Cowboy Comics: J. W. Butler

We'll take a short break from our unknown artists to highlight a known artist about whom nothing is known. My knowledge about J. W. Butler begins and ends with a single story, "Kit Carson and the Railroad Rivals". Payment records reveal that Butler was the artist, paid directly rather than through an agency.

Here are a couple of examples of his work. Perhaps someone might recognise him as having worked elsewhere.

 

 

 

Cowboy Comics unknown artists part 3

Our third artist is without doubt the most prolific of the unknown artists to have contributed to Cowboy Comics, producing three dozen stories and two covers. It seems highly likely that the artist will turn out to be someone whose name is known elsewhere but who has yet to be associated with these particular comics.

The first four pages shown here are from "Buck Jones and the Fighting Forty-Niner" (Cowboy Comics 156) whilst the last two are from "Buck Jones and the Gun-Slinger" (Cowboy Comics 182).

 

 

 

 

 

Stripography
(Cover) (Cowboy Comics 111, Oct 1954)
Kit Carson and the Gunpowder Plot (Cowboy Comics 142, Aug 1955)
Kit Carson and the War Drums of the Kiowas (Cowboy Comics 143, Sep 1955)
Kit Carson and the Riddle of the Broken Doll (Cowboy Comics 146, Oct 1955)
Kit Carson and the Moon Goddess (Cowboy Comics 149, Nov 1955)
Kit Carson and the Vanishing Totem (Cowboy Comics 149, Nov 1955)
Kit Carson and the Relief of Fort Henry (Cowboy Comics 151, Nov 1955)
Kit Carson Rides the Robber's Road (Cowboy Comics 152, Dec 1955)
Kit Carson and the Traitor Scout (Cowboy Comics 155, Jan 1956)
Buck Jones and the Fighting Forty-Niner (Cowboy Comics 156, Jan 1956)
Kit Carson and Diablo, the Bandit (Cowboy Comics 157, Jan 1956)
Kit Carson and the Healing Poison (Cowboy Comics 158, Feb 1956)
Buck Jones and the Vanishing Buffalo (Cowboy Comics 159, Feb 1956)
Kit Carson and the Outcast of Alder Creek (Cowboy Comics 160, Feb 1956)
Kit Carson and the Little White Chief (Cowboy Comics 163, Mar 1956)
Kit Carson and the Mountain Chase (Cowboy Comics 166, May 1956)
Buck Jones and the Peace of the Navajo (Cowboy Comics 167, May 1956)
(Cover) (Cowboy Comics 173, Jul 1956)
Kit Carson and the Outlaw Officer (Cowboy Comics 173, Jul 1956)
How the Kansas Kid Met the Black Stallion Again (Cowboy Comics 176, Jul 1956)
Kit Carson and the Horse Wrangler (Cowboy Comics 177, Aug 1956)
Buck Jones and the Boy Gunman (Cowboy Comics 178, Aug 1956)
Buck Jones and the Four Legged Deputy (Cowboy Comics 178, Aug 1956)
How the Kansas Kid Became Trail Herd Boss (Cowboy Comics 180, Aug 1956)
Buck Jones and the Gun-Slinger (Cowboy Comics 182, Sep 1956)
Buck Jones and the Redman's Gold (Cowboy Comics 186, Oct 1956)
Buck Jones and the Silver Wagon Trap (Cowboy Comics 190, Nov 1956)
Buck Jones and the Gold Brigands (Cowboy Comics 194, Dec 1956)
Buck Jones and the Redskins on the Warpath (Cowboy Comics 198, Jan 1957)
How the Kansas Kid Beat the Crooked Buyer (Cowboy Comics 200, Jan 1957)
Buck Jones Wins Through (Cowboy Comics 202, Feb 1957)
How the Kansas Kid Foiled the Crooked Marshall (Cowboy Comics 220, Jun 1957)
Kit Carson and the River of Gold (Cowboy Comics 221, Jul 1957)
How the Kansas Kid Foiled the Double-Crossing Cattlemen (Cowboy Comics 224, Jul 1957)
How the Kansas Kid Met the Little Dogie (Cowboy Comics 228, Aug 1957)
How the Kansas Kid Won the Rodeo Prize (Cowboy Comics 236, Oct 1957)
Buck Jones and the Gold Looters of Westwood (Cowboy Comics 242, Dec 1957)
How the Kansas Kid Tamed Young Elmer (Cowboy Comics 244, Dec 1957)

Cowboy Comics unknown artists part 2

In The Thriller Libraries we designated this artist "Unknown Artist [A]". Oddly, he had started life as Unknown Artist [Z] on my original index listings. (I'm filling... I have very little to say!)

