On This Day: 26 Mar

Psycho Gran (Titan) #01 (2014) digital edition

First Appearances:

Davock of Grey Woods in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Roy Fane (Return from Mars) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Smasher (robot) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #58 (31 Mar 1962).
Nina Coltrane (Shadows) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 672 (31 Mar 1990).

Births:

Tony Crawley (1938); Brian Bolland (1951)

Notable Events:

The Eagle Sportsman of the Year trophy was awarded to Peter May, at the Royal Albert Hall, in 1956.
Grimbledown Down cartoon strip began in New Scientist in 1970, and ended on this day in 1994.
The Disney Mirror 8–page giveaway ended in 1994 with the 160^th issue.
Gorillaz, the band's eponymously–titled debut album, released in the UK in 2001.
Kick-Ass feature film, based on the comic by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr., released in 2010.
Bryan Talbot signed copies of his books at Forbidden Planet, 40-41 Southbridge Street, Edinburgh, in 2011. Later in the day he did a presentation at Plan B Books, 5 Osborne St, Glasgow.
Revolutionary War: Omega (Marvel) #01 (Mar 2014) released in the US in 2014.
Nigel Parkinson was featured in The Guardian's 'Work & Careers' section on this day in 2015.

On This Day: 20 Mar

Valiant Holiday Special (IPC Magazines Ltd.) nn (1978).
St. Swithin's Day (Trident Comics; 1990).
Batman (Fleetway) Vol.2 #01 (Mar 1993).

First Appearances:

Medivac 318 in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 619 (25 Mar 1989).

Births:

Bruce C. Windo (1920)

Deaths:

J.R. Monsell (1952); James Herbert (2013)

Notable Events:

Terror Keep newspaper strip ended in 1937.
Inaugural Ally Sloper Award held at Comics 101 on this day in 1976.
Patty's Hours of Agony: A Reconstruction of the Life of Patty Hearst newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1976.
Raymond Briggs was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 2005.
The Royal Mail released World of Comics, a set of ten first class stamps bearing the likeness of Dennis the Menace, Dan Dare, and Judge Dredd among others, alongside the titles they appeared in, in 2012.
Brainstorm! The Art of Bryan Talbot began, at The Muse, 269 Portobello Rd., London, in 2014.

On This Day: 03 Mar

Tottering-by-Gently: In the Garden with the Totterings (Frances Lincoln; 2011) ISBN-13: 978-0711231856

Births:

Sir Edward Hulton, 1st Baronet (1869); Raymond Sheppard (1913); Ronald Searle (1920); Dino Leonetti (1937); Charlie Brooker (1971); David Fickling

Notable Events:

Crisis #39 (03 Mar 1990-16 Mar 1990) was published in conjunction with Amnesty International in 1990.
Leo Baxendale delivered his final I Love You, Baby Basil newspaper strip to The Guardian in 1992.
Neil Gaiman's adaptation of his and Dave McKean's The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 2005.
Mirrormask released in the UK in 2006.
The third Gorillaz studio album, Plastic Beach, was released in the UK in 2010.
Comic Empire event began at the Royal National Hotel, Bedford Way, London, in 2013.
Bryan and Mary Talbot signing at Inky Fingers, Cowley Road, Oxford, in 2018.

On This Day: 02 Mar

Eagle (IPC Magazines Ltd.) vol. #259 (07 Mar 1987). new look issue
Disney Mirror free with The Daily Mirror (1991).

First Appearances:

John Bull in Law is a Bottomless Pit by Dr. John Arbuthnot (1714) ?
Corporal Tom Parker (Parker's Private Army) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #128 (05 Mar 1977).
Paul Cannon (The Avenger) in Eagle #259 (07 Mar 1987).
Major Bronski (Comrade Bronski) in Eagle #259 (07 Mar 1987).
Mark Davies (Survival) in Eagle #259 (07 Mar 1987).

