Wrapped in a terrific cover by Kev Crossley, the latest issue of the 2000AD-inspired not-for-profit zine Zarjaz – Issue 38, no less – is available now from Futurequake Press, along with the Strontium Dog-focused Dogbreath #38 and the superb creator-owned anthology, Futurequake 2020.
This all Dreddworld issue features a fine mix of stories featuring Judge Dredd, Judge Anderson, Lenny Zero and even Walter the Wobot, a 48 page black and white zine costing just £3.00.
There’s a great mix of stories in this zine, listed below, but there are a number of stories deserving my watch this space attention, for either story or art. Zarjaz, you see, is one of those small press titles where quite often either professional comic creators get to flex their muscles for fun, or we see a story from newcomer creators you hope will lead to professional work.
This time around, the stand outs for me are numerous, but I call your attention in particular to artist JP Vilchis, for superb work on “Walter The Wobot – Keyboard Wawwior”, written by Leo Healy, and writer Craig Dawson’s script for “Judge Dredd – The Badge”, drawn by Michael Walters. Both stories offer something that makes me sit up and notice as a comics editor. If only there were more opportunities in newsstand titles for such creators to gain wider attention.
Kudos too, for the team on “Judge Dredd – Everybody Owes For Something” by writer Steven Denton and artist Jack Davies, which has some great visuals, but peeters out a little in the wrap.
Another favourite is “Judge Dredd – Dredd Watch” by writer and artist Dan Goodfellow, which longtime Dredd readers might immediately challenge in terms of set up, a reality TV fly on the wall focus on Dredd in action – but trust me, it works, and well.
Finally, as someone who created Judge team strips for the Megazine, including one that never got off the starting blocks, I really did laugh at “Tales Of Mega-City One – Disaster Dominoes” by writer Tom Shapira, with more excellent art from Dan Goodfellow. Inspired fun at the expense of Mega City disasters.
Lettered almost entirely by the industrious Bolt-01 with an assist from Nikki Foxrobot, Zarjaz Issue 38 is just the latest gem from the hard-working Futurequake Press team. Give it a look.
• Zarjaz Issue 38 is available now from Futurequake Press, along with the Strontium Dog-focused Dogbreath #38 and the superb creator-owned anthology, Futurequake 2020
IN THIS ISSUE…
Anderson PSI – Never To Perish by writer David Thomas artist Jack Davies and letters by Bolt-01
Judge Dredd – Everybody Owes For Something by writer Steven Denton artist Jack Davies and letters by Bolt-01
Judge Dredd – Dredd Watch by writer and artist Dan Goodfellow letters by Bolt-01
Judge Dredd – The Badge by writer Craig Dawson artist Michael Walters and letters by Bolt-01
Judge Dredd – The Gentleman KillBot by writer Adam Breen artist Adam Caudill and letters by Bolt-01
Lenny Zero – By Any Other Name by writer and artist Steven Denton letters by Nikki Foxrobot
Tales Of Mega-City One – A Room Of Their Own by writer Lachlan Redfern artist Cristian Navarro and letters by Bolt-01
Tales Of Mega-City One – Disaster Dominoes by writer Tom Shapira artist Dan Goodfellow and letters by Bolt-01
Tales Of Mega-City One – Whatever Happened to the Humans by writer Charles EP Murphy artist Ian Beadle and letters by Bolt-01
Walter The Wobot – Keyboard Wawwior by writer Leo Healy artist JP Vilchis and letters by Bolt-01
• Zarjaz Issue 38 is available now from Futurequake Press, along with the Strontium Dog-focused Dogbreath #38 and the superb creator-owned anthology, Futurequake 2020
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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.
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