Upcoming Releases

A round-up of forthcoming books relating to or reprinting British comics and cartoons, along with some selected original graphic novels.

JUNE 2015

• Devlin Waugh: Red Tide by John Smith & Sean Phillips. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083444, 18 June 2015, 176pp, £18.99.
• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 10 by John Wagner & others. 2000AD ISBN 978-1781083697, 9 June 2015, 336pp, £13.20.
• Remembered Reading.  Memory, Comics and Post-War Constructions of British Girlhood by Mel Gibson. Leuven University Press ISBN 978-9462700307, June 2015, 224pp, €55.00 [£48.00].
• Troy Trailblazer and the Horde Queen by Robert Deas. David Fickling Books (Phoenix Presents) ISBN 978-1910200469, 64pp, £7.99.
• The V.C.'s: Hell in the Heavens by Gerry Finley-Day. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083284, 18 June 2015, 128pp, £6.99.
• White Trash by Gordon Rennie & Martin Emond. Titan Comics ISBN 978-1781168219, 16 June 2015, 128pp, £14.99.

JULY 2015

• The Diary of Dennis the Menace Book 5: Canine Carnage by Steven Butler. Puffin ISBN 978-0141355849, 2 July 2015, 176pp, £5.99. Tie-in novel.
• Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol.2: Serve You by Al Ewing, Rob Williams, Simon Fraser, Boo Cook, Warren Pleece, Gary Caldwell, et al. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782761761, 7 July 2015, 128pp. Hardback
• Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor: Revolutions of Terror by Nick Abadzis, Elena Casagrande & Arianna Florean. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782763840, 3 July 2015, 128pp, £10.99. [originally announced for 13 January 2015, then 17 February 2015]
• Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Vol.2: The Weeping Angel of the Mons by Robbie Morrison, Daniel Indro & Slamet Mujiono. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782761754,7 July 2015, 128pp. Hardcover.  
• Judge Dredd: Dark Justice by John Wagner & Gregg Staples. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083192, 16 July 2015, 112pp.
• Penguins of Madagascar: Volume Two by Lucas Ferryra, Cavan Scott, Jim Alexander & Egle Bartolini. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782762522, 64pp, £4.99.
• Zenith: Phase Four by Grant Morrison & Steve Yeowell. 2000AD ISBN 978-1781083451, 16 July 2015, 128pp, £20.00

AUGUST 2015

• Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol.1: After Life by Al Ewing, Rob Williams, Simon Fraser & Boo Cook. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782763857, 7 August 2015, 128pp, £10.99. Paperback.
• Don Lawrence: A Scrapbook of Strip and Illustration, ed. Steve Holland. Bear Alley Books/Book Palace Books, August 2015.
• Judge Dredd: America by John Wagner & Colin Macneil. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083703, 11 August 2015, 160pp, £12.54.
• Judge Dredd Casefiles 1 by John Wagner & others. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083321, 13 Augugst 2015, 320pp, £35.00. 10th Anniversary hardcover edition.
• Judge Dredd Casefiles 25 by John Wagner & others. 2000AD ISBN 978-1781083314, 13 August 2015, 320pp, £19.99.

SEPTEMBER 2015

• Captain Stone is Missing by Liam Sharp & Christina McCormack. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782762843, 144pp, £15.99.
• Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor Vol.1: Terrorformer by Robbie Morrison, Dave Taylor, Mariano Laclaustra, Hi-Fi, Luis Guerrero. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782763864, 4 September 2015, 128pp, £10.99.
• Jaegir: The Enemy Within by Gordon Rennie & Simon Coleby. 2000AD  ISBN 978-1781083963, 11 September 2015, 176pp, £17.99.
• Judge Dredd: America by John Wagner & Colin MacNeil. 2000AD ISBN 978-1781083703, 11 August 2015, 160pp, £12.54.
• Judge Dredd: Day of Chaos: The Fourth Faction by John Wagner, Ben Willsher, Staz Johnson, Colin MacNeil & Henry Flint. 2000AD ISBN 978-1781083840, 15 September 2015, 192pp, £16.50.
• Mega City Undercover Vol.02 by Robbie Morrison, Simon Coleby & D'Israeli. 2000AD ISBN 978-1907519284, 12 September 2015, 128pp.
• Mono by Ben Wolstenholme & Liam Sharp. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782762850, 144pp, £18.99.

OCTOBER 2015

• Dennis the Menace and Gnasher: The Golden Catapault by Cavan Scott. Puffin, October 2015. Tie-in novel.
• Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Archives Vol.1 by Tim Hamilton, Matthew Dow Smith, Tony Lee & Mark Buckingham. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782767688, 6 October 2015, 304pp, £18.99.
• Judge Dredd: Day of Chaos: Endgame by John Wagner, Henry Flint, Leigh Gallagher, Ben Willsher, Colin Macneil. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083857, 192pp.
• Oor Wullie & the Hunt for Nessie by Matthew Fitt. B&W Publishing ISBN, 31 October 2015, 144pp, £5.99.
• Penguins of Madagascar: The Great Drain Robbery by various. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782766957, 13 October 2015, 112pp, £10.99.
• Thunderbirds Comic Collection Vol. 2. Egmont ISBN 978-1405279215, October 2015, 224pp, £25.00.
• Wallace & Gromit: The Complete Newspaper Strips Vol.4 by various. Titan Books ISBN
  978-1782762058, 6 October 2015, 112pp, £12.99.

