Heroes (London Editions Magazines) #01 (1991)
First Appearances:
Lt. Jake Cassidy in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #233 (10 Mar 1979).
Sgt. Bert Lucas (Bring-'Em-Back-Bert) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #233 (10 Mar 1979).
The Clown in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Editions Ltd.) Prog 774 (14 Mar 1992).
Professor Hilary Tremayne (Tales from Beyond Science) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Editions Ltd.) Prog 774 (14 Mar 1992).
Births:
Kate J. Fricero (1878); Louis Briault (1885); Jon Peaty (1914); Andrzej Krauze (1947)
Deaths:
Gerald A. Facey (1999); Scott Goodall (2016)
Notable Events:
Nothing important happened today.
Showing posts with label Fleetway Editions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fleetway Editions. Show all posts
Thursday, March 7, 2019
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
On This Day: 27 Feb
Red Dwarf Magazine (Fleetway Editions Ltd.) vol.1 #01 (Mar 1992)
The Blob Books:
Ghostly White Inky Black Poppy Red
Puppy Purple Rainbow Blob Sailor Blue
(D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.; 1981)
Anderson, PSI Division: Sins of the Father by Mitchel Scanlon. (Black Library; Feb 2007) ISBN-10: 1 84416 456 X.
Fiends of the Rising Sun by David Bishop. (Black Flame; Feb 2007) ISBN-10: 1 84416 455 1
Births:
Elliott O'Donnell (1872); Harry Banger (1897); Dudley D. Watkins (1907); Helen McCarthy (1951)
Deaths:
John Arbuthnot (1735); Dennis Castle (1993)
Notable Events:
The Flutters newspaper strip ended in 1947.
Fleetway Editions celebrated 2000 A.D.'s 15th anniversary with Panic in the Year Zero: Dancing Towards the Apocalypse (which began at 10pm, running until 3am) at The Camden Palace, London, in 1992. Chris Coco, Crusher, Mark Moore and Roxilla provided the music, while art and script droids provided the Thrill-Power. All proceeds of the event were donated to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
The Blob Books:
Ghostly White Inky Black Poppy Red
Puppy Purple Rainbow Blob Sailor Blue
(D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.; 1981)
Anderson, PSI Division: Sins of the Father by Mitchel Scanlon. (Black Library; Feb 2007) ISBN-10: 1 84416 456 X.
Fiends of the Rising Sun by David Bishop. (Black Flame; Feb 2007) ISBN-10: 1 84416 455 1
Births:
Elliott O'Donnell (1872); Harry Banger (1897); Dudley D. Watkins (1907); Helen McCarthy (1951)
Deaths:
John Arbuthnot (1735); Dennis Castle (1993)
Notable Events:
The Flutters newspaper strip ended in 1947.
Fleetway Editions celebrated 2000 A.D.'s 15th anniversary with Panic in the Year Zero: Dancing Towards the Apocalypse (which began at 10pm, running until 3am) at The Camden Palace, London, in 1992. Chris Coco, Crusher, Mark Moore and Roxilla provided the music, while art and script droids provided the Thrill-Power. All proceeds of the event were donated to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Batman Special Edition #1
Summer 1993. £1.50.
68 pages. Full color.
Fleetway Editions, Ltd.
Edited by Mike Butcher.
ISSN: 09683836
Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz. r: cover from Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
Contents:
Reproducing most of the contents of Batman #400 (there's a few pieces missing), this isn't an entry-level title for people to discover the character, but is worth hunting down for those who are familiar with the character and his enemies. Brilliantly white pages, unlike the muddy printing on offer from DC Stateside, makes the artwork really pop from the page, and even subtle details in Sienkiewicz's beautiful painting are clear.
Reading the story now, parallels to Knightfall are rather clear - a criminal mastermind breaks all of Batman's most feared enemies free from Arkham Asylum, and at one point Killer Croc even states "I'm doin' this for one reason only - to break the Batman's back." Had this been published in the late nineties it would have been regarded closer to parody, but here it works. Not a fantastic package, but it finds its' own rhythm.
Of course, being a plan by Ra's al Ghul, this is a slightly darker tale than the one which featured the overgrown wrestler Bane, and is all the better for it.
The inclusion of the Stephen King text piece is what most people will flick to first, in order to see if he really is "one of us". He is. It is interesting to see his reading choices (Blackhawk, Plastic Man, Turok), and to know that he watched the sixties Batman television series. His words, always a joy to read, also show just how important text features in comics are.
