Treasury of British Comics 2018 releases

Considered by many as the most important war story to appear in comics, a new definitive collection of Charley’s War to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War leads the 2018 schedule from The Treasury of British Comics from Rebellion.

Celebrating a year since its launch in June 2017, the Treasury of British Comics continues its mission to bring some of the classic British of the 1970s and ‘80s comics back into print.

Deeply affecting, unsparingly hard, and unflinchingly political, Charley's War follows a sixteen-year-old working class lad who eagerly signs up in 1916 but has his idealism quickly shattered in the hellish world of trench warfare where every day is a bitter fight for survival. A must for every book shelf and school library, this all-time classic of the medium features bold writing from Pat Mills (Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law) and breath-taking artwork from Joe Colquhoun. The first of three omnibus volumes will be released in April, with the next volumes due for release in May and June.

The Treasury of British Comics also continues its collections of never-before-reprinted girls comics, beginning with the first volume of stories from Jinty, featuring The Land of No Tears where, while undergoing surgery, Cassy Shaw is transported into a dystopian future in which people with genetic defects are regarded as second class citizens; meanwhile The Human Zoo sees twin sisters Shona and Jenny kidnapped along with their classmates by a superior race of telepathic aliens. Will the twins ever be able to reunite and escape by to Earth?

In the much-loved Bella at the Bar, Bella Barlow is a young orphan with ambitions to be a world class gymnastic – she has the talent, but is hampered by her cruel Uncle Jed and Aunt Gert who constantly exploit her for their own selfish gains. Published in the bestselling girls comic of its day, Tammy, and drawn by John Armstrong from 1974 to 1984, its writers include Jenny McDade, John Wagner, Primrose Cumming and Malcolm Shaw.

And in the third volume in the popular reprint series of stories from the supernatural horror comic for girls, Misty, Lona begins to exhibit supernatural powers which, unknown to her, are the result of her being raised by wolves as a baby in Wolf-Girl.

These will be complemented by two horror classics from the 1980s – The Thirteenth Floor from Scream! and first volume of Black Max from Lion and Thunder! Sentient and demented caretaker computer Max routinely murders people after luring them to his tower block's secret thirteenth floor in one of the British comics’ creepiest and most iconic characters. Devised by writers John Wagner and Alan Grant and artist José Ortiz, The Thirteenth Floor is a classic horror in the style of a science-fiction-tinged Penny Dreadful. Written by Ken Mennell and drawn by Eric Bradbury and Alfonso Font, Black Max is World War One evil flying ace Baron Maximilien Von Klorr who has trained two giant bats to attack British aircraft. Believing himself to be descended from the fabled Bat People, he is continually opposed by Lieutenant Tim Wilson of the Royal Flying Corps in a war comic with a horror twist!

Born a slave in Alabama, he became a bandit in Mexico and returned to become the scourge of the American Civil War! El Mestizo is a unique character from the heyday of British comics. Created by writer Alan Hebden and artist Carlos Ezquerra, and published in Battle Picture Weekly, El Mestizo is a Spaghetti Western meets Django Unchained as a black mercenary faces both danger and prejudice in the crucible of the Civil War.

The year ends with another volume from one of the masters of 20th Century comic art, Ken Reid. His Creepy Creations were a poster feature on the back page of every issue of Shiver and Shake between March 1973 and October 1974, all drawn by Reid in response to a sketch and title sent in by a reader. From The Mersey Tunneller to The Money-grabber of Montrose, these gruesome grotesques demonstrate Reid’s incredible talent for invention and subversion. This hardcover edition follows the critical success of 2017’s collection of his Faceache one-page comedy strips.

The full 2018 Treasury of British Comics graphic novel schedule (in paperback unless otherwise noted):

The Beatles Story by Angus Allan & Arthur Ransom
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086179, 22 February 2018, £12.99/$17.99 (hardcover). Available via Amazon.
The original long-lost Beatles graphic novel!
This was the very first graphic novel to chart the creation, evolution and break-up of the fab four, first published in 1981. The BeatlesStory is an exceptionally drawn account of the band from one of the UK's leading artists of his generation, Arthur Ranson (Batman, Judge Dredd, Button Man).  Written by Angus Allan it includes fascinating insights into Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s first encounter, their early gigs in Hamburg's Kaiser Keller, through to the recording of the legendary Abbey Road album and the band's break-up.
    First published in the pages of legendary UK youth magazine Look-In, this beautifully illustrated account is a treat for both the devoted Beatles admirer and new fans alike. This new edition is published in the Treasury of British Comics line, a series devoted to restoring lost comics classics.
    This book features incredible black and white line art thoughout, from one of the most celebrated of British artists, famous for his distinctive photo-real style. Unlike recent graphic novel hit The Fifth Beatle or indy title Baby's in Black, both of which focused on anciallary characters in the Beatles history, this book is all about John, Paul, George and Ringo.

