Commando specials aare coming your way as Commando commemorates VE day’s 75th
anniversary and 80 years since the German Blitzkrieg! All in brand-new
issues — out today!
Get global action and adventure delivered right to your door when you subscribe to Commando OR subscribe for digital copies here.
5327: Rats in the Rubble
The first of our VE Day 75th Anniversary specials ‘Rats in the Rubble’,
with story by Andrew Knighton, is an instant classic Commando! Topped
off with a fiery Neil Roberts cover which is emblematic of the chaos of
the final days of the Second World War and eventual Allied Victory in
Europe.
When the Red Army entered Berlin in 1945, what awaited them there were
desperate men and hastily armed teens fighting to protect their city.
Snipers, Volkssturm, and Hitler Youth scurried over the rubble of their
city as the end of the war loomed over them like a rat exterminator.
Sergeant Nikolai Kulikov hated Germans for what they had done to his
proud country — and now he was paying them back with interest! But, as
he entered a derelict orphanage to remove a threat to the Soviet
advance, he would soon question who the real rats in the city were.
Story: Andrew Knighton
Art: Klacik & Muller
Cover: Neil Roberts
5328: The Man Who Died Twice
The second of our VE 75th Anniversary specials is ‘The Man Who Died
Twice’, a classic tale with a twist — as was writer Eric Hebden’s
speciality!
When your father has pride of place on The Great War memorial in your
village, you know it’s going to be hard to measure up, but Hugh Nesbitt
was determined to try! However, as the Second World War drew towards its
conclusion, he knew he would never live up to his father’s memory. Time
and time again Nesbitt proved he was a coward, but could a coward
become a war hero — or would there be victory in Europe and an end to
the war before he found his courage?
Story: E Hebden
Art: Ibanez
Cover: Penalva
Originally Commando No. 797 (1973).
5329: Blitzkrieg West
It’s been 80 years since May 1940, when the Germans put an end to the
so-called Phoney War — changing the course of the Second World War for
ever. The Allied armies were caught flat-footed, and crushed under the
tyres of the German’s “Thunder and Lightning” tactics known to them as
the Blitzkrieg!
To commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle of France, Ferg
Handley writes ‘Blitzkrieg West’ to give readers the chance to
experience the panic and disorganisation from the perspective of a World
War One veteran, Lance Corporal Bill Lowry. While the Germans thundered
triumphantly west across France and towards victory, Lowry is forced to
retreat with a bunch of rookies who barely know which end of the gun to
aim with.
Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Khato
Cover: Keith Burns
5330: Intruders Beware
‘Intruders Beware’ is a classic supernatural Commando from RA Montague
which asks you; what happens when some RAF bods upset a ghostly monk in
Scotland? Fires, jinxed aircraft and pilots with hoodoos — that’s what!
With amazing interior art from fan favourite Jose Maria Jorge doing what
he did best — illustrating beautiful aerial aircraft action — and a few
ghouls thrown in for good measure, all is not what it seems on the
airfield, and this is one mystery you’ll have to read to read to
believe!
Story: RA Montague
Art: Jose Maria Jorge
Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 1520 (1981).
Thursday, April 30, 2020
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Rebellion Releases (2000AD)
This week's releases from Rebellion includes the latest release from The Treasury of British Comics. The Complete Johnny Future gathers together the full run of one of UK comics' lost gems from the pages of Fantastic!. Heavily influenced by that paper's reprinting of Marvel superheroes, Johnny's adventures began under the title 'The Missing Link', sparsely and strikingly drawn by Luis Bermejo.
This was one of the strips I planned to publish under the Bear Alley Books banner back in 2009, but it was not to be. Eleven years later, I'm pleased that everyone will at last get a chance to see why I wanted to bring Johnny back into the spotlight. I did have a little involvement in the new version, writing the introduction. Here's a little taste of what I wrote:
2000AD Prog 2179
Cover: Stewart K. Moore
JUDGE DREDD: CHIMPSKY'S LAW by Kenneth Niemand (w) PJ Holden (a) Quinton Winter (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SURVIVAL GEEKS: CRISIS OF INFINITE NERDS by Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie (w) Neil Googe (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SKIP TRACER: NIMROD by James Peaty (w) Paul Marshall (a) Dylan Teague (c) Simon Bowland (l)
AQUILA: THE BURNING FIELDS by Gordon Rennie (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Pippa Bowland (c) Jim Campbell (l)
HERSHEY: DISEASE by Rob Williams (w) Simon Fraser (c) Simon Bowland (l)
The Complete Johnny Future by Alf Wallace & Luis Bermejo
Rebellion ISBN 9781781087589, 30 Apr 2020, 208pp, £19.99 / US $24.99. Available via Amazon.
One of the most memorable comic strips of the 1960s, which asks the question “What if King Kong became Superman”? This is the complete hardcover collection of breathtaking Pulp adventure comics – beloved by fans and the creators it inspired – Alan Moore among them! ‘The Missing Link’ – a creature of limitless strength, is drawn to Britain in pursuit of an expedition party he encountered in his homeland. The man-ape causes havoc until he accidentally stumbles into an experimental nuclear research facility and is bombarded by radiation. Instead of killing him, the creature evolves into an advanced human. Now possessing a genius mind, super-strength, enhanced senses and the ability to fly, as Johnny Future he protects mankind from such sinister beings as The Master, Disastro, Animal Man and the Secret Society of Scientists. Perfect for fans of Rebellion’s only other superhero property – ‘Zenith’, the first superhero saga penned by comics legend, Grant Morrison!
This was one of the strips I planned to publish under the Bear Alley Books banner back in 2009, but it was not to be. Eleven years later, I'm pleased that everyone will at last get a chance to see why I wanted to bring Johnny back into the spotlight. I did have a little involvement in the new version, writing the introduction. Here's a little taste of what I wrote:
In many ways, ‘The Missing Link’ lives up to its title as a now-forgotten bridge between old-style British comics and the American comic book. Written by Alf Wallace, the managing editor of the Odhams group of titles known as the Power Comics, the story was a child of its time and circumstances. Wallace’s influences are obvious: King Kong meets The Incredible Hulk with a big dose of Marvel Comics’ patented Superhero Angst. The villains, however, and the way Johnny Future deals with them, are far more in the British style—the limited weekly space allowance ruled out page after page of costumed punch-ups; instead, a more science-fiction approach was required, where conflicts are between heroes and villains of considerable (and, frankly, sometimes impossible) intelligence.
2000AD Prog 2179
Cover: Stewart K. Moore
JUDGE DREDD: CHIMPSKY'S LAW by Kenneth Niemand (w) PJ Holden (a) Quinton Winter (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SURVIVAL GEEKS: CRISIS OF INFINITE NERDS by Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie (w) Neil Googe (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SKIP TRACER: NIMROD by James Peaty (w) Paul Marshall (a) Dylan Teague (c) Simon Bowland (l)
AQUILA: THE BURNING FIELDS by Gordon Rennie (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Pippa Bowland (c) Jim Campbell (l)
HERSHEY: DISEASE by Rob Williams (w) Simon Fraser (c) Simon Bowland (l)
The Complete Johnny Future by Alf Wallace & Luis Bermejo
Rebellion ISBN 9781781087589, 30 Apr 2020, 208pp, £19.99 / US $24.99. Available via Amazon.
One of the most memorable comic strips of the 1960s, which asks the question “What if King Kong became Superman”? This is the complete hardcover collection of breathtaking Pulp adventure comics – beloved by fans and the creators it inspired – Alan Moore among them! ‘The Missing Link’ – a creature of limitless strength, is drawn to Britain in pursuit of an expedition party he encountered in his homeland. The man-ape causes havoc until he accidentally stumbles into an experimental nuclear research facility and is bombarded by radiation. Instead of killing him, the creature evolves into an advanced human. Now possessing a genius mind, super-strength, enhanced senses and the ability to fly, as Johnny Future he protects mankind from such sinister beings as The Master, Disastro, Animal Man and the Secret Society of Scientists. Perfect for fans of Rebellion’s only other superhero property – ‘Zenith’, the first superhero saga penned by comics legend, Grant Morrison!
Saturday, April 25, 2020
A. E. Callam
Albert Edward Callam was born in Great Kimble, Buckinghamshire, on 11 August 1904, the son of Arthur William Callam, a straw hat stiffener (1870-1947) and
Kate Callam, a straw hat machinist (née Parsons, 1874?-1955), married in
1892 at Christ Church, Luton. Albert had two older siblings, Bernard
Arthur (1893-1960) and Lilian May (later Parsons, 1895-1975), who also worked in the
straw hat factory, as clerk and machinist respectively.
The family lived in Luton (during the 1911 census, their address was 11 Newcombe Road), which was the centre for the manufacture of straw hats, said to have been introduced from France by Mary I of Scotland, whose craftsmen were brought south when her son, James 6 of Scotland, ascended to the throne of England (as James I) in 1603. The craftsmen were left in the care of Napier family, who owned the grand estate of Luton Hoo. (If you want to explore this further, English Heritage have published The Hat Industry of Luton and its Buildings (2013), which explains the clever art of straw plaiting amongst many other things.)
Albert was educated at Luton Grammar School and first studied drawing under his old schoolmaster, Frederick F(enton) May (1876-1952).
He was only 14 when the Great War ended, so did not serve, and the next sign of him is in 1930, when he married Gertrude Marion Norwood. The couple lived at "Dingley Dell," Argyll Avenue, Luton.
In 1933, Callam, already a member of the Society of Industrial Artists, successfully passed the British Typographers’ Guild test in layout draughtsmanship. According to a report in a local newspaper, “It is a rule of the Guild that only those who can produce an attractive and technically correct layout from copy supplied to them can be admitted to membership. Mr. Callam’s layout was of exceptional merit. A certificate of proficiency is awarded to successful applicants.” (Beds & Herts Pictorial, 26 September 1933) Callam was one of the first members of the Guild, who counted Eric Gill, the sculptor, and Sir Francis Maynell, Master of the Faculty of Royal Designers in Industry, amongst its early members.
In the 1930s, Callam was employed as the studio director of Askew Younge, a creative advertising company owned by Victor Antony Askew and his wife Margaret Mitchell Askew. A deed of assignment was issued for the benefit of creditors against the Askews and James Philip Edgar in November 1934, although the company continued to trade, and Callam is still listed as a director in the Advertising Art Annual for 1939. (Askew Younge was eventually struck off the register of companies in September 1968, but had probably ceased trading years, if not decades, earlier.)
In 1938, Callam teamed up with Ronald Brett, who was in charge of the studio at lithographic print company Baynard Press, to form Brett Callam Designers, taking over the studio of Baynard Press as their nucleus and still working with and for the printing company. Unfortunately, the war devastated the printing industry, and Brett left to join Service Advertising in 1940. Callam and his wife continued to trade under the name of Brett Callam Designers from its office in Blackwell Street, London S.W.9. and was still active until at least 1942.
