Comic Cuts — 21 January 2022

News is a bit slim today. I was working on two things in parallel and have one job finished. That was the scanning job I mentioned last week. I was then waiting on feedback to some suggestions I had put in, was knocked back on a couple, given more positive news on another couple and the rest was "we like it but we'll have to look into it".

It is a lot easier being your own publisher. Books come out when they're finished, rather than eighteen months after they've been through the hands of editors, lawyers, sensitivity readers, designer and the publicity department. I still have to do all of those things, but the whole process is condensed, and while it may seem to you, dear reader, that books only come out intermittently from Bear Alley Towers, I promise you that the process from writing the first words to you reading them is a lot, a lot, quicker than it would be through a regular publisher.

On the negative side, I'm a one-man band, so slipping off to earn the rent money or even just taking Christmas off slows down the whole process. Writing these histories involves a lot of reading and research. I'm double-checking everything that has been written before to get as close to the true story as is possible over a gulf of time, and trying to find some unique illustrations that you won't have seen before.

The one bit of admin that I've decided on is that it should be a single volume, and not split into two across issues of the upcoming (promise!) magazine. That does leave me with an Action-sized hole in the first issue, but I have a couple of other features written that should fill the gap. Hopefully that means there won't be a six month gap between publications... but I'm not promising anything because that would be asking for trouble.

The next step with Action is to begin reading the second run of 50 issues, a total of 1,600 pages less maybe 100 pages of advertising. No wonder it is taking me so long to get through Pat Mills' latest book, thoroughly enjoyable as it is. I'm also looking forward to getting back to reading Martha Wells' novella, Artificial Condition, which I was just about to start when I decided the Mills took precedence. My fiction reading these days is incredibly limited — only a handful of books a year. It's so much easier to watch some TV on my laptop rather than reading. (Currently I'm watching the last season of The Expanse. The books are great, but they're bricks and I've only managed to read the first two.)

Our column header is one of the projects that didn't make the cut, not because the publisher didn't want to do it (which they did), but because the rights are already with a rival publisher. Shame, because I'd been involved with a Spanish translation of the books. I'm in a bit of "coals to Newcastle" situation because the projects getting the green light (subject to approval by the copyright owners, of course) are a selection of strips by Italian artists who worked in the UK, now being published in Italy.

• 21 Jan. Alan Moore wonders if his stories helped create Donald Trump and QAnon. "The fantastic unbelievable threat is going to be the underground democrat peadophile demons that were suggested by QAnon, and the equally unbelievable superhero saviour that is working behind the scenes to rescue us all will be ‘The Donald’, who’s even got a superhero name."
• 15 Jan. Chloe Maveal celebrates the Star Wars art of Cam Kennedy. "For any that remain as unconvinced by the Star Wars story in any traditional way of it being told, you can find a new love for it in the pigment-soaked pages of Cam Kennedy’s heart-stopping Star Wars work."
• 13 Jan. David Sutherland is celebrated after drawing the Bash Street Kids for six decades.
  
• 8 Jan. Miracleman will be returning in 2022 as part of the 40th anniversary of his revival by Alan Moore and Garry Leach in Warrior. Marvel will be publishing a hardcover omnibus of the Moore run (uncredited at his request), plus two stories by Grant Morrison and Peter Milligan that appeared in 2014  All-New Miracleman Annual. The omnibus, due September 2022, will have covers by Alan Davies, Kevin Nowlan and Garry Leach.
      The Miracleman story came to a premature end with issue #24, partway through a storyline by Neil Gaiman and Mark Buckingham. #25 was completed but never published due to Eclipse's bankruptcy. A lengthy court battle ensued over who owned the rights to the character and stories, resolved in 2009 and some material was published around 2010/11.
      The Miracleman symbol was introduced on the final page of Timeless #1, the recently published Kang the Conqueror story that will echo across a number of Marvel titles. And Rich Johnson has reported that the Gaiman/Buckingham series is about to reappear, with four issues complete, concluding Miracleman: The Silver Age and entering Miracleman: The Dark Age. Johnson has also revealed that any further new stories featuring MM will be written by Donny (Venom, GUardians of the Galaxy, Thor, etc.) Cates.
  
• 8 Jan. Ram V discusses Swamp Thing, Al Ewing and what's next.  "I’ve been doing this work for the past four or five years. I only started writing comics in 2016. 2018/2019 is when I did “These Savage Shores,” and that kind of put me on a lot of people’s watch lists."

Commando 5507-5510

Four brand-new Commando comics coming at you! With Royal Navy in the North African desert, Grumman F6F Hellcats in the Pacific, golden treasure in Burma, and a time-travelling paradox during the Battle of Britain! And you won’t have long to wait till you can get ‘em because they’re out Thursday!  
 

5507: Flight Time

Strange goings-on in Issue 5507 ‘Flight Time’! Air-bus co-pilot Jack Lewis was sick of being a glorified petrol station for real fighters in the sky. But Jack’s humdrum life is soon turned upside down when he wakes up at RAF Norton in 1940 as his grandfather’s wingman! Can he learn how to fly like an ace before it’s too late — or will he go down in flames?!

A debut Commando from writer Norman Ferguson who tackles this time-travelling trip into the Battle of Britain with a little help from Paolo Ongaro’s mind-bending art!