Whoever this was, this was almost certainly their first work for the Amalgamated Press and were probably hired to fill the pages of Kit Carson, an Australian cowboy comic created by the A.P. because they could not launch any new titles in  the UK and the paper shortage meant no copies were available to export.

The artist only made a half-dozen contributions and it seems likely that they were dropped once a larger pool of artists was established for Cowboy Comics by editor Ted Holmes. He seemingly didn't appreciate the artwork, and had another artist redraw some of the strips. John Compari drew additional art for only a handful of titles but never seems to have drawn a whole strip himself.

 

 

 

Stripography
Kit Carson Meets Lord Clarence (Kit Carson 14, Dec 1950)
Kit Carson and the Stolen Ranch (Kit Carson 15, Feb 1951; reprinted, Cowboy Comics 22, Feb 1951)
Kit Carson and the Trail of Terror (Cowboy Comics 24, Mar 1951; reprinted, Kit Carson 18, May 1951)
Kit Carson and the Big Clean-Up (Kit Carson 29, Apr 1952, with additional art by J. Compari)
Kit Carson and the Outlaw Tribe (Cowboy Comics 58, Aug 1952, with additional art by J. Compari; reprinted, Kit Carson 34, Sep 1952)
Kit Carson Breaks the Tyrant (Cowboy Comics 62, Oct 1952, with additional art by J. Compari; reprinted, Kit Carson 36, Nov 1952)

Cowboy Comics: unknown artists part 1

When The Thriller Libraries was being compiled, there were a number of artists that we were unable to identify. There were a number of surviving payment records, but these often referred only to the studio or agency that was paid, so identifying the individual artists was often a case of recognising a particular artist's style.

A handful eluded us—us being myself and Team David: David Ashford, David Roach and David Slinn—but in some cases we were at least able to link a number of strips together as coming from the same brush.

I have a number of examples which I will post over the coming few days... hopefully some of my sharp-eyed readers will be able to spot the artists and reveal their names.

Here's the first: an artist who worked for Vale Studios.

 

 

 

Stripography
Kit Carson and the Chief's Daughter (Cowboy Comics 86, Oct 1953)
Kit Carson and the River of Death (Cowboy Comics 88, Nov 1953)
Kit Carson and the War-Paint Bandits (Cowboy Comics 92, Jan 1954)
Buck Jones and the Witch Doctor's Plot (Cowboy Comics 93, Feb 1954)
Kit Carson and the General's Son (Cowboy Comics 96, Mar 1954)
Kit Carson and the Battle of Dead End Canyon (Cowboy Comics 98, Apr 1954)
Buck Jones and the Dynamite Trail (Cowboy Comics 99, May 1954)
Kit Carson Fights the Trouble Mongers (Cowboy Comics 108, Aug 1954)
Buck Jones to the Rescue (Cowboy Comics 113, Nov 1954)
The Men of the Mounties (Cowboy Comics 114, Nov 1954)
Kit Carson and the Buffalo Express (Cowboy Comics 125, Mar 1955)

Jeff Hawke's Cosmos v.9 no.2

The new issue of Jeff Hawke's Cosmos (Volume 9 Number 2, May 2014, released June) has arrived, containing three more of the latter-era Jeff Hawke yarns from his Lance McLean days—the strip by then running as Lance McLane in the Scottish Daily Record but syndicated under the more familiar name of Jeff Hawke.

The three strips in the latest issue take the story from December 1981 to January 1983, so it's a substantial volume, as always. 'Time-Out' concerns time travel from a base near to the pyramids of Giza with Jeff finding himself in trouble in the matriarchal society of the 22nd century. 'Home Is The Sailor' begins with the disappearance of a honeymooning bride on Mars and continues with revelations of what happened to the lost Martian race. Finally, in 'Frozen Assets' Hawke faces genetically engineered soldiers planning to take over the planet using weapons hidden in space junk orbiting the Earth.

This is the first time these strips have been back in print for many years, so they're well worth the price of entry alone. Adding to the magazine's value, editor William Rudling continues to run a variety of features, from Duncan Lunan's story notes and astronomy features to Andrew Darlington's features on old space heroes, in this instance looking back at the old British comic Rocket.

