On This Day: 18 Apr

Tottering-By-Gently: Vol. III (The O'Shea Gallery; 2003) ISBN-13: 978-0953277223

First Appearances:

Luke Kirby (Summer Magic) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 571 (1988).

Births:

Des Taylor (1971)

Deaths:

Frank Reynolds (1953); Edward Barker (1997)

Notable Events:

Nelson and Tik and Tok newspaper strips ended in 1925.
The Jinks Family newspaper strip began in The Daily Mirror in 1927.
The Daily Express published the final Jeff Hawke strip in 1974.
Forbidden Planet (New York) opened at 821 Broadway (at 12th), New York, in 1981.
The Shrewsbury International Cartoon Festival took place on this day in 2008.
Alan Moore: Storyteller by Gary Spencer Millidge was released in 2011.
The inaugural Birmingham Comics Festival began at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in 2015.

On This Day: 15 Apr

Masters of the Universe sticker album - free with 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 414 (20 Apr 1987).

Ranger: The National Boys' Magazine compiled by Steve Holland & David Slinn (Bear Alley Books) ISBN-13: 9781907081705

Births:

Allen Andrews (1913); Russell Partridge Brockbank (1913); Ian Gammidge (1916); Denis McLoughlin (1918); Alberto Breccia (1919); Mal Dean (1941); Steve Holland (Bear Alley)

Deaths:

Alberto Giolitti (1993)

Notable Events:

A bronze Dan Dare bust (sculpted by John Fowler) was officially unveiled in Southport in 2000, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the character. Given how impressive and realistic the sculpture is, what is most remarkable is that it cost a mere £1,628.

On This Day: 30 Mar

Disney Elena of Avalor (Panini) #01 (2017)

First Appearances:

Marlon Shakespeare (Chopper) in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 206 (04 Apr 1981).

Births:

Lawrence Hector Siggs (1900); Kurt Caesar (1906); Jack Trevor Story (1917); Richard Evans (1945)

Deaths:

Rudolph Ackermann (1834); Franco Cosimo Panini (2007)

Notable Events:

The Exeter Express & Echo slandered John Gullidge's magnificent Samhain magazine one more, with further sensationalist, exploitational nonsense.
Hawkwind: Do Not Panic television documentary broadcast on BBC 4 in 2007.
The Mindscape of Alan Moore 2–disc DVD released in the UK in 2007.

On This Day: 29 Mar

World War Tank Girl (Titan) #01 (2017)

Kick-Ass: Music from the Motion Picture (2010)

Births:

Christopher Chancellor (1904); David Austin (1935)

Notable Events:

2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 729 (04 May 1991) published the Future Shock Marksman, written by 12 year old Westley Smith, the creation of which was recorded for posterity by the BBC for their School Programmes Unit program Comics One.
Gorillaz: Live in Manchester television special broadcast in 2006.

On This Day: 21 Mar

World of Wonder (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #01 (1970).
Toxic! (Apocalypse) #01 (1991)

Tank Girl: Armadillo and a Bushel of Other Stories by Alan C. Martin. (2008)
Hurricane and Champion: The Companion Papers to Valiant by Steve Holland (Bear Alley Books; 2011) ISBN-13: 9781907081538

V for Vendetta: Music from the Motion Picture by Dario Marianelli (2006)

First Appearances:

Robina Hood in June (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #[576] (25 Mar 1972).

Births:

Alfred Sindall (1900); Evelyn Flinders (1910); Bill Holroyd (1919); Gallieno Ferri (1929)

Deaths:

Eric Parker (1974); Ron Clark (2009)

Notable Events:

The Perishers animated series began on BBC 1 in 1979.
Nemesis, Torquemada and Purity Brown appeared at the Forbidden Planet store in Denmark Street, London in 1987, where Pat Mills and Bryan Talbot were signing copies of Nemesis Book 5.
Alan Moore appeared on the television series Inside Out in 2008.
Bear Alley Books published their first book in 2011.