Story | Norman Ferguson
Art | Paolo Ongaro
Cover | Ian Kennedy
 

5508: No Time For Fear

Talk about a fish out of water in Issue 5508 ‘No Time For Fear’! Well, meet Able Seaman Tim Jackson and Chris Walters of HM Submarine Service, who found themselves in the middle of the North African desert without so much as a plan. With little choice — and no time for fear — Walters and Jackson soon became the toughest pair of desert fighters west of El Alamein, with a little help from a SAS bloke determined to knock some sense into them!

 A classic Commando from 1969 with an amazing story and artwork from the titans of Commando!  

Story | Boyle
Art | Aguilar
Cover | Penalva
Originally Commando No. 394 (1969)
 

5509: Hell in a Hellcat

You've heard about "going to hell in a handbasket" well Issue 5509 is hell in a Grumman F6F Hellcat for Lieutenant Frank Stewart! Frank’s life gets turned upside down when he is reassigned to a new aircraft carrier and with it comes a new Commanding Officer straight out of his past — one he never thought he'd see again! This mystery man just so happens to be his father and the two have a lot of catching up to do — between fending off Japanese attacks, that is!

A gut-wrenching comic by established Commando writer Brent Towns topped off with awesome art by Morhain and a high-drama cover by Carlos Pino!
 
Story | Brent Towns
Art | Morhain
Cover | Carlos Pino
 

5510: The Spoils of War

Could Bert Foster get away with stealing a priceless golden belt from a temple in the Burmese jungle? Not if the fearsome local warriors could help it! Capers and hijinks aplenty in this Silver era Commando as Issue 5510 ‘Spoils of War’ feels like Commando meets Indiana Jones! Lucky there’s no giant boulders in this issue — only crocodiles, raging rivers, some very angry locals intent on getting justice!
 
Story | Bill Fear
Art | Blasco
Cover | Ron Brown
Originally Commando No. 1759 (1983)

Rebellion Releases — 19 January 2022

There’s nothing to fear but Judge Fear himself - even if he’s only four inches tall!

Rebellion and Hiya Toys are proud to unveil the latest in the new range of 1:18 PVC action figures based on the world of Judge Dredd, from the pages of the bestselling comic British comic, 2000 AD!

Judge Fear is the terror-inducing member of the Dark Judges, the alien superfiends from a dimension where all life has been declared a crime. A single look behind the gothic windows of his helmet visor reveals his victim’s worst fear, scaring them to death!

He was also involved in one of the most iconic moments in the strip’s history - grabbing Judge Dredd’s head and opening his visor, he announced ‘Gaze into the face of Fear!’, to which Dredd replied ‘Gaze into the fist of Dredd!’ and punches straight through Fear’s head.

Releasing in the second quarter of 2022, Judge Fear comes with 16 points of articulation, shoulder and joint pads, chain and badge of office, utility belt with dimension jump, and his imposing winged helmet. The figure will come shipped in an attractive protective cardboard window box.

Fear is the next in the brand new range of fully poseable 1:18 figures announced in November 2021, drawing on more than four decades of ground-breaking comic books set in the world of the classic character created by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra in 1977.

Due to pressure on international shipping caused by the pandemic, the Judge Dredd and Judge Death 1:18 figures are now due to ship Q2 2022, Judge Mortis will ship in Q3 2022 (available to order from Q1 2022) and Dredd’s iconic motorbike, the Lawmaster, will be available as a set to order from Q2 2022 and hit shelves in Q4 2022.

The 1:18 line will be followed by a 1:12 (six-inch) line with Judge Dredd (available to order from Q2 2022), Judge Death (available to order from Q3 2022), Judge Fear (available to order from Q3 2022) and Judge Mortis (available to order from Q4 2022).

And now, this week's releases...

Judge Dredd Megazine 440
Cover: David Roach / Dylan Teague (col).

Judge Dredd: Praise Zort by Rory McConville (w) Staz Johnson (a) Chris Blythe (c) Annie Parkhouse
Death Cap by TC Eglington (w)
Boo Cook (a) Simon Bowland (l)
Diamond Dogs III by James Peaty (w) Warren Please (a) Simon Bowland (l)
Lawless: Ballots Over Badrock by Dan Abnett (w), Phil Windslade (a) Jim Campbell (l)
Surfer by John Wagner (w) Colin MacNeil (a) Chris Blythe (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
Interview: Steve White by Karl Stock
New comics: Hawk the Slayer by Karl Stock
Bagged graphic novel: Hawk the Slayer #1 by Garth Ennis (w) Henry Flint (a) Rob Steen (l)

2000AD Prog 2265
Cover: David Roach / Dylan Teague (col).

Judge Dredd: Working Girl by Kenneth Niemand (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Dylan Teague (c) Annie Parkhouse
Proteus Vex: Desite Paths by Michael Carroll (w)
Jake Lynch (a) Jim Boswell (c) Simon Bowland (l)
The Order: Fantastic Voyage by Kek-W (w) John Burns (a) Simon Bowland (l)
Kingmaker: Falls The Shadow by Ian Edginton (w) Leigh Gallagher (a) Jim Campbell (l)
Saphir: Liaisons Dangereuses by Kek-W (w) David Roach (a) Peter Doherty (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)

Essential Judge Dredd: Dredd vs Death by John Wagner, Alan Grant (w), Brian Bolland, Brett Ewins, Cliff Robinson, Robin Smith, Alex Ronald, Andy Clarke and Bryan Talbot (a).
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618481-8, 18 January 2022, 160pp, £19.99 / $25.00. Available via Amazon.