At this time [fl. 1939], the Callams were living at 94 Station Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, but later moved to 66 Apsley House, St. John's Wood, London N.W.8. [fl. 1952].
Callam continued to work as a designer and painter, one of his designs – for a perfume casket – being chosen for exhibition at the Festival of Britain on the South Bank. Six of his paintings were exhibited at the Imperial Institute in South Kensington in 1954. One, entitled "Buildings in Washington, D.C.," was almost certainly inspired by a trip to America, as Albert and Gertrude had set sail for New York in March 1952. The painting was hung in the 1954 Paris Salon.
Callam, who had been awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts, was also a member of the Council of The Army Art Society at that time [fl.1954]. Founded as the Army Officers' Art Society in 1925, the Society was only opened up to all ranks in 1946. They held an annual exhibition at the Imperial Institute in October.
At the same time, Callam became the publisher of various books, beginning with Letters to Lisette by Rosemary Cobham in 1950. A steady stream of new titles appeared throughout the 1950s, including poems by Elizabeth Stanton Lay, K. M. Westaway, Marion Alice Bowers, J. A. R. Stevenson, Florence Gubbins, Alexander Simpson and Kathleen Periton. His publications included the first short (75-page) novel, Peace in Rapallo, by Alexander Reissner.
He published the Collected Poems of Robert E. Kay and Edgar Newgass in 1961. Newgass was also the author of two books on biblical subjects published in 1964.
Two books published in the early 1960s charted the history and genealogy of the Norwood family back as far as the 13th century. The Norwoods: An Introduction to Their History and The Norwoods: Heraldry and Brasses, were written by Gertrude Callam (formerly Norwood), and a third volume, A Chronological History, was self-published by Mrs. Callam in a limited edition of 400 copies in 1997.
By then, her husband Albert was long gone. The couple lived at The Studio, Collington La West, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, where Albert Callam died on 9 September 1980. His birth was erroneously given on death records as 11 August 1906. He was survived by his wife, Gertrude, who continued to live in Bexhill-on-Sea, until her death on 13 October 2003. They had no children.
The family lived in Luton (during the 1911 census, their address was 11 Newcombe Road), which was the centre for the manufacture of straw hats, said to have been introduced from France by Mary I of Scotland, whose craftsmen were brought south when her son, James 6 of Scotland, ascended to the throne of England (as James I) in 1603. The craftsmen were left in the care of Napier family, who owned the grand estate of Luton Hoo. (If you want to explore this further, English Heritage have published The Hat Industry of Luton and its Buildings (2013), which explains the clever art of straw plaiting amongst many other things.)
Albert was educated at Luton Grammar School and first studied drawing under his old schoolmaster, Frederick F(enton) May (1876-1952).
He was only 14 when the Great War ended, so did not serve, and the next sign of him is in 1930, when he married Gertrude Marion Norwood. The couple lived at "Dingley Dell," Argyll Avenue, Luton.
In 1933, Callam, already a member of the Society of Industrial Artists, successfully passed the British Typographers’ Guild test in layout draughtsmanship. According to a report in a local newspaper, “It is a rule of the Guild that only those who can produce an attractive and technically correct layout from copy supplied to them can be admitted to membership. Mr. Callam’s layout was of exceptional merit. A certificate of proficiency is awarded to successful applicants.” (Beds & Herts Pictorial, 26 September 1933) Callam was one of the first members of the Guild, who counted Eric Gill, the sculptor, and Sir Francis Maynell, Master of the Faculty of Royal Designers in Industry, amongst its early members.
In the 1930s, Callam was employed as the studio director of Askew Younge, a creative advertising company owned by Victor Antony Askew and his wife Margaret Mitchell Askew. A deed of assignment was issued for the benefit of creditors against the Askews and James Philip Edgar in November 1934, although the company continued to trade, and Callam is still listed as a director in the Advertising Art Annual for 1939. (Askew Younge was eventually struck off the register of companies in September 1968, but had probably ceased trading years, if not decades, earlier.)
In 1938, Callam teamed up with Ronald Brett, who was in charge of the studio at lithographic print company Baynard Press, to form Brett Callam Designers, taking over the studio of Baynard Press as their nucleus and still working with and for the printing company. Unfortunately, the war devastated the printing industry, and Brett left to join Service Advertising in 1940. Callam and his wife continued to trade under the name of Brett Callam Designers from its office in Blackwell Street, London S.W.9. and was still active until at least 1942.
At this time [fl. 1939], the Callams were living at 94 Station Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, but later moved to 66 Apsley House, St. John's Wood, London N.W.8. [fl. 1952].
Callam continued to work as a designer and painter, one of his designs – for a perfume casket – being chosen for exhibition at the Festival of Britain on the South Bank. Six of his paintings were exhibited at the Imperial Institute in South Kensington in 1954. One, entitled "Buildings in Washington, D.C.," was almost certainly inspired by a trip to America, as Albert and Gertrude had set sail for New York in March 1952. The painting was hung in the 1954 Paris Salon.
Callam, who had been awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts, was also a member of the Council of The Army Art Society at that time [fl.1954]. Founded as the Army Officers' Art Society in 1925, the Society was only opened up to all ranks in 1946. They held an annual exhibition at the Imperial Institute in October.
At the same time, Callam became the publisher of various books, beginning with Letters to Lisette by Rosemary Cobham in 1950. A steady stream of new titles appeared throughout the 1950s, including poems by Elizabeth Stanton Lay, K. M. Westaway, Marion Alice Bowers, J. A. R. Stevenson, Florence Gubbins, Alexander Simpson and Kathleen Periton. His publications included the first short (75-page) novel, Peace in Rapallo, by Alexander Reissner.
He published the Collected Poems of Robert E. Kay and Edgar Newgass in 1961. Newgass was also the author of two books on biblical subjects published in 1964.
Two books published in the early 1960s charted the history and genealogy of the Norwood family back as far as the 13th century. The Norwoods: An Introduction to Their History and The Norwoods: Heraldry and Brasses, were written by Gertrude Callam (formerly Norwood), and a third volume, A Chronological History, was self-published by Mrs. Callam in a limited edition of 400 copies in 1997.
By then, her husband Albert was long gone. The couple lived at The Studio, Collington La West, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, where Albert Callam died on 9 September 1980. His birth was erroneously given on death records as 11 August 1906. He was survived by his wife, Gertrude, who continued to live in Bexhill-on-Sea, until her death on 13 October 2003. They had no children.
Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Rebellion Releases (2000AD)
Rebellion releases for Wednesday, 22 April.
2000AD Prog 2178
Cover: PJ Holden
JUDGE DREDD: CHIMPSKY'S LAW by Kenneth Niemand (w) PJ Holden (a) Quinton Winter (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SURVIVAL GEEKS: CRISIS OF INFINITE NERDS by Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie (w) Neil Googe (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SKIP TRACER: NIMROD by James Peaty (w) Paul Marshall (a) Dylan Teague (c) Simon Bowland (l)
AQUILA: THE BURNING FIELDS by Gordon Rennie (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Pippa Bowland (c) Jim Campbell (l)
HERSHEY: DISEASE by Rob Williams (w) Simon Fraser (c) Simon Bowland (l)
2000AD Prog 2178
Cover: PJ Holden
JUDGE DREDD: CHIMPSKY'S LAW by Kenneth Niemand (w) PJ Holden (a) Quinton Winter (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SURVIVAL GEEKS: CRISIS OF INFINITE NERDS by Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie (w) Neil Googe (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SKIP TRACER: NIMROD by James Peaty (w) Paul Marshall (a) Dylan Teague (c) Simon Bowland (l)
AQUILA: THE BURNING FIELDS by Gordon Rennie (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Pippa Bowland (c) Jim Campbell (l)
HERSHEY: DISEASE by Rob Williams (w) Simon Fraser (c) Simon Bowland (l)
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Masters of British Comic Art by David Roach
Masters of British Comic Art
Steve Winders reviews David Roach’s new book about the history of British comics.
With a specially commissioned cover by Brian Bolland showing four of Britain’s most iconic characters, Dan Dare, Judge Dredd, Rupert Bear and Tank Girl responsibly crossing Abbey Road using the Zebra crossing in the finest tradition of the Beatles and with Kolvorok from Jeff Hawke, slipped discreetly into the picture behind them, this epic tome which runs to 384 pages, tells the history of British comics and in my view leaves no stone unturned. The artist and comics authority David Roach makes the bold claim that comics started in Britain and proceeds to prove it. Referring back to the work of Hogarth in the eighteenth century, he concludes that one of his successors, Thomas Rowlandson was really the first cartoon strip artist and provides an example. Taking readers through examples in the next century, he reaches Ally Sloper who first appeared in 1867 and then on to Chips in 1896, which featured Weary Waddles and Tired Tim, immediately recognisable as a comic strip which predated America’s main claim to the first comic strip The Yellow Kid by several months. Although created earlier, The Yellow Kid originally featured in single illustrations.
David Roach moves on from the Victorian era to first explore the humorous comics as they predate those of other genres. Despite the vast range, he manages to include every significant publication and his engaging and informative text is accompanied by examples of pages from many weeklies. Later chapters cover pre-school comics, adventure comics, the influence of artists’ agencies, girls’ comics, newspaper strips, the influence of American comics, underground comics, 2000AD comic and its stable, comic developments from the 1980s, the British invasion of American comics and comics in the 21st century. All of these include many reprinted pages and pictures, in colour and black and white. There is also a large gallery of full page examples of quality artwork, often reprinted from originals and covering the whole range of British comic strip art. Included in the gallery is work by such diverse talents as Bryan Talbot, Mary Tourtel, Leo Baxendale, Reg Bunn, Jamie Hewlett, Frank Bellamy, Sydney Jordan, Shirley Bellwood and Rufus Dayglo, among many others. The book is so thorough that I tested it by listing a group of random significant artists to see if they were mentioned. Only two of my random fifteen were missing, which is remarkable in a publication which covers such a vast area.
I have few criticisms and they are minor. I picked up small errors in my own particular area of interest. Frank Hampson’s strip for Eagle about the life of Christ, is called 'The Road of Courage', not 'The Road to Courage'. The Dan Dare strip moved from the cover to the inside pages of Eagle in March 1962 and not October 1961 as stated and the artists Richard Jennings and Martin Aitchison did not "move on elsewhere" from Eagle in March 1962. Aitchison drew 'The Lost World' and then 'Hornblower', finally leaving in 1963. Jennings scripted 'The Lost World' and then drew 'Earthquake Island' before leaving. However, the very fact that these details are even mentioned in such a broad work is an indication of the depth that David Roach has gone to in his narrative. Most works which cover such a huge area tend to skate over the finer details or make broad misleading statements. This book does not.
A small number of names are spelled incorrectly: Oswald Mosely should read Mosley; Ian Flemming should have just one ‘m’, like his Secret Intelligence Service does; Steven Hawkins is Stephen Hawking; and Alberto Gilolotti is Giolotti. One or two dates given for artists are also wrong. Reg Bunn, for instance, died in 1971, not 1970. Finally such a detailed work would have benefited from an index.
