Roy of the Rovers (2)

so rolling the clock back a few years there was a time when Mirror Books (an offshoot of Mirror newspaper) published quiz books...


So here's there 1978 Roy of the Rovers quiz book

that must have worked, because the next year...

the 1979-80 football quiz book came out. Like its predecessor volume this has some reprint art in it and lots of questions (unsurprisingly) about football in it.

Here's the other quiz book that came out at around the same time from the same publisher (1980, compiled by Roy Preston)

But back to Roy...the other volume well worth tracking down is this





This is from 1994 and is a 200+ page A4 sized volume featuring a complete chronological overview of Melchester Rovers' seasons from 1951-52 up until 1992-3. A huge amount of content and well worth getting hold of (it always seems to be quite expensive - I can only assume it sell well at the time).

Roy of the Rovers (1)

The recent release of Barrie Tomlinson's book Real Roy of the Rovers stuff (more details see here    http://downthetubes.net/?p=33497) made me wonder what other Roy of the Rovers book's are out there for the collector?


In recent years Titan Books have published:

1. Roy of the Rovers - the 1980s
2. Roy of the Rovers - the 1970s
3. Roy of the Rovers - world cup special
4. The bumper book of Roy of the Rovers
5. The second bumper book of Roy of the Rovers

But they're quite well-known so I'm going to gloss over those, instead...


Well there have been a few (auto)biographies, for instance...


This is Mick Collin's effort from Aurum Press in 2008 (ISBN 9781845133610)

This hardback is from publishers Century in 2014 (ISBN 9781-78-089329-7)

Which was then reprinted in paperback by Arrow in 2015 (ISBN 978-0-09-959866-4)

Anything else to collect? Oh yes, come back tomorrow for more details...

Black Star Fiction Library - issue 2

So here's the second (and final) issue of Shaky Kane's Black Star Fiction Library from 2001, in this issue Officer Carlos who suffered rather horribly in issue 1 is fished out of the docks, where he's met a rather unfortunate end. Like all cops, Scratch reckons, now that he's dead, Officer Carlos is a hero (even though he was a scumbag in real life), luckily Scratch has prepared for this eventuality and proceeds to ruin Officer Carlos's life from beyond the grave.


Cover

Officer Carlos (looking rather the worse for wear, but then he is dead)

From The dinosaurs are coming, the 'back-up' strip in this issue. Art by Shaky Kane.

An advert for companion (humour) title, Lazy Frog, this also featured much Shaky Kane artwork.

Black Star Fiction Library - issue 1

So this is a little bit different then...

This is the work of 'Shaky Kane', this is issue 1 (from 2001) and tells the tale of Scratch, the 22nd century's most mis-understood mass murderer.

The stories are set in Big Star City, a micro-metropolis built for commerce and entertainment but rapidly descending into crime and corruption...

Here's the prologue for the first story...

and that's all I'm going to show of it, because some of it is really, really gory and unpleasant.

Second story is illustrated by George Flint and also features the character of Scratch...

The third, and final, story is again illustrated by Shaky Kane (from a script by Ian Porter) and has the most familiar Shaky Kane art tstyle hat I would recognise day in, day out.

Shaky and Ian also collaborated on 'Lazy Frog' magazine, which was one of the slew of Viz rip-offs that appeared when Viz made it big.
Tomorrow's post will look at Black Star Fiction Library (issue #2 - also the last issue).

Valerian

The recent Down the tubes listing of the Cinebook reprints of Valerian books...
http://downthetubes.net/?p=35118
...reminds me that Cinebook were not the first to publish these volumes in English, here they are

this edition is from 1981

this is from July 1985

This is from 1982

This is from 1983

London comics calendar - 25th Nov 2016

London comics calendar - updated 25th Nov 2016

Thought it might be useful to try and pull together a listing of upcoming comics events, please let me know if I've missed any

note that new items are highlighted in red

London comics calendar

Exhibitions

The story of British comics so far cor, by gum, zarjaz, The Lightbox, Woking, until 31/12/16
http://www.thelightbox.org.uk/the-story-of-british-comics-so-far-cor-by-gum-zarjaz-2016

