

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 10:39

So why didn't I come across these as a 'little tacker'? Maybe a bit before my time, I can clearly remember 'Air Hawk & The Flying Doctors' though!

IIRC 'Jet Black' was published in 1958.
To get the Cougar up to speed in time for Le Mans, Jet devises a secret drift. Hang on to your hat!
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#13 ken devine

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 11:20

I think i have one of those tusked away in my magazine cupboards.

#14 Repco22

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 11:52

I think i have one of those tusked away in my magazine cupboards.

Or maybe in a trunk, Ken? :lol:


#15 Tony Matthews

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 12:24

Obviously hasn't got an elephantine memory!

#16 GMACKIE

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 20:36

Or maybe in a trunk, Ken? :lol:

I vory much doubt that, Rod. :blush:


#17 Repco22

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Posted 29 February 2012 - 23:51

I vory much doubt that, Rod. :blush:

Greg, don't you know there's a law against that sort of thing! :rolleyes:

#18 Wilyman

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 01:05

Greg, we came in at page nine and Jet had already avoided three narrow squeaks! Out of consideration for some older TNFers who may have dodgy hearts, I thought it best to by-pass these 'incidents'. Too much of a good thing could be a bad thing! :smoking:
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PHEW! THAT was close!



Rod,
Is that stain, top of page, the remains of a pickle sandwich?
I don't recall "Jet Black" but "Clint Curtis" an American comic was a favourite. ;)

#19 Terry Walker

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 02:25

Don't know what Jet would make of today's Silverstone . . .

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#20 wagons46

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 02:28


Can we see the next page?

"Does Jet perfect the DRIFT, or will he end up in the hay bales.

Does Jet realise that smoking a pipe is just as bad for his health as smoking cigarettes?

The answers to all these questions has to be on the next page"



#21 GMACKIE

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 03:04

Greg, don't you know there's a law against that sort of thing! :rolleyes:

Rod, are you taking me to tusk regarding my spelling? OK, [smacking my wrist], no more then.

Didn't I tell you everyone would want to know what will happen to J.B. next. :rolleyes:

Edited by GMACKIE, 01 March 2012 - 03:05.


#22 Repco22

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 03:17

Struth! This has started something! Terry would be pleasantly surprised. Hang on the edges of your seats guys---- I have to go out! :lol:
Now I know what Jet felt like with all that power in his hands!

#23 Repco22

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 05:53

Rod,
Is that stain, top of page, the remains of a pickle sandwich?
I don't recall "Jet Black" but "Clint Curtis" an American comic was a favourite.;)

Wily, you can't pin that pickle sandwich on me! I missed the first issue back in '58 and a grubby mate kindly gave me his. It's the only damaged one in the collection.
Meanwhile, back at Silverstone...
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All problems overcome, the team heads through the French countryside for Le Mans...
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#24 wagons46

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 06:46


I'm content knowing he perfected the DRIFT.

That is, unless you tell me that Victor Jory, alias The Shadow, suddenly comes on the scene.





#25 GMACKIE

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 07:05

Hey wagons, Lamont Cranston is 'The Shadow'......but tell anyone, it's a secret that only Margo Lane knows.

#26 wagons46

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 07:15


Victor Jory made The Shadow the hero he was. More a man's man than even Marion Morrison, and he always won!



#27 Glengavel

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 07:27

"Clint Curtis" an American comic was a favourite.;)


Sounds like a race commentator's nightmare.



#28 Repco22

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 10:13

Sounds like a race commentator's nightmare.

:blush: :lol:
One more page from issue 1;
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#29 Catalina Park

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 10:17

What a anker!

#30 D-Type

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Posted 01 March 2012 - 20:45

Rod,
Is that stain, top of page, the remains of a pickle sandwich?
I don't recall "Jet Black" but "Clint Curtis" an American comic was a favourite.;)

The original reader was an Australian schoolboy so it must be either a Vegemite sandwich or soft liquorice.

#31 Repco22

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 00:07

Monaco, and the sleek F1 Cougar makes an appearance.
Question: What did Alberto Ascari, Paul Hawkins and Jet Black have in common?
No grudges will be harboured if you come up with a wet answer!
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#32 Repco22

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 00:12

The original reader was an Australian schoolboy so it must be either a Vegemite sandwich or soft liquorice.

Duncan, you're taking this jet black business too far!

#33 wagons46

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 00:16

Looks like the three of them have ended up in the water at Monaco.

Judging by the live action photo above, Jet must have got the DRIFT wrong on this occasion ........more like DRIFTWOOD.

Edited by wagons46, 02 March 2012 - 01:33.


#34 Repco22

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 10:27

Looks like the three of them have ended up in the water at Monaco.

Judging by the live action photo above, Jet must have got the DRIFT wrong on this occasion ........more like DRIFTWOOD.

Ha Ha! No, sorry wagons. That's the wrong answer. I meant BEFORE that.
They all said; "#/~*!!!" in their respective tongues!

