Yes, yes, we know it’s Saturday already and you’re on the way to the comic shop already. We’re a bit busy at this end, getting ready for Lancaster Comics Day on Sunday, revamping the Lakes International Comic Art Festival web site, among other things. But we couldn’t not post our regular, British creator and publisher-skewed new comics list, could we? How would we keep track in years to come? And how could we not let you know that this week’s “Slaine” in 2000AD features one of the most amazing battle sequences ever, thanks to incredible art from Simon Davis! Go take a look! You won’t be disappointed (and if you are, take it up with Ukko).

Good news for DC Comics is that the first print runs of some DC Rebirth titles have apparently already sold out and re-orders required of some comic shops. DC Universe Rebirth, featuring a Gary Frank cover, has been already gone to reprint. (Forbidden Planet has groups all the Rebirth titles together here on their web site).

Technically, artist Liam Sharp tells us that this means Wonder Woman #1 – out next week – is Number One for for re-orders, sight unseen. “Number Two after Batman,” he adds, “But I still can’t believe it.” (Can’t see why he can’t believe it – after all, he was the artist on Marvel UK’s best-selling Death’s Head II in the 1990s… Congratulations to the team on the new title, though!)

A third printing of Dark Souls #1 will be available from 29th June, featuring a new cover by series artist Alan Quah.

Independence Day and Deus Ex also near their conclusion with the penultimate issues, and Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor continues its petrifying “Gaze of Medusa” storyline.

UK Newsagents Releases

There are plenty of comics on sale in newsagents that still delight in bringing you such subversive delights, including2000AD, The Beano, Commando (latest release intel here), Judge Dredd Megazine, Panini’s superhero titles, Titan Comics superhero titles and VIZ, with great strips also featuring in titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Doctor Who Adventures, Titan’s Doctor Who: Tales from the TARDIS (collecting their strips from the US format titles) Mega, TOXIC and many others.

Plus, the wonderful Phoenix Comic is now on sale in many (but not all) Waitrose supermarkets and – at last, selected high street WH Smiths stores – and some comic shops (stockist list here) as well as available on subscription.

So let’s not get too downhearted by some British publishers lack of faith in full-blown cover to cover comic strip action and humour that only those of us over a certain age remember.

Hachette Partworks, whose partwork titles include Doctor Who: The Complete History and Judge Dredd: The Mega Collection, continue their How To Draw The Marvel Way, along with their re-release of their hugely successful part work, Marvel’s Marvel Ultimate Graphic Novel series.

Some of you in certain areas of the country may also be able to pick up a copy of the new Star Trek Graphic Novel Collection, which is currently being road tested by Eaglemoss.

Note that you may now have to subscribe if you want to continue buying Part Works some are not distributed in newsagents after their first few issues.

New Digital Comic Picks

Aces Weekly Volume 22, is available now, featuring a tale of betrayal and vengeance in Tales Of The Black Root from Koh Hong Teng and Don Bosco; Batton Lash returning with the stylish, First Gentleman Of The Apocalypse; there’s a wilder, Wild, Wild, West, in W.E.S.T.E.R.N. Inc, from John A. Short and Alex Paterson; and a dark drama, Deophonic, comes from Martin Hayes and the pen of the extraordinary, Brian Corcoran; plus Jok LP and Rodolfo Santullo continue the fantastic, Dungeons and Burglars; and a very special member of the special forces makes her debut in, Debbie Drake Of The SAS, from Tim Quinn and Paul Collicutt – the ongoing debut at last of a strip first created by Aces Weeklypublisher David Lloyd many years ago!

All this – a seven-week extravaganza of great comic art and storytelling – is exclusive to all Aces Weeklysubscribers for just £1 per week! Grab it now via www.acesweekly.co.uk/shop. Don’t miss out on all the Previous Volumes, either, which have up to 200 pages of comics including Extras, and in full form feature in an exclusive Week-to-Week facility, which transforms any volume’s serialised stories into continuous comic book-sized narratives.