Adventures in Moominland, 16/12/16 – 23/04/17

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/adventures-in-moominland-99751

Pictures from Punch, Cartoon Museum, 2/11/16 – 22/01/17

http://www.cartoonmuseum.org/exhibitions/future-exhibitions


Future shock, Cartoon Museum, from 25/01/17
http://www.cartoonmuseum.org/


40 years of thrillpower – 1 day 2000ad festival, 11/02/17
http://2000adonline.com/40years

Tove Jansson @ Dulwich picture gallery, Oct 2017

https://www.moomin.com/en/blog/tove-jansson-exhibition-goes-europe/

Comic marts

Royal National hotel
March 5th 2017
April 2nd 2017
July 2nd 2017
September 3rd 2017
October 1st 2017
November 5th 2017
December 3rd 2017
http://londoncomicmart.co.uk/
 

Launches / signings

Dave Gibbons Signing Watchmen: Noir, Forbidden Planet megastore, 25/11/16, 6pm

Kieron Gillen and Kev Walker signing Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #1, Forbidden Planet megastore, 25/11/16, 6pm

James Roberts and artist Jack Lawrence (writer and artists on Transformers: Lost Light #1), Orbital Comics, 16/12/16, 5-7pm

Al Ewing signing Now US Avengers #1, Forbidden Planet megastore, 04/01/17, 6pm

 

Dan Abnett signs Aquaman volume 1, Forbidden Planet megastore, 11/01/17, 6pm

Talks

Comica social club, the central bar, the foyer, Royal Festival Hall, 30/11/16, 6pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/1779131075680088/

She Lives – Live! [with Woodrow Phoenix] @ the cartoon museum, Saturday 10/12/16, 2pm

Chip Charlton and Mr Woofles, Gosh, 02/012/16, 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/1312127515475024/

The Can Opener's Daughter, Gosh, 08/12/16, 7pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/237883249962840/

Where to buy original art
http://www.chrisbeetles.com/
https://www.bookpalace.com/cgi-bin/mf000001.pl?ACTION=SHOWFORM


Good places to buy (second-hand) British comics
http://30thcenturycomics.co.uk/
https://www.bookpalace.com/cgi-bin/mf000001.pl?ACTION=SHOWFORM
http://www.mgeshops.com/book-comic-exchange/
http://www.rayguncomics.co.uk/ [limited 2nd hand section but even so]
http://www.orbitalcomics.com/ [limited 2nd hand section but even so - also stocks small press titles]

The journal of Luke Kirby

The announcement the other day (see http://downthetubes.net/?p=35293) that Rebellion are to collect together all the 'Journal of Luke Kirby' strips from 2000ad made me reach for the scanner to show you these....

Issue 1 (cover by Ken Barr)

 

Issue 2 (cover by Ken Barr)

 

Issue 3 (cover by Ken Barr)

back cover artwork

Right now these are the only place to find Luke Kirby reprints. Issue 1 of 'Night Walker' collates episodes 1-5 of the story 'Night Walker', issue 2 has episodes 6-10 and issue 3 has episodes 11-13. Script is by Alan McKenzie, art by John Ridgway and lettering by Annie P(arkhouse). These comics took me a while to find, I think in the end I may even have had to buy them from a US dealer. Well worth checking out.

Rok of the Reds - issue 4

September saw the publication of issue 4 ("sentence of death") of Rok of the Reds

note that not all copies are defaced by John Wagner and Dan Cornwell :)


Industry legends John Wagner and Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Judgement on Gotham, A History of Violence) team up once again to bring you Rok of the Reds alongside stunning art by Dan Cornwell.
Rok of the Reds is a six part series showing what happens when the lives of a dangerous intergalactic outlaw and an arrogant footballer collide. With his home world destroyed, Rok of Arkadi is on the run and needs a hiding place. And that hiding place happens to be troubled football star Kyle Dixon.
A black comedy about revenge, redemption and the ‘beautiful game’.


Here's my spoiler free review...
As Rok/Kyle start to consider the future via a classic Roy of the Rovers style cup run, trouble is brewing behind the scenes via the 4th estate and his own parents! Rok's days of sitting on the comfy flowery armchair in his slippers appear to be numbered, but only once the cup semi-final is out of the way surely?