The essential Judge Dredd graphic novel series - the ultimate introduction to the Lawman of the Future! "When people think of Dredd enemies, they think of The Dark Judges." - Comics Beat The crime is life! The Judgement is death! When Judge Death enters Mega-City One from a parallel dimension, his plan is simple: to find every single living cit and sentence them – to death! The fourth volume in the oversized Essential Dredd series includes the first two Judge Death stories, from John Wagner (A History of Violence) and Brian Bolland (The Killing Joke) presented in stunning black and white, and featuring restored pages. It also includes the first solo Judge Anderson adventure, presented in luscious new colours, also starring Judge Death. The critically acclaimed Essential Dredd Collection is a perfect jumping on point for new readers and this volume introduces Judge Death, the Dark Judges and wisecracking Psi Judge Cassandra Anderson.

Karl the Viking Volume 1: The Sword of Eingar by Ken Mennell, Ted Cowan and Don Lawrence
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618462-7, 19 January 2022, 240pp, £19.99. Available via Amazon.

Originally serialised in Lion, Karl the Viking is a sweeping historical fantasy story of an orphaned Saxon boy, adopted and raised by the viking Eingar after his raid on Britain. Upon coming of age Karl succeeds Eingar and leads his tribe into battle in Britain against wild tribes of Picts, and re-connects with his old Saxon family, gaining an ally in his cousin Godwulf, and making an enemy of the Earl of Eastumbria. These fast-paced stories were drawn by Don Lawrence shortly before he revolutionised painted comic art with The Trigan Empire, when he was already a master of pen and ink, and his Karl the Viking series was the pinnacle of black and white comic art.

Comic Cuts — 14 January 2022

Last week was all dogs, but this week it has been all work. I'm still working on the Action history, but I've had to pause for a couple of days to earn a bit of money doing a bit of scanning for a publisher in Italy. I've worked on quite a few books that have appeared across Europe and Scandinavia in the past — not huge numbers but even one every few years mounts up if you've been in the business for forty years!

I'm keen to get the Action project finished but I'm still wondering quite what to do with it. I'm weighing up splitting the book over two issues of BAM!, but that might not be ideal. The other options are to publish it as a straight up Bear Alley Books index, or to do it as a BAM! Special.

For some while I've favoured splitting the book in two just to get BAM! on the presses, but the sensible place to split the book is probably two-thirds of the way through the story and I'm now wondering whether that would cause more problems than it would solve. It's very long (you know me: everything including the kitchen sink goes into these books!) and wouldn't leave me much space for other features.

I'm now swaying towards doing it as a one-shot special under the BAM! brand. I could then get a wider mix of features into the first issue, some long, some shorter. I think that's the smarter option. You'd think that after eighteen months of pondering over this I'd be laser-focused on one path, but decision-making isn't my forte. I'm very jealous of people who can make a decision and stick with it. I'm usually pretty quick to decide on something, but if it's something that takes time to happen, I'll start tinkering around the edges and before you know it, I'm reassessing everything. (It's one of the reasons why I try to write these columns quickly and why they often sound like I've just poured a bunch of words into the keyboard. This is what my inner monologue is like all day!)

The main news is that we got our oven fixed. It was installed on around the 2nd of November and we noticed a problem immediately — as I mentioned at the time:

[The oven] has a small metal spur close to each gas ring which is meant to heat up to show that the flame is lit. You have to hold the gas knob down for ten seconds to give it time to warm up before releasing the knob. If it hasn't warmed sufficiently, it shuts off the gas flow to that ring.
    Unfortunately, it is taking far too long to warm and sometimes we're stood there holding the knob down for 30-40 seconds and, when you let go, the flame goes out as the hob cuts the gas flow. It's touch and go which rings will work and sometimes we're trying to heat the smallest saucepan on the biggest ring and I've had to make a big pan of stew on a smaller ring. Not the most efficient way to do it. And the grill is burning off... well, something... each time we try making toast it sets off the fire alarm even before the toast has fully toasted.
    We spotted the first fault when the gas was connected and we're now ten days on and still no news of when the fault will be repaired. The gas inspector has given them a nudge, so hopefully we'll hear something soon.

We continued to have this problem all the way through Christmas and you cannot imagine the utter frustration of trying to get everything to cook so that each part of the meal is ready to dish up at the same time. There was one evening where it took minutes to get two rings on the hob to light so I had potatoes cooked five minutes ahead of the veg. Meanwhile, the pie in the oven was starting to char and the gravy was starting to cool. I pride myself in running a kitchen like a military operation with everything coming to the boil at the right time.

Anyway, the man from Beko arrived on Wednesday, acknowledged the problem, told us it was an alignment issue, fitted a couple of washers and was out of the house within twenty minutes, most of which time he spent fiddling around in his van trying to find the washers. And, touch wood, the hob has worked perfectly ever since. If only he'd turned up two months ago!

I mentioned working on various foreign editions above. I've dug out a few so I have some illustrations this week. This isn't all of them, as I've been involved in publications that have appeared in France and Germany, I'm sure I've done Spider and Kelly's Eye scans for Spain and there have been a few projects that came to nothing, including a Battler Britton volume for Germany. The latest has been Patty's World for Spain and now I'm working on a Breccia volume for Italy, having already done a bit of work on a Spanish volume collecting his war stories. I'm sure there have been others over the years.

The Steel Claw reprint and the Robin Hood and Air Ace collections were all for Egmont in Finland, just in case the language isn't something you're familiar with.

Dredd @ 45 Exhibition at the Cartoon Museum

The Cartoon Museum unveils a special exhibition to celebrate the 45^th Anniversary of Judge Dredd and 2000 AD. The exhibition explores Judge Dredd, one of the world’s most recognisable comic book characters but one that has been reinterpreted by countless artists over 45 years.

