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15 February 2023

Garth Ennis & Patrick Goddard signing announced

Forbidden Planet have announced here a signing with Garth Ennis & Patrick Goddard on Saturday 8th April 2023 1-2pm. 

Let's see what they have to say about it... 

Writer Garth Ennis is penning a new story for 2000 AD featuring the classic genetic infantryman, Rogue Trooper.

The acclaimed co-creator of Preacher and The Boys returns to the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic with ‘Blighty Valley’, a brand new story with art byJudge Dredd and Sniper Elite artist, Patrick Goddard.
It follows Ennis’ return to British comics with the one-off revival of comedy strip Bonjo From Beyond The Stars in 2000 AD’s Christmas issue, which featured the last comics work by the late great Kevin O’Neill, and his scripts for Battle Action, the bestselling hardcover anthology reviving classic comics war series from the 1970s.
The new 13-episode story begins in 2000 AD Prog 2326, which will be on sale on 5 April in the UK – through newsagents, comic book stores, and the 2000 AD webshop and app – and in North America through Diamond Distribution in July.



Created by writer Gerry Finley-Day and artist Dave Gibbons, and debuting in 2000 AD in 1981, Rogue Trooper is the last of the G.I.s – Genetically-engineered Infantry designed to survive the poisoned and war-torn world of Nu Earth. Betrayed by his own side, he is a lone warrior stalking these blasted lands in search of the notorious Traitor General, accompanied by his dead comrades- their personalities encoded on ‘bio chips’ and inserted into his equipment.
In this new tale, Night’s Horizon is the period two weeks out of every year when Nu Earth’s orbit carries it closest to the black hole. The Norts call it Zvartchvintern; the first settlers knew it as Lightfall. Things have a reputation for going a little… screwy around this time. Now, Rogue Trooper is about to experience those effects first-hand…

Garth Ennis said: ‘For me Rogue Trooper is as vital a part of classic 2000 AD as Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Robo-Hunter, Nemesis the Warlock, or Sláine, and I well remember wandering the wastes of Nu Earth with Rogue and the bio-chips on their hunt for the Traitor General. The stories that instantly come to mind are ‘All Hell on the Dix-I Front’, ‘Fort Neuro’, ‘Eye of the Traitor’, ‘You Only Die Twice’ and ‘To The Ends Of Nu Earth’ – I hope ‘Blighty Valley’ will prove a worthy successor to such unadulterated gems.’
Matt Smith, editor of 2000 AD said:‘Garth Ennis has written classic 2000 AD characters before, but this is the first time he’s scripted Rogue Trooper. As you’d expect from someone steeped in war comics, his take on the G.I. is powerful, thrilling and explosive. With Patrick Goddard providing the stunning visuals, this a dramatic, unmissable addition to the Nu Earth saga.’

Rogue Trooper is the subject of the forthcoming movie by Duncan Jones, the critically-lauded director of Moon, Source Code, Warcraft and Mute write, in a joint venture between Liberty Films and Rebellion, the Oxford-based games publishers and owners of 2000 AD.

If you can't make the signing you can still pre-order a signed copy of 2000AD prog #2326 here for £5.99 (limited to 1 per customer).

14 February 2023

UPDATED: Scouse Mouse an incomplete guide

New comic highlighted in purple...

One of the first comics I ever blogged about was 'Ace' or 'Scouse Mouse presents Ace!' comic to give it it's full title.

I'm still not clear on the chronology of this comic but I know that the last issue was April 1989 (see the Werewolf cover, below). 

Scouse Mouse presents the Ace! comic, fun special

Scouse Mouse presents Ace! comic, issue 1

Scouse Mouse presents Ace! comic, issue 2

Scouse Mouse comic, issue 3


Based on the image from the image on the back of issue 3 (above) we know that the title was then re-named 'Scouse Mouse and the scallywags'...

Scouse Mouse and the scallywags!comic, issue 4
ebay listing dates this to November 1987

This is un-numbered but if issue 4 (above) is from November then this is presumably issue #5 (December 1987) 

It ends up as just being Scouse Mouse by the time it merges into Whizzer & Chips (on 15th April 1989 - the Scouse Mouse logo was dropped from the masthead after precisely 4 weeks, apparently) - so maybe the December date on the above comic means it's from 1988. Again, copyright dates are missing from these comics.

Scouse Mouse and the Scallywags, January 1988

Scouse Mouse and the Scallywags, Smoochy February Edition

Scouse Mouse and the Scallywags, Mad March Edition

S
couse Mouse and the Scallywags, Super Spring Edition
As this has the same price as previous issues I'm assuming it wasn't actually a holiday special type issue (despite the title) so I'd guess this was Spring 1988


Scouse Mouse and the Scallywags, Jolly June Edition
I'm assuming this is from June 1988 - Nigel Parkinson draws the first strip here (and has signed his work).


The comic ends up as just being Scouse Mouse by the time it merges into Whizzer & Chips (on 15th April 1989 - the Scouse Mouse logo was dropped from the masthead after precisely 4 weeks, apparently)...