This is a well researched and ambitious book which succeeds admirably in its bold aim of exploring the long and varied history of British comics. Any fan of Britain’s comics will derive great pleasure and learn much from it. It has been written by someone who really knows the comic industry and his knowledge and enthusiasm are evident on every page.
Masters of British Comic Art by David Roach
Rebellion ISBN978-1781-08759-6, 2 April 2020, 384pp, £39.99 / $50 (hardcover, cover by Brian Bolland) Available via Amazon.
Friday, April 17, 2020
Thursday, April 16, 2020
Commando 5323 - 5326
Strewth! Commando special ANZAC Day issues 5323-5326 are out soon!
Featuring action and adventure with our ANZAC pals in Gallipoli,
Vietnam, North Africa, and Burma all without leaving your couch!
Get global action and adventure delivered right to your door when you subscribe to Commando, or subscribe for digital copies.
5323: Across the Fence
From resident Aussie writer, Brent Towns, Across the Fence is a yarn about the Australian SAS during the Vietnam War as they venture into Cambodia to rescue an American General! But things are never easy — and seldom go to plan — when the Viet Cong are involved! Can this crack squad get the job done? Read it to find out!
Story: Brent Towns
Art: Klacik & Muller
Cover: Neil Roberts
5324: Lone Eagle
When Rommel and his forces took Tobruk in 1942, most RAF pilots flew right out of there and to the safety of other airstrips — but not Ginger Stubbs! That fiery cockney flyer would never run away from a fight! Ginger and a group of veteran desert ANZAC troops were going to give the Germans hell — whether he was ordered to or not!
Story: Bounds
Art: Amador
Cover: Ken Barr
Originally Commando No. 162 (1965).
5325: Dingo’s Mates
Dingo Smith was the picture of an ANZAC soldier. Brave, strong, rugged, and a real fighter. But something changed in Dingo when he was amongst the carnage on the beaches of Gallipoli in World War One, and the once courageous man froze as he stared down the barrel of a Turkish rifle. His mate, Blue, could only watch as the bravest man he knew turned into a rabbit in the headlights! How could he ever redeem himself in the eyes of his mates?
Story: Brent Towns
Art: Carlos Pino
Cover: Carlos Pino
5326: Tiger in the Sun
In the sweaty jungles of World War Two Burma, something stalked the men fighting there. A fearsome tiger sought vengeance on the Japanese invaders. But the tiger wasn’t the only thing to contend with — as the war raged on, an RAF man and an RAAF man were forced to work together to take out the Japanese ace pilot with the Tiger painted on his fuselage, before the tiger in the jungle could strike again!
Story: CG Walker
Art: Ruiz
Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 1774 (1984).
Get global action and adventure delivered right to your door when you subscribe to Commando, or subscribe for digital copies.
5323: Across the Fence
From resident Aussie writer, Brent Towns, Across the Fence is a yarn about the Australian SAS during the Vietnam War as they venture into Cambodia to rescue an American General! But things are never easy — and seldom go to plan — when the Viet Cong are involved! Can this crack squad get the job done? Read it to find out!
Story: Brent Towns
Art: Klacik & Muller
Cover: Neil Roberts
5324: Lone Eagle
When Rommel and his forces took Tobruk in 1942, most RAF pilots flew right out of there and to the safety of other airstrips — but not Ginger Stubbs! That fiery cockney flyer would never run away from a fight! Ginger and a group of veteran desert ANZAC troops were going to give the Germans hell — whether he was ordered to or not!
Story: Bounds
Art: Amador
Cover: Ken Barr
Originally Commando No. 162 (1965).
5325: Dingo’s Mates
Dingo Smith was the picture of an ANZAC soldier. Brave, strong, rugged, and a real fighter. But something changed in Dingo when he was amongst the carnage on the beaches of Gallipoli in World War One, and the once courageous man froze as he stared down the barrel of a Turkish rifle. His mate, Blue, could only watch as the bravest man he knew turned into a rabbit in the headlights! How could he ever redeem himself in the eyes of his mates?
Story: Brent Towns
Art: Carlos Pino
Cover: Carlos Pino
5326: Tiger in the Sun
In the sweaty jungles of World War Two Burma, something stalked the men fighting there. A fearsome tiger sought vengeance on the Japanese invaders. But the tiger wasn’t the only thing to contend with — as the war raged on, an RAF man and an RAAF man were forced to work together to take out the Japanese ace pilot with the Tiger painted on his fuselage, before the tiger in the jungle could strike again!
Story: CG Walker
Art: Ruiz
Cover: Ian Kennedy
Originally Commando No. 1774 (1984).
Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Rebellion Releases (2000AD)
Rebellion keep up a steady schedule of releases. They have already announced changes to their 2020 schedule of graphic novels (scroll down for our post about new release dates covering 2020-21), and say that they intend keeping 2000AD and the Judge Dredd Megazine on a steady weekly/monthly schedule for the foreseeable future.
2000AD Prog 2177
Cover: Cliff Robertson / Dylan Teague (col)
JUDGE DREDD: DUE PROCESS by Kenneth Niemand (w) Carl Critchlow (a) (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SURVIVAL GEEKS: CRISIS OF INFINITE NERDS by Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie (w) Neil Googe (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SKIP TRACER: NIMROD by James Peaty (w) Paul Marshall (a) Dylan Teague (c) Simon Bowland (l)
AQUILA: THE BURNING FIELDS by Gordon Rennie (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Pippa Bowland (c) Jim Campbell (l)
HERSHEY: DISEASE by Rob Williams (w) Simon Fraser (c) Simon Bowland (l)
Judge Dredd Megazine 419
In this issue: Cliff Robinson / Dylan Teague (col)
JUDGE DREDD: BAD SECTOR by Arthur Wyatt (w) PJ Holden (a) John Charles (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
DEVLIN WAUGH: A VERY LARGE SPLASH by Ales Kot (w) Mike Dowling (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
BLUNT III by TC Eglington (w) Boo Cook (a) Simon Bowland (l)
ZOMBIE ARMY: LAST RITES by Chris Roberson (w) Andrea Mutti (a) Matt Soffe (c) Simon Bowland (l)
LAWLESS: BOOM TOWN by Dan Abnett (w) Phil Winslade (a) Jim Campbell (l)
Features: New Comics: Cor!! Buster Special, New Books: Masters of British Comic Art, Interview: Chris Wildgoose
Bagged reprint: Black Shuck Vol.2.
War Picture Library: Battle of Britain by Ian Kennedy
Rebellion ISBN: 9781781087794, 16 April 2020, 128pp, £14.99. Available via Amazon.
The second in the new ‘War Picture Library’ series showcasing the finest combat comics illustrated by legendary and iconic artists.
Two true stories of aviation heroism and derring-do - ‘Never Say Die’ and ‘Steel Bats’ - set during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and drawn by comics legend Ian Kennedy! A talented pilot who never loses his determination to defend his country against immense obstacles both technical and personal. A squadron undertakes heart-stopping missions to combat the intense night-time assaults of the Axis air force.
Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Britain comes an enthralling collection of aviation and heroism featuring daredevil pilots and the lengths they go to stop the German Luftwaffe attacking Britain.
2000AD Prog 2177
Cover: Cliff Robertson / Dylan Teague (col)
JUDGE DREDD: DUE PROCESS by Kenneth Niemand (w) Carl Critchlow (a) (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SURVIVAL GEEKS: CRISIS OF INFINITE NERDS by Emma Beeby, Gordon Rennie (w) Neil Googe (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
SKIP TRACER: NIMROD by James Peaty (w) Paul Marshall (a) Dylan Teague (c) Simon Bowland (l)
AQUILA: THE BURNING FIELDS by Gordon Rennie (w) Patrick Goddard (a) Pippa Bowland (c) Jim Campbell (l)
HERSHEY: DISEASE by Rob Williams (w) Simon Fraser (c) Simon Bowland (l)
Judge Dredd Megazine 419
In this issue: Cliff Robinson / Dylan Teague (col)
JUDGE DREDD: BAD SECTOR by Arthur Wyatt (w) PJ Holden (a) John Charles (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
DEVLIN WAUGH: A VERY LARGE SPLASH by Ales Kot (w) Mike Dowling (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
BLUNT III by TC Eglington (w) Boo Cook (a) Simon Bowland (l)
ZOMBIE ARMY: LAST RITES by Chris Roberson (w) Andrea Mutti (a) Matt Soffe (c) Simon Bowland (l)
LAWLESS: BOOM TOWN by Dan Abnett (w) Phil Winslade (a) Jim Campbell (l)
Features: New Comics: Cor!! Buster Special, New Books: Masters of British Comic Art, Interview: Chris Wildgoose
Bagged reprint: Black Shuck Vol.2.
War Picture Library: Battle of Britain by Ian Kennedy
Rebellion ISBN: 9781781087794, 16 April 2020, 128pp, £14.99. Available via Amazon.
The second in the new ‘War Picture Library’ series showcasing the finest combat comics illustrated by legendary and iconic artists.
Two true stories of aviation heroism and derring-do - ‘Never Say Die’ and ‘Steel Bats’ - set during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and drawn by comics legend Ian Kennedy! A talented pilot who never loses his determination to defend his country against immense obstacles both technical and personal. A squadron undertakes heart-stopping missions to combat the intense night-time assaults of the Axis air force.
Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Britain comes an enthralling collection of aviation and heroism featuring daredevil pilots and the lengths they go to stop the German Luftwaffe attacking Britain.
Saturday, April 11, 2020
Eagle Times v.33 no.1 (Spring 2020)
Eagle Times begins its 33rd year with an especially strong issue. I've been around long enough to have read a lot of comics' fanzines that cover the same ground time and again. It's a tribute to the writers that they can still bring something new and original in the magazine that concentrates for the most part on a single comic title.
The issue kicks off with a review of the latest Titan Dan Dare reprint, The Evil One, which gathers together five series that appeared in 1962-63 that have never been reprinted before. There are still at least a couple of volumes worth of stories that need to be collected, but Titan are well on their way to producing the first set of complete Eagle Dan Dare stories.
Perhaps the best article in the issue is Richard Sheaf's look at the career of Vernon Holding, who was a circulation and distribution manager at Hulton Press before and after the Second World War. Holding's name is virtually unknown and Sheaf's article is heavily illustrated with newspaper cuttings and some behind the scenes photographs that have never been seen before.
'The Story of Eagle's Annuals' reaches part two (covering the 1970s), as does David Britton's look at Charles Chilton's story 'The Cochise Affair', although this is the latest episode of his ongoing series about the historical accuracy (or not) of Chilton's Jeff Arnold stories relating to the Indian wars.
Jeremy Briggs then offers a look at the wartime exploits of Beth Featherstone, whose name may not be known to any of you (it was new to me!). She was Marcus Morris's secretary, and it turns out she recently spoke to Britain at War magazine about her service as a Wren.