Created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra, Judge Dredd is the longest-running 2000 AD character, first appearing in its second issue in 1977.

Rebellion plans to mark forty-five years of groundbreaking comics over the coming weeks with special collections, signing events, and online celebrations. About Dredd @ 45: Dredd @ 45 is an ‘In Focus’ exhibition that takes a look at the evolution of Judge Dredd since 1977, and how artistic techniques have changed alongside the character. Dredd has kept the same look throughout, giving an amazing insight into the contrasting styles and techniques of the different artists who have worked on the strip over the past 45 years. In 2022, many of the tools that artists use would have been considered sci-fi by the readers of Dredd in 1977!

From the physical, cut-and-stick techniques utilized in the 1970s, to the crisp lines of the 1980s and the acetate overlays and detailed inking of the 1990s, to the introduction of digital techniques in the 2000s, Judge Dredd has stood steadfast as the world of comic creation has changed around him. Dredd is always different, but always the same.

Dredd @ 45 is included in the museum ticket price, and tickets are available online from cartoonmuseum.org.

Joe Sullivan, Director of The Cartoon Museum says: “We are excited to showcase one of the most iconic British comic characters of all time, charting how the art of Judge Dredd has changed constantly since he first appeared in Prog 2, but how the Judge himself has always stayed the same as he has passed through the pencils of countless incredible artists.

"This exhibition gives a window back in time to see how comic art has changed since Dredd first appeared - undoubtedly many digital tools used regularly by artists now could have easily featured in the pages of a 1970s copy of 2000 AD as ‘sci-fi tech’!

"Working with Rebellion has been a pleasure, and we are thrilled to be part of 2000 AD’s 45^th anniversary celebrations.”

Jason Kingsley OBE, CEO of Rebellion, said:  “It’s been thrilling to see this exhibition come together for our special anniversary year. As custodians of 2000 AD for more than two decades, we’re excited to see the Cartoon Museum focus on Judge Dredd and the artists who have made him come alive for millions of readers over the past forty-five years. Such a showcase will be great opportunity for people to see how such an iconic character has been interpreted over the years but has always remained true to its core identity and look.”

Rebellion Releases — 12 January 2022

Britain’s most controversial comic is back with two of Britain’s most controversial creators!

When it first appeared on newsagents’ shelves in 1976, Action caused a moral panic as newspapers, MPs, and self-appointed moral guardians fell over themselves to condemn its no-holds-barred, anti-authoritarian, action-packed pages!

Now Action and its groundbreaking war-themed stablemate Battle are back for a brand new 96-page hardcover original graphic novel - due for a Direct Market release in June, followed by a bookstore launch in September.

Battle Action Special will feature eight brand new stories written by Garth Ennis, the twisted mind behind The Boys and Preacher, reviving some of the most popular strips from these two groundbreaking 1970s comics.

Joining him and a host of comic book artistic talent, with his first comics work since the end of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, will be artist Kevin O’Neill, whose entire style was once deemed wholly “objectionable” by the Puritans of the Comics Code Authority in America.

O’Neill is the artist on the revival of Kids Rule OK, writer Jack Adrian and artist Mike White’s series about kids running amok in a post-apocalyptic landscape that was so infamous it helped lead to Action being pulled from shelves!

Behind a brand new cover by Andy Clarke (Batman and Robin) and Dylan Teague (Madi), the Battle Action Special will bring the best of Battle and Action’s action-packed and controversial comics back to life in all their bullet-spraying and enemy-shredding action!

Take to the skies with artist Keith Burns and colourist Jason Wordie, and witness the air duel of the century as ace fighter pilot Johnny Red faces off against Skreamer of the Stukas.

Infamous German tank commander Hellman of Hammer Force bears down on American Colonel Glory Rider in Tunisia, drawn by the legendary Mike Dorey (Ro-Busters).

Blunt instrument of British Intelligence Dredger returns and takes no prisoners on the streets of 1980s London, courtesy of Watchmen colourist and Judge Dredd artist John Higgins, with co-colours by Sally Jane Hurst.

Take on the selfish but fearless Crazy Keller by Chris Burnham (Batman) and colours by Len O’Grady, and meet Nina Petrova, the scourge of the Eastern Front, with art by Patrick Goddard (Judge Dredd) and colours by Jason Wordie.

And roll out into Italy in the heat of 1944 with The Sarge as Ennis reunites with The Stringbags artist PJ Holden.

And now, this week's release...

2000AD Prog 2264
Cover: Patrick Goddard / Dylan Teague (cols).

In this issue:
Judge Dredd: Working Girl by Kenneth Niemand (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Dylan Teague (c) Annie Parkhouse
Proteus Vex: Desite Paths by Michael Carroll (w)
Jake Lynch (a) Jim Boswell (c) Simon Bowland (l)
The Order: Fantastic Voyage by Kek-W (w) John Burns (a) Simon Bowland (l)
Kingmaker: Falls The Shadow by Ian Edginton (w) Leigh Gallagher (a) Jim Campbell (l)
The Out Book Two by Dan Abnett (w) Mark Harrisn (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)

Comic Cuts — 7 January 2022

Happy New Year everyone! We had a very pleasant Christmas, thank you for asking, but it was back to work this week and I slipped back into the regular schedule very quickly... like slipping into your favourite pair of slippers or easing down onto a comfortable sofa. It felt good after taking all of Christmas off and most of the week up to New Year easy.

