A science fiction adventure… with dwarves.
Writer: John Freeman (www.downthetubes.net)
Credits include Judge Dredd Megazine, Marvel, STRIP Magazine, ROK Comics
Artist: Smuzz (www.smuzz.org.uk)
Credits include 2000AD, Interzone, Hellraiser
Colour: Kris Carter, Smuzz
Letters: Jim Campbell
The world of Shaarn has been a much fought over piece of real estate down the centuries, with various powers fighting for its resources to exploit – resident sentients included.
To the Higher Powers, it was a game. To the residents of Shaarn, it was like the Gods themselves were at war.
One race ruled Shaarn for over 300 years and exploited it mercilessly. Their rule ended with a massive battle which finally, it was hoped, destroyed them all (but some survive). That Battle required the building of deadly and dangerous artefacts and which left parts of Shaarn pretty much a wreck that it’s only now beginning to recover from.
It’s against this background that our characters – SYLVANA, ARDAHL, BELOC and TRUUG, a mis-matched team of ‘ Expeditioners’ assembled by the desperate Cleric, ZINGAMY – have their first adventure, and find one of the artefacts that caused the disaster that almost destroyed the entire globe. And if you mess about with technology you know nothing about…
Crucible Links
• Early episodes of Crucible appeared in print in STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine and the full first adventure will appear in print in SHIFT from GetMyComics, starting in 2021
• Sample episodes feature online on Tapastic
Short Stories
• The Wit and Wisdom of Truuglub Vanderpatz the Daunting
By Smuzz
• The Walking Notes of Truuglub Vanderpatz the Daunting
By Smuzz
• The Taking of Borderpost 456
By Smuzz
• The Boy Harvest
By Smuzz
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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.
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