The latest article from Steve Winders covers the background of the early Eagle strip about Cortes – Conqueror of Mexico, and how history compares to the strip written by Ronald Syme.
The issue is rounded out with another look inside the ideas book of the Dan Dare Studio, the first part of a new P.C.49 tale, and a look at a planned Macdonald Hastings' Eagle feature on the Canadian Pacific Railway that was written but did not appear. The thirteen surviving episodes will be published in future issues of Eagle Times.
The quarterly magazine is the journal of the Eagle Society, with membership costing £29 in the UK, £40 (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.
The issue kicks off with a review of the latest Titan Dan Dare reprint, The Evil One, which gathers together five series that appeared in 1962-63 that have never been reprinted before. There are still at least a couple of volumes worth of stories that need to be collected, but Titan are well on their way to producing the first set of complete Eagle Dan Dare stories.
Perhaps the best article in the issue is Richard Sheaf's look at the career of Vernon Holding, who was a circulation and distribution manager at Hulton Press before and after the Second World War. Holding's name is virtually unknown and Sheaf's article is heavily illustrated with newspaper cuttings and some behind the scenes photographs that have never been seen before.
'The Story of Eagle's Annuals' reaches part two (covering the 1970s), as does David Britton's look at Charles Chilton's story 'The Cochise Affair', although this is the latest episode of his ongoing series about the historical accuracy (or not) of Chilton's Jeff Arnold stories relating to the Indian wars.
Jeremy Briggs then offers a look at the wartime exploits of Beth Featherstone, whose name may not be known to any of you (it was new to me!). She was Marcus Morris's secretary, and it turns out she recently spoke to Britain at War magazine about her service as a Wren.
The latest article from Steve Winders covers the background of the early Eagle strip about Cortes – Conqueror of Mexico, and how history compares to the strip written by Ronald Syme.
The issue is rounded out with another look inside the ideas book of the Dan Dare Studio, the first part of a new P.C.49 tale, and a look at a planned Macdonald Hastings' Eagle feature on the Canadian Pacific Railway that was written but did not appear. The thirteen surviving episodes will be published in future issues of Eagle Times.
The quarterly magazine is the journal of the Eagle Society, with membership costing £29 in the UK, £40 (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.
Friday, April 10, 2020
Thursday, April 09, 2020
Rebellion's Revised Schedule
Responding to virus
lockdown pressures, Rebellion have announced a new 2020 publishing schedule but have assured fans that weekly and monthly comics will continue to appear as usual. The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge to the comic book
industry but as a publisher Rebellion is determined to support creators,
readers, and retailers as best it can at this difficult time.
With the safety of printers, distributors, and staff in mind, Rebellion has revised its 2020 graphic novel schedule to ensure readers can still enjoy the best collections in comics, making sure we are able to support retailers that remain open while also helping those that are closed by staggering new releases through to 2021.
Printing and distribution of our periodicals will continue - this includes the weekly 2000 AD, the monthly Judge Dredd Megazine, and the range of Rebellion specials. These are available from open retailers, such as newsagents and selected grocery chains, as well as in print and digital from 2000 AD and the Treasury of British Comics webshop, and the 2000 AD app.
Some graphic novels due for release in May, June, July, and August 2020 will go digital-first, with standard print editions postponed until later in the year. Webshop-exclusive print editions of some titles will still go ahead. This means readers can still enjoy collections while in lockdown, while avoiding a glut of titles hitting retailers when they reopen.
Ben Smith, Head of Publishing, said:
The revised Rebellion graphic novel schedule:
War Picture Library: Battle of Britain
Ian Kennedy
ISBN: 9781781087794
16 April (UK) No delay
£14.99
Pages: 128 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The second in the new ‘War Picture Library’ series showcasing the finest combat comics illustrated by legendary and iconic artists. Two true stories of aviation heroism and derring-do - ‘Never Say Die’ and ‘Steel Bats’ - set during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and drawn by comics legend Ian Kennedy! A talented pilot who never loses his determination to defend his country against immense obstacles both technical and personal. A squadron undertakes heart-stopping missions to combat the intense night-time assaults of the Axis air force. Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Britain comes an enthralling collection of aviation and heroism featuring daredevil pilots and the lengths they go to stop the German Luftwaffe attacking Britain.
The Complete Johnny Future
Alf Wallace, Luis Bermejo
ISBN: 9781781087589
30 Apr 2020 (UK) 28 Apr 2020 (US) No delay
UK £19.99 // US $24.99
Pages: 208 // Hardcover
Available via Amazon.
One of the most memorable comic strips of the 1960s, which asks the question “What if King Kong became Superman”? This is the complete hardcover collection of breathtaking Pulp adventure comics - beloved by fans and the creators it inspired – Alan Moore among them! ‘The Missing Link’ - a creature of limitless strength, is drawn to Britain in pursuit of an expedition party he encountered in his homeland. The man-ape causes havoc until he accidentally stumbles into an experimental nuclear research facility and is bombarded by radiation. Instead of killing him, the creature evolves into an advanced human. Now possessing a genius mind, super-strength, enhanced senses and the ability to fly, as Johnny Future he protects mankind from such sinister beings as The Master, Disastro, Animal Man and the Secret Society of Scientists. Perfect for fans of Rebellion’s only other superhero property – ‘Zenith’, the first superhero saga penned by comics legend, Grant Morrison!
Judge Dredd Case Files 35
John Wagner, Alan Grant, Gordon Rennie, Richard Elson, John Higgins, Ian Gibson, Siku, Ben Willsher, Colin MacNeil, Kevin Walker, Paul Marshall, Cam Kennedy, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087541
14 May 2020 Digital version released on schedule; standard print edition delayed until 1 October 2020
£19.99
Pages: 304 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The latest in the smash-hit, best-selling graphic novel series! Almost half a million copies sold! The floating multi-story metropolis of illegal delights known as “Sin City” has anchored outside Mega-City one, and Dredd has seemingly been sent aboard to keep what order can be kept on a lawless floating city. His real task? Locate Ula Danser, the De-Megification terrorist determined to destroy the Mega-Cities at any cost! But Danser isn’t working alone – Dredd’s old enemy Orlok is coming to meet her, and he’s carrying a cargo intended to pay back everything Dredd did to East-Meg one – with interest! The latest in the world-wide best-selling, flagship 2000 AD graphic novel series which has become a perennial classic. Includes artwork by some of 2000 AD’s very best, including Cam Kennedy, Ian Gibson, Carlos Ezquerra, and Marvel artist Kev Walker!
Smash! Special
27 May 2020 No delay
They’re the home-grown superheroes who gave Superman and Spider-Man a run for their money — and now they’re back in the Smash! Special! Featuring some of the most original and unusual caped crusaders you’ll ever encounter, this 64-page special features supervillain-turned-hero The Spider by Rob Williams and John McCrea, supercharged secret agent The Steel Claw by Danijel Žeželj, the ‘missing link’ who became the man of the future Johnny Future by Tom Raney, the giant robot ape Mytek the Mighty by Suyi Davies Okungbowa and Anand Radhakrishnan, and many more!
Sláine: The Horned God Collector's Edition
Pat Mills, Simon Bisley
ISBN: 9781781087626
28 May 2020 No delay for digital and webshop-exclusive edition; standard print edition delayed until 3 September 2020
UK £19.99 // US $24.99
Pages: 308 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Rediscover one of the most influential graphic novels ever, with the Sláine: The Horned God – Collector’s Edition. Timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of its first publication, this new, larger edition of the bestselling 2000 AD collection, written by industry visionary Pat Mills, features the groundbreaking fully-painted art of comics legend Simon Bisley. One of the most popular stories ever published in the pages of 2000 AD, The Horned God is a heady mix of Celtic mythology, extreme violence, and beautiful artwork. As well as Mills’ fascinating characters and saga-like storytelling, the stunning enormity of Bisley’s work on the series cannot be understated, with epic battles and vast landscapes evoking everything from the work of Frank Frazetta to Gustav Klimt. This deluxe collector’s edition returns us to the mist-wreathed realm of Tír na nÓg, the ancient land suffering under the dominion of the Drunes; strange druids who have poisoned the land with their magic. Sláine has had enough of their tyranny and, through the Earth Goddess, he learns some shocking truths about the priesthood and his own future. Now Sláine must unite the four kings of Tír na nÓg and use their mystical weapons as he and the Sessair tribe prepare for all-out war!
Strontium Dog: Search and Destroy
John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087657
11 June 2020 No delay for digital and webshop-exclusive edition; standard print edition delayed until 12 November 2020
£19.99
Pages: 144 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
THE TOUGHEST BOUNTY HUNTER IN THE GALAXY!
There was a time in the 22nd century where man s lawless spread out amongst the stars across new frontiers. Enter the Search and Destroy Agents mutants warped from birth by Strontium 90 fallout from the last, great war. Known by the norms as Strontium Dogs , these men and women enact justice throughout a cruel and unforgiving universe. It s a hard and dangerous life where only the toughest can survive. Men like Johnny Alpha a mutant with the ability to emit powerful Alpha-Rays from his eyes!
2000 AD Summer Sci Fi Special: Twenty Years of Rebellion
24 June 2020 No delay
The year 2020 marks two decades since Rebellion stepped in to save the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. The 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special celebrates 20 years of Rebellion with a specially curated look at 2000 AD during the tenure of its longest-serving owners and longest-serving editor. Featuring some of the best talents of the past 20 years, this 48-page special celebrates the evolution of 2000 AD since its namesake year with comics and features about Britain’s biggest and best comic!
Concrete Surfer
Pat Mills, Christine Ellingham
ISBN: 9781781087633
25 June 2020 Digital version released on time; print edition delayed until 17 September 2020
£9.99
Pages: 80 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
A skateboarding rivalry, timed to coincide with skateboarding’s 2020 Olympic debut! Sent home to Britain after her parents fail to establish a new life in Australia, Jean Everidge is forced to rely on family charity, moving in with her Aunt, Uncle and cousin Carol, successful gymnast, beloved of teachers and pupils alike, and all round charming “top girl”. Jean has one solace left to her – skateboarding, surfing the concrete pavement, while forgetting all her troubles, and feel free. But Jean’s freestyling talent soon attracts attention, and if there’s one thing Carol can’t stand, it’s being out of the spotlight. With the new skatepark freestyle contest coming up, just how far will Carol go to stay number one?
War Picture Library: Battler Britton
V.A.L. Holding, Hugo Pratt
ISBN: 9781781087664
30 July 2020 Digital version out early on 9 July; print edition delayed until June 2021
UK £14.99 // US $19.99 // CAN $26.99
Pages: 64 // Hardcover
Available via Amazon.