Like many, I had family descending and we were running around getting everything ready, turning Mel's office into a bedroom, making sure we had a fridge full of grub and, of course, emergency biscuits. And bacon rather than my usual breakfast meal of choice: an apple (which I have every morning on my doctor's recommendation).

We had a houseful for Xmas 2021 thanks to my sister and her three dogs, possibly the most photographed animals of the Christmas period, with Mum, Julie, Me and Mel all snapping away.I should be able to find one nice one between that lot.

The weather was against us this year. It wasn't cold, but rain meant that we didn't walk any more than the minimum demanded by dogs. And the dogs don't need much walking. I now know two Saluki owners and they both agree that they spend 95% of their lives flaked out in their beds or on the coach. One of my sister's other dogs is a whippet, which, again, is built for short, frantic bursts of energy and happy to curl up on anyone's lap for the other 23 hours and 55 minutes of the day.

The one thing nobody had even had the slightest inkling of was that neither dog had ever encountered stairs before. Both were rescue dogs from the Middle East and now lived in a ground floor flat. Apart from doorsteps, they've never had a climb a set of stairs in their lives.  Not wanting to stress them out, I ended up carrying the Saluki up the stairs each night and made sure I was up in the morning to carry him down before he needed a pee.

So Christmas was mostly dogs and eating and watching the usual Morecambe & Wise shows on TV. We only had a day or two before it was New Year's Eve and a slightly boozy Zoom party to send 2021 packing. If you haven't tried to coordinate a midnight toast over zoom, while watching the dying moments of December on a mixture of TVs, tablets and smart phones, all picking up different stations with different delays... well, I'd suggest you don't as some people were celebrating already before we'd finished counting down. It was about as coordinated as a Saluki's legs on a sofa (of which I can now speak with authority).

And that brings us to 2022 and a return to work. The good news is that I have almost finished part 1 of the Action history, currently clocking in at 28,500 words. I've reached the end of the first run almost. I'll have to write some of part two before I can get on with laying out part one because I have all the comics and reference material spread out around my desk, on the scanner and on the floor nearby in a careful balance of untidiness and knowing where everything is when I want to lay my hands on it. That's going to be totally destroyed when I come to start scanning images, so I need to get to a point where I can disrupt my workflow without making it impossible to pick up again in the future.

I need to write about why the comic was pulled and the events that occurred around the 20th and 21st of September that tipped the balance against it.

Incidentally, one of my Christmas presents was a copy of Pat Mills' latest volume, Kiss My Axe!, which I'm thoroughly enjoying. I'm only 50 pages in, but learning a lot about the creation of Slaine and the battles Pat had with 2000AD to get the strip published the way he wanted it. I'm mentioning this now because I think I'm going to have to pause reading it as there's another book I need to read before I get into part 2 of Action, so a review is unlikely in the near future.

I hope you've all had a fun time over the past two weeks. There's plenty to be looking forward to in 2022 even if we seem to be taking two steps forward and then two steps back as far as Covid is concerned. We will get out of it but it will be spring before Mel is allowed back to work and we can move around freely on public transport. In the meantime I'm plotting a few interesting projects to get Bear Alley Books back up and running after a year of publishing only fiction.

Have a safe week.

Commando 5503-5506

Four fresh Commandos are the perfect start to the New Year: These issues explore the Pacific and European Theatres with a taste of tension and treachery, vengeance and valour — in air, land and sea! Issues 5503-5506 are out today.

5503: SS Colonel

On the desolate battlefields of Russia, a German unit is cut down with only one survivor — but it’s not the Russians he hunts down as he seeks revenge! Corrupt SS Colonel Wagner uses allies and enemies alike as he seeks to make his own profit from the suffering of others. Cold, hard vengeance is coming…
     A boisterous adventure from Brent Towns with interiors by Muller and Klacik and a notable cover from Ian Kennedy.

Story | Brent Towns
Art | Muller & Klacik
Cover | Ian Kennedy

5504: Mosquito Ace

Harry ‘Kiwi’ Dean is an outstanding Pilot with a penchant for heroics in this outlandish adventure of bombing raids and prison escapes. Hassle the enemy? No problem. Rescue an essential resistance contact? Easy. Taxi up the boulevard to break open a prison from the cockpit of your Mosquito? Of course!
     A rip-roaring action-packed tale from Newark with delightful interiors from Gordon C. Livingstone and a bold cover from Kenn Barr.

Story | Newark
Art | Gordon C. Livingstone
Cover | Ken Barr
Originally Commando No. 269 (1967).

5505: Angels and Thunderbolts

The bold bluster of a new pilot can rub a team up the wrong way — but it’s even worse when they don’t deliver! New to the unit is Archie Moran, who was close to gaining his ace and is a hero of the Pacific Theatre, but the ground runs and low-level haranguing of Italian airspace are more than he bargained for. Without a few angels under him, can he make it in Europe?
     A modern classic from new writers Matthew and Logan Cole, with detailed interiors from fresh talent Dan Barnfield and another striking cover from Mark Harris.

Story | Matthew Cole and Logan Cole
Art | Dan Barnfield
Cover | Mark Harris

5506: Find Them, Sink Them!

The rivalry between MTB Commanders is almost as terrifying at the tasks they have to undertake, as these small, manoeuvrable vessels strike hard and fast at larger and more lumbering enemy ships. All fine and dandy when on the open waves but the next big prize won’t be so easy when it’s tucked away safely in an enemy-held French harbour!
    The danger is on the seas in this pacey, nautical tale from R A Montague. With trademark interiors from Denis McLoughlin and classic cover art from Jeff Bevan.

