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Garth Ennis talks Battle Action with Forbidden Planet TV, third new series in the works

By John Freeman on March 7, 2024 • ( 1 )

Rebellion have been doing a phenomenal job with their Garth Ennis-curated revival of one of the most influential British anthology comics of all time, IPC Fleetway’s Battle Action, and Andrew Sumner has been chatting with him about it for Forbidden Planet TV.

In a wide ranging chat, centring on the recent release of Battle Action Volume Two, Garth confirmed a third series of new stories is in the works, and offers his insights into the work of the project’s creative team, and more.

“Looking after the Fleetway library with David Abbott and the crew at DC Comics is a personal highlight from my years at Time Inc. UK,” says show host Andrew Sumner, “but the reality is that the entire Treasury of British Comics team are actually delivering the range of titles I could only dream of publishing twenty years ago (although Battler Britton, written by Garth and illustrated by Colin Wilson, is an unsung gem that any World War Two comics fan should seek out).”

• Check out Andrew Sumner’s interview with Garth Ennis here on the Forbidden Planet TV YouTube channel

• Buy Battle Action Volume 2 from Forbidden Planet (Affiliate Link)

Writers: Garth Ennis, John Wagner, Rob Williams, Dan Abnett (Author), Torunn Gronbekk
Artists: Keith Burns, Chris Burnham, Henry Flint, John Higgins et al
Out: Now
Hardcover, 160 Pages
ISBN: 978-1837860968

BATTLE ACTION RETURNS WITH A COLLECTION OF TWELVE NEW STORIES!

Air Ace Johnny Red and Angel of Death Nina Petrova face off against the Nazi invaders, lethal British agent Dredger deals with the abduction of the only person dear to his stony heart, and the louche Major Eazy must lead his men through the Devil’s Garden of El Alamein. There’s action aplenty with roguish British commandoes Rat Pack, along with Death Squad, their equally deadly German counterparts. And the hellish arctic ocean is the setting for HMS Nightshade, the classic tale of war at sea.

Writer Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys) is joined by an incredible roster of top-tier talent, with stories by original Battle Action writer John Wagner (Judge Dredd, Robo-Hunter), Torunn Gronbekk (Thor, Red Sonja), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Petrol Head) and Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy, Lawless), and featuring art by industry greats like Keith Burns (Out of the Blue), Chris Burnham (Batman, Doom Patrol), Henry Flint (Hawk The Slayer) and John Higgins (Watchmen, Dreadnoughts). There’s blazing Battle Action on every page!

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.