Commentary 2

The Creator pages are (finally) up, though the index for Titles is going to take a bit longer. I had hoped that, by getting as much of the groundwork set as possible, it would be a simple matter of copying over the information to pages - not so. There are numerous minor annoyances which desperately require fixes before they can be transferred, delaying the process somewhat. Before you get too excited, a few of the pages aren't showing up even for me, and though it may merely be Blogger taking a while to notice they are there, the machinery could possibly have chewed the pages up. Fingers crossed...

As I have mentioned the existence of the revised Title pages, I may as well delineate the issues preventing immediate publication.

When the original lists of known titles were created, stretching through comics, graphic novels, collections of newspaper strips, small press titles, a handful of underground newspapers with strong connections to comics, and even the odd magazine, there wasn't ever one list. For reasons which seemed entirely sensible at the time, the formats were split into their own categories. Each letter of the alphabet, therefore, has up to a dozen completely different lists of titles, the contents therein needing integrating before they are of any use.

Pre-1900 titles remain a constant source of frustration, with no clear sign of being resolved until I get my hands on them, and pre-1940 collections are likewise problematic. While there was never a full list of sticker albums related to comics, I want to get back to them at some point, as well as adding - for the first time - Barrett candy stick card sets. Yes, I know it is only tangentially linked to comics, but I can't find a proper index anywhere, and the lack of information is bugging me. There's no easily-located list of every edition of every title for Ladybird books either...

Further frustrating matters is the fact that the computer, which is being used to upload all of this, can only stay operational for a short while before it overheats and crashes. It is becoming difficult to keep track of when I have scheduled things for, and any double-posts, missing posts, or other quirks, is only going to annoy everyone. I apologise. Although I am not sure, exactly, how to counter the interruptions without upgrading everything, I'm taking steps to minimise anything which is likely to annoy or exasperate - a good, old-fashioned, pen and paper schedule I can tick off when a post has been scheduled.

Cutting-edge technology at work.

The next week or so will see the blog covering annuals, while I re-jig the scheduled posts to flow better. It is appropriate that they feature so heavily, as they were the first to be indexed - and largely the reason this all exists in the first place. While there are a couple of very useful books covering the subject, they are extremely limited in coverage of content.

Paul Green and Laura Taylor's Green's Guide to Collecting TV, Music & Comic Book Annuals whizzes past editions with gay abandon, ignoring the contents of numerous titles, and focusing on the (largely irrelevant) worth of same. While I appreciate the effort put in, and understand the notion behind such a book, it pains me to see excellent creators being dismissed in a few lines of text. A wonderful cover gallery towards the rear of the book makes up for some of the deficiencies in the main body, though as a means of discovering specific content it is, alas, a title which doesn't offer the necessary information.

The Hamer Comic Annual Guide (in two volumes) by Martin Hamer, a retired auctioneer, once more focuses on valuation, though with a wider breadth of titles. It, likewise, suffers from a brevity of information on the strips and stories, yet - when used in conjunction with the aforementioned Green's Guide - is a fine start to uncovering the history of annuals.

But... The origins of such titles in poetry and magazine collections has rarely been dealt with. Indeed, there are many fascinating stories regarding the evolution of what became the accepted format, with minor historical footnotes almost entirely disregarded in the rush to celebrate "new and shiny." James Joyce had work appear in at least one title bearing the word "annual" prior to its more modern use, and one wonders what other notable names have ties (however slight) to the history of annuals.

Asterix

1969 - present.

[1]  Asterix the Gaul (Brockhampton Press; 1969) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix le Gaulois, originally serialized in Pilote #01 - #38.

[6]  Asterix and Cleopatra (Brockhampton Press; 1969) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix et Cléopâtre, originally serialized in Pilote #215 - #257.

[4]  Asterix the Gladiator (Brockhampton Press; 1969) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix gladiateur, originally serialized in Pilote #126 - #168.

[8]  Asterix in Britain (Brockhampton Press; 1970) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell and Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez les Bretons, originally serialized in Pilote #307 - #334.

[10] Asterix the Legionary (Brockhampton Press; 1970) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix Legionnaire, originally serialized in Pilote #368 - #389.

[14] Asterix in Spain (Brockhampton Press; 1971) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix en Hispanie, originally serialized in Pilote #498 - #519.

[7]  Asterix and the Big Fight (Brockhampton Press; 1971) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Combat des chefs, originally serialized in Pilote #261 - #302.

[15] Asterix and the Roman Agent (Brockhampton Press; 1972) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Zizanie, originally serialized in Pilote #531 - #552.

