Thundercats (Panini UK) #01 (22 Mar 2012-18 Apr 2012)
The World of Batman sticker album (Panini; 2016)
Births:
Gerard Hoffnung (1925); Brian Walker (1926); Lew Stringer (1959); Steve Dillon (1962)
Deaths:
Malcolm Douglas (2009)
Notable Events:
Buck Ryan newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1937.
Garth newspaper strip's final episode appeared in The Daily Mirror in 1943.
Kick-Ass feature film given a London première in 2010.
Liquidators were appointed for Pedigree Books in 2016.
Showing posts with label Steve Dillon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Dillon. Show all posts
Friday, March 22, 2019
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Warrior #2
Apr 1982. Cover price 50p.
52 pages. B&W contents.
Quality Communications Ltd.
Edited by Dez Skinn.
Cover by Garry Leach.
Contents:
Under a cover which doesn't quite work as an iconic representation of Marvelman, there's another quality outing for Quality's groundbreaking title. As an entry to the issue, moving straight into the Marvelman saga is a strong statement - there's no need for an editorial, or introduction, or commentary, for so assured and confident is this work that any extraneous fluff would merely be wasted. Of course, it could merely be due to a lack of space...
News reports speculate on events at the Larksmere nuclear power station, with rumination about the nature of one man's second degree burns, and the identification of "a man-like object rising into the sky at a tremendous speed." Mike, still in his Marvelman form, arrives home to Liz, who doesn't recognise him. Talking over coffee, Mike explains his past to Liz about working as a copy boy for the Daily Bugle, and seeing a vision which conferred upon him miraculous powers. Liz laughs at the ridiculous nature of his story, claiming his account sounds stupid.
Building up a serious background to the strip, with a similarly-powered individual, angered at Marvelman's return, hinting at future stories. There's a superb humour in the strip, which isn't something usually noted about Alan Moore's writing, but he has a fantastic sense of who these characters are, allowing levity to arise from interaction.
Axel Pressbutton's adventures had been running in Sounds for a good while when he began appearing in Warrior, so a history of the character, with the strip's inception covered, as well as a checklist of appearances, is a very welcome addition. While there aren't enough reprinted strips included to get a feel of the ongoing narrative, there are enough to satisfy curiosity - as well as, incidentally, encouraging people to hunt down elusive copies of Sounds.
V for Vendetta continues with investigations into V's activities, though nothing can be discovered about his identity or location despite immense manpower being invested. A cover story for the explosion is concocted, going so far as to come up with a plausible reason for the fireworks. V introduces Evie to his Shadow Gallery, his home, where he has collected literature, paintings, and music which the government has banned.
Was I the only one who thought of Droopy when seeing that final panel?
It is appropriate that high and low culture should mesh throughout the strip so well, being equally susceptible to challenges from self-appointed moral guardians - the very people Moore sets out to target here. With some very accomplished artwork, and beautiful lettering, the intimidating scenario in which V and Evie find themselves in is perfectly captured. As omnipresent eyes and ears paying attention to the populace is made literal, one can't help but feeling the rise of surveillance culture was acutely predicted.
A Father Shandor reprint is, perhaps, too close to original publication to be really appreciated. Following such a strip with Madman, which begins this issue, is extremely disorienting - one minute we're following a rather stylish story set in the past, and the next... Well.
Martin Schiller, an epileptic, finds himself in care, and is eventually rendered catatonic where he receives visions. A strange man gives him a substance which sends Martin back to stasis, stating:
It is an incredibly odd strip, with comic-book conventions, such as multiple realities, vying with the more realistic fate of Martin's physical body. To say that it is difficult to get a handle on the scenario and main character is an understatement. It doesn't quite work for me, with far too much incident and not enough set-up.
Small details add to the texture of the world, and there's enough questions hanging in the air to make the series truly compelling.
Picking up events on Ormuz, Laser Eraser and Pressbutton finds the pair preparing to reach Thaxdon Industries through security forces. Axel displays a dislike of plants, and - encountering an android - Mysta concludes that they have been set up by the Dendrellian Order of Assassins, and as they rush to escape from an explosion she realises that Arterius Donthax is likely behind events. Donthax, seeing how the duo have managed to survive his plots, tells Zirk that he has decided to inform Ormuzian security where Mysta is.
Having to fight their way through wave after wave of officers determined to apprehend them, Axel and Mysta manage to reach a space-cruiser Mysta had hidden, and when they are safely in space Axel asks her to explain why Donthax wants her dead, and how she got mixed up with Dendrellian assassins.
The mix of strips is wider than in any comparable title, and though the issue is light on text features, what is present is of great interest. The paper isn't the best, and the lack of colour interiors is a slight drawback for Marvelman, though on the whole this is a very impressive issue. There's a lack of laugh-out-loud comedy, but there's a solid mix of SF, fantasy, social commentary, and... whatever Madman is.
52 pages. B&W contents.
Quality Communications Ltd.
Edited by Dez Skinn.
Cover by Garry Leach.
Contents:
2 Twilight World Illustration by Jim Baikie.
3 Warrior title credits. / Contents / Indicia
4 Marvelman Untitled part two, w: Alan Moore; a: Garry Leach.
10 Comic Showcase advertisement for The Old Comic Shop, London; a: Marshall Rogers.
11 The Life, Death & Earlier Days of Axel Pressbutton, Esquire text feature by Dez Skinn; illustrated by Steve Dillon & Curt Vile [Alan Moore].
15 Quality Mail Sales (two thirds page) in-house advertisement for mail-order service.
16 V for Vendetta Chapter Two: The Voice w: Alan Moore; a: David Lloyd, lettering by Zelda Estrella.
23 Father Shandor, Demon Stalker River of Corpses... Tower of Death w: Steve Moore, from a plot by Dez Skinn & John Bolton; a: John Bolton.
r: House of Hammer (Top Sellers, Ltd.) #16 (Jan 1978).
30 Madman Visions of Stasis w:/a: Paul Neary.
35 The Spiral Path Untitled w:/a: Steve Parkhouse.
40 Laser Eraser and Pressbutton Untitled w: Pedro Henry (Steve Moore); a: Steve Dillon.
49 Dispatches text feature.
50 Roar - the Movie (half page) advertisement; w: Dez Skinn; a: Steve Dillon.
51 HOH Collector's Item Back Issues in-house advertisement.
52 People Like Us Shop at... Forbidden Planet advertisement; a: Brian Bolland.
Under a cover which doesn't quite work as an iconic representation of Marvelman, there's another quality outing for Quality's groundbreaking title. As an entry to the issue, moving straight into the Marvelman saga is a strong statement - there's no need for an editorial, or introduction, or commentary, for so assured and confident is this work that any extraneous fluff would merely be wasted. Of course, it could merely be due to a lack of space...
News reports speculate on events at the Larksmere nuclear power station, with rumination about the nature of one man's second degree burns, and the identification of "a man-like object rising into the sky at a tremendous speed." Mike, still in his Marvelman form, arrives home to Liz, who doesn't recognise him. Talking over coffee, Mike explains his past to Liz about working as a copy boy for the Daily Bugle, and seeing a vision which conferred upon him miraculous powers. Liz laughs at the ridiculous nature of his story, claiming his account sounds stupid.
