Ex Astris on Clickwheel

By John Freeman on January 8, 2009

The Ex Astris strips first featured on ROK Comics are now appearing on Rebellion’s iPod and iPhone service Clickwheel.

Ex Astris is a multi-strand CGI-created strip written by John Freeman and drawn by Bill Storie (aka Mike Nicoll). The strip also appears in print in Spaceship Away and featured in Bulletproof Comics #2.

The stories in print are currently set in different time periods to that of the online story.

Clickwheel is a young, UK-based company with big ambitions featuring the online version of 2000AD and Active Images superb Elephantmen comic, written by former Marvel UK editor in chief Richard Starkings (the print edition of Elephantmen #15 is out in specialist stores next week).

All the strips on the service are offered in downlaodable iComics, which can be viewed on iPod and iPhones, and .cbz, adapted zip files whcih can be viewed in a .cbz reader such as Comic Book Lover.

Other strips include Sword of Dracula by Jason Henderson, featuring the art of Greg Scott, William Belk, Terry Palloy and Tony Harris and many others, encompassing a wide range of styles and genres.

• A more traditional newspaper-styled web version features on Bulletproof Comics
• Ex Astris Official web site

2016 UPDATE: Clickwheel links have been removed as the service is no longer available

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.