New Roy of the Rovers books delayed until October, full series check list

Following up on the announced changes to the release dates for its 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics collections, Rebellion has also announced changes to its plans for Roy of the Rovers publishing programme.

As a result of the current Coronavirus Pandemic, the Oxford-based publisher has, sadly, made the decision to postpone the launch of the final two titles of Roy of the Rovers Season Two – but the good news is that the Roy of the Rovers Summer Special is currently still going ahead as planned, and will be out on 10th June.

Roy of the Rovers - Rocky
Rocky (Roy of the Rovers Book 6) by Tom Palmer, illustrated by Dan Cornwell
Roy of the Rovers: Pressure
Pressure (Graphic Novel 6) by Rob Williams and Lisa Henke

Their next novel, Rocky, originally due out May by Tom Palmer, and graphic novel, Pressure, originally due out July by Rob Williams and Lisa Henke, will now be released simultaneously on 29th October 2020, in both physical and eBook editions.

“While we are disappointed to have to postpone the launch of these titles, it is sadly a necessary step in this current climate of uncertainty,” say Rebellion, “and we want to make sure that the bookshops and comic stores who would normally stock these titles are able to once they reopen.

“We appreciate your patience and understanding.”

Some good news, however – Rebellion are currently giving away their first two Roy of the Rovers books absolutely free, and have dropped the prices on the rest of Season One. Download them now, and after that you’ve got four Season Two books to get stuck in to!

If you haven’t checked out this brilliant revamp of Melchester Rovers finest yet, Now’s a good time while, you’re sitting on the subs bench!

Release of the next classic collection, Roy of the Rovers – The Best of the 1970s remains on course for 28th May 2020.

• Check out out full guide to Rebellion’s Roy of the Rovers books below!

• Download Scouted here for free from the official Roy of the Rover web site – offer ends 30th April 2020

Download Kick-Off for free from the official Roy of the Rovers web site here – offer ends 30th April 2020

• You can also read the first chapter of Rocky here, to wet your appetite, and preview pages of Pressure will be available on the official Roy of the Rovers blog very soon!

• Roy of the Rovers Official Site: royoftheroversofficial.com

Check out our guide to Rebellion’s 2000AD and Treasury of British Comic collections and Specials for 2020 and into 2021

ROY OF THE ROVERS BOOKS FROM REBELLION – CHECK LIST

ROY OF THE ROVERS BOOKS: SEASON ONE

Roy of the Rovers: Scouted

Scouted (Book 1)
by Tom Palmer
Released: 4th October 2018

Times are tough for Melchester Rovers. Languishing at the bottom of League Two, the once-proud powerhouse of British football is out of money and out of luck.
 
Sixteen-year-old Roy Race always dreamt of playing up front for Rovers. Oozing with natural talent and possessing a powerful left foot, Roy may just be the answer to all of Melchester’s prayers.
 
Can Roy break into the Rovers first team and bring back the glory days of old? Or will the pressure of problems on and off the pitch prove too much for the young prospect?
 
The epic footballing saga begins here!

Read the first chapter via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

• Download Scouted here for free from the official Roy of the Rover web site – offer ends 30th April 2020

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Kick-Off (Graphic Novel 1)
by Rob Williams and Ben Willsher
Released: 1st November 2018

Roy of the Rovers: Kick-Off

Roy of the Rovers, the greatest fictional footballer ever to kick a ball, is back!

Times are tough for Melchester Rovers. Languishing at the bottom of League Two, the once-proud powerhouse of British football is out of money and out of luck.

Sixteen year old Roy Race always dreamt of playing up front for Rovers. Oozing with natural talent and possessing a powerful left foot, Roy may just be the answer to all of Melchester’s prayers.

Can Roy break into the Rovers first team and bring back the glory days of old? Or will the pressure of problems on and off the pitch prove too much for the young prospect?

The epic footballing saga begins here!