British Publishers

2000AD/ Rebellion

Stunning art from Simon Davis on Pat Mills’ “Slaine”

Featuring: Judge Dredd: The Lion’s Den by Michael Carroll, PJ Holden, Adam Brown, and Annie Parkhouse; Survival Geeks: Lord of the Ringers by Gordon Rennie, Emma Beeby, Neil Googe, Gary Caldwell, and Ellie De Ville; Brink by Dan Abnett, INJ Culbard, and Simon Bowland; Sláine: Psychopomp by Pat Mills, Simon Davis, and Ellie De Ville; Black Shuck: Sins of the Father by Leah Moore, John Reppion, Steve Yeowell, Chris Blythe, and Ellie De Ville.

Titan Comics

Dark Souls #2 – Cover A

With her past becoming hazier by the day, Fira’s quest to bring an end to the Undead Curse leads her deep into the gnarled heart of the Weeping Forest, domain of the fearful Everlord, where rotting nightmare creatures skulk in the darkness.

Cover A: Alan Quah
Cover B: Game Cover
Cover C: Joshua Cassara

Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor #3 – Cover A

‘GAZE OF THE MEDUSA’ continues, as the Doctor and Sarah Jane team with Professor Odysseus James, and his daughter, Athena, to face down an ancient alien horror. Battling a malign influence all the way from Ancient Greece to London in 1887, the Doctor is faced with a petrifying challenge – and physical evidence that he cannot win!

Cover A: Brian Williamson
Cover B: Photo
Cover C: Warren Pleece
Cover D: Robert Hack

Deus Ex #4 – Cover A

As riots ignite across the continent, Titus King incites further hostility by taking his hate speech to the Glasshutte, while in Prague, Jensen learns the real reason behind the demagogue’s affront.

Cover A: Martin Sabran
Cover B: Bruno Gauthier Leblanc
Cover C: Frederic Bennett

Independence Day #4 – Cover A

With new secrets arising and the threat of extinction looming over the submarine crew, Adams is left with an impossible choice that could spell redemption for his comrades… or their total demise.

Cover A: Xermancio
Cover B: Mike Ratera

US Comics On Sale This Week

Here’s a list of comics expected to be on sale this week from Wednesday 1st June in all good comic shops, although it seems some of the DC Comics “Rebirth” titles may have been delayed. List courtesy First Age Comics, Lancaster

4001 AD 2
A-Force 6
All New All Different Avengers 10
All New Wolverine 9 RCW2
Amazing Spider-Man 13
Batman Rebirth 1
Black Panther 1 SECOND PRINTING
Bloodlines 3
Bobs Burgers 12
Casanova Acedia 5
Cinema Purgatorio 2
Civil War II 1
Contest Of Champions 9
Control 1
DC Comics Bombshells 14
Deadpool 13
Deus Ex 4
Discipline 4
Doctor Fate 13
Elephantmen 71
Giant Days 15
Goddamned 4
Green Arrow Rebirth 1
Green Lanterns Rebirth 1
Hellboy In Hell 10
Injustice Gods Among Us Year Five 11
Invincible Iron Man 10 RCW2
Limbo TP
Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble Civil War 4
Marvels Mightiest Heroes Vol 64 JESSICA JONES
Moon Knight 3
Old Man Logan 7
Paper Girls 6
Power Rangers Pink 1
Predator Life And Death 4
Providence 9
Punisher 2
Rachel Rising 42
Shadow Death of Margo Lane 1
Spider-Man 2099 Issue 11
Spider-Woman 8
Spider-Women Omega 1 SWO
Strange Attractors 1
Stray Bullets Sunshine And Roses 15
Superman Rebirth 1
Superman The Coming Of The Supermen 5
Survivors Club 9
Teen Titans Go 16
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Bebop And Rocksteady Destroy Everything 1
Uncle Scrooge 15
Unfollow 8
Walking Dead 155
Woods 23
X-Men 92 Issue 4

• With thanks to First Age Comics, 3 Moor Lane, Lancaster | Find them on Facebook

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: 2000AD, British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: Alan Quah, Dark Souls, DC Comics, DC Universe: Rebirth, downthetubes News, Liam Sharp, Simon Davis, Slaine, Something for the Weekend, Titan Comics, Wonder Woman