From long lost classics to new adventures, Rebellion has announced the full schedule of Treasury of British Comics graphic novel titles for 2022, with some additions to those already known, including a second, final volume of Karl the Viking tales, some written by legendary fantasy author Michael Moorcock.

The Treasury of British Comics is bringing classics from the world’s largest archive of English language comics back into print, and is also reinventing some of the world’s most thrilling and enthralling characters for new generations.

The schedule for 2022 includes never-before-reprinted classics, as well as new volumes in on-going series, and old and new takes on legendary titles.

These collections will be available from all good book and comic book shops, as well as online retailers, and digitally from the Treasury of British Comics webshop and the 2000AD app.

Lovingly restored by Rebellion’s in-house reprographics team, the schedule includes the best of boys’ comics with two volumes of historical adventure Karl the Viking (January and December), featuring stunning black and white art by Trigan Empire artist Don Lawrence, war action with The Sarge by Gerry Finley-Day and Mike Western from the legendary and ground-breaking Battle, and the second volume of one of Britain’s most enduring comic book heroes, The Steel Claw (November), reprinted from the pages of Valiant for the first time and featuring the stunning art of Spanish comics’ legend Jesus Blasco.

The bestselling reprint of The Rise and Fall of The Trigan Empire by Mike Butterworth and Don Lawerence continues in May, with the much-in-demand first collection of House of Dolmann (April), which see a ventriloquist use an army of puppets to help the forces of law and order fight back against crime, while the Super Picture Thriller misadventures of the maniacal super-thief The Spider are collected in Crime Unlimited (February).

And there’s hi-jinx and comedy in Trevor Metcalfe’s madcap parody of the 1960s Batman TV show, Birdman and Chicken (March), and Leo Baxendale’s much-anticipated series Badtime Bedtime Stories (September) from the pages of Monster Fun.

The legacy of classic characters continues in brand new collections that combine the old and the new. The Best of Cat Girl (August) collects stories of this beloved UK superhero from the pages of classic 1960s girls’ comic Sally, and “Cat Girl Returns” by RAMZEE (Zorse) and Elkys Nova (Roy of the Rovers). And Black Beth: Vengeance Be Thy Name (June) brings together both the ‘lost’ story of this fearsome fantasy warrior created by an unknown writer and Spanish artist Blas Gallego, but also the brilliantly resurrected new stories from writer Alec Worley (Star Wars) and DC Comic’s newest artistic star, DaNi (Coffin Bound).

• Check out our combined guide to all 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics (more of those to be announced) for 2022 release here

THE TREASURY OF BRITISH COMICS 2022 CHECKLIST

 Links where available are AmazonUK Affiliate Links – using these helps support downthetubes, thank you – but of course all these books will be available from comic shops, book shops and Rebellion direct – and the 2000AD and Treasury web shops offer exclusive editions, unavailable elsewhere.

• Check out the 2000AD web shop for exclusive covers, new books and more here

JANUARY

Karl the Viking Volume One: The Sword Of Eingar
By Ken Bulmer (Writer) Don Lawrence (Artist)

ISBN: 9781786184627
Paperback (plus webshop exclusive hardcover)
Out: 20 January 2022 | £19.99
Pages: 240

Originally serialised in Lion, Karl the Viking is a sweeping historical fantasy story of an orphaned Saxon boy, adopted and raised by the viking Eingar after his raid on Britain. Upon coming of age Karl succeeds Eingar and leads his tribe into battle in Britain against wild tribes of Picts, and re-connects with his old Saxon family, gaining an ally in his cousin Godwulf, and making an enemy of the Earl of Eastumbria.

These fast-paced stories were drawn by Don Lawrence shortly before he revolutionised painted comic art with The Trigan Empire, when he was already a master of pen and ink, and his Karl the Viking series was the pinnacle of black and white comic art.

FEBRUARY

The Spider Crime Unlimited – Picture Library
By Jerry Siegel, Donne Avenell

ISBN: 9781786184658
Hardcover
Out: 3 February 2022 | £19.99
Pages: 256

From the pages of Super Picture Library! The Spider is the uncrowned king of the New York underworld, so elusive to the police that he even manages to taunt the Police Commissioner at his retirement party. But Professor Aldo Cummings, a famous but ill-tempered scientist, determined to stop the schemes of the Spider once and for all, invents a ray-machine which will eliminate the evil from a person’s personality. But a tragic miscalculation will turn Professor Cummings into the Professor of Power, and he will seek a more direct confrontation with the Spider.