Rudling has plans to reprint a number of special volumes and may be adding to the publications list of the Jeff Hawke Club. Subscription rates are £26 for three issues here in the UK and £34/38/41 for overseas subscribers, payable in a variety of ways. You can find more details (and back issues) at the new Jeff Hawke Club web page or by contacting william AT williamrudling.co.uk.

Comic Cuts - 12 June 2015

I'm starting to get back into the swing of doing some research again. After six or so weeks where I was dividing my time between work on Hotel Business and trying to sift through boxes of paperwork that has accumulated over the past thirty years, I needed a change of pace.

Inspired by stumbling over a pile of photocopies that I've had sitting around since 2007, I'm hoping to have a mini-blitz on putting names to some artists we failed to identify when we were putting together The Thriller Libraries book, published by Book Palace in 2010. These things tend to come around every five or six years and it's amazing how you can chip away at these unidentified pages and resolve one or two even sixty years after the event and with most of the participants and records long gone.

The research I did for the Lion index might hold a few keys as there were a handful of artists identified who are likely to have worked elsewhere at what was then the Amalgamated Press—artists like A. Forbes, F. A. Williams or Brian O'Hanlon (about whom I have recently learned a little more, which I will share when I get a chance). There are other names that I've learned in the past few years (Leslie Waller) or artists who later worked for D. C. Thomson but who started at Amalgamated (Bob Webster), whose early works have yet to be identified.

Gathering these few clues together and punting round a few photocopies or scans can often resolve long-standing mysteries. Maybe we will draw a blank on some of the artists, but hopefully we'll solve a handful now and the names of the others might come to light at a later date.

(Incidentally, our column header is a bit of a mystery... if anyone can put a name to this artist I know a couple of people who would be very pleased. It dates from 1934 from the original Ranger story paper.)

With the recent success of discovering the name of the man behind Justin Atholl, I decided I'd also tackle another author again. This time around I picked Mike Fallon, a Bristol-based writer and editor who should have been easy to spot as we knew the name of his wife. But there wasn't any mention of his marriage in official records which could only mean two things: an error in the records or Fallon wasn't his real name. The trouble is, that was the name he seemed to be known by to everybody and during my last trawl I'd figured out that he'd moved to Australia, working as a journalist in New South Wales and writing the occasional western (that's one of them above).

This time around I was able to locate him in electoral records in Australia, which gave us the full name of his wife; and an old newspaper report noted his wedding in 1949, which gave the bride's maiden name. From there it was easy to find the marriage record and Mike Fallon's real name: Bernard Barton.

No, it didn't mean anything to me either. I guess he changed it because there was already a famous poet by the name of Bernard Barton, but he then proceeded to write under pen-names. I know a few but I'm sure there are a pile still to be discovered. Maybe some more revelatory discoveries will be made the next time I take a look into Fallon and his writing career.

One of the reasons I mention this bit of research is because it reveals another utterly frustrating aspect of this kind of research. Fallon, it turns out, died in 2004, twenty years after I first came across his name. But he remained invisible until now. And, worse, his wife died only two months ago, in April, and I'm sure she would have been able to reveal a great deal about his writings.

This isn't the first time my research has been thwarted by a frustratingly close miss. When I was researching the Boy's World index I discovered that original editor Jim Kenner had a brother. And I tracked down the brother in the USA only to find that he had died three weeks earlier. Perhaps the worst case was just after I started, way back in 1979, when I wrote to Walter Gillings, a key figure in the history of British SF. I received no reply, and it was only months later—at the World SF Convention held in Brighton that year—that I learned that Gillings had died. Checking on the dates, he either died on the day my letter arrived or the day before. (I suspect the latter as I probably used a 2nd class stamp... I was still at school and didn't have a lot of spare change!) (And before I get a reputation for killing people off, many of the authors and artists I've contacted over the years have been alive both before and after my letter or e-mail arrives!)

Today's random scans are Simon Morden's Samuil Petrovitch series. Originally a series of linked short stories that grew into a science fiction trilogy, there are now four novels of which I have had two for ages. Thankfully I managed to track down the missing two last weekend and now intend to work my way through them when time allows (along with the thousand and one other books I want to read!).

The series can boast the odd claim that the first three all three won the Philip K. Dick Award in 2011, as the trio of books making up the initial trilogy were released simultaneously. Book four was published in 2013.

