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30 September 2017

Valerian creators in South Kensignton today!

Don't forget that this is happening today......


On Saturday 30th September, at the Institut Francais (South Kensington, London) the creators of the Valerian spatiotemporal agent series will be making a rare appearance.

There are more details here but the website says...

Jean-Claude Mézières & Pierre Christin in Conversation, moderated by Paul Gravett.

The extensive and otherworldly work of Jean-Claude Mézières and Pierre Christin is one of the most influential in the whole sci-fi world as we know it. In 1967, they created the Valerian & Laureline comic book series, which tackles social and philosophical issues with a strong dose of mid-century radicalism and has just been adapted into a film by Luc Besson. They will share and discuss with the audience what makes their collaboration unique, between political commentary and colourful art.

As if that's not enough you can tie this in with the opportunity to see the recent Valerian movie - chat+movie = £15, what's not to like?


Scans of the English language edition of the books (before Cinebook started reprinting them)




29 September 2017

Roy of the Rovers is back!

Great news for all fans of British (football) comics the BBC are reporting (here) that Rebellion are bringing Roy of the Rovers back into the world of publishing, albeit not in a weekly comic but they are re-starting his career.

Jason Kingsley, Rebellion CEO, said he was "delighted" the character was back "for a new generation of readers", calling him a "fantastic addition" to the company's roster of characters.

Ben Smith, head of books and publishing at Rebellion, said: "There are only a handful of truly iconic characters in British comics, and Roy Race is surely one of them. We look forward to bringing Roy to modern audiences in a completely fresh incarnation that honours the extraordinary legacy of the character. We will be telling stories that connect with readers both young and old. There is a dearth of football-related fiction on the shelves, and we're looking forward to correcting that, whilst giving a classic British comic character a new lease of life in the process."


Over on the book trade info website (here) they are reporting that

KEY POINTS
•Rebellion to launch a brand new, rebooted Roy of the Rovers in 2018.

•Publishing plan includes 3x56 hardback page graphic novels per football season, launching in September 2018, January 2019 and April 2019.

•Middle grade [presumably this means sort of 6-8 year old] illustrated fiction titles to be released alongside the graphic novels, launching in September 2018.

•Roy of the Rovers Digital in development.

•A comprehensive licensing program, working with prominent partners in various markets, also currently in development.

•Rebellion is currently booking meetings for the Brand Licensing Expo London and Frankfurt Book Fair regarding Roy of the Rovers.

•Readers can sign up for news updates at www.royoftheroversofficial.com, and find us on Twitter @royoftherovers


from the new website http://royoftheroversofficial.com/




Roy's new look has yet to be revealed

For those catching up on Roy of the Rovers collectables don't forget to look

here or here  or  here or  here  or here

Pat Mills signing and talk tonight

Don't forget that this is happening tonight...



...has been announced by Orbital Comics here, they say...

We’ve got a rare treat in store for you this September 29th, as 2000AD and Action creator Pat Mills will be stopping by to promote his new book “Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave!”, with a special signing event and free after-hours talk!

Pat is also co-creator of Battle, Misty, Marshal Law, Requiem Vampire Knight, Charley’s War (described as “the greatest British comic strip ever created”) and the black comedy text novel Serial Killer.

As 2000AD and Judge Dredd celebrates its 40th birthday, Pat at last writes the definitive history of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, and the turbulent, extraordinary and exciting events that shaped it.
Be Pure! Be Vigilant! Behave! is the infamous slogan of Torquemada, the comic’s favourite villain. It once appeared on the Berlin Wall, and symbolizes the subversive nature of 2000AD that changed so many readers’ lives and influenced generations of film directors, actors, rock bands, novelists and even school headmasters.

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about Judge Dredd, Slaine, Nemesis, ABC Warriors, Flesh, Bill Savage and more, is in this book. Plus the writers and artists who created them and the real-life people and events they drew on for inspiration. The scandals, the back-stabbing and the shocking story that was regarded as “too sensitive” to ever see the light of day is finally told.


28 September 2017

Shaky Kane exhibtion is back and opening soon!

