Violent! 4, 5 & 6

I've looked at Violent! before...

Issue #1 is here

Issues #2 & #3 are here

and now it's the turn of issues 4, 5 & 6 (the final issue I believe)

Violent! #4, Winter 2001, £1, A4, 24 pages, cover by Frazer Irving, B&W art throughout (apart from the cover)

strips as follows...

Rabid - by Jim Campbell

A mere maid - by Clow

Mitch Molotov - by Phil Nixon & Jim Campbell

Spare parts - by Jay Eales & Peet!

Knuckles - by Jay Eales & Simon Gurr

A killing in suburbia - by Mike Sivier & Shaun Bryan

Violent! #5, Summer 2002, £1.50, A4, 24 pages, cover by Paul Harrison, B&W art throughout

strips as follows...

Flatworm: The French connection - by Jay Eales & Paul Harrison-Davies

Mage works - by Jay Eales & Kelvin Cox

Spare parts - by Jay Eales & Peet! Clack

Rose-tinted spectacles - by Jay Eales & Peet! Clack

The Teksas chainstore massacre - by David Hailwood & Stuart Giddings

Violent! #6, Summer 2004, 28 pages, A5, cover by ???, B&W art throughout

strips as follows...

Flatworm 2069 - by Jay Eales & Paul Harrisom

Mageworks 2: Afterlife - by Jay Eales & Kelvin Cox

Achtung! - by Graeme Neil Reid

Spare parts - by Jay Eales & Peet!

The Teksas chainstore massacre - by David Hailwood & Stuart Giddings

The cut above - by Gary Wilkinson & PJ

Violent #2 & #3

A few months ago (here to be precise) I looked at an issue of small press comic Violent! and its contributors - Simon Fraser, PJ Holden & others. Anyway, more copies of Violent! have now come my way so I'm going to continue my look at Violent! comic and its contributors...

Violent! #2 (2000), A4, 16 pages, B&W art, 90p

cover art by Simon Fraser in tribute to Stanley Kubrick

The Tallyman, art by PJ Holden and script by H Janus

Live Bait - art by PJ Holden and script by Jim Campbell

other strips...

Rahid - by H. Janus & Jim Campbell

Mitch Molotov campus cop - by Phil Nixon & Jim Campbell 

Fashion victims - art by Stuart Giddings; script by David Hailwood

Violent! #3 (2000), 24 pages, B&W art, 90p

cover art by PJ Holden

Live Bait - script by Jim Campbell, pencils by PJ Holden, inks by Patrick O'Connor

Mitch Molotov - Phil Nixon, Jim Campbell & Simon Fraser

The flatworm - script by Jay Eales, art by PJ Holden

other strips...

Rahid - layouts by Mike Siver, script / finished art / letters by Jim Campbell. Created by H. Janus & Jim Campbell.

Ssob - by Alex Smith 

Siege on castle Aldermarsh - art by Mike Donaldson, script by Andrw Lewis

Hell's belles - script by Dave Hailwood, art by Chow

Violent! #1

Thanks to friend of the blog Matthew Bunce I've recently acquired issues 1-6 of Violent! a small press comic from, erm, I'm not precisely sure when as I've not come across any dates on 'em yet. The best I've got is that the Aggro strip has a (c) 1999 on it. So that's the earliest this could date from.

Anyhoo, they were sent to me as they contained some interesting example of artwork by some folks who are now well-known artists.

The total list of credits is as follows...

Cover by Colin MacNeil

The Tallyman - story by H Janus, art by PJ Holden

Rabid - story & art by H Janus, letters by Jim Campbell

Mitch Molotov, campus cop - story & art by Phil Nixon, letters by Jim Campbell

Lowlife - uncredited

Aggro - Simon Fraser 

Anyway, let's have a look at the best of the art...

Cover by Colin MacNeil

List of contributors

Art by Simon Fraser

Art by PJ Holden

Rok the God Kickstarter ends this Friday

Still mulling over whether to back the Rok the God Kickstarter (here) but want even MORE bang for your buck? 

Never fear! John Wagner is here to explain all... 

We've been chided by backers for not offering enough options - Kickstarting is a steep learning curve for this old dog - so here are some optional add-ons to Rok your Socks!  I'm told you just add the extra cost onto your pledge and we sort it out at the survey stage.  Hope so.  I'm relying on you to know what you're doing, cos I don't!

ADD AN EXTRA £4 for postage UK,  £7 Europe, £10 RoW

Rok of the Reds graphic novel                   £20

Rok the God graphic novel                          £20

Rok the God graphic novel (BOLLAND cover)    £35

Signed John Wagner Judge Dredd script           £25

BRIAN BOLLAND A3 Poster                                    £15

SIMON BISLEY A3 ROK Poster                               £15

RADFORD REDS SHIRT - NEW LASER TOOLS LOGO - £40

We'll do the shirt in any size.  Weren't going to do shirts at all but it will look so good with the new logo we couldn't resist.  We've also added a new pledge at a lower level so you can book the Rok the God graphic novel with the great Simon Bisley Rok print.

So those are add-ons on top of the original list of pledges that are avialble - seems like a great way to get hold of a Brian Bolland or a Simon Bisley print. The best kickstarter out there is here

Rok the God - issue 1 now available

I've been a fan of Rok of the Reds ever since it came out, so I was delighted to see this news from his Rokness when it appeared on my facebook feed yesterday...  

TIRED OF WAITING FOR ROK THE GOD?