Births:

Alex Graham (1917); Ken Langstaff (1918); Simon Coleby (1967); Andrew Wildman

Deaths:

Frank Eric Smith (Trow; 1908); J.F. (James Francis) Horrabin (1962); Paul Raymond (2008); Bruce Cornwell (2012)

Notable Events:

Dot And Carrie ended in The Evening News with strip #11,735 in 1962.
The Fosdyke Saga newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1971.
John Noakes presented a brief history of British comics on Blue Peter in 1972.
The Fink Brothers' Mutants in Mega-City One single dropped to #75 in 1985. It would be the song's last chart sighting.
The Disney Mirror 8–page newspaper giveaway began in 1991.
Bryan Talbot did a presentation and signing at the Trent Building, University Park Campus, University of Nottingham, in 2011.
Jessica Martin's Picture Palace exhibition began at the Radlett Centre's Althorp Gallery, London, in 2015.
Bryan and Mary Talbot gave a talk in the Colin Matthew Room, Ground Floor, Radcliffe Humanities Building, University of Oxford, in 2018.

On This Day: 28 Feb

Anderson, PSI Division: Fear the Darkness by Mitchel Scanlon. (Black Library; Feb 2006) ISBN-10: 1 84416 326 1.
Thrill Power Overload by David Bishop. (2007)

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright by Bryan Talbot. (Big Finish Productions Ltd.; 2005)

First Appearances:

Moses Rayker (Sergeant Rayker) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #232 (03 Mar 1979).

Births:

Sir John Tenniel (1820); Thomas Maybank (1869); Jim Baikie (1940); Barry Fantoni (1940); Philip Reeve (1966)

Deaths:

Salomon van Abbé (1955); Charles Edmund Brock (1938)

Notable Events:

The funeral of Charles William Shirley Brooks took place, at Kensal Green Cemetary, London, in 1876.
Donald and Mickey was set to be launched by IPC in 1972, though its' actual appearance was delayed by power cuts crippling the country.
An exhibition of 1800s comic art began at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1974.
The first episode of Spitting Image broadcast on ITV in 1984. Co-created by Roger Law and Peter Fluck, it would launch multiple spin-off media.
The Fosdyke Saga newspaper strip ended in 1985.
The Larks newspaper strip ended in 1985.
2000 A.D. held a 25th Anniversary Party at Ministry of Sound in London in 2002.

On This Day: 26 Feb

Doctor Who Comic (Titan Comics) #01 (2015)

First Appearances:

Judge Dredd in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 2 (05 Mar 1977).

Births:

John Cassell (Jack) Morrow (1872); F.H. Townsend (1868); Steve Bell (1951); Enrique Alcatena (1957)

Deaths:

Charles Folkard (1963)

Notable Events:

William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody born in 1846. Tales of his adventures (both real and imagined) would continue long after his death.
The Greens newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1987.
Cardiff International Comic Expo began, at Mercure Cardiff Holland House Hotel, in 2011.
Alice's Adventures in Comics-Land panel took place at the British Library, London, in 2016, with Paul Gravett, Chie Kutsuwada and Bryan Talbot in attendance.

On This Day: 24 Feb

Coraline by Neil Gaiman. (Bloomsbury; 2002)

First Appearances:

Sgt. Jake Ryman (Long Sally) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #388 (27 Feb 1982).

Births:

David Langdon (1914); Bryan Reading (1935); Mike Williams (1940); Bryan Talbot (1952); Stephanie Drewett (1983)

Deaths:

Frank H. Mason (1965); Mal Dean (1974)

On This Day: 18 Feb

Emma (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01 (25 Feb 1978).
Speed (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Scooby-Doo and His T.V. Friends (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (24 Feb 1982).

First Appearances:

Sergeant Baker (Baker's Half-Dozen) in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Timothy Barlow, Speedboy in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Luke Cassidy (Quick on the Draw) in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Blake Edmonds (Death Wish) in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Mickey Jordan, The Fastest Footballer on Earth! in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Journey to the Stars in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Bullet Slick (£1,000,000 Challenge) in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).
Eddie Topps (Topps on Two Wheels) in Speed #01 (23 Feb 1980).