One of the best independent comics out there right now.


http://bhpcomics.tictail.com/product/rok-of-the-reds-issue-4


You can tweet them via @BHP_comics or facebook them up via

Rok of the Reds - issue 3

ok so I'm coming to the Rok of the Reds party late but I'm trying to make up for it by having a Rok week here ok? Anyway, August 2016 saw the publication of Rok of the Reds issue 3

Industry legends John Wagner and Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Judgement on Gotham, A History of Violence) team up once again to bring you Rok of the Reds alongside stunning art by Dan Cornwell.

Rok of the Reds is a six part series showing what happens when the lives of a dangerous intergalactic outlaw and an arrogant footballer collide. With his home world destroyed, Rok of Arkadi is on the run and needs a hiding place. And that hiding place happens to be troubled football star Kyle Dixon.

A black comedy about revenge, redemption and the ‘beautiful game’.


My spoiler free review...
In this chapter ("The beautiful game") Rok/Kyle get the hang of football "...it is principally a matter of contact. The swifter the rotation, the greater the deviation. Ball construction, atmospheric conditions, wind direction and velocity also play their part. there are many variables" - as he explains the physics of free kicks to a bemused team-mate. Rok/Kyle also experience problems maintaining his secret identity and gets to grips with football corruption in his own inimical way. This is still looking like the Tiger/2000ad strip that time forgot. And I mean that in the best possible way.
Production values continue to be top-notch on this independent comic.


Issue 3 on its own
http://bhpcomics.tictail.com/product/rok-of-the-reds-issue-3-pre-order-release-date-3-august


Issue 1-3 bundle
http://bhpcomics.tictail.com/product/rok-of-the-reds-3-issues-for-10


tweet via @BHP_comics
facebook via https://www.facebook.com/bhpcomics/?fref=ts

Rok of the Reds - issue 2

Rok of the Reds issue 2 was published by BHP comics in July this year and for those of you coming to it late, this is what you've missed...

Industry legends John Wagner and Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Judgement on Gotham, A History of Violence) team up once again to bring you Rok of the Reds alongside stunning art by Dan Cornwell.

Rok of the Reds is a six part series showing what happens when the lives of a dangerous intergalactic outlaw and an arrogant footballer collide. With his home world destroyed, Rok of Arkadi is on the run and needs a hiding place. And that hiding place happens to be troubled football star Kyle Dixon.

A black comedy about revenge, redemption and the ‘beautiful game’.


My spoiler free review...
In this issue ("Alien Blood") the alien Rok tried to get to grips with the purpose of football "...yes. a pointless pastime, and yet...something strangely pleasing about it. Difficult not to feel a certain sense of...exhilaration. No doubt it will pass" while at the same time trying to maintain the pretence of living in a boarding house in the suburbs (shades of early Doomlord stories in the new Eagle here). But is his secret about to be revealed?


@BHP_comics
https://www.facebook.com/bhpcomics/?fref=ts

Rok of the Reds - issue 1

BHP comics are the publishers of 'Rok of the reds' the sci-fi football mash-up comic that looks like the editors of Tiger and 2000ad had a row about and couldn't decide who should publish it. Because they would both want to publish it I mean. It's that good.

Industry legends John Wagner and Alan Grant (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Judgement on Gotham, A History of Violence) team up once again to bring you Rok of the Reds alongside stunning art by Dan Cornwell.


Rok of the Reds is a six part series showing what happens when the lives of a dangerous intergalactic outlaw and an arrogant footballer collide. With his home world destroyed, Rok of Arkadi is on the run and needs a hiding place. And that hiding place happens to be troubled football star Kyle Dixon.
A black comedy about revenge, redemption and the ‘beautiful game’.


More details here...
http://bhpcomics.com/rok-of-the-reds/


Here's my spoiler-free review...
There's a lot of exposition in issue 1 (of 6 issues) as we move from a sci-fi setting to a more domestic, British football game based adventure. It's no easy task but it's accomplished easily by comics experts John Wagner & Alan Grant. I love the commentary on the football matches by the crowd, this is so redolent of old Roy of the Rovers comics as to bring a retro glow to this old school comics fan. We meet Rok (the alien) and Kyle Dixon (obnoxious football player) and how their lives collide as Kyle's life spirals out of control. More please!