Great news from Orbital comics...the Shaky Kane exhibition they ran earlier here and here is to re-open on 1st October and will, say Orbital, be revised and expanded they say...
With more pieces than previously, and a preview of Shaky’s contribution for our forthcoming Kirby Consciousness exhibition, this is a chance for anyone who missed the first showing in summer.
In addition, Shaky himself will be joining us on Saturday October 7th for a signing (from 5pm) and opening party (from 7pm), alongside Mr David Hine and together they will deliver a Director’s Commentary on their recent hit, Bulletproof Coffin: 1000 Yard Stare. As if that wasn’t enough, we will be screening Steve Cook’s remarkable documentary, Shaky Kane Unravelled




27 September 2017

The Tripods by John M Burns

Here's the John M Burns art for Tripods strip that ran in Beeb magazine. This is taken from issue 1. Format is the same across all issues of Beeb - i.e. two colour pages and then one black & white page.




If you're interested in seeing how the adventure continued than I can heartily recommend picking up some back issues of Beeb that, as it happens, I have listed for sale on ebay now....

Beeb 2 here

Beeb 3 here

Beeb 4 here

Beeb 7 here

Beeb 10 here

Beeb 11 here

Beeb 13 here

Beeb 15 here






26 September 2017

Bog Eyed books launch party - 5th October

For fans of comics creator and publisher Gary Northfield the 5th October should be a date in your diary...


Thursday the 5th of October, 7pm @ Gosh comics for an introduction to Bog Eyed Books and their books...Derek the sheep - let's bee friends; Sgt. Chip Chorlton; and Uselues - a Greek oddity.
The Useleus book is brand new and is strips that originally appeared in the Phoenix comic. The other two books have been out for a while (the Derek the Sheep book just has a new title).

As Gosh themselves say....

The exciting new kids comics publisher Bog Eyed Books is here to officially launch themselves, and they've brought the whole gang! Gary Northfield, Nicky Evans, Jim Medway, Alexander Matthews and Wilbur Dawbarn will all be here on Thursday, October 5th, from 7-9pm for a Bog Eyed Books Launch Party!

The brainchild of Julius Zebra creator Gary Northfield and Nicky Evans, Bog Eyed Books is dedicated to bringing the finest of kids comics to the shelves of good bookstores and tasteful book readers everywhere. And first out the gate are three great titles to tickle your funny bones:
Derek the Sheep: Let's Bee Friends by Gary Northfield - Bog Eyed Books brings you the very best Derek The Sheep stories from Gary Northfield's archives. Between 2004 and 2011 Gary Northfield created over 60 Derek the Sheep stories for British children's comic The Beano. Many have not seen the light of day since their original fleeting appearances in the famous weekly comic. 

Sgt Chip Charlton and Mister Woofles of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by Jim Medway - From the pages of The Phoenix! Scared of horses but driven to fight crime and seek justice?
What is a young Canadian to do? Chip Charlton joins the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, picking his daschund buddy over the conventional equine sidekick. Sgt Chip soon proves the naysayers wrong, and time after time, crime after crime, demonstrates how even a weak stomach is no obstacle to following your dream. Three cheers for Sgt. Chip Charlton and Mr Woofles of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police!


Useleus: A Greek Oddity by Alexander Matthews & Wilbur Dawbarn - Embark on the craziest odyssey through Ancient Greece, alongside its most hopeless hero, Useleus and his long-suffering teacher, the legendary Minotaur! An Asterix for the 21st Century, Useleus is skilfully written by Alexander Matthews and nimbly drawn by Wilbur Dawbarn. Leaping from the hallowed pages of popular children's weekly comic, The Phoenix, Useleus channels Ancient History through the madcap eyes of two renowned Beano and Dandy creators!
So come on down and meet the whole crew. Signatures! Sketches! Possibly cake? Definitely drinks!

What more could you want from a Thursday night?

If you can't make it down but would like any books signed, drop us a line to info@goshlondon.com to arrange a reservation or mail order.

You'll also be able to catch many of the same creators at Orbital comics on Saturday 7th October...



25 September 2017

Ron Turner art found in old comics fanzines (2)

The 2nd 'lost' Ron Turner can be found here in the pages of issue 21 of the Comic Journal. A 6 page strip this time. It's from the October 1939 issue of American pulp magazine Science Fiction). The strip was originally called Infra-Intellect when it was original written in 1937.

If you want to see more then I can only ask that you head over to ebay...

24 September 2017

Striker volume 3 - status update

Over on the Strikerworld forum there's been an update on the pre-oders fro volume 3 of Striker - the complete collection...




A big thank you to everyone who has already reserved their copy of Volume 3 of Striker: The Complete Collection. These quality A4 hardbacks are selling fast and time is running out to order.

Volume 2 was a sell-out, and although we are considering a second-edition, these would not be ready before the new year.

