The First Detective of the Space Age and Head of the Interplanetary Bureau of Investigation. (I.B.I.) (...Or Flash Gordon meets Philip Marlowe!) Rick Random solved his first space case in the pocket-sized Super Detective Library No. 37, Crime Rides the Spaceways.

Faired haired Rick was seldom seen without a cigarette as he chased intergalactic master criminals such as John Jolson, a futuristic bank robber. In the story, '"The Frozen World", Jolson used a matter transmitter to steal gold bullion from the Interplanetary Bank in London.

Detective Superintendent Andi Andrews was Rick's attractive companion. Another character that re-appeared from time to time was Rick's friend, Dr Marius Fisher. Fisher was chairman of the Interplanetary Board of Space, and Prime Minister of England! - A real "friend in high places".

In Super Detective Library No 79 - "The Planet of the Lost Men", Marius tries to dissuade Rick from acting as bait following a series of UFO abductions - unsuccessfully, of course - and following his abduction, Rick tangles with corrupt businessman, Joshua Hauser and his desperate plan to mine all the gold from the tiny planet of Garganta.

The 64-page one-off story format of these pocket books worked well and gave Rick Random a little more sophistication than his contemporaries. The artwork, principally by Ron Turner also gave the strip a visual lift.

In May 1979, the 2000AD comic ran "The Riddle Of The Astral Assassin". Announced as an original, specially written assignment, it was to keep Rick Random busy for six instalments.
Written by Steve Moore and with the stylish Ron Turner back to draw all but the last episode, Rick found himself investigating a series of murders among the leaders of the Guebin Planetary Combination.

Set in the year 2423AD, (Rick was a little older in this, bearing in mind that '"SOS From Space" was set in the spring of 2042!) on the spaceship "Columbia". There was no hint of a cigarette, or Andi Andrews. This time Rick's assistant was space pilot, Vanda Lane. (or should that be Vanda Vane?)
An entertaining tale, and a welcome return to a classic space hero.

Rick Random was pure sci-fi pulp. Ron Turner's distinctive artwork was perfect for the strip. His fantastic blistered spaceships, detailed mechanisms and bold use of perspective gave the Rick Random stories an almost cinematic feel.

Ron Turner started working at Odhams art studios in London during the late 1940's, producing a variety of illustrations for books and magazines. While moonlighting for another studio, he wrote and drew his first science fiction strip -"The Atomic Mole".
During those days, unless the employer was a large corporation, the artists provided scripts for this kind of strip, themselves. During his youth, Ron had been a fan of science fiction , reading H.G. Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Alex Raymond's creation - Flash Gordon.
Whilst, Ron had never had an ambition to enter the world of sci - fi, he didn't find a problem producing stories for his artwork.
During the early 50's Ron worked on a series of sci - fi paperback covers until in 1953, he was offered a regular commission on a self penned, eight - page strip called "Space Ace", published in the monthly Lone Star comicbook - Rick Random - Space Detective followed a year later.

"It was a very enjoyable period from the creative point of view, even though it was demanding from a physical one.
Colour obviously provides an extra dimension and results can be far more satisfying and rewarding
than black and white. At the same time, the problems of balancing colour and tone
between and within individual frames is very time consuming.
From that point of view, black and white illustration is a comparatively simple process
and given a tight deadline, I would certainly prefer this method of presentation
- or even line and tone as a happy medium."

That being said, Ron's vivid use of bright, sharp colour was a feast for the eyes, and the quality of his work was of the highest standard.

After the Dalek strip finished in 1967, Ron carried on working for various corporations , on specials and annuals.
In the early 70's he worked on many projects. ranging from dot - to - dot and puzzle books, to juvenile adventure (Ron drew a strip in Whizzer & Chips comic called Wonder - Car. ) and war stories.

During the 80's, the prolific and talented artist continued to work on several things including Action Force for Battle Action Force, a comic designed to sell "Kenner Parker" toys. In the 1985 Eagle annual Ron drew a tale from "The Collector" called "Samurai Vengeance", and in the 1986 annual "The Fists Of Danny Pyke", a story based on the weekly comic's regular strip . In the 1987 "Dan Dare" annual, Ron drew two stories, both featuring the evil Mekon. In 1989, the aforementioned Doctor Who Monthly, from which I gratefully acknowledge some of the information gleaned for this profile, printed a specially drawn picture by Ron Turner. It showed Daleks pouring out of a flying saucer as two figures in the foreground prepared to take cover. The image had that typical "Turneresque" retro - future quality about it, and showed Ron's classic and popular style that fans of the genre have enjoyed for over half a century.

In 1995, Ron was commissioned to provide a cover for 'Marvels' "The Dalek Chronicles" compilation.
Soon after this, during a lull in his workload, Ron produced another piece of Dalek artwork just for the fun of it. As Ron's agent, John Lawrence recounted in an article entitled "The Dalek Master" for the Doctor Who Magazine issue 276 (April 1999)

"His (Ron's) enthusiasm shone through. Realising the potential in a new run of the strip I, as Ron's agent, sent the work through to DWM's editor, who was similarly impressed - and, early in 1997, the six-part '"Return of the Elders" saw print, continuing the story of the Daleks' first attempt to invade our planet."

A further story was planned, and two pages of Deadline to Doomsday were produced - sadly, however that was as far as it went. Ron Turner died aged 76 on 19 December 1998.
Ron was one of Britain's finest and distinctive adventure strip artists. His talent and prolific imagination will be sadly missed.