NOVEMBER 2015

• The Art of Jose Gonzalez by David Roach. Dynamite Entertainment ISBN 978-1606907436, 3 November 2015, 246pp, £29.99.
• Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol.3 by Simon Fraser, Boo Cook, Warren Pleece, Gary Caldwell, Hi Fi, Al Ewing & Rob Williams. Titan Books ISBN, 27 November 2015, 128pp, £10.99.
• Doctor Who: The Ninth Doctor Vol.1: Weapons of Past Destruction by Cavan Scott. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782763369, 3 November 2015, 128pp, £13.20.
• Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Vol.2: The Weeping Angels of the Mons by Robbie Morrison, Daniel Indro & Slamet Mujiono. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782766575, 6 November 2015, 128pp. Paperback.
• Judge Dredd: Trifecta by  Al Ewing, Si Spurrier, Rob Williams, Simon Coleby, Henry Flint, D'Israeli & Carl Critchlaw. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083383, 176pp. Paperback.
• Modesty Blaise: Ripper Jax by Peter O'Donnell & Enric Badia Romero. Titan Books ISBN 978-1783298587, 20 November 2015, 136pp, £11.99.

DECEMBER 2015

• Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol.2: Serve You by Al Ewing, Rob Williams, Simon Fraser, Boo Cook, Warren Pleece, Gary Caldwell, et al. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782766582, 4 December 2015, 128pp. Paperback.
• The Grievous Journey of Ichabod Azrael by Rob Williams, Don Reardon & Antonio Fuso. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083727, December 2015, 178pp.

2016

• Aquila by Gordon Rennie & Leigh Gallagher. 2000AD Graphic Novels  ISBN 978-1781084076, 12 January 2016, 192pp.
• Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Vol.3 by Paul Cornell & Andy Kuhn. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782767732, 12 January 2016, 304pp, £18.99. 
• Marvel Frontier Comics: The Complete Collection. Marvel (US) ISBN  978-0785199267, 26 January 2016, $39.99.
• Magic Words: The Extraordinary Life of Alan Moore by Lance Parkin. Aurum Press ISBN 978-1781312841, 3 March 2016, 432pp, £12.99. [originally announced for 1 May 2014, then 20 November 2014, then 3 September 2015]. Paperback edition. 
• Gravestown by Roger Gibson & Vince Danks. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782760078, 9 June 2016, 110pp, £14.99. [originally announced for 25 August 2015].
• Hamlet (Original Text) by John McDonald, David Lorenzo Riveiro & Gary Erskine. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332341, 30 June 2016 [originally announced for 31 July 2012, then early 2013, then 30 September 2014]. Note: Currently not listed on Classical Comics' website.
• Hamlet (Plain Text) by John McDonald, David Lorenzo Riveiro & Gary Erskine. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332358, 30 June 2016 [originally announced for 31 July 2012, then early 2013, then 30 September 2014]. Note: Currently not listed on Classical Comics' website
• Hamlet (Quick Text) by John McDonald, David Lorenzo Riveiro & Gary Erskine. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332365, 30 June 2016 [originally announced for 31 July 2012, then early 2013, then 30 September 2014]. Note: Currently not listed on Classical Comics' website
• Julius Caesar (Original Text) by John McDonald & Sean O'Connor. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332945, 30 June 2016 [originally announced for 31 August 2010, then 31 May 2011, then July 2011, then March 2012, then 31 May 2012, then September 2012, then 31 May 2013, then 31 January 2014]. Note: Currently not listed on Classical Comics' website.
• Julius Caesar (Plain Text) by John McDonald & Sean O'Connor. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332952, 30 June 2016 [originally announced for 31 August 2010, then 31 May 2011, then July 2011, then March 2012, then 31 May 2012, then September 2012, then 31 May 2013, then 31 January 2014]. Note: Currently not listed on Classical Comics' website.
• Julius Caesar (Quick Text) by John McDonald & Sean O'Connor. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332969, 30 June 2016 [originally announced for 31 August 2010, then 31 May 2011, then July 2011, then March 2012, then 31 May 2012, then September 2012, then 31 May 2013, then 31 January 2014]. Note: Currently not listed on Classical Comics' website.
• Oor Wullie: How Tae Learn Yer Times Table. B&W Publishing ISBN 978-1910230015, 31 December 2016, 32pp, £5.99. [originally announced for 14 November 2014, then 2 April 2015].

Please note: All dates are subject to change.

Recent Releases: May 2015

MAY 2015 

A.B.C. Warriors: Return to Mars by Pat Mills & Clint Langley.
2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083437, 7 May 2015, 96pp, £14.99.
Mars, the far future. Tasked with increasing the peace on the war-ravaged Red Planet, the A.B.C. Warriors are reunited with one of their oldest number - the mechanic known as Tubal Caine AKA Happy Shrapnel. As Happy explains how he died and was subse-quently resurrected by Medusa (the planetary consciousness). Happy's story exposes the identity of the villain responsible for most of the trouble on Mars - 'the father of all A.B.C. Warriors' needs to be executed, and the Warriors are going to need the help of another old ally to carry out the mission...
Order from Amazon.