Births:

Douglas Rushkoff (1961)

Deaths:

Jim Holdaway (1970); Walter Henry Booth (1971)

Notable Events:

A set of stamps commemorating Halley's Comet, designed by Ralph Steadman, were released by the Post Office in 1986.
Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean began a signing tour, promoting Violent Cases and Black Orchid, in Peterborough in 1990.
Bryan Talbot discussed his work, with Steve Bell, as part of the LSE Literary Festival, at Wolfson Theatre, New Academic Building, London, in 2011.

On This Day: 02 Jan

Batman: Arkham (Titan Comics) #01 (2014)

Births:

Salvatore Deidda (1953)

Deaths:

H.O. Batho (1932); Edmund George Valpy Knox (Evoe; 1971); Charles Chilton (2013)

Notable Events:

Patsy... newspaper strip ended in 1953.
Sir Osbert Lancaster married Anne Scott-James in 1967.
Studs newspaper strip ended in 1982.
Bryan and Mary Talbot won the Costa Biography Award for Dotter of Her Father's Eyes in 2013, the first graphic novel to win the award.

On This Day: 06 Dec

Warlord and Bullet (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #220 (09 Dec 1978).

Grandville: Bete Noir (2013)

Births:

Reg Carter (1886); Bruce Angrave (1912); Nick Park (1958); Robin Riggs (1961); Paul Jenkins (1965); Noel Clarke (1975)

Deaths:

Jane star Christabel Leighton–Porter (2000); Lesley Hatch (2014)

Notable Events:

Little Willie, the first British tank, was completed in 1915. The name derived from William Kerridge Haselden's cartoons of Kaiser Wilhelm and his son, The Crown Prince.
A Trip into the Future newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1924.

On This Day: 27 Nov

The X-Files: Firebird (Manga Publishing Ltd.; 2005).
The Batman/Judge Dredd Collection (Rebellion; 2013).

First Appearances:

Steve Grappler Grant in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #41 (02 Dec 1961).
Grimstone Track (prose; Horror at Humpback Bridge) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #41 (02 Dec 1961).
Captain Buckingham (Bullseye Buckingham) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #10 (30 Nov 1974).

Deaths:

Mal Ashworth (2002); Alberto Salinas (2004)

Notable Events:

The first Grand Christmas Parade in London, in 1994, was attended by Marvel UK. Photos of the Hulk, Spider-Man, and Wolverine's involvement appeared in The Exploits of Spider-Man #35 ().
Alan Class signed his reprint titles for fans at 30th Century Comics ahead of an auction of file copies in 2005.
Bernard Cookson's novel The Fifth Day published by Vanguard Press in 2009.
Bryan Talbot's "How I Create a Graphic Novel" event, followed by a signing with Mary Talbot, took place at The Cartoon Museum, 35 Little Russell St, London, in 2014.

On This Day: 26 Nov

Warlord - Peter Flint Special (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) nn [1976].
Rammie (Comic Football) #01 (2009).

EuroTemps Edited by Alex Stewart & Neil Gaiman. (Penguin; 1992)

First Appearances:

The Urnaks are Coming! in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #93 (01 Dec 1962).

Births:

Angus McGill (1927)

Deaths:

Harold Sidney Harmsworth, 1st Viscount Rothermere (1940)

Notable Events:

London première of The Better 'Ole took place in 1926, starring Syd Chaplin as Old Bill.
Malcolm Muggeridge was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1956.
Crash magazine ran a sixteen-page feature on the Judge Death computer game, including reprints of the Dredd strip the game was based on, plus a Judge Anderson pin-up by Brett Ewins, in 1987.
Clare in the Community radio series, based on the newspaper strip, began on BBC Radio 4 in 2004.
Borders (UK) Limited announced that they had gone into administration in 2009.
Bryan and Mary Talbot attended a signing event at Forbidden Planet, London, in 2014.
Sheffield Comic & Film Fair began in The Showroom, Paternoster Row, Sheffield, in 2016.

