John Buchan cover gallery

NOVELS

Sir Quixote of the Moors (London: Unwin, 1895; New York: Holt, 1895).
(no UK paperback?)

John Burnet of Barns (London: John Lane, 1898; New York: Dodd, Mead, 1898).
Pan Books X116, (Feb) 1962, 3/6. Cover by James E. McConnell
B&W Publishing  1873-63131-6, xv+293pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97073-3, 2008, xiv+322pp.

A Lost Lady of Old Years (London: John Lane, 1899).
B&W Publishing 1873-63142-1, 1995, xiv+213pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97203-4, 2011, 210pp.

The Half-Hearted (London: Isbister, 1900; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1900).
(no UK paperback?)

A Lodge in the Wilderness, anonymous (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1906).
(no UK paperback?)

Prester John (London: Nelson, 1910); republished as The Great Diamond Pipe (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1910).
Pan Books 130, (Mar) 1950, 1/6. Cover by George Woodman.
---- [?2nd imp.] 1952. Cover by Sax
Penguin Books 1138, 1956, 207pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Penguin Books 0140-01138-2, (date?), 202pp.
Pan Books, (date?)
Oxford University Press 0182-82936-X, 1994, xxxiv+222pp.
House of Stratus 1842-32785-2, 2001, 215pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97064-1, 2009, x+207pp.

Salute to Adventurers (London: Nelson, 1915; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1915).
Pan Books X247, (Sep) 1963, 220pp, 3/6. Cover by Tayler

The Thirty-Nine Steps (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1915; New York: Doran, 1916).
Pan Books 14, (Jun) 1947, 256pp, 1/6. Cover by J. H. Bruce
---- [2nd imp.] 1949. Cover by Bruce C. Windo
---- [3rd imp.] 1951, 1/6. Cover by Wynne
---- [4th imp.] 1953, 2/-. Cover *as 3rd imp.
---- [5th imp.] 1954, 2/-. Cover *as 3rd imp.
---- [6th imp.] 1955, 2/-. Cover by Unknown
Penguin Books 1130, 1956, 126pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Pan Books G218 [7th imp.] 1959, 2/6. Cover by De Marco
---- [8th imp.] 1960, 2/6. Cover by De Marco
---- [9th imp.] 1960, 2/6.
---- [10th imp.] 1961, 2/6. Cover by Sam Peffer
Pan Books X696, 1967. Cover by J. Oval
Penguin Books 0140-01130-7, 1991, 125pp.
Dent 0460-88128-0, 1992, 160pp.
Puffin 0140-35139-6, 1992, 125pp.
Wordsworth Editions 1853-26080-0, 1993, 98pp.
A Sutton 0750-90482-8, 1993, 128pp.
Penguin Books 0140-62109-1, 1994, 102pp.
House of Stratus 1842-32793-3, 2001, 117pp.
Penguin Books 978-0141-44117-7, 2004, xviii+118pp.
Oxford University Press 978-0199-53787-7, 2008.
Arcturus 978-1848-37609-0, 2010.
Polygon 978-1846-97198-3, 2011.
Vintage Classic 978-0099-52839--5, 2011, xii+253pp.
HarperPress 978-0007-44993-4, 2012, ix+146pp.
Pan Books 978-1509-85843-9, 2017.

The Power-House (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1916; New York: Doran, 1916).
Pan Books G441, (Mar) 1961, 155pp, 2/6. Cover by Pat Owen
Dent 0460-02243-1, 1984, xiv+112pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63114-6, 1993, 144pp.
House of Stratus 1842-32784-4, 2003, 95pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97029-0, 2007, xvi+108pp.
Polygon 978-0857-90508-6, 2012, 128pp.

Greenmantle (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1916; New York: Doran, 1916).
Pan Books 18, (Oct) 1947, 256pp, 1/6. Cover by Unknown
---- [2nd imp.] 1950, 2/-. Cover by Unknown
Pan Books GP14, (Jul) 1952, 2/6. Cover *as 2nd imp.
Penguin Books 1132, 1956, 271pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
---- [2nd imp.] 1958; [3rd imp.] 1960.
---- [4th imp.] 1961, 271pp, 3/6. Cover *as 1st imp.
Peacock PK37, 1964, 271pp.
Knight Books 0340-03399-1, 1970, 271pp.
Penguin Books 0140-10641-3 [5th imp.], 1981
---- [6th imp.] 1981; [7th imp.] 1983; [8th imp.] 1984
---- [9th imp.] 1986, 266pp, £2.95. Cover still. TV Tie-in.
Oxford University Press 0192-82953-X, xxiv+295pp.
Wordsworth 1853-26204-8, 1994, 220pp.
Penguin Books 0140-62264-0, 1997, 266pp.
Penguin Books 0141-18696-8, 2001, 276pp.
Penguin Books 978-1411-03584-0, 2008, 345pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97197-6, 2011, 270pp.

Mr. Standfast (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1918; New York: Doran, 1919).
Penguin Books 1134, 1956, 230pp, 3/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
---- [2nd imp.] 1960, 230pp, 3/6. Cover *as 1st imp.
Pan Books M58, (Apr) 1964.
Wordsworth Classics 1853-26225-0, 1994, 287pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97155-6, 2010, x+338pp.

The Path of the King (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1921; New York: Doran, 1921).
(no UK paperback?)