We’ll be printing more surplus copies of Volume 3 than we did with Volume 2, but the only way to be certain of reserving a book is to order in the next few days.

Volume 3 contains the final four years of the hand-drawn Striker adventures before the switch to 3D computer-generated production at the start of 1999. This era is also notable for the transition in the tone of the stories from drama to comedy drama. 

The books will be despatched at the end of this month or the first few days of October. Prices are £25, including UK delivery, or £30 for a signed book.

Click here to reserve your book: http://strikerworld.co.uk/forum/6003865/

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Striker volume 3 ready to order
Over on Strikerworld (here  to be precise) Pete Nash has announced that volume 3 of the Striker reprint archive collection is now ready to order.

He says...

Once again we will be printing to order, with only a few surplus copies, so be sure to order your copy early as there were many disappointed fans who missed out on Volume 2.

This book (volume 3, cover below) contains the last four years of hand-drawn Striker adventures before the switch to 3D computer-generated production at the start of 1999. And you can see a three-week experiment with the new style towards the end of the book.

This era also marked a transition in the tone of the Striker stories from drama to comedy drama - inspired by the larger-than-life character traits of Eric and his trophy wife Vanessa, who made their Striker debuts at the end of Volume 2.

As with all the volumes in the collection, there's an introduction by Striker creator Pete Nash, who recalls his memories and experiences from that era.

The price for Volume 3 has been kept at £25 including delivery, for an unsigned book or £30 including delivery for a signed copy. Overseas buyers should email Lucinda at admin@planetstriker.com for prices.

We are aiming to despatch the books around the end of September.



He also says...
For those of you who missed out on Volume 2, we are considering printing a second edition if there is sufficient demand. Email Lucinda at admin@planetstriker.com if you would like to go on the waiting list).


Striker volume 1...

23 September 2017

Ron Turner art found in old comics fanzines (1)

One of the joys of tidying up any collection is the realisation that you've got stuff that you'd completely forgotten about, currently I'm selling off some stuff on ebay here and realised that this issue of ace British comic magazine The Comic Journal contains an 8 page (A5) comic strip by the legendary Ron Turner. The strory was written by John Russell Fearn before World War 2 as an unfinished fragment intended for a round robin series that was never completed.



Anyway, here's the opening page to whet your apetite...

22 September 2017

Frankenstein, Texas - on Kickstarter now

Ok, so this looks great, so thought I'd share if here, it's called "Frankenstein, Texas" and it's billed as a 48 page horror western and it's available to back here on Kickstarter right now.

I'll let creators David Hitchcock (art) and Dan Whitehead (script) tell you more about it...

What if Mary Shelley's famous gothic novel was a lie? What if Victor Frankenstein paid Captain Walton to announce both he and his creation had perished and vanished in the Arctic? What if instead the pair headed west, across Europe, to Ireland and from there to the new world? To America?
That's the concept behind Frankenstein, Texas, a 48-page horror western graphic novel from writer Dan Whitehead (Hex Loader, Midwinter) and Eagle Award winning artist David Hitchcock (Springheeled Jack, The Signal Man).


This is a tale of action and adventure, but also a story that explores ideas of damnation and salvation, of fresh starts and bitter ends, and what it takes to atone for the deadliest of sins.
At the heart of the story is the complex relationship between Frankenstein and his creation. The man, constantly wrestling with the knowledge that he created life from death, and the monster, heartbroken by the violence that rages inside him, and determined to prevent his "father" from repeating the mistakes of the past.



Frankenstein, Texas is written by Dan Whitehead. An author, journalist and scriptwriter, Dan has over 20 years experience in professional publishing. Among the titles he has written are two official Star Wars books, comic adaptations of Poe's Fall of the House of Usher, Jason and the Argonauts and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and the children's historical science fiction novel Atlanta meets the Cotton Slaves. He has also written scripts for video games and television, and most recently self-published the retro gaming supernatural comic book Hex Loader and post-apocalyptic thriller Midwinter.

The artist on Frankenstein, Texas is 2006 Eagle Award winner David Hitchcock.  His past work includes The Visible Man with Pat Mills for 2000AD, the award-winning Madam Samurai, Springheeled Jack, Whitechapel Freak and a graphic novel adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic ghost story The Signal Man.

This campaign is to primarily fund the art for a complete 48-page graphic novel. Although we are calling this "Volume 1" that's because there are more stories we want to tell in this setting with (some of) these characters. To say any more would spoil the story, but suffice to say that the book being funded has a beginning, a middle and an emotionally satisfying ending. There will be no cliff-hanger, no expectation for you to buy the next book. Obviously that would be lovely (please do that) but this is written as a story which stands by itself, as well as setting the stage for future adventures.

