Showing posts with label Recent Releases 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Recent Releases 2011. Show all posts

Sunday, January 01, 2012

Recent Releases: January - April 2011

This is an expanded and annotated, illustrated listing of titles reprinting or relating to British comics. A full listing covering releases in 2010 can be found here.

JANUARY 2011


Dan Dare: Trip to Trouble by Eric Eden & Frank Bellamy.
Titan Books ISBN 978-1848563667, 28 January 2011.
It's chocks away once again as Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future, returns! First published in classic British comic "Eagle", this is perhaps the most seminal adventure of one of Britain's best-loved characters, presented in a gorgeous library edition. Abducted by brilliant Scottish scientist Galileo McHoo, Dan and co have used his incredible spacecraft, the Galactic Galleon, to reach the mysterious Terra Nova - last known destination of Dan's test pilot father! But when the gang stumble into a war between the strange inhabitants of this world, will they survive to learn the truth? Packed with beautiful artwork from legendary Dare creator Frank Hampson, and his successor, acclaimed artist Frank Bellamy, this volume collects the stories "Trip to Trouble" and "Operation Nimbus".


Greysuit by Pat Mills & John Higgins.
Rebellion ISBN 978-1907519826, 20 January 2011, 128pp, £13.99.
The equivalent of the USA's Men in Black, the covert operatives known as Greysuits enforce the British government's interests in the world's most dangerous places. Specially conditioned to have heightened strength and senses, Greysuits are the most deadly secret agents alive. One of the newest thrills to explode from the pages of 2000AD.

Johnny Red: Falcon's First Flight by Tom Tully & Joe Colquhoun.
Titan Books ISBN 978-1848560338, 28 January 2011.
Britain's best-loved aerial combat comic returns in a gorgeous hardback library edition! When pilot Johnny Redburn is discharged from the RAF for striking an officer, he is forced to join the Merchant Navy. But a German sneak attack forces Redburn back into the air - in a stolen Hurricane! Redburn aims for Russia, planning to save his plane and career, but on landing, meets the 'Falcon Squadron' of the 5th Soviet Air Brigade, who are under German attack! Redburn takes to the skies once more - to fight for Russia! The classic series by Tom Tully ("Roy of the Rovers") and Joe Colquhoun ("Charley's War") makes its explosive debut and includes a new introduction by comics legend Garth Ennis ("The Boys", "Preacher', "War Story") and a feature on air combat!

FEBRUARY 2011 

Captain Britain Vol. 5: End Game by Alan Moore.
Panini UK ISBN 978-1846534591, February 2011, 256pp, £15.99. [£10.69 on Amazon]
Captain Britain returns once more, as he battles the terror of the ultimate superhero slayer, the Fury, as well as the Crazy Gang and Gatecrasher and her Technet. The Lion of London also contends with the machinations of the vile Vixen and a final showdown with Slaymaster! Plus, his adventures transport him to an alternative universe where he encounters a dark, twisted version of himself.
The James Bond Omnibus 002 by Ian Fleming & Yaraslav Horak.
Titan Books ISBN 978-1848564329, 25 February 2011, 344pp, £14.99. [£10.49 on Amazon]
The daring James Bond is back in this definitive bumper edition collecting Ian Fleming's earliest literary adventures in comic strip form! Seven of Bond's most thrilling and dangerous missions appear in a single volume: "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", "You Only Live Twice", "The Man With the Golden Gun", "The Living Daylights", "Octopussy", "The Hildebrand Rarity" and "The Spy Who Loved Me".

Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files Vol. 17 by John Wagner, Garth Ennis, Carlos Ezquerra et al.
Rebellion ISBN 978-1907519833, 17 February 2011, 304pp, £19.99. [£13.48 on Amazon]
Mega-City One: the future metropolis bustling with life and every crime imaginable. Keeping order are the Judges, a stern police force acting as judge, jury and executioner. Toughest of all is Judge Dredd. He is the law and these are his stories. Volume 17 in this exciting, best-selling series collects together more classic Dredd from the pages of 2000 AD and Judge Dredd The Megazine!
A Midsummer Night's Dream [Original Text] by John McDonald & Kat Nicholson/Jason Cardy.
Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332891, February 2011, 144pp, £9.99. [£7.49 on Amazon]
A Midsummer Night's Dream [Plain Text] by John McDonald & Kat Nicholson/Jason Cardy.
Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332907, February 2011, 144pp, £9.99. [£8.99 on Amazon] 
A Midsummer Night's Dream [Quick Text] by John McDonald & Kat Nicholson/Jason Cardy.
Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332914, February 2011, 144pp, £9.99. [£8.99 on Amazon]
The entire Shakespeare play. "The course of true love never did run smooth;" With its mix of real people who stumble into a fairy kingdom (with it's own problems!) it's little wonder that this play is one of the best loved and most performed of all Shakespeare's masterpieces. Available in three formats: unabridged original text, translated into plain English and abridged English.
Tank Girl: The Royal Escape by Alan Martin & Rufus Dayglo.
Titan Books ISBN 978-0857681249, 25 February 2011, 104pp, £12.99. [£9.99 on Amazon]
Creator Alan Martin and artist Rufus Dayglo give us a completely new take on Tank Girl grittier, bloodier, and weirder than ever before! The Royal Escape finds Tank Girl and her team stranded on the outskirts of a city they have just destroyed, as an immense and vengeful army approaches. Will they escape? Who will survive? Who knows! You won t believe your brains when you read it.
MARCH 2011 

Hurricane & Champion: Companion Papers to Valiant by Steve Holland
Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081538, 21 March 2011, 48pp, £8.99.
Hurricane and Champion: The Companion Papers to Valiant details the histories of both papers and reveals—some for the first time—the names of many of the creators behind the classic comic strips that filled their pages. Heavily illustrated throughout, Hurricane and Champion also includes title and creator indexes covering both papers, a gallery of annual covers and has a full-colour cover scanned from original artwork. In his introduction, Steve Holland describes how Hurricane (1964-65) went through four phases during its lifetime and reveals the many problems faced by Champion (1966) during its brief 15-issue run.
The Taxidermist by John Wagner, Cam Kennedy, Steve Dillon & Ian Gibson.
Rebellion ISBN 978-1907519840, 17 March 2011, 128pp, £14.99. [£12.74 on Amazon]
In Mega-City One, aged citizen Jake Sardini practices a delicate art. Human Taxidermy is a highly skilled craft and has been a sport in the Mega-Olympics for several decades. Saradini used to compete internationally and even won a bronze medal in the 2082 Mega-Olympiad, but that was years ago, when he was younger. In 2116 the Mega-Olympics on in Katmandu, Nepal. All the typical sports of the 22nd century are represented: insulting, staring, housework, mountaineering, sex and of course Human Taxidemy. From the pages of 2000 AD!