In this second book in the series of collections reprinting every story drawn by Hugo Pratt, the Italian art maestro meets one of the most popular British comic book characters: Battler Britton! Battler Britton is a World War Two air ace as skilled a fighter on land as he is in his Spitfire. In 1960, Hugo Pratt drew two of his adventures - Wagons of Gold and Rockets of Revenge - and they are to be reprinted in graphic novel format for the first time. These fast-paced adventure stories feature the classic character facing off against the Nazis and this second book continues Rebellion’s mission to bring all of Pratt’s work back into print. Readers of Corto Maltese will love these forgotten classic war stories from the worldrenowned comic book artist, published in a format larger than originally published to show off his impressive and universally-lauded artwork.
Judge Dredd: Control
Rob Williams, Chris Weston
ISBN: 9781781087770
9 July 2020 Digital version released on time; print edition delayed until 10 December 2020
£14.99
Pages: 128pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Following on from the best selling Judge Dredd Small House this thrilling new modern classic by two of the greatest contemporary Dredd writers and artists.
The psychopathic SJS Judge Pin murders officers that fall short of her standards, and Judge Dredd is in her sights in this collection of stories featuring flesh-eating Kleggs, hijacking ape gangs and out of control war robots reprogrammed by insane accountants in tales ranging from deathly serious to outrageously funny, all from one of the most popular contemporary Dredd writer/artist teams; Rob Williams and Chris Weston.
Tammy & Jinty Special
29 July 2020 No delay
Tammy & Jinty return for two feature-length stories from modern creators in a new 48-page comic, continuing the work of last year’s hit special! Tammy and Jinty were ground-breaking female-led comics that covered everything from science-fiction and fantasy to romance and domestic drama. Now retooled for the 21st century, the Tammy & Jinty Special pays tribute to this legacy of trail-blazing comics while introducing a new audience to the medium!
Hope Book 2: Hope... Under Fire
Guy Adams, Jimmy Broxton
ISBN: 9781781087718
20 August 2020 Digital version released on time; print edition delayed until 21 January 2021
£14.99
64pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The second volume of the dazzling 2000 AD debut mixing Hollywood noir and occult magic!
In an alternate post-war 1940s Los Angeles, where dark magic is a fact of life, Mallory Hope is a private detective haunted by his past...and by the occult forces he uses.
The Essential Judge Dredd: America
John Wagner, Garth Ennis, Alan Grant, Colin MacNeil, John Higgins, John M. Burns, Jeff Anderson
ISBN: 978-1781088609
3 September 2020 No delay
£
160pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The graphic novel of Fall 2020, The Essential Judge Dredd line is the very best Dredd stories in a format that is accessible for new readers. The first volume of Essential Judge Dredd, a curated line of graphic novels showcasing the very best storylines of all time and presented in a fresh new package. In Mega-City One, the Judges are the law - acting as judge, jury, and executioner. But how do the citizens really feel about a system where they are powerless? America Jara and Bennett Beeny grow up as best friends, living a fairly trouble-free life in a dangerous city... bar the odd, negative encounter with a Judge. Time draws them apart, and when they are brought back together, Beeny is a successful singer and America has become involved with a terrorist organisation known as Total War, which has the Justice Department in its sights! This dark and complex tale, considered to be one of the best stories to ever come out of the Judge Dredd universe, has been contextualised with contemporarily thematic stories with re-coloured art by Watchman's John Higgins
Battle Special 2020
16 September 2020 No delay
It was the comic than inspired a generation and introduced readers to some of the realities of war — and now Battle is back, and it’s bigger than ever! This 96-page special features the returns of Rat Pack, Destroyer, El Mestizo and more of your favorite characters — direct from the comic book front lines! Inspired by the classic comic and ground-breaking characters, creators such as Garth Ennis, Alex De Campi, Alan Hebden, Brent McKee, Keith Burns, Rob Williams and more bring you stories of war inspired by real events but with the flair and excitement that made Battle the innovative comic it was!
Misty & Scream Special 2020
30 September 2020 No delay
Following the success of last year’s fright-filled outing, the Misty & Scream! Special returns this Halloween! Two of Britain’s best loved comics reunite for an anthology of brand-new tales that are guaranteed to terrify and entertain you — courtesy of a coven of creators, including Kek-W, Simon Coleby, Vincenzo Riccardi, Cavan Scott, Alec Worley, DaNi and many more!
The Dracula File
Gerry Finley-Day, Eric Bradbury, Simon Furman
1 October 2020 No delay
Paperback ed.
KGB officer Colonel Stakis desperately hunts for Count Dracula, who is spreading terror in 1980's Britain after escaping from behind the Iron Curtain. Blending Cold War paranoia with horror staples, Gerry Finley-Day and Eric Bradbury's strip overcame sustained attempts at censorship to become one of the most popular strips in the 1980s best horror comics.
The Thirteenth Floor Vol Two
John Wagner, Jose Ortiz
ISBN: 9781781087725
15 October 2020 No delay
£14.99
Pages: 176 // Paperback
Collecting the darkly comical series from the pages of Eagle, this second volume of the hugely popular The Thirteenth Floor continues the misadventures of the murderous machine A.I., Max! The Thirteenth Floor exists in Maxwell Tower - an experimental tower block run by an A.I. called Max who looks after his tenants and take revenge on those who threaten them by sending them to The Thirteenth Floor - a place where nightmare and reality become one! This second collection of the popular series which began in Scream! and continued in Eagle carries the story further into the Eighties with the authorities becoming more aware of Max’s out of control vindictiveness, and their attempts to shut him down.
Thriller Picture Library Special
11 November 2020 No delay
Thriller Picture Library was the pocket book series packed with thrilling tales of danger and adventure, which delighted audiences for more than a decade in the mid-20th century, establishing the careers of D.C. Eyles, Mike Hubbard, Eric Parker and Septimus E. Scott. With a brand-new cover by VV Glass, this 128-page special includes two classic John Steel adventures from the 1960s, drawn by Luis Bermejo (Eerie, Vampirella) and colored for modern audiences!
Faceache Vol.1
12 November 2020 No delay
Paperback ed.
Features an introduction by Alan Moore and Antony Reid. Ken Reid is consistently name-checked by the greats of comics from Alan Moore to Kevin O Neill, John Wagner to Pat Mills for his unique art that is matched only by his enduring sense of humour. We present Faceache the humorous adventures of Ricky Rubberneck, the boy with a "bendable bonce" whose skin stretches like rubber. At will, he could scrunge his face into anything, whether it s mimicing others or turning into grotesque creatures but always coming a cropper!
Death Squad
Alan Hebden, Eric Bradbury, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087688
20 August 2020 Delayed until 26 November 2020
UK £14.99 // US $19.99 // CAN $26.99
Pages: 128 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Meet the deadliest band of fighters on the Eastern Front in an all-out all-action, complete-in-one brutal war story from the pages of the classic war comic, Battle! During World War Two the Eastern Front was Hell on Earth - German Punishment Battalions were thrown into the thick of the conflict where they were expected to fight well and die hard. In these harshest of conditions only the strongest warriors survived. Enter the Death Squad – Grandad, Swede, Licker, Gus and Frankie. Alone they were failures and outcasts, but together they were one of the most formidable combat units the Russians ever faced! One of the all-time classics from the groundbreaking and hugely influential Battle comic, this features gritty art from Eric Bradbury and Carlos Ezquerra, bringing the horrors of the Eastern Front to readers in a brand new collection!
Misty Creepy Christmas Special
2 December 2020 No delay
Christmas is the perfect time for a ghost story and this year’s Misty Presents… special will bring a few seasonal scares with a 48-page special that will shock your Xmas stocking off the wall and have you cowering under the tree with your presents! Prepare yourselves for a Yuletide shocker as M.R. James meets Black Mirror in a brand-new title to round out a very special year!
Sláine: Web of Weird
10 December 2020 No delay
The Best of Sugar Jones
Pat Mill, Rafael Busóm
ISBN: 9781781087701
20 August 2020 Delayed until 24 December 2020
£14.99
Pages: 112 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Sugar Jones is the charming twenty-something host of her own late night variety show, beloved by viewers up and down the nation. Only her assistant Susie knows her secret – Sugar is really selfish, sour, scheming - and 40 years old! She do anything to make a quick buck. Written by 2000 AD legend Pat Mills, Sugar Jones features stunningly beautiful art from Spanish illustrator Rafael Busóm - it’s not just a comic book but an archive of 1970s fashion too! A luscious collection that will appeal to readers young and old, a morality tale that combines fashion and soap opera in only the way ‘70s British comics could! Sugar Jones is a forgotten gem from The Treasury of British Comics’ archive!
Cor! Buster
Cavan Scott, Neil Googe, Hilary Barta, Tom Paterson, Sheli Paroline, Olivia Hicks and Brett Parson
ISBN: 9781781088647
November Delayed (print and digital) until 24 December 2020
UK £10.99 // US $13.99
Pages: 96 // Paperback
Brighten up the Xmas holidays with this bumper collection hilarious stories filled with laughs and fun, for kids of all ages! Britain's golden age of humour comics returns for the 21st century, with brand new stories by today’s top talents. Featuring characters like Kid Kong, Grimly Feendish, Faceache, and Frankie Stein are given new life in this compendium of hilarity by Neil Googe (The Flash), Cavan Scott (Doctor Who), Tom Paterson (The Beano, The Dandy), Shelli Paroline (Adventure Time) and Hilary Barta (DC Comics Plastic Man)!
King’s Reach: John Sanders’ Twenty-Five Years at the Top of Comics
John Sanders
ISBN: 9781781088210
9 July 2020 Delayed (print & digital) until 7 January 2021
£12.99
306pp // Hardback
Available via Amazon.
From within King's Reach Tower on the banks of the Thames, John Sanders masterminded the output of Britain's biggest comics publisher over twenty-five years. Overseeing the launch of hugely popular titles like Tammy, Battle and the revolutionary 2000 AD, Sanders fought corporate battles to expand the UKs comics output, faced down the government and the media in censorship battles and ultimately came up against a crooked business tycoon.
Leading an industry that at its peak sold 10 million comics per week, Sanders launched over a hundred new titles, faced massive social change and strove to keep comics relevant to generation after generation. With artists employed across the globe to service the voracious appetite of readers, Sanders was in the hot seat for battles with his creative workforce and saw changing standards and industry disputes. In this memoir he reveals, for the first time, his story and that of the medium that would go on to dominate global culture.
2000 AD Regened Collection
ISBN: 978-1781088135
7 January 2021 (print & digital)
£
96pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
2000 AD Regened is a collection of comics written for younger readers. Featuring all-ages re-imaginings of legacy 2000 AD characters - including break-out fan favourite Cadet Dredd, a teenage Judge Dredd in training. 2000 AD Regened is a collection of comics written for younger readers. Featuring all-ages re-imaginings of the all-time great legacy 2000 AD characters Join Cadet Dredd in three astonishing caper! Discover how Johnny Alpha became a teenage bounty-hunter Strontium Dog! Alien delinquents DR and Quinch hijack Free Comic Book Day! All this and more new takes on old favourites!
