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.
Showing posts with label John Freeman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Freeman. Show all posts
Monday, January 21, 2019
Friday, January 18, 2019
On This Day: 18 Jan
Lady Penelope (City Magazines Ltd.) #01 (22 Jan 1966).
Scoop (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01 (21 Jan 1978).
Lion King of Picture Story Papers compiled by Steve Holland. (Bear Alley Books; 2013) ISBN-13: 9781907081675.
First Appearances:
Dinky Driver in Lady Penelope #01 (22 Jan 1966).
Fatman and Sparrow in Lady Penelope #01 (22 Jan 1966).
Births:
Raymond Briggs (1934); Eddie Jones (1935); John Freeman (1943); Frank Quitely (1968)
Deaths:
George Morrow (1955); Gavin Tudor Lyall (2003); Derek Birnage (2004); John Stewart (2006); Tony Hart (2009)
Notable Events:
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred newspaper strip revived in 1947 for a second series.
The second episode of Signals, titled The Day Comics Grew Up, broadcast on Channel 4 in 1989.
Scoop (D.C. Thomson & Co., Ltd.) #01 (21 Jan 1978).
Lion King of Picture Story Papers compiled by Steve Holland. (Bear Alley Books; 2013) ISBN-13: 9781907081675.
First Appearances:
Dinky Driver in Lady Penelope #01 (22 Jan 1966).
Fatman and Sparrow in Lady Penelope #01 (22 Jan 1966).
Births:
Raymond Briggs (1934); Eddie Jones (1935); John Freeman (1943); Frank Quitely (1968)
Deaths:
George Morrow (1955); Gavin Tudor Lyall (2003); Derek Birnage (2004); John Stewart (2006); Tony Hart (2009)
Notable Events:
Pip, Squeak and Wilfred newspaper strip revived in 1947 for a second series.
The second episode of Signals, titled The Day Comics Grew Up, broadcast on Channel 4 in 1989.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Star Wars Comic Vol.1 #7
05 Sep 1999. Cover price £1.25.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Painted cover by Hugh Fleming.
r: cover from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #04 (May 1999).
Contents:
I'm not saying that Freeman was recalling the good old days of Doctor Who, but this issue begins a sequence of random cover dates which zip back and forth with no consistency.
Having dragged on for six issues already, Star Wars Comic gets the rest of the saga out of the way in one chunk. The strangely muted battle, in which Darth Maul takes on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, lacks a certain something, and the coup de grâce is strangely absent - one might imagine, if the film was not referred to, that Qui-Gon merely fell over.
The destruction of the droid control ship is given a similarly too-brief moment, with two large explosions marring the surface, though there is no indication of the extent of the damage. A handful of panels charting the destruction over the following moments would have clarified that we are seeing its destruction rather than merely being severely damaged. It is a theme which has recurred throughout the series - stunningly beautiful artwork, marred by poor storytelling choices.
The final full-page image does the adaptation no favours, and as a conclusion there is a distinct lack of satisfaction to be had. Disappointingly, there is still no comedic flourish to offset the serious nature of the strips chosen. Levity, especially when dealing with such po-faced space opera, is required to keep from feeling drained at the relentless pomposity of it all. Star Wars is meant to be fun, and this exercise in repetition is hardly enjoyable.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Painted cover by Hugh Fleming.
r: cover from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #04 (May 1999).
Contents:
2 The Final Battle! text introduction (uncredited). / Contents / Indicia
3 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, part seven, w: Henry Gilroy, based on the story by George Lucas; p: Rodolfo Damaggio, i: Al Williamson, lettering by Steve Dutro, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #04 (May 1999).
11 Forbidden Planet advertisement.
16 Use the Force advertisement for Lego Star Wars sets.
22 All-Out Star Wars Action! in-house advertisement for Star Wars Comic, Star Wars Magazine, and graphic novels.
24 Have Darth Maul on Yer Back competition.
25 Communications readers' mail; illustrations by Nicholas Jones and Richard Fallon.
26 Coming Next Issue
27 Subscribe & Save
28 Galaxion '99 convention advertisement.
I'm not saying that Freeman was recalling the good old days of Doctor Who, but this issue begins a sequence of random cover dates which zip back and forth with no consistency.