Huntingtower (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1922; New York: Doran, 1922).
Hodder & Stoughton [Yellow Jacket C5], Jun 1950, 256pp, 2/-. Cover by C. H. Richard
Penguin 1133 , 1956, 229pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
---- [2nd imp.]
---- [3rd imp.], 3/6. Cover *as 1st imp.
Hamlyn 0600-20562-2, 1982, 204pp.
Alan Sutton 0750-90484-4, 1993, xviii+202pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63119-7, 1993, xiv+199pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-83229-8, 1996, xxxi+229pp.
Oxford University Press 978-0199-53786-0, 2008, xxxi+229pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97223-2, 2012, vii+221pp.

Midwinter (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1923; New York: Doran, 1923).
Hamlyn 0600-20563-0, 1981, 196pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63115-4, 1993, viii+247pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97070-2, 2008, xiv+254pp.

The Three Hostages (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1924; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1924).
Penguin Books 908, 1953, 282pp.
---- [2nd imp.] 1955.
---- [3rd imp.] 1956, 282pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Peacock Books PK15, 1963, 282pp.
Knight Books 0340-15580-9, 1971, 283pp.
Penguin Books 0140-10640-5, 1986, 282pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-82419-8, 1995, xxx+300pp.
Wordsworth Editions 978-1853-26252-4, 1995, 261pp, n/pr. Cover Following the Scent by John Howard Lyon
House of Stratus 1842-32794-1, 2001, 317pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97157-0, 2010, x+306pp.

John Macnab (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1925; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1925).
Penguin Books 1135, 1956, 3/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Hodder & Stoughton 836, 1967, 287pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-82935-1, 1994, xxviii+248pp.
Wordsworth Editions 1853-26296-X, 1996, 188pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97028-3, 2007, ix+240pp.

The Dancing Floor (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1926; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1926).
Oxford University Press 0192-83287-5, 1997, xxxvi+231pp.
New English Library 0450-02901-8, 1976, 220pp.
Penguin Books 0140-06875-9, 1987, 251pp, £2.95. Cover by Kenneth Wynn
Polygon 978-1846-97031-3, 2007, ix+236pp.

Witch Wood (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1927; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1927).
Oxford University Press 0192-82941-6, 1993, xxv+331pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97071-9, 2008, xiv+304pp.

The Courts of the Morning (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1929; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1929).
Hodder & Stoughton 456, 1961, 316pp.
Dent 0460-02240-7, Oct 1983, 432pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63120-0, 1993, xvi+356pp. 
----, 2000, , xvi+356pp, £7.99. Cover: Sir Frank Swettenham by John Singer Sargent
House of Stratus 978-1842-32764-7, 2008, 405pp.

Castle Gay (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1930; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1930).
Hodder & Stougton [Yellow Jacket]
Penguin Books 1136, 1956.
Pan Books M194, 1967

The Blanket of the Dark (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1931; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1931).
Penguin Books 1653, 1961, 281pp, 3/6. Cover by Heather Standring
B&W Publishing 1873-63141-3, 1994, xiii+264pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97072-6, 2008, xvi+268pp.

The Gap in the Curtain (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1932; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1932).
Sphere [Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult 17] 1974.
B&W Publishing 1873-63109-X, 1992, 217pp.
House of Stratus 978-1842-32767-8, 2001, 224pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97224-9, 2012, xiii+219pp.

The Magic Walking Stick (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1932; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1932).
(no UK paperback?)

A Prince of the Captivity (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1933; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1933).
Pan Books X154, (Oct) 1962, 3/6.
Hamlyn 0600-20564-9, 1981, 271pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63168-5, 1996, xii+322pp.

The Free Fishers (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1934; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1934).
Penguin Books 1954, 1964, 268pp.
NEL/Four Square 1679, (Jul) 1967, 5/-.
Hamlyn 0600-20566-5, 1982, 224pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63132-4, 1994, xiii+263pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97065-8, 2009, viii+269pp.

The House of the Four Winds (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1935; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1935).
Penguin Books 1137, 1956, 237pp, 2/6. Cover by Stephen Russ
Peacock Books PK57, 1965, 232pp.
Dent 0460-02241-5, 1984, 201pp, £2.50. Cover by Brian Grimwood

The Island of Sheep (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1936); republished as The Man from the Norlands (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1936).
Pan Books 240, (15 May) 1953. Cover by FVM
Penguin Books 1131, 1956.
Penguin Books 0140-10642-1, 1988, 244pp.
Wordsworth Editions 1853-26276-5, 1995, 272pp.
Oxford University Press 0182-82433-3, 1997, xxviii+240pp.

Sick Heart River (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1941); republished as Mountain Meadow (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1941).
Hodder, 1965, 254pp, 5/-.
Penguin Books 0140-06804-X, 1985, 205pp.
B&W Publishing 1873-63106-5, 1992, 211pp.
Oxford University Press 0192-82937-8, 1994, xxxiii+221pp.
Polygon 978-1846-97030-6, 2007, x+214pp.

COLLECTIONS

The Watcher by the Threshold and Other Tales (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1902; enlarged edition, New York: Doran, 1918).
Digit Books R613, (Aug) 1962, 2/6.

The Moon Endureth: Tales and Fancies (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1912; New York: Sturgis & Walton, 1912).
Hodder 594, 1963, 307pp, 5/-.

The Runagates Club (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1928; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1928).
Sphere, 5/-.
A. Sutton 0750-91159-X, 1996, x+165pp.
Handheld Press 978-1999-82801-1, 2017.