Story | RA Montague
Art | Denis McLoughlin
Cover | Jeff Bevan
Originally Commando No. 1758 (1983).

Rebellion Releases — 5 January 2022

Rebellion is proud to announce the Fall 2022 launch of its highly-anticipated new graphic novel series – Best of 2000 AD! 

The brand-new quarterly 200-page graphic novel series debuts in September and features a hand-curated selection of the most incendiary and exciting new science-fiction comics from one of the world’s biggest and most influential comic book brands.

Six volumes of the US comic book-size, perfect-bound series will be released quarterly in book stores, distributed into the book trade via Simon & Schuster and the comic book direct market through Diamond Distributors.

Best of 2000 AD is the perfect gateway into the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic - an ultimate ‘mix-tape’ anthology of full-colour stories specially chosen to be accessible to a whole new generation of comic readers who may never have picked up 2000 AD in its traditional format.

Each 200-page volume will be headlined by a self-contained contemporary Judge Dredd adventure, followed by a mixture of hidden gems from 2000 AD’s vaulted history, a classic Judge Dredd case, and a graphic novel length feature presentation featuring global comics legends including Sean Philips (The Fade Out, Kill or Be Killed), Frank Quitely (We3, All Star Superman), Fraser Irving (Batman Incorporated, Die! Die! Die!), Kevin O’Neill (Marshal Law, League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Mick McMahon (The Last American, Batman), Pete Milligan (Enigma, X-statix), Rob Williams (Old Haunts, Suicide Squad), Al Ewing (Immortal Hulk, We Only Find Them When They’re Dead), Alan Moore (Watchmen, From Hell), Alan Davis (X-Men, Batman) and so many more.

Each volume of Best of 2000 AD will also feature newly-commissioned critical essays by prominent comics journalists and popular culture writers, including Tom Shapira, Chloe Maveal, Rosie Knight, Ritesh Babu, Tiffany Babb and Adam Karenina Sherif.

The title boasts brand-new covers from an all-star line-up of New York Times best-selling and Eisner award-winning artists including Jamie McKelvie (The Wicked and The Divine), Becky Cloonan (Gotham Academy), Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), Erica Henderson (The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl), and Annie Wu (Hawkeye), with more to be revealed.

The entire six-volume series will feature design by highly-acclaimed designer Tom Muller (House of X/Powers of X).

“Even in the teeth of the pandemic, graphic novels had one of their best years ever and Best of 2000 AD has been tailor-made to give bookstores a great way to stock the very best of British comics,” said Trade and Special Sales Manager, Owen Johnson. “With eye-catching covers, design, and impeccable storytelling, Best of 2000 AD brings the energy and creativity of Britain’s biggest comics brand to the book trade in a new and fresh way, giving readers curious about getting into graphic novels an irresistible sampling of stories that will appeal to all palettes.”

Following Rebellion’s hugely successful ‘Day of Dredd’ promotion, which reached over 20 million individual social media accounts and saw international sales spike, during which comic stores, libraries and creators celebrated the cultural impact of the fan-favourite character Judge Dredd, Best of 2000 AD is the next step in building a wider international audience, and stands as a major jewel in the crown of Rebellion’s 2022 publishing initiatives.

“It’s called the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic for a reason,” said Rebellion CEO, Jason Kingsley OBE. “If you love your comics dangerous, thrilling and life-affirming but have never read 2000 AD then this is your moment. This new publication is precision-engineered for new and curious readers. We want the Best of 2000 AD to convert a whole new generation into 2000 AD readers for life.”

The first volume of Best of 2000 AD is scheduled for release in September 2022. It will be available from book-stores and comic book stores globally through Simon & Schuster and Diamond Distribution.

And now for this week's releases...

2000AD Prog 2263
Cover: Cliff Robinson / Dylan Teague (cols).

In this issue:
Judge Dredd: Working Girl by Kenneth Niemand (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Dylan Teague (c) Annie Parkhouse
Proteus Vex: Desite Paths by Michael Carroll (w)
Jake Lynch (a) Jim Boswell (c) Simon Bowland (l)
The Order: Fantastic Voyage by Kek-W (w) John Burns (a) Simon Bowland (l)
Kingmaker: Falls The Shadow by Ian Edginton (w) Leigh Gallagher (a) Jim Campbell (l)
The Out Book Two by Dan Abnett (w) Mark Harrisn (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)

Sleeze 'n' Ryder by Garth Ennis & Nick Percival
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618665-2, 5 January 2022, 54pp, £7.99. DIGITAL RELEASE

Where did they go? Out. What did they see? Freakin’ everything, man! Sleeze and Ryder are on the roadtrip of their drokkin’ lives. Far from Mega-City 1 and deep in the Cursed Earth, these no-good hell trekkers are looking for adventure – but what they find is dinosaurs, mutants and the grud-dang apocalypse! This outlandish classic of 1990s 2000 AD is brought to you by the outrageous minds of Garth Ennis (Preacher) and Nick Percival (The Dark Judges) and is available in an exclusive digital edition for the first time ever!

Treasury of British Comics schedule for 2022

Treasury schedule for 2022. Rebellion's 2022 graphic novel schedule of 2000AD related titles can be found here.

Karl the Viking Volume I: The Sword of Eingar by Ken Mennell, Ted Cowan & Don Lawrence
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618462-7, 19 January 2022, 240pp, £19.99. Available via Amazon.