APRIL 2011

Beano 3-D Summer Annual.
D. C. Thomson ISBN 978-1845354466, 11 April 2011, 128pp, £5.99. [£3.99 from Amazon]
Beano comic stars come to life in the first ever 3-D Beano book. Television stars Dennis and Gnasher are joined by The Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx inside the ultimate comic summer special. It's packed with features, activities, games and puzzles including exclusive 3-D puzzles on the Dennis and Gnasher CBBC animation series. Free gifts include slime green whoopee cushion, special sticker sheet plus Dennis and Gnasher 3-D glasses to see all the cool 3-D pages.
The Broons and Oor Wullie Summer Annual.
D. C. Thomson ISBN 978-1845354473, 11 April 2011, £5.99. [£3.89 from Amazon]
Scotland’s first family, The Broons, are joined by loveable rascal, Oor Wullie in this nostalgic celebration of traditional British summer holidays. Celebrate the 75th anniversary of these beloved national treasures with this retro annual. Comes with exclusive free gifts - luxury Broons and Oor Wullie playing cards and special stickers sheet.
Darkie's Mob by John Wagner & Mike Western.
Titan Books ISBN 978-1848564428, 1 April 2011, 112pp, £16.99. [£9.99 from Amazon]
In the hellish, humid jungles of Burma, renegade Captain Joe Darkie leads a rag-tag squad of British soldiers behind Japanese lines, transforming them into the brutal 'Darkies Mob'! Narrated in diary form by hapless Private Richard Shortland, Darkie's squad face hardship, horror and vicious combat at every turn, as their Captain's mania threatens to engulf them all. But what is Darkie's terrible secret, and how many will have to die before his bloodlust is finally sated? Acclaimed writer John Wagner ("A History of Violence") and legendary British artist Mike Western ("The Sarge") present the most uncompromising war comic ever published!
Modesty Blaise: The Double Agent by Peter O'Donnell & Neville Colvin.
Titan Books ISBN 978-1848566743, 22 April 2011, 104pp.
The dark underworld of espionage and crime is lit up by the gorgeous Modesty Blaise — high priestess of pulp crime. This latest volume features the classic stories The Wild Boar, Kali’s Disciples and The Double Agent — in which the head of French intelligence is kidnapped; Modesty and Willie face a dangerous cult; and Modesty’s double causes all sorts of mayhem! With introductions and exclusive features that takes the reader behind the scenes on the many aspects of Modesty’s world, this latest stylish collection is absolutely essential.
Slaine: The Lord of Misrule by Pat Mills, Greg Staples & Clint Langley.
Rebellion ISBN 978-1907519857, 14 April 2011, 128pp, £14.99. [£11.24 from Amazon]
Sent on a quest by the earth Goddess to destroy the Blood God, Sláine has now been reborn in the time of the Normans as Robin Goodfellow, King of the Greenwood. First he has to seek out his beloved Niamh (herself reborn as a Christian nun called Marian) and together they must learn the secret name of the beast so that Sláine can destroy it as the Lord of Misrule!
The Thriller Libraries by David Ashford & Steve Holland.
Book Palace Books ISBN 978-1907081057, February 2011, 284pp, £30.00.
This eagerly awaited book is the second in a series of 3 volumes chronicling the full credits of all Fleetway Picture Libraries and contains a complete index of artists and writers for Thriller Picture Library, Cowboy Picture Library and Super Detective Library. Every issue is covered as well as the Robin Hood, Kit Carson and Buck Jones Annuals. Packed with colour illustrations of every cover as well as reproductions of cover and interior original art, by Sep Scott, John Millar Watt, Patrick Nicolle, Alex Raymond, Ron Turner, Derek Eyles, Cecil Doughty, HM Brock, Eric Parker, Carlos Roume, Arturo del Castillo, Jesus Blasco, Ferdinando Tacconi, and many more. Years of research have gone into producing this definitive, luxurious guide to these legendary British comics - truly a collector's treasure. 
Wells Fargo and Pony Express by Kelman Frost & Don Lawrence.
Book Palace Books 978-1907081064, February 2011, 208pp, £25.00. Limited edition of 700 copies.
Wells Fargo and Pony Express … all the exploits of the men driving and protecting the mail stages and their passengers. Wyatt Earp rode shotgun for Wells Fargo in Arizona, Wild Bill Hickok was a coach driver for the Pony Express and even Apache leader Cochise worked as a woodcutter for the Overland Mail.
Wulf the Briton by Ron Embleton.
Book Palace Books ISBN 978-1907081132, February 2011, 352pp, £125.00. Leatherbound hardcover edition limited to 400 copies.
Book Palace Books ISBN 978-1907081149, February 2011, 376pp, £325.00. Leatherbound slipcase edition limited to 100 numbered copies.
Book Palace Books ISBN 978-1907081156, February 2011, 376pp, £350.00. Leatherbound slipcase edition limited to 26 lettered copies.
At last, all of Ron Embleton's Wulf the Briton stories from Express Weekly and the Annuals in large format, gloriously reproduced in colour to the highest standard. Wulf the Briton was without doubt Ron Embleton's comic masterpiece after he took over the strip - which was a single page cover feature on Express Weekly - in 1957. The workload that Embleton undertook with Wulf was formidable. In comparison to Frank Hampson, who had a studio and assistants to help meet the weekly Dan Dare deadlines, Embleton just had himself to draw, letter and paint the feature. However Embleton was unfazed by such considerations and within a few months he was also writing the strip and steering it in a much more historically credible direction, as well as adding an extra page to the strip!

Recent Releases: May-August 2011

An expanded look at recently released books relating to or reprinting British comics and cartoons, along with some selected original graphic novels. A fuller list of recent releases can be found below, and expanded coverage of releases from January to April 2011 can be found here.