The Complete Captain Future by Norman Light.
Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081781, 8 May 2015, 200pp, £19.99.
One of the stars of the 1950s pirate era of comic publishing, Norman Light's 'Captain Future' was the star of the comic Spaceman, which Light published in 1953-54. One of the most successful titles from the minor publishers of the era, it ran for 15 issues before disappearing. But 'Captain Future' lived on, briefly, in reprints, after the rights to the strips were picked up by former Hank Janson publisher Reg Carter.
     Now, over sixty years after their original appearance, Bear Alley Books had gathered this action-packed series of pulp sf strips together for the first time. In a packed 200-page volume, all of Captain Future's comic strips are reprinted and, as a bonus back-up, we include three short stories by Tom Wade (a prolific writer for the infamous John Spencer quartet of sf magazines under multiple pseudonyms) featuring the Space Patrol. The Buccaneers of Space are introduced in a revealing special feature about the history of the Spaceman comic, its lead characters and the creative force behind them: Norman Light.
    If you like your spaceships to soar, your galaxies to collide and your BEMs to be bestial, this is the thrill-filled collection for you.
Order from Bear Alley Books.

Doctor Who: The Good Soldier by Andrew Cartmel, Paul Cornell, Dan Abnett, John Freeman, Lee Sullivan & Mike Collins.
Panini UK ISBN 978-1846536595, 1 May 2015, 176pp, £13.99.
Introducing a brand-new collection of classic comic strips collecting the adventures of the Seventh Doctor and Ace, from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine. This volume collects comic strips featuring the much-loved Seventh Doctor as played on TV by Sylvester McCoy, alongside his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) - plus guest appearances from the Brigadier! Includes a wealth of exclusive, brand-new material revealing how the strips were created, featuring contributions and commentary from the writers and artists.
Order from Amazon.

Modesty Blaise: The Killing Distance by Peter O'Donnell & Enric Badia Romero.
Titan Books ISBN 978-1781167120, 15 May 2015, 104pp, £11.99.
Continuing the only complete collection of Modesty Blaise adventures! The return of the ass-kicking femme fatale. Full of classic action and adventure and dripping with 60's chic. In the first story we see the return of fan-favourite character Guido Biganzoli. The Killing Distance is pure Cold War thriller material, while the legendary Wu Smith appears in the Aristo.
Order from Amazon.

Recent Releases

A monthly round up of recently released titles reprinting or relating to British comics and creators. Titles announced for publication can be found on the companion Upcoming Releases listing which usually appears a day after this column. An expanded, annotated and illustrated Comics Bibliography appears monthly and gatherings covering the years from 2010 can be found at the following links:
Comics Bibliography 2010 | Comics Bibliography 2011 | Comics Bibliography 2012 | Comics Bibliography 2013 | Comics Bibliography 2014 | Comics Bibliography 2015 (part 1)

MAY 2015

• A.B.C. Warriors: Return to Mars by Pat Mills & Clint Langley. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083437, 7 May 2015, 96pp, £14.99.
• The Complete Captain Future by Norman Light. Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081781, 8 May 2015, 200pp, £19.99.
• Doctor Who: The Good Soldier by Andrew Cartmel, Paul Cornell, Dan Abnett, John Freeman, Lee Sullivan & Mike Collins. Panini UK ISBN 978-1846536595, 1 May 2015, 176pp, £13.99.
• Modesty Blaise: The Killing Distance by Peter O'Donnell & Enric Badia Romero. Titan Books ISBN 978-1781167120, 15 May 2015, 104pp, £11.99 [originally announced for 20 March 2015, then 10 April 2015]. 

APRIL 2015

• Judge Dredd: Luna 1 by John Wagner, Brian Bolland, Mick McMahon & Ian Gibson. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083420, 9 April 2015, 142pp, £6.99.
• The Mystery of the Crooked Imp by Conrad Mason & David Whyatt. David Fickling Books (Phoenix Presents) ISBN 978-1910200421, 2 April 2015, 64pp, £7.99.
• Space Ace Vol.4 by Ron Turner. John Lawrence [no ISBN], April 2015, 40pp, £8.95.
• Zenith: Phase Three by Grant Morrison & Steve Yeowell. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083215, 9 April 2015, 144pp, £20.00.

MARCH 2015

• The Dracula File by Gerry Finley-Day, Simon Furman & Eric Bradbury. Hibernia [no ISBN], March 2015, 86pp, £9.00.
• Insurrection: Liberty by Dan Abnett & Colin Macneil. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083406, 12 March 2015, 96pp, £13.99.
• It's Even Bigger on the Inside by Tim Quinn & Dicky Howett. MIWK Publishing, 224pp, 6 March 2015.
• Kick-Ass 3 by Mark Millar & John Romita Jr. Titan Books ISBN  978-1783290871, 6 March 2015. Paperback edition.
• Nemo: River of Ghosts by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill. Knockabout ISBN 978-0861662333, 19 March 2015, 56pp, £9.99.
• Tales of Telguuth: A Tribute to Steve Moore by Steve Moore & Gregg Staples. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083413, 12 March 2015, 176pp, £17.99.

FEBRUARY 2015

• Dredd: Urban Warfare by Arthur Wyatt & Henry Flint. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083161, 12 February 2015.
• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 24. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083390, 12 February 2015.

JANUARY 2015

• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 09. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083291, 20 January 2015. Paperback edition.
• Kingdom of the Wicked by Ian Edginton & D'Israeli. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782760566, 6 January 2015 [originally announced for 4 November 2014].
• Kingsman: The Secret Service by Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons. Titan Books ISBN 978-1783293360, 24 January 2015, 160pp, £9.99. Movie tie-in cover
• The Last of the Mohicans by Ruggero Giovannini & Cecil Doughty. Book Palace Books ISBN 978-1907081293, January 2015, 74pp, £19.99.
• Slaine: Brutania Chronicle by Pat Mills. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083352, 15 January 2015.
• Strontium Dog: Dogs of War: Life and Death of Johnny Alpha 2 by John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083369, 15 January 2015.