Charley’s War Vol. 1: Boy Soldier by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086193, 18 April 2018, £19.99/$25. Available via Amazon.
THE MOST RENOWNED WAR STORY IN COMICS HISTORY RE-MASTERED TO MARK THE CENTENARY FIRST WORLD WAR.
Join 16 year-old Charley Bourne as he eagerly signs up to fight on the Western front in 1916. The idealistic working class boy experiences the perilous arena of trench warfare, where every waking moment is a bitter fight for survival.
    As visceral, thrilling and compelling as on its debut, this intensely dramatic war story is the finest the comic book medium has ever produced. Written with acute political and historical insight by British comics legend Pat Mills, it is illustrated throughout with the breathtaking artwork of Joe Colquhoun.
    This first volume of Charley’s War includes Charley’s harrowing participation in one of the bloodiest encounters in human history - The Battle of the Somme.
    This new edition is re-lettered, with original colour spreads added back in to complement the extraordinary black and white artwork.

Charley’s War Vol. 2: Brothers In Arms by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun 
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086209, 17 May 2018, £19.99/$25. Available via Amazon.
THE GREATEST ANTI-WAR STORY EVER TOLD.
Injured in The Battle of the Somme, Charley returns to wartime London and meets a deserter from the French Foreign Legion, Blue, who tells of his brutal experiences of the Battle of Verdun. All too soon Charley returns to the front line at Ypres where the threat from the German army is matched only by the inhumanity of his superiors! In the face of suffering and injustice, seeds of mutiny begin to grow among the ranks…
    This second volume of Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun’s masterpiece continues to tell the story of an ordinary soldier’s experiences in World War One, including the vibrant re-mastered colour pages from the original comic.
     This new edition features original colour spreads added back in to complement the extraordinary black and white artwork.

Charley’s War Vol. 3: Remembrance by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun 
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086216, 14 June 2018, £19.99/$25. Available via Amazon.
THE GREATEST ANTI-WAR STORY EVER TOLD.
This third volume of Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun’s masterpiece continues to tell the story of an ordinary soldier’s experiences in World War One, including the vibrant re-mastered colour pages from the original comic.
     This new edition features original colour spreads added back in to complement the extraordinary black and white artwork.

Jinty Vol. 1: The Human Zoo & The Land of No Tears by Pat Mills & Guy Peeters
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086247, 28 June 2018, £10.99. Available via Amazon.
A luxury treasury collection featuring stories from the bestselling British girl comics phenomenon – restored and remastered for the first time!
    Whilst undergoing surgery on her lame leg, Cassy Shaw is transported into a dystopian future in which people with genetic defects are regarded as second class citizens.  Unable to accept such objectionable discrimination, Cassy attempts to rally her peers (the Gamma girls) into beating the Alpha girls in several sporting events. Can she win the Golden Girl award and prove herself an equal?
    Twin sisters Shona and Jenny are kidnapped along with their classmates  by a superior race of telepathic aliens. Brought back to the aliens’ home planet, Shona and some other human captives are kept in cages where they are treated and displayed like animals, while Jenny is sold to another owner.
Will the twins ever be able to reunite and escape by to Earth?
    Lost science-fiction tales of alternate realities, of the strange and uncanny! All starring the female lead characters of British 70s comics. Written by comic legend Pat Mills (Marshall Law) and illustrated by Misty artist Guy Peeters.

Bella At The Bar by Jenni McDade & John Armstrong
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086254, 12 July 2018, 96pp, £10.99. Available via Amazon.
Orphan Bella Barlow is a young girl with a great natural talent for gymnastics. Unfortunately her dreams and aspirations to be a world-class gymnast are being hindered by her legal guardians - uncle Jed and aunt Gertrude, who force and bully Bella to their own advantage. Can Bella escape a life of abuse and servitude? Will she finally realise her dreams of gymnastic stardom? The epic serial begins here!

Von Hoffman's Invasion Book One by Tom Tully & Eric Bradbury
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086261, 23 August 2018, 128pp, £12.99. Available via Amazon.
Mad scientists, giant monsters, and courageous saboteurs!
Luxurious treasury reprinting of one of the best – and maddest – British cult comics of all time!
LAND OF THE GIANTS!

Misty Vol. 3: Wolf Girl & Other Stories by various
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086513, 20 September 2018, £13.99. Available via Amazon.

The 13th Floor by John Wagner, Alan Grant & Jose Ortiz
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086537, 18 October 2018, £14.99. Available via Amazon.

Black Max Vol. 1 Ken Mennell & Alfonso Font
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086551, 04 October 2018, £10.99. Available via Amazon.

El Mestizo by Alan Hebden & Carlos Ezquerra
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086575, 15 November 2018, £14.99 (hardcover). Available via Amazon.

Ken Reid's Creepy Creations
Rebellion ISBN 9781781086605, 29 November 2018, £16.99 (hardcover). Available via Amazon.