Strips may be the beating heart of comics, but text features are the soul.
The lingering puzzle is who the readers of the title were meant to be - ardent followers of the character would undoubtedly have already bought the US release, and it is a tad too complex for younger readers who might happen upon it, which must have diminished the possible audience.
68 pages. Full color.
Fleetway Editions, Ltd.
Edited by Mike Butcher.
ISSN: 09683836
Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz. r: cover from Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
Contents:
.2 Contents / Introduction text by Mike Butcher.
.3 Resurrection Night! w: Doug Moench. a: John Byrne. c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by Elitta Fell.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
.4 Chapter I: Trading Darkness w: Doug Moench. p: Steve Lightle, i: Bruce D. Patterson, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
10 Chapter II: The Master Below w: Doug Moench. a: George Perez, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
14 Chapter III: First Steps w: Doug Moench. p: Paris Cullins, i: Larry Mahlstedt, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
17 Chapter IV: The Tempting... w: Doug Moench. a: Bill Sienkiewicz, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
24 Chapter V: "Pinocchio and Jonah's Too!" w: Doug Moench. p: Art Adams, i: Terry Austin, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
32 Why I Chose Batman text feature by Stephen King.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
34 Chapter VI: Barred w: Doug Moench. p: Tom Sutton, i: Ricardo Villagran, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
40 Chapter VII: A Small Itch Scratched! w: Doug Moench. a: Steve Leialoha, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by Tom Orzechowski.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
43 Chapter VIII: The Big Sticking w: Doug Moench. a: Joe Kubert, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by Joe Kubert.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
47 Chapter IX: Branches Like Bones w: Doug Moench. a: Ken Steacy, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
50 The Boys from the Dwarf Are Back... in-house advertisement for Red Dwarf Smegazine.
51 Batman full-color pin-up by Mike Grell.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
52 Chapter X: The Dark Trade w: Doug Moench. p: Rick Leonardi, i: Karl Kesel, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John COstanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
58 Chapter XI: Under The Wind w: Doug Moench. a: Brian Bolland, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
65 Epilogue: Fated Fete w: Doug Moench. a: Brian Bolland, c: Adrienne Roy. Lettering by John Costanza.
r: Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
67 Announcing The 1993 Judge Dredd Mega-Special in-house advertisement.
68 Batman full-color pin-up by Bill Sienkiewicz. r: text-free cover from Batman (DC Comics) vol.1 #400 (Oct 1986).
Reproducing most of the contents of Batman #400 (there's a few pieces missing), this isn't an entry-level title for people to discover the character, but is worth hunting down for those who are familiar with the character and his enemies. Brilliantly white pages, unlike the muddy printing on offer from DC Stateside, makes the artwork really pop from the page, and even subtle details in Sienkiewicz's beautiful painting are clear.
Reading the story now, parallels to Knightfall are rather clear - a criminal mastermind breaks all of Batman's most feared enemies free from Arkham Asylum, and at one point Killer Croc even states "I'm doin' this for one reason only - to break the Batman's back." Had this been published in the late nineties it would have been regarded closer to parody, but here it works. Not a fantastic package, but it finds its' own rhythm.
Of course, being a plan by Ra's al Ghul, this is a slightly darker tale than the one which featured the overgrown wrestler Bane, and is all the better for it.
The inclusion of the Stephen King text piece is what most people will flick to first, in order to see if he really is "one of us". He is. It is interesting to see his reading choices (Blackhawk, Plastic Man, Turok), and to know that he watched the sixties Batman television series. His words, always a joy to read, also show just how important text features in comics are.
Strips may be the beating heart of comics, but text features are the soul.
The lingering puzzle is who the readers of the title were meant to be - ardent followers of the character would undoubtedly have already bought the US release, and it is a tad too complex for younger readers who might happen upon it, which must have diminished the possible audience.
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Batman Annuals
1960 – 1968 (9 annuals)
Atlas Publishing
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1960).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1961).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1962).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1963).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1964).
Batman Annual (1965).
Batman Annual (1966).
Batman Annual (1967).
Batman Annual (photo cover) (1968).
1969, 1971 (2 annuals)
Top Sellers
Batman Annual (1969)
Batman Annual (1970)
1967 – 1971, 1973, 1979 – 1986 (14 annuals)
Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder Story Book Annual (1967).
Batman Story Book Annual (1968).
Batman Story Book Annual (1969).
Batman Story Book Annual (1970).