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Read the preview pages via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Download Kick-Off for free from the official Roy of the Rovers web site here – offer ends 30th April 2020

Teamwork (Book 2)
by Tom Palmer
Released: 7th February 2019

Roy of the Rovers: Teamwork

Roy Race has it all: all the skill, all the talent, and all the eyes on him now he s broken into the Melchester Rovers first team at only 16 years old.

Except, of course, there s more to life than football. His dad s in a wheelchair and needs looking after, his mum is working all hours, and his sister? His sister Rocky wants to play football too, and she won’t leave Roy alone until he helps her do something about it…

Join us for amazing scenes, incredible tekkers, and all the thrills, sprills and drama of football!

The new era of Roy of the Rovers continues!

Read the first chapter via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Foul Play (Graphic Novel 2)
by Rob Williams and Ben Willsher
Released: 7th March 2019

Roy of the Rovers - Foul Play

After an astonishing breakthrough into the Melchester Rovers first team, 16 year old superstar-in-waiting Roy Race must now battle it out for survival in the tough ranks of professional footballers. Competition, injuries, and the demands of the fans are mounting can Roy cope?

Read the preview pages via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Roy of the Rovers Summer Special 2020

On sale in newsagents and comic shops from 10th June 2020

2020 Roy of the Rovers Summer Special Cover

The 2020 Roy of the Rovers Summer Special has all the football action you and your kids need, featuring characters old and new in thrilling new comic strips, fantastic features – including the return of iconic Roy of the Rovers artist David Sque.

This Summer Special jam-packed with fab football action – perfect for football fans of all ages – can be pre-ordered now.

No Euros? No worries!

Going Up (Graphic Novel 3)
by Rob Williams and Ben Willsher
Released: 27th June 2019

Roy of the Rovers - Going Up

Roy and the team have battled through a tough season, but have they got enough left to get promoted? Or will they fall at the final hurdle and see the club sold by its greedy owner?

Read the first chapter via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Play-Offs (Book 3)
by Tom Palmer
Released: 27th June 2019

Roy of the Rovers - Play-Offs

The end of the season is here, and it’s make or break for Roy Race and Melchester Rovers.

Against all odds, Roy and his teammates are closer to getting Rovers promoted. However, if they fail to reach League One, then Rovers’ owner Barry Cleaver plans to sell up, destroying Melchester Rovers for good!

Now it’s crunch time: either Rovers make it through to the play-off finals, or it’s over – for the club, for the fans, and for Roy…

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Read the preview pages via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

SEASON TWO

Roy of the Rovers - On Tour

On Tour (Book 4)
by Tom Palmer, illustrated by Dan Cornwell
Released: 3rd October 2019

Roy Race is living the dream. After a whirlwind season that saw him become centre forward for his beloved Melchester Rovers and score a bagful of goals, helping them secure promotion into League One, he’s now recognised as one of the best young footballers in the country.

But something strange is afoot. As Rovers head off on a pre-season tour, Roy’s treated differently, and kept apart from the team. What’s going on, and why are Rovers bringing in new players?

With his family life hitting a rough patch and everything in flux at Mel Park, it’s time for Roy of the Rovers to fight for his team, his family – and his career in football…

Read the first chapter via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Transferred (Graphic Novel 4)
By Rob Williams and Lisa Henke
Released: 14th November 2019

Roy of the Rovers - Transferred

Thanks to a mighty team effort, Melchester Rovers have reached the dizzy heights of League One. For Roy Race however, the final had a bittersweet taste to it both he and Paco Diaz have been transferred to Melchester Rover’s bitter rivals, Premiership champions, Tynecaster.

As Roy tries to adjust to a new footballing life at the Tayir Stadium, Melchester are defying the odds and topping the table after a string of early victories. But behind the scenes chaos ensues thanks to the unscrupulous nature of the club’s chairman, Barry ‘Meat’ Cleaver.