"I suppose you're right. Actually saying it out loud like that, it does sound... Well... Pretty unlikely. I never really thought about it before. But I had to believe it. Don't you see? I was Marvelman! I was a being of almost unlimited power!!This was the first time that the nature of a superhero's origin story was acknowledged in-universe as being patently idiotic, although the dialogue is handled so well that it doesn't really feel as if the text is being deliberately transgressive. With Liz's laughter stopping once the sincerity of Mike's words become apparent, he relates his final adventure with the Marvelman Family - his friends murdered in an a-bomb explosion aboard a sky fortress hanging over the North Sea.
And I wasn't the only one. Within a year I was joined by another young man with 'atomic powers' like mine. His name was Dicky Dauntless...
You're laughing again.
Building up a serious background to the strip, with a similarly-powered individual, angered at Marvelman's return, hinting at future stories. There's a superb humour in the strip, which isn't something usually noted about Alan Moore's writing, but he has a fantastic sense of who these characters are, allowing levity to arise from interaction.
Axel Pressbutton's adventures had been running in Sounds for a good while when he began appearing in Warrior, so a history of the character, with the strip's inception covered, as well as a checklist of appearances, is a very welcome addition. While there aren't enough reprinted strips included to get a feel of the ongoing narrative, there are enough to satisfy curiosity - as well as, incidentally, encouraging people to hunt down elusive copies of Sounds.
V for Vendetta continues with investigations into V's activities, though nothing can be discovered about his identity or location despite immense manpower being invested. A cover story for the explosion is concocted, going so far as to come up with a plausible reason for the fireworks. V introduces Evie to his Shadow Gallery, his home, where he has collected literature, paintings, and music which the government has banned.
Was I the only one who thought of Droopy when seeing that final panel?
It is appropriate that high and low culture should mesh throughout the strip so well, being equally susceptible to challenges from self-appointed moral guardians - the very people Moore sets out to target here. With some very accomplished artwork, and beautiful lettering, the intimidating scenario in which V and Evie find themselves in is perfectly captured. As omnipresent eyes and ears paying attention to the populace is made literal, one can't help but feeling the rise of surveillance culture was acutely predicted.
A Father Shandor reprint is, perhaps, too close to original publication to be really appreciated. Following such a strip with Madman, which begins this issue, is extremely disorienting - one minute we're following a rather stylish story set in the past, and the next... Well.
Martin Schiller, an epileptic, finds himself in care, and is eventually rendered catatonic where he receives visions. A strange man gives him a substance which sends Martin back to stasis, stating:
"There are six hundred and thirty three different elements of existence... and each possesses an earth which differs slightly from all the others! The people of most of these earths have recourse to stasis through some means or another... Our Earth lies in the 18th element and we are involved in a vast struggle against all the other existences, Martin... and we need your help!"Told only to trust those from the 18th existence or the Observers - who are neutral, and above reproach - on his journey.
It is an incredibly odd strip, with comic-book conventions, such as multiple realities, vying with the more realistic fate of Martin's physical body. To say that it is difficult to get a handle on the scenario and main character is an understatement. It doesn't quite work for me, with far too much incident and not enough set-up.
Across the plains of Tairngir they marched - the Legion of Lost Souls - doomed to eternal battle for their relic-king Artûk.The Spiral Path is proving to be the hidden delight in Warrior, with Nuada racing through enemy lines - despite being injured in his attempt, he faces the captain of the enemy forces, who may be more than any warrior could expect to defeat.
And all who stood in their path must perish... Or else fly for their very lives!
Artûk! Lord of death, prince of the air, stealer of dreamers' souls. A triumph of demented will over dead flesh!
Small details add to the texture of the world, and there's enough questions hanging in the air to make the series truly compelling.
Picking up events on Ormuz, Laser Eraser and Pressbutton finds the pair preparing to reach Thaxdon Industries through security forces. Axel displays a dislike of plants, and - encountering an android - Mysta concludes that they have been set up by the Dendrellian Order of Assassins, and as they rush to escape from an explosion she realises that Arterius Donthax is likely behind events. Donthax, seeing how the duo have managed to survive his plots, tells Zirk that he has decided to inform Ormuzian security where Mysta is.
Having to fight their way through wave after wave of officers determined to apprehend them, Axel and Mysta manage to reach a space-cruiser Mysta had hidden, and when they are safely in space Axel asks her to explain why Donthax wants her dead, and how she got mixed up with Dendrellian assassins.
The mix of strips is wider than in any comparable title, and though the issue is light on text features, what is present is of great interest. The paper isn't the best, and the lack of colour interiors is a slight drawback for Marvelman, though on the whole this is a very impressive issue. There's a lack of laugh-out-loud comedy, but there's a solid mix of SF, fantasy, social commentary, and... whatever Madman is.
Saturday, October 27, 2018
Judge Dredd Mega-Special #1
1988. Cover price 75p.
48 pages. Colour & B&W.
Fleetway Publications.
Edited by Richard Burton.
Cover by Brian Bolland.
Contents:
The first Mega-Special is much like Dredd's appearances in 2000 A.D., but with greater room to maneuver. Under an impressive cover by Brian Bolland (who hasn't drawn a bad Dredd yet), there is a superb Fabry illustration. The contents pages allow artists to show off a little, and this is no exception - Dredd's Lawmaster really looks like a real piece of technology, though colouring is perhaps a touch too bright for Mega-City One.
The Blob begins on Pier 17 at Mega-City One's docks, where a jelly-like tentacle grabs the leg of Eric, a crane operator who is in the process of unloading cargo. The crate breaks open while dangling above his co-workers, showering them with its' contents - knives imported from New Sheffield. Dredd is dispatched to investigate, and discovers Eric's body, along with several others, in the lumber stacks. The blob-creature has made its escape, however, making its way to safety.
Forensics examine the crime scene while Dredd trails it, and they come to the conclusion that it is mutated slime-mould, most likely a Black Atlantic mutation which grabbed a lift from a passing ship in order to get into Mega-City One. The forensics team warn Dredd that it is extremely carnivorous, dosing its victims with acid, before absorbing the resulting sludge through its pores. Dredd confronts the blob, despite obvious dangers, but discovers his bullets have no effect. Worse, it begins eating through his uniform.
Firing an incendiary at the blob, Dredd orders fire teams and a med-squad to Steve McQueen Block, before seeking medical attention for his wounds. From the briefest touch, it managed to eat through Dredd's leg nearly to the bone. You can tell that everyone is having a lot of fun with the story, and some of the dialogue is solid gold:
Where The Blob excels at setting and tone through largely understated moments, The Blockers is less restrained. It is the kind of story which, if it appeared anywhere else, would be black comedy, but is - unfortunately for citizens of Mega-City One - more of a day-in-the-life strand. The focus of events is Adolf Hitler Block - 400 floors, containing 18,000 housing units, schools, shopping centres, and a hospital. 64,301 citizens crammed in like sardines, slowly going mad...