Having dragged on for six issues already, Star Wars Comic gets the rest of the saga out of the way in one chunk. The strangely muted battle, in which Darth Maul takes on Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, lacks a certain something, and the coup de grâce is strangely absent - one might imagine, if the film was not referred to, that Qui-Gon merely fell over.
The destruction of the droid control ship is given a similarly too-brief moment, with two large explosions marring the surface, though there is no indication of the extent of the damage. A handful of panels charting the destruction over the following moments would have clarified that we are seeing its destruction rather than merely being severely damaged. It is a theme which has recurred throughout the series - stunningly beautiful artwork, marred by poor storytelling choices.
The final full-page image does the adaptation no favours, and as a conclusion there is a distinct lack of satisfaction to be had. Disappointingly, there is still no comedic flourish to offset the serious nature of the strips chosen. Levity, especially when dealing with such po-faced space opera, is required to keep from feeling drained at the relentless pomposity of it all. Star Wars is meant to be fun, and this exercise in repetition is hardly enjoyable.
#05
Star Wars Comic
#08
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Star Wars Comic Vol.1 #6
12 Sep 1999. Cover price £1.25.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Painted cover by Hugh Fleming.
r: cover from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #04 (May 1999).
Contents:
Another great cover, and one of the finest images of the often cartoonishly evil Darth Maul.
This installment of The Phantom Menace begins with so much abysmal dialogue that it seems to deliberately highlight Lucas' deficiencies as a writer. None of Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan's speech feels in the slightest realistic, and it is a problem which can't be overlooked when reading - there is no repartee here, being a series of apparently random sentences shoved into the Jedi mouths:
Qui-Gon's own story is a tad more refined, with beautiful artwork and superb characterisation throughout. I'm never going to get used to the naked C-3PO though.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Painted cover by Hugh Fleming.
r: cover from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #04 (May 1999).
Contents:
2 A Desperate Alliance text introduction (uncredited). / Contents / Indicia
3 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, part six, w: Henry Gilroy, based on the story by George Lucas; p: Rodolfo Damaggio, i: Al Williamson, lettering by Steve Dutro, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #?? (1999).
13 Forbidden Planet advertisement.
18 20 Phantom Menace Graphic Novels Must be Won competition.
19 Subscribe & Save
20 Star Wars: Episode I - Qui-Gon Jinn, part two, w: Ryder Windham; p: Robert Teranishi, i: Chris Chuckry, lettering by Vickie Williams, colouring by Chris Chuckry.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - Qui-Gon Jinn (Dark Horse) nn (May 1999).
26 Coming Next Issue
27 See and Read the Film advertisement for graphic novel.
28 Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Let the Slaying Begin... in-house advertisement.
Another great cover, and one of the finest images of the often cartoonishly evil Darth Maul.
This installment of The Phantom Menace begins with so much abysmal dialogue that it seems to deliberately highlight Lucas' deficiencies as a writer. None of Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan's speech feels in the slightest realistic, and it is a problem which can't be overlooked when reading - there is no repartee here, being a series of apparently random sentences shoved into the Jedi mouths:
"I feel the presence of the Sith."This isn't, despite appearances, a handful of choice quotes, but rather a conversation. Who talks like this? That the artwork is so good makes the lapse in scripting especially noticeable. A brilliant image of the army walking through Naboo's mists is as good as Goseki Kojima or Hugo Pratt, although in other places there appears to be difficulties with perspective, rendering Darth Maul as somewhat short in stature.
"I'm sorry I've been so rebellious."
"You will become a great Jedi."
"Do you think the Queen will be successful?"
Qui-Gon's own story is a tad more refined, with beautiful artwork and superb characterisation throughout. I'm never going to get used to the naked C-3PO though.
#05
Star Wars Comic
#07
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
Star Wars Comic Vol.1 #5
22 Aug 1999. Cover price £1.25.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Photo cover.
Contents:
Of all the covers, it had to be Jar Jar.
While I don't mind CGI, per se, the overt artificiality of the character as perfectly illustrated here (dead eyes, tombstone teeth hanging in a gaping grin, and skin which appears to be modeled after a mummified corpse) is simply too far from anything believably moving around and interacting with human characters. Creepy doesn't begin to describe the character.