On This Day: 20 Mar

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

First Appearances:

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

Births:

Bruce C. Windo (1920)

Deaths:

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

Notable Events:

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

On This Day: 16 Mar

Fury (Marvel) #01
Thundercats (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (21 Mar 1987)
Total Carnage (Dark Horse Comics International) #01 (Apr 1993)

Now! (Fleetway) #01 (1994)

The Batman Movie Sticker Album (Merlin Publishing Limited; 1990)

First Appearances:


Tao de Moto in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 723 (23 Mar 1991).

Births:


Roy Ullyett (Berryman; 1914); G. Freeman Allen (1922); Gino D'Antonio (1927); Chris Foss (1946)

Deaths:


H.G. Hine (1895); Tom Browne (1910); Ian Chisholm (1981); Marcus Morris (1989); Terry Maloney (2008); Steve Moore (2014)

Notable Events:


The Gambols newspaper strip began in The Daily Express in 1950.
Bryan Talbot signed copies of Luther Arkwright and Nemesis Book 6 as part of his Luther Arkwright UK Tour '88 at Exeter University Comics Group, Devonshire House in 1988. Signing appearances continued over the next few weeks at locations across the Britain.
The Comic Relief Charity Pool Championship took place in the Edinburgh Castle public house, in Camden, in 1991. Creators and representatives from Fleetway Publications, Marvel Comics and Stateside Comics PLC took part, with Fleetway winning 12 games and the Championship, raising over £600 in sponsorship for Comic Relief. The teams for Deadline, John Brown Publishing and Titan bowed out in the face of such strong opposition.
Now! replaced Look-In as IPC's teen title in 1994, though it was a title which never quite worked...
Striker newspaper strip became the first newspaper strip to use 3D software in its creation in 1998.
BBC Radio broadcast the first of the six–part Neverwhere adaptation in 2013.

On This Day: 14 Mar

Happy Pi Day

Speed & Power (1974)

First Appearances:

Tyranny Rex in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 566 (19 Mar 1988)

Births:

Sally Artz (1935); Davy Francis (1958)

Deaths:

Jose Casanovas, Snr. (2009)

Notable Events:

Two illustrations of Old Bill, drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather as part of his lecture tour, were auctioned for charity in 1919.
Toskanex Limited incorporated in 1978, becoming company no. 01357592. The name on the covers of their books is Knockabout.
GlasCAC (Glasgow Comic Art Convention) began at Candleriggs Town Hall, Glasgow, in 1992.

On This Day: 07 Mar

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.

On This Day: 28 Feb

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

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

First Appearances:

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

Births:

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

Deaths:

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

Notable Events:

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

On This Day: 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.

On This Day: 19 Feb

2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Captain America (Marvel Comics Ltd.) #01 (25 Feb 1981).

First Appearances:

Airlift Limited (We Fly Anything-Anywhere!) in The Victor (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #53 (24 Feb 1962).
Dan Dare [2] in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Flesh in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Harlem Heroes in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
John Probe (M.A.C.H. 1) in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Bill Savage (Invasion!) in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).
Tharg the Mighty in 2000 A.D. Prog 01 (26 Feb 1977).

Births:

Alan Hunter (1923); Paul Sample (1947); Leslie Ash (1960)

Deaths:

Achille Beltrame (1945)

Notable Events:

Douglas Bader took his first solo flight, after only 11 hours, 15 minutes flight experience, in 1929.
First episode of Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School broadcast on BBC in 1952.
A blue plaque from The Ramsgate Society, was unveiled by Sybil Burr's son William and Lucy Mangan, in 16 Sotheastern Road, Ramsgate, in 2011.
Scorer newspaper strip ended in 2011.
Revolutionary War: Super Soldiers (Marvel) #01 (Feb 2014) released in the US.

On This Day: 11 Feb

Lord Horror: Reverbstorm (Savoy Books) GN (2013)

First Appearances:

Sam Walker (The Camera Commandos) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #73 (14 Feb 1976).
Fiends of the Eastern Front in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 152 (16 Feb 1980).
Stanley Danzig (Danzig's Inferno) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 718 (16 Feb 1991).