DECEMBER 2014

• Brass Sun by Ian Edginton, I.N.J. Culbard. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082690, 4 December 2014.
• Frontline UK by William Corderoy, Ian Kennedy & Clemente Rezzonico. ISBN 978-X, 8 December 2014.
• Zenith: Phase 2. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082775, 4 December 2014.

NOVEMBER 2014

• Baker's Half-Dozen. Hibernia [no ISBN], November 2014.
• The Best of Library of Death. Hibernia [no ISBN], November 2014.
• Calculus Cat by Hunt Emerson. Knockabout ISBN 978-0861662388, November 2014.
• The Complete Ro-Busters. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082621, 6 November 2014.
• The Daily Dredds. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082645, 6 November 2014.
• Gerry Anderson The Comic Collection. Egmont ISBN 978-1405272667, 6 November 2014.
• Inside the World of Gerry Anderson by Graham Bleathman. Egmont ISBN 978-1405272650, 6 November 2014.
• The James Bond Omnibus Vol.006. Titan Books ISBN 978-0857685919, 1 November 2014.
• Johnny Nemo by Peter Milligan & Brett Ewins. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782760702, 18 November 2014 [originally announced for [7 October 2014].
• Miller Western Comic Books by John Fairclough. Blasé Books [no ISBN], November 2014.
• Stickleback: The Number of the Beast by Ian Edginton, I.N.J. Culbard & D'Israeli. 2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781082935, 6 November 2014.
• This Was The Wizard by Derek Marsden & Ray Moore. Darsym Press ISBN 978-0955197819, 7 November 2014.

OCTOBER 2014

• Age of the Wolf. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082638, 23 October 2014.
• Arena by Dave H. Taylor & Enrique Alcatena. Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081750, 9 October 2014. 
• Arkwright Integral by Bryan Talbot. Dark Horse, October 2014. Omnibus of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and Heart of Darkness.
• Bake With Maw Broon: My Favourite Recipes for All the Family. Broons Books ISBN 978-1910230022, 16 October 2014. 
• The Best of Battle Annual. Egmont, October 2014.
• The Best of The Beezer Annual. Pedigree, October 2014.
• The Best of Bunty Annual. Pedigree, October 2014.
• The Best of Roy of the Rovers Annual. Egmont, October 2014.
• The Best of 70s Girls' Comics Annual. Egmont, October 2014.
• The Best of The Hotspur Annual. Pedigree, October 2014.
• The Best of The Topper Annual. Pedigree, October 2014.
• The Best of Whizzer and Chips Annual. Egmont, October 2014.
• The Broons: Ceilidh Dance Party. Broons Books ISBN 978-1910230039, 31 October 2014.
• Knit Your Own Broons by Jackie Holt & Ruth Bailey. Broons Books ISBN 978-1910230046, 7 October 2014.
• Modesty Blaise: The Grim Joker by Peter O'Donnell & Enric Badia Romero. Titan Books ISBN 978-1781167113, 24 October 2014 [originally announced for 28 March 2014].
• Nikolai Dante: Love and War. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082614, 9 October 2014.
• Oor Wullie: His Secret Capers Are Finally Oot. Broons Books ISBN 978-1910230053, 31 October 2014.
• Roy: The Official Autobiography of Roy of the Rovers by Roy Race [Giles Smith].Century ISBN 978-1780893297, 9 October 2014.
• Wallace & Gromit: Comic Strips Collection Volume 2 by Jimmy Hansen & Mike Kazybrid. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782760825, 7 October 2014.
• Zenith: Phase 1. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082751, 23 October 2014.

SEPTEMBER 2014

• ABC Warriors: The Mek Files. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082591, 11 September 2014.
• Durham Red: The Bitch. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082515, 16 September 2014.
• Kick-Ass 3. Titan Books ISBN 978-1783290727, 9 September 2014 [originally announced for 6 July 2014, then 12 August 2014]. 
• Oor Wullie: The Big Bucket of Laughs Joke Book. Broons Books ISBN 978-1910230008, 25 September 2014.
• Predator vs. Dredd vs. Aliens: Incubus and More. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082539, 11 September 2014.
• The Secret Service by Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons.Titan Books ISBN 978-1781165836, 9 September 2014 [originally announced for 26 April 2013, then 28 May 2013, then 2 Jul 2013, then 27 August 2013, then 1 October 2013, then 5 November 2013, then 21 January 2014, then 21 June 2014, then 1 October 2014, then 9 December 2014].

AUGUST 2014

• Charley's War: A Boy Soldier in the Great War [Omnibus 1] by Pat Mills & Joe Colquhoun. Titan Books ISBN 978-1781169148, 8 August 2014. 
• The Importance of Being Earnest [Original Text] by John Stokes. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332921, 31 August 2014  [originally announced for 12 September 2010, then December 2010, then April 2012, then May 2012, then October 2012, then 30 November 2012, then March 2013, then August 2013, then 30 November 2013].
• The Importance of Being Earnest [Quick Text] by John Stokes. Classical Comics ISBN 978-1906332938, 31 August 2014 [originally announced for 12 September 2010, then December 2010, then April 2012, then May 2012, then October 2012, then 30 November 2012, then March 2013, then August 2013, then 30 November 2013].
• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 08. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082447, 12 August 2014. Paperback.
• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 23. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082522, 14 August 2014.
• Return to Armageddon. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082706, 14 August 2014.
• Thunderbirds Vol.1. Egmont ISBN 978-1405272605, 28 August 2014.
• Thunderbirds Vol.2. Egmont ISBN 978-1405272612, 28 August 2014.
• Thunderbirds Vol.3. Egmont ISBN 978-1405272629, 28 August 2014.
• Thunderbirds Vol.4. Egmont ISBN 978-1405272636, 28 August 2014.
• Thunderbirds Vol.5. Egmont ISBN 978-1405272643, 28 August 2014.