Frank Dolby, of apartment 39F, prepares for a Citi-Def combat exercise, while his wife knits a book. As Citi-Def organiser for the floor, Frank makes his way to 39G, where Carlton Einstein (a television addict) has barely left his chair for twelve years. Edith Einstein, his wife, and a compulsive shopper, is doing the family accounts as Willis, Edith and Frank's son, makes a prank call to Ed De Bono Citi-Def to warn them of Hitler Block's aggressive maneuvers against them.
Three floors above, in 42X, Rudyard Quincy decides to kill himself before he goes insane, hoping to take out the rest of the block in the process with a home-made nuclear weapon. The De Bono block cuts down Frank's unit with firearms, thanks to Willis' intervention, as the wayward youth watches on in amusement, hanging out his window. Rudyard's nuke fails, and he throws it away in disgust - landing on Willis' head as it falls.
Overjoyed at a nuke - almost literally - falling into her lap, Edith sees a way to make some money in order to feed her family. Frank returns from the unsuccessful raid, and asks if Edith knows where he can lay his hands on a nuke... Despite not getting a lot of background to the story of the block, we don't need extraneous detail. These are people instantly familiar from Mega-City One, the unfotunates who have been abandoned to their fate in a towering, impersonal, chaotic city.
While it is always nice to get newspaper strips reprinted on better paper, Weirdies! isn't a classic slice of Dredd history. A return for Citizen J. Snork, he of the rather large schnoz, in a celebration of the odd, the strange, and the downright weird. There's a nice conclusion, yet this story is lacking a certain urgency. Ian Gibson's great artwork is reproduced sharply and without feeling too crammed in. It shouldn't need to be pointed out (again) that Gibson's style is refreshingly light and breezy.
New in the Cubes covers Liam Sharp, Barry Kitson, John Higgins, and Will Simpson, though the half-page format of biographical information pieces doesn't allow for a great deal of personality to shine through - these small glimpses into the creators' lives are a long-running 2000 A.D. tradition, and is something which always appealed to me. Such features are much better use of pages than recaps of stories, such as... Well, Chopper's Odyssey.
The Pie-in-the-Sky mid-air restaurant makes a welcome return, where Don Pesci is celebrating his hundredth birthday in the Mississippi Mud Suite. Don Pesci's celebration is abruptly interrupted when a Judge emerges from his birthday cake, only to be immediately shot to death by Pesci. His men assure him that it was a singing telegram, and the body is removed by the easiest means available - being thrown out the building. Which is where things start to escalate...
An early evening Batglider, soaring in the thermal updrafts, is the first to be hit by the corpse. The Norrin Radd Block skysurf club, practising their close-formation pyramid move, are next to have a very close encounter, which leads to a very large mess for the real Judges to clean up. Discovering a business card for Party Poppers, Dredd talks to the owner of the company. and - finding that the dead man was paid to appear at Pie-in-the-Sky - arranges transport to the restaurant.
Pesci and his associates have long since departed, and (despite a sincere attempt at stalling from robot staff) Dredd finds that, as a birthday present the Don, his men have arranged a heist for his participation. With time running out, Dredd rushes to meet the location of the robbery. Stunning artwork, a great, twisty story (with all kinds of little nods and homages), and a ticking clock plot - this is prime Dredd material, served up expertly.
An extremely strong start for the series.
48 pages. Colour & B&W.
Fleetway Publications.
Edited by Richard Burton.
Cover by Brian Bolland.
Contents:
2 Contents; illustrated by Glenn Fabry.
3 Judge Dredd The Blob w: Alan Grant; a: John Higgins, lettering by Tom Frame.
11 Judge Dredd The Blockers w: John Wagner; a: Jose Casanovas, lettering by Jack Potter.
16 Odyssey 7 (quarter page) advertisement. / Dredd Siting in Leicester (eighth of page) advertisement for Another World. / Please Mention Judge Dredd Holiday Special When Replying to Advertisements (eighth of page). / Having Trouble Getting Your Comics? Try a Virgin Comic Shop (half page) advertisement; illustrated by Kev Hopgood.
17 Dredd by Day text introduction (uncredited).
18 Judge Dredd Weirdies! [130-154] w: John Wagner & Alan Grant; a: Ian Gibson.
r: The Daily Star (Northern & Shell Media) #???? (07 Jul 1986) - #???? (07 Aug 1986).
23 Dredd's World illustrated feature; a: Brendan McCarthy.
24 Dredd's World poster; a: Brendan McCarthy.
26 Say Gidday to the Good Life mock advertisement for Oz Judges; a: UNKNOWN.
27 Judge Dredd Weirdies! [155-194] w: John Wagner & Alan Grant; a: Ian Gibson.
r: The Daily Star (Northern & Shell Media) #???? (08 Aug 1986) - #???? (03 Oct 1986).
35 New in the Cubes creator fact files (uncredited).
36 Chopper's Odyssey illustrated feature by Mike Butcher; illustrated by .
r: panels from Oz in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) #545 (24 Oct 1987) - #570 (16 Apr 1988).
39 Judge Dredd The Fall Guy w: Alan Grant; a: Will Simpson, lettering by Tom Frame.
47 Catch Judge Dredd... in-house advertisement for 2000 A.D., Best of 2000 A.D., 2000 A.D. Sci-Fi Special, Judge Dredd Annual and 2000 A.D. Annual; illustrated by Steve Dillon.
48 Judge Dredd and 2000 A.D. Merchandise advertisement for Forbidden Planet.
The first Mega-Special is much like Dredd's appearances in 2000 A.D., but with greater room to maneuver. Under an impressive cover by Brian Bolland (who hasn't drawn a bad Dredd yet), there is a superb Fabry illustration. The contents pages allow artists to show off a little, and this is no exception - Dredd's Lawmaster really looks like a real piece of technology, though colouring is perhaps a touch too bright for Mega-City One.
The Blob begins on Pier 17 at Mega-City One's docks, where a jelly-like tentacle grabs the leg of Eric, a crane operator who is in the process of unloading cargo. The crate breaks open while dangling above his co-workers, showering them with its' contents - knives imported from New Sheffield. Dredd is dispatched to investigate, and discovers Eric's body, along with several others, in the lumber stacks. The blob-creature has made its escape, however, making its way to safety.
Forensics examine the crime scene while Dredd trails it, and they come to the conclusion that it is mutated slime-mould, most likely a Black Atlantic mutation which grabbed a lift from a passing ship in order to get into Mega-City One. The forensics team warn Dredd that it is extremely carnivorous, dosing its victims with acid, before absorbing the resulting sludge through its pores. Dredd confronts the blob, despite obvious dangers, but discovers his bullets have no effect. Worse, it begins eating through his uniform.
Firing an incendiary at the blob, Dredd orders fire teams and a med-squad to Steve McQueen Block, before seeking medical attention for his wounds. From the briefest touch, it managed to eat through Dredd's leg nearly to the bone. You can tell that everyone is having a lot of fun with the story, and some of the dialogue is solid gold:
...and now, on the Early Late Horror Show, we have a real rave from the Grave. Sylvester Stallone is the Blob of Notre Dame in Alan Moore's Oscar-winning remake!Alan Grant's script is, if you hadn't guessed, a joy to read, despite (or because of) being a retread of The Blob. John Higgins' artwork really shines in black and white, looking suitably grimy and tarnished. One has to wonder if this was among the material sent to Stallone in preparation for his role of Dredd.