Births:

Derek C. Eyles (1902)

Deaths:

H.M. Bateman (1970); Clive Uptton (1997)

Notable Events:

The first Reading of the Children and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1955 took place in Parliament.
The fortieth anniversary of 2000 A.D. was celebrated with a festival at Hammersmith Novotel, 1 Shortlands, in London, in 2017. Exclusive merchandise was available, and a number of creators were on hand for signings.

On This Day: 09 Feb

Action (IPC Magazines Ltd.) vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Bullet (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Hammer Horror (Marvel Comics UK Ltd.) #01 (Mar 1995).

2000 AD's Greatest: Celebrating Forty Years of 2000 A.D. (Rebellion; 2017).
The Wild Side: A Cartoon Collection of Footballing Animals by Steve English. (Summersdale; 2017) ISBN-13: 978-1-84953-979-1
Judge Dredd: Every Empire Falls by Michael Carroll, Paul Davidson, Colin Macneil, Henry Flint, PJ Holden & Carlos Ezquerra. (Rebellion; Feb 2017) ISBN 978-1781-08531-8

Adventureman by Jamie McDonald. (Summersdale; 2017) ISBN-13: 978-1-84953-969-2.
Thrill Power Overload - Revised and Expanded by David Bishop and Karl Stock. (Rebellion; Feb 2017) ISBN 978-1781-08522-6

First Appearances:

Action Mouse in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Jack Barron (Blackjack) in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Mike Carter (The Running Man) in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
The Coffin Sub in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Dredger in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Major Kurt Hellman (Hellman of Hammer Force) in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Hook Jaw in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Alec Shaw (Play Till You Drop!) in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).
Dan Walker (Sport's Not For Losers!) in Action vol.1 #01 (14 Feb 1976).

Births:

Harry Hargreaves (1922); Haro Hodson (Haro; 1923); The Reverend Robert Lionel Fanthorpe (1935); Suzy Varty (1949)

Notable Events:

The Times published an apology for Barry Fantoni's caricature of Terry-Thomas in 1965.
The Fink Brothers' single Mutants in Mega-City One entered the UK charts at #75 in 1985. It would continue to chart for a further three weeks.
Brett Ewins appeared before Uxbridge Magistrates Court charged with GBH with intent, and remanded on custody, in 2012.

On This Day: 08 Feb

Nutty (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Batman Monthly Presents (London Editions Magazines) #02 The Riddler (1991).

Primo Club Magazine (Primo) #01 (1965)
Smash Hits (EMAP National Publications Ltd.) #05 () *first fortnightly issue*

2000 A.D. Space Quiz Book by Roy Preston (Mirror Books; 1980)

First Appearances:

Lt. Kurt Stahlmann (Iron Annie) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #177 (11 Feb 1978).
Sgt. Jim Steadman (The Tankies) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #177 (11 Feb 1978).
Eric Wimp (Bananaman) in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
The Bar-O Boys in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Big 'n' Bud in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Dick Turban in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Doodlebug in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Ethel Red in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Mitey Joe in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Pearl Potter in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Peter Pest in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Pig Tales in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Samuel Creeps in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
The School Belles in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Scoopy in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Steevie Star in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
Wacky the Crackpot Inventor in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
The Wild Rovers in Nutty #01 (16 Feb 1980).
CPO Sam Steele (Steele's Squad) in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #490 (11 Feb 1984).
Paul (Finn) in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Editions Ltd.) Prog 770 (15 Feb 1992).

Births:

Cyril Price (1905); Frank S. Pepper (1910)

Deaths:

Fortunino Matania (1963); Franco Caprioli (1974); John Miles (1998)

Notable Events:

Feature film From Hell, based on the comic by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell, released in the UK in 2002.
Revisiting the House of Hammer video uploaded to YouTube by Dez Skinn in 2013.

On This Day: 04 Feb

Batman: Gotham Central (Titan Comics) #01 (2016)

First Appearances:

Brigand Doom in 2000 A.D. (Fleetway Publications) Prog 717 (09 Feb 1991).

