Charley’s War Volume 1: 2 June – 1 August 1916
Collects episodes 1-29
Published: November 2004, ISBN 1-84023-627-2
This is a powerful, moving and sometimes archly funny series concerning the adventures of Charley Bourne, a naive and not too bright 16-year old Cockney lad, who lies about his age to join the army who arrives in France a few weeks before the first day on the Somme.
This volume contains the opening episodes in a series that ran to nearly 300 episodes and rarely dropped the pace or the story-telling power.
• Buy Charley’s War Volume 1 from forbiddenplanet.com
• Buy Charley’s War: Volume 1 from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Charley’s War: Volume 1 from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 2: 1 August – 17 October 1916
Collects episodes 30-59
Published: November 2005, ISBN 1-84023-929-8
It is now the late summer of 1916. Though Charley has survived the early days of the Somme, with treachery on both sides of the wire and a dangerous new commanding officer, triumph and tragedy lie in store as he desperately tries to survive…
Rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a ‘Tommy’, this second volume of Charley’s War features a brand new introduction and ‘director’s commentary’ by Pat Mills, plus exclusive extra content.
• Buy Charley’s War Volume 2 from forbiddenplanet.com
• Buy Charley’s War Volume 2 from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Charley’s War Volume 2 from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 3: 17 October, 1916 – 21 February, 1917
Collects episodes 60-83
Published: October 2006, ISBN 1-84576-270-3
As the winter of 1916 approaches, Charley is caught in a desperate fight for survival against the ‘Judgment Troopers’. Injured in battle, he returns home to convalesce…only to discover that the Germans have brought the war to the streets of London!
This third volume of “Charley’s War” features a brand new introduction and director’s commentary by Pat Mills, plus exclusive bonus content.
• Buy Charley’s War Volume 3 from forbiddenplanet.com
• Buy Charley’s War Volume 3 from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Charley’s War Volume 3 from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 4: Blue’s Story
Published: October 2007, ISBN 1-84576-323-8
Home from the war thanks to an injury, Charley escapes from a terrifying air-raid, only to run into a deserter from the Foreign Legion – who tells him of the awful siege of Fort Vaux, even as both men run for their lives from the Military Police!
This fourth volume of Charley’s War features a brand new introduction by Tariq Goddard and director’s commentary by Pat Mills, plus exclusive bonus content.
• Buy Charley’s War: Blue’s Story from forbiddenplanet.com
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• Buy Charley’s War: Blue’s Story from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 5: Return to the Front
Published: October 2008, ISBN 1-84576-796-9
Returning to the front, Charley is reunited with old comrades Weeper and Old Bill – and, unfortunately, bully Grogan and the vile Lieutenant Snell. As the bullets fly and bombs fall, Charley faces as much danger from his own ranks as from the enemy’s…
This fifth volume of Charley’s War features a brand new introduction and director’s commentary by Pat Mills, plus exclusive bonus content.
• Buy Charley’s War: Return to the Front from forbiddenplanet.com
• Buy Charley’s War: Return to the Front from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Charley’s War: Return to the Front from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 6: Underground and Over the Top
Published: October 2009, ISBN 1-84576-797-7
Charley’s unit, under the brutal and thoughtless command of the vile Snell, are detailed to join the ‘clay-kickers’ in a dangerous plan to mine under the German lines…and then comes Charley’s first, terrifying charge ‘over the top’!
• Buy Charley’s War: Underground and Over the Top from forbiddenplant.com
• Buy Charley’s War: Underground and Over the Top from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Charley’s War: Underground and Over the Top from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 7: The Great Mutiny
November 2010 ISBN 1-84856-741-3
Opening in September 1917, Charley is caught up in the mutiny by troops against harsh treatment at Etaples and faces divided loyalties as the rebellion gathers pace. Eventually, back on the front line, he faces death once more as a stretcher bearer – a precursor to an encounter with a German soldier who will, later in life, strike terror into millions of people.
Included in the book is a feature by Steve White on another little-documented mutiny – by French troops – and a forthright commentary on the British mutiny at Etaples from Charley’s War co-creator and script writer Pat Mills.
• Buy Charley’s War: The Great Mutiny from forbiddenplanet.com
• Buy Charley’s War: Great Mutiny from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Charley’s War: The Great Mutiny from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 8: Hitler’s Youth
Charley comes face to face with a young corporal who will eventually change the face of the world as leader of the Nazi party: Adolf Hitler. The eighth action-packed volume of Charley’s War is rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a Tommy.Included in the book is a feature by Steve White about Hitler’s role in the First World War – and a commentary on the strip featured in the volume Charley’s War co-creator and script writer Pat Mills.
• Charley’s War: Hitler’s Youth is available from all good bookshops.
• Buy Charley’s War: Hitler’s Youth from forbiddenplanet.com
• Buy Charley’s War Volume Nine: Death from Above from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 9: Death From Above
The ninth volume of Titan Books’ Charley’s War series will be released on 26th October 2012.
Things are looking up for Charley after he meets the love of his life. But the happy occasion of their wedding is destroyed by the roar of destructive Zeppelin Bombers from Berlin!
• Buy Charley’s War Volume Nine: Death From Above from Forbidden Planet
• Buy Charley’s War Volume Nine: Death From Above from amazon.co.uk
• Buy Charley’s War Volume Nine: Death from Above from amazon.com
Charley’s War Volume 10: The End
The End, written by Pat Mills, we finally reach the epic conclusion of Charley’s story, and the harrowing final days of World War One.
As with some of the more recent volumes of the series, the result of discussion between Pat Mills and former Titan Books series editor John Freeman and Joe Colquhoun’s estate, this volume again includes reproductions of some strip pages from Joe Colquhoun’s original artwork.
These stunning pages, returned to Joe at Pat’s insistence during his lifetime, have been lovingly restored by Moose Harris for the project.
The tenth action-packed volume of Charley’s War is rich in the detailed minutiae of the terror-punctuated existence of a Tommy, and includes a feature on the Treaty of Versailles and Germany’s capitulation.
Where to buy the original Comics and Annuals
Old issues of Battle are becoming more and more collectable it seems, and the original 1980’s Titan softback books are still changing hands on ebay for decent money.
If you’re looking for old Battles you can’t do any better than ebay.
Your local comic shop may also have copies of old British comics, although most tend to concentrate on US titles. 30th Century Comics in London often has copies.
downthetubes has a list of specialist British comic stockists on its forum here
CHARLEY’S WAR ™ REBELLION PUBLISHING LTD, COPYRIGHT © REBELLION PUBLISHING LTD, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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