Where The Blob excels at setting and tone through largely understated moments, The Blockers is less restrained. It is the kind of story which, if it appeared anywhere else, would be black comedy, but is - unfortunately for citizens of Mega-City One - more of a day-in-the-life strand. The focus of events is Adolf Hitler Block - 400 floors, containing 18,000 housing units, schools, shopping centres, and a hospital. 64,301 citizens crammed in like sardines, slowly going mad...
Frank Dolby, of apartment 39F, prepares for a Citi-Def combat exercise, while his wife knits a book. As Citi-Def organiser for the floor, Frank makes his way to 39G, where Carlton Einstein (a television addict) has barely left his chair for twelve years. Edith Einstein, his wife, and a compulsive shopper, is doing the family accounts as Willis, Edith and Frank's son, makes a prank call to Ed De Bono Citi-Def to warn them of Hitler Block's aggressive maneuvers against them.
Three floors above, in 42X, Rudyard Quincy decides to kill himself before he goes insane, hoping to take out the rest of the block in the process with a home-made nuclear weapon. The De Bono block cuts down Frank's unit with firearms, thanks to Willis' intervention, as the wayward youth watches on in amusement, hanging out his window. Rudyard's nuke fails, and he throws it away in disgust - landing on Willis' head as it falls.
Overjoyed at a nuke - almost literally - falling into her lap, Edith sees a way to make some money in order to feed her family. Frank returns from the unsuccessful raid, and asks if Edith knows where he can lay his hands on a nuke... Despite not getting a lot of background to the story of the block, we don't need extraneous detail. These are people instantly familiar from Mega-City One, the unfotunates who have been abandoned to their fate in a towering, impersonal, chaotic city.
While it is always nice to get newspaper strips reprinted on better paper, Weirdies! isn't a classic slice of Dredd history. A return for Citizen J. Snork, he of the rather large schnoz, in a celebration of the odd, the strange, and the downright weird. There's a nice conclusion, yet this story is lacking a certain urgency. Ian Gibson's great artwork is reproduced sharply and without feeling too crammed in. It shouldn't need to be pointed out (again) that Gibson's style is refreshingly light and breezy.
New in the Cubes covers Liam Sharp, Barry Kitson, John Higgins, and Will Simpson, though the half-page format of biographical information pieces doesn't allow for a great deal of personality to shine through - these small glimpses into the creators' lives are a long-running 2000 A.D. tradition, and is something which always appealed to me. Such features are much better use of pages than recaps of stories, such as... Well, Chopper's Odyssey.
The Pie-in-the-Sky mid-air restaurant makes a welcome return, where Don Pesci is celebrating his hundredth birthday in the Mississippi Mud Suite. Don Pesci's celebration is abruptly interrupted when a Judge emerges from his birthday cake, only to be immediately shot to death by Pesci. His men assure him that it was a singing telegram, and the body is removed by the easiest means available - being thrown out the building. Which is where things start to escalate...
An early evening Batglider, soaring in the thermal updrafts, is the first to be hit by the corpse. The Norrin Radd Block skysurf club, practising their close-formation pyramid move, are next to have a very close encounter, which leads to a very large mess for the real Judges to clean up. Discovering a business card for Party Poppers, Dredd talks to the owner of the company. and - finding that the dead man was paid to appear at Pie-in-the-Sky - arranges transport to the restaurant.
Pesci and his associates have long since departed, and (despite a sincere attempt at stalling from robot staff) Dredd finds that, as a birthday present the Don, his men have arranged a heist for his participation. With time running out, Dredd rushes to meet the location of the robbery. Stunning artwork, a great, twisty story (with all kinds of little nods and homages), and a ticking clock plot - this is prime Dredd material, served up expertly.
An extremely strong start for the series.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Captain Britain Vol.2 #1
Jan 1985. Cover price 50p.
36 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Edited by Ian Rimmer.
Cover by Alan Davis.
Contents:
Proudly boasting an Eagle Award Winner stamp, despite it appearing to be clumsily added. Alan Davis' cover illustration is perfect for the relaunch of the series, perfectly capturing the character's nature in a fourth wall-breaking pose. The choice of red text is interesting and eye-catching, adding to the appeal of the issue - an extremely restrained cover, considering several text-heavy examples published by Marvel over the previous decade.
Ian Rimmer's introduction tempts fate in a manner which would prove prophetic:
Chief Inspector Dai Thomas gives a slide-show to his superiors where he outlines his theory that Brian Braddock and Captain Britain are the same person. Lining up corresponding dates and locations, Dai attempts to make clear that the presence of superheroes is a threat to civilians. Dai requests authority to investigate Braddock, as innocent lives are in danger as long as he operated unchecked, but is told to refrain from taking action. Brian, meanwhile, is relaxing in Braddock Manor with his sister, but admits that he enjoys the thrill of being Captain Britain. As they talk, someone watches from outside.
A remarkably low-key way to begin the series, yet very effective. The use of jigsaw puzzle-shaped panels is the kind of visually attractive trick which elevates what is usually drab flashbacks into something which retains interest throughout - the slide-show presentation is also handled meticulously, as befits such an impressive creative team.
Abslom Daak isn't a perfect fit for the title, but his strip is well worth seeing again, as is Night-Raven. It is a shame that such a reliance on reprints is affecting the title from the start, but when reprints are this good it doesn't really matter. Paragon of Painthorpe Street is a welcome change of pace - a text story about forty-eight year old Redmond Jonah Pringle, a rather mundane man who dreams about superheroics - reminiscent the stories in John Varley's Superheroes anthology, it doesn't tie in to the main strip in any way, but is still entertaining.
Free-fall Warriors, created by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons, is an odd bunch.
36 pages. B&W contents.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Edited by Ian Rimmer.
Cover by Alan Davis.
Contents:
.2 Classifieds
.3 UNTITLED (quarter page) editorial by Ian Rimmer. / Captain Britain illustration from strip, a: Alan Davis. / Freefall Warriors illustration from strip, p: Jerry Paris, i: Steve Parkhouse. / Indicia
.4 Captain Britain Myth, Memory and Legend w: Jamie Delano; a: Alan Davis, lettering by Steve Craddock. Edited by Chris Gill.
16 Abslom Daak, Dalek Killer UNTITLED [23 Charges of Murder, Pillage, Piracy, Massacre, and Other Crimes] w: Steve Moore; a: Steve Dillon.
r: Doctor Who Weekly (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #17 (06 Feb 1980).
20 The Mysterious Night-Raven UNTITLED [] w: Steve Parkhouse; David Lloyd.
r: Hulk Comic (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (07 Mar 1979).
23 Paragon of Painthorpe Street, part one, text story by Steve Alan; illustrated by Jeff Anderson.
27 Freefall Warriors Freefall Warriors Introduction to characters.
28 Freefall Warriors Warworld w: Steve Parkhouse; p: Jerry Paris, i: Steve Parkhouse. Edited by Alan McKenzie.
36 Spidey Watches advertisement.
Proudly boasting an Eagle Award Winner stamp, despite it appearing to be clumsily added. Alan Davis' cover illustration is perfect for the relaunch of the series, perfectly capturing the character's nature in a fourth wall-breaking pose. The choice of red text is interesting and eye-catching, adding to the appeal of the issue - an extremely restrained cover, considering several text-heavy examples published by Marvel over the previous decade.
