As a little pick-me-up during the Coronavirus Pandemic, Bryan Talbot, working with web master James Robertson, has put together a downloadable version of all of the free comics published on his official site site over the years.
In fact, not only comics already on the site – but a huge number of new comics never before featured on Bryan’s official site, too, including stories written by Neil Gaiman and Alan Moore and the first ever appearance of Luther Arkwright, back in 1976 – and one originally published in the Guardian Guide in 1997, a strip that does the impossible – it tells the history of British comics in just three pages!
So, with the compliments of Bryan and James, please feel free to download the Bryan Talbot free comics compilation – CBR version or the Bryan Talbot free comics compilation PDF version!
The download includes the following, all comics written and drawn by Bryan unless otherwise stated:
- Hasan i Sabah – First published in SEED magazine Volume 5, May 1976, coloured by Jim Stewart
- Jabberwocky – an adaptation of the poem by Lewis Carroll, taken from the 320 page graphic novel Alice in Sunderland published in 2007 by Jonathan Cape and still available
- Henry V’s Speech before Harfleur – Another selection from Alice in Sunderland. The style is a pastiche of the kind of strips that appeared in MAD magazine in the 1960s. Bryan originally had the idea for the strip when studying the play at Grammar School when he was 14, and even drew the first two pages of it. Now long lost, he always remembered them and it fitted with the Alice in Sunderland concept
- What is Corruption? – an introduction to the anthology Ctrl. Alt. Shift Unmasks Corruption, published in 2008, when the youth charity commission asked some of the biggest names in the comic industry to tackle political corruption
- An Open Letter to a Comics Virgin – published in early in 2013, especially commissioned by The Author magazine to introduce members of the Society of Authors to the comics form
- “The Cannabis Conspiracy” – written by Doug Moench and coloured by Jamie Grant, published in The Big Book of Conspiracies first published by Paradox Press in 1995
- Brainworms – written by Matthias Schultheiss, published in Xpresso Special #2 in 1991
- Cold Snap – written by Alan Moore, published in the last issue of Slow Death in 1992, and the Food for Thought anthology published by Gary Spencer Millidge
- Komix Comics – published in Steetcomix #3 in 1997
- For a Few Gallons More – featuring Ogoth and Ugly Boot from the Ogoth the Barbarian strips, written by Mick Farren and drawn by Chris Welch, published in Sideshow Comics #1, originally published in Moon Comix #2 in 1978
- The Papist Affair– the first ever appearance of Luther Arkwright in print, from the anthology Brainstorm Comix’s Mixed Bunch Alchemy Press published in 1976
- An Honest Answer – A complete four-page strip drawn by Bryan and written by Neil Gaiman, lettered by Sonja Curtis, giving an honest answer to the age-old question of: where do writers get their ideas from?! It first appeared in the UK SF Eastercon booklet in 1994, and it’s not to be taken too seriously…
- From Homogenous to Honey – a collaboration between Bryan Talbot and Neil Gaiman with inks by Mark Buckingham and letters by Steve Craddock, which appeared in the benefit comic AARGH! (Artists Against Rampant Government Homophobia) published by Alan Moore’s Mad Love imprint, Bryan’s first collaboration with Neil. The strip was a protest against proposed homophobic legislation in the UK in 1988 showing what would happen if all fey and homosexual influences were removed from society
- Sloth – written by Neil Gaiman, from Seven Deadly Sins, published by Knockabout Comics in 1989
- The History of British Comics – originally published in the Guardian Guide in 1997, a strip that does the impossible – it tells the history of British comics in just three pages!
- Nick Cave – a page from Spin Magazine published in 2002, one of a series of Rock Stars’ autobiographical stories, written by Nick Cave
- The Fire Opal of Set – published in May 1984 in Imagine magazine, which also had a cover drawn by Bryan, this two-page comic was an introduction to a scenario for the Traveller sci-fi roleplaying game – also included in this free compilation. “It was also my first every introduction to Bryan and his work,” James recalls. “This issue of Imagine also had an advert for mail-ordering Volume One of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, which I did – and the rest is, as they say history. After getting Arkwright I fell in love with Bryan’s style, and in 1996 started to run his website… – and arguably my whole career since then (and also meeting my wife!) is down to that.”
“The only downside to this is that now I will have to upload all of these comics to the site too!” James laughs. “I’ll work on that during the lockdown – but in the meantime, Bryan and I hope that these comics will help out with the cabin fever during your lockdown.
“Stay safe everyone, and see you all at the comic shop when this is all over.”
• Download the Bryan Talbot free comics compilation – CBR version or the Bryan Talbot free comics compilation PDF version
• Bryan Talbot is online at www.bryan-talbot.com | Twitter | Facebook
• Check out graphic novels by Bryan Talbot on AmazonUK – Affiliate Link
- About the Author
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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.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Creator Spotlight, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features
Real treasure!! THANKS B.T.!
Well done to Bryan!
A while back I asked William Rudling who runs the Jeff Hawke Club if I could have free copies of all my Dad’s (Scriptwriter Willie Patterson) stories which were not published by Titan Books in 1986/7 and 2008, which I do have copies of. However I got no response from Rudling. He doesn’t speak to me, neither does Sydney Jordan. I don’t know why.
I’m an unwaged Carer, human rights campaigner, mental health whistleblower and pensioner of 67yrs, so can’t afford to pay for them. But I thought that as it was my Father’s writing which directed this comic strip in Daily Express 1960’s and kept Jeff Hawke alive for decades then Rudling would look favourably upon my request. I would like to write a book about my Father in the future, to keep his memory alive and for my children and grandchildren, so it would be useful to have his complete Jeff Hawke works.
[I started writing in blogs 2008 to have a voice, aged 55, and my main blog with many posts about my past mental health work is ChrysMuirheadWrites.blogspot.com although nowadays I’ve retreated from campaigning]
I don’t know how many stories there are which are scripted, directed by my Dad, as my Mother didn’t keep copies or a record of them after my Dad stayed in London 1969, his contract terminated at the Express, my parents separated, divorced, he never worked again. My Mum died in 1998. She did keep my Father’s King’s Badge Award letter from 1948, disabled as a result of war duties, Aircraftsman 2nd Class with RAF Police at Innsworth, only 10mths after volunteer enlistment. Jordan described my Dad in a handwritten enscription in Jeff Hawke Book Two 1987 edition as “one in a million”, in a copy he sent to me after my Father’s funeral at Kensal Green, London, October 1986, which I attended.
Thanks for listening.