The Long Traverse (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1941); republished as The Lake of Gold (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1941).
House of Stratus 978-1842-32778-4, 2001, 130pp.

The Far Islands and Other Tales of Fantasy (West Kingston, RI, Donald M. Grant, 1984).
(no UK paperback)

OMNIBUS

The Complete Richard Hannay
Penguin Books 0140-17059-7, 1992, 1139pp, £10.99. Cover by Arthur Wakelin
as The Complete Richard Hannay Stories, Wordsworth Editions 978-1840-22655-3, 2010, 990pp.

The Power-House and The Thirty Nine Steps
B&W Publishing 1873-63195-2, 1999, xxviii+233pp, £5.99. Cover by Arthur Melville ("Company at Dinner")

OTHERS

VERSE
The Pilgrim Fathers: the Newdigate Prize Poem, 1898 (Oxford: Blackwell/London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, 1898).
Grey Weather: Moorland Tales of My Own People (London: John Lane, 1899).
Ordeal By Marriage: An Eclogue (chap) (London, R. Clay, 1915).
Poems, Scots and English (London & Edinburgh: T. C. & E. C. Jack, 1917; revised and enlarged edition, London: Nelson, 1936).

NON-FICTION
Scholar Gipsies (London: John Lane, 1896; New York: Macmillan, 1896).
Sir Walter Ralegh; the Stanhope Essay (Oxford: Blackwell/London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, 1897). 
Brasenose College (London: Robinson, 1898).
The African Colony (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1903).
The Law Relating to the Taxation of Foreign Income (London: Stevens, 1905). 
Some Eighteenth Century Byways and Other Essays (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1908).
Nine Brasenose Worthies (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1909).
Sir Walter Raleigh (London: Nelson, 1911; New York: Holt, 1911).
What the Home Rule Bill Means (chap) (Peebles, Allan Smyth, 1912).
The Marquis of Montrose (London: Nelson, 1913; New York: Scribners, 1913).
Andrew Jameson, Lord Ardwall (Edinburgh & London: Blackwood, 1913).
Britain's War by Land (London & New York: Oxford University Press, H. Mitford, 1915).
The Achievement of France (London,  Methuen Publishing, 1915).
Nelson's History of the War, 24 volumes (London: Nelson, 1915-1919); revised as A History of the Great War, 4 volumes (London: Nelson, 1921-1922; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1922).
The Battle of the Somme, First Phase (London & New York: Nelson, 1916).
The Battle of Jutland (Edinburgh, New York & London: Nelson, 1916).
The Future of the War. An address (chap) (London, Boyle, Son & Watchurst, 1916).

The Battle of the Somme, Second Phase (Edinburgh, New York & London: Nelson, 1917).
The Battle-Honours of Scotland 1914-1918 (Glasgow, George Outram, 1919).
These for Remembrance (London: Privately printed, 1919).
The Island of Sheep, by Buchan and Susan Buchan as Cadmus and Harmonia (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1919; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1920).
The History of the South African Forces in France (London: Nelson, 1920).
Francis and Riversdale Grenfell: A Memoir (London: Nelson, 1920).
A Book of Escapes and Hurried Journeys (London: Nelson, 1922; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1923).
The Last Secrets (London: Nelson, 1923; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1924).
The Margins of Life (chap) (London, Birkbeck College, 1923).
Lord Minto: A Memoir (London & New York: Nelson, 1924).
The History of the Royal Scots Fusiliers (1678-1918) (London & New York: Nelson, 1925).
Days to Remember: The British Empire in the Great War, by Buchan and Henry Newbolt (London: Nelson, 1923).
The Man and the Book: Sir Walter Scott (London & Edinburgh: Nelson, 1925).
Two Ordeals of Democracy (chap) (Boston, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1925).
The Fifteenth-Scottish-Division 1914-1919, by Buchan and John Stewart (Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1926).
Homilies and Recreations (London: Nelson, 1926; London & New York: Nelson, 1926; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1926).
Montrose (London & Edinburgh: Nelson, 1928; Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1928).
The Causal and the Casual in History (Cambridge: The University Press, 1929; New York: Macmillan, 1929).
The Kirk in Scotland, 1560-1929, by Buchan and George Adam Smith (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1930).
Montrose and Leadership (chap) (Oxford, University Press, 1930).
The Novel and the Fairy Tale (chap) (Oxford, printed at the University Press by John Johnson, 1931).
Sir Walter Scott (London & Toronto: Cassell, 1932; New York: Coward-McCann, 1932).
Julius Caesar (London: P. Davies, 1932; New York: Appleton, 1932).
Andrew Lang and the Borders (London, Oxford University Press, 1933).
The Massacre of Glencoe (London: P. Davies, 1933; New York: Putnam's, 1933).
Gordon at Khartoum (London: P. Davies, 1934).
Oliver Cromwell (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1934; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1934).
The King's Grace (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1935); republished as The People's King: George V (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1935).
Augustus (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1937; Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1937).
Naval Episodes of the Great War (London & New York: Nelson, 1938).
The Interpreter's House (London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1938).
Presbyterianism Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow by Lord Tweedsmuir (chap) (Edinburth, Church of Scotland committee on Publications, 1938).
Memory Hold-the-Door (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1940); republished as Pilgrim's Way (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1940).
Comments and Characters, edited by W. Forbes Gray (London & New York: Nelson, 1940).
Canadian Occasions (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1940).

