Lux and Alby Sign On and Save the Universe

By John Freeman on February 2, 2024

I totally missed this back in 2019, but hey, it’s never too late to plug a great looking graphic novel – in this case, Lux and Alby Sign On and Save the Universe, by Martin Millar and 2000AD artist Simon Fraser. (And no, I don’t know how I missed it first time around, either).

Lux and Alby Sign On and Save the Universe, by Martin Millar and Simon Fraser

Written by Martin back in 1991, Lux and Alby Sign On and Save the Universe originally appeared as nine comics, published by Acme Press, and was collected in 1999 by Pater Pavement’s Slab-O-Concrete Press. Set partly in Brixton in South London, where Martin used to live, and partly in the realms of the protectors of Nirvana, when Lux the Poet and Alby Starvation, notably poor South London inhabitants, find themselves sharing a house, tensions arise. Not only that, the fabric of the universe starts to crumble.

The arrival of Ruby, with her plans for total domination of the squatting group, leads them into a fantastic (and upsetting) adventure, featuring powerful Goddesses, unhappy plants, sad rocks, a lot of kissing, and a full scale assault on Nirvana.

Can Alby rescue his precious comics? Will Lux mange to charm his way to another benefit check? Will the rocks, plants and fairies ever smile again? Find out in Lux and Alby Sign on and Save the Universe.

Scottish writer Martin Millar lived in London for a long time. His first novel, Milk, Sulphate and Alby Starvation, came out in 1987. Since then, he’s had around 18 titles published, including three werewolf books about Kalix MacRinnalch and her family, and the cyberpunk story, Supercute Futures.

His new book, Troubled Cities, has now been published, a collection of short stories looking back to squatting days in Brixton, forward to female android assassins, violent fairies, anxious werewolves, music, kawaii, an anonymous spanking memoir and for some reason, more android assassins.

As well as writing books under his own name, he also writes a series of fantasy books about Thraxas under the pseudonym of Martin Scott. There are eleven in the series. The first Thraxas novel won the World Fantasy Award.

Simon Fraser is a well travelled, Scottish comics Artist living in Brooklyn New York. He’s perhaps best known as the co-creator of “Nikolai Dante” with writer Robbie Morrison, for 2000AD, but he’s also drawn “Judge Dredd”, “Shimura” and “The Family” for the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. In add to Lux & Alby, he’s also drawn ‘Richard Matheson’s Hellhouse for IDW, for the anthology Outlaw Territory, the ACT-I-VATE Primer, and created the “Lilly Mackenzie Adventures” on ACT-I-VATE.com.

Simon is a founder member of Deep6 Studios in Gowanus Brooklyn and is there unless he can think of a good excuse.

• Lux and Alby Sign on and Save the Universe is available here at AmazonUK (Affiliate Link) | ISBN 978-1688341715 |

• Simon Fraser is online at simonfraser.net | DeviantArt | Facebook | Instagram | X

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.