[12] Asterix and the Olympic Games (Brockhampton Press; 1972) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix aux Jeux Olympiques, originally serialized in Pilote #434 - #455.

[16] Asterix in Switzerland (Brockhampton Press; 1973) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez les Helvètes, originally serialized in Pilote #557 - #578.

[17] The Mansion of the Gods (Brockhampton Press; 1973) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Domaine des Dieux, originally serialized in Pilote #591 - #612.

[18] Asterix and the Laurel Wreath (Brockhampton Press; 1974) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Les Lauriers de Cesar, originally serialized in Pilote #621 - #642.

[3]  Asterix and the Goths (Brockhampton Press; 1974) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix et les Goths, originally serialized in Pilote #82 - #122.

[19] Asterix and the Soothsayer (Brockhampton Press; 1975) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Devin, originally serialized in Pilote #652 - #673.

[2]  Asterix and the Golden Sickle (Hodder & Stoughton; 1975) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La serpe d'or, originally serialized in Pilote #42 - #74.

[22] Asterix and the Great Crossing (Hodder & Stoughton; 1976) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Grande Traversée, originally serialized in Sud Ouest

[13] Asterix and the Cauldron (Hodder & Stoughton; 1976) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix et le Chaudron, originally serialized in Pilote #469 - #491

[11] Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield (Hodder & Stoughton; 1977) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le bouclier arverne, originally serialized in Pilote #399 - #421

[21] Asterix and Ceasar's Gift (Hodder & Stoughton; 1977) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Cadeau de Cesar

[9]  Asterix and the Normans (Hodder & Stoughton; 1978) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix et les Normands, originally serialized in Pilote #340 - #361.

[NA] The Twelve Tasks of Asterix (Hodder & Stoughton; 1978) s: Pierre Tchernia w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Les 12 Travaux d'Asterix

Note: Adaptation of animated feature film.

[23] Obelix and Co. (Hodder & Stoughton; 1979) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Obélix et Compagnie

[5]  Asterix and the Banquet (Hodder & Stoughton; 1979) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Tour de Gaule d'Astérix, originally serialized in Pilote #172 - #213.

[20] Asterix in Corsica (Hodder & Stoughton; 1979) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix en Corse, originally serialized in Pilote #687 - #708.

[24] Asterix in Belgium (Hodder & Stoughton; 1980) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez les Belges

[26] Asterix and the Black Gold (Hodder & Stoughton; 1982) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: L'Odyssee d'Asterix

[27] Asterix and Son (Hodder & Stoughton; 1983) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le Fils d'Asterix

[NA] Asterix Versus Caesar (Hodder & Stoughton; 1986) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

Note: Adaptation of animated feature film.

[28] Asterix and the Magic Carpet (Hodder & Stoughton; 1988) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix chez Rahàzade ou Le compte des mille et une heures

[NA] How Obelix Fell into the Magic Potion When He Was a Little Boy (Hodder & Stoughton; 1989) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Comment Obélix est tombé dans la marmite du druide quand il était petit, originally published in Pilote #291

[NA] Operation Getafix: Book of the Film (Hodder & Stoughton; 1990) w: Rene Goscinny; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell

[29] Asterix and the Secret Weapon (Hodder & Stoughton; 1992) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Rose et le Glaive

[30] Asterix and Obelix All at Sea (Hodder & Stoughton; 1996) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: La Galère d'Obélix

[31] Asterix and the Actress (Orion; 2001) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Asterix et Latraviata

[32] Asterix and the Class Act (Orion; 2003) w: Rene Goscinny & Albert Uderzo; a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Astérix et la rentrée gauloise, from material published in Pilote and other titles.

[33] Asterix and the Falling Sky (Orion; 1996) w:/a: Albert Uderzo. Trans: Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge.

r: Le ciel lui tombe sur la tête

Fanatic's Guide to

The Fanatic's Guide to the Bed by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Cats by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Computers by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Dads by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Diets by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to DIY by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Dogs by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Golf by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Love by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Husbands by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Money by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Sex by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Skiing by Roland Fiddy.
The Fanatic's Guide to Sports by Roland Fiddy.

Superman Chronology

17 Oct 1914  Birth of Jerry Siegel.

10 Jul 1914  Birth of Joe Shuster.

04 Dec 1937  Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sign a contract with Detective Comics, Inc. giving the publisher first refusal on any comic strips created for the following two years.

03 Mar 1938  Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sign a contract with Detective Comics, Inc. giving the publisher complete rights to Superman.