Eagle Times vol.38 no.4 [Winter 2025]

The Christmas issue of Eagle Times brings its 38th year to an end with a spray of snow and holly and no less than eight features ranging from an interview with Keith Page to a look at the New Year issue of Plavi Vjesnik, the Yugoslavian Eagle, from 1960.

As has been the case for the past couple of years, the majority of the magazine is the work of two writers, David Britton and Steve Winders, both acknowledged experts on the historic comic and both always capable of teasing out something new from a study of the Eagle's colourful pages. David continues his look at Jeff Arnold with the third part of a feature on his days with the 6T6, drawn by Jack Daniel; and the second part of his look at Frank Bellamy's 'Heros the Spartan', one of my favourite strips from Eagle.

Busy Steve Winders looks at Stonewall Jackson, The Happy Warrior and his ever-welcome PC49 tale, as well as conducting the interview with Keith Page. The latter is perhaps the most interesting as Keith's career has encompassed everything from an important stint on Dan Dare following in the footsteps of Keith Watson, to – one of his latest publications – a biography of Tony Hancock. Some of the highlights have included his work on various Gerry Anderson comics, contributions to Starblazer and Commando, and the 'Charlotte Corday' stories.

'Stonewall Jackson' was an oddity in Eagle, originally appearing in the pages of Comet and reprinted in Eagle shortly after a new editorial regime was imposed on the paper. It was written by Leonard Matthews, who now had overall control of the Hulton papers and who was overseeing a cost-cutting exercise; however, the author concludes that Matthews's biography was accurate, albeit over-written.

This is not an accusation that can be aimed at The Happy Warrior', which concludes this issue. The strip had to be accurate (to the point of hagiography) as Churchill, its subject, was still alive. Indeed, he was presented with a leather-bound copy of the strip when it was reprinted in 1958; that copy later sold for £2,750 at auction in 2014.

Elsewhere in this issue, Alan Palmer offers a comprehensive look at the Dan Dare Space Book and its creative talent and Jim Duckett dips into 'Martin Mere', a lost Hampson strip, and the Anastasia Presso Book. 

This issue is also the last chance readers have to win the artwork by Graham Bleathman that graced an earlier issue. It's also the last issue of the subscription year, so maybe you can take a punt at joining the Eagle Society.

The quarterly Eagle Times is the journal of the Eagle Society, with membership costing £30 in the UK, £50 (in sterling) overseas. You can send subscriptions to Bob Corn, Mayfield Lodge, Llanbadoc, Usk, Monmouthshire NP15 1SY; subs can also be submitted via PayPal to membership@eagle-society.org.uk. Back issues are available for newcomers to the magazine and they have even issued binders to keep those issues nice and neat.

Comic Cuts — 31 December 2025

So it's Tuesday morning and Christmas seems to be a distant memory already, although it was only yesterday that I found myself back at work—all the way across the living room to my little nest of computers. The sun is blinding and I can feel its heat on my back, making up for the past couple of days when a biting north-easterly meant we had to wrap up against the chill when we went for our walk.

It is still Christmas-y: the tree is still up, lights twinkling; we're still munching our way through left-overs and we even have a bit of Christmas pudding to eat. After yesterday's lunch of chicken and stuffing sandwiches, I really couldn't face anything quite so heavy; we had a mince pie instead.

I shouldn't because I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow—a routine check-up, nothing to worry about, but I know they'll want to weigh me. I ought to be starving myself today because I've put on my usual Christmas three pounds, and that's pushing me towards weighing the same weight I was on my last visit. I'd managed to lose over half a stone during 2025, but it's now not looking quite so good!

Christmas was mostly eating and watching TV. We (in this case me and my Mum) usually make a good job of Christmas dinner, but this year seemed especially good because we got the amount just right; at the end of it we were comfortable rather than utterly stuffed. We managed to avoid almost every show that made up the Top 10 most watched shows over the Christmas period (although a couple, The Scarecrow's Wedding and Amandaland, I recorded, to be watched when I get a chance). Instead we watched Wallace & Gromit, a couple of quizzes, a couple of old Miss Marple episodes and (of course) The Great Escape.

I treated myself to a book, which arrived yesterday. In my early days of reading science fiction, the Sunday Times and Gollancz ran a competition. This was back in 1974 and the results were published in 1975. I borrowed the winners from Chelmsford library, Catchworld by Chris Boyce and Shipwreck by Charles Logan. I was particularly taken by the latter, but didn't bother to buy the paperback that came out in 1977 because my pocket money was already stretched to breaking point. 

The Panther edition went out of print and because Logan didn't write any further novels, the book sank into obscurity. I'd forgotten about it until I picked up a copy of The Martian by Andy Weir in 2014, and began thinking about this book from forty years before that also featured a spaceman trying to survive on an alien planet with no hope of rescue. 

Copies seemed to be particularly scarce, and were usually in the £50-80 range, which I certainly wasn't going to pay for a paperback. I promised myself that if I saw one for under £15 I'd pick it up and I've searched every now and then without seeing it drop in price. Cutting to the chase, I spied a copy on Ebay just before Christmas and thanks to a discount that was being offered, I managed to pick it up for under £14.92 (including postage). And I now have it: a bit creased and grubby, but a reading copy that I'll pop onto the top of my "to be read" pile. 

I managed to clear all the junk off the scanner this morning, so I've managed to Photoshop out many of the faults that were spoiling David Bergen's fantastic cover. 