Originally serialised in Lion, Karl the Viking is a sweeping historical fantasy story of an orphaned Saxon boy, adopted and raised by the viking Eingar after his raid on Britain. Upon coming of age Karl succeeds Eingar and leads his tribe into battle in Britain against wild tribes of Picts, and re-connects with his old Saxon family, gaining an ally in his cousin Godwulf, and making an enemy of the Earl of Eastumbria. These fast-paced stories were drawn by Don Lawrence shortly before he revolutionised painted comic art with The Trigan Empire, when he was already a master of pen and ink, and his Karl the Viking series was the pinnacle of black and white comic art.

The Spider – Crime Unlimited by Jerry Siegel, Donne Avenell, Aldo Marculeta & Giorgio Trevisan
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618465-8, 3 February 2022, 256pp, £19.99. Available via Amazon.

The Spider is the uncrowned king of the New York underworld, so elusive to the police that he even manages to taunt the Police Commissioner at his retirement party. But Professor Aldo Cummings, a famous but ill-tempered scientist, determined to stop the schemes of the Spider once and for all, invents a ray-machine which will eliminate the evil from a person's personality. But a tragic miscalculation will turn Professor Cummings into the Professor of Power, and he will seek a more direct confrontation with the Spider. The first collection of the Spider stories originally published as part of the Picture Library series. These long-lost and fast-paced pulp adventure stories have never been reprinted before, written by Jerry Siegel (Superman) and Donne Avenell (Adam Eterno).

Birdman & Chicken by Trevor Metcalfe
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618492-4, 3 March 2022, 192pp, £14.99. Available via Amazon.

To the outside world, Dick Lane and Chic Dodds look like two average, law-abiding citizens. However, they lead an amazing double life - for when fiendish finks and vile villains step over the line, Dick and Chic strike back as the crime-fighting duo, Birdman and Chicken!
    Cowled, caped and equipped with a vast array of crime-busting gadgets, Birdman and Chicken fight back against the likes of The Giggler, Sourpuss, The Puzzler and Father Time – and sometimes they win!
    A rib-tickling parody of the 1966 Batman television series, Trevor Metcalfe’s super-series was a highlight of Krazy comic every week and is finally collected here for the first time.

The House of Dolmann by Tom Tully, Eric Bradbury, etc.
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618491-7, 14 April 2022, 144pp, £14.99. Available via Amazon.

Genius creator and expert ventriloquist, Eric Dolmann has created a small army of robotic puppets to help the forces of law and order fight back against crime. Whatever the situation, Dolman has a mechanical warrior perfectly suited to get the job done! From the safety of his flying ‘Dolmobile’, he directs Raider, Elasto, Mole, Togo and Giggler into action! Occasionally they will question his judgement and bicker amongst one another – even though they aren’t capable of independent thought!

The Sarge Volume 1 by Gerry Finley-Day & Mike Western
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618633-1, 12 May 2022, 144pp, £19.99. Available via Amazon.

THEY DEPENDED ON THE SARGE. AND THE WORLD DEPENDED ON THEM.
British Sergeant Jim Masters, a veteran of WW1, has to protect and lead his inexperienced platoon during the Second World War.
    From Dunkirk to North Africa, the might of the German Army face the ultimate adversaries when Masters and his boys spring into action - nothing can substitute experience!

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Volume IV by Mike Butterworth, Don Lawrence, Miguel Quesada & Philip Coke.
Rebellion ISBN 9781786185648, 24 May 2022, 240pp, £14.99. Available via Amazon.

"I love Trigan Empire! It's absolutely epic" - Duncan Jones.
The best-selling Treasury of British Comics archival series The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire reaches its fourth astounding volume.
The fourth omnibus of the science-fiction classic, The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire, collects the stories published from 1973 through to 1976.
    Don Lawrence's painted art continues to be a highlight of the series, and as he takes a sabbatical from the strip Miguel Quesada and Philip Corke match his impressive work with their own style.
    The Trigan Empire remains resilient against enemies on all fronts, from treacherous politicians, murderous Zith assassins, and alien invaders, Trigo and Janno protect the citizens of Elekton.

Black Beth: Vengeance Be Thy Name by Blas Gallego, Alex Worley & DaNi
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618635-5, 17 June 2022, 80pp, £14.99. Available via Amazon.

A warrior with a name born of the black rage that filled her heart!
In a world of swords and sorcery, the evil tyrant Rassau discovers that he is destined to be killed by a fearsome warrior called Beth. Together with his men, Rassau seeks Beth out, destroying her village and killing all held dear to her. With the aid of a former warrior - the blind Quido - Beth becomes a skilled fighter and sworn enemy of all that is evil! She will not rest until her people are avenged!
    This book contains both the original strip and the brilliantly resurrected stories that have been masterfully guided by writer Alec Worley and DC Comic's newest star, the astonishing Greek artist, DaNi!

The Best of Cat Girl by Giorgio Giorgetti, Ramzee & Elkys Nova
Rebellion ISBN 9-78178618585-3, 12 August 2022, 128pp, £14.99. Available via Amazon.

"A furious, fun, action-packed superhero story" - Broken Frontier
The beloved UK superheroine finally pounces into her own collection!
From the pages of classic 1960s girls' comic Sally comes the first ever collection of beloved British superheroine The Cat Girl! Cathy Carter is not your average teen. She can jump further, fight longer and climb higher than anyone she knows – with the aid of a magic suit, she is Cat Girl! Facing off in glamorous, globetrotting adventures against supervillains and master criminals, Cathy often finds the hardest fight comes from her bumbling detective father, who doesn’t believe Cathy can fend for herself. Can Cathy save the world when the person trying to hold her back – is her dad?
     This collection contains Cat Girl's latest adventure, Cat Girl Returns from the Tammy & Jinty special, as well as a purrfect selection of the best classic Cat Girl stories from Sally, and a brand new cover from Elkys Nova.