Thankfully the Yoda poster presents a more reasoned approach to the utilisation of CGI, showing the Jedi master deep in thought. This is the kind of quality poster which makes Star Wars Comic worth sticking with, as it really is a great image. This installment of the film adaptation isn't as action-packed, with a fair degree of talk, but the pictures are pretty enough to mitigate such a slow and deliberate sequence.
Qui-Gon Jinn, taking the back-up strip position, barely gets a chance to establish itself with a mere three pages included. I know there's a limited number of pages available, but really, three pages is simply begging for mockery. Opening with Anakin's victory at the pod-race, the strip shows what can be achieved with digital colouring, and gives a new slant to a scene from the film.
The appearance of a letters page, even one which has an appeal to readers for assistance with a name more appropriate than Communications, is a welcome sight, and the cing on top is a spectacularly singular vision of Darth Maul by Martin Spiers. Yes, Paul D. Bianco's home-made C-3PO is impressive, but it had already appeared in Star Wars Magazine, SFX, and likely elsewhere.
I've thought about the model a few times over the years, and occasionally pondered on what has happened to the majority of notable Star Wars fan-art. If there's one glaring omission in the celebration of the franchise over the years, it is a exhibition of all the weird things people have made to show their love for the series.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Photo cover.
Contents:
2 Escape from Tattoine text introduction (uncredited). / Contents / Indicia
3 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, part five, w: Henry Gilroy, based on the story by George Lucas; p: Rodolfo Damaggio, i: Al Williamson, lettering by Steve Dutro, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #?? (1999).
14 UNTITLED Yoda poster; photograph (uncredited).
19 Explore the Gungan Frontier! competition to win Star Wars Episode I - The Gungan Frontier software.
20 Use the Force advertisement for Lego Star Wars sets.
21 Star Wars: Episode I - Qui-Gon Jinn, part one, w: Ryder Windham; p: Robert Teranishi, i: Chris Chuckry, lettering by Vickie Williams, colouring by Chris Chuckry.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - Qui-Gon Jinn (Dark Horse) nn (May 1999).
24 See and Read the Film advertisement for graphic novel.
25 Communications readers' mail.
26 Coming Next Issue
27 Subscribe & Save
28 Forbidden Planet advertisement.
Of all the covers, it had to be Jar Jar.
While I don't mind CGI, per se, the overt artificiality of the character as perfectly illustrated here (dead eyes, tombstone teeth hanging in a gaping grin, and skin which appears to be modeled after a mummified corpse) is simply too far from anything believably moving around and interacting with human characters. Creepy doesn't begin to describe the character.
Thankfully the Yoda poster presents a more reasoned approach to the utilisation of CGI, showing the Jedi master deep in thought. This is the kind of quality poster which makes Star Wars Comic worth sticking with, as it really is a great image. This installment of the film adaptation isn't as action-packed, with a fair degree of talk, but the pictures are pretty enough to mitigate such a slow and deliberate sequence.
Qui-Gon Jinn, taking the back-up strip position, barely gets a chance to establish itself with a mere three pages included. I know there's a limited number of pages available, but really, three pages is simply begging for mockery. Opening with Anakin's victory at the pod-race, the strip shows what can be achieved with digital colouring, and gives a new slant to a scene from the film.
The appearance of a letters page, even one which has an appeal to readers for assistance with a name more appropriate than Communications, is a welcome sight, and the cing on top is a spectacularly singular vision of Darth Maul by Martin Spiers. Yes, Paul D. Bianco's home-made C-3PO is impressive, but it had already appeared in Star Wars Magazine, SFX, and likely elsewhere.
I've thought about the model a few times over the years, and occasionally pondered on what has happened to the majority of notable Star Wars fan-art. If there's one glaring omission in the celebration of the franchise over the years, it is a exhibition of all the weird things people have made to show their love for the series.
#04
Star Wars Comic
#06
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Star Wars Comic Vol.1 #4
15 Aug 1999. Cover price £1.25.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Cover painting by Hugh Fleming.
r: cover from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #02 (May 1999).
