Furuequake 2017 – cover art by: Romain Brun, colour by Julien Brun
The Book: FutureQuake 2017 is back to brighten the boring, Inspire the indolent and render the jaded jubilant! Within the 100 page issue witness 18 possible futures including the latest instalment of the astounding epic, “Idea Space”.
The Review: I’ve been promising to finish this review of the latest FutureQuake special for weeks, but other things have kept pushing to the front. I’m not the most natural of reviewers and I’m afraid I have a tendendency to mull over my thoughts on a new comic for far too long.
Which is not what the many creators who worked on this splendid 100-page anthology will want to hear, or hard-working and talented editor Dave Evans, either. FutureQuake 2017 is well deserving of your attention, with a huge line-up of strips for you to savour and enjoy.
My favourites? Well, There are too many, but we can start with “Jamie Evolutionary” (Written by Jeff Bowles, Art by Romain Brun, Letters by Bolt-01) which also features on the stunning cover. Well deserving of cover lead, this is a beautifully realised short strip which captures the “Idea Space” theme of this collection perfectly. A smashing, poignant tale of a far-too-clever super child and a time travel twist that will leave you pondering. Romain Brun’s art on this story is simply stunning, and I’m on the look out for my by this talented creator – and you should be, too. (Follow him on Twitter @nezotholem)
I absolutely loved the short, text-less strip “Conservationists” written by David Tallerman, with gorgeous art by Anthony Summey (Letters by Bolt-01). It’s a simple story of aliens meet humans. I won’t spoil it for you but again the art is terrific.
“Kron“, written by Chris Tresson, with art by Nico Assirelli (Letters by Bolt-01) is another gem of a take (a hapless alien invader totally bemused by humankind’s reaction to him/it) and another story easily on a par with a 2000AD Future Shock, as I thought is “From Tiny Acorns” written by Alexi Conman with art by Richard Waugh.
There are so many delights in this Special it’s impossible to list them all (but I will mention “From Tiny Acorns”, “Jungalow” and “London Rocks”, creator information and sample art below) – all good stuff!
If I had one criticism, it would be the inclusion of the ongoing story “Idea Space: All Good Things” (written by JJ Robinson with art by Darren Stephens) in this “Special” issue. The story itself is heady stuff (and I’m not even going to try to bring you up to speed on its many twists and turns, it’ll make your head spin!), but as part of a larger tale it sits uneasily, I felt, with the rest of the one-off stories in this book, especially given it takes up 14 pages of the whole.
Edited by Dave Evans, 100 pages of great strips costs you just £6.50 – As always, available through the FQP webshop, I heartily recommend this book (and accept the rockets from Dave for taking so long to do so). But some back issues while you’re on their site – or track them down at one of the many conventions the dedicated team behind this book attend.
• Check out the FutureQuake Press blog at https://futurequake.wordpress.com
Strips This Issue
“A Hundred Hurts” Written by Christian Gilbert Art & Letters by Gustaffo Vargas
“A Week Written: by Alexi Conman Art by Sketchy Magpie Letters by Bolt-01
“Action & Consequence” Written by Alexi Conman Art by Scott Twells Colour by Owen Watts Letters by Bolt-01
“Conservationists” Written by David Tallerman Art by Anthony Summey Letters by Bolt-01
“Flawed Design” Written by Veronica Tomasiello Art by Alex Paterson Letters by Bolt-01
“From Tiny Acorns” Written by Alexi Conman Art by Richard Waugh Letters by Bolt-01
“Idea Space: All Good Things” Written by JJ Robinson Art by Darren Stephens Letters by Bolt-01
“Jamie Evolutionary” Written by Jeff Bowles Art by Romain Brun Letters by Bolt-01
“Jungalow” Written by Dick Jillings Art & Letters by Fran Strukan
“Kron” Written by Chris Tresson Art by Nico Assirelli Letters by Bolt-01
“Late Stage Detection” Written by Josef Cuddy Art by Łukasz Kowalczuk Letters by Bolt-01
“London Rocks” Written by Tim West Art by Rafael Romeo Magat Letters by Bolt-01
Nuclear Family Written by Danny Nolan Art & Letters by Dave Dye
“Painful Truths” Written by Dominic Teague Art & Letters by Anthony O’Donnell
“Shards” Written by Dave Wednesday Art by RH Stewart Letters by Bolt-01
“Stick Up” Written by ‘Fred Jenks’ Art by Rui Mendes Letters by Bolt-01
“Teething” Written by Katie Cunningham Art by Boy Phaff Letters by Bolt-01
“Turing’s Prisoner” Written by Alexi Conman Art & Letters by Bolt-01 Greytones by Barry Renshaw
• FutureQuake 2017 – 100 pages of great strips costs you just £6.50 – As always, available through the FQP webshop
• Check out the FurueQuake Press blog at https://futurequake.wordpress.com
- 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, British Comics - Current British Publishers, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Reviews
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