18 Apr 1938  Action Comics (National Periodical Publications) #01 (Jun 1938) goes on sale. First appearance of Clark Kent / Superman, Lois Lane.

22 Sep 1938  Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sign a ten-year contract with Detective Comics, Inc.

16 Jan 1939  Syndicated Superman daily newspaper comic strip began.

05 Nov 1939  Syndicated Superman Sunday newspaper comic strip began.

19 Dec 1939  Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster sign a contract increasing their pay rate to $20 per page and promising 5% of net proceeds from certain commercial exploitations of Superman.

12 Feb 1940  The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series began on New York's WOR station, with The Baby from Krypton.

09 May 1941  Final original format episode of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series.

26 Sep 1941  The first Fleischer animated short, Superman, released in U.S. cinemas.

28 Nov 1941  The second Fleischer animated short, The Mechanical Monsters, released in U.S. cinemas.

09 Jan 1942  The third Fleischer animated short, Billion Dollar Limited, released in U.S. cinemas.

26 Feb 1942  The fourth Fleischer animated short, The Arctic Giant, released in U.S. cinemas.

26 Mar 1942  The fifth Fleischer animated short, The Bulleteers, released in U.S. cinemas.

24 Apr 1942  The sixth Fleischer animated short, The Magnetic Telescope, released in U.S. cinemas.

15 May 1942  The seventh Fleischer animated short, Electric Earthquake, released in U.S. cinemas.

10 Jul 1942  The eighth Fleischer animated short, Volcano, released in U.S. cinemas.

23 Aug 1942  The ninth, and final, Fleischer animated short, Terror on the Midway, released in U.S. cinemas.

31 Aug 1942  First 15-minute The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series on Mutual Network.

18 Sep 1942  The first Famous Studios animated short, Japoteurs, released in U.S. cinemas.

16 Oct 1942  The second Famous Studios animated short, Showdown, released in U.S. cinemas.

20 Nov 1942  The third Famous Studios animated short, Eleventh Hour, released in U.S. cinemas.

25 Dec 1942  The fourth Famous Studios animated short, Destruction, Inc., released in U.S. cinemas.

## ### 1942  The Adventures of Superman novel, by George Lowther, published by Random House.

19 Feb 1943  The fifth Famous Studios animated short, The Mummy Strikes, released in U.S. cinemas.

26 Mar 1943  The sixth Famous Studios animated short, Jungle Drums, released in U.S. cinemas.

18 Jun 1943  The seventh Famous Studios animated short, The Underground World, released in U.S. cinemas.

28 Jun 1943  Jerry Siegel conscripted into U.S. Army.

30 Jul 1943  The eighth, and final, Famous Studios animated short, Secret Agent, released in U.S. cinemas.

24 Oct 1943  Lois Lane, Girl Reporter, accompanying the syndicated Superman Sunday newspaper comic strip, began in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

21 Feb 1944  Mr. Mxyzptlk first appearance, in the Syndicated Superman newspaper comic strip story The Mischievous Mr. Mxyzptlk.

02 Mar 1945  Superman encountered Batman and Robin for the first time in The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series.

21 Jan 1946  Jerry Siegel honourably discharged from U.S. Army.

12 Apr 1948  Judge Young declares National to be the owners of Superman, ruling against Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

Judge Young declares Jerry Siegel "the originator and the sole owner" of Superboy, ordering National to cease publication of the character.

21 May 1948  Judge Young declares National to be the owners of both Superman and Superboy, after National paid Siegel and Shuster $94,013.16 for the outstanding rights.

24 Jun 1949  Final episode of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series on MBS.

04 Feb 1949  Final 15-minute episode of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series on Mutual.

07 Feb 1949  First half-hour episode of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series on Mutual.

24 Jun 1949  Final half-hour episode of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series on Mutual.

29 Oct 1949  First evening broadcast of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series, intended for older listeners, on ABC.

21 Jan 1950  Final evening broadcast of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series, intended for older listeners, on ABC.

05 Jun 1950  First afternoon broadcast of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series on ABC.

20 Jul 1950  First chapter of Atom Man vs. Superman film serial released in U.S. cinemas.

01 Mar 1951  Final episode of The Adventures of Superman syndicated radio series, The Mystery of the Prehistoric Monster, broadcast.

04 May 1951  National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc. argued before Judge Learned Hand.

30 Aug 1951  National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc. decided in favour of National.

23 Nov 1951  Superman and the Mole Men released in the U.S.

19 Sep 1952  First episode of Adventures of Superman television series, Superman on Earth, broadcast.

## ### 1954  Stamp Day for Superman released to schools, by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, as part of its Saving Bonds promotion.