Contents:
A dramatic image of Anakin in his pod-racer is a much better use of the cover than photographs, and seems more appropriate for the title. For such a slim issue, and this is a very thin publication, every opportunity to catch the attention of possible readers needs to be taken. Opportunities such as the contents page, which is likely the first page consulted before purchase, which are elsewhere squandered. It's an incredibly busy contents page, with a couple of stills from the film set in an awkward circle which calls attention to the design elements rather than the images or - crucially - what is is in the issue.
The Phantom Menace always felt like a film which dragged on, rather than the pacy and attention-grabbing original, and this adaptation seems to follow in the film's footsteps by seemingly never ending. Finally at the point in the story where Anakin takes to his pod-racer for a race which could grant him his freedom, there are some effective panels showing off the attention to detail here. Black panel borders work well, and the reproduction is flawless.
Without a poster, though, there's a sense that the title has given up on attracting readers. Without even a single text feature, or look into the production of the comic adaptation, we can only wonder at the machinations behind the scenes to bring the project to completion. When looking at Star Wars comics of the late 90s, the striking cover paintings are the most identifiable trait, yet there hasn't been nearly enough written on their creation. Did the artists do versions of the paintings with characters who were later digitally altered, or was the film in the can once work began? It bugs me not knowing.
Anakin's story, which hasn't really felt important, plants seeds for the film, with his mother remarking "I just want to look at you, Annie. Sometimes I have the terrible feeling that I'll never see you again." So subtle. If readers hadn't taken the hint, only a couple of panels later she says (to no-one in particular) "There's a storm coming." Slegehammer-like storytelling aside, there is a real sense of the strip's location being alive with activity, and its ending, while not a surprise, is a suitably grin-inducing moment.
Not a brilliant issue, though given that one story concludes in this issue it is unlikely that latecomers would have been satisfied with the material on offer.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Cover painting by Hugh Fleming.
r: cover from Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #02 (May 1999).
Contents:
2 Whisperings in the Force text introduction (uncredited). / Contents / Indicia
3 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, part four, w: Henry Gilroy, based on the story by George Lucas; p: Rodolfo Damaggio, i: Al Williamson, lettering by Steve Dutro, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #?? (1999).
7 Forbidden Planet advertisement.
18 Star Toons - the Cartoon Art of Science Fiction advertisement for the British Cartoon Centre exhibition; a: Don Lawrence.
r: image from Storm.
19 Star Wars: Episode I - Anakin Skywalker, part four, w: Timothy Truman; p: Steve Crespo, i: George Freeman, lettering by Vickie Williams, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - Anakin Skywalker Dark Horse) nn (May 1999).
25 Make a Date With Star Wars! competition to win Star Wars Episode I - The Data File.
26 Coming Next Week
27 Subscribe & Save
28 See and Read the Film advertisement for graphic novel.
A dramatic image of Anakin in his pod-racer is a much better use of the cover than photographs, and seems more appropriate for the title. For such a slim issue, and this is a very thin publication, every opportunity to catch the attention of possible readers needs to be taken. Opportunities such as the contents page, which is likely the first page consulted before purchase, which are elsewhere squandered. It's an incredibly busy contents page, with a couple of stills from the film set in an awkward circle which calls attention to the design elements rather than the images or - crucially - what is is in the issue.
The Phantom Menace always felt like a film which dragged on, rather than the pacy and attention-grabbing original, and this adaptation seems to follow in the film's footsteps by seemingly never ending. Finally at the point in the story where Anakin takes to his pod-racer for a race which could grant him his freedom, there are some effective panels showing off the attention to detail here. Black panel borders work well, and the reproduction is flawless.
Without a poster, though, there's a sense that the title has given up on attracting readers. Without even a single text feature, or look into the production of the comic adaptation, we can only wonder at the machinations behind the scenes to bring the project to completion. When looking at Star Wars comics of the late 90s, the striking cover paintings are the most identifiable trait, yet there hasn't been nearly enough written on their creation. Did the artists do versions of the paintings with characters who were later digitally altered, or was the film in the can once work began? It bugs me not knowing.