On This Day: 15 Nov

Marshal Law: Kingdom of the Blind (Apocalypse) #01 (1990)
Treasury of British Comics Misty Book 2

British Comics: A Cultural History by James Chapman. (Reaktion Books; 2011)

Births:

Arthur Ferrier (1890); Patrick Nicolle (1907); Paul Raymond (1925)

Deaths:

Paul Rigby (2006); Paul 'Gamma' Gamble (2010)

Notable Events:

On this day in 1958 The Economist published a report entitled 'No Laughing Matter' regarding British comics, stating combined sales of titles to be in the region of £11 million.
Flook daily newspaper strip concluded in 1985. It continued in The Sunday Mirror thereafter.
Stan Lee continued his signing tour at Forbidden Planet, 3 Teviot Place, Edinburgh, in 1991. He also appeared at the store in Glasgow later in the day.
Thought Bubble One Day Comic Convention took place in Leeds in Saviles Hall in 2008.
The Illustrators: British Art of Illustration 1800-2008 exhibition began at the Chris Beetles Gallery, St James's, London, in 2008.
Thought Bubble Comic Convention began, as part of the Leeds Comic Art Festival, at Armouries Square, Leeds, in 2011.
Thought Bubble Comic Convention began, as part of the Leeds Comic Art Festival, at Armouries Square, Leeds, in 2014.
Bryan Talbot signing for the Grandville: Force Majeure exhibition launch, at Orbital Comics, London, in 2017.

On This Day: 10 Nov

Starburst (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #4 (Nov 1978)

First Appearances:

"Slugger" Shaw (I Don't Wanna Be a Corporal) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #112 (13 Nov 1976).

Births:

William Hogarth (1697); David Haldane (1954); Neil Gaiman (1960)

Deaths:

Patrick Gordon Campbell, 3rd Baron Glenavy (1980); Alberto Breccia (1993)

Notable Events:

Comic artist Roy Wilson was drafted in 1918 – the day before the Armistice.
The first issue of Starburst to be published by Marvel went on sale in 1978.
Bryan Talbot made an appearance at the Cheshunt Library in 2008.
Comica Comiket Independent Comics Fair began, at The Great Hall, Bishopgate, London, in 2012. Guests included Alison Bechdel and Bryan Talbot.

On This Day: 09 Nov

Doctor Who Christmas Special - The Six Doctors (Marvel; 1984]

Births:

Godfrey Douglas Giles (1857); Harry Parlett (1881); Simon Farr (1940); Luca Saponti (1985)

Deaths:

Leonard Matthews (1997); Terry Willers (2011)

Notable Events:

George du Maurier coined the term 'curate's egg' in a Punch cartoon entitled True Humility in 1895.
The infamous confrontation between Malcolm Muggeridge and John Cleese and Michael Palin, regarding the release of The Life of Brian, was broadcast as part of Friday Night, Saturday Morning, on BBC 2, in 1979.
Stan Lee began a signing tour at Forbidden Planet, 71 Oxford Street, London, in 1991.
Thought Bubble / The Leeds Sequential Art Festival began, at Leeds Town Hall, in 2007.
Comica Presents Grandville Bête Noire World Premiere, with Bryan and Mary Talbot in an interview with Kim Newman, took place, at Foyle's, Charing Cross Road, London, in 2012.
The Leeds Comic Art Festival began in 2015.

On This Day: 08 Nov

Rogue Trooper: Tales of Nu-Earth Vol.3 (2012) ISBN-13: 978-1-78108-068-9.