MAY 2011

The Bendatti Vendetta by Robbie Morrison & John Burns.
Rebellion ISBN 978-1907519864, 12 May 2011, 96pp, £13.99. [£7.29 from Amazon]
For years, rumours have circulated amongst the law enforcement agencies and intelligence services of Europe about a mysterious order known only as the Bendatti. Where legitimate authority has no power, the Bendatti strike; not for justice but for retribution and vengeance! Collected for the first time, this bloody gangland tale set in centemporary Europe and is fully painted thorughout by British comics legend John Burns (Modesty Blaise, Nickolai Dante & Judge Dredd) and written by Robbie Morrison (Nikolai Dante, White Death & Judge Dredd). From the pages of Judge Dredd The Megazine!
Order from Amazon.
    Commando: D-Day Fight or Die!, ed. George Low.
    Carlton Books ISBN  978-1847322838, 12 May 2011, 656pp, £15.99. [£8.00 from Amazon]
    This is the Ten Best D-DAY Commando Comic Books Ever! D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history and one of the world's most famous military actions. It has become the stuff of legend through films such as "Saving Private Ryan" and TV series such as "Band of Brothers". This hard-hitting anthology of war comic stories covers all the heroic action of "The Longest Day", 6 June 1944. From "Ambush at Dawn", "Normandy Drop" and "Blood of Heroes" to "Operation Bulldog", Commando: D-Day Fight or Die! features ten action-packed stories of the Tommies who stormed Hitler's formidable Atlantic Wall from air, land and sea - and won.
    Note: This is an abridged version of the 2009 release which had 12 stories and is still available from Amazon for a knockdown £9.52.
    Reviews: Amazon. 
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      Commando: Rogue Raiders!, ed. Calum Laird.
      Carlton Books ISBN 978-1847327918, 12 May 2011, 665pp, £15.99. [£8.00 from Amazon]
      To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Commando comic, which was first launched in 1961, the latest in this bestselling series of anthologies presents the ten greatest-ever commando raids stories. Raiding is what Second World War commandos were trained for, and these thrilling comic-strip yarns show true-Brit heroes assaulting all kinds of enemy targets from the land, sea and air. Stealthy, resourceful, daring and hard as nails, the commandos succeed against all odds in accomplishing their missions, whether against fanatical Nazi storm troopers or ruthless Japanese jungle-fighters. "Commando: For Action and Adventure": This epic new collection of classic stories contains plenty of both. 
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        The Complete Alan Moore Future Shocks by Alan Moore & various.
        Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992506, 12 May 2011, 208pp, £13.99. [£10.99 from Amazon]
        To celebrate the appearance of Alan Moore's first Future Shock in 2000AD in 1981 (Prog 203), the classic Complete Future Shocks collection is being rejacketed and re-released. For this series of short stories with a twist ending, Moore created some of his most exciting, memorable and explicitly entertaining work. Also featured in this outstanding collection are his short Time Twister tales, one-offs and Abelard Snazz stories.
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          Eagles Over the Western Front by Mike Butterworth & Bill Lacey.
          Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081552, 12 May 2011, 80pp, £9.99.
          Eagles Over the Western Front is a classic story of aerial warfare set during the days of the R.F.C. Created by Mike Butterworth and Bill Lacey and serialised in the pages of Look and Learn in 1971-73, Eagles ran a magnificent 116 episodes. Now, for the first time in thirty years, the complete story will be available in three volumes to be published over the next three months—with two-thirds of the story scanned from surviving original art boards.
          __Bill Lacey's stunning artwork captures every terrifying moment as Harry Hawkes, the hero of Eagles Over the Western Front, joins the only recently founded Royal Flying Corps and, with only a few weeks training, is sent to France to fly scouting and observation missions over the enemy lines at Ypres.
          __By the time Harry arrives on the front, the British B.E.2c scouting planes have become "Fokker fodder" thanks to the German development of an interrupter gear that synchronized machine guns with the aircraft's propeller, which allows German pilots to fly their planes straight towards their target, firing through the propeller arc.
          __ Harry eventually joins a squadron flying the Airco DH.2 in the era of aerial dogfights and faces some of his most challenging months as German ace Max Immelmann scores victory after victory against British pilots on his way to earning Germany's highest honour, the Pour le Mérite—the 'Blue Max'.
          Order from Bear Alley Books.
            Erotic Comics: A Graphic History Volume 1 by Tim Pilcher.
            Ilex Books, ISBN 978-1907579271, 2 May 2011, 192pp, £16.99.[£11.04 from Amazon]
            Sold in multiple languages, six different countries, and out of print in the UK and US, this successful volume returns, updated and in paperback for the first time. Crammed full of exquisite art from around the world, with fascinating background stories about the artists, editors and publishers, Erotic Comics: A Graphic History examines how this much maligned art form developed into a publishing phenomenon that spans the globe. Volume 1 delves deep into comics history, from the bawdy English cartoons of the 17th century, through the strips impacted by the two World Wars, up to contemporary magazine titles such as Penthouse and Hustler. The book bulges with sassy postcards, provocative Tijuana Bibles, salacious pin-ups, shocking 50s bondage comics, cheeky cartoons and liberated 60s underground comix. Erotic Comics: A Graphic History is perfect for fans of adult comics, art history and erotic illustration.
            Reviews: Amazon; Bear Alley.
            Order from Amazon.