Ian Rimmer's introduction tempts fate in a manner which would prove prophetic:
There are two ways we'll get to know your views if you are unhappy with anything... you can write to us via the Captain Britain Communications page, or you can stop buying the title.Not that we want to remind him of those words.
Chief Inspector Dai Thomas gives a slide-show to his superiors where he outlines his theory that Brian Braddock and Captain Britain are the same person. Lining up corresponding dates and locations, Dai attempts to make clear that the presence of superheroes is a threat to civilians. Dai requests authority to investigate Braddock, as innocent lives are in danger as long as he operated unchecked, but is told to refrain from taking action. Brian, meanwhile, is relaxing in Braddock Manor with his sister, but admits that he enjoys the thrill of being Captain Britain. As they talk, someone watches from outside.
A remarkably low-key way to begin the series, yet very effective. The use of jigsaw puzzle-shaped panels is the kind of visually attractive trick which elevates what is usually drab flashbacks into something which retains interest throughout - the slide-show presentation is also handled meticulously, as befits such an impressive creative team.
Abslom Daak isn't a perfect fit for the title, but his strip is well worth seeing again, as is Night-Raven. It is a shame that such a reliance on reprints is affecting the title from the start, but when reprints are this good it doesn't really matter. Paragon of Painthorpe Street is a welcome change of pace - a text story about forty-eight year old Redmond Jonah Pringle, a rather mundane man who dreams about superheroics - reminiscent the stories in John Varley's Superheroes anthology, it doesn't tie in to the main strip in any way, but is still entertaining.
Free-fall Warriors, created by Steve Parkhouse and Dave Gibbons, is an odd bunch.
Cool BreezeWe don't actually see them in action - save for Big Cat's piloting skills - so it is far too early to say whether I like this or not. Far too short, though with some beautiful artwork, it's the type of story which 2000 A.D. could have easily accommodated. Does it add to the overall quality of the issue? I'm going to be optimistic - on the strength of all the ideas floating around, along with the quality of art, the strip shows a lot of promise.
The latest development in bio-engineering from the laboratories of Intra-Venus Inc. But unknown to the executives of that company, an extra factor had been built into this android's genetic code - the "soul" factor!
Big Cat
The Free-Fall Warriors' maximum leader. Originally a mercenary flier, leader of the Hellcats Flight - he's capricious, vicious and vindictive. One quality sets him apart from his human counterparts... He can see in the dark!
Machine Head
Originally human, massive implants transformed this operational high flier into one of the most devastating weapons in the Intra-Venus armoury - a Dive Fighter of Warworld!
Bruce
Product of the surgeon-sculptors of Rubicon, this shark-faced weirdo started life as a "sub-spacer," cruising the lower strata of sub-space and pouncing on victims as they passed. In short, a pirate. Once wrecked on the planet Mahmoud and raised to deity status by stunned aborigines, he had bestowed upon him the gift (or curse) of invulnerability in battle. Seems to have held good so far.
Monday, October 22, 2018
Blast! #1
Jun 1991; Cover price £1.50
76 pages. Colour and B&W.
John Brown Publishing, Ltd.
Edited by Stuart Green.
Mr. Monster cover by Simon Bisley.
Contents:
Simon Bisley's art is an attention grabber - a minimalist background emphasises the power of his painting perfectly, though the cover text (by way of dialogue) could have done with a white outline, highlighting red against blue better. Blast!'s logo is, disappointingly, rendered in a font which doesn't quite work, looking as if it has been vertically stretched to an alarming degree. This is our first indication that, for all the talent brought together for the title, there's a hurriedness to proceedings... a certain lack of attention to detail.
Mr. Monster - beautifully illustrated by Bisley - is a mad, violent, and extremely funny strip, which would be better served with more space. It's an irreverent, wonderful complete story (common sense in a launch) which has a great pay-off. Concrete is a welcome addition to the line-up, with a tale which feels familiar, yet contains a surprising amount of heart and intelligence. Going through a small mountain of mail received after appearing of the Carson Show, as Ron is exposed to the full range of reactions to his participation on the television show.
Agreeing to attend a party invitation, he is confronted by a single mother whose son's eighth birthday party is in full swing. The best line is about John Ritter's appearance a year before, which is entirely believable - if anyone would do a cool appearance at a kid's birthday party, it would be him. Concrete has a lot of fun with the concept, and ends on a very amusing note. One of the all-time greats of American comics, and its inclusion here is appreciated.
Torpedo is from the "hard boiled" school of writing, and many influences are clear. There's something indefinably off about the strip, and it doesn't gel into a convincing or engaging story, partially due to the endless text boxes which drive forward the narrative. The colouring is far too garish for the setting, and I have a suspicion it would read better if reproduced in black and white.
Axel Pressbutton reappears here - the planet Scrofula, in the 31st century, where television has begun broadcasting directly into the brains of viewers. Axel interrupts an interview in the street, and producers request that he be brought into the studio to exploit his status as a famous assassin. Things go wrong extremely quickly, and the bodycount is... well, its an Axel Pressbutton story, so we aren't expecting rainbows and kittens, are we?
The ...Let's Follow Him! two-page comedy strip isn't as funny as it could have been, though it is a joy to Bagge's work. Managing to fill in a lot of character detail with little effort, the strip does exactly what the name indicates.
The opening installment of Lazarus Churchyard, with a suitably macabre and off-beat lead character in the titular Lazarus. Four hundred years old, and effectively immortal thanks to a plastic bonded to his body, he has to investigate a spate of deaths in order to get his wish... death. The cyberpunk setting contrasts nicely with the rest of the strips, and the artwork by D'Israeli compliments Warren Ellis' script perfectly.
There is very little prose in Blast! (a solitary introduction), and the heavy use of color indicates that what Fleetway was doing (in response to Trident) had been taken into consideration when putting the title together. There's an interesting, though disjointed, collection of strips, but nothing screaming "break-out hit" aside from the Concrete reprint. When you have creators of this caliber involved, it isn't surprising that the comic is still relevant and massively appealing, but a more focused aim might have helped.
I'm not sure who the target audience for the title was.
Now to the Speakeasy insert.
Wisely using the Rian Hughes logo, there are hints of the classic Speakeasy formula, but it is so diluted that it might as well have taken a different name for this:
It is unfortunate that the paper is so awful, as the shiny white pages of the regular magazine was so impressive. This is a step backwards, but as it is a free insert I'm willing to accept that something had to give. Troublingly, we don't even get the full experience of the title here, omitting several of the main draws. Grant Morrison is nowhere to be seen, and there are far, far too many adverts.
That the change included a heavy film interest is annoying. I read film magazines to find out about films, and I want comics information from comic magazines. There's still a comic strip in this incarnation (Twitch City), though it isn't as immediately amusing as Pedantic Stan. There's a Simon Bisley interview to make up for such a radical change to the formula, but too much has been altered from the magazine. There are parts I really miss from the standalone magazine, and their absence makes this extremely frustrating to read.