First Appearances:

Rupert Bear in newspaper strip

Births:

Franco Bignotti (1929); Richard Curtis (1956)

Deaths:

Edward Ardizzone (1979); Chad Varah (2007)

Notable Events:

Rupert Bear appeared for the first time in the story entitled "The Adventures of a Little Lost Bear" in The Daily Express in 1920.
Nelson newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1924.
In 1930 the Laurel and Hardy strip started a 27 year run in Film Fun, drawn initially by George Wakefield.
A Festival of Girls' Choirs, organised by Girl, was held at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in 1952. Glyn Jones, BBC choral conductor, and the Girls' Choirs of Eastbourne, Hastings, Ilford, and Manchester sang their most popular songs, and George Melachrino conducted his Grand Concert Orchestra.
An Earful of Zit audio-cassette released on the Funny Business label in 1993.
Bryan Talbot presented a free talk and slide-show, at the Wheatsheaf Lending Library, Rochdale, in 2002.
The lacklustre CGI animated series Rupert Bear, Follow The Magic... began broadcast on Five in 2006.
Comica Presents Kevin O'Neill: An Extraordinary Century, with the artist discussing his collaboration with Alan Moore, took place in 2012.
Roger Perry, while living in Tacloban City, was caught in typhoon Haiyan in 2013.

Dice Man #1

Mar 1986. £1.45.
68 pages. B&W contents.
IPC Magazines Ltd.

Fantasy Game Special

Edited by Simon Geller.

Painted cover by Glenn Fabry.

Contents:

 2 There are worlds beyond our own... text introduction by Steve Geller; illustrated by Kevin O'Neill.

 4 You Are Judge Dredd House of Death w: T.B. Grover, game design by Pat Mills; a: Bryan Talbot, lettering by Tom Frame.

25 Play in two new world-beating Play-by-Mail games from Mitregames. advertisement.

26 You Are Nemesis the Warlock Torture Tube w:/game design by Pat Mills; a: Kevin O'Neill, lettering by Steve Potter.

45 From the legendary co-creator of THE DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GAME (half page) advertisement for Sagard the Barbarian Gamebook / Alchemy Metal-Wear (half page) advertisement.

46 You Are Slaine Cauldron of Blood w:/game design by Pat Mills; a: David Lloyd, lettering by Gordon Robson.

65 Odyssey (half page) advertisement. / Grenadier Models UK Ltd. (quarter page) advertisement. / Axle says: WHY NOT VISIT THE GUARDROOM (quarter page) advertisement.

66 Rolling Soon next issue information.

67 Forbidden Planet advertisement.

68 Know Then, O Prince.... advertisement.

Fabry's deliciously odd cover, a fantasy melange entirely disconnected from the actual contents, is the perfect way to introduce the concept of a game-based comic title - the yellow background really stands out, especially in this large format. While there is probably a good argument to be made for featuring bankable 2000 A.D. characters for the launch, this speaks to a slightly different audience - one, hopefully, familiar with titles such as Imagine or the Game Master module-magazine-thingamajig.

There are worlds beyond our own... The worlds of if...

If Judge Dredd had been a second slower drawing and firing his gun...
If Slaine had failed to prise open the doorway to doom...
If Nemesis the Warlock had taken that turning too fast in his Blitzspear...

Their worlds - their lives - would have been different. There is only one key to those alternative realities. YOU hold the key... THE DICE. For they control the worlds of IF... the savage, phantom worlds of Dice Man.

Dredd (or the reader/player) drives down Dock Street to Croglin Mansion, parking his Lawmaster to survey the building. A scream from within urges him on to investigate... There are choices to pick from, and here is where the title has an edge over similar choose your adventure publications - unlike the Masters of the Universe book (taking a well known example) this is completely told in comic strip format. It may be a small step, moving from a full-page illustration and a block of text to comic panels, but this provides an important shift in tone. There's more immediacy in the journey.

The point-of-view illustrations are extremely effective, and one has to wonder if the imagery herein played any part in the development of visually similar computer games. There's even a panel (37) which will cause anyone familiar with the Doom franchise to smile, so familiar is it, alongside callbacks to 2000 A.D. strips ("Gaze into the face of fear!" makes an appearance). This is groundbreaking work which has been largely ignored in the intervening years, and it is well worth revisiting.