Batman Bumper Book (1971).
Batman & Robin Annual No.1 (1973).
Egmont Publishing, Ltd.
The Official Batman Annual (1979).
The Official Batman Annual (1980).
The Official Batman Annual (1981).
The Official Batman Annual (1982).
London Editions
The Official Batman Annual (1983).
The Official Batman Annual (1984).
The Official Batman Annual (1985).
The Official Batman Annual (1986).
1989, 1991 – 1993 (4 annuals)
London Editions
Batman Annual 1989
Batman 1991 Annual
Batman 1992 Annual
Fleetway Editions
Batman Annual 1993
Ravette Books
Batman Annual 1994
Batman Annual 1995
The Batman Adventures Annual 1996
Batman & Robin Adventures Annual 1997
Batman & Robin Adventures Annual 1998
Pedigree Books
Batman Annual 2006
Batman & Robin Official Annual (film)
The Dark Knight Annual 2009
Atlas Publishing
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1960).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1961).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1962).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1963).
Batman Annual with Robin the Boy Wonder (1964).
Batman Annual (1965).
Batman Annual (1966).
Batman Annual (1967).
Batman Annual (photo cover) (1968).
1969, 1971 (2 annuals)
Top Sellers
Batman Annual (1969)
Batman Annual (1970)
1967 – 1971, 1973, 1979 – 1986 (14 annuals)
Batman with Robin the Boy Wonder Story Book Annual (1967).
Batman Story Book Annual (1968).
Batman Story Book Annual (1969).
Batman Story Book Annual (1970).
Batman Bumper Book (1971).
Batman & Robin Annual No.1 (1973).
Egmont Publishing, Ltd.
The Official Batman Annual (1979).
The Official Batman Annual (1980).
The Official Batman Annual (1981).
The Official Batman Annual (1982).
London Editions
The Official Batman Annual (1983).
The Official Batman Annual (1984).
The Official Batman Annual (1985).
The Official Batman Annual (1986).
1989, 1991 – 1993 (4 annuals)
London Editions
Batman Annual 1989
Batman 1991 Annual
Batman 1992 Annual
Fleetway Editions
Batman Annual 1993
Ravette Books
Batman Annual 1994
Batman Annual 1995
The Batman Adventures Annual 1996
Batman & Robin Adventures Annual 1997
Batman & Robin Adventures Annual 1998
Pedigree Books
Batman Annual 2006
Batman & Robin Official Annual (film)
The Dark Knight Annual 2009
Monday, December 3, 2018
2000 A.D. Specials
2000 A.D. Summer Special Supercomic
Jun 1977 (1 issue)
IPC Magazines Ltd.
2000 A.D. Sci-Fi Special
1978 - 1996 (18 issues)
IPC Magazines Ltd.
2000 A.D. Action Special
Apr 1992 (1 issue)
Fleetway Editions Ltd.
Jun 1977 (1 issue)
IPC Magazines Ltd.
nn (Jun 1977; cover price 30p) Harlem Heroes, Judge Dredd, Invasion, Dan Dare, M.A.C.H. 1, The Phantom Patrol and Flesh strips. The Thing from Nowhere text story. What Will We Look Like in 52,000 A.D.? and Will They Believe Their Eyes? text features. Star Wars and Stamps of Success features. What's Your Space IQ? quiz. 2000 A.D. full-color poster.
2000 A.D. Sci-Fi Special
1978 - 1996 (18 issues)
IPC Magazines Ltd.
nn (1978; cover price 35p) Judge Dredd begins. Dan Dare, Mach Zero, The Mach-Man File strips. Rick Random and the SOS From Space reprint from Super Detective Library. Frank Bellamy and the Dan Dare Strip text feature by Alan Vince. Space Chicks and Warlords Of Atlantis photo features. Mach Zero and The Mekon Fact File full-color pin-ups.
nn (1979; cover price becomes 40p) Strontium Dog and M.A.C.H. One begin. The Kids from Kosma, Future Shocks First Encounter and The Last Jungle in the World strips. Dan Dare - The Planet of Frozen Fear and A Breath of Fresh Air text stories. John Howard Interview. Meteor photo feature. You Are a Judge and You Are a Strontium Dog quizzes. Tharg's Cosmic Puzzle. Mek Wars! full-color poster.
