Crowdfunding Spotlight: Paragon Issue 30

By John Freeman on January 15, 2022

Since their inception, comic zines – often a starting point for many going on to carve a career in comic creation, myself included – rarely have long runs, so news that British independent anthology Paragon has reached Issue 30 is something of an occasion.

Currently seeking funding on Kickstarter, editor Dave Candlish, in deserved celebratory mood, notes that not many comics reach their thirtieth issue, “and I don’t just mean small press either,” he says. “The big US companies rarely hit such lofty heights and the [mainstream] UK anthology market used to deploy the hatch, match and dispatch policy, so numbers were rare even then.”

The latest issue, as ever, offers a diverse range of comic treats, a package of weird and wonderful heroes is what. This issue will lead with a 20-page multi-hero adventure, as Spencer Nero joins forces with Paragon’s other regular stars, Captain Winston Bulldog, Ganesh and the time travelling demon hunter, Jikan, to defeat an old and very dangerous enemy from his past.

Written by the regular “Spencer Nero” scribe Greg Meldrum and drawn by his usual collaborator, Scott Twells, “it’s an absolute belter of a story celebrating all things Paragon,” Dave says.

This issue also sees another one shot story for the demon Major, the Ambassador from Hell, terrorising the streets of Edinburgh, who you may have seen in the hardback Paragon Christmas annual. The work of Tom Proudfoot and George Colman, it’s not to be missed.

As ever, their are add-on extras on offer for backers, including limited stock of back issues, the aforementioned Annual (of which only a few are left), and the collected tales of Spencer Nero over two books, and three volumes of The Jikan Chronicles – offering opportunity to read their escapades from the very beginning.

Also available as a backer option for your bundle of comic-y goodness is a Captain Winston Bulldog t-shirt. If you’ve grabbed the t-shirts on offer on previous Kickstarters, you’ll need this to add to your collection.

• Back Paragon Issue 30 here on Kickstarter

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.