There is no let-up in pace with Nemesis the Warlock, as Torquemada has captured Purity Brown and is enacting his Edgar Allan Poe fantasies with her. Well, the PG-rated ones, at any rate. With Torquemada threatening to kill Purity at the stroke of midnight, there is an urgency to the story which feels more essential than in Dredd's adventure - this isn't merely a job to be undertaken, but a mission to save a character we like. O'Neill gives this strip everything he's got, and the level of detail worked into the main characters is astonishing.

This strip, unfortunately, encourages players to mark their speed on the images, so... Yeah. There's an unholy amount of blue and black ink in my copy, along with (for some reason) three highlighter colours.

Thank you, Mr. Mills.

The view from inside the Blitzspear is phenomenally cool, and makes me hunger for a racing game based on this story, especially if we are treated to scenes like panel 42, which may be the ickiest thing O'Neill has ever drawn. What the hell is that coming out of Nemesis' eye? Actually, scratch that. I probably don't want to know.

I'm not sure what, exactly, I was expecting from Sláine's story, but Cauldron of Blood is far, far better than anything I could have imagined.

You are the legendary Warped Warrior - a Celtic Berserker who fights with the strength of ten men. YOU are about to begin a new and dangerous quest...

To steal the mystic CAULDRON OF BLOOD from the Tower of Glass.

The evil Drune Lord SLOUGH GRUNSGUL rules the Tower, which is guarded by hideous monsters like the MAGACH - the Beast with a Hundred Heads.

The cauldron is the source of Grunsgul's power.

There's plenty of humour, horror, and genuine drama in the journey through the tower, with certain panels (16, in particular - a photograph) instantly familiar despite not having looked at the issue in nearly twenty years.

Quality paperstock make this infinitely better looking than the parent publication, though the contents were, perhaps, a tad ahead of their time. Worth seeking out for the artwork alone, yet by investing a little time in the games you will appreciate how good the contributors are. Brilliant and a little bit mad.

One of the best comic launches of the 80s.

Audio Productions

While this is most likely far from complete, it is an improvement on what previously appeared on the website.

Audio CD:

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright adapted Mark Wright, based on the comic by Bryan Talbot. (Big Finish; Mar 2005)

The Avengers - Steed and Mrs Peel: The Comic Strip Adaptations adapted by Simon Barnard, Paul Morris, Paul Magrs & John Dorney. (Big Finish; Apr 2016)

The Avengers - Steed and Mrs Peel: The Comic Strip Adaptations adapted by Robert Khan, Tom Salinsky, Paul Morris, Simon Barnard, Matt Fitton, John Dorney (Big Finish; Nov 2016)

Dan Dare: The Audio Adventures vol.1 adapted by Richard Kurti & Bev Doyle. (B7 Media / Big Finish; Dec 2016)

Dan Dare: The Audio Adventures vol.2 adapted by Richard Kurti & Bev Doyle. (B7 Media / Big Finish; Apr 2017)

Judge Dredd: Wanted: Dredd or Alive by David Bishop. (Big Finish; Mar 2002)

Judge Dredd: Death Trap! by David Bishop. (Big Finish; Apr 2002)

Judge Dredd: The Killing Zone by Dave Stone. (Big Finish; Jun 2002)

Judge Dredd: The Big Shot! by David Bishop. (Big Finish; Jul 2002)

Judge Dredd: Trapped on Titan by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish; Sep 2002)

Judge Dredd: Get Karter! by David Bishop. (Big Finish; Oct 2002)

Judge Dredd: I ♥ Judge Dredd by Jonathan Morris. (Big Finish; Nov 2002)

Judge Dredd: Dreddline by James Swallow. (Big Finish; Mar 2003)

Judge Dredd: 99 Code Red! by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish; Sep 2003)