If I'm going to make a new year's resolution, it will be to try and read more. I did fairly well last year, after years of reading under ten books annually. That's under ten books simply for pleasure, I should add: I read quite a lot for research, including 86 issues of Action comic during October/November for the book I'm working on. That's over 2,750 pages of tiny print. After a day of reading for work, it's so easy just to plant myself in front of the TV.

Which is where I'm heading now. Happy New Year to you all. 

Comic Cuts — 18 December 2025

This was a bit of an experiment, the first time I've shot the video on my phone rather than on the laptop, and using the new bluetooth microphone. I think it has worked out OK after a bit of tweaking. Maybe one day I'll get a proper camera and some lighting, but until then...

Merry Christmas to you all and I hope you have a Happy New Year! I'll be back in 2026!

Commando 5915-5918

The next set of Commando issues, 5915-5918, go on sale from today, Thursday, 18th December 2025.

5915: Crocker’s Crew

 Out of the chaos of World War Two, Captain Matt Crocker of the British Commandos and his crack team had carved themselves a niche as the best of the best when it came to sabotage. It was with a grim confidence, then, that he accepted their next mission — infiltrate and destroy a Nazi-occupied power plant in the Norwegian mountains. 
    However, the SOE’s mysterious Captain Berry insisted on accompanying, and Crocker began to worry what his ulterior motives might be. A commando’s life is never an easy one!

Story: Brent Towns
Art: Paolo Ongaro
Cover: Simon Pritchard

5916: Mighty Maguire

Tom Maguire had collected things all his life. Butterflies, antique weapons, foreign stamps... there wasn’t a corner of his bedroom that didn’t hold some unusual trophy.
    Then war came and Tom was sent to Burma, but he still found time for his collecting... although now it was the fierce Kachin tribesmen he was interested in. He collected a whole army of them — the fightingest bunch of men the Japanese had ever been up against!

Story: Richardson
Art: Franch
Cover: Ian Kennedy
First published 1971 as No. 593

5917: Union Jack Jackson: Kamikaze Ken

Union Jack Jackson and his pals were on a mission to steal an experimental radar receiver from the Japanese when they hit a hurdle. The USS Red Bank, the destroyer they were going to sail away on, was sunk by Japanese suicide pilots… men who would self-sacrifice their lives to sink their enemies.
    So then, why was one of the pilots — Kamikaze Ken — floating, alive, in the water beside Union Jack Jackson?

Story: Dominic Teague 
Art: Esteve Polls
Cover: Graeme Neil Reid

5918: The Short and The Tall

Private Danny Miller was just a little bloke, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t take care of himself. No, he was a tough customer who could cope with just about anything.
    What he couldn’t put up with was his mate Brian who was determined to pay the little fellow back for saving his life. Because Brian’s schemes always ended up getting Danny into more trouble — not less!

Story: Motton
Art: Gordon C Livingstone
Cover: Philpott
First published 1984 as No. 1848

Rebellion Releases — 17 December 2025

Get ready to have your halls decked with a blast of pure Thrill-power – the bumper Christmas issue of 2000 AD is out on 17 December!

Featuring over 100 pages of the finest comics excitement imaginable, the  Galaxy’s Greatest Comic marks the end of another year with the traditional festive blowout – including these stunning stories:

Judge Dredd: MikMak’s Big Mega-City Adventure by Ken Niemand & Stref
Azimuth: Better the Devil You Know by Dan Abnett & Tazio Bettin
Hawk the Slayer: The Call by Alec Worley & Staz Johnson
Strontium Dog: The Necks Case by Karl Stock & Colin MacNeil
Rogue Trooper: Ghost Patrol by Alex De Campi & Neil Edwards
Herne & Shuck series 2 by David Barnett & Lee Milmore
Young Death: Dog Eat Dog by Kek-W & Clint Langley

But that’s not all! In addition to these all-new Thrills, the Christmas Mega-Special will also include the start of brand new series 'The Discarded' by Peter Milligan & Kieran McKeown!

All this, and a festive cover from Greg Staples? Grud bless us, every one!

The 2000 AD Christmas mega-spectacular is out on the 17 December. If you already have a 2000 AD subscription, you will save yourself the sleigh ride and have it delivered straight to your door at no additional charge – blessings be!

And so to this week's releases...

2000AD Prog 2463
Cover: Greg Staples

JUDGE DREDD // MIK-MAK'S BIG MEGA-CITY ADVENTURE by Ken Niemand (w) Stref (a) Fin Cramb (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
HERNE & SHUCK // POWER TRIP by David Barnett (w) Lee Milmore (a) Gary Caldwell (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
AZIMUTH // BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW by Dan Abnett (w) Tazio Bettin (a) Matt Soffe (c) Jim Campell (l)
THE DISCARDED by Peter Milligan (w) Kieran McKeown (a) Jim Boswell (c) Simon Bowland (l)
YOUNG DEATH // DOG EAT DOG by Kek-W (w) Clint Langley (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
HAWK THE SLAYER // THE CALL by Alec Worley (w) Staz Johnson (a) John Charles (c) Rob Steen (l)
ROGUE TROOPER // GHOST PATROL by Alex de Campi (w) Neil Edwards (a) Matt Soffe (c) Jim Campbell (l)
STRONTIUM DOG // THE NECKS CASE by Karl Stock (w) Colin MacNeil (a) Dylan Teague (c) Rob Steen (l)

Judge Dredd Megazine #487
Cover: Cliff Robinson, with Dylan Teague.