A FREE digital version of CHAPTER 1 will be accessible to all on Rok's forthcoming Kickstarter (October 2nd - mark the date!) but for those who JUST CAN’T WAIT we’ve printed a special PREVIEW ISSUE - Chapter 1, 20 strip pages, full colour. Available NOW - just message Dan Cornwell and he’ll send it off, £4 plus p&p. 

And here’s better news - we’ll even include a voucher for £4 off the eventual graphic novel. This won’t be valid for any Kickstarter reward, so don’t forget to check out the ROK THE GOD KICKSTARTER. Some AMAZING goodies available including:

* BRIAN BOLLAND variant cover!

* Poster and ORIGINAL ART from SIMON BISLEY!

* Amazing Neil Blackbird Sims ROK statuette - one of maximum 13 only!

* Original Dan Cornwell SKETCHES and much more!

AND the first five subscribers to the Rok Kickstarter will earn a chance to win an ORIGINAL ALAN GRANT BATMAN SCRIPT. Five names in the hat, one lucky winner!

This is the Dan Cornwell you're looking for on facebook...

ROKTOBER

Tammy & Jinty signing - tomorrow!

This is tomorrow, don't forget...

Forbidden Planet have announced a signing to celebrate the release of the Tammy & Jinty special 2019 - let's see what the had to say about it...

Tammy and Jinty were two of Britain’s best-loved girls’ comics in the 1970s and ’80s - groundbreaking female-led comics that covered everything from science fiction and fantasy to romance and domestic drama.

This June, these classic titles return in the 48-page Tammy & Jinty Special, retooled for the 21st Century! A host of the finest modern creators pay tribute to this legacy of trail-blazing comics while introducing a new audience to the medium!

None other than Rob Williams (Roy of the Rovers), Jim Campbell, V V Glass (Assassin’s Creed), Emma Beeby (Mata Hari) and many more present daring girl-led tales of roller derby, archaeology, codebreaking, ballet, space adventure and more!

You can join LIZZIE BOYLE, KIT BUSS, ANDY CLIFT, V V GLASS, JIM CAMPBELL and at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 22nd June 2019 from 3 – 4pm.

Tammy & Jinty special 2019 - signing announced

Forbidden Planet have announced a signing to celebrate the release of the Tammy & Jinty special 2019 - let's see what the had to say about it...

Tammy and Jinty were two of Britain’s best-loved girls’ comics in the 1970s and ’80s - groundbreaking female-led comics that covered everything from science fiction and fantasy to romance and domestic drama.

This June, these classic titles return in the 48-page Tammy & Jinty Special, retooled for the 21st Century! A host of the finest modern creators pay tribute to this legacy of trail-blazing comics while introducing a new audience to the medium!

None other than Rob Williams (Roy of the Rovers), Jim Campbell, V V Glass (Assassin’s Creed), Emma Beeby (Mata Hari) and many more present daring girl-led tales of roller derby, archaeology, codebreaking, ballet, space adventure and more!

You can join LIZZIE BOYLE, KIT BUSS, ANDY CLIFT, V V GLASS, JIM CAMPBELL and at the Forbidden Planet London Megastore on Saturday 22nd June 2019 from 3 – 4pm.

Daemonifuge - Kev Walker & Jim Campbell - part 2

As promised yesterday here is a guide for which issues of Warhammer monthly to look out for to catch-up with all things Daemonifuge (book 1)...

Issue 4 - the only time Daemonifuge made it to the front cover, cover by Kev Walker

Issue 5

Issue 6

Issue 7

Issue 9

Issue 10

Issue 11

Daemonifuge - Kev Walker & Jim Campbell - part 1

I've enjoyed tracking down comics that were published in the late '90s / early '00s relating to the Warhammer (40k) universe. Some of this interest comes from (as far as I can see) an incomplete understanding of what comics were published, so I'm going to take just one story today and look at how / when / where it was published, Daemonifuge. 
Note this all relates to Daemonifuge book 1, rather than book 2.  

Originally published in Warhammer monthly issues 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11 [which I'll cover tomorrow], a period from June 1998 to January 1999.

The material above (plus additional pages) was then printed (in 1999) in this volume (ISBN 1-84154-117-6). Classic US comic book size. 

In 2002 the material in this book was re-published in a 3 issue mini-series (classic US comic book size)...

The material in issues 4 & 5 (plus additional pages) was reprinted in this March 2002 issue 1 (of 3) of Daemonifuge. 

The material in issues 6 & 7 & (some of) 9 (plus additional pages) was reprinted in this April 2002 issue 1 (of 3) of Daemonifuge.  

The material in (some of) issue 9 & 10 & 11 (plus additional pages) was reprinted in this May 2002 issue 3 (of 3) of Daemonifuge. 

So of all the material published in Warhammer monthly very little was re-published in a mini-series, in fact it was only this series and The Redeemer, which I covered here. Only a couple of the books were published in hardback AS WELL, but Daemonifuge was...

At this stage in my researches I can't say if this was the only over-sized book that Black Library ever published by this is definitely an oversized volume...

So here it is (from 2002), utilising elements of the mini-series covers...(ISBN 1-84154-261-X) 

And here it is with the smaller book for comparison... 

There was a further edition in 2005 (of which I don't own a copy) called Daemonifuge: Heretic Saint (ISBN 1-84416-251-6) which looks like this...

And the story itself? That's pretty good too :) - good luck tracking all this stuff down people.

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