Judge Dredd: War Planet by Dave Stone. (Big Finish; Sep 2003)

Judge Dredd: Jihad by James Swallow. (Big Finish; Mar 2004)

Judge Dredd: War Crimes by David Bishop. (Big Finish; Apr 2004)

Judge Dredd: For King and Country by Cavan Scott. (Big Finish; Apr 2004)

Judge Dredd: Pre-Emptive Revenge by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish; Oct 2004)

Judge Dredd: Grud is Dead by James Swallow. (Big Finish; Oct 2004)

Judge Dredd: Solo by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish; Dec 2004)

Judge Dredd: Crime Chronicles 1: Stranger Than Truth by David Bishop. (Big Finish; Oct 2009)

Judge Dredd: Crime Chronicles 2: Blood Will Tell by James Swallow. (Big Finish; Nov 2009)

Judge Dredd: Crime Chronicles 3: The Devil's Playground by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish; Dec 2009)

Judge Dredd: Crime Chronicles 4: Double Zero by James Swallow. (Big Finish; Jan 2010)

Strontium Dog: Down to Earth by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish; Jun 2002)

Strontium Dog: Fire from Heaven by Jonathan Clements. (Big Finish; May 2003)

Radio Adaptations:

Bristow
Clare in the Community
Dan Dare, Pilot of The Future
The Fosdyke Saga
Gentleman Jim
Modesty Blaise

Thirty Minute Theatre Modesty Blaise (Last Day in Limbo)

Modesty Blaise: The Silver Mistress
Modesty Blaise: A Taste of Death
Neverwhere
The New Adventures of Dan Dare, Pilot of the Future
Signal to Noise
Superman
The Tragical Comedy or Comical Tragedy of Mr. Punch
When the Wind Blows

Radio Specials:

Bash Street Unplugged
Holy Mackerel - It’s My Life!
Inside the Brain of Gerald Scarfe
Phill Jupitus' Comic Love
The Reunion

On This Day: 23 Oct

2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 650 (28 Oct 1989) *new look*

Game Zone (Dennis Publishing) vol.2 #1 (Nov 1992).

My Experiences in the Third World War and Other Stories: The Best Short Fiction of Michael Moorcock Volume 1 by Michael Moorcock. (2014)

First Appearances:

Fr1day (Rogue Trooper) in 2000 A.D. Prog 650 (28 Oct 1989).

Births:

Manny Curtis (1924); Gary Erskine (1968); Aaron M. Fitzwater (1978)

Deaths:

Antonio Canale (1991)

Notable Events:

The Sacred Armour of Antiriad computer game, packaged with accompanying mini-comic, released in 1986.
2000 A.D. began running multiple full-color strips, with Prog 650, in 1989.
Bryan Talbot gave a talk at Eccleston Library, Lancashire, in 2008.
The "Supper With Supermac" evening in 2011, at The Apple Inn, Lucker, with former Newcastle United and England soccer star Malcolm Macdonald raising money for charity, was the venue for Simon Donald's stand-up routine. The event raised £1,100, with money going to purchase sports equipment for St Mary’s Church of England Middle School.
Mark Gatiss was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 2011.

Swiftsure Vol.1 #1

May 1985; Cover price 70p.
32 pages. B&W.
Harrier Publishing.

Edited by Martin Lock.

Cover by Bryan Talbot.

Contents:

.2 Swift but Sure Introduction by Martin Lock. / Contents / Indicia / The Twenty Year Party text feature by Alan Moore.

.3 Lieutenant Fl'ff Arrival w: Martin Lock; p: Dave Harwood, i: Mark Farmer.

.9 Dandy in the Underworld 1: A Fall from Grace w:/a: Stephen Bakersville.

16 Ram, Assassin The Assassin w: Martin Lock; p: R.F. O'Roake, lettering by Richard Starkings. Logo by Nina Y. Sutcliffe.