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files Vol.36
John Wagner, Gordon Rennie, Andy Diggle, Henry Flint, Ben Willsher, Ian Gibson, John Ridgway, Mick McMahon, Jim Baikie, Simon Fraser, PJ Holden, Carl Critchlow, Staz Johnson, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN:
3 September 2020 Delayed (print and digital) until 4 February 2021
£19.99
304pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The best-selling Judge Dredd graphic novel series continues with the most popular crossover story in its history – a tussle with xenomorphs from Ridley Scott’s Alien film franchise!
Mega-City One – a nightmarish enclosure located along the Eastern Seaboard of North America. Only the Judges – powerful law enforcers supporting the despotic Justice Department – can stop total anarchy running rife on the crime-ridden streets. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the law and these are his stories...
Judge Dredd has brought countless monsters to justice but now the ultimate killing machines, cinema’s most famous xenomorphs, surface in Mega-City One and it may well be more than the Justice Department can handle!
The Vigilant
Simon Furman, Simon Coleby, DaNi, Henrik Sahlstrom, Warwick Fraser-Combe, Staz Johnson, Will Sliney, Jake Lynch
19 September Delayed (print & digital) until 1 April 2021
£14.99
Pages: 128 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Classic British Superheroes remade for a 21st Century audience! Lost in the mists of time, home-grown British superheroes once entertained and enthralled millions of kids…Now, the likes of Adam Eterno, Blake Edmonds, Thunderbolt the Avenger, and The Leopard from Lime Street are back for a new generation of readers. This volume collects the trilogy of Vigilant stories written by Simon Furman (Transformers) and drawn by an all-star roster of artsists including Simon Coleby (Dark Souls), DaNi (Coffin Bound), Henrik Sahlstrom (Thirteenth Floor), Warwick Fraser-Combe, Staz Johnson (Spider-Man), Will Sliney (Spider-Man 2099), Jake Lynch (Judge Dredd)
Thistlebone
TC Eglington, Simon Davis
ISBN: 978-1781087787
1 December 2020 Delayed (print and digital) until 29 April 2021
£
64pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Midsommar meets The Wicker Man in this break-out original folk-horror series from the pages of 2000 AD!
England, 2019. The secluded rural village of Harrowvale holds a dark past — that years earlier, on a farm bordering the vast tracts of woodland, it hosted a cult that was seeking to escape civilisation and find purity in the old ways, namely worshipping an ancient deity called THISTLEBONE. Led by the charismatic Jasper Hillman, their pagan beliefs grew ever more radical to the point where they held the young Avril Eason captive with the intention of sacrificing her. But Avril escaped...
Devlin Waugh: Blood Debt
Ales Kot, Rory McConville, Mike Dowling
ISBN: 9781781087671
23 July 2020 Delayed (print and digital) until 13 May 2021
£16.99
176pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Vatican exorcist, freelance paranormal investigator and altogether dashing rogue, Devlin Waugh is in the business of getting up close and extremely personal with the occult!
This time he'll have to rescue his debtor brother Freddy from a casino suspended over an unending interdimensional void, save Brit-Cit from a plague of mutagenic nightmare spores, and befriend a possessed demonic dildo, all while negotiating boyfriends ex- and current...
Ken Reid’s Football Funnies
Ken Reid
ISBN: 9781781087794
3 December Delayed (print & digital) until July 2021
£19.99
Pages: 144 // Hardcover
The master of British humour comics turns his pen towards the hilarity of people who play football! For four years from 1970 Ken Reid drew a weekly humour strip for Scorcher and Score, this collection collects the first two years of those strips. Featuring the characters Sub,Manager Matt, Hugh Fowler and the Football Forum pundits, this collection combines Ken Reid’s love of football with his natural ability to find the funny side of the great game. This is the first collection of the never before collected strips from Scorcher and Score.
The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Vol. 2
Mike Butterworth, Don Lawrence
ISBN: 9781781087756
November Delayed (print and digital) until July 2021
UK £19.99 // US $24.99 // CAN $33.99
Pages: 288 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The lost sci-fi classic from the 1960s continues in gloriously restored collections! Among the distant stars, fractious tribes come together to found a mighty empire that will wage war against aggressive kingdoms, battle alien invaders, and conceive of incredible new technologies. This extraordinary volume continues to chart the glorious Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire! A landmark in British comics history, painted by the legendary Don Lawrence in stunning, classic style, and springing from the grandiose pen of Mike Butterworth, this is an epic tale that creates a new far-future science fiction mythos that captured the imagination of a generation. This new collection features an introduction from one-time Don Lawrence apprentice Chris Weston (The Filth).
Essential Judge Dredd: Origins
John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Kev Walker
ISBN: 9781781088630
November 2020 Delayed (print and digital) until 2 September 2021
£
192pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The essential Judge Dredd graphic novel series - the ultimate introduction to the Lawman of the Future!
An unusual delivery is made to the Grand Hall of Justice, a package that will force Dredd to lead a mission into the Cursed Earth and into the darkest recesses of the history of the Judges and Mega-City One...
Now in this much-anticipated Dredd epic, history is written by Dredd co-creators John Wagner (A History of Violence) and Carlos Ezquerra (Strontium Dog) with a special introductory tale featuring the art of Kev Walker (ABC Warriors: Khronicles of Khaos).
Fiends of the Eastern Front
Gerry Finley-Day, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 978-1781087749
4 October 2020 Delayed (print & digital) until 14 October 2021
£19.99
176pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Buried deep underground are the remains of Wehrmacht soldier, Hans Schmitt, and his diary, which journals his eerie encounter with the Romanian Captain Constanta and his platoon of blood-sucking freaks! Back in 1943, with the Russians willing to fight until their last man in order to defend Stalingrad, Panzergrenadier Richter discovers Constanta's secret and learns than sometimes your allies can be just as dangerous as the enemy!
Featuring the breathtaking art of Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd) and Colin MacNeil (America, Chopper: Song of the Surfer), with stories from Gerry Finley Day (Rogue Trooper), David Bishop (Thrill-Power Overload), and recent classics from Ian Edginton (Stickleback, Scarlet Traces), Dave Kendall (Fall of Deadworld).
Black Max Vol. 2
Ken Mennell, Alfonso Font
ISBN: 9781781088623
October 2020 Delayed (print & digital) until October 2021
UK £14.99
Pages: 112 // Paperback
Bi-planes vs giant vampire bats in this thrilling collection of war comics with a horror twist! Lieutenant Tom Wilson returns to battle Baron Maximilien Von Klorr and his attack force of giant vampire bats in a continuation of the popular series. The World War One era story moves to England with a monstrous albino bat attacking London with each page beautifully drawn by Alfonso Font working on one of his very first comic series. This exciting World War One aviation adventure is ideal for fans of Charleys War, Battle, and Hammer horror films!
Please note: this list does not include all graphic novel titles slated for release in 2021, just new dates for titles that have been postponed from the 2020 schedule.
With the safety of printers, distributors, and staff in mind, Rebellion has revised its 2020 graphic novel schedule to ensure readers can still enjoy the best collections in comics, making sure we are able to support retailers that remain open while also helping those that are closed by staggering new releases through to 2021.
Printing and distribution of our periodicals will continue - this includes the weekly 2000 AD, the monthly Judge Dredd Megazine, and the range of Rebellion specials. These are available from open retailers, such as newsagents and selected grocery chains, as well as in print and digital from 2000 AD and the Treasury of British Comics webshop, and the 2000 AD app.
Some graphic novels due for release in May, June, July, and August 2020 will go digital-first, with standard print editions postponed until later in the year. Webshop-exclusive print editions of some titles will still go ahead. This means readers can still enjoy collections while in lockdown, while avoiding a glut of titles hitting retailers when they reopen.
Ben Smith, Head of Publishing, said:
“Due to the challenges facing the book and comic book industry in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have revised Rebellion's 2020 publishing schedule, pushing back some graphic novel releases until later in 2020 or 2021.Digital titles will be available from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops, as well as from the 2000 AD app. By registering with the same details on the webshop and app, readers will be able to purchase and read titles in both.
“We won't be going on hiatus - the periodical comics will continue while some book collections will go digital-first so we can continue to share and shout about the amazing work our creators and editors are putting together while we're all in lockdown. Where special hardback editions have already been printed we will release these from our webshop on the planned dates.
“We look forward to getting back to normal service, but in the meantime our mission to deliver to best in new and classic comics continues.”
The revised Rebellion graphic novel schedule:
War Picture Library: Battle of Britain
Ian Kennedy
ISBN: 9781781087794
16 April (UK) No delay
£14.99
Pages: 128 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The second in the new ‘War Picture Library’ series showcasing the finest combat comics illustrated by legendary and iconic artists. Two true stories of aviation heroism and derring-do - ‘Never Say Die’ and ‘Steel Bats’ - set during the Battle of Britain in 1940 and drawn by comics legend Ian Kennedy! A talented pilot who never loses his determination to defend his country against immense obstacles both technical and personal. A squadron undertakes heart-stopping missions to combat the intense night-time assaults of the Axis air force. Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Britain comes an enthralling collection of aviation and heroism featuring daredevil pilots and the lengths they go to stop the German Luftwaffe attacking Britain.
The Complete Johnny Future
Alf Wallace, Luis Bermejo
ISBN: 9781781087589
30 Apr 2020 (UK) 28 Apr 2020 (US) No delay
UK £19.99 // US $24.99
Pages: 208 // Hardcover
Available via Amazon.
One of the most memorable comic strips of the 1960s, which asks the question “What if King Kong became Superman”? This is the complete hardcover collection of breathtaking Pulp adventure comics - beloved by fans and the creators it inspired – Alan Moore among them! ‘The Missing Link’ - a creature of limitless strength, is drawn to Britain in pursuit of an expedition party he encountered in his homeland. The man-ape causes havoc until he accidentally stumbles into an experimental nuclear research facility and is bombarded by radiation. Instead of killing him, the creature evolves into an advanced human. Now possessing a genius mind, super-strength, enhanced senses and the ability to fly, as Johnny Future he protects mankind from such sinister beings as The Master, Disastro, Animal Man and the Secret Society of Scientists. Perfect for fans of Rebellion’s only other superhero property – ‘Zenith’, the first superhero saga penned by comics legend, Grant Morrison!
Judge Dredd Case Files 35
John Wagner, Alan Grant, Gordon Rennie, Richard Elson, John Higgins, Ian Gibson, Siku, Ben Willsher, Colin MacNeil, Kevin Walker, Paul Marshall, Cam Kennedy, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087541
14 May 2020 Digital version released on schedule; standard print edition delayed until 1 October 2020
£19.99
Pages: 304 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The latest in the smash-hit, best-selling graphic novel series! Almost half a million copies sold! The floating multi-story metropolis of illegal delights known as “Sin City” has anchored outside Mega-City one, and Dredd has seemingly been sent aboard to keep what order can be kept on a lawless floating city. His real task? Locate Ula Danser, the De-Megification terrorist determined to destroy the Mega-Cities at any cost! But Danser isn’t working alone – Dredd’s old enemy Orlok is coming to meet her, and he’s carrying a cargo intended to pay back everything Dredd did to East-Meg one – with interest! The latest in the world-wide best-selling, flagship 2000 AD graphic novel series which has become a perennial classic. Includes artwork by some of 2000 AD’s very best, including Cam Kennedy, Ian Gibson, Carlos Ezquerra, and Marvel artist Kev Walker!