              JUNE 2011

              ABC Warriors: The Volgan War 4 by Pat Mills & Clint Langley.
              Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992193, 23 June 2011, 96pp, £14.99. [£10.04 from Amazon]
              Mars, the far future. War droids created for a conflict that ended centuries ago, the A.B.C. Warriors are resistant to Atomic, Bacterial and Chemical warfare. Recruited to bring peace to the civil war-ravaged frontier colonies on Mars, the Mek-nificent Seven have to bring all their skills to bear on the intractable conflict, with friends and enemies changing sides, there's no knowing how this will end.
              Order from Amazon.
                Eagles Over the Western Front Volume 2 by Mike Butterworth & Bill Lacey.
                Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081569, June 2011, 84pp, £9.99.
                The second volume of Eagles Over the Western Front picks up the action where volume one left off: 2nd Lieutenant Harry Hawkes is the pilot of an Airco DH2 with a squadron based on the Western Front in France during the early dogfighting days of the First World War. It is 1916 and the early hopes that "it'll all be over by Christmas" have died in the stalemate of barbed wire and churned mud of trench warfare.
                __Above the trenches, the aerial action continues as Harry and his chums of the Royal Flying Corps risk their lives against the Spandau's of German Fokkers. Max Immelmann may be dead, but the German Imperial Air Force has other 'Aces' like Oswald Boelcke and Baron von Richthofen cutting a swathe through the British and French airmen in the newly developed Albatross D-1. The Allies respond with the Nieuport, the Sopwith Pup and Sopwith Camel to combat this new menace.
                __But the action isn't all in the air. On the ground, too, Harry risks his life as he gets caught up in the private wars, deserters, impostors, spies and newcomers who seem to have their own agendas in coming to the Front. With tensions running high back at base and Richthofen's 'Flying Circus' turning the skies into a death trap, every flight could be Harry's last...
                Order from Bear Alley Books.
                  Judge Dredd Tour of Duty: Mega-City Justice by John Wagner, Carlos Ezquerra & John Higgins.
                  Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992391, 23 June 2011, 208pp, £19.99. [£12.48 from Amazon]
                  Having sidelined Dredd into managing the Cursed Earth mutant camps, the manipulative Judge Sinfield's plan to take over Mega-City One starts to unfold. With the newly appointed Chief Judge Dan Francisco being too ill to carry out his duties, Sinefield's rise to power seems to go without a hitch; that is until he unknowingly clashes with the wrong man - notorious serial killer PJ Maybe.
                  __With his life in danger, Sinefield can only turn to one man for help - Judge Dredd! Mega-City One's toughest lawman returns to his streets determined to bring Sinefield down and a killer to justice!
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                  Supergods by Grant Morrison.
                  Jonathan Cape ISBN 978-0224089968, 30 June 2011, 464pp, £17.99 [£10.99 from Amazon]
                  "Grant Morrison is the antimatter to the often mundane world of comics - SUPERGODS is the finely tuned death-ray. Far beyond deconstruction, it exposes, challenges, invigorates and detonates everything we know about this modern mythology. SUPERGODS gives meaning to the fictional worlds we create and live within and helps us make sense of the madness within ourselves through the four-color world of the super hero." --Gerard Way, lead singer of My Chemical Romance and author of The Umbrella Academy.
                  __"Excellent ... engrossing ... Morrison is a skilled word magician, seeking creativity in a cosmological dimension." --Publishers Weekly
                  __"Morrison is ideally suited to the task of chronicling the glorious rise, fall, rise, fall and rise again of comic-book superheroes. As thorough an account of the superhero phenomenon as readers are likely to find, filled with unexpected insights and savvy pop-psych analysis. Those who dare enter will find the prose equivalent of a Morrison superhero tale: part perplexing, part weird, fully engrossing." --Kirkus
                  __"Grant Morrison has a hell of a tale to tell: The graphic novelist who co-created Batman's twisted game-changer Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth tripped on psilocybin mushrooms, fought movie execs to keep the Joker in high heels and reaped the benefits of going 50 hours without sleep in order to better access his unconscious. Subtitled What Masked Vigilantes, Miraculous Mutants, and a Sun God from Smallville Can Teach Us About Being Human, this trippy autobiography-cum-critical essay gathers up the deep thoughts and otherworldly hallucinations experienced by the comics writer." --Wired.com
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                    JULY 2011

                    Alan Moore: Storyteller by Gary Spencer Millidge.
                    Ilex Books ISBN 978-1907579127, 18 April 2011, 320pp, £25.00. [£17.50 on Amazon]
                    Alan Moore: Storyteller is the first serious examination of the life, career and work of one of the UKs most distinctive and popular creative voices. It traces Moore's creative development from his modest contributions to Northampton Arts Lab fanzines and local newspaper strips to the very top of his field, writing some of the most widely read and critically acclaimed comics and graphic novels ever produced: Swamp Thing, Watchmen, From Hell, Lost Girls, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and V for Vendetta. The book provides an unparalleled insight into the mind and work of this enigmatic and at times controversial creator. Moore's extraordinary body of work is examined in depth, with rare and previously unseen material, glimpses into unfinished and abandoned projects and new light shed on overlooked masterpieces. With co-operation from Moore, and full access to his archives, Gary Spencer Millidge has written a book which will not only be essential reading for Moore's many fans, but for anyone interested in contemporary literature and pop culture.
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                      Beano Annual 2012.
                      D. C. Thomson ISBN 978-1845354534, 10 July 2011, 112pp, £7.99. [£5.49 from Amazon]
                      Order from Amazon.

                      Commando: Achtung!, ed. Calum Laird.
                      Carlton Books ISBN 978-1847328212, 7 July 2011, 208pp, £4.99. [£2.89 from Amazon]
                      Following the bestselling success of Carlton's man-size Commando anthologies, here is a new pocket-format compilation of three classic comic-strip war stories printed the same size as the original Commando comics. "Achtung!" features a trio of explosive Brits-versus-Wehrmacht yarns that show the heroic British Tommy at his best. From mountain fighting in Italy and armoured-car battles with Tiger tanks in Normandy, to battles with Nazi art-looters in the final weeks of the Second World War, this action-packed but handily formatted collection of stories will thrill Commando fans of all ages.
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                      Commando: Action Stations!, ed. Calum Laird.
                      Carlton Books ISBN 978-1847328229, 7 July 2011, 208pp, £4.99. [£2.89 from Amazon]
                      Following the bestselling success of Carlton's man-size Commando anthologies, here is a new pocket-format compilation of three classic comic-strip war stories printed the same size as the original Commando comics. "Action Stations!" features a trio of explosive war-at-sea yarns that show the Senior Service at its best. From fast-moving motor torpedo boat engagements in the English Channel to anti-submarine warfare in the Far East, this action-packed but handily formatted collection of Second World War stories will thrill Commando fans of all ages.
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                      Commando: Banzai!, ed. Calum Laird.
                      Carlton Books ISBN 978-1847328199, 7 July 2011, 208pp, £4.99. [£2.89 from Amazon]
                      Following the bestselling success of Carlton's man-size Commando anthologies, here is a new pocket-format compilation of three classic comic-strip war stories printed the same size as the original Commando comics. "Banzai!" features a trio of explosive Brits-versus-Japanese yarns set in Burma that show the heroic British Tommy at his best: repelling waves of Japanese jungle attacks, cutting enemy supply lines and capturing inaccessible mountain strongholds. This action-packed but handily formatted collection of Second World War stories will thrill Commando fans of all ages.
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                      Commando: Tally Ho!, ed. Calum Laird.
                      Carlton Books ISBN 978-1847328205, 7 July 2011, 208pp, £4.99. [£2.89 from Amazon]
                      Following the bestselling success of Carlton's man-size Commando anthologies, here is a new pocket-format compilation of three classic comic-strip war stories printed the same size as the original Commando comics. "Tally Ho!" features a trio of explosive air-war yarns that show the heroic RAF flyers at their best. From fighter sorties over occupied France and bombing raids on the Afrika Korps to Hurricane attacks on the Japanese, this action-packed but handily formatted collection of Second World War stories will thrill Commando fans of all ages.
                      Order from Amazon.

                      Dandy Annual 2012.
                      D. C. Thomson ISBN 978-1845354541, 10 July 2011, 112pp, £7.99. [£5.49 from Amazon]
                      Order from Amazon.