23 Apr 1955  First colour episode of Adventures of Superman television series, Through the Time Barrier, broadcast.

## ### 1955  The Short story Superman and Paula Brown's New Snowsuit, by Sylvia Plath, published as part of the new GCSE.

18 Jun 1956  Curt Swan took over art on the Syndicated Superman newspaper comic strip.

14 Jan 1957  Lucy and Superman, the thirteenth episode of the sixth season of I Love Lucy starred George Reeves as Superman.

05 Jan 1958  First chapter of Superman film serial released in U.S. cinemas.

28 Apr 1958  Final episode of Adventures of Superman television series, All that Glitters, broadcast.

## ### 1958  The Adventures of Superpup pilot screened as a replacement for Adventures of Superman television series. Not broadcast.

15 Oct 1958  John Hamilton, Perry White in Adventures of Superman television series, died of heart failure.

16 Jun 1959  George Reeves, star of Adventures of Superman television series, found dead, from a gunshot wound to the head, in the upstairs bedroom of his home.

## ### 1961  The Adventures of Superboy pilot screened as a replacement for Adventures of Superman television series. Not broadcast.

29 Mar 1966  "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" premiere on Broadway.

17 Jul 1966  "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" closes on Broadway.

10 Sep 1966  First episode of The New Adventures of Superman animated series broadcast on CBS.

First episode of six-minute Filmation The Adventures of Superboy animated series broadcast on CBS.

09 Sep 1967  First episode of The Superman / Aquaman Hour of Adventure animated series broadcast on CBS.

14 Sep 1968  First episode of The Batman / Superman Hour animated series broadcast on CBS.

08 Sep 1969  Bud Collyer, voice of Superman in both The Adventures of Superman radio series as well as the Fleischer and Famous Studios animated shorts, died of circulatory disease.

13 Sep 1969  First episode of The New Adventures of Superman animated series broadcast on CBS.

## ### 1969  Man of Steel, Woman of Kleenex essay by Larry Niven published in Knight magazine.

05 Sep 1970  Final episode of The New Adventures of Superman animated series broadcast on CBS.

07 Oct 1972  Cindy's Super Friend, the fifth episode of The Brady Kids animated series, starred Clark Kent / Superman and Lois Lane.

08 Sep 1973  Super Friends animated series began on ABC.

22 Dec 1973  Final episode of Super Friends animated series.

24 Aug 1974  Re-runs of Super Friends animated series concluded, with the series cancelled.

01 Feb 1975  "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" broadcast on ABC as part of its Wide World of Entertainment series.

07 Feb 1976  Super Friends animated series began reruns - as a mid-season replacement - on ABC.

10 Sep 1977  The All-New Super Friends Hour animated series began on ABC.

03 Apr 1978  The World's Greatest Superheroes syndicated newspaper comic strip began.

02 Sep 1978  The All-New Super Friends Hour animated series concluded.

10 Dec 1978  Superman - The Movie released in the U.S.

Superman, Last Son of Krypton novel, by Elliot S. Maggin, published by Warner Books.

Crazy World of

The Crazy World of Aerobics by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Birdwatching by Peter Rigby.
The Crazy World of Bowls by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Cats by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Cricket by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Football by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Gardening by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Golf by Mike Scott.
The Crazy World of the Greens by Barry Knowles.
The Crazy World of the Handyman by Roland Fiddy.
The Crazy World of Hospitals by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Housework by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Jogging by David Pye.
The Crazy World of Learning to Drive by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Love by Roland Fiddy.
The Crazy World of Marriage by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Music by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of the Office by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Photography by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of the Royals by Barry Knowles.
The Crazy World of Rugby by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Sailing by Peter Rigby.
The Crazy World of School by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Sex by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Sex by David Pye.
The Crazy World of Skiing by Craig Peterson & Jerry Emerson
The Crazy World of Soccer by Bill Stott.
The Crazy World of Tennis by Peter Rigby.

Fragments from France

1916 - 1919 (9 books)

Fragments from France (1916; 1/)
More Fragments from France (1916; 1/)
Still More Fragments from France (1917; 1/)
Fragments from France No.4 (1917; 1/)
Fragments from France No.5 (1918; 1/6)
Fragments from France No.6 (1918; 1/6)
Fragments from France No.7 (1919; 1/)
Fragments from France No.8 (1919; 1/)
Fragments from France No.9 (1919; 1/)

Terrahawks

1983-1984 (2 annuals)
World International Publishing

Terrahawks Annual 1984
Terrahawks Annual 1985

Other Books:

Terrahawks: Rainy Day Book (Purnell; 1984) Cover price 99p.