nn (1980; cover price becomes 45p) Ro-Jaws' Robo Tales The Robot Revolution and The Wanderer, Tharg's Future-Shocks A Holiday in Hell!, Whatever Happened to Colony 9, and The Final Secret complete strips. The Steel Claw reprint from Valiant. Strontium Dog text story (uncredited). South Galaxy Echo text feature on Harry Harrison. The Empire Strikes Back photo feature. House of the Future illustrated feature. Tharg full-color pin-up.
nn (1981) Nemesis the Warlock begins. Southern Comfort and Tharg's Future-Shocks A Space Oddity! complete strips. One-Eyed Jack reprint from Valiant. Tharg the Mighty photo strip. Night-Land text story by John Agee. Desert Asteroid Authors, space shuttle and Diary of an Alien Editor! text features. Superman II photo feature.
nn (1982; cover price becomes 50p) Rogue Trooper begins. Blackhawk and Ace Trucking Co. strip. Selected Judge Dredd newspaper strip reprints. Pursuit Across the Cursed Earth! text story by Bill Henry. Dragonslayer photo feature. You Are a Mean Arena Player! quiz. Get the God-Droid! board game.
nn (1983; cover price becomes 55p) Tharg the Mighty strip begins. Selected Judge Dredd newspaper strip reprints, and Invasion! reprint from 2000 A.D.. The Von Ballin Tape text story by Jack Hamilton Teed. Games People Still Play! text feature. Return of the Jedi photo feature. Tharg the Mighty full-color photo poster. The Dark Judges full-color photo pin-up
nn (1984; cover price becomes 60p) Flesh and Invasion! reprints from 2000 A.D.. Tharg's Future-Shocks A Droid in Distress! and A Promised Land! complete strips. Selected Judge Dredd newspaper strip reprints. The Nightcomers text story by Jack Hamilton Teed. The Right Stuff photo feature. Sláine pin-up.
nn (1985) DR & Quinch complete strip. Tharg's Future-Shocks Do You Copy? complete strip. Ro-Busters reprints from Starlord. Selected Judge Dredd newspaper strip reprints. Rogue Trooper text story (uncredited). Tharg's Futureworlds pin-up and quiz. Strontium Dog cut-out. Tharg photo feature. Halo Jones full-color poster.
nn (1986; cover price becomes 65p) The Man Who Couldn't Die! complete strip. Unseen Sláine strip. Strontium Dog reprints from Starlord. Selected Judge Dredd newspaper strip reprints. Judge Dredd quiz. Sláine and Judge Dredd full-color pin-ups.
nn (1987; cover price becomes 75p) Enemy Alien complete strip. Nemesis the Warlock photo strip. Strontium Dog reprints from Starlord. Selected Judge Dredd newspaper strip reprints. Diary of an Alien Editor text feature. Strontium Dog, Nemesis the Warlock and DR & Quinch full-color pin-ups. Hammerstein cut-out.
nn (1988) Tyranny Rex begins. Zenith and What's Up Doc? complete strips. Ro-Busters reprints from Starlord. Tyranny Rex The Art of Becoming text story by Tomasso Kyle. The Ballad of Halo Jones text feature on theatre production. Smart People photo feature.
nn (1989; cover price becomes 80p) Moon Runners, Judge Corey and Zippy Couriers complete strips. The Amazing Maze Dumoir reprints from 2000 A.D.. Secrets of the Command Module illustrated feature. Crime Blitz! board game. 2000 A.D. pin-up.
nn (1990; cover price becomes 95p) Armoured Gideon begins. Bix Barton and The Journal of Luke Kirby complete strips. Nemesis the Warlock reprints from 2000 A.D.. Selected Judge Dredd newspaper strip reprints. Indigo Prime Requiem text story by John Smith. Tharg's Future Shocks: The Index text feature.
nn (1991; cover price becomes £1.50) Brigand Doom and Sam Slade Robo-Hunter begins. Tyranny Rex Touched by the Hand of Brendan text story by John Smith. Robo-Hunter text feature by Mike Butcher. Bix Barton full-color pin-up.
nn (1992) Tales from Mega-City One: Animal House text story by John Smith. Public Enemy interview with John Lydon. Future Shock: Index Update text feature.
2000 A.D. Action Special
Apr 1992 (1 issue)
Fleetway Editions Ltd.
nn (Apr 1992; cover price £1.75) Steel Claw, The Spider, Mytek the Mighty, Cursitor Doom. Kelly's Eye and Doctor Sin strips. Tales Before Dreddtime text feature by Lew Stringer.