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 1, November 1988



Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 2, December 1988

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 3, January 1989

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 4, February 1989
image not to hand - can you help?

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 5, March 1989

Scouse Mouse (Fleetway) - issue 6, April 1989


George Nicholas also worked on the Budgie Malone comic - which I looked at here , here and here as well as Were Bears comic (here). All 3 titles are hard to collect - so good luck in your collecting. 
I've tried to piece together all the appearances of Were Bears, Star Bears and Scare Bears here 

George has a website here

Friend of the blog Stephen Archer has let me have the following information about the 1989 issues of Whizzer & Chips...
Beginning with 15/4/89, and omitting 22/4, 17/6, 15/7, 16/9, 11/11, 18/11 and 9/12 (as those dates aren’t held by the British Library) and are thus uncheckable, Scouse Mouse appeared continuously until the end of the year with the exceptions of 14/10 and 2/12.

Comics artist Nigel Parkinson has provided this timeline...
a). 2 issues of ACE in 1986;
b). 13 issues of Scouse Mouse (and the Scallywags) published by Modelbrisk, 1987-8; 
c). 6 issues of Scouse Mouse published by Fleetway 1988-9

13 February 2023

Kevin O'Neill - Batman

Always a pleasure to feature (early) Kevin O'Neill art work on the blog. I've featured his fanzine artwork (here) and it was a pleasure to spot this cover recently. It's the cover for Fantasy Unlimited #16 (1973)




12 February 2023

UPDATED: Eagle comic free gifts

For ages, I've wanted to track down images of all the free gifts that were presented with the original Eagle comic.

The list below is taken from Cliff Wanford's 'Eagle collectors handbook' and is my guide to what's out there to collect...

Right then let's see what we can find...all updates highlighted in red (thanks to Jonathan Crossfield)

Volume 2, issue #34 (2/34) - Christmas catalogue






Volume 2/35 (07/12/51) - Christmas catalogue








Volume 3/33 (21/11/52) - Christmas supplement








Volume 4/8 (29/05/53) - Coronation supplement








Volume 4/23 (11/09/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/24 (18/09/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/25 (25/09/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/26 (02/10/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/27 (09/10/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/28 (16/10/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/29 (23/10/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/30 (30/10/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/31 (06/11/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/32 (13/11/53) - Eagle extra

Volume 4/33 (20/11/53) - Christmas supplement








Volume 4/34 (27/11/53) - Christmas supplement







Volume 4/35 (04/12/53) - Christmas supplement









Volume 5/47  (19/11/54) - Christmas supplement








Volume 5/48 (26/11/54) - Christmas supplement









Volume 5/49 (3/12/54) - Christmas supplement








Volume 6/46 (18/11/55) - Christmas supplement




Volume 6/47 (25/11/55) - Christmas supplement







Volume 6/48 (02/12/55) - Christmas supplement







Volume 6/49 - Christmas supplement
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 7/47 (23/11/56) - Christmas supplement








Volume 7/48 (30/11/56) - Christmas supplement





Volume 7/49 (07/12/56) - Christmas supplement






Volume 11/11 (09/03/60) - Passport to adventure wallet

Volume 11/12 (16/03/60) - supplement - world transport (cut and fold booklet)

Volume 11/13 (23/03/60)- supplement - space (cut and fold booklet)

Volume 11/14 (30/03/60) - supplement - the real wild west (cut and fold booklet)

Volume 11/15 (06/04/60) - supplement - underwater world (cut and fold booklet)

Volume 12/5 (04/02/61) - supplement - post office (cut and fold booklet)

Volume 13/10 - Marvels of this modern age album (with 12 cards)

Volume 13/30 - Holiday extra supplement
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 14/10 (09/03/63) - wallet of soccer cards








Volume 15/8 (22/02/64) - Roger Moore tells you how to be a detective

Volume 15/23 - model glider

Volume 15/41 - 4 Olympic medals
these were free with the issue dated 10th October 1964; Boys' World had closed on 3rd October 1964 (and been merged into Eagle) and there clearly wasn't time to re-brand the free gift

Volume 15/42 - The Olympic games supplement





Volume 15/43 - pocket chess and draughts set




Volume 15/44 - Eagle indoor games [chess variants, fox & geese and a colour Dan Dare battle game]




Volume 16/1 - sporting records booklet
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 16/27 - On Europe supplement
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 16/41 - Get going with Eagle supplement - 1. getting into sport
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 16/42 - Get going with Eagle supplement - 2. getting into sport
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 16/43 - Get going with Eagle supplement - 3. getting into sport
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 16/44 - Get going with Eagle supplement - 4. getting into sport
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 16/45 - Get going with Eagle supplement - 5. road safety
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 16/46 - Get going with Eagle supplement - 6. space
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 17/3 [15/01/66] - flashing morse transmitter


and accompanying newsagent poster

Volume 17/4 - the world of signals supplement
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 17/6 - the world of espionage supplement
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 17/21 - the GPO tower supplement
image not to hand - can you help?

Volume 19/4 (27/01/68) - super cut-out model of Ford Escort car


Volume 19/5 (03/02/68) - super cut-out model of Ford Escort car