JUDGE DREDD // THE SURVIVOR by Ken Niemand (w) Anthony Williams (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
MEGATROPOLIS II by Ken Niemand (w) Dave Taylor (a) Jim Campbell (l)
ARMITAGE // DROKK THE RIPPER by Liam Johnson (w) Staz Johnson (a) Quinton Winter (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)
ANDERSON, PSI-DIV by Alec Worley (w) Ben Willsher (a) Simon Bowland (l)
ROK THE GOD by John Wagner & Alan Grant (w) Dan Cornwell (a) Jim Boswell (c) Jim Campbell (l)
DREADNOUGHTS // QUALIFIED IMMUNITY by Mike Carroll (w) John Higgins (a) Sally Hurst (c) Simon Bowland (l)

Definitive Editions: Slaine Volume 2 by Pat Mills (w) Massimo Belardinelli, Glenn Fabry, David Pugh, Bryan Talbot, Garry Leach, Nik Williams, Una Fricker (a)
Rebellion ISBN, 17 December 2025, 272pp, £29.99. Available via Amazon.

The adventures of Sláine Mac Roth continue in the second volume of the Definitive series. With character-defining arcs such as The Time Killer and The Tomb of Terror, this volume sees the exiled barbarian facing new trials and tribulations - including a trip through time which will have dangerous repercussions for everyone on Earth!
    Showcasing Pat Mills’s epic storytelling alongside the art of Glenn Fabry (Hellblazer, Swamp Thing), Bryan Talbot (The Adventures of Luther Arkwright), and David Pugh (Dan Dare), this is another unmissable entry for fans and new readers alike.

Comic Cuts — 12 December 2025

This will be short and sweet as I'm still trying to finish off the ACTION book and I still have some writing to do. I think I'm on the final chapter, unless there's some sort of envoi needed. I have the checklists for the weekly, the summer/holiday specials and the annuals all written, but there's a creators index still to do. And then I have to design the whole book. And there's Christmas and New Year in between now and the anniversary in February.

Wish me luck!

There are other distractions, too. For instance, I met up with John Chisnall and George Coates and took a trip down to our local pub. Long-time readers will know they are both Bear Alley authors, as I wrote and published John's book about his days as a motorcycle racer (AND THE WHEELS WENT ROUND) and designed George's book (A Laverda Journey) about his trip by motorcycle around the world. I was involved with this because John (my uncle) was looking for someone to publish his book and the price asked for by vanity presses was enormous. Stupidly, I said I could do it for half the price... and both he and George took me up on it!

Something I learned from our get together is that there's apparently a reel-to-reel tape recording of me reciting Humpty Dumpty at a very young age and mispronouncing "all the klings horses and all the klings men". I'm guessing it was recorded about sixty years ago... so how come I'm hearing about it for the first time now?

We also took an evening off to wander around the village and look at the lights and, as always, there are some magnificent displays, and some a little less magnificent, and a few that look a bit weedy and wouldn't be spotted by a reindeer at 5 feet. There's one house that is just wonderful, with an "ooohh" and "aaaahh" factor that's off the top end of the scale. They light up the street every year and collect money for charity, so  hopefully they'll do well again this year. 

It's back to the "uh ho" and "AAARGH!" for me. I'm hoping to have the text finished by next week and to have read through it. If there aren't too many tweaks needed, I might be able to get started with designing the book this side of Christmas. Fingers crossed.

Rebellion Releases — 10 December 2025

Looking for an education in The Law? There’s 50% off key Judge Dredd collections in the 2000 AD webshop.

Often one of the most misunderstood characters, for almost half a century Judge Dredd comics have ruminated on the themes of justice, law, authoritarianism, and freedom. From groundbreaking stories to award-winning non-fiction, there’s no better time to read selected collections to give yourself chapter and verse in Britain’s greatest comic book character!

Check out the titles below and enjoy a whopping HALF off!

And now, this week's releases...

2000AD Prog 2462
Cover: Nick Percival.

JUDGE DREDD // MESSENGERS by Ken Niemand (w) Nick Percival (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
DEAD TOWN by David Barnett (w) Luke Horsman (a) Simon Bowland (l)
THARG'S FUTURE SHOCKS // THE HAPPINESS MEME by James Lovegrove (w) Toby Willsmer (a) Simon Bowland (l)
ROGUE TROOPER // GHOST PATROL by Alex de Campi (w) Neil Edwards (a) Matt Soffe (c) Jim Campbell (l)

Silver: Unearthed by Mike Carroll & Joe Currie
Rebellion ISBN, 10 December 2025, 112pp, £16.99. Available via Amazon.

Earth, the year 2001. A group of armed survivors sought out the resting place of a five-hundred-year-old vampire, who may just help them against the alien Sepsis, who invaded the planet a few decades earlier. The vamp, called Baroness DeSilva, soon proves to be a powerful ally , as she fights to defend her food source from the extra-terrestrial enemy!
    An all-new Thrill from the award-winning writer Mike Carroll (Dreadnoughts) and artist Joe Currie (Judge Dredd) crashes genre into unpredictable genre. Acclaimed on release, the supernaturally charged Silver crashes the past into the far future for a fast-paced adventure which will blow your mind!