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Red Dwarf Magazine
Mar 1992 - Jan 1994 (23 issues)
Fleetway Editions
Based on the BBC television series.
vol.1
Mar 1992 - Apr 1993 (14 issues)
vol.2
May 1993 - Jan 1994 (9 issues)
Fleetway Editions
Based on the BBC television series.
vol.1
Mar 1992 - Apr 1993 (14 issues)
01 (Mar 1992; 40 pages, cover price £1.50) The End adaptation begins. Interviews, puzzles, pin-ups and series 5 preview. Painted cover by Jon Rushby.
02 (Apr 1992) Free cover-mounted 'Smeg Head' badge. Series 3 episode guide.
03 (May 1992) Title becomes Red Dwarf Smegazine. Free cover-mounted postcard. Series 1 episode guide.
04 (Jun 1992) 'Smoke Me A Kipper, I'll Be Back For Breakfast' badge. Mutinous Pursuits strip. Future Echoes adaptation begin. Series 4 episode guide.
05 (Jul 1992) Series 2 episode guide. Ace Rimmer: Space Adventurer strip.
06 (Aug 1992) Free cover-mounted badge. The Geap strip. Series 5 episode guide.
07 (Sep 1992) Fashion Victims strip.
08 (Oct 1992) Androids strips by Kev Sutherland begin. The Amusing Misadventures of Mr. Flibble and Ace of the Rovers strips.
09 (Nov 1992) Free full-color poster. Flashback strip. In Living Memory begins.
10 (Dec 1992) Jake Bullet strip begins. Red Dwarf USA strip.
11 (Jan 1993) Wetware and The Inquisitor strips.
12 (Feb 1993) Evolution and The Skutters strips. Smeggo! strip advert.
13 (Mar 1993) Space Monkeys and The Shadow Time strips.
14 (Apr 1993) Duane Dibbley begins. The Cantebelis Tales, Mr. Flibble Gets P%@*ed!, and Ace of Black Hearts strips.
vol.2
May 1993 - Jan 1994 (9 issues)
01 (May 1993; 48 pages) Free cover-mounted postcards. Lister the God begins. Super-Ace strip. Androids and Jake Bullet strips continue.
02 (Jun 1993) Free cover-mounted postcards. Greetings from Gelfworld strip.
03 (Jul 1993) Mr. Flibble Goes Asset-Stripping strip. Mimas Crossing begins.
04 (Aug 1993) Time After Time and A Day in the Life of a Bogbot strips. Cred Dwarf begins.
05 (Sep 1993) Dead Man's Bluff and Tomorrow Trouble strips.
06 (Oct 1993; cover price becomes £1.60) Free cover-mounted stickers. Home of Lost Causes and new Jake Bullet strip begins.
07 (Nov 1993) Free Starbug Pilot's Kit (keyring). Young Flibble begins. Psy-Moon strip.
08 (Dec 1993) The Scoop and A.J. Rimmer, P.M. strips.
09 (Jan 1994; 64 pages, cover price becomes £2.15) Heady Metal, Cred Dwarf, Cat and Dog, The Aftering and Dwarf Eager strips. Contains material intended for following issues.
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Red Dwarf Smegazine Vol.2 #1
May 1993; Cover price £1.50.
48 pages. Full colour.
Fleetway Editions Limited.
Edited by Mike Butcher.
Cover photograph. Cover design by Steve Curley
Free postcards.
Contents:
Before we get too comfy, there is the unfortunate cover text to address:
The first strip, Lister the God, delves into history of the Felis sapien, who descended from Lister's pregnant house-cat. A holy war raged for fifteen hundred years, with no end in sight. Fritz, Krazy and Juma are selected to use the time obelisk to travel five hundred years into the future to return with the false god known as 'Cloister' in order to bring peace to their race. Holly suffers a power drain (necessitating Rimmer being shut off) as the three cat warriors arrive, and Holly - after deciding it has gone far too long without a facelift - decides to help the cats in their quest.
Lister immediately goes to fetch bazookoids to deal with the problem, but before he can reach them runs into the cats. Kryten is seemingly destroyed, and Lister is dragged away to the time obelisk to face his fate. Meanwhile (or, alternatively, five hundred years in the future) Holly has sorted out the glitch. Cat finds he isn't the sole remaining crew-member when Kryten, missing many pieces, arrives with Rimmer's Light Bee.