 

 

Tomorrow we'll take a look at the latest issue of Jeff Hawke's Cosmos and next week we will probably be looking at some of those mystery artists who worked on Cowboy Comics in the early 1950s. That should keep me busy!

Newspaper strips of the Nineties

Today's post is a random selection of newspaper strips from 1990s newspapers. Examples are from Today (2 July 1994), Daily Star (2 November 1996), Daily Mirror (28 November 1996) and Daily Mail (10 May 1997, 17 February 2000). Yes I know the last one is from 2000.

Too Great A Risk!

Before he began drawing MACH1 for 2000AD, Jesus Redondo had spent over a decade drawing for girls' comics in the UK, mostly for D. C. Thomson in the pages of Diana, Spellbound and others, via the Creaciones agency of Luis Llorente.

Creaciones also picked up other work outside of the regular weekly comics, including work for the Family Planning Information Service, for whom Redondo drew the following 4-page cautionary tale.

Of course, the Holy Grail for collectors of family planning comic strips is a similar pamphlet drawn by Ian Gibson for the same agency. It needs to be preserved for posterity!

 

 

 

Upcoming Releases: June 2015

JUNE 2015

Devlin Waugh: Red Tide by John Smith & Sean Phillips.
2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083444, 18 June 2015, 176pp, £18.99.
Vampirism can be a bally intolerable nuisance to one's social life - ask Devlin Waugh. Having been transformed into a blood-sucking fi end when on a mission for the Vatican, the one-time Corinthian is now a shadow of his old, jovial self. But now a terrifying evil from Devlin's past has returned with an unquenchable thirst for mayhem. Will the former connoisseur of au courant be equipped to defeat this menace? Or is the world destined to suffer in the putrescent grip of this supernatural, degenerate force? This transcendent tome is brought to you by the considerable talents of John smith (Indigo Prime) Colin McNeil (Judge Dredd) John Burns (Nikolai Dante), Sean Phillips (Fatale), Peter Doherty (The Dreaming) and Jock (Batman).
Order from Amazon.

Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 10 by John Wagner & others.
2000AD ISBN 978-1781083697, 9 June 2015, 336pp, £13.20.
Order from Amazon.

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].
A reader's history exploring girls' comics.
    Girls' comics were a major genre from the 1950s onwards in Britain and the most popular titles sold between 800,000 and a million copies a week. However, this genre was slowly replaced by magazines which now dominate publishing for girls. Remembered Reading is a readers' history which explores the genre, and memories of those comics, looking at how and why this rich history has been forgotten. The research is based around both analysis of what the titles contained and interviews with women about their childhood comic reading. In addition, it also looks at the other comic books that British girls engaged with, including humour comics and superhero titles. In doing so it looks at intersections of class, girlhood, and genre, and puts comic reading into historical, cultural, and educational context. 
Order from Amazon.

Troy Trailblazer and the Horde Queen by Robert Deas.
David Fickling Books (Phoenix Presents) ISBN 978-1910200469, 64pp, £7.99.
Troy Trailblazer and his team of intergalactic adventurers hold the future in their hands! Can they save the universe from the villainous Horde Queen before the past catches up with them?
Order from Amazon.

The V.C.'s: Hell in the Heavens by Gerry Finley-Day, Cam Kennedy, Mike McMahon, Garry Leach & Steve McManus.
2000AD Graphic Novels ISBN 978-1781083284, 18 June 2015, 144pp, £6.99.
By 2531, humanity had colonised the solar system. Warfare and barbarity had all but been forgotten. Then the 'Geeks' arrived - a deadly alien species with only one thing on their dark, unfathomable minds...the extinction of the human race! And so, humankind was forced to battle once more, this time amongst the stars, in space patrol ships crewed by the V.C.'S (aka Vacuum Cleaners). New recruit Steve Smith is ready for action, but first he must face a fight closer to home, and gain the acceptance of his combat-hardened crew mates.
Order from Amazon.

White Trash by Gordon Rennie & Martin Emond.
Titan Comics ISBN 978-1781168219, 16 June 2015, 128pp, £14.99.
A crazy journey across teh USA in one of the most unique and groundbreaking comics ever! The greatest buddy road comic EVER! Join slacker surfer dude Dean and The King, legendary gold-laméd rock'n'roller, as they take their pink Cadillac into the soft, white supremacist, Evangelical brimstone underbelly of the good ol' US of A!
Order from Amazon.

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.