Terrahawks: Bumper Colouring (Purnell; 1984) Cover price 50p. [circles cover]

Terrahawks: Bumper Colouring (Purnell; 1984) Cover price 50p. [white background]

Terrahawks: Mystic Pencil (Purnell; 1984) magic pencil book A

Terrahawks: Mystic Pencil (Purnell; 1984) magic pencil book B

Terrahawks Storybook (Purnell; 1984)

Playmates Book Series (Cover price 60p)

nn Terrahawks: From Here to Infinity (Purnell; 1984)
nn Terrahawks: Happy Made Day (Purnell; 1984)
nn Terrahawks: Space Samurai (Purnell; 1984)
nn Terrahawks: Thunder Roar (Purnell; 1984)

Square Book Series (Cover price 75p) *

nn Terrahawks: Close Call (Purnell; 1984)
nn Terrahawks: The Gun (Purnell; 1984)
nn Terrahawks: The Ugliest Monster of All (Purnell; 1984)
nn Terrahawks: The Sporilla (Purnell; 1984)

Novels:

Terrahawks novelisation by Jack Curtis (1984)

* also available as Listen & Read book and cassette sets.

Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped - the Graphic Novel

2007. Cover price £8.99.
68 pages. Full colour contents.
Waverley Books Ltd.

Painted cover by Cam Kennedy.

ISBN-13: 978-1-902407-38-8

Contents:

 2 Indicia

 3 Title Page illustrated by Cam Kennedy.

 4 Kidnapped w: Alan Grant, based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson; a: Cam Kennedy, lettering by Jamie Grant.

67 Robert Louis Stevenson biography by UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

illustration r: from Illustrated London News.

It is 1751, Scotland has suffered a time of uncertainty and rebellion, and young David Balfour is alone and penniless in the world.

He doesn't realise a letter from his dead father is about to launch him on the most frightening, exciting and incredible adventure of his life.

As he sets out to find an uncle he didn't know existed, David has no idea that he will narrowly escape being murdered - that a fortune is rightfully his - that he will be kidnapped and thrown from one escapade to another in the company of the dynamic master-swordsman and fugitive Alan Breck. Together they must make a dramatic and extraordinary journey across Scotland so that David can claim his rightful inheritance.

An epic story of adventure, friendship, murder and revenge!

Edinburgh's UNESCO City of Literature Trust chose Kidnapped as their 'One Book - One Edinburgh' reading project. The background to the title's existence is only briefly explained on the back, and while it is understandable that the work itself be the main focus, a brief two-page outline of what, precisely, the Trust entailed would have been greatly appreciated. An impressive number of groups had a hand in this, as evident by the numerous logos sharing back-cover space: Scottish Arts Council, the City of Edinburgh Council, Third Eye Design, and the University of Edinburgh.

What input, if any, these groups had into fashioning the title is undocumented within the book itself. Small oversights, perhaps, but the creation of a title is often as interesting as the end result, and especially when a classic work is being refashioned for a modern audience.

On a certain morning in the month of June 1751, I took the key for the last time out of the door of my father's house...

and set out to find my fortune in the wide world.

A bold image of a striding David Balfour opens the story, and Kennedy's attention to detail in both setting and clothes is something of a relief. A few pages later, and Ebeneezer Balfour's home is the first of several outstanding images, capturing the crumbling, formerly impressive structure. The depiction of Ebeneezer himself, however, has something of the fantastic about him - as if a trace of some other work was straining to break through. His pointed ears and long face has a slight Vulcan tinge, though this is anything but a logical character.

A dark, in tone and visualisation, sequence, in which David is sent to his death up a crumbling staircase, is slightly too green to convince as being naturally lit, though the art, on the whole, is very impressive.

While I freely admit to not caring much for the original novel, this is a very condensed version of the story - events rush past, scenes tumbling over one another, though always with an eye to clarity. It is remarkable that Alan Grant's script is able to convey so much in the page-count available, and there are no glaring omissions which affect the storytelling. This is a very accomplished telling of the story, and part of its appeal lies with the plot points which Grant and Kennedy bring to light.

By being so ruthless with the story, eliminating anything which would be considered padding, this shines. I'm still largely ambivalent regarding the original story, but it is possible, in this retelling, to see where how longevity of Stevenson's tale has come about.

Waverley Graphic Novels

Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - the Graphic Novel