A strong start for the strip, with a genuinely interesting series of problems for the crew to untangle. There are also, naturally, the moments of comedy which the series is built around. Distinctive artwork, bold colouring (a very stark Rimmer, Holly's distinctive look), and unobtrusive lettering combine to create a very satisfying read. It is always appreciated when a long-ignored piece of back-story is expanded upon, and moreso when done as well as this is.
The Red Dwarf feature film was talked about a lot in the nineties, and the news section once again raises the prospect, with Universal named as being interested. Unfortunately there isn't a reason given for the optimism - were contracts signed? Were names and dates suggested? Had Rob Grant and Doug Naylor merely been seen standing near a producer, raising everyone's hopes for no good reason? The other big news item was a delay in Red Dwarf videos being released.
A quiet note about Danny John-Jules releasing a record is tucked away at the bottom of the page. It's nice to see even those privy to inside scoops can get tongue-tied from time to time.
The Androids one-page strip is a funny interlude, based upon the television show much liked by Kryten, but doesn't do enough with the material to be especially memorable. More fleshed-out and absurd, taking place in Alternative 2X13/L, the city of Smegopolis, an alternative in which genetic engineers have bred a new kind of hero: the hero of the masses! Faster than a speeding bazookoid blast, stronger than a raging stimulant..
Super-Ace. Not quite as strong as a dimension-hopping spaceship, unfortunately. Ace finds himself in a superhero dimension, replete with quirky references to Red Dwarf lore. He has to convince Super-Ace that there is more to being a hero than having powers, but is forced to don the hero's costume and take out the villains in his stead. There's a hilarious conclusion to the strip, and as Ace zips off to another alternative reality things are restored to their proper course.
There is a freshness and vitality to the presentation, making the most of the colour pages. The features are, for the most part, really entertaining, and the postcards are... Well, they are postcards. It is hard to screw up postcards. A poster would have been nice instead though.
48 pages. Full colour.
Fleetway Editions Limited.
Edited by Mike Butcher.
Cover photograph. Cover design by Steve Curley
Free postcards.
Contents:
.2 Look out, Universe, here come... THE BOYS FROM THE DWARF! Introduction text by Mike Butcher?
.4 Smegatorial by Mike Butcher. / Win a Red Dwarf Script Book competition. / Indicia
.5 Lister the God, part one, w:/a: Nigel Kitching, lettering by Elitta Fell.
15 News from the Dwarf text feature by Jane Killick.
16 Behind the Scenes with Red Dwarf VI text feature by Jane Killick.
18 Red Dwarf merchandise advertisement.
19 Craig Charles text feature by Jane Killick.
22 The Junior Encyclopedia of Space Readers Q&A feature by Maxine Lehmann.
23 Androids The Big Scrap Heap of Life w: James Hill & Pat Kelleher; a: Kev F. Sutherland.
24 Red Dwarf Lands in Chicago - A Review of Visions '92 text feature by Joe Nazzaro.
26 Ace Rimmer fact file.
27 Super-Ace w: Steve Lyons; a: Nigel Dobbyn, lettering by Elitta Fell.
34 "The End" episode retrospective by Jane Killick.
37 The Terminator He's Back and He's Meaner Than Ever toy advertisement.
38 Red any Good Books Lately book reviews by Joe Nazzaro, Jane Killick, and John Ratcliff.
39 Captain's Log Mac McDonald interview, by Chris Howarth & Steve Lyons.
42 Hollygrams readers letters. / Next Month in the Smeg
43 Jake Bullet and Dwayne Dibbley The Case of the Cashed-In Contestant, part six, Don't Lose Your Nerd w: Noble & Kitching; a: Flint & Kitching, lettering by Phoenix.
47 News from the Omni-Zone television news by Adrian Rigelsford.
48 A New Beginning - It'll Blow You to Pieces in-house advertisement for Judge Dredd The Megazine.
Before we get too comfy, there is the unfortunate cover text to address:
The Gary Glitter of Space?How different that innocent line has become in the intervening years.
Craig Charles Confesses!
The first strip, Lister the God, delves into history of the Felis sapien, who descended from Lister's pregnant house-cat. A holy war raged for fifteen hundred years, with no end in sight. Fritz, Krazy and Juma are selected to use the time obelisk to travel five hundred years into the future to return with the false god known as 'Cloister' in order to bring peace to their race. Holly suffers a power drain (necessitating Rimmer being shut off) as the three cat warriors arrive, and Holly - after deciding it has gone far too long without a facelift - decides to help the cats in their quest.