                      Eagles Over the Western Front Volume 3 by Mike Butterworth & Bill Lacey.
                      Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081576, 25July 2011, 84pp, £9.99.
                      The third volume of Eagles Over the Western Front brings the epic story of Harry Hawkes to a dramatic climax. As our new book opens, Harry and his comrades, Entwistle and Pootle, are piloting Sopwith Camels for a squadron on the Western Front in France in 1917.
                      __Facing them across the 'line' is Manfred von Richthofen—the Red Baron—and his infamous 'Flying Circus' of German fighter aircraft, the Jagdgeschwader 1 squadron. Richthofen would become the highest scoring ace of the Great War, officially credited with some 80 kills.
                      __Harry faces danger from both sides of the line. At the squadron's base there are newcomers like the despicable and arrogant Dave Buller, or Entwistle's younger brother, Algy, a slacker and a thief. And then there's Polly, the parrot, who may hold the key to a German offensive...
                      __What happens when Harry chooses to aid the escape of a German pilot, finds himself chased through the streets of Berlin and lands up in a shell hole in no-man's land with Crown Prince Wilhelm and the Red Baron, will keep you on the edge of your seat.
                      Order from Bear Alley.

                      Hardware: The Definitive SF Works of Chris Foss by Rian Hughes.
                      Titan Books ISBN 978-1848566989, 22 July 2011, 240pp, £24.99. [£17.99 from Amazon]
                      Foss's groundbreaking and distinctive science fiction art revolutionized paperback covers in the 1970s and 80s. Dramatically raising the bar for realism and invention, his trademark battle-weary spacecraft, dramatic alien landscapes and crumbling brutalist architecture irrevocably changed the aesthetic of science fiction art and cinema. Featuring work for books by Isaac Asimov, E. E. 'Doc' Smith, Arthur C. Clarke, A. E. Van Vogt and Philip K. Dick, and film design for Ridley Scott and Stanley Kubrick, this volume brings together many rare and classic images that have never been seen or reprinted before. The first comprehensive retrospective of Chris Foss' sf career. Chris Foss' name has become pre-eminent among sf artists...He is in love with the monstrous, with angular momentum, with inertia-free projectiles and irresistable objects. A" - Brian Aldiss [Foss'] creations are real machines, not just an artist's dreams. They combine the two elements so essential to science fiction: realism and a sense of wonder...A medieval goldsmith of future eons.A" - Alejandro Jodorowsky. Rian Hughes is an award-winning graphic designer, illustrator, font designer and comics artist, noted for his work on 2000AD, and Dan Dare. His illustration work is highly distinctive, wearing its design influences on its sleeve. Clients include Virgin Airways, Penguin Books, DC Comics (for whom he has designed numerous logos), Eurostar the BBC and a range of magazines and newspapers. He is the editor and designer of several books including "Lifestyle Illustration of the 60s" and the recently released "Cult-ure". "One of the most successful and prolific designer/illustrators of the past 20 years" - Roger Sabin, Eye magazine
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                      Judge Dredd: Restricted Files Vol. 3 by John Wagner et al.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992216, 21 July 2011, 288pp, £19.99. [£12.99 from Amazon]
                      Mega-City One: the future metropolis bustling with life and every crime imaginable. Keeping order are the Judges, a stern police force acting as judge, jury and executioner. Toughest of all is Judge Dredd. He is the law! Restricted Files 03 collects together more forgotten and rare gems from the Thrill-power archives. Readers can experience Judge Dredd strips which have appeared in annuals and specials from the early nineties - many of which have never been reprinted before.
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                      Nikolai Dante: Hero of the Revolution by Robbie Morrison, Simon Fraser & John M. Burns.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992223, 21 July 2011, 192pp, £16.99. [£12.74 from Amazon]
                      Year of the Tsar 2676 AD, bastard son of the Romanovs, Nikolai Dante, leads a rebellion against Vladimir the Conqueror. Supported by the tyrant's daughter, Jena Makarov, his mother - pirate queen Katarina Dante - and some of his weapons-crest-enabled siblings, can Dante finally bring down Vladimir? And if so, can he bring peace to the empire, or is there someone else vying for power? Dante's adventures are brought to the brink of conclusion as the epic globe-trotting tale of future empire, revolution, love, lust and action reaches the penultimate collection.
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                      AUGUST 2011
                        
                      Auntie's Charlie by Charles Chilton.
                      Fantom Books ISBN 978-190626372-0, August 2011, £24.99. Limited to 200 hardcover copies, signed and numbered.
                      Described by the Sunday Telegraph as ‘the one genius the BBC ever had on its staff’, Charles Chilton MBE joined the Corporation at fifteen as a messenger boy and went on to carve out a 46-year career as a presenter, writer and producer.
                      __Auntie’s Charlie discusses his life from growing up on the streets of 1920s St Pancras, via early years at the BBC working for the Gramophone Library, to writing the infamous production Oh What a Lovely War for Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop.
                      __While with the BBC Charles was sent to the United States to research, write and produce a number of series based on American western history. One of these, Riders of the Range, lasted for five years until 1953. However, major international recognition came with his science fiction trilogy Journey into Space which he wrote and produced between 1953 and 1958.
                      __Here, for the first time, is Charles Chilton’s story in his own words – an autobiography that is frank, vivid, wry and engaging.
                      Order from Fantom Books.

                      Missionary Man: Bad Moon Rising by Gordon Rennie, Frank Quitely & Simon Davis.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992230, 18 August 2011, 112pp, £14.99 [£11.99 from Amazon].
                      The Cursed Earth is a radiation-wasted landscape spanning most of what was once known as America. Only the toughest of the tough, the meanest of the mean, most rotten, evil beings on the planet can survive there.
                      Now, one man has come to bring law this unlawful place. Some say he was a Judge, most say that he's a madman. Armed with a pistol and a bible, Preacher Cain would say that he is a force for law and order...
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                      Modesty Blaise: Million Dollar Game by Peter O'Donnell & Romero.
                      Titan Books ISBN 978-1848566750, 26 August 2011, 104pp, £11.99. [£10.79 from Amazon]
                      Features the classic stories Butch Cassidy Rides Again, Million Dollar Game and The Vampire of Malvescu  in which Modesty and Willie meet the legendary but dangerous outlaw; Modesty takes on poachers in East Africa; and confronts a mythic blood-sucker in Transylvania! With story introductions that takes the reader behind the scenes of Modesty's world, this outstanding collection is not to be missed.
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                      Slaine the Wanderer by Pat Mills & Clint Langley.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992247, 21 August 2011, 128pp, £16.99 [£10.49 from Amazon].
                      Tir Nan Og - the Land of the Young, a mystical place of myth and legend. Celtic warrior Sláine, the first High King of Ireland and Ukko his (un)faithful dwarf sidekick, seek adventure and the chance to kill many Formorian sea demons in the name of Danu the Earth Goddess.
                      The follow-up to the best-selling Books of Invasions, witnesses more ground-breaking art from Clint Langley re-definng the look of modern comics, with writer Pat Mills taking Slaine on ever more astonishing adventures.
                      Order from Amazon.

