New publisher Dark & Golden Books have announced their reissue of the 1976 comic classic, Mek Memoirs by Chris Lowder, better known to some as Jack Adrian, and Kevin O’Neill – a comic that helped bring O’Neill to the attention of 2000AD, before it launched.
Newly created from scans of the original artwork, this fantastic facsimile edition, limited to just 400 copies, comes wrapped in eight pages of unseen material and reminiscences by artist Kevin O’Neill and writer Chris Lowder, including a brand-new cover by O’Neill created especially for this edition. In accordance with the artist’s wishes, the comic is presented without staples, as originally published.
See the future history of robot warfare captured on video for the very first time… Von Kruppenstein! The Crusher! The Killdozers! Take a peek at the horrible world to come in searing battle action!
This acerbic end of the world comedy is an unmissable look at a war you never want to see happen!
This robot conflict urtext set the stage for the comics sci-fi revolution that was just around the corner, and was among the pieces in O’Neill’s portfolio shown to Pat Mills to land a job at 2000AD.
Not only is this a great looking facsimile edition, in the style of the original – the story and art are cracking, too, bursting with madcap, eye burning energy. Well worth your galactic groats!
Dark & Golden web shop and Gosh! London from Monday 21st March 2022, Mek Memoirs comes in an envelope alongside a bonus print of a contemporaneous O’Neill artwork.
Dark & Golden Books – the name a homage to one of Britain’s earliest comic shops, Dark They Were and Golden Eyed – is a new imprint dedicated to charting a less travelled course through the history of British comics, finding and celebrating mislaid and forgotten classics for the audience of today in new high-quality editions.
A joint venture by Tom Oldham, Editor in Chief of London-based Breakdown Comics, whose interest in comics started when he was a teenager with 2000AD, and Douglas Noble of Strip For Me, who also creates his own comics, often working with a raft of other interesting creators, including Sean Azzopardi, Jon Paul Milne and Olivia Sullivan.
They justifiably tell us “it’s an exciting time for us, and there’s more to come this year that we are very much looking forward to people seeing.” Cannot wait! Perhaps they might include Mek Memoir #2… if Kevin can find it…
• Mek Memoirs #1 will be available from the Dark & Golden web shop from Monday 21st March 2022
• Follow Dark & Golden Books on Twitter and Instagram at @dark_and_golden
Mek Memoirs
20 pages, in black and white and black and orange | Limited to 400 copies | Edited by Tom Oldham and Douglas Noble
Art scanned at 600 dpi on an Epson 10000XL Scanner | Comic printed on 90GSM Uncoated paper by Comic Printing UK without binding on an HP Indigo printer
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.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
In Memoriam: Comic Artist, Writer, Inspiration: Paul Neary 
International comic community pays tribute to 2000AD and Look-In artist John M. Burns 
Fundraiser in memory of comic artist and writer Ian Gibson smashes target