Lister immediately goes to fetch bazookoids to deal with the problem, but before he can reach them runs into the cats. Kryten is seemingly destroyed, and Lister is dragged away to the time obelisk to face his fate. Meanwhile (or, alternatively, five hundred years in the future) Holly has sorted out the glitch. Cat finds he isn't the sole remaining crew-member when Kryten, missing many pieces, arrives with Rimmer's Light Bee.
A strong start for the strip, with a genuinely interesting series of problems for the crew to untangle. There are also, naturally, the moments of comedy which the series is built around. Distinctive artwork, bold colouring (a very stark Rimmer, Holly's distinctive look), and unobtrusive lettering combine to create a very satisfying read. It is always appreciated when a long-ignored piece of back-story is expanded upon, and moreso when done as well as this is.
The Red Dwarf feature film was talked about a lot in the nineties, and the news section once again raises the prospect, with Universal named as being interested. Unfortunately there isn't a reason given for the optimism - were contracts signed? Were names and dates suggested? Had Rob Grant and Doug Naylor merely been seen standing near a producer, raising everyone's hopes for no good reason? The other big news item was a delay in Red Dwarf videos being released.
A quiet note about Danny John-Jules releasing a record is tucked away at the bottom of the page. It's nice to see even those privy to inside scoops can get tongue-tied from time to time.
The Androids one-page strip is a funny interlude, based upon the television show much liked by Kryten, but doesn't do enough with the material to be especially memorable. More fleshed-out and absurd, taking place in Alternative 2X13/L, the city of Smegopolis, an alternative in which genetic engineers have bred a new kind of hero: the hero of the masses! Faster than a speeding bazookoid blast, stronger than a raging stimulant..
Super-Ace. Not quite as strong as a dimension-hopping spaceship, unfortunately. Ace finds himself in a superhero dimension, replete with quirky references to Red Dwarf lore. He has to convince Super-Ace that there is more to being a hero than having powers, but is forced to don the hero's costume and take out the villains in his stead. There's a hilarious conclusion to the strip, and as Ace zips off to another alternative reality things are restored to their proper course.
There is a freshness and vitality to the presentation, making the most of the colour pages. The features are, for the most part, really entertaining, and the postcards are... Well, they are postcards. It is hard to screw up postcards. A poster would have been nice instead though.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018
Red Dwarf Magazine #1
Mar 1992; Cover price £1.50.
40 pages. Colour.
Fleetway Editions.
Edited by Mike Butcher.
Painted cover by Jon Rushby.
Contents:
The cover does not inspire confidence, with Kryten looking like a Conehead who has suffered a horrific industrial accident, Rimmer seemingly being a spliced clone of Chris Barrie and Gilbert Gottfried, and the likenesses of the others similarly loose. It doesn't feel like an official product, which isn't helped by lazy trade dress. No matter how good the contents are, when there is an instinctive dislike of the illustration chosen to represent a title it is unlikely that opinion will be swayed by a brief perusal of the contents in a newsagents.
There's a sense of continuity between the series and the magazine in the handling of information - a through-line of irreverent humour, a touch of surrealism, and a solid grasp of self-aggrandizing hyperbole. The one thing painfully missing from the cover is "The Galaxy's Greatest Magazine," which could have convinced readers of 2000 A.D. to pick up the issue.
Adapting the stories from the series (which, presumably, everyone reading the issue had seen) is the biggest mis-step, especially when the likenesses are so loose. It isn't awful, but the strip feels redundant when compared to other tie-in titles. That it takes more than one issue to wrap up such a simple tale is an indulgence that really harms the issue overall, but as it is the sole comic strip in the title is by default the highlight.
From here on in things are less than impressive.
A Beginner's Guide is little more than a recap of the main cast, and is (oddly) placed after the strip. It should have appeared at the front of the title or been dropped, as it adds nothing that those familiar with the series will be aware of. The interview with Chris Barrie is much better, though the spartan presentation is somewhat off-putting. He makes plenty of good points, and is aware enough of the critical reception to the series to acknowledge flaws. It is always a pleasure to read his thoughts, and he doesn't disappoint.
Holly's "facts" are, sadly, a wasted opportunity to expand on just how little she understands about the ship, and focuses instead on random subjects which have little to do with the series. The quiz page and fun page are good for a few seconds entertainment, Fixing Reality!, an interview with a fictional character, is pointless, and the Series V Preview is, with hindsight, a fluff piece which could have run in any SF-centric title from the era.