22 Rock Solid, Space Hero Brazen Invasion, part one, w:/a: Lew Stringer.

25 Codename: Andromeda, part one, w: Bill W. Ryan; a: Dave Harwood.

32 People are Talking! advertisement.

A very detailed (though non-indicative) cover by Bryan Talbot graces the first issue of Swiftsure, an alternative title with mainstream aspirations. Alan Moore provides commentary on the state of comics c.1985, and is in fine form. Martin's editorial is very cheerful and optimistic, which is so refreshing that I'm willing to forgive the punny title.

Arrival begins with a large image of H.M.S. Repulse and rather a lot of text. It is a nice enough opening, but the name of the lead character bothers me: Fl'ff. Go on and say it out loud. Yeah. It really helps a strip if the protagonist doesn't have a name which immediately inspires a dozen jokes. Anyway, the uniform designs are functional and thought through (without tacky fanservice), the setting is intelligent (it is refreshing to see direction indicators on elevators), and the background detail is quite busy.

This should be a top-notch strip. And yet... nothing much happens. Fl'ff and Kale board the Repulse for their new assignments, settle in, and are sent on an away mision (on the last page) to investigate why the H.M.S Bromsgrove hasn't been in radio contact. The general feeling is that of the pre-credits sequence for the pilot of an SF series which is still testing the ground to see how solid the foundations are - more aggressive storytelling, with some incident of note, on the first page would have kept it from seeming so slow and tentative.

Definitely a story which needs to be read in one sitting rather than in bite-size installments.

There is a humerous opening narration, accompanying some beautiful illustrations, to begin Dandy in the Underworld. Set on the planet Orpho, where humanity lives in domed cities atop stilts to protect them from the natives. James Daniel Delaney has been found guilty on all counts, and sentenced to unarmed combat with an underworlder. If he emerges victorious his full rights will be restored, but if he loses he will be exiled to the underworld. It is a foregone conclusion that he will not be victorious.

Approached by Biddle (of Biddle, Biddle, Biddle and Grout), Delaney is tasked with conducting an investigation into the underworld. If successful he will be given his freedom, and one of Orpho's top agents has been tasked with assisting him in order to make sure he succeeds. Her name is A, and she is not the most sociable companion for such an exuberant individual.

A very impressive introduction to the characters and setting, with a great sense of humour running through the script. The visual assuredness is impressive, as is the world-building. This is a place I want to know more about, and Delaney and A are extremely well-defined considering how brief the strip is.

Set in 2584, on a colony-world of Safe Haven, far from Earth, Ram: Assassin is the story of Ramel Kerina. Having a female assassin come as a surprise to the characters is somewhat odd. The scratchy art suits the story, but there is a persistent sense that this is set in a nebulous time in the past rather than the far future. O'Roake's art reminds me especially of Dungeons and Dragons illustrations from the period.

Rock Solid is funny strip about an inept space hero, though the artwork is not as detailed as in the similar Dash Decent. There's a certain roughness here, which shows how long ago this appeared, but it is a fine start to the story.

Who doesn't love a story which begins with a scientific experiment gone awry? Codename: Andromeda opens with the Orgill Drive being tested aboard the spacecraft Newton, when a meteor punches through the delicate heart of the device under observation. Project Manager Gribbins and researcher Canning die immediately, along with twelve others, Kris Prescott also died, and her remains - seared by heat, then shrivelled and frozen by the vacuum of space - floats onward, many light-years from Earth.

Her corpse is recovered by Captain Brown, an alien responding to the energy flash, and placed in a robo-doc where she is restored to life. Transported to Earth by the alien technology, Kris is somehow restored, her new body formed from Stonehenge's stones and soil by force of will. It is a remarkably dark beginning, with aliens which never quite manage the ability to communicate, some gruesome implications inherent in their technology, and a central character who is remarkably composed given all that has befallen her.

Solid strips, with intelligent writing and great art. There are rough edges, but nothing serious enough to raise concerns.

If only all first issues were this good.