Time Bomb Comics has announced that Harker, the popular detective series created by writer Roger Gibson and artist Vince Danks, is expected to make its return with a brand-new story, Harker: The Fourth Man, coming in 2026.
The series, a darkly comic detective adventure, follows the titular Harker and his second in command, Critchley, as they investigate gruesome murders across Britain.
Set in Portmeirion, famous for its role as The Village in Patrick McGoohan’s The Prisoner, this story sees our detectives enter the world of espionage, investigating not one but two brutal murders amongst the picturesque faux-Italian architecture.
With sly nods towards James Bond, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Matt Helm, The Avengers (the TV show) and The Prisoner, Harker: The Fourth Man will continue the much-loved adventures of the sardonic investigating duo.
Known for its sharp writing and art from writer Roger Gibson and artist Vince Danks, Harker has found a passionate audience and has enjoyed a cult status since its original launch as single issues their Ariel Press.
Since coming to Time Bomb Comics in 2020, Harker has re-released two stories, Harker: The Book of Solomon and Harker: The Black Hound in full-colour and introduced the detectives to a whole new audience. The Fourth Man will be the first completely new story produced since the move to Time Bomb.
“Roger and I had great fun working on Gravestown, but it’s really exciting to be back working on a new Harker book for Time Bomb Comics,” says artist Vince Danks.
“We’ve come up with a great story and I’m really pleased with how the artwork is progressing… I think fans and newcomers will love it!”
Old and new fans can stay updated to everything Harker via a new Patreon page, created by Danks. This will also provide fans with the opportunity to help fund Harker’s production in return for advance previews of artwork and discounts in the Patreon shop.
Writing on Patreon, Vince Danks reveals this third Harker was originally going to be set in New York, but, with there being an unplanned and lengthy gap between the second and third book, he and Roger decided it would be better to swap the books around and do another UK based story before jetting their heroes off to the other side of the world.
“So, Harker: The Fourth Man is now our third story but, although set primarily in Portmeirion (and being wary of spoilers) the boys do head out of the country at some point, and although it’s only as far as Europe, it serves as an introduction to the concept of them not always being tied to Britain.”
A basic plot for the fourth New York set story was thrashed out on a visit to the city a number of years ago in a tiny bar in Greenwich Village.
The creators won’t be completely abandoning the series very British roots, however. Vince teases the fifth book is set in Blackpool, “with Victorian séances, ghosts, ghouls, Fortean phenomena and things that go bump in the night, and you don’t get much more British than that!”
“Many comic fans have been waiting a long time for a new Harker story, including me,” adds publisher Steve Tanner. “I’m happy to share that, having seen some of Vince’s astonishing new art pages, it definitely has been worth the wait!”
For updates on Harker: The Fourth Man and all other Time Bomb Comics publications, bookmark their website or follow the publisher on their social media channels.
• Follow all things Harker on Patreon | Sign up for the Ariel Press newsletter
• Time Bomb Comics is online at timebombcomics.com | BlueSky | Facebook | X
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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, Comic Previews, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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