Smash! Special
27 May 2020 No delay
They’re the home-grown superheroes who gave Superman and Spider-Man a run for their money — and now they’re back in the Smash! Special! Featuring some of the most original and unusual caped crusaders you’ll ever encounter, this 64-page special features supervillain-turned-hero The Spider by Rob Williams and John McCrea, supercharged secret agent The Steel Claw by Danijel Žeželj, the ‘missing link’ who became the man of the future Johnny Future by Tom Raney, the giant robot ape Mytek the Mighty by Suyi Davies Okungbowa and Anand Radhakrishnan, and many more!
Sláine: The Horned God Collector's Edition
Pat Mills, Simon Bisley
ISBN: 9781781087626
28 May 2020 No delay for digital and webshop-exclusive edition; standard print edition delayed until 3 September 2020
UK £19.99 // US $24.99
Pages: 308 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Rediscover one of the most influential graphic novels ever, with the Sláine: The Horned God – Collector’s Edition. Timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of its first publication, this new, larger edition of the bestselling 2000 AD collection, written by industry visionary Pat Mills, features the groundbreaking fully-painted art of comics legend Simon Bisley. One of the most popular stories ever published in the pages of 2000 AD, The Horned God is a heady mix of Celtic mythology, extreme violence, and beautiful artwork. As well as Mills’ fascinating characters and saga-like storytelling, the stunning enormity of Bisley’s work on the series cannot be understated, with epic battles and vast landscapes evoking everything from the work of Frank Frazetta to Gustav Klimt. This deluxe collector’s edition returns us to the mist-wreathed realm of Tír na nÓg, the ancient land suffering under the dominion of the Drunes; strange druids who have poisoned the land with their magic. Sláine has had enough of their tyranny and, through the Earth Goddess, he learns some shocking truths about the priesthood and his own future. Now Sláine must unite the four kings of Tír na nÓg and use their mystical weapons as he and the Sessair tribe prepare for all-out war!
Strontium Dog: Search and Destroy
John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087657
11 June 2020 No delay for digital and webshop-exclusive edition; standard print edition delayed until 12 November 2020
£19.99
Pages: 144 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
THE TOUGHEST BOUNTY HUNTER IN THE GALAXY!
There was a time in the 22nd century where man s lawless spread out amongst the stars across new frontiers. Enter the Search and Destroy Agents mutants warped from birth by Strontium 90 fallout from the last, great war. Known by the norms as Strontium Dogs , these men and women enact justice throughout a cruel and unforgiving universe. It s a hard and dangerous life where only the toughest can survive. Men like Johnny Alpha a mutant with the ability to emit powerful Alpha-Rays from his eyes!
24 June 2020 No delay
The year 2020 marks two decades since Rebellion stepped in to save the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. The 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special celebrates 20 years of Rebellion with a specially curated look at 2000 AD during the tenure of its longest-serving owners and longest-serving editor. Featuring some of the best talents of the past 20 years, this 48-page special celebrates the evolution of 2000 AD since its namesake year with comics and features about Britain’s biggest and best comic!
Concrete Surfer
Pat Mills, Christine Ellingham
ISBN: 9781781087633
25 June 2020 Digital version released on time; print edition delayed until 17 September 2020
£9.99
Pages: 80 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
A skateboarding rivalry, timed to coincide with skateboarding’s 2020 Olympic debut! Sent home to Britain after her parents fail to establish a new life in Australia, Jean Everidge is forced to rely on family charity, moving in with her Aunt, Uncle and cousin Carol, successful gymnast, beloved of teachers and pupils alike, and all round charming “top girl”. Jean has one solace left to her – skateboarding, surfing the concrete pavement, while forgetting all her troubles, and feel free. But Jean’s freestyling talent soon attracts attention, and if there’s one thing Carol can’t stand, it’s being out of the spotlight. With the new skatepark freestyle contest coming up, just how far will Carol go to stay number one?
War Picture Library: Battler Britton
V.A.L. Holding, Hugo Pratt
ISBN: 9781781087664
UK £14.99 // US $19.99 // CAN $26.99
Pages: 64 // Hardcover
Available via Amazon.
In this second book in the series of collections reprinting every story drawn by Hugo Pratt, the Italian art maestro meets one of the most popular British comic book characters: Battler Britton! Battler Britton is a World War Two air ace as skilled a fighter on land as he is in his Spitfire. In 1960, Hugo Pratt drew two of his adventures - Wagons of Gold and Rockets of Revenge - and they are to be reprinted in graphic novel format for the first time. These fast-paced adventure stories feature the classic character facing off against the Nazis and this second book continues Rebellion’s mission to bring all of Pratt’s work back into print. Readers of Corto Maltese will love these forgotten classic war stories from the worldrenowned comic book artist, published in a format larger than originally published to show off his impressive and universally-lauded artwork.
Judge Dredd: Control
Rob Williams, Chris Weston
ISBN: 9781781087770
9 July 2020 Digital version released on time; print edition delayed until 10 December 2020
£14.99
Pages: 128pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Following on from the best selling Judge Dredd Small House this thrilling new modern classic by two of the greatest contemporary Dredd writers and artists.
The psychopathic SJS Judge Pin murders officers that fall short of her standards, and Judge Dredd is in her sights in this collection of stories featuring flesh-eating Kleggs, hijacking ape gangs and out of control war robots reprogrammed by insane accountants in tales ranging from deathly serious to outrageously funny, all from one of the most popular contemporary Dredd writer/artist teams; Rob Williams and Chris Weston.
Tammy & Jinty Special
29 July 2020 No delay
Tammy & Jinty return for two feature-length stories from modern creators in a new 48-page comic, continuing the work of last year’s hit special! Tammy and Jinty were ground-breaking female-led comics that covered everything from science-fiction and fantasy to romance and domestic drama. Now retooled for the 21st century, the Tammy & Jinty Special pays tribute to this legacy of trail-blazing comics while introducing a new audience to the medium!
Hope Book 2: Hope... Under Fire
Guy Adams, Jimmy Broxton
ISBN: 9781781087718
20 August 2020 Digital version released on time; print edition delayed until 21 January 2021
£14.99
64pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The second volume of the dazzling 2000 AD debut mixing Hollywood noir and occult magic!
In an alternate post-war 1940s Los Angeles, where dark magic is a fact of life, Mallory Hope is a private detective haunted by his past...and by the occult forces he uses.
The Essential Judge Dredd: America
John Wagner, Garth Ennis, Alan Grant, Colin MacNeil, John Higgins, John M. Burns, Jeff Anderson
ISBN: 978-1781088609
3 September 2020 No delay
£
160pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The graphic novel of Fall 2020, The Essential Judge Dredd line is the very best Dredd stories in a format that is accessible for new readers. The first volume of Essential Judge Dredd, a curated line of graphic novels showcasing the very best storylines of all time and presented in a fresh new package. In Mega-City One, the Judges are the law - acting as judge, jury, and executioner. But how do the citizens really feel about a system where they are powerless? America Jara and Bennett Beeny grow up as best friends, living a fairly trouble-free life in a dangerous city... bar the odd, negative encounter with a Judge. Time draws them apart, and when they are brought back together, Beeny is a successful singer and America has become involved with a terrorist organisation known as Total War, which has the Justice Department in its sights! This dark and complex tale, considered to be one of the best stories to ever come out of the Judge Dredd universe, has been contextualised with contemporarily thematic stories with re-coloured art by Watchman's John Higgins
Battle Special 2020
16 September 2020 No delay
It was the comic than inspired a generation and introduced readers to some of the realities of war — and now Battle is back, and it’s bigger than ever! This 96-page special features the returns of Rat Pack, Destroyer, El Mestizo and more of your favorite characters — direct from the comic book front lines! Inspired by the classic comic and ground-breaking characters, creators such as Garth Ennis, Alex De Campi, Alan Hebden, Brent McKee, Keith Burns, Rob Williams and more bring you stories of war inspired by real events but with the flair and excitement that made Battle the innovative comic it was!
Misty & Scream Special 2020
30 September 2020 No delay
Following the success of last year’s fright-filled outing, the Misty & Scream! Special returns this Halloween! Two of Britain’s best loved comics reunite for an anthology of brand-new tales that are guaranteed to terrify and entertain you — courtesy of a coven of creators, including Kek-W, Simon Coleby, Vincenzo Riccardi, Cavan Scott, Alec Worley, DaNi and many more!
The Dracula File
Gerry Finley-Day, Eric Bradbury, Simon Furman
1 October 2020 No delay
Paperback ed.
KGB officer Colonel Stakis desperately hunts for Count Dracula, who is spreading terror in 1980's Britain after escaping from behind the Iron Curtain. Blending Cold War paranoia with horror staples, Gerry Finley-Day and Eric Bradbury's strip overcame sustained attempts at censorship to become one of the most popular strips in the 1980s best horror comics.
The Thirteenth Floor Vol Two
John Wagner, Jose Ortiz
ISBN: 9781781087725
15 October 2020 No delay
£14.99
Pages: 176 // Paperback
Collecting the darkly comical series from the pages of Eagle, this second volume of the hugely popular The Thirteenth Floor continues the misadventures of the murderous machine A.I., Max! The Thirteenth Floor exists in Maxwell Tower - an experimental tower block run by an A.I. called Max who looks after his tenants and take revenge on those who threaten them by sending them to The Thirteenth Floor - a place where nightmare and reality become one! This second collection of the popular series which began in Scream! and continued in Eagle carries the story further into the Eighties with the authorities becoming more aware of Max’s out of control vindictiveness, and their attempts to shut him down.
Thriller Picture Library Special
11 November 2020 No delay
Thriller Picture Library was the pocket book series packed with thrilling tales of danger and adventure, which delighted audiences for more than a decade in the mid-20th century, establishing the careers of D.C. Eyles, Mike Hubbard, Eric Parker and Septimus E. Scott. With a brand-new cover by VV Glass, this 128-page special includes two classic John Steel adventures from the 1960s, drawn by Luis Bermejo (Eerie, Vampirella) and colored for modern audiences!
Faceache Vol.1
12 November 2020 No delay
Paperback ed.
Features an introduction by Alan Moore and Antony Reid. Ken Reid is consistently name-checked by the greats of comics from Alan Moore to Kevin O Neill, John Wagner to Pat Mills for his unique art that is matched only by his enduring sense of humour. We present Faceache the humorous adventures of Ricky Rubberneck, the boy with a "bendable bonce" whose skin stretches like rubber. At will, he could scrunge his face into anything, whether it s mimicing others or turning into grotesque creatures but always coming a cropper!