A sad decline for a highly-regarded title. Change, we are reminded, is not always for the better.
76 pages. Colour and B&W.
John Brown Publishing, Ltd.
Edited by Stuart Green.
Mr. Monster cover by Simon Bisley.
Contents:
2 Metal Hammer - the Biggest and Best Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Magazine magazine advert.
3 Incoming... text introduction by Stuart Green. / Contents / Indicia.
4 Mr. Monster Lair of the Lizard Ladies w: Michael T. Gilbert; a: Simon Bisley, lettering by Fred Nurney.
11 Willy Roach - He Goes by Coach (half page) advertisement for EuroLines. a: (uncredited). / C&T Eyewear advertisement.
12 Star Trek: The Next Generation clothing advertisement.
13 Concrete Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous w:/a: Paul Chadwick, lettering by Bill Spicer.
r: Dark Horse Presents (Dark Horse) #01 (Jul 1986).
21 More than Just Comics advertisement for Deadline magazine.
22 The Ceremony Has Begun advertisement for The Doors film.
23 Torpedo Every Dog Has His Day w: Sanchez Abulli; a: Jordi Bernet, colouring by Dondie Cox.
r: De perro a perro from Creepy (Toutain Editor) #34 (Apr 1982).
27 / 1 Speakeasy Insert Kevin Costner photograph (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves).
28 / 2 Mega City Comics advertisement.
29 / 3 Liverpool Comic Mart & Film Fair (quarter page) advertisement. / Birmingham Comic Mart & Film Fair (quarter page) advertisement. / UKCAC 91 (half page) advertisement for UK Comic Art Convention 1991.
30 / 4 Speakout text introduction (uncredited). / Comic Views reviews by John Smile.
31 / 5 King Ink comic chart.
33 / 7 Speakeasy Newsline (half page) advertisement. / Experience Natures Secret High with Yuba Gold (half page) advertisement.
34 / 8 Free Comics! (quarter page) advertisement for Planet X. / Direct Contact Dating (quarter page) advertisement. / Mr Extra, on the brink of defeat once more at the hands of Jane (5½) and Tilly (6¾) (half page) advertisement for Meanwhile.
35 / 9 Book Views reviews. / Twitch City UNTITLED ["I fink I'm Kured!"] w:/a: Bambos.
36 / 10 Nu Earth (quarter page) advertisement. / Gotham City Comics (quarter page) advertisement. / The Sheffield Space Centre (quarter page) advertisement. / Worlds of Wonder (quarter page) advertisement.
37 / 11 Comic Fantasy (quarter page) advertisement. / Back-Issue Comics Manager Required (quarter page) job advertisement. / Titan Distributors Comic Mart (quarter page) advertisement. / Cosmic Comics (quarter page) advertisement.
38 / 12 Prince of Thieves interview by Alan Jones.
42 / 16 Scorched Earth advertisement.
43 / 17 Phaze II The Dead Zone would like to present "Sex in the U.K." advertisement.
44 / 18 The Number of the Beast Simon Bisley interview by Gordon Rennie.
46 / 20 The Gloucester Comic Book Fair (quarter page) advertisement. / Rainbow's End (quarter page) advertisement. / Comicbook Marketplace Special Edition - Saturday June 15 (quarter page) advertisement. / Comicbook Marketplace - Sunday July 14 (quarter page) advertisement.
48 / 22 Classifieds
50 / 24 Forbidden Planet advertisement.
55 Portobello Trust - London Cartoon Centre (quarter page) advertisement. / Needing Direction? Life Lost it's Meaning? Lacking Moral Fibre? (quarter page) advertisement for Electric Soup. / Genuine Ex-Tour T-Shirts - Cult Movie T-Shirts (half page) advertisement for BMS.
56 For over fourteen years... advertisement for Titan Distributors.
57 Axel Pressbutton Famous For Fifteen Minutes w: Pedro Henry (Steve Moore); a: Steve Dillon.
63 Hey You! in-house advertisement for Blast! T-shirts. / Subscribe Now!.
64 ...Let's Follow Him! w:/a: Peter Bagge.
r: Neat Stuff (Fantagraphics) #01 (Jul 1985).
66 There are no others advertisement for Titan Distributors.
67 Lazarus Churchyard The Virtual Kiss, part 1: Fracture w: Warren Ellis; a: D'Israeli.
74 Incoming...30 Days next issue feature.
75 Attention! Fear Want You! subscription advertisement for Fear.
76 The Face advertisement.
Simon Bisley's art is an attention grabber - a minimalist background emphasises the power of his painting perfectly, though the cover text (by way of dialogue) could have done with a white outline, highlighting red against blue better. Blast!'s logo is, disappointingly, rendered in a font which doesn't quite work, looking as if it has been vertically stretched to an alarming degree. This is our first indication that, for all the talent brought together for the title, there's a hurriedness to proceedings... a certain lack of attention to detail.
Mr. Monster - beautifully illustrated by Bisley - is a mad, violent, and extremely funny strip, which would be better served with more space. It's an irreverent, wonderful complete story (common sense in a launch) which has a great pay-off. Concrete is a welcome addition to the line-up, with a tale which feels familiar, yet contains a surprising amount of heart and intelligence. Going through a small mountain of mail received after appearing of the Carson Show, as Ron is exposed to the full range of reactions to his participation on the television show.
Agreeing to attend a party invitation, he is confronted by a single mother whose son's eighth birthday party is in full swing. The best line is about John Ritter's appearance a year before, which is entirely believable - if anyone would do a cool appearance at a kid's birthday party, it would be him. Concrete has a lot of fun with the concept, and ends on a very amusing note. One of the all-time greats of American comics, and its inclusion here is appreciated.
Torpedo is from the "hard boiled" school of writing, and many influences are clear. There's something indefinably off about the strip, and it doesn't gel into a convincing or engaging story, partially due to the endless text boxes which drive forward the narrative. The colouring is far too garish for the setting, and I have a suspicion it would read better if reproduced in black and white.
Axel Pressbutton reappears here - the planet Scrofula, in the 31st century, where television has begun broadcasting directly into the brains of viewers. Axel interrupts an interview in the street, and producers request that he be brought into the studio to exploit his status as a famous assassin. Things go wrong extremely quickly, and the bodycount is... well, its an Axel Pressbutton story, so we aren't expecting rainbows and kittens, are we?
The ...Let's Follow Him! two-page comedy strip isn't as funny as it could have been, though it is a joy to Bagge's work. Managing to fill in a lot of character detail with little effort, the strip does exactly what the name indicates.
The opening installment of Lazarus Churchyard, with a suitably macabre and off-beat lead character in the titular Lazarus. Four hundred years old, and effectively immortal thanks to a plastic bonded to his body, he has to investigate a spate of deaths in order to get his wish... death. The cyberpunk setting contrasts nicely with the rest of the strips, and the artwork by D'Israeli compliments Warren Ellis' script perfectly.