                       
                      Wuthering Heights (Original Text) by Sean M. Wilson & John M. Burns.
                      Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332877, 31 August 2011, 160pp, £9.99. [£8.99 from Amazon]
                      Wuthering Heights (Quick Text) by Sean M. Wilson & John M. Burns.
                      Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332884, 31 August 2011, 160pp, £9.99. [£8.99 from Amazon]
                      Emily Bronte's only novel is famous the world over - not least because of Kate Bush's 1978 'tribute song' - but don't let that trivialise this masterpiece of classical literature. Hardship, insanity, cruelty, frustrated love, and ghosts; what more could you want from a book?
                      __The Quick text presents the full story in quick modern English for a fast-paced read!
                      Order from Amazon - Original Text, Quick Text.

                      Recent Releases: September - December 2011

                      September 2011

                      The Beano and the Dandy Celebrate Dennis the Menace.
                      D. C. Thomson ISBN 978-1845354602, 12 September 2011, 144pp, £12.99. [£8.99 from Amazon]
                      Menaces and Minxes of all ages will enjoy this premium pack. A luxury book with a fantastic DVD of classic Beano animation, plus a fabulous reproduction of The Beano comic from 1951 featuring the first ever Dennis the Menace comic strip!
                      __A best ever selection of Dennis the Menace strips, covering his unruly life from 1951. A wonderfully illustrated timeline of Britain’s wildest boy and The Beano and Dandy comics themselves. A must-have for collectors.
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                      The Best of The Victor Book for Boys ed. Maurice Heggie.
                      Prion ISBN 978-1853758188, 1 September 2011, 144pp, £12.99. [£8.44 from Amazon]
                      2011 is the fiftieth anniversary year of The Victor comic, Britain's 'top boys' paper for War, Sport and Adventure'. Following 2010's successful publication of The Best of the Victor, Prion's sequel is this rip-roaring anthology of the best stories from The Victor Book for Boys, which was the bestselling DC Thomson annual published from 1964 to 1994. In its heyday in the 1960s The Victor sold over half a million copies a week, with The Victor Book for Boys selling over a quarter of a million copies a year. DC Thomson's long-serving editor Morris Heggie has selected the very best and most evocative two-colour stories and picture stories from the 31 annuals to make one crackingly good nostalgiafest that will appeal not only to Britain's millions of grown-up Victor fans but also to their children who can be introduced to these Best of British comic-strip adventure yarns for the very first time.
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                      The Broons and Oor Wullie Rare Vintage Comic Strips.
                      D. C. Thomson ISBN 978-1845354619, 12 September 2011, 144pp, £12.99. [£8.99 from Amazon]
                      This is a premium pack, a luxury book packed with rare content, plus an exclusive CD of The Broons Family Party music, and an exclusive Oor Wullie calendar based around his very own tartan.
                      __Classic cartoon stories from the beginning of Scotland’s longest running soap, plus nostalgic features and photographs making this a wonderful trip down memory lane. This is a celebration of 75 years of The Broons and will be a must-have for collectors.
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                      Erotic Comics: A Graphic History: Volume 2 by Tim Pilcher.
                      Ilex ISBN 978-1907579691, 3 October 2011 [released in September], 192pp, £16.99. [£14.44 from Amazon; the hardcover edition from 2009 is currently available for £13.36]
                      Softcover edition. The liberating underground comix of the 1960s heralded an explosion in the genre of erotic comics, and this volume picks up the story to show how European, American and Asian artists have explored the graphic possibilities of the form in the years since. Well-known names covered include Melinda Gebbie, Giovanna Casotto (whose work graces the cover), Tom of Finland and Milo Manara. This provocative title covers the erotic comics explosion in the mid-80s; the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender comics scene; UK and European comics creators since the 70s; and Japanese hentai. The book features an exclusive foreword by Alan Moore, multi-award-winning writer of Watchmen, V for Vendetta and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
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                      Flesh: The Dino Files by Pat Mills, Geoffrey Miller, Kevin O'Neill, Ramon Sola & Jamie McKay.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992261, 15 September 2011, 272pp, £15.99. [£11.99 from Amazon]
                      Think that a meteorite collision with our planet was responsible for making the dinosaurs become extinct? Wrong! By the 23rd Century, man has drained the planet's resources bare, but thanks to time-travel technology, the Trans-Time Corporation send rangers - such as cowboy Earl Reagan - back to the days when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. The rangers round up these magnificent creatures and blast them back into the future so we can get real flesh back on the menu!
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                      Judge Dredd: Complete Case Files Vol. 18 by John Wagner, Garth Ennis, Mark Millar, et al.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992254, 15 September 2011, 304pp, £21.99. [£16.49 from Amazon]
                      Mega-City One: the future metropolis bustling with life and every crime imaginable. Keeping order are the Judges, a stern police force acting as judge, jury and executioner. Toughest of all is Judge Dredd. He is the law and these are his stories. Volume 18 in this exciting, best-selling series collects together more old school Dredd from the pages of 2000 AD, including the Wagner-scripted classic, Mechanismo.
                      Order from Amazon.