JULY 2014

• ABC Warriors: Volgan War Vol. 4. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082720, 17 July 2014.
• The Art of Neil Gaiman by Hayley Campbell. Ilex Press ISBN 978-1781571392, 14 July 2014 [originally announced for 5 May 2014].  By Request: Selected Private Commissions. Chris Weston, July 2014.
• Commando; Over the Top, ed. Calum Laird. Prion ISBN 978-1853759130, 17 July 2014.
• Countdown to TV Action by Steve Holland. Bear Alley Books, 4 July 2014.
• Death Sentence. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782760085, 8 July 2014. 
• Graphic Ink: The DC Comics Art of Frank Quitely. DC Comics ISBN 978-1401248406, 1 July 2014.
• Hondo City Justice: Revenge of the 47 Ronin. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082492, 8 July 2014.
• In His Cups: Collected Tales from Gimbley. Phil Elliott ISBN 978-1291-95524-8, 20 July 2014.
• Judge Anderson: PSI Files. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082362, 17 July 2014.
• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Vol. 3: Century by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill. Knockabout ISBN 978-0861662326, 17 July 2014.
• To End All Wars, ed. Jonathan Clode & John Stuart Clark. Soaring Penguin Press ISBN 978-1908030139, 17 July 2014.

JUNE 2014

• The Anatomy of Zur-En-Arrh: Understanding Grant Morrison's Batman by Cody Walker. Sequart Research & Literacy Organization ISBN 978-1940589046, 11 June 2014.
• The Annual Years by Paul Magrs. Obverse Books ISBN 978-1909031203, June 2014. Limited edition of 100 hardback copies.
• Judge Dredd: Day of Chaos: Fallout. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082713, 5 June 2014.
• Judge Dredd: The XXX Files. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082430, 10 June 2014.
• Nikolai Dante: The Great Game. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082607, 5 June 2014. New Edition.
• Rogue Trooper: Tales of Nu Earth Vol.4. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082300, 19 June 2014.
• Roy of the Rovers: World Cup Special 2014. Titan Books ISBN 978-1783290581, 6 June 2014.
• Violent Cases by Neil Gaiman & Dave McKean. Titan Books ISBN 978-1783293605, 6 June 2014.

MAY 2014

• Miracleman: A Dream of Flying by Alan Moore, Garry Leach & Alan Davis. Marvel (US) ISBN 978-0785154624, 27 May 2014.
• Modesty Blaise: The Young Mistress by Peter O'Donnell & Enrique Badia Romero. Titan Books ISBN 978-1781167090, 13 May 2014 [originally announced for 25 October 2013, then 28 March 2014]. 
• Roy of the Rovers Postcards. Egmont ISBN 978-1405270762, 8 May 2014.
• Slaine: Lord of the Beasts. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082294, 8 May 2014.

APRIL 2014

• The Bojeffries Saga by Alan Moore & Steve Parkhouse. Knockabout ISBN 978-0861662319, 8 May 2014 [available from April].
• Devlin Waugh: Swimming In Blood. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082287, 10 April 2014. Paperback.
• The Happy Warrior. Uniform Press ISBN 978-1906509903, 1 April 2014 [originally announced for 1 March 2014.; publisher's catalogue gives a May 2014 release date].
• Ro-Busters: The Disaster Squad of Distinction. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082195, 15 April 2014.

MARCH 2014

• The Art of Ian Miller. Titan Books ISBN 978-1781167793, 11 April 2014 [originally announced for 25 March 2014, and available from late March].
• Banzai Battalion: Just Another Bug Hunt!. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082188, 18 March 2014.
• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 22. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082270, 13 March 2014.
• Nemo: Roses of Berlin by Alan Moore & Kevin O'Neill. Knockabout ISBN 978-0861662302, 27 March 2014.
• The Secret Service by Mark Millar & Dave Gibbons.Titan Books ISBN 978-1781167038, 18 March 2014.

FEBRUARY 2014 

• ABC Warriors: The Solo Missions. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082263, 13 February 2014.
• Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 07. Rebellion ISBN 978-1781082171, 11 February 2014. Paperbac.
• Nemesis The Warlock Volume 2. Rebellion ISBN 978-1907519789, 28 February 2014. Paperback.

JANUARY 2014

• Batman Judge Dredd Collection. Rebellion/DC Comics ISBN 978-1781080788, 16 January 2014.
• Battle Classics ed. Garth Ennis. Titan Books ISBN 978-1781167410, 9 January 2014 [originally announced for 25 October 2013]. 
• The Man Who Searched for Fear. Bear Alley Books ISBN 978-1907081736, 31 January 2014.
• Space Ace Vol. 2 by Ron Turner. John Lawrence [no ISBN], January 2013.

30 Years of Private Eye (Observer Magazine)

The Observer Magazine celebrates 30 years of Private Eye back in 1991.