The script is complete and work has already begun on the interior pages - as you can see in the images here. This campaign is to raise the funds to pay for David's time to complete the rest of the book. Money has already been set aside for lettering and printing.

I've already backed it, why don't you?

21 September 2017

Valerian creators in London - 30th Sep

On Saturday 30th September, at the Institut Francais (South Kensington, London) the creators of the Valerian spatiotemporal agent series will be making a rare appearance.

There are more details here but the website says...

Jean-Claude Mézières & Pierre Christin in Conversation, moderated by Paul Gravett.

The extensive and otherworldly work of Jean-Claude Mézières and Pierre Christin is one of the most influential in the whole sci-fi world as we know it. In 1967, they created the Valerian & Laureline comic book series, which tackles social and philosophical issues with a strong dose of mid-century radicalism and has just been adapted into a film by Luc Besson. They will share and discuss with the audience what makes their collaboration unique, between political commentary and colourful art.

As if that's not enough you can tie this in with the opportunity to see the recent Valerian movie - chat+movie = £15, what's not to like?


Scans of the English language edition of the books (before Cinebook started reprinting them)




20 September 2017

Dave Gibbons book launch & talk tonight!


Orbital comics have announced an evening with Dave Gibbons & Tim Pilcher...here they say...

Orbital is proud to present the launch of How Comics Work, the exciting new book from Dave Gibbons and Tim Pilcher. Pulling back the curtain of comic book creation, the iconic artist behind Watchmen and Green Lantern reveals insider hints, tips and tricks in his own words. Covering both traditional and digital techniques, this “how it’s done” book will prove essential to any aspiring comic creator.

Gibbons and Pilcher will be signing copies of their new book from 5:30 – 7:30pm, and the evening will conclude with a free-to-attend after-hours panel discussion. If ever you wanted to get comic book industry knowledge first-hand, this will be the event you can’t afford to miss!

Dave Gibbons at 2000ad con back in February

Star Wars - the Marvel UK collection

Released yesterday (19th Sep), and running to a monstrous 808 pages, is this addition to every comics fans Christmas list, yes it's the 'Star Wars - Marvel UK collection'


The blurb on Amazon (where it's priced from £62.50 upwards)....

All your favorite Star Wars characters - from Luke Skywalker to Darth Vader to the Ewoks, in sensational adventures first published a long time ago and far, far away - in Britain in the '70s and '80s! Now, for the first time, these rarely seen tales are collected in a single hardcover - along with a veritable treasure trove of UK-exclusive covers, pinups, posters, articles, interviews, star profiles, activities and other goodies never before seen by American eyes! Savour early stories by classic British creators, tales slated for the U.S. series but never published in America and fascinating Star Wars rarities you didn't know existed! COLLECTING: STAR WARS WEEKLY 60, 94-99, 104-115; EMPIRE STRIKES BACK MONTHLY 149, 151, 153-157; STAR WARS MONTHLY 159; EWOKS ANNUAL 1989; STAR WARS: THE OFFICIAL COLLECTORS' MAGAZINE; MATERIAL FROM PIZZAZZ 10-16; UK EXCLUSIVE COVERS, PINUPS, ARTICLES

16 September 2017

Beeb magazine covers gallery - part 1

Beeb was the BBC's answer to Look In magazine - it only lasted for 20 issues (with the last 3 issues apparently only being available to subscribers) and featured a consistent run of strips in its life...
One by One - illustrated by Mario Capaldi
Bananman
Automan
The Tripods [illustrated by John M Burns]
Grange Hill - illustrated by John Armstrong
Family Ness

So now cast your mind back to what it was like in early 1985...




15 September 2017

new Gerald Scarfe exhibition to open soon

On 22nd September (to 21 Jan 2018) an new exhibition of cartoonist Gerald Scarfe's work will open at the House of Illustration (near King's Cross station, London) providing a rare opportunity to explore extensive but little-known production designs with storyboards, costumes and props from Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Disney’s Hercules and English National Ballet’s The Nutcracker.


But what's the comic link I hear you cry? Well he is a renowned (political) cartoonist and his art did (sort of) appear in the original Eagle...


For more details on David Hockney and Gerald Scarfe in the pages of Eagle click here

From Eagle volume 3, issue 31 (cover dated 7th November 1952)