Anakin's story, which hasn't really felt important, plants seeds for the film, with his mother remarking "I just want to look at you, Annie. Sometimes I have the terrible feeling that I'll never see you again." So subtle. If readers hadn't taken the hint, only a couple of panels later she says (to no-one in particular) "There's a storm coming." Slegehammer-like storytelling aside, there is a real sense of the strip's location being alive with activity, and its ending, while not a surprise, is a suitably grin-inducing moment.
Not a brilliant issue, though given that one story concludes in this issue it is unlikely that latecomers would have been satisfied with the material on offer.
#03
Star Wars Comic
#05
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Star Wars Comic Vol.1 #3
08 Aug 1999. Cover price £1.25.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Cover photograph (uncredited).
Contents:
Scratch what I said about photographs not being effective. This is a dramatic cover, with the yellow background allowing the photograph of Darth Maul to really pop from the cover. Visual interest is maintained on the contents page with the wonderful "naked" C-3PO design looking appropriately futuristic and retro at the same time. This is an issue filled with wonderful images, and not exclusively throughout the strips.
The poster in this issue - Darth Maul once more - is a magnificent example of using promotional material inventively. Sure, the photographic element has appeared in a bunch of places, but rarely as impressively as here.
A step up in style, though it is difficult to generate suspense or thrills with the main story, having been driven into the ground with so much supplementary material during the release of the film.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Cover photograph (uncredited).
Contents:
2 Meet C-3PO text introduction (uncredited). / Contents / Indicia
3 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, part three, w: Henry Gilroy, based on the story by George Lucas; p: Rodolfo Damaggio, i: Al Williamson, lettering by Steve Dutro, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #01 (May 1999).
14 UNTITLED poster; photograph (uncredited).
19 Forbidden Planet advertisement.
20 Use the Force advertisement for Lego Star Wars sets.
21 Star Wars: Episode I - Anakin Skywalker, part three, w: Timothy Truman; p: Steve Crespo, i: George Freeman, lettering by Vickie Williams, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - Anakin Skywalker Dark Horse) nn (May 1999).
25 No Time to Lose! competition to win a Star Wars clock.
26 Coming Next Issue
27 Subscribe & Save
28 See and Read the Film advertisement for graphic novel.
Scratch what I said about photographs not being effective. This is a dramatic cover, with the yellow background allowing the photograph of Darth Maul to really pop from the cover. Visual interest is maintained on the contents page with the wonderful "naked" C-3PO design looking appropriately futuristic and retro at the same time. This is an issue filled with wonderful images, and not exclusively throughout the strips.
The poster in this issue - Darth Maul once more - is a magnificent example of using promotional material inventively. Sure, the photographic element has appeared in a bunch of places, but rarely as impressively as here.
A step up in style, though it is difficult to generate suspense or thrills with the main story, having been driven into the ground with so much supplementary material during the release of the film.
#02
Star Wars Comic
#03
Monday, November 19, 2018
Star Wars Comic Vol.1 #2
01 Aug 1999. Cover price £1.25.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Cover photograph (uncredited).
Contents:
A photo-cover isn't nearly as effective as the painting adorning the first issue, though it made sense to tie-in to the marketing for the film in such a manner. Less understandable is featuring Jar Jar Binks prominently on the contents page, looking rather gormless - although I'm not sure he had another look, so any image of the character is bound to be a puzzling inclusion.
The film adaptation continues in a remarkably stylish fashion.
Star Wars posters, throughout the history of the franchise, tend to fall into two categories - there are some beautiful, wonderfully evocative images, full of colour and minor details, and there are... well, posters such as Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul battling in a barren desert. It looks like a still from the film, with a softness to the reproduction which doesn't encourage readers to use the image as intended.
It's rather amusing to look at Star Wars comics, as with novels, or computer games, with an eye on what is being referenced. The call-backs, call-forwards, allusions, sly winks, and in-jokes throughout the stories are almost as entertaining as the storylines. In some cases more entertaining. Thankfully Anakin Skywalker, which fills in the life of the titular character prior to the events of the first film in the prequel trilogy, is a fine example good comics.