And while the future of Mel Park may still be in doubt, it seems that Johnny Dexter’s days are well and truly numbered…

Read the first chapter via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

From The Ashes (Book 5)
by Tom Palmer, illustrated by Dan Cornwell
Released 20th February 2020

Roy of the Rovers - From the Ashes

Roy Race watched Mel Park, the home ground of his beloved Melchester Rovers, burn to the ground.

The club is in serious trouble off the pitch. But when it comes to football, somehow they’re holding it together.

It’s nothing short of a miracle, given that Roy – the greatest Rovers player in a generation – was sold by cash-strapped Melchester, to their greatest rivals: Tynecaster.

Roy needs to find a way back to Rovers, and fast – or there won’t be a club left to return to…

Read the preview pages via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

All To Play For (Graphic Novel 5)
by Rob Williams and Lisa Henke
Released: 19th March 2020

Melchester Rovers are in a dark place. Due to Barry ‘Meat’ Cleaver’s underhand business practises, the team find themselves faced with a thirty-point deduction and have tumbled from the top to the bottom of League One. If that wasn’t bad enough, a fire has decimated Mel Park leaving the team with nowhere to play their home games. Rovers’ captain, Vic Guthrie is increasingly feeling the pressure and is starting to unravel.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel though – star goal scorers Paco Diaz and Roy Race are back from their brief stint in the Premiership to help the Rovers survive the drop. Meanwhile, Melchester’s female team, Sowerby, are going from strength to strength and new coach Johnny Dexter has found a kindred spirit in young defender Rocky Race…

Read the preview pages via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Rocky (Book 6)
by Tom Palmer, illustrated by Dan Cornwell
Out: 29th October 2020

Roy of the Rovers - Rocky

The final pulse-pounding story in the second scintillating season of the smash-hit phenomenon reboot, and the first ever Roy of the Rovers title to be told from the perspective of a female footballer Rocky Race, Roy’s younger sister.

A struggling student and brilliant footballer, Rocky Race is many things, but to most people she’s just Roy Race’s little sister. It’s not much fun especially as Melchester Rovers head to the League Cup Final.

Rocky’s sick of everyone knowing her through Roy, she’s had enough of school, and she’s even started having panic attacks.

Now it’s up to Rocky to find her own way as a person and a player and she’s going to need all her grit and determination to do it…

Read the first chapter via the official Roy of the Rovers web site

Pre-order from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Pressure (Graphic Novel 6)
by Rob Williams and Lisa Henke
Out: 29th October 2020

Roy of the Rovers: Pressure

The final pulse-pounding story in the second scintillating season of the smash-hit phenomenon reboot!

Having had their thirty point deduction rescinded, Melchester Rovers find themselves back in the top half of the table with a chance of promotion to the Championship.

For joint-captain Roy Race, things are still far from good. With a League Cup final looming and every point vital in their quest to attract new ownership, Roy has hit a patch of rough form and can’t find the back of the net!

Prepare for a nail-biting finale as the final whistle blows on another action-packed season!

Pre-order from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

ROY OF THE ROVERS – REBELLION CLASSIC COLLECTIONS

Roy of the Rovers: Best of the 1950s
By Frank Pepper and Joe Colquhoun
Released 25th June 2019

Roy of the Rovers - Best of the 1950s

Celebrate 65 years of the greatest football comic ever!

They don’t come much more iconic than Roy of the Rovers. The Melchester Rovers striker of legend first appeared in the weekly Tiger comic 1954, and went on to become beloved of millions of British boys across decades of footballing adventures.

Celebrating 65 years of goals and glory in 2019, this first in a spectacular new luxury treasury series collected the very best stories from the first decade of Roy of the Rovers comics.

THE BIRTH OF AN ICON!

Roy Race is only a schoolboy – but the scouts from the mighty Melchester Rovers have spotted his talent, and now he’s on his way to a career as professional footballer! But how will Roy settle into the ranks at Rovers? Can he deal with the competition, the pressure, and the fan’s expectations?
One thing’s for certain: if he’s going to become a club legend, he better get his scoring boots on…

The legend begins here! An icon of British comics and sporting history is born, with his origin presented in glorious hardback for the first time!