                      OCTOBER 2011

                      1001 Comics You Must Read Before You Die edited by Paul Gravett.
                      Cassell Illustrated ISBN 978-1844036981, 3 October 2011, 960pp, £20.00. [£10.40 from Amazon]
                      Over the centuries, comic books and their offshoots, such as graphic novels, and bandes dessinees have evolved into a phenomenally popular, influential, and unique art form with which we can express our opinions, our fantasies, our nightmares, and our dreams. In short: comics are emphatically no longer just for kids. This diverse, constantly evolving medium is truly coming into its own in the 21st century, from Hollywood's blockbuster adaptations of super-powered caped crusaders to the global spread of Japan's manga and its spinoffs, and from award-winning graphic novels such as Maus and Persepolis to new forms such as online webcomix. But comics also have a long and rich history, dating back at least to the Swiss teacher Rodolphe Topffer in the early 19th century, and far earlier in China. 1001 Comic Books You Must Read Before You Die is the perfect introduction to this dynamic and globally popular medium. There have been other guides to the best comic books, but none has embraced every genre and scoured the globe to glean the very greatest works of sequential art, graphic literature, bandes dessinees, tebeos, fumetti, manga, manhwa, komiks, strips, historietas, quadrinhos, beeldverhalen, and plain old comics. This authoritative guide is organized according to the year of first publication in the country of origin. An opening section acknowledges pioneering pre-1900 masterpieces, followed by sections divided by decade, creating a fascinating year-by-year chronicle of the comics medium worldwide.
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                      Baggage by The Etherington Brothers.
                      David Fickling Books (DFC Library) ISBN 978-0385618571, 6 October 2011, 64pp, £9.99. [£7.49 from Amazon]
                      Baggage tells the tale of Randall, a happy-go-lucky but disaster-prone lost property officer working for the Tram service, deep in the heart of Triptych City.
                      __Randall's weary boss has presented him with an impossible ultimatum: either he locates the owner of the oldest item stored in the immense lost property warehouse by the end of the day, or he’s out of a job!
                      __So begins an adventurous journey through a wondrous city. Randall’s enquiries attract a myriad of bizarre, often amusing, and sometimes dangerous characters. Clues are uncovered where and when he least expects them, and help arrives from the strangest of quarters.
                      __But wherever Randall goes, trouble is sure to follow. Will he succeed in his impossible mission? And even if he does, just how much of the city will be left standing?
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                      Best of Alex 2011 by Charles Peattie & Russell Taylor.
                      Prion ISBN 978-1853758270, 13 October 2011, 88pp, £9.99. [£6.29 from Amazon]
                      Another annus horribilissimus for Alex, although the new coalition government offers a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel and bankers are 'allowed' to claim bonuses again. Alex and his ilk are not quite viewed as the lowest-of-the-low any more.
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                      British Comics: A Cultural History by James Chapman.
                      Reaktion Books ISBN 978-1861898555, 15 October 2011, 320pp, £25.00. [£23.75 from Amazon]
                      British Comics is a unique cultural history of British comic papers and magazines, from their origins in the late nineteenth century to the present day. It shows how comics were transformed in the early twentieth century from adult amusement to imaginative reading matter for children, and relates the rise of the major comic publishers and the emergence of the mighty duopoly of Amalgamated Press and D.C. Thomson that would dominate the industry for half a century. Beginning with the first British comic 'superstar' Ally Sloper - 'A Selection, Side-splitting, Sentimental, and Serious, for the Benefit of Old Boys, Young Boys, Odd Boys generally and even Girls' - whose various misadventures reflected the emergence of a middle-class leisure economy in the late nineteenth century, British Comics goes on to describe the heyday of comics in the 1950s and '60s, when titles such as School Friend and Eagle sold a million copies a week, and analyses the major genres including schoolgirl fantasies, sport and war stories for boys. The author charts the development of a new breed of violent comics in the 1970s, including the controversial Action and 2000 AD, and also considers the attempt of an American comic publisher, Marvel, to launch a new hero for the British market in the form of Captain Britain. He goes on to document the appearance in the 1980s and '90s of adult-oriented comics such as Warrior, Crisis, Deadline and Revolver and alternative comics such as Viz, and concludes by considering the work of important contemporary comic writers including Alan Moore, Grant Morrison, Ian Edginton, Warren Ellis and Garth Ennis. British Comics explains what children and adults thought of their comics and why some titles prospered while others failed, and also maps the changing structure of the comic publishing industry and how comic publishers, writers and artists have responded to the tastes of their consumers. Ultimately, the book argues that British comics are a distinctive kind of publishing that is different from (and certainly not inferior to) American, French and Japanese comics. An invaluable reference for comics collectors and fans world-wide, British Comics is a fascinating and thorough history that showcases the major role that comics have played in the imaginative lives of British juveniles - and some adults.
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                      Century 21: Classic Comic Strips from the Worlds of Gerry Anderson Vol. 5 ed. Chris Bentley.
                      Signum ISBN 978-1904674207, October 2011, 160pp, £14.99.
                      From its launch 1965, TV Century 21 (later known simply as TV 21) was the smash-hit British comic of the 1960s. Its in-house tie-in with the science-fiction puppet series created by Gerry Anderson's Century 21 Productions guaranteed success with young fans excited to read more about their TV heroes, in an era before video technology enabled viewers to relive favorite TV shows at will. Thunderbirds, Lady Penelope, Fireball XL5, Stingray, Captain Scarlet, and Joe 90 all burst forth in full color from the magazine's packed pages, in stories illustrated by such giants of the comic industry as Frank Bellamy, Don Harley, Mike Noble, Ron and Gerry Embleton, and "Cervic," the pen-name used by the team of Carlos Pino and Vicente Alcazar. This superb showcase of Anderson's most popular characters will be an essential purchase for all Anderson fans and all enthusiasts for classic British comics.
                      NOTE: This book appears to have been available only very briefly in October 2011 (see here from message 190).

                      Charley's War: Hitler's Youth by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun.
                      Titan Books ISBN 978-0857682994, 28 October 2011, 112pp, £14.99. [£11.24 from Amazon]
                      In this explosive new volume of never-before-collected comic strip, Charley comes face to face with a young corporal who will eventually change the face of the world as leader of the Nazi party: Adolf Hitler. The eighth action-packed volume of Charleys War is rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a Tommy.
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                      Commando: 50 Years a Home for Heroes by George Low.
                      Carlton ISBN 978-1847328496, 13 October 2011, 176pp, £19.99. [£12.99 from Amazon]
                      50 years of Commando...home for heroes...and still going strong! And now you...yes, YOU...can advance shoulder to shoulder with the bravest and the best through six of the finest Commando stories ever...brought together in this battling book for all Commando fans out there! When the toughest of the tough get going, the action accelerates from page to blistering page. Can you cope with the pressure? Are you sure? Good, because we're also going to unleash the stinging power of 50 full-colour covers on you as well. That's one for every hard-fought year, and you'll need nerves of steel to get in close...combat close...to pick out the finer details of these startling illustrations. You just know it will be well worth the risk. And all the gen from the classified documents which shield the secrets of Commando comic books will be there too for you to explore and enjoy. The truth is revealed about the 50-year fight from day one of a carefully planned and well executed campaign to bring you the best of the action to rock you right back on your heels. You've proved you can take all that's thrown at you by reading this far, so don't miss out on this mother of all battle books. Remember what they say. Who dares wins...and that could be YOU!
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                      Cover Story: The DC Art of Brian Bolland by Brian Bolland.
                      Titan Books ISBN 978-0857684721, 28 October 2011, 208pp, £29.99. [£18.89 from Amazon]
                      This new hardcover collects covers of legendary artist Bian Bolland. Featuring highly detailed and meticulous craftsmanship combined with dramatic takes on the worlds best-known superheroes, Bollands work has been featured on Green Lantern, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Zatanna and the Vertigo series The Invisibles and Animal Man.
                      Order from Amazon.

