ComicScene v2 #2 (May 2019)

I haven't reviewed an issue of ComicScene for a couple of months, during which period the magazine has earned itself some well-deserved mainstream distribution. Editor Tony Foster deserves a round of applause, because distribution outside of the relatively small world of British comics collectors is the only way ComicScene is ever likely to grow its audience to sustainable levels.

To broaden its appeal, ComicScene has also broadened its scope. The latest issue has articles on historical Batman of the 1940s, DC's new Wonder Comics imprint, while Joel Meadows' TripWire section celebrates the 80th birthday of Batman with a look at his adventures on the small and big screen, plus Hellboy, Shazam! and reviews of The Umbrella Academy and Doom Patrol.

British comics are still given ample coverage, with Richard Sheaf's feature on Digby; both Richard Bruton and Peter Gouldson take a look at the history of Captain Britain; Chris Baker discusses his latest comic, Our Land (available online at ourlandcomic.co.uk); Stephen Jewell interviews Rob Williams about the latest 'Roy of the Rovers' graphic novel, while Richard Bruton pieces together the history of the ill-fated football comic Glory, Glory; Richard Piers Rayner is interviewed; and wrapping up the issue is Ian Wheeler's look back at a classic Doctor Who strip. Lew Stringer makes his debut as a regular columnist with a look back at humour strips, dipping briefly into the works of many artists.

I'm pleased to see that my plea for the occasional longer feature has been answered – in fact, some of the pieces above are sequels to articles in the first issue, and Peter Gouldson's article on Marvel UK in this issue is one episode of a lengthy, multi-part history of the first ten-or-so years of the company.

Regular Pat Mills asks "Could there be another 2000AD today?" in his 'Last Word' column and answers his own question with the creation of a parody entitled Space Warp in my favourite piece in the whole mag.

I'm also very happy to see that the reviews section continues to eschew the mainstream and reviews a wide range of independent and small press comics.

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