We’re pleased to report that, a few years after we assured readers Buchan Comics SF adventure romp, Spitfire vs. Aliens! written and drawn by Atholl Buchan, was “coming soon” – it’s finally about to soar!
The creation of Atholl Buchan, self-described “Dad with an iPad”, the new comic, available to preorder now, centres on a Scottish air show pilot who is whisked off into space by his transforming and talking Spitfire to save the universe.
Regular longtime readers may recall we trailed some early pages of what we described as the “utterly bonkers” (but fantastic) concept of Spitfire vs. Aliens way back in 2021, after Atholl gained mainstream media attention for his weird western story, Frontier Tales, still available to buy here on artithmeric.com.
“The story combines my love of anime, sci-fi and World War Two aviation to produce a project that doesn’t have to make sense, because I’m just having fun!” Atholl, who draws comics in his spare time, said back then.
In Spitfire vs. Aliens, Scottish air show pilot Archie McDonald is in the middle of a display when his Spitfire suddenly starts talking and blasts him off into space to save the universe from an intergalactic war between two rival kingdoms.
It turns out that Archie’s Spitfire has been converted by an alien AI called “Chip” into an experimental transforming robot super weapon who is far from impressed with his choice of pilot, but will have to do!
Together, they must learn to co-operate or the universe as we know it is doomed…
A fun SciFi comic, Spitfire vs. Aliens! features the opening tale, plus a related nine page short story, “Space Pirates” written by Ben Traves, drawn by Atholl.
“I am beyond happy to share that my second ever self-published comic completely written, drawn and lettered by me,” says Atholl. “Spitfire vs Aliens! Part 1 is now a physical reality.
“This is the culmination of a few years of work,” he adds. “A huge thanks to Adrian Clarke [publisher of SHIFT] who edited and tweaked it and is responsible to making this happen.
“The nine-page story is Ben’s first try at writing a comic, and he did a great job!
“It’s such an amazing experience to look at this and know I drew every page.”
Check out Spitfire vs Aliens! here on the SHIFT store
Atholl isn’t a full-time comic creator, but it’s clear he’s a dedicated one, setting up his own imprint, Buchan Comics, a while ago. His credits include “Attack on a Space Train” for FALCON #2, a variant cover for the upcoming issue of Sentinel, “They Call Her Trinity”, by Alan Holloway and Mal Earl, and colouring on Brightside #2 by Stu Perrins, featuring art by Nico Queme, published by Markosia Enterprises, available to order now.
His comics career began in 2019 with a nine-page comic called “The Slinger”, published by Saturday AM, publisher of the world’s most diverse manga-inspired comics, as part of a Summer of Manga annual event.
Among other projects, he aims to complete the start of a new series of family western in manga style.
“This will be a sequel to my Frontier Tales comic, now called The Aberdonian, becasue Scottish settler Jimmy Nicol is from Aberdeen in Scotland and classic westerns often nickname the main character ‘The’, Atholl explains, like…The Virginian, The Texan, The Westerner, The Rifleman and so on.”
In Frontier Tales, the Sheriff of Frontier stands alone against the evil Colonel Simmons and his band of ex-Confederates, until hapless Scottish cowboy Jimmy Nicol stumbles into the thick of it and gets himself deputised. Can the two stand up to a small army themselves and will no one else help?
“The Aberdonian is set 20 years after Frontier Tales, and Jimmy is now 40, married and has three children,” Atholl teases. “It will explore themes of learning as a family to use signs with their non-verbal child, and Jimmy and his wife will tell their kids tall tales of their adventures from before they had children. It will be a laid back family western with plenty action, comedy and serious themes.
Atholl’s side career in comics started back in his school days, when, like many of aspiring comic creators, he would scribble away and fill up A4 blank drawing books in pencil and ink – and Spitfire vs Aliens! is where the interest has taken him.
Spitfire vs Aliens! is undergoing some final preflight checks, but is completely drawn and ready for launch. You can order a copy here from the SHIFT GetMyComics web store here for just £5.99.
“You would do me a great honour if you would buy a copy,” Atholl, asks, adding, wryly, “It even has a barcode! Proper stuff!”
After the wait, it seems churlish not too!
• Check out Spitfire vs Aliens! on the SHIFT store
• Buy Frontier Tales Volume One here on Artithmeric.com
• Follow Buchan Comics on Facebook
• Brightside #1 is available here on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) – by
by Stu Perrins (Writer), Nico Valdez (Artist), Adam Blackhat (Colourist)
Born in mysterious circumstances Amelia is raised by her adoptive Father, Sir Augustus Brightside (aka The Head of Her Majesty’s Special Defences Department) to become the British Secret Services Super Spy Supreme and protect the world from tyrannical lunatic Gideon Silver. Will she succeed? And how will she deal with gun totting housekeepers, steam powered voyager discs and karate lessons before breakfast?
• Brightside #2 is available here on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) – by
by Stu Perrins (Writer), Nico Valdez (Artist), Atholl Buchan (Colourist)
In a world where the line between hero and villain blurs under the vastness of the cosmos, Amelia Brightside finds herself at the heart of an escalating battle against a formidable foe. Fresh from her confrontation with the enigmatic Gideon Silver, the young intelligence operative must now confront a new threat: the space-obsessed terrorist, Jarvis Tryskull.
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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: British Comics, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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