Death Squad
Alan Hebden, Eric Bradbury, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 9781781087688
UK £14.99 // US $19.99 // CAN $26.99
Pages: 128 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Meet the deadliest band of fighters on the Eastern Front in an all-out all-action, complete-in-one brutal war story from the pages of the classic war comic, Battle! During World War Two the Eastern Front was Hell on Earth - German Punishment Battalions were thrown into the thick of the conflict where they were expected to fight well and die hard. In these harshest of conditions only the strongest warriors survived. Enter the Death Squad – Grandad, Swede, Licker, Gus and Frankie. Alone they were failures and outcasts, but together they were one of the most formidable combat units the Russians ever faced! One of the all-time classics from the groundbreaking and hugely influential Battle comic, this features gritty art from Eric Bradbury and Carlos Ezquerra, bringing the horrors of the Eastern Front to readers in a brand new collection!
Misty Creepy Christmas Special
2 December 2020 No delay
Christmas is the perfect time for a ghost story and this year’s Misty Presents… special will bring a few seasonal scares with a 48-page special that will shock your Xmas stocking off the wall and have you cowering under the tree with your presents! Prepare yourselves for a Yuletide shocker as M.R. James meets Black Mirror in a brand-new title to round out a very special year!
Sláine: Web of Weird
10 December 2020 No delay
The Best of Sugar Jones
Pat Mill, Rafael Busóm
ISBN: 9781781087701
£14.99
Pages: 112 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Sugar Jones is the charming twenty-something host of her own late night variety show, beloved by viewers up and down the nation. Only her assistant Susie knows her secret – Sugar is really selfish, sour, scheming - and 40 years old! She do anything to make a quick buck. Written by 2000 AD legend Pat Mills, Sugar Jones features stunningly beautiful art from Spanish illustrator Rafael Busóm - it’s not just a comic book but an archive of 1970s fashion too! A luscious collection that will appeal to readers young and old, a morality tale that combines fashion and soap opera in only the way ‘70s British comics could! Sugar Jones is a forgotten gem from The Treasury of British Comics’ archive!
Cavan Scott, Neil Googe, Hilary Barta, Tom Paterson, Sheli Paroline, Olivia Hicks and Brett Parson
ISBN: 9781781088647
UK £10.99 // US $13.99
Pages: 96 // Paperback
Brighten up the Xmas holidays with this bumper collection hilarious stories filled with laughs and fun, for kids of all ages! Britain's golden age of humour comics returns for the 21st century, with brand new stories by today’s top talents. Featuring characters like Kid Kong, Grimly Feendish, Faceache, and Frankie Stein are given new life in this compendium of hilarity by Neil Googe (The Flash), Cavan Scott (Doctor Who), Tom Paterson (The Beano, The Dandy), Shelli Paroline (Adventure Time) and Hilary Barta (DC Comics Plastic Man)!
King’s Reach: John Sanders’ Twenty-Five Years at the Top of Comics
John Sanders
ISBN: 9781781088210
£12.99
306pp // Hardback
Available via Amazon.
From within King's Reach Tower on the banks of the Thames, John Sanders masterminded the output of Britain's biggest comics publisher over twenty-five years. Overseeing the launch of hugely popular titles like Tammy, Battle and the revolutionary 2000 AD, Sanders fought corporate battles to expand the UKs comics output, faced down the government and the media in censorship battles and ultimately came up against a crooked business tycoon.
Leading an industry that at its peak sold 10 million comics per week, Sanders launched over a hundred new titles, faced massive social change and strove to keep comics relevant to generation after generation. With artists employed across the globe to service the voracious appetite of readers, Sanders was in the hot seat for battles with his creative workforce and saw changing standards and industry disputes. In this memoir he reveals, for the first time, his story and that of the medium that would go on to dominate global culture.
2000 AD Regened Collection
ISBN: 978-1781088135
7 January 2021 (print & digital)
£
96pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
2000 AD Regened is a collection of comics written for younger readers. Featuring all-ages re-imaginings of legacy 2000 AD characters - including break-out fan favourite Cadet Dredd, a teenage Judge Dredd in training. 2000 AD Regened is a collection of comics written for younger readers. Featuring all-ages re-imaginings of the all-time great legacy 2000 AD characters Join Cadet Dredd in three astonishing caper! Discover how Johnny Alpha became a teenage bounty-hunter Strontium Dog! Alien delinquents DR and Quinch hijack Free Comic Book Day! All this and more new takes on old favourites!
Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files Vol.36
John Wagner, Gordon Rennie, Andy Diggle, Henry Flint, Ben Willsher, Ian Gibson, John Ridgway, Mick McMahon, Jim Baikie, Simon Fraser, PJ Holden, Carl Critchlow, Staz Johnson, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN:
£19.99
304pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The best-selling Judge Dredd graphic novel series continues with the most popular crossover story in its history – a tussle with xenomorphs from Ridley Scott’s Alien film franchise!
Mega-City One – a nightmarish enclosure located along the Eastern Seaboard of North America. Only the Judges – powerful law enforcers supporting the despotic Justice Department – can stop total anarchy running rife on the crime-ridden streets. Toughest of them all is Judge Dredd – he is the law and these are his stories...
Judge Dredd has brought countless monsters to justice but now the ultimate killing machines, cinema’s most famous xenomorphs, surface in Mega-City One and it may well be more than the Justice Department can handle!
The Vigilant
Simon Furman, Simon Coleby, DaNi, Henrik Sahlstrom, Warwick Fraser-Combe, Staz Johnson, Will Sliney, Jake Lynch
£14.99
Pages: 128 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Classic British Superheroes remade for a 21st Century audience! Lost in the mists of time, home-grown British superheroes once entertained and enthralled millions of kids…Now, the likes of Adam Eterno, Blake Edmonds, Thunderbolt the Avenger, and The Leopard from Lime Street are back for a new generation of readers. This volume collects the trilogy of Vigilant stories written by Simon Furman (Transformers) and drawn by an all-star roster of artsists including Simon Coleby (Dark Souls), DaNi (Coffin Bound), Henrik Sahlstrom (Thirteenth Floor), Warwick Fraser-Combe, Staz Johnson (Spider-Man), Will Sliney (Spider-Man 2099), Jake Lynch (Judge Dredd)
Thistlebone
TC Eglington, Simon Davis
ISBN: 978-1781087787
£
64pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Midsommar meets The Wicker Man in this break-out original folk-horror series from the pages of 2000 AD!
England, 2019. The secluded rural village of Harrowvale holds a dark past — that years earlier, on a farm bordering the vast tracts of woodland, it hosted a cult that was seeking to escape civilisation and find purity in the old ways, namely worshipping an ancient deity called THISTLEBONE. Led by the charismatic Jasper Hillman, their pagan beliefs grew ever more radical to the point where they held the young Avril Eason captive with the intention of sacrificing her. But Avril escaped...
Devlin Waugh: Blood Debt
Ales Kot, Rory McConville, Mike Dowling
ISBN: 9781781087671
£16.99
176pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Vatican exorcist, freelance paranormal investigator and altogether dashing rogue, Devlin Waugh is in the business of getting up close and extremely personal with the occult!
This time he'll have to rescue his debtor brother Freddy from a casino suspended over an unending interdimensional void, save Brit-Cit from a plague of mutagenic nightmare spores, and befriend a possessed demonic dildo, all while negotiating boyfriends ex- and current...
Ken Reid’s Football Funnies
Ken Reid
ISBN: 9781781087794
£19.99
Pages: 144 // Hardcover
The master of British humour comics turns his pen towards the hilarity of people who play football! For four years from 1970 Ken Reid drew a weekly humour strip for Scorcher and Score, this collection collects the first two years of those strips. Featuring the characters Sub,Manager Matt, Hugh Fowler and the Football Forum pundits, this collection combines Ken Reid’s love of football with his natural ability to find the funny side of the great game. This is the first collection of the never before collected strips from Scorcher and Score.
The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Vol. 2
Mike Butterworth, Don Lawrence
ISBN: 9781781087756
UK £19.99 // US $24.99 // CAN $33.99
Pages: 288 // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The lost sci-fi classic from the 1960s continues in gloriously restored collections! Among the distant stars, fractious tribes come together to found a mighty empire that will wage war against aggressive kingdoms, battle alien invaders, and conceive of incredible new technologies. This extraordinary volume continues to chart the glorious Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire! A landmark in British comics history, painted by the legendary Don Lawrence in stunning, classic style, and springing from the grandiose pen of Mike Butterworth, this is an epic tale that creates a new far-future science fiction mythos that captured the imagination of a generation. This new collection features an introduction from one-time Don Lawrence apprentice Chris Weston (The Filth).
Essential Judge Dredd: Origins
John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra, Kev Walker
ISBN: 9781781088630
£
192pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
The essential Judge Dredd graphic novel series - the ultimate introduction to the Lawman of the Future!
An unusual delivery is made to the Grand Hall of Justice, a package that will force Dredd to lead a mission into the Cursed Earth and into the darkest recesses of the history of the Judges and Mega-City One...
Now in this much-anticipated Dredd epic, history is written by Dredd co-creators John Wagner (A History of Violence) and Carlos Ezquerra (Strontium Dog) with a special introductory tale featuring the art of Kev Walker (ABC Warriors: Khronicles of Khaos).
Fiends of the Eastern Front
Gerry Finley-Day, Carlos Ezquerra
ISBN: 978-1781087749
£19.99
176pp // Paperback
Available via Amazon.
Buried deep underground are the remains of Wehrmacht soldier, Hans Schmitt, and his diary, which journals his eerie encounter with the Romanian Captain Constanta and his platoon of blood-sucking freaks! Back in 1943, with the Russians willing to fight until their last man in order to defend Stalingrad, Panzergrenadier Richter discovers Constanta's secret and learns than sometimes your allies can be just as dangerous as the enemy!
Featuring the breathtaking art of Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd) and Colin MacNeil (America, Chopper: Song of the Surfer), with stories from Gerry Finley Day (Rogue Trooper), David Bishop (Thrill-Power Overload), and recent classics from Ian Edginton (Stickleback, Scarlet Traces), Dave Kendall (Fall of Deadworld).
Black Max Vol. 2
Ken Mennell, Alfonso Font
ISBN: 9781781088623
UK £14.99
Pages: 112 // Paperback
Bi-planes vs giant vampire bats in this thrilling collection of war comics with a horror twist! Lieutenant Tom Wilson returns to battle Baron Maximilien Von Klorr and his attack force of giant vampire bats in a continuation of the popular series. The World War One era story moves to England with a monstrous albino bat attacking London with each page beautifully drawn by Alfonso Font working on one of his very first comic series. This exciting World War One aviation adventure is ideal for fans of Charleys War, Battle, and Hammer horror films!
Please note: this list does not include all graphic novel titles slated for release in 2021, just new dates for titles that have been postponed from the 2020 schedule.