Births:

Mike Western (1925); Kenneth Mahood (1930); Derek 'Dez' Skinn (1951); Leah Moore (1978)

Deaths:

Sir John Paget Mellor, 1st Baronet (Quiz; 1929); Sydney George Hulme Beaman (1932); Stephen Roth (1967); James Friell (Gabriel; 1997); Dick Millington (2015)

Notable Events:

Bruce Bairnsfather began a tour of his "Old Bill and Me" lecture in 1919, with the first appearance at Hove Town Hall.
Rick Martin newspaper strip began in The Daily Sketch in 1957.
Marvel's Bullpen were present at the comic mart, at the Central Hall, Westminster, in 1984.
The first episode of original superhero sit-com My Hero broadcast on BBC One in 2000.
Neil Tennant was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 2007.
The SWALC micro-arts festival took place, in the Lord Clyde pub, London, in 2012. Bryan and Mary Talbot were in attendance.

On This Day: 31 Jan

The Man Who Searched For Fear by Bill Lacey. (Bear Alley Books) GN (2014) ISBN-13: 9781907081736

V For Vendetta novelisation by Steve Moore, based on the screenplay by The Wachowski Brothers. (Pocket Books; 2006) ISBN-13: 978-1416516996
Durham Red: Manticore Reborn by Peter J. Evans. (Black Flame; Jan 2006) ISBN-10: 1 84416 323 7

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

Births:

Clive Hudson (1926); Grant Morrison (1960).

Deaths:

Morley Adams (1954)

Notable Events:

The Marvel Family #89 became the last Captain Marvel related title to be published by L. Miller & Son, Ltd. in 1954.

On This Day: 25 Jan

Eagle and Battle (Fleetway Publications) #306 (30 Jan 1988).
The Complete Judge Dredd (Fleetway Publications) #1 (Feb 1992).

Nikolai Dante: The Strangelove Gambit by David Bishop. (Black Flame; Jan 2005) ISBN-10: 1 84416 139 0

Births:

John Dudman (1925)

Deaths:

Guido Buzzelli (1992); Arthur Horner (1997); Bill Ritchie (2010); Mike Peyton (2017)

On This Day: 22 Jan

First Appearances:

Drake of E-Boat Alley in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #18 (25 Jan 1975).
The Stuarts of Stalingrad in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #18 (25 Jan 1975).
Gunner Kite The Soldier and the Samurai! in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #179 (25 Jan 1978).
Lieutenant Moto The Soldier and the Samurai! in Warlord (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #179 (25 Jan 1978).
Storm Force in Battle (IPC Magazines Ltd.) #?? (?? Jan 1987).
Bix Barton, Master of the Rum and Uncanny in 2000 A.D Prog 663 (27 Jan 1990).

Births:

Walter Bell (1893); Kimon Evan Marengo (KEM; 1904)

Deaths:

Carlo Pellegrini (Ape; 1889); Patten Wilson (1934)

Notable Events:

Romeo Brown newspaper strip ended in 1962.
The first episode of the original television series Stan Lee's Lucky Man broadcast on Sky 1 in 2016.

On This Day: 21 Jan

Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection (Hachette Partworks Ltd.) #01 (2015) GN

First Appearances:

Judge Death in 2000 A.D. (IPC Magazines Ltd.) Prog 149 (26 Jan 1980)

Births:

Ernest Shaw (1891); Albert Lock (1893); Martin Sharp (1942)

Deaths:

Martin Honeysett (2015); Alessandro Biffignandi (2017)

Notable Events:

Notorious highwayman Claude Duval was executed at Tyburn in 1670.
Alan Coren was a castaway on Desert Island Discs, on BBC Radio 4, in 1978.
John Freeman's thoughts on the future of Marvel UK, published in 1993, is available online.
A special talk about Oor Wullie's Bucket Trail began Dundee University's Saturday Evening Lecture series in 2017. David Cunningham, chief executive of the ARCHIE Foundation, and Suzanne Scott, artistic coordinator of the trail, were present at the talk, which was chaired by Ellis Watson, CEO of DC Thomson.