Comic Cuts — 5 December 2025

It's starting to feel a lot like Christmas. The tree is up, we've received a couple of cards, I've been given a 2026 calendar, and we had the Bear Alley Books Xmas Party on Wednesday.

The latter was basically dragging Mel and my Mum down to the pub for lunch, which we haven't had a chance to do since August — coordinating everyone can be tricky at times — when we took a trip out to Maldon. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were well fed and watered at the Horse and Groom; we then had a relaxing afternoon and evening and it was lovely just to have some time off.

I'm planning to do the same thing next week with two of Bear Alley's authors, John Chisnall and George Coates, whose books—AND THE WHEELS WENT ROUND and A LAVERDA JOURNEY—I designed. 

On the days I didn't take off, I've managed to crack on with the ACTION book and I'm heading towards the point where it merged with BATTLE. Another push and I might have it almost done by the end of next week, depending on how much I drink down the pub and what other distractions come along. Hopefully it'll be good news next week.

I'm reading—or, rather, re-reading—Dave Hutchinson's EUROPE IN AUTUMN, a fantastic SF/spy story set in a fractured Europe, split by a deadly pandemic (and various economic crises (this was published in 2014) and now broken down into little republics, polities and nations who no longer trust the internet; information, artefacts and even people are smuggled across borders by couriers trained in spy tradecraft.

I read the first book back in 2019 on a tablet that had all four of the books on it (a fifth was subsequently published). Then my tablet went belly-up and I never got to read the other three. I saw a mention of the series recently and decided to get the physical books. Four were easily available second-hand. The fourth (EUROPE AT DAWN) has been trickier to source. I have a copy on order.

Having a lousy memory, I've been enjoying the book afresh. At one or two points in the plot I've had a flash forward of what is about to happen, but it's really like I'm reading it for the first time... and I'm really enjoying it all over again.

Talking of memory, I was trying to remember what books I'd read over the past few months. I'm picking up the pace a little. I used to be able to read a book in a day when I was much younger and just discovering SF. When I was in work I often had a bus or train ride to fill, but nowadays I do more reading for whatever I'm working on than for pleasure. And books these days are often twice or three times the size of books I used to read. For many years I've been taking months to finish a book, a situation I'm now trying to resolve by making sure I read a chapter or two every evening before bed.

I dug out the last few books I've read: a ratio of 5:3 SF over crime. I love the Mick Herron Slough House books and have heard them all as audiobooks, but I'm reading physical copies ahead of each new series of the TV show. I was inspired to read TATIANA by the death of Martin Cruz Smith and the realisation that I had fallen behind on reading his Arkady Renko novels. I still have three to go. THE FLIGHT OF THE HORSE I re-read half of as it contained Niven's delightful Svetz fantasy stories and I was planning to read his RAINBOW MARS novel, which was a late addition to the series. But then they announced the coming release of the fifth season of SLOW HORSES, so Svetz is on hold. 

I picked up THE STARDROPPERS while I was wandering around ahead of Invasion Colchester and started reading it on the bus home. I have to say that it's minor Brunner, but I have shelves full of books I've never read, so I want to try and get through at least some in the hope of finding a gem. I will re-read books that I remember enjoying, so that will mean more Brunner at some point (THE SHEEP LOOK UP, THE JAGGED ORBIT, STAND ON ZANZIBAR, THE SHOCKWAVE RIDER... there are plenty!).

I'd had PROJECT HAIL MARY on the shelf for some while, but thought I'd treat myself after finishing the writing on the AIR ACE book. I loved THE MARTIAN and I think ARTEMIS was an OK follow-up. This was even better, if a little long; every time it jumped back in time I found myself wishing those bits were over so we could get back to the interaction between human and alien (I'm trying not to spoiler the book).

Talking of slow-moving... WORLDS. I may be imagining this, but I get the feeling that this and its sequel (WORLDS APART) were meant to be one book, with a slow build to something explosive happening at the halfway mark. Then someone said, "Why not turn it into two books, Joe?" and that left the first book as a travelogue and me sat there wishing that something would happen, which it did, eventually, right at the end. Now that the thing has happened, hopefully book two will pick up the pace.

I love Murderbot, but this wasn't quite up to the scratch of earlier novellas and novel. Too many characters and a plot that would have made a sprightly novella rather than a slightly disappointing novel. Maybe, just maybe, part of my frustration was down to Tor forcing me to buy a hardback as, after two years in print, there is still no sign of a paperback. There's a new Murderbot novel out next year which I'm excited about because you shouldn't let one dip in quality ruin a whole series for you. SYSTEM COLLAPSE was still very readable.

I've rambled on for too long. Better get some work done.

Commando 5911-5914

The next set of Commando issues go on sale from today, Thursday, 4th December 2025, featuring tales of heroism on the home front and abroad, and the return of a Lord Peter Flint, Codename: Warlord!

5911: Fear of Fire

The Heinkel 111 bombers laid a blanket of fire across Bristol. The blazes spread across the city and infernos raged inside houses and factories alike. Inside one, the wood burned and embers flew into Police Sergeant Eric Roe’s eyes. The foul, black smoke clawed at his lungs and the swirling flames licked at his face, singeing the flesh. 
    Fear bubbled in his throat like bile, but clutching the young child to his chest, he had to get out – he had to survive!