There is very little prose in Blast! (a solitary introduction), and the heavy use of color indicates that what Fleetway was doing (in response to Trident) had been taken into consideration when putting the title together. There's an interesting, though disjointed, collection of strips, but nothing screaming "break-out hit" aside from the Concrete reprint. When you have creators of this caliber involved, it isn't surprising that the comic is still relevant and massively appealing, but a more focused aim might have helped.
I'm not sure who the target audience for the title was.
Now to the Speakeasy insert.
Wisely using the Rian Hughes logo, there are hints of the classic Speakeasy formula, but it is so diluted that it might as well have taken a different name for this:
Speakeasy has a ten year history as a news and features magazine distributed exclusively to specialist comic shops. In that time it has never stayed still, appearing in various formats: from a xeroxed A5 fanzine it became a fold-out broadsheet before graduating to its previous incarnation as an A4 glossy.
Now Speakeasy has mutated into BLAST! a monthly comic magazine dedicated to bringing the best international comic strips to a British audience. Our pull-out editorial section - which will be distributed free to British comic shops - retains the name Speakeasy and its original brief: to promote comics and the culture that they reflect. Over the coming months we will continue to bring you the exclusive interviews with the biggest names in comics and genre film and literature, while keeping you up to date with the significant releases in all three mediums.
It is unfortunate that the paper is so awful, as the shiny white pages of the regular magazine was so impressive. This is a step backwards, but as it is a free insert I'm willing to accept that something had to give. Troublingly, we don't even get the full experience of the title here, omitting several of the main draws. Grant Morrison is nowhere to be seen, and there are far, far too many adverts.
That the change included a heavy film interest is annoying. I read film magazines to find out about films, and I want comics information from comic magazines. There's still a comic strip in this incarnation (Twitch City), though it isn't as immediately amusing as Pedantic Stan. There's a Simon Bisley interview to make up for such a radical change to the formula, but too much has been altered from the magazine. There are parts I really miss from the standalone magazine, and their absence makes this extremely frustrating to read.
A sad decline for a highly-regarded title. Change, we are reminded, is not always for the better.
On This Day: 22 Oct
Wildcat (Fleetway Publications) #01 (22 Oct 1988 - 04 Nov 1988)
The Mighty World of Marvel (Panini Publishing) vol.4 #01 (28 Oct 2009)
First Appearances:
Scarlet O'Gasmeter (Hewligan's Haircut) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 702 (27 Oct 1990).
Births:
William St. John Glenn (1904); Rowland Emett (1906); Jim Lawrence (1918); Sid Bicknell (1922)
Deaths:
Gerald Swan (1980); Bert Hill (1986); Kenneth Ody (1990); Robert Nixon (2002); Martin Aitchison (2016); Steve Dillon (2016)
Notable Events:
A Dan Dare exhibition began at Bourne Hall, in Ewell, in 2001. It would finally end on the fifth of January the next year.
The Mighty World of Marvel (Panini Publishing) vol.4 #01 (28 Oct 2009)
First Appearances:
Scarlet O'Gasmeter (Hewligan's Haircut) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 702 (27 Oct 1990).
Births:
William St. John Glenn (1904); Rowland Emett (1906); Jim Lawrence (1918); Sid Bicknell (1922)
Deaths:
Gerald Swan (1980); Bert Hill (1986); Kenneth Ody (1990); Robert Nixon (2002); Martin Aitchison (2016); Steve Dillon (2016)
Notable Events:
A Dan Dare exhibition began at Bourne Hall, in Ewell, in 2001. It would finally end on the fifth of January the next year.
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Warrior #1
Mar 1982. Cover price 50p.
52 pages. B&W contents.
Quality Communications, Ltd.
Edited by Dez Skinn.
Cover by Steve Dillon, c: Garry Leach.
Contents:
.2 Laser Eraser & Pressbutton Untitled illustration by Garry Leach.
.3 Contents / Indicia
.4 Freedom's Road Editorial by Dez Skinn.
.5 Marvelman ...A Dream of Flying w: Alan Moore; a: Garry Leach.
13 Marvelman The Mightiest Man in the Universe text feature by Dez Skinn.
17 The Spiral Path First Prologue w:/a: Steve Parkhouse.
22 A True Story? w: Steve Moore; a: Dave Gibbons.
24 The Legend Of Prester John w: Steve Moore; a: John Bolton.
50 Warriors All text feature on creators
There's no sense of historic importance within the pages of the first issue of Warrior, but the watershed moment is there nevertheless. Steve Dillon's cover isn't the best the title would have, and Axel's leg looks strange - or, I should clarify, stranger than usual. That the cover doesn't feature either Marvelman or V for Vendetta (which, all these years later, could be considered the big-ticket stars) is somehow appropriate. Warrior has a sense of calm assurance in its' contents, best summed up by Dez Skinn's editorial:
Marvelman's return to the printed page stands out not because it is a British superhero, but because it is a superhero story without ridiculous strained faces, bulging muscles, and hysterical, hyperbolic dialogue so familiar to the genre. Right up until the appearance of Marvelman, in a blaze of lightning, the story could have been for a Doomwatch or The Professionals strip. It is set in the world around us, rather than one in which people take to the skies with abandon.
While the accompanying feature is a brief three-and-a-half pages, it fills in the history admirably. A regular series of articles, with greater focus on key moments of the character's past in each, could have been more helpful for readers without any knowledge of Marvelman and the (often very strange) friends, foes and adventures associated with the title. And some of us really, really like the war stories. Unfortunately, the reprinted panels show just how important good lettering is on the printed page - one aspect I would gladly see tinkered with for reprint purposes.
The Spiral Path has a fast-moving introduction which breathlessly informs us of the important details, though doesn't skimp on style in doing so. The land of Tairngir, invaded by hostile forces, is the setting, and King Galbrain - now deposed - approaches the furthermost border with a handful of his warriors, riding through torrential rain. A druid assists them as enemies approach, leading the men to a place in the mountains where they can shelter. It has the feel of a world where life is cheap, and fans of Game of Thrones should take to it effortlessly.
Comic strips about comic strips often walk a thin line - too cartoony and you are in fourth wall-breaking territory, while too serious a strip can be hard to take enjoyment from. A True Story? straddles the line with finesse, believably set in a solid world before dropping into the ninth dimension with exquisite ease. Dave Gibbons draws aliens as if they are real. They are beautiful in their own way, and the story they exist in is amusing enough to justify its inclusion.
Taken from a 12th century tale, The Legend of Prester John is set during the sixth crusade, and features the most unlikely of protagonists - Sir Randolph, too old to defend himself, and suffering from an ailment of the lungs. He is saved from certain death at the hands of heathens, and in his shocked state is convinced that he glimpsed the form of Prester John. Sir Randolph tells the story of Prester John to Ganelon, the son of his saviour. It is an understated story, beautifully written and drawn, and accomplishes more in seven pages than many can manage in twice that space.
Alan Moore and David Lloyd's V for Vendetta should need no introduction. Chiaroscuro visuals, ridiculously detailed in places, are complimented by masterful lettering which bleeds into the images. There are flourishes which elevate the story in subtle ways - chapter titles, reminiscent of silent movies, set the pace. V's mask, three-dimensional in design, recalls the free cardboard masks given free in Buster and the like, and signal the character as a mythic hero. We are deep in Scarlet Pimpernel territory, albeit one without the safety net of an assured happy ending.
