“Rourke of the Radlands” returns after years in the wilderness

By John Freeman on November 15, 2016

The recoloured “Rourke of the Radlands: The Wand”, set to appear in 100% Biodegradable soon. Art by Liam Sharp, colour by Brett Burbridge

The SF fantasy character “Rourke of the Radlands” co-created by myself, John Freeman, and Wonder Woman artist Liam Sharp, first published in the largely creator-owned Marvel UK title STRIP, is about to get a new lease of life in the digital anthology 100% Biodegradable.

Edited by Dan Abnett, STRIP, launched in February 1990, was a fortnightly comic that ran for 20 issues, offering a mix of European reprint, including “Storm” by Don Lawrence, and new, creator-owned material such as “The Chronicles of Genghis Grimtoad” by John Wagner, Alan Grant and Ian Gibson. Later issues featured the Death’s Head story “The Body in Question” by Simon Furman and Geoff Senior.

A Marvel UK title with a firm eye on EPIC and DC Comics Vertigo, it also included a number of one-shot tales, intended to test the character for possible longform mini-series, also edited by Dan.

STRIP Issue 4 cover art by Liam Sharp

“Rourke of the Radlands: The Wand” appeared in STRIP Issue 4, originally coloured by Steve White. The character proved popular enough with the STRIP audience to prompt plans for a mini-series, which went through several permutations before management changes pushed Marvel UK in a different direction, away from creator-owned material – but not before Editorial Director Paul Neary and CEO Vincent Conran confirmed in writing with all those who’d created characters published in STRIP that they owned all rights to them.

Liam Sharp’s faxes, sent to John Freeman featuring ideas for a proposed Marvel UK mini series featuring Rourke, Monark Starstalker and Wolverine.

I’m glad now that Rourke escaped Marvel’s clutches – even though my plans for a crossover with Wolverine and Monark Starstalker (a character created by Howard Chaykin) would have been fun to do, but would have seen the feisty warrior become Marvel property.

Although the mini-series never happened, Liam’s designs caught the attention of incoming Marvel UK Editorial Director Paul Neary (after I pushed them under his nose) and prompted Paul to bring Liam on board to create the all-new Death’s Head II – the company’s most successful Marvel Universe character, which helped spur the way forward to the Genesis 1992 projects that included Warheads, Motormouth and more.

With much appreciated initial input from Liam and colourist Laura Martin, Brett Burbridge is re-colouring “The Wand” for its appearance in 100% Biodegradable.

The re-presentation of “The Wand” is hopefully just the start of further Rourke tales set in a dangerous world where technology is seen as magic and a race of bizarre reptiles have a sinister agenda, vying for power against a cabal of insane magicians. Bill Storie, perhaps best known at present for his work on an all-new “Garth” story that’s set to resume soon on the official Garth Facebook page is currently working on a new short story written by David Hailwood, “Fool’s Gold”, which also sets the scene for future tales.

Pencils for the upcoming “Rourke of the Radlands: Fool’s Gold”. Art by Bill Storie

In the new stories, we’ll see how Rourke became a cross time warrior, cast adrift from her own world. Aided by her psychometric skills, you’ll find out (eventually!) came to be at the side of “Miranda Smith” seen in “Death Duty”, which recently featured in 100% Biodegradable , one of the ancient Keepers and a force for good…

I hope you’ll join us for the ride…

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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.