Issue 1 is for sale here
http://bhpcomics.tictail.com/product/rokofthereds1


Issue 1-3 issue bundle is available here
http://bhpcomics.tictail.com/product/rok-of-the-reds-3-issues-for-10

More Scalextric (2)

and the final images from the catalogue...

last one...

Space Ace #7 - exclusive!

John Lawrence has been in touch to let me know that issue 7 of his gloriously retro comics magazine, Ron Turner's Space Ace, is now out. Featuring the work of legendary British comics artist Ron Turner (with his work coloured by John Ridgway) issue 7 looks to be another good 'un. John is a long-standing fan (and publisher) of Ron's work and this magazine pays homage to his art om just one particular strip, Space Ace. So, if you like your sci-fi '50s style then this is for you.
Full review to follow once my copy arrives.


The last issue was 40 A4 pages, of which 32 were in full colour (plus the covers).
Details of how to acquire your own copy are as follows...

Cost is £8.95 UK, £12.50 for Europe and £14.50 for international orders.

 

Copies may be obtained via PayPal (please use friends and family option) at: 

 

spaceace.54@virginmedia.com

Otherwise cheques to: 39 Carterweys, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4RB

 

Here's an exclusive reveal of the cover...

plus 4 pages of interior art...

More Scalextric (1)

So the Ian Kennedy Scalextrix pictures were a hit the other day, so here's a few more ...

very reminiscent of that old strip 'Martin and his marvellous Mini'

In memoriam (3) - Wilf Hardy

Jeremy Briggs has reported on the death of aviation artist Wilf Hardy...


Vulcan To The Sky Trust announced it in their latest newsletter saying, "We send our condolences to the family of Wilfred Hardy GAvA who died on the 4th September this year. Wilf was a well-respected aviation artist and a supporter of XH558. His illustration The Ghost from Goose Bay is the basis of our extremely popular Christmas card and he had no hesitation in granting us permission for its use."
Wilf was a stalwart of technology illustrations in, amongst other titles, Look and Learn magazine and its siblings, including my favourite Speed and Power. I never knew that much about him but I did do this piece on his non-L&L aviation covers for the Royal International Air Tattoo over on Steve Holland's Bear Alley some nine years ago.


I present here some of his comics work over the years...

This is taken from Eagle issue 500 (August 1993)

From 'Speed & Power' issue 12 (June 7-14 1974)

From new Eagle #1 (27/03/82)

From new Eagle #8 (01/05/82)

Wilf's art appeared in new Eagle issues 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16 as well as 'Look Alive magazine issues 1-4.

In memoriam (2) - Martin Aitchison

Martin Aitchison died (aged 96) on 22nd October 2016. Martin will be best remembered for his work with the publisher Ladybird and his work for the original Eagle magazine in the 1950s, particularly his work illustrating the 'Luck of the legion' series of stories written by Geoffrey Bond.


Fulsome tributes have already appeared elsewhere on the web (see below)
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/nov/10/martin-aitchison-obituary


http://downthetubes.net/?p=34936


http://britainisnocountryforoldmen.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/britain-is-no-longer-country-for-and_29.html


so I just thought I would add some new images to the mix...


Here's one of Martin's covers for Eagle Times (showing the 'Luck of the Legion' gang plus at least one very recognisable dictator trussed up like a Christmas turkey), this is from the Winter 1993 issue of Eagle Times, volume 6, issue 4.

The Down the Tubes tribute mentions his work on the strip 'Justin Tyme' - here are 2 unpublished  illustrations he drew as reference material for the strip; one of Justin and one of his local pub

The Eagle Society dinner in 1996 featured as its star guests the Luck of the Legion team - writer Geoffrey Bond (left) and artist Martin Aitchison (centre).

They were also persuaded to sign books for society members

Another of Martin's paintings, this was also turned into a centrespread illustration for Eagle Times (as it featured CS Forester's character Lieutenant Hownblower - whose adventures he also illustrated in Eagle).

More details of the Eagle Society can be found here
http://eagle-times.blogspot.co.uk/