Buy Roy of the Rovers: Best of the 1950s from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Roy of the Rovers: The Best of the 1960s
By Derek Birnage, Joe Colquhoun, Fred T Holmes and Bobby Charlton

Roy of the Rovers - Best of the 1950s

They don’t come much more iconic than Roy of the Rovers. The Melchester Rovers striker of legend first appeared in 1954, and went on to become a genuine sporting hero for generations of fans, with his story spanning decades of footballing adventures.

THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND!

Roy Race, Melchester Rovers captain and star striker, strides into the greatest decade of British football: the 1960s!

League glory, European campaigns, foreign tours and a little thing called the World Cup are all on the horizon as Roy of the Rovers cements his footballing legacy.

Buy Roy of the Rovers: The Best of the 1960s from AmazonUk (Affiliate Link)

Roy of the Rovers: The Best of the 1970s – The Tiger Years
By Tom Tully, Yvonne Hutton and David Sque
On sale 11th June 2020

Roy of the Rovers: The Best of the 1970s: The Tiger Years

The 1970s was a very turbulent time in Britain. Following on from the optimism of the 1960s, the country faced a decade of strikes and power cuts. Luckily for the fans of Melchester Rovers, Roy Race and his loyal time mates provided great moments of glory for their fans, starting with European Cup final win in 1973 in the year that the club celebrated its 50th anniversary.

It was the decade in which footballers became real superstars – a time when Melchester goalkeeper Charlie Carter had to choose between staying at the club or perusing a burgeoning career as a pop singer. And it was a period when Roy Race truly cemented himself as the heart, soul and brain of the club by taking on the role of player manager.

Pre-order Roy of the Rovers: The Best of the 1970s – The Tiger Years from AmazonUK

Roy of the Rovers: 65th Anniversary Special
By Barrie Tomlinson and Joe Colquhoun
Edited by Rob Power

Roy of the Rovers 65th Anniversary Special

An incredible and historic hardcover celebrating 65 years of iconic character, Roy of the Rovers.

In 1954, an unassuming young footballer named Roy Race made his debut for Melchester Rovers in the pages of Tiger. Seven decades later, Roy of the Rovers is a household name and a footballing institution, and Rebellion celebrated with the Roy of the Rovers 65th Anniversary Special, delivering all the goals and glory from seven decades of iconic football action.

Buy the Roy of the Rovers: 65th Anniversary Special from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

Roy of the Rovers Summer Special 2020
Out in June 2020

The Roy of the Rovers Summer Special is still on course. Featuring the talents of the Roy of the Rovers creative team – Rob WilliamsLisa Henke and Tom Palmer – this 48-page special kicks off this June!

• Roy of the Rovers Official Site: royoftheroversofficial.com

Check out our guide to Rebellion’s 2000AD and Treasury of British Comic collections and Specials for 2020 and into 2021



Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

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3 replies

  1. Makes sense – Melchester wouldn’t be playing right now anyway!

  2. Awesome glad to read the first chapter of the Rocky Novel. Great start. Before I just read the graphic novels but now I’ve gone back and read the novels and the woman’s World Cup story. And loving what Tom Palmer adds to the storyline so much more to Roy’s life at home with his mum and Dad and Rocky and his college with the two bully’s. Also people should check out the MOTD storyline on the website that’s out of continuity with the main storyline. But a great first look at the revamped Roy of the Rovers and if it’s still available? The Times football section had a Roy of the Rovers Lockdown strip with Roy and Rocky. Just one page but it’s brilliant.

    • Thanks for that, Steve – I didn’t know about The Times strip, will look out for it. I have had a sneak peek at the upcoming ROTR Special, on sale soon, and it’s great fun. Smashing to see David Sque drawing a strip, in the modern style.

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