Story: Colin Maxwell
Art: Mike Collins
Cover: Neil Roberts

5912: Torpedo Strike

They said Bob Kernot could pilot his Beaufort back to base from any point of the compass in even the worst weather. He just seemed to sniff the air and hey presto, he and his crew were heading straight for home. 
    Bob had Roma blood in his veins. He could even see into the future and foretell what was going to happen, good or bad. And to know there’s deadly danger ahead and still fly on to meet it without flinching - that takes nerves of steel and real guts. 
    Like Bob had...

Story: Brunt
Art: John Ridgeway
Cover: Ian Kennedy
First published 1971 as No. 594

5913: Codename Warlord: Stormcaster

The Libyan desert is experiencing some funny weather! Mysterious, sudden rainstorms are turning the hot sands to boggy quagmires that are beaching British tanks! But not only that, a Nazi officer has disguised himself as an Arab tribesman to sow discontent, and a German scientist has attempted to defect - something very strange is going on.
    Enter Lord Peter Flint – Codename: Warlord - Britain’s best secret agent, to investigate the weird happenings. A storm is brewing, and he can sense the hand of his old nemesis, Professor Kranz, is behind it all!

Story: Dominic Teague 
Art: Paolo Ongaro
Cover: Neil Roberts

5914: The Cat, The Rat, and The Cobra

A cat and a rat wouldn’t normally stand a chance against a deadly cobra, would they? But when The Cat was a brilliant British agent, The Rat a cunning French thief, and The Cobra a ruthless Gestapo officer, who could tell what would happen? 
    For the sake of the Resistance men the Nazis were intent on killing, the snake had to lose…

Story: CG Walker
Art: Gordon C Livingstone
Cover: Jeff Bevan
First published 1984 as No. 1831

Rebellion Releases — 3 December 2025

One of the most popular and influential British comic books of all time is to get its first new chapter in more than 40 years!

Created by writer Mike Butterworth and artist Don Lawrence, and running for almost two decades in the pages of Ranger and Look and Learn, The Trigan Empire has influenced generations of storytellers, including renowned film-maker Duncan Jones (Moon, Rogue Trooper).

Drawing heavily on ancient history and mythology, the series detailed the long-past events of an empire on the distant planet of Elekton. But it was Lawrence’s stunning painted artwork that made the series a groundbreaking hit, changing the face of the comic book medium and immersing readers in new worlds of imagination.

And now, for the first time since 1982 – the Trigan Empire will rise once again!

From the award-winning creative team of Michael Carroll (Judge Dredd, Dreadnoughts), and Tom Foster (Judge Dredd), New Adventures from the Trigan Empire picks up the torch to continue Butterworth and Lawrence’s classic comics story.

This brand new original graphic novel will be published May 2026 in a luxurious hardcover edition, with a special signed and numbered webshop edition available also exclusively from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British webshops.

While the original series detailed the rise of the mighty Trigan Empire, this new graphic novel depicts its fall. Decades have passed since the empire reached its zenith and an ageing Emperor Trigo has started to think about who his successor may be. His right-hand man and nephew, Janno, is perceived as the natural successor – but Trigo’s abandoned son, Nikko, has long harboured a grudge against his father and now, having built his own Empire whilst in exile, he’s in perfect position to take revenge on his family and seize the Empire he believes is rightfully his….

Will the Trigan Empire rise… or fall? Don’t miss the beginning of an incredible new saga!

Originally titled ‘The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire’, the series debuted in the first issue of children’s educational title Ranger in September 1965 and then in Look and Learn from June 1966, when the two titles merged. Unusually for the time, the strip was printed in full-colour, Lawrence’s lush and detailed painting accentuating the epic nature of Butterworth’s scripts, which drew heavily on the history and imagery of the ancient Greek and Roman civilisations, while also evoking the pulp serials of Flash Gordon and Garth, to create a rich and enthralling universe of stories. The series ran in Look and Learn until its closure in April 1982.

Since 2020, collected editions of the classic The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire have been a major sales hit for Rebellion, which now cares for the largest archive of English language comic books in the world. Measuring 20.96cm by 27.62cm, these editions present Lawrence’s artwork as it was meant to be seen and introducing its thrilling and entrancing storytelling to a whole new audience

And now, this week's releases..

2000AD Prog 2461
Cover: Alex Ronald.

JUDGE DREDD // MESSENGERS by Ken Niemand (w) Nick Percival (a) Annie Parkhouse (l)
DEAD TOWN by David Barnett (w) Luke Horsman (a) Simon Bowland (l)
BRASS SUN // PAVANE by Ian Edginton (w) INJ Culbard (a) Simon Bowland (l)
ROGUE TROOPER // GHOST PATROL by Alex de Campi (w) Neil Edwards (a) Matt Soffe (c) Jim Campbell (l)

The Spider's Syndicate of Crime vs. Spider-Boy by Jerry Siegel (w) Reg Bunn, John Burns (a)
Rebellion ISBN 978-183786560-4, 3 December 2025, 112pp, £16.99. Available via Amazon.

ALONG CAME A SPIDER-BOY!
The Spider is a sensational adventurer who operates on both sides of the law, using a whole host of hi-tech equipment to stay one step ahead of his enemies.
    When gangleader, 'Turk' Dobbs crossed Criminal scientist, Sylvester Jenkins, the evil genius had Dobbs killed and framed the Spider for the murder. Not long after, a new enemy - 'Spider-boy', emerged from the shadows, seemingly intent on causing trouble for the 'King of Crooks'. With access to his own super equipment and an unparalleled hatred for the web-master, the Spider has never encountered a foe like this before!