Art and script are in tune with what had previously appeared, and there are moments of character-development for most of the main cast. While there's nothing groundbreaking here, there are a lot of fine moments ("You're weird, Anakin Skywalker," being a favourite panel) and - of note - a background character who appears to be wearing clothes more often associated with Han Solo.
A perfectly fine, though unexciting, entry in the history of British Star Wars comics.
28 pages. Full colour.
Titan Magazines.
Edited by John Freeman.
Cover photograph (uncredited).
Contents:
2 Against the Dark Side text introduction (uncredited). / Contents / Indicia
3 Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, part two, w: Henry Gilroy, based on the story by George Lucas; p: Rodolfo Damaggio, i: Al Williamson, lettering by Steve Dutro, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Dark Horse) #01 (May 1999).
13 Star Wars: Episode I - The Gungan Frontier advertisement for computer game.
14 UNTITLED poster; photograph (uncredited).
19 Forbidden Planet advertisement.
20 Star Wars: Episode I - Anakin Skywalker, part two, w: Timothy Truman; p: Steve Crespo, i: George Freeman, lettering by Vickie Williams, colouring by Dave Nestelle.
r: Star Wars: Episode I - Anakin Skywalker Dark Horse) nn (May 1999).
25 Be a Star Wars Insider! competition to win Insider's Guide software.
26 Coming Next Issue
27 Subscribe & Save
28 Collect it. Trade it. Play it. Use the Force... Anywhere advertisement for tar Wars Collectible Card Game.
A photo-cover isn't nearly as effective as the painting adorning the first issue, though it made sense to tie-in to the marketing for the film in such a manner. Less understandable is featuring Jar Jar Binks prominently on the contents page, looking rather gormless - although I'm not sure he had another look, so any image of the character is bound to be a puzzling inclusion.
The film adaptation continues in a remarkably stylish fashion.
Star Wars posters, throughout the history of the franchise, tend to fall into two categories - there are some beautiful, wonderfully evocative images, full of colour and minor details, and there are... well, posters such as Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul battling in a barren desert. It looks like a still from the film, with a softness to the reproduction which doesn't encourage readers to use the image as intended.
It's rather amusing to look at Star Wars comics, as with novels, or computer games, with an eye on what is being referenced. The call-backs, call-forwards, allusions, sly winks, and in-jokes throughout the stories are almost as entertaining as the storylines. In some cases more entertaining. Thankfully Anakin Skywalker, which fills in the life of the titular character prior to the events of the first film in the prequel trilogy, is a fine example good comics.
Art and script are in tune with what had previously appeared, and there are moments of character-development for most of the main cast. While there's nothing groundbreaking here, there are a lot of fine moments ("You're weird, Anakin Skywalker," being a favourite panel) and - of note - a background character who appears to be wearing clothes more often associated with Han Solo.
A perfectly fine, though unexciting, entry in the history of British Star Wars comics.
#01
Star Wars Comic
#03
Friday, November 16, 2018
Havoc
13 Jul 1991 - 07 Sep 1991 (9 issues)
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Edited by John Freeman and Harry Papadopoulos.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Edited by John Freeman and Harry Papadopoulos.
01 (13 Jul 1991; cover price 55p) Free Havoc Data File. Deathlok, Star Slammers, Ghost Rider, Conan and RoboCop reprints begin. Eye Level text feature begins.
02 (20 Jul 1991) Full-color Deathlok poster. Deathlok text feature.
03 (27 Jul 1991) Full-color RoboCop poster.
04 (03 Aug 1991)
05 (10 Aug 1991) Ghost Rider Straight out of Hell text feature by Mike Conroy.
06 (17 Aug 1991) Conan text feature by Mike Conroy.
07 (24 Aug 1991) Cry Havoc! letters page begins.
08 (31 Aug 1991) Walt Simonson, Creator of Star Slammers text feature by Mike Conroy.
09 (07 Sep 1991) RoboCop Murphy's Law & Disorder text feature by Dave Hughes. Part Man, Part Machine, All Cop text feature by Mike Conroy. Serving the Public Interest text feature by Dave Hughes.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Havoc
13 Jul 1991 - 07 Sep 1991 (9 issues)
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Edited by John Freeman and Harry Papadopoulos.