#35 D-Type

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 17:30

Ha Ha! No, sorry wagons. That's the wrong answer. I meant BEFORE that.
They all said; "#/~*!!!" in their respective tongues!

What about Scott Stoddart?

And surely Jet Black and Paul Hawkins said the same thing? Or does the language in Australia vary from state to state?

Edited by D-Type, 02 March 2012 - 17:32.


#36 wagons46

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Posted 02 March 2012 - 22:57

Or does the language in Australia vary from state to state?


Queenslanders have their own variant on the Queen's language, yeah!



#37 Repco22

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Posted 05 March 2012 - 03:18

After issue one, Terry included a frontispiece-- a sepia wash illustration which set the scene for the next adventure;

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More than a touch of understeer there! Looks like Peter Collins in the 801 Lancia-Ferrari.

Edited by Repco22, 05 March 2012 - 03:21.


#38 Terry Walker

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Posted 05 March 2012 - 03:38

There are regional dialects in Australia, but not easy to spot by the uninitiated.

A Queenslander about to travel will but his referdex in his port.
A West Aussie will put his street guide in his suitcase.

When I was a kid I had a hill trolley.
Outside Western Australia they were soapboxes (inside Western Australia they are soapboxes now. Hill trolley is obsolete).

I'm enjoying this thread. Terry Trowell was as good as I remember- probably better. I was after all in my teens when I read them originally.





#39 ken devine

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Posted 05 March 2012 - 05:15

A comic i remember from the 50s was i think called Jet Jackson his car was styled on a Jaguar XK120 and called Winorbust.
In one issue he had to get a Cooper MKv type car to a track and he couldn't get a trailer so he strapped it to the bonnet of the XK120.
Anybody remember the comic?

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#40 GMACKIE

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Posted 05 March 2012 - 05:53

When I was a kid I had a hill trolley.
Outside Western Australia they were soapboxes

Mine was a billycart [NSW].


#41 GMACKIE

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Posted 05 March 2012 - 05:58

A comic i remember from the 50s was i think called Jet Jackson his car was styled on a Jaguar XK120 and called Winorbust.
In one issue he had to get a Cooper MKv type car to a track and he couldn't get a trailer so he strapped it to the bonnet of the XK120.
Anybody remember the comic?

Yes, and also Speed Gordon, Brick Bradford, and Buck Rogers.


#42 wagons46

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Posted 05 March 2012 - 06:24

A comic i remember from the 50s was i think called Jet Jackson his car was styled on a Jaguar XK120 and called Winorbust.
In one issue he had to get a Cooper MKv type car to a track and he couldn't get a trailer so he strapped it to the bonnet of the XK120.
Anybody remember the comic?


I think that one was Jet Jaxon , not to be confused with Jet Jackson ( also known as Captain Midnight) the TV series of the 50's.

Now if your not confused........you should be!

I also only drove billy-carts.

#43 Repco22

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Posted 06 March 2012 - 03:26

There are regional dialects in Australia, but not easy to spot by the uninitiated.

When I was a kid I had a hill trolley.
Outside Western Australia they were soapboxes (inside Western Australia they are soapboxes now. Hill trolley is obsolete).

I'm enjoying this thread. Terry Trowell was as good as I remember- probably better. I was after all in my teens when I read them originally.

That's about as I remember it Terry. Although in 1951, APEX ran a national 'Soapbox Derby' as part of the Commonwealth Jubilee celebrations. The WA round was run on Trafalgar Rd in East Perth and was won by Trevor Laurance [whose Narrogin AGP pics appeared in the 'Harry Smith Special' thread.] His trolley was flown to Melbourne for the final where he placed third. All this might look like a serious topic departure but in fact it's highly probable that Jet Black did his early training on a soap box.
With regard to other comic-book style heroes, we used to listen to the aviator 'Hop Harrigan' and his trusty sidekick, 'Tank Tinker' in an Australian radio production. Google tells us that they were originally an American comic and radio duo which was news to me.
Meanwhile, back at Monaco...
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#44 wagons46

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Posted 06 March 2012 - 04:15

"CX4 to Control....CX4 to Control.....this is Hop Harrigan.....Coming in."

I've just Googled H.H. and realised that they have his call sign in their spiel . I thought I was being clever for remembering it from the 50's radio serials. At least it proves IRC.


Edited by wagons46, 06 March 2012 - 04:28.


#45 Repco22

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Posted 06 March 2012 - 05:09

"CX4 to Control....CX4 to Control.....this is Hop Harrigan.....Coming in."

I've just Googled H.H. and realised that they have his call sign in their spiel . I thought I was being clever for remembering it from the 50's radio serials. At least it proves IRC.

Funny! We all had the same call-sign and used to say it with arms outstretched... :)

#46 Repco22

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Posted 10 March 2012 - 08:35

Some more frontispieces from JB;
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Looks like some Masten Gregory influence here. In Jet's case the Cougar is on fire and he opts to guide it past the grandstand before abandoning ship;
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#47 Repco22

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Posted 13 March 2012 - 01:10

Board games on the back cover, based on well-known circuits, gave way to some historic pin-ups...
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