The Studio Report is slightly better than I had expected, given the presentation, with behind-the-scenes information which the likes of Starburst were doing, but - again - the harsh white backgrounds don't convey the sense that this is an officially-licensed title. That much of the issue's problems are cosmetic isn't a great surprise, but that so much of the issue is disposable padding is odder. There are no features regarding the models used in the series, the photos used are generic publicity shots, and a respectful distance is kept from the background details.
There are fanines which carry more information.
40 pages. Colour.
Fleetway Editions.
Edited by Mike Butcher.
Painted cover by Jon Rushby.
Contents:
.2 Introduction / Indicia photo by Chris Ridley.
.3 The End part one, w: UNKNOWN, based on the scripts by Rob Grant & Doug Naylor; a: Alan Burrows, lettering by Elitta Fell.
18 A Beginner's Guide to Red Dwarf text feature (uncredited).
19 The Red Dwarf Interview Chris Barrie.
22 Holly's Amazing Facts!.
23 The Complete Judge Dredd advertisement.
24 Series V Preview text feature (uncredited).
26 Danny John-Jules photo pin-up.
27 "Could You Pilot 'Red Dwarf'?" quiz.
30 Fixing Reality! interview with Prof. Neider-Lewis by Brian M. Clarke.
31 Caption Competition (half page).
32 We've Got the Power! in-house advertisement.
33 The Red Dwarf Fun Page puzzle page.
34 Craig Charles photo pin-up.
35 Red Dwarf Studio Report text feature.
38 Test Your Red Dwarf Knowledge quiz.
39 BMS mail-order advertisement (half page).
39 Next Issue ... (half page).
40 Chris Barrie photo pin-up.
The cover does not inspire confidence, with Kryten looking like a Conehead who has suffered a horrific industrial accident, Rimmer seemingly being a spliced clone of Chris Barrie and Gilbert Gottfried, and the likenesses of the others similarly loose. It doesn't feel like an official product, which isn't helped by lazy trade dress. No matter how good the contents are, when there is an instinctive dislike of the illustration chosen to represent a title it is unlikely that opinion will be swayed by a brief perusal of the contents in a newsagents.
You've seen the TV show, read the book, watched the video and worn the T-shirt ... well, now it's time to read the RED DWARF MAGAZINE! You will be thrilled by our funny, yet highly informative features; you will be chilled by our nerve-angling adaptation of the very first TV episode of RED DWARF; and you will be spilled if you try sitting in a cup of coffee held by Dave Lister the morning after a particularly heavy night on the lager and vindaloos. Such is life, read on...
There's a sense of continuity between the series and the magazine in the handling of information - a through-line of irreverent humour, a touch of surrealism, and a solid grasp of self-aggrandizing hyperbole. The one thing painfully missing from the cover is "The Galaxy's Greatest Magazine," which could have convinced readers of 2000 A.D. to pick up the issue.
Adapting the stories from the series (which, presumably, everyone reading the issue had seen) is the biggest mis-step, especially when the likenesses are so loose. It isn't awful, but the strip feels redundant when compared to other tie-in titles. That it takes more than one issue to wrap up such a simple tale is an indulgence that really harms the issue overall, but as it is the sole comic strip in the title is by default the highlight.
From here on in things are less than impressive.
A Beginner's Guide is little more than a recap of the main cast, and is (oddly) placed after the strip. It should have appeared at the front of the title or been dropped, as it adds nothing that those familiar with the series will be aware of. The interview with Chris Barrie is much better, though the spartan presentation is somewhat off-putting. He makes plenty of good points, and is aware enough of the critical reception to the series to acknowledge flaws. It is always a pleasure to read his thoughts, and he doesn't disappoint.
Holly's "facts" are, sadly, a wasted opportunity to expand on just how little she understands about the ship, and focuses instead on random subjects which have little to do with the series. The quiz page and fun page are good for a few seconds entertainment, Fixing Reality!, an interview with a fictional character, is pointless, and the Series V Preview is, with hindsight, a fluff piece which could have run in any SF-centric title from the era.
The Studio Report is slightly better than I had expected, given the presentation, with behind-the-scenes information which the likes of Starburst were doing, but - again - the harsh white backgrounds don't convey the sense that this is an officially-licensed title. That much of the issue's problems are cosmetic isn't a great surprise, but that so much of the issue is disposable padding is odder. There are no features regarding the models used in the series, the photos used are generic publicity shots, and a respectful distance is kept from the background details.
There are fanines which carry more information.
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