Badtime Bedtime Stories by Leo Baxendale
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618531-0, 11 September 2022, 96pp, £tba. Available via Amazon.

Once upon a badtime… In these explosive, hysterical comics, Jack the Nipper, Little Miss Muffet and Little Red Riding Hood run wild in chaotic retellings of beloved tales. These anarchic, frenzied comics stories from the pen of Leo Baxendale are the arguably the jewel of the British humour comics, beloved by many for their DIY storybook aesthetic when they were originally printed in Monster Fun. Now, in this stunning new collection, the comics are restored to their full glory, while reprinted in a smaller style to retain the intimate feel of the originals.
    Crammed with gags and hidden details, these Badtime Bedtime Stories are the perfect late night read for kids and grown-ups!

A Spell of Trouble by Trini Tinture
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618612-6, 13 October 2022, 80pp, £tba. Available via Amazon.

TO WITCH OR NOT TO WITCH?
Popular, rich and great at school, Carrie lives a charmed life – because, unbeknownst to her classmates, she’s a witch! Hailing from a long line of witches and warlocks Carrie has never wanted for anything – that is until her bumbling, nonmagical and anti-magic cousin Angela shows up! And worst of all – if Carrie can’t turn Angela into a legendary sorceress – she’ll lose all her powers! Worlds collide and sparks fly as these cousins have to learn to live together – or else!
    This comedy classic from British girls’ comic Jinty features a brand new cover by the original artist, Trini Tinturé, as well as another tale, the spooky, insect-infested ‘Creepy Crawley’, in a volume perfect for Halloween!

The Steel Claw Volume 2: Reign of the Brain! by Tom Tully & Jesus Blasco
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618681-2, 10 November 2022, 112pp, £tba. Available via Amazon.

One of Britain’s most enduring comic book heroes returns in two stories reprinted here for the first time! The second collection of the sci-fi classic, the Steel Claw collects writer Tom Tully’s first two stories originally published in the comic Valiant between 1963 and 1964. Featuring the stunning, realistic black and white art of Spanish comics’ legend Jesus Blasco!

Karl the Viking Volume II: The Voyage of the Sea Raiders by Ted Cowan, Michael Moorcock & Don Lawrence
Rebellion ISBN 978-178618733-8, 6 December 2022, 256pp, £tba. Available via Amazon.

In the second, and concluding, volume of Karl the Viking, the brave Briton takes the fight even further abroad than before as he and his band of warriors battle against the rival viking Gefion One-Eye in Africa, become mercenaries in a violent dispute between treacherous Russian tribes, and survive against fantastical and unnatural sea monsters.
    Karl the Viking is the series which made Don Lawrence’s reputation, and it was on this basis that he was hired to revolutionise painted comic art with The Trigan Empire.
    This volume also contains stories written by Michael Moorcock penned when he was just beginning to create the adventures of Elric.

Eagle Times v34 no4 (Winter 2021)

The Eagle Times landed just before Christmas but this is the first chance I've had to read it. As always, the Eagle Society crew go all-out to bring some festive cheer to the magazine, from the snow-capped logo to holly-lined pages. The original Eagle did the same, and I'm always pleased to see the tradition continue.

There's another bumper line-up in the magazine's 56 pages, ranging from a tribute to Greta Edwards (nee Tomlinson), who died in September by Steve Winders and David Britton, nicely illustrated with photos from various events she attended in later years, to a report on the Society's 70th anniversary gathering at the Bliss Hotel, Southport, originally planned for April 2020, but delayed until September 2021. The issue also includes the text of Steve Winders' address, 'A Foreign Country', about how Eagle dealt with historical subjects, including the accuracy or inaccuracy of some of the strips set in the past.

A year in the making, part two of Andrew Newman's look at Eagle's Christmas celebrations over the years covers the years 1959-1962, when snow disappeared from the logo at the turn of the decade, although Christmas still featured heavily inside and through messages on the covers. Will things improve during the Sixties? Only time (and a third part next winter) will tell.

We get into the meat of the issue with the latest episodes of some of the paper's features, including David Britton's look back at how Charles Chilton tackled the historical truths of the Indian Wars in his strip 'Riders of the Range'. Steve Winders' PC49 short story concludes, the setting of the World Science Fiction Convention in London allowing the author to introduce a number of real science fiction writers and editors into the narrative as Archie investigates the murder of an American SF author. The Dan Dare Studio Ideas Book reveals how some Phant machinery was developed.

'Artists of the Range' looks at the payment book for the Riders of the Range Annual for 1961, found in a charity shop in Bath (you have to wonder how they got there), which gives a few clues as to who did what, although much of the content was paid to agencies. It won't surprise you to hear that I love this sort of thing!

Wrapping up the issue, Steve Winders (again) begins his look back at how Eagle's biography of David Livingstone matched the reality of his life and journeying through Africa.

The quarterly magazine is the journal of the Eagle Society, with membership costing £30 in the UK, £45 (in sterling) overseas. You can send subscriptions to Bob Corn, Wellcroft Cottage, Wellcroft, Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 9EF; subs can also be submitted via PayPal to membership@eagle-society.org.uk. Back issues are available for newcomers to the magazine and they have even issued binders to keep those issues nice and neat.