The first collection of the Spider stories originally published as part of the Picture Library series, these long-lost and fast-paced pulp adventure stories have never been reprinted before, written by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel and Donne Avenell (Adam Eterno).

MARCH

Birdman and Chicken: The Krazy Crusaders
by Trevor Metcalfe

ISBN: 9781786184924
Paperback
Out: 3 March 2022 | £14.99
Pages: 192

To the outside world, Dick Lane and Mick Mason look like two average, law-abiding citizens. However, they lead an amazing double life – for when fiendish finks and vile villains step over the line, Dick and Mick strike back as the crime-fighting duo, Birdman and Chicken!

Cowled, caped and equipped with a vast array of crime-busting gadgets, Birdman and Chicken fight back against the likes of The Giggler, Sourpuss, The Puzzler and Father Time – and sometimes they win!

A rib-tickling parody of the 1966 Batman television series, Trevor Metcalfe’s super-series was a highlight of Krazy comic every week and is finally collected here for the first time.

APRIL

The House of Dolmann
by Tom Tully (Writer) and Eric Bradbury (Artist)

ISBN: 9781786184917
Paperback (plus webshop exclusive hardcover)
Out: 14 April 2022 | £14.99
Pages: 144

Genius creator and expert ventriloquist, Eric Dolmann has created a small army of robotic puppets to help the forces of law and order fight back against crime. Whatever the situation, Dolman has a mechanical warrior perfectly suited to get the job done! From the safety of his flying ‘Dolmobile’, he directs Raider, Elasto, Mole, Togo and Giggler into action! Occasionally they will question his judgement and bicker amongst one another – even though they aren’t capable of independent thought!

MAY

The Sarge Volume One
By Gerry Finley-Day (Writer) and Mike Western (Art)

ISBN: 9781786186331
Hardcover (plus webshop exclusive edition)
Out: 112 May 2022 | £19.99
Pages: 144

They depended on the Sarge. And the world depended on them. British Sergeant Jim Masters, a veteran of World Ware One, has to protect and lead his inexperienced platoon during the Second World War. From Dunkirk to North Africa, the might of the German Army face the ultimate adversaries when Masters and his boys spring into action – Nothing can substitute experience! With an introduction by Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys)

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire Volume IV
by Mike Butterworth (Writer), Don Lawrence, Miguel Quesada and Philip Corke (Artists)

ISBN: 9781786185648
Paperback (plus webshop exclusive hardcover)
Out: 24 May 2022 | £19.99
Pages: 240

The fourth omnibus of the science-fiction classic, The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire, collects the stories published from 1973 through to 1976. Don Lawrence’s painted art continues to be a highlight of the series, and as he takes a sabbatical from the strip Miguel Quesada and Philip Corke match his impressive work with their own style.

The Trigan Empire remains resilient against enemies on all fronts, from treacherous politicians, murderous Zith assassins, and alien invaders, Trigo and Janno protect the citizens of Elekton.

JUNE

Black Beth: Vengeance Be Thy Name
by Alec Worley (Writer) Dani, Blas Gallego (Artists)

ISBN: 9781786186355
Paperback (plus webshop exclusive hardcover)
Out: 17 June 2022 | £14.99
Pages: 80

A warrior with a name born of the black rage that filled her heart! In a world of swords and sorcery, the evil tyrant Rassau discovers that he is destined to be killed by a fearsome warrior called Beth. Together with his men, Rassau seeks Beth out, destroying her village and killing all held dear to her. With the aid of a former warrior – the blind Quido – Beth becomes a skilled fighter and sworn enemy of all that is evil! She will not rest until her people are avenged!

This book contains both the original strip and the brilliantly resurrected stories that have been masterfully guided by writer Alec Worley and DC Comic’s newest star, the astonishing Greek artist, DaNi!

AUGUST

The Best of Cat Girl
by Giorgio Giorgetti (Artist) RAMZEE (Writer), Elkys Nova (Artist)

ISBN: 9781786185853
Paperback (plus webshop exclusive hardcover)
Out: 12 August 2022 | £14.99
Pages: 128

The beloved UK superheroine finally pounces into her own collection! From the pages of classic 1960s girls’ comic Sally comes the first ever collection of beloved British superheroine The Cat Girl!