 

 

 

 

Comic Cuts - 5 June 2015

For some reason I spent most of Wednesday thinking it was Thursday and that I needed to get my usual Friday Comic Cuts column written. A sense of slight panic can be seen in the fact that I ended up posting the Commando releases a day early. It felt like the old cliche of having two figures perched on my shoulders arguing over what day it was. The logical side of my brain told me that it was Wednesday, sure as Wednesday follows Tuesday. The nervous, illogical side, meanwhile, was insisting that Wednesday was yesterday and today was Thursday.

Maybe one day is too much like the previous day and I haven't got anything different planned for the next day. I'm trying to figure out how best to schedule my work week. I've spent about half the week on the magazine and half wrangling the mess I've generated in the past thirty-five years. People following my Facebook feed have been seeing a random selection of what I've turfed out of boxes and trays (the kind tomatoes come in) ranging from a random episode of Beau Peep from the Daily Star to the cover of the Daily Telegraph Review which, for Christmas 1992, contained a short Doctor Who story by Paul Cornell, illustrated by Mike Collins & David Roach (and, Mike reminds me, coloured by Who regular James Offredi). Other recent oddments include an invite to the 2009 launch of Garen Ewing's The Rainbow Orchid and promo material for the Kidnapped graphic novel by Alan Grant & Cam Kennedy and mine and David Roach's The War Libraries index.

Here's a bonus for Bear Alley followers: the full set of four promo postcards for Kidnapped showing some pencil art by Cam Kennedy.

 

 

 

As you can imagine, the clean-up is going slowly because I stop to scan every other bit of paper that I come across. That said, I've cleared three trays completely and one box in the past few weeks; one tray was of books that I found space for on shelves and the small pile of paperwork that I'm saving will fit neatly into a much smaller box.

Even if I stop scanning (which I've no intention of doing for at least another month), I believe I can store everything in a far more compact way. Some things I'll flog off via eBay or direct sale through Bear Alley to raise a bit of cash to put towards the cost of doing research. Believe it or not, doing this kind of work can be quite expensive, probably clocking in at around £400 a year. I've just spent £20 on a marriage and a death certificate for the upcoming Harry Bensley book and next month I have my subscription of Find My Past due, followed a month later by Ancestry, which cost £240 between them.

Not that I mind. I use both sites constantly in my research. But it might be useful if I could offset those costs some way.

Today's random scans come from a 1975 New English Library magazine about Edgar Rice Burroughs, edited by Penelope Grant and aimed at the same people who were buying Science Fiction Monthly. It had the same mix of articles and posters, with features including articles by John Brosnan, Walter Gillings, Dick Ellingsworth and Jim Cawthorn. Mike Moorcock was interviewed about scripting The Land That Time Forgot and  the cover boasted "new Edgar Rice Burroughs fiction"... well, kind of... the magazine included a spoof biography written by Burroughs, which probably wasn't the kind of fiction readers thought they would be getting.

But the big draw, for me anyway, was the posters by W. Francis. Phillips, Chris Achilleos and two by Bruce Pennington.

 

 

 

 

More random miscellanea next week. See you then.

Film Posters 3

 

 

 

Commando Issues 4815-4818

Commando Issues on sale 4 June 2015.

Commando No 4815 – Ramsey’s Raiders: Italian Ambush
His superiors described Captain James Ramsey as unconventional. His enemies described him as a menace. His men described him as The Boss.
   No matter how he was characterised, though, the man was a fighting fury that no-one in their right mind would cross. Then a bunch of Italian guerrilla fighters did just that. Despite the snow, sparks would fly!

Story: Ferg Handley
Art: Keith Page
Cover: Ian Kennedy

Commando No 4816 – Operation Tinfish
Sinister shapes like prowling sharks — and just as dangerous — swim silently towards a German battleship. Total destruction is their aim.
   And all the time hostile German eyes are marking the frogmen’s every move…

Introduction
The artist responsible for the inside work in this book, Cecil Rigby, was one of the original Commando cadre of illustrators. He started with No 3 and finished with No 3272 — 146 books in just shy of 39 years which is far from shabby. What isn’t clear from his Commando work is that he was a wickedly accurate caricaturist; his “portraits” of footballers graced many a newspaper. His art always had an old-fashioned style to it but this lends a period air to the stories and works very well here.
   The story is unusual with so much underwater action but it’s classic Commando and well merits its second airing. Dive straight into it!—Calum Laird, Commando Editor

Story: Boutland
Art: Cecil Rigby
Cover: Ken Barr
Originally Commando No 150 (January 1965).

Commando No 4817 – Battle In The Arctic
When a Liberator bomber carrying a group of high level military staff crash-landed in the icy wastes of Greenland, Lieutenant Alec Bartley and his squad of tough, mountain-trained Commandos were sent to find any survivors.
   Alec and his team had the use of highly-manoeuvrable Aerosled vehicles to aid their search, but time was of the essence — an equally deadly German force was desperate to locate that downed aircraft first…

Story: George Low
Art: Olivera
Cover: Janek Matysiak

Commando No 4818 – Smith V Schmidt
A sniper was usually good — or dead. There were no half measures, for the first mistake was usually his last. Tim Smith and Willi Schmidt were just learning their deadly trade on different sides, their classroom the battlefields of Normandy.
   When their paths crossed the certainty grew that one of them must die — unless fate stepped in and lent a helping hand.

Introduction
When I read this book I was initially struck by its authenticity — not just in terms of plot or setting but more so the specifics in the minutiae of what it must have really been like for a sniper during wartime. Imagine; the drills; discipline; isolation and sheer ruthlessness required, and what meeting these demands might do to a person psychologically.
   Then the Ed casually mentioned that author Alan Hemus had been a sniper himself!
   That gave a fresh meaning to the old adage, “Write what you know about…”
   However, budding Commando writers take note: previous military service is not compulsory.—Scott Montgomery, Deputy Editor

Story: Alan Hemus
Art: Keith Shone
Cover: Jeff Bevan
Originally Commando No 2351 (February 1990).