Laser Eraser & Pressbutton takes what could have been an entirely predictable outing and turns expectations around in an amazingly short page count, proving that the range of material approached by the title would not be constrained by expectations. On the planet Ormuz, seemingly influenced by the cityscape in Blade Runner, Oris Pelagon is assassinated by a sniper (prompting the funniest line in the issue), and the pair of miscreants responsible... Well, those are our heroes.
Mysta "Laser Eraser" Mistralis and Pressbutton are soon made aware that their target, Venivi Divici, a dream-racketeer, wasn't the subject of the hit, but Oris instead. Worse, he was the Minister of Weather, not to mention a duly-elected Priest of Skatl. Threatened with arrest, Pressbutton does his thing, which isn't a thing we get the privilege of witnessing, but is assuredly a thing which leaves three people dead.
The feature at the back, in which Warrior creators are given brief biographies, is better than it sounds and not as out of place as it seems. Unfortunately, it doesn't go far enough in certain regards - we don't, for instance, get birthdates for all the contributors, chronological lists of works at the time, nor a cohesive layout. A minor quibble, perhaps, but the staggered layout really is distracting for me.
Capping off an exceptional debut, the Forbidden Planet advertisement at the back is classic Bolland.
52 pages. B&W contents.
Quality Communications, Ltd.
Edited by Dez Skinn.
Cover by Steve Dillon, c: Garry Leach.
Contents:
.2 Laser Eraser & Pressbutton Untitled illustration by Garry Leach.
.3 Contents / Indicia
.4 Freedom's Road Editorial by Dez Skinn.
.5 Marvelman ...A Dream of Flying w: Alan Moore; a: Garry Leach.
13 Marvelman The Mightiest Man in the Universe text feature by Dez Skinn.
17 The Spiral Path First Prologue w:/a: Steve Parkhouse.
22 A True Story? w: Steve Moore; a: Dave Gibbons.
24 The Legend Of Prester John w: Steve Moore; a: John Bolton.
32 V for Vendetta Chapter One: The Villain w: Alan Moore; a: David Lloyd, lettering by Zelda Estrella.
38 Father Shandor, Demon Stalker Spawn from Hells Pit! w: Steve Moore & Dez Skinn; a: John Bolton.
r: House of Hammer (General Book Distribution) #08 (Mar-Apr 1977).
44 Laser Eraser & Pressbutton w: Pedro Henry (Steve Moore); a: Steve Dillon.50 Warriors All text feature on creators
There's no sense of historic importance within the pages of the first issue of Warrior, but the watershed moment is there nevertheless. Steve Dillon's cover isn't the best the title would have, and Axel's leg looks strange - or, I should clarify, stranger than usual. That the cover doesn't feature either Marvelman or V for Vendetta (which, all these years later, could be considered the big-ticket stars) is somehow appropriate. Warrior has a sense of calm assurance in its' contents, best summed up by Dez Skinn's editorial:
Personally, I've always felt embarrassed when looking back on first issues I've been involved in. We've usually managed to get things right after a few issues, but not this time. We wanted to get it right first time round.You can read that as arrogance if you like, but he's not wrong. It a mission statement which would soon show just how far from standard the title was to be. The title feels weighty, it looks good, and the contents...
Marvelman's return to the printed page stands out not because it is a British superhero, but because it is a superhero story without ridiculous strained faces, bulging muscles, and hysterical, hyperbolic dialogue so familiar to the genre. Right up until the appearance of Marvelman, in a blaze of lightning, the story could have been for a Doomwatch or The Professionals strip. It is set in the world around us, rather than one in which people take to the skies with abandon.
While the accompanying feature is a brief three-and-a-half pages, it fills in the history admirably. A regular series of articles, with greater focus on key moments of the character's past in each, could have been more helpful for readers without any knowledge of Marvelman and the (often very strange) friends, foes and adventures associated with the title. And some of us really, really like the war stories. Unfortunately, the reprinted panels show just how important good lettering is on the printed page - one aspect I would gladly see tinkered with for reprint purposes.
The Spiral Path has a fast-moving introduction which breathlessly informs us of the important details, though doesn't skimp on style in doing so. The land of Tairngir, invaded by hostile forces, is the setting, and King Galbrain - now deposed - approaches the furthermost border with a handful of his warriors, riding through torrential rain. A druid assists them as enemies approach, leading the men to a place in the mountains where they can shelter. It has the feel of a world where life is cheap, and fans of Game of Thrones should take to it effortlessly.
Comic strips about comic strips often walk a thin line - too cartoony and you are in fourth wall-breaking territory, while too serious a strip can be hard to take enjoyment from. A True Story? straddles the line with finesse, believably set in a solid world before dropping into the ninth dimension with exquisite ease. Dave Gibbons draws aliens as if they are real. They are beautiful in their own way, and the story they exist in is amusing enough to justify its inclusion.
Taken from a 12th century tale, The Legend of Prester John is set during the sixth crusade, and features the most unlikely of protagonists - Sir Randolph, too old to defend himself, and suffering from an ailment of the lungs. He is saved from certain death at the hands of heathens, and in his shocked state is convinced that he glimpsed the form of Prester John. Sir Randolph tells the story of Prester John to Ganelon, the son of his saviour. It is an understated story, beautifully written and drawn, and accomplishes more in seven pages than many can manage in twice that space.
Alan Moore and David Lloyd's V for Vendetta should need no introduction. Chiaroscuro visuals, ridiculously detailed in places, are complimented by masterful lettering which bleeds into the images. There are flourishes which elevate the story in subtle ways - chapter titles, reminiscent of silent movies, set the pace. V's mask, three-dimensional in design, recalls the free cardboard masks given free in Buster and the like, and signal the character as a mythic hero. We are deep in Scarlet Pimpernel territory, albeit one without the safety net of an assured happy ending.
Laser Eraser & Pressbutton takes what could have been an entirely predictable outing and turns expectations around in an amazingly short page count, proving that the range of material approached by the title would not be constrained by expectations. On the planet Ormuz, seemingly influenced by the cityscape in Blade Runner, Oris Pelagon is assassinated by a sniper (prompting the funniest line in the issue), and the pair of miscreants responsible... Well, those are our heroes.
Mysta "Laser Eraser" Mistralis and Pressbutton are soon made aware that their target, Venivi Divici, a dream-racketeer, wasn't the subject of the hit, but Oris instead. Worse, he was the Minister of Weather, not to mention a duly-elected Priest of Skatl. Threatened with arrest, Pressbutton does his thing, which isn't a thing we get the privilege of witnessing, but is assuredly a thing which leaves three people dead.
The feature at the back, in which Warrior creators are given brief biographies, is better than it sounds and not as out of place as it seems. Unfortunately, it doesn't go far enough in certain regards - we don't, for instance, get birthdates for all the contributors, chronological lists of works at the time, nor a cohesive layout. A minor quibble, perhaps, but the staggered layout really is distracting for me.
Capping off an exceptional debut, the Forbidden Planet advertisement at the back is classic Bolland.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)