Cathy Carter is not your average teen. She can jump further, fight longer and climb higher than anyone she knows – with the aid of a magic suit, she is Cat Girl! Facing off in glamorous, globetrotting adventures against supervillains and master criminals, Cathy often finds the hardest fight comes from her bumbling detective father, who doesn’t believe Cathy can fend for herself. Can Cathy save the world when the person trying to hold her back – is her dad?

This collection contains Cat Girl’s latest adventure, ‘Cat Girl Returns’ from the Tammy & Jinty special, as well as a purrfect selection of the best classic Cat Girl stories from Sally, and a brand-new cover from Elkys Nova.

SEPTEMBER

Badtime Bedtime Stories
By Leo Baxendale

ISBN: 9781786185310
Hardcover
Out: 11 September 2022 | £14.99
Pages: 96

Once upon a badtime… In these explosive, hysterical comics, Jack the Nipper, Little Miss Muffet and Little Red Riding Hood run wild in chaotic retellings of beloved tales. These anarchic, frenzied comics stories from the pen of Leo Baxendale are the arguably the jewel of the British humour comics, beloved by many for their DIY storybook aesthetic when they were originally printed in Monster Fun. Now, in this stunning new collection, the comics are restored to their full glory, while reprinted in a smaller style to retain the intimate feel of the originals.

Crammed with gags and hidden details, these Badtime Bedtime Stories are the perfect late night read for kids and grown-ups!

OCTOBER

A Spell of Trouble
By Trini Tinturé (Artist)

ISBN: 9781786186126
Paperback
Out: 13 October | £14.99
Pages: 80

TO WITCH OR NOT TO WITCH? Popular, rich and great at school, Carrie lives a charmed life – because, unbeknownst to her classmates, she’s a witch! Hailing from a long line of witches and warlocks Carrie has never wanted for anything – that is until her bumbling, nonmagical and anti-magic cousin Angela shows up! And worst of all – if Carrie can’t turn Angela into a legendary sorceress – she’ll lose all her powers! Worlds collide and sparks fly as these cousins have to learn to live together – or else!

This comedy classic from British girls’ comic Jinty features a brand new cover by the original artist, Trini Tinturé, as well as another tale, the spooky, insect-infested ‘Creepy Crawley’, in a volume perfect for Halloween!

NOVEMBER

The Steel Claw Volume 2 – Reign of the Brain
By Tom Tully (Writer), Jesus Blasco (Artist)

ISBN: 9781786186812
Paperback (plus webshop exclusive hardcover)
Out: 10 November 2022 | £14.99
Pages: 112

One of Britain’s most enduring comic book heroes returns in two stories reprinted here for the first time! The second collection of the sci-fi classic, the Steel Claw collects writer Tom Tully’s first two stories originally published in the comic Valiant between 1963 and 1964. Featuring the stunning, realistic black and white art of Spanish comics’ legend Jesus Blasco!

DECEMBER

Karl the Viking Volume 2
By Michael Moorcock (Writer) and Don Lawrence (Artist)

ISBN: 9781786187338
Paperback (plus webshop exclusive hardcover)
Out: 6 December 2022 | £19.99 / $24.99
Pages: 256

In the second, and concluding, volume of Karl the Viking, the brave Briton takes the fight even further abroad than before as he and his band of warriors battle against the rival viking Gefion One-Eye in Africa, become mercenaries in a violent dispute between treacherous Russian tribes, and survive against fantastical and unnatural sea monsters.

Karl the Viking is the series which made Don Lawrence’s reputation, and it was on this basis that he was hired to revolutionise painted comic art with The Trigan Empire.

This volume also contains stories written by Michael Moorcock penned when he was just beginning to create the adventures of Elric.

• Check out our combined guide to all 2000AD and Treasury of British Comics (more of those to be announced) for 2022 release here

• Check out the 2000AD web shop for exclusive covers, new books and more here

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.

Categories: British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: 2000AD, Adventure Comics, Badtime Bedtime Books, Birdman and Chicken, Black Beth, Cat Girl, Don Lawrence, downthetubes News, Girls Comics, Humour Comics, Jesus Blasco, Jinty, Karl the Viking, Leo Baxendale, Michael Moorcock, Rebellion Publishing, SF Comics, The House of Dolmann, The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire, The Sarge, The Spider, Treasury of British Comics, Trini Tinturé