The Bogie Man (TV series)

The Bogie Man had a hell of a bumpy career. Written by John Wagner and Alan Grant, it was initially released as a self-published 4-part mini-series by Fat Man Press and as a collected edition by John Brown. Then Toxic! published The Manhattan Project and were serialising The Chinese Syndrome when the paper went bust. The former was collected by Tundra Publishing and the latter was redrawn and revamped as Chinatoon for Atomeka. The first series and Chinatoon were later gathered together for a collection by Paradox Press, an imprint of DC Comics, who had turned down the opportunity to publish the series a decade earlier. A later story was serialised in Judge Dredd Megazine in 2005.

In 1992, the first story was adapted for BBC television and broadcast on BBC2 that Christmas. It starred Robbie Coltrane, Craig Furguson, Fiona Fullerton and Midge Ure, amongst others, but was generally considered to be a bit of a disappointment. I wonder what the guy who did The Wrong Mans might make of it.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

I guess we should all thank "dlusman" for posting this on YouTube.

Jim Petrie Exhibition

The late Jim Petrie is the subject of an exhibition at the Lamb Gallery, Tower Building, University of Dundee, from 3 June until 19 September 2015.

This special exhibition celebrates the work of artist Jim Petrie, who died in 2014. A former student of Dundee College of Art (now Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design) and Dundee Training College (now the University’s School of Education, Social Work & Community Education), Jim later became a popular art teacher at Kirkton High School but is best known as the man who drew the "world's wildest tomboy" Minnie the Minx for 40 years in DC Thomson's famous comic The Beano.
    The exhibition will include many of his classic Minnie artworks along with other examples of his comics art and some of Jim's paintings and drawings, revealing the full range of his artistic talents. The show has been created with the assistance of Jim's family and DC Thomson & Co Ltd.

For opening times and further information, visit the website.

Film Posters 2

 

 

Justin Atholl

(I'm pleased to mark this one as "Mystery Solved", although I've retained the original notes I posted on 20 December 2014. For the resolution, just keep reading.)

Justin Atholl is one of my long-standing "Mysteries That Have Me Mystified" authors. He appears to be a real person, probably a reporter as he contributed to a variety of newspapers (Reynolds News, Derby Daily Telegraph, Hull Daily Mail, Yorkshire Post) in the decade after the war. In the 1950s he also contributed to Boy's Own Paper.

Atholl came to my attention as an author of slim novels and short stories published during and soon after the Second World War, including a couple of science fiction and fantasy titles. There were nine titles in all, published by Everybody's Books in 1943-44 ranging from the short novels The Man Who Tilted The Earth (1943) and The Oasis Of Sleep (1944), along with shorter novelettes The Perfect Murder (1943), Land of Hidden Death, The Grey Beast and There Goes His Ghost (all 1944) and a number of pamphlets that were barely longer than short stories—Death In The Green Fields, The Trackless Thing and The Swastika Murder (all 1944).

His earliest known non-fiction book is probably Millionaire Crooks: True Stories of Famous Financial Racketeers was published by F. J. Hoskins, which is dated 1931 by some sources online. I'm not convinced this is true. The British Library dates the book "194-?". Hoskins was the manager of Reynolds News and appears to have been the publisher of a number of trade magazines in the 1950s.

Atholl went on to write a number of other non-fiction books, including How Stalin Knows (1951), a story of the atomic spy conspiracy, and three well-received books about prisons and hanging: Prison On The Moor (1953), the story of Dartmoor Prison, Shadow of the Gallows (1954) and The Reluctant Hangman (1956), the story of James Berry, a 19th century executioner.

His last known book was How To Borrow Money (1961), co-written with Leslie Benjamin.

It was his books on hanging that would eventually lead to his identity being revealed. In 2015, Mike Ashley spotted a copy of Hang By the Neck: The legal use of scaffold and noose, gibbet, stake, and firing squad from colonal times to present by Negley K. Teeters an d Jack H. Hedblom (Springfield, IL, Charles C. Thomas, 1967) on sale that was inscribed by author Teeters “To T. S. Denham (Justin Atholl) whose / efforts regarding the practice / were most helpful and appreciated / Negley K. Teeters / Hartwick College / Oneonta N.Y. – USA / June 10th 1967”.

Clearly Teeters had contacted Atholl about his books and had received a response from Denham. And Denham was a known contributor to the same kind of publications as Atholl. In fact, as Sidney Denham he had been contributing short stories to a variety of publications during the 1930s. As a journalist, his career dated back to at least 1929.

Thomas Sidney Denham was born in Chester in 1906, and was baptized at Christ Church, Chester, on 15 April 1906. He was the son of Thomas Denham, a professor of history, and his wife Helen Duncan Denham. Thomas pere was the fourth son of John Barden Denham (1819?-1874), born in London on 23 April 1856. He was educated at St. Mary's School, Islington, and Queen's College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1885 and M.A. in 1889.

Thomas travelled to Madras, a thriving city on the Bay of Bengal on India's east coast, where he met Helen Duncan Webb, the daughter of another teacher, James Webb. Thomas (35) and Helen (23) were married in  Madras on 5 March 1892.