01 (13 Jul 1991; cover price 55p) Free Havoc Data File. Deathlok, Star Slammers, Ghost Rider, Conan and RoboCop reprints begin. Eye Level text feature begins.
02 (20 Jul 1991) Full-color Deathlok poster. Deathlok text feature.
03 (27 Jul 1991) Full-color RoboCop poster.
04 (03 Aug 1991)
05 (10 Aug 1991) Ghost Rider Straight out of Hell text feature by Mike Conroy.
06 (17 Aug 1991) Conan text feature by Mike Conroy.
07 (24 Aug 1991) Cry Havoc! letters page begins.
08 (31 Aug 1991) Walt Simonson, Creator of Star Slammers text feature by Mike Conroy.
09 (07 Sep 1991) RoboCop Murphy's Law & Disorder text feature by Dave Hughes. Part Man, Part Machine, All Cop text feature by Mike Conroy. Serving the Public Interest text feature by Dave Hughes.
Saturday, October 13, 2018
Star Trek: The Next Generation #1
17 Nov 1990; Cover price 55p.
32 pages. Colour.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Free Star Fleet sew-on insignia.
Contents:
In the extended absence of Star Trek: The Next Generation from terrestrial screening, to ensure Sky's ratings and shift over-priced videos, the comic was the next best thing. Of course, novels had been appearing regularly from Titan Books, with Howard Weinstein's Exiles getting a free plug in Trekkie Trivia, so it wasn't as if Britain was starved of material.
Under a hideous mash-up cover, which would have been better served without the pasted-in crew, the contents aren't at all bad. Unfortunately for those collecting anything with a Starfleet logo plastered on, the contents aren't at all original either, being reprints from US publications. There's a degree of sense in adding TNG to a line-up which included Blake's 7, and which continued to have Doctor Who Magazine appearing, it is difficult to see how it could have competed without something fresh to add.
The strip is often awkwardly drawn, with none of the flair the series exhibited, and is presented throughout with a star-field border rather than being resized. To say that this is a disappointment is understating just how poorly Star Trek: The Next Generation managed to sell itself off a show which had a built-in audience. With even titles such as Look-In offering posters, the fact that this contains but a single pin-up, and of Data, is surprising.
This is why tie-in titles have a bad name.
32 pages. Colour.
Marvel Comics Ltd.
Free Star Fleet sew-on insignia.
Contents:
.2 Bridge Level Introduction / Trekkie Trivia / Indicia.
.3 Star Trek: The Next Generation Where No One Has Gone Before w: Michael Carlin; p: Pablo Marcos, i: Carlos Garzon & Arne Starr, lettering by Bob Pinaha, colouring by Carl Gafford.
r: Star Trek: The Next Generation (DC Comics) #01 (Feb 1988).
.7 The Knights of Pendragon in-house advertisement.
26 Titan Books Presents Star Trek advertisement.
27 Mission Report "Datalore" text feature by Robert Greenberger.
r: Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine (O'Quinn Studios) #06 (Apr 1989).
31 Classified advertisements.
32 Data photo pin-up.
In the extended absence of Star Trek: The Next Generation from terrestrial screening, to ensure Sky's ratings and shift over-priced videos, the comic was the next best thing. Of course, novels had been appearing regularly from Titan Books, with Howard Weinstein's Exiles getting a free plug in Trekkie Trivia, so it wasn't as if Britain was starved of material.
Under a hideous mash-up cover, which would have been better served without the pasted-in crew, the contents aren't at all bad. Unfortunately for those collecting anything with a Starfleet logo plastered on, the contents aren't at all original either, being reprints from US publications. There's a degree of sense in adding TNG to a line-up which included Blake's 7, and which continued to have Doctor Who Magazine appearing, it is difficult to see how it could have competed without something fresh to add.
The strip is often awkwardly drawn, with none of the flair the series exhibited, and is presented throughout with a star-field border rather than being resized. To say that this is a disappointment is understating just how poorly Star Trek: The Next Generation managed to sell itself off a show which had a built-in audience. With even titles such as Look-In offering posters, the fact that this contains but a single pin-up, and of Data, is surprising.
This is why tie-in titles have a bad name.
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