Robert 'Space' Kingley was the principle character in a series of storybooks involving the adventures of the Inter-Planetary Rangers. Each title had a different writer credited, but all featured the artwork of R.W. Jobson. Unlike Dan Dare, his obvious influence, 'Space' Kingley , as far as I'm aware, was not part of any comic publication or newspaper strip and had simply existed with this series of 'annuals'

The Adventures of Captain "Space" Kingley
(Written by Ray Sonin. Illustrated by R.W.Jobson.) 1951

Set in the twenty-second century, after an atomic war, Man had finally achieved a utopian existence.
As citizens of the world, everyone was entitled to all the privileges that civilisation could bestow!
Countries and nationalities had disappeared long ago, and every human being born on Earth owed allegiance to one ideal - the World Federation.
Everyone spoke one language, 'Universaa.' (Formal occasions required the resurrection of Classical English, a long obsolete tongue).
The Inter-Planetary Rangers were the Earth's elite space force, which, according to the story 'The Creeping Death', were never allowed to dull their needle sharp awareness of danger, even in sleep!
Rangers are taught not to dream, which, apparently clutters up the sensitiveness of the brain!
Supersonic 'thought-calls' have replaced the 'pager' , and a message from 'The Controller', can penetrate a sleeping Ranger's mind in an instant. He* can be up and ready for action at the speed of a 'brain impulse'! (*or her? - no women feature as Ranger; in fact , not many women feature in any of the 'Kingley' books. Except for perhaps, ' Queen Ninos - a Martian who is rescued by Kingley after being kidnapped. Also Ryta - a submariner from a dying race who saves Space and Shorty from drowning! - Well at least it's balanced! )
Space Kingley and his sidekick, Shorty Rowe (described in 'Introducing a Hero' as, small and wizened. Kingley's batman, housekeeper, assistant and No.1 admirer. - Digby would have been simpler! Like Dan Dare's Digby, Shorty had an accent, tended to be illiterate and used phrases like 'guv'nor'! - 'Universaa', obviously didn't quite cover everyone, Shorty's nickname might not refer to his stature, but rather his lack of status!) both fly the IPR space rocket Comet, defending Earth against the Flame Men of Mercury, the Mechanical Animals of Mars, travel beneath the Atlantic Ocean and with upper lips ever stiff, put the solar system to right.
This book introduced Kingley and the imagined world of the 22nd century. Like the Dan Dare comic strip, it hinted at a utopian, almost communistic future with everyone working for the greater good. This situation followed an atomic war, between previous civilisations following a policy of internal destruction. The World Council , in an attempt to prevent further conflict, systematically abolished nationalities and set up a supreme governing body to cater for the material, educational and spiritual needs of the people of the world as a whole. One nation - no wars!
However, there are those who would spoil this idyllic existence - one example was Serge Glyster, a distant relative of a"" Central European maniac who attempted to conquer the world by force and died in the attempt, after seeing his nation crumble." - In 'Stowaway to the Moon' , Kingley, as a young boy stows away on his father's spacecraft, and encounters Glyster, and his henchman - Marcus Hostling and Carl Weisner on a lunar penal colony. After foiling their plan to escape, 'Space' Kingley decides to become a Ranger.
Although 'Adventures' featured lavish artwork throughout, the only colour was the front cover. Inside, the all-text stories added to the dull feel of the book, and the opening political rhetoric had an oppressive ring to it .
The following 'instalment', appearing a year later carried better fare. A new writer, Ernest A. Player and R.W. Jobson returning as artist, the 'Space' Kingley Annual featured extra full colour plates and two adventure strip stories!

The "Space" Kingley Annual
(Written by Ernest A. Player. Illustrated by R.W. Jobson) 1952

'Here, for the delight of 20th century readers, are further exploits of this 22nd century adventurer, who solves, in his own inimitable way, the problems which face Earth when a world from outer space careers into the Solar System.'

A central core story dealing with interplanetary double-dealing and political intrigue featured in this, the second of 'Space' Kingley's literary outings.
The utopian existence still remained, but only as background - this time it was the space science of Kingley's world that was featured - intriguing cut-away views of the I.P.R. Rocket Mk. IV and a Rangers space suit; I.P.R. headquarters ; and various space stations. The accompanying text featured such things as 'K' ray generators and Spectra ports with Polaroid screens! And the heat and power for the Earth is revealed as coming from 'Centralia', a power plant using a series of bore holes reaching down to the liquid core of the world. With this innovation, weather is controllable and the Polar Regions are lush farming land! Four full colour plates by R.W. Jobson accompany each feature.

While text stories prevail, as previously described, two adventure strips are featured. R.W.Jobson is the only credited artist, but the artwork on these strips is well below Jobson's standard. It is not signed but it does bear some resemblance to Captain Condor strips in the early Lion comic and annuals. (The artwork on Condor was, according to Denis Gifford's 'Encyclopaedia of Comic Characters' credited to Ronald Forbes!)
The following Kingley book, 'Space' Kingley and the Secret Squadron', also carries several strip stories. These are signed by Jobson, and have a totally different style to the 'Annual's' adventure strips.

"Space" Kingley and the Secret Squadron
( Written by David White. Illustrated by R.W.Jobson.) 1953

'On the outer fringes of the Solar System lies space station Moby Dick. From here Space Kingley promoted to command his own squadron of Comet patrol spaceships boosts off on secret and dangerous missions among the strange planets of a new star.'

'Argonaut 198' is the name given to the newly discovered star. It's family of planets orbit Argonaut on different planes but at the same distance. The 'Moby Dick' station is set up as a jump point for 'Space' and his secretly formed squadron to visit the various civilisations that are suspected of inhabiting each of the star's worlds.

Little telepathic egg-shaped aliens and practical joking beetle-men start the squadron's adventures -
and these are adventures. The political and scientific aspects of the previous books are toned down.
The camaraderie of the squadron is prevalent and the interplay between the character's works well, helped by the fact that the original premise of a single nation has been dropped. Nationalities are back in vogue, and members of the Secret Squadron include: Chatty Olsen, a cheery, experienced Ranger, whose role is adjutant; Yu-ten, an engineer from the ancient land of China; Taffy Jones, a fiery Welshman and quartermaster to the team; the personnel officer, Bats Cholmondley, a 'tally-ho, bandits at twelve-o-clock' type who looked like a 'Battle of Britain' fighter pilot , complete with handle-bar moustache; and finally, Digby look-a-like Shorty Rowe, whose described as 'the records wallah'.

All in all, Secret Squadron was an entertaining development in the 'Space' Kingley saga. The array of characters had a good ol' British feel about them. ( even the stereotypical, Yu - ten and Taffy Jones!) Although, the book carried no features, it did have four colour plates, illustrating some of the text. The adventure strips, which followed the core story were an easy read and were an improvement on the previous book.