Over the next few years they had a number of children: Isabel Amelia Denham (b. 15 June 1894), Thomas Barden Denham (b. 12 October 1896) and Phyllis Helen Denham (b. 3 May 1900), all born in Madras. It would appear that their son died early and Helen returned to England for the birth of Dorothy Maud Denham, born in London on 3 August 1902. Thomas Sidney Denham followed in 1906, his parents giving their address as 50 Bridgestead Row, Chester, when their son was baptized.

Thomas pere became Principal of the Maharaja's College, Mysore, in 1910 and, in 1916, he and Indian educationalist C. R. Reddy (who succeeded Denham as Principal that year), prepared a report for Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, the Maharajah of Mysore, based on a five year study of higher education around the world they had undertaken. It helped establish the University of Mysore, which combined the best elements of American, Australian and British universities, and was the first outside British administration in India.

Thomas Sidney Denham was educated at The King's School, Ely, and Kings College University, London. As T. S. Denham, he was a prolific writer of popular science articles which were syndicated around newspapers in the north from 1929 and throughout the 1930s. A sampling of titles would include "The Moon Helps Us On Our Way", "Things to Do and Make", "If the Earth Hits a Star", "Voice Made in a Laboratory", etc., which were to be found in the Sunderland Echo, Burnley Express, Lancashire Evening Post, Derby Daily Telegraph, Gloucester Citizen and Hull Daily Mail.

At the same time he was also writing short stories, usually bylined Sidney Denham (occasionally, and probably unintentionally, Sydney Denham). His first book, Speed!, a history of the Schneider Trophy, appeared in 1929.

At that time Denham was living with his parents at Innisfallen, Green Lane, Camberwell, London SE22 [fl. 1928-29]. In 1929 he married Mary Hull and the newly married couple lived at 162 West Hill, Putney, SW15. Denham was in his early thirties when the Second World War began, although nothing is known about his wartime service.

It might be speculated that he created the name Justin Atholl in order to write rather fanciful stories for the wartime markets, leaving "Sidney Denham" free to write straight fiction. However, Atholl seems to have proven popular and the byline appeared on a number of non-fiction books after the war, whilst Sidney Denham remained active writing about cats in books and for Our Cats magazine.

Denham married his second wife, Helen Frangopulo (1919-1969), in Holborn in 1948 and she occasionally collaborated with her husband and published some of his works.

Denham died at London Hospital on 13 April 1968, aged 62.

PUBLICATIONS


Novels as Justin Atholl
The Perfect Murder. London, Everybody’s Books, 1943.
The Man who Tilted the Earth. London, Everybody’s Books, Dec 1943.
Death in the Green Fields. London, Everybody’s Books, Feb 1944.
The Trackless Thing. London, Everybody’s Books, Feb 1944.
The Swastika Murder. London, Everybody’s Books, Mar 1944.
There Goes His Ghost. London, Everybody’s Books, Mar 1944.
The Grey Beast. London, Everybody’s Books, May 1944.
The Oasis of Sleep. London, Everybody’s Books, May 1944.
Land of Hidden Deaths. London, Everybody’s Books, Jul 1944.

Collections as Sidney Denham
Background to Murder and other stories, London, Mitre Press, Jan 1944.
The Grand National Mystery and other tales. London, Mitre Press, Jun 1944.

Non-fiction as T S Denham
Speed! The Story of the Schneider Trophy, with an introduction by Professor A. M. Low. London, Pilot Press, May 1929.

Non-fiction as Sidney Denham
Child of the Gods. Notes on the Abyssinian cat to-day and yesterday, with Helen Denham. London, H. Denham, 1951.
Cats Between Covers. A bibliography of books about cats. London, H. Denham, 1952.
Let’s Keep a Pet. London, Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1955.
Our Cats, ed. Arthur E. Cowlishaw, text by Sidney Denham. London, Nicholas Kaye, 1958.
The Cat-Lover’s Week-end Book, with K. R. Williams, illus. Beryl Irving. London, Seeley, Service & Co., 1961 [1962].
The A to Z of Pets. London, Max Parrish, 1964.
101 Key Points of Cat Care, with Helen Denham. London, Dickens Press, 1968.

Non-fiction as Justin Atholl
Millionaire Crooks: True Stories of Famous Financial Racketeers. London, F. J. Hoskins, 194?.
How Stalin Knows. The story of the great atomic spy conspiracy. London, News of the World (Pocket), 1951.
Prison on the Moor. The story of Dartmoor Prison. London, John Long, 1953.
Shadow of the Gallows. London, John Long, 1954.
The Reluctant Hangman. The story of James Berry, executioner, 1884-1892. London, John Long, 1956.
How to Borrow Money, with Leslie Benjamin, illus. Stewart Marshall. London, Museum Press, 1961.

(* Greatly expanded from it original appearance on 20 December 2014.)

Justin Atholl Cover Gallery

The Perfect Murder
Everybody's Books, 1943, 48pp, 1/-.

The Man Who Tilted the Earth
Everybody's, 1943, 63pp, 1/6.

The Trackless Thing
Everybody's, 1944, 31pp, 6d.

Death in the Green Fields
Mitre Press, 1944, 36pp, 1/-.

The Oasis of Sleep
Mitre Press, 1944, 62pp, 1/6. Cover by Jeff Cook

The Swastika Murder
Everybody's, 1944, 34pp, 6d.

There Goes His Ghost
Everybody's, 1944, 48pp, 9d.

The Grey Beast
Everybody's, 1944, 48pp, 9d. Cover by Douglas

Land of Hidden Death
Everybody's, 1944, 50pp, 9d.