                      Cradlegrave by John Smith & Edmund Bagwell.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992469, 13 October 2011, 96pp, £13.99. [£8.99 from Amazon]
                      After serving eight months at a Young Offenders Institution for arson, Shane Holt returns to his home on the Ravenglade Estate during a long, hot summer. Plagued by the ASBO generation, the estate has seen its fair share of problems but nothing comes close to the horror that lurks within Ted and Mary's council flat...
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                      Defoe: Queen of Zombies by Pat Mills & Leigh Gallagher.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992476, 13 October 2011, 144pp, £14.99. [£8.99 from Amazon]
                      1669, three years after the Great Fire has devastated London. From the ashes rose an army of the undead hungry for human flesh. Titus Defoe and his elite squad of zombie hunters protect the living from the legions of reeks. Now they face their greatest foe - La Voisin, the Queen of the zombies!
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                      Super Animal Adventure Squad by James Turner.
                      David Fickling Books (DFC Library) ISBN 978-0857560278, 6 October 2011, 48pp, £9.99. [£6.69 from Amazon]
                      Super Animal Adventure Squad comprises two hilarious stories for you to enjoy: ‘The Teatime of Doom’ and ‘The Case of the Baboon Bandit’! Join Agent K, Bearbot, Irwin, Rex and Beesley as they battle to solve two thrilling crimes.
                      __In ‘The Teatime of Doom’, our heroes are faced with a Level 6 Cake Emergency as cakes suddenly disappear from bakeries across the country. Without a mid-afternoon treat, the very icing of society would dissolve! Can the SAAS recover the precious pastries in time, or will they come to a sticky end?
                      __In ‘The Case of the Baboon Bandit’, pirates have stolen the world’s most valuable treasure, the Jade Baboon of Rangoon. Does the squad have what it takes to defeat the Dread Pirate Green Beard? Cutlasses, cookery and comedy capers abound in this brilliantly funny follow-up!
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                      November 2011

                      Blackhawk by Gerry Finley Day, Alan Grant, Massimo Belardinelli, Alfonso Azpiri & Ramon Sola.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992599, 10 November 2011, 288pp, £14.99. [£8.99 from Amazon]
                      In 50 BC, an African warrior enslaved by the mighty Roman army defies fate to become a an officer of Auxiliaries for the empire. With his faithful desert hawk in tow, 'Blackhawk' is instructed to enlist a hundred men willing to serve under him. The exploits of Black Hawk and his rag tag army of misfits were legendary. Starting to gain the respect he richly deserves, the warrior is suddenly plucked from the Earth and transported across the galaxy to battle in an alien arena!
                      Order from Amazon.

                      The Boss by Patrice & John Aggs.
                      David Fickling Books (DFC Library) ISBN 978-0857560261, 3 November 2011, 64pp, £9.99. [£8.69 from Amazon]
                      Meet the crime-fighters from Class Five.
                      __When Nas and Bella overhear a crook planning a daring robbery at the castle, they know just who to tell. The Boss is the smartest kid in school. Never outsmarted or outwitted, he's marshalled his class into a crime-fighting unit that could run rings round Interpol. And with the class heading for a field trip to the castle that very day, it's the perfect chance to find out what the thieves are up to - and just maybe catch them red-handed...
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                      Dracula (Original Text, abridged).
                      Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332259, 21 November 2011, 144pp, £10.60. [£7.94 from Amazon]
                      Dracula (Quick Text). Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332266, 21 November 2011, 144pp, £10.60. [£9.55 from Amazon]
                      This is the classic novel brought to life in full colour! Bram Stoker's gothic masterpiece was first published in 1897, and has spawned so many classic films, all based on the character he invented when Queen Victoria was on the throne. Like "Frankenstein", the films have pushed the characters into the very fabric of our society, so it is with great pride that we bring you a visual treatment that is true to the original - made even more exciting by the wonderous talent that is Staz Johnson
                      Order from Amazon: Original Text, Quick Text.

                      Mazeworld by Alan Grant & Arthur Ranson.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992483, 10 November 2011, 192pp, £17.99. [£9.79 from Amazon]
                      30 years after the British parliament suspended the death penalty, the gallows have returned and Adam Cadman finds himself being the first person to be hanged since 1964. But as his life drains away, Adam is transported to a strange, new place populated by warriors and mystical beasts; the bizarre Mazeworld! The long sought after story by Grant and Ranson is finally collected in a stunning edition.
                      Order from Amazon.

                      December 2011

                      Alan Moore: Conversations edited by Eric L. Berlatsky.
                      University Press of Mississippi ISBN 978-1617031595, 1 January 2012 [but released November or December 2011], 240pp, $25.00. [£22.09 on Amazon]
                      British comics writer Alan Moore (b. 1953) has a reputation for equal parts brilliance and eccentricity. Living hermit-like in the same Midlands town for his entire life, he supposedly refuses contact with the outside world while creating his strange, dense comics, fiction, and performance art. While Moore did declare himself a wizard on his fortieth birthday and claims to have communed with extradimensional beings, reticence and seclusion have never been among his eccentricities. On the contrary, for long stretches of his career Moore seemed to be willing to chat with all comers: fanzines, industry magazines, other artists, newspapers, magazines, and personal websites. Well over one hundred interviews in the past thirty years serve as testimony to Moore's willingness to be engaged in productive conversation. Alan Moore: Conversations includes ten substantial interviews, beginning with Moore's first published conversation, conducted by V for Vendetta co-creator David Lloyd in 1981. The remainder cover nearly all of his major works, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, Swamp Thing, Marvelman, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Promethea, From Hell, Lost Girls, and the unfinished Big Numbers. While Moore's personal life and fraught business relations are discussed occasionally, the interviews chosen are principally devoted to Moore's creative practices and techniques, along with his shifting social, political, and philosophical beliefs. As such, Alan Moore: Conversations should add to any reader's enjoyment and understanding of Moore's work.
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                      Insurrection by Dan Abnett & Colin Macneil.
                      Rebellion ISBN 978-1907992490, 8 December 2011, 128pp, £13.99. [£8.39 from Amazon]
                      Mega-City One mining colony K Alpha 61 has declared independence from the Big Meg and renamed itself Liberty. This act of defiance has angered the Justice Department's Special Judicial Squad. In a bid to stop further colonies from rebelling, war is inevitable...
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