There’s a cracking new story, “Brink”, in this week’s 2000AD Prog 1978 from Dan Abnett and INJ Culbard, which sits very nicely in an all-round thrill-drenched issue of the weekly SF comic, with the mystery of Judge Dredd’s current fat ever deepening. Is he really dead? Still reeling from that one! Writer Michael Carroll take up the reins on Dredd this week, with the first episode of “The Lion’s Den” drawn by the ever-brilliant PJ Holden that offers scant clue but will definitely give you a full-on Mega-City fix.
Over at Titan Comics this week has seen the launch of their Vikings mini series and we have interviews with both writer Cavan Scott and Staz Johnson that expand a little more on that book. It looks terrific and I think it will appeal to action adventure fans, even if you aren’t able to watch the History Channel-screened show it’s based on.
This week also sees the release of the second issue of the fab Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor written by Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby (delayed from last week, according to lists I’ve seen, including the Titan Comics web site), with art by Brian Williamson, which is just great fun and totally in the spirit of the show’s “gothic horror” period – and the second instalment of Titan’s newest Assassin’s Creed series, Templars. The series invites readers to discover the mystery of Black Cross – a new character in the Assassin’s Creed universe. Check out the trailer below!
UK Newsagents Releases
As usual, don’t forget that despite some British publishers lack of faith in full-blown cover to cover comic strip action and humour, there are plenty of comics on sale in newsagents that still delight in bringing you such subversive delights, including 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.
This week also sees the reelase of “The Curious Case of the Disappearing Cake”, a Beano Mystery Special.
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.
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
Week 7 of Aces Weekly Volume 21 is available now, featuring week one of prison drama, My Way, from Ace stalwarts, Jok LP and Rodolfo Santullo! It’s just one more reason to subscribe for just £1 per week if you’re yet to join this elite readership, and put together by the guy who brought you V For Vendetta! What’s not to like?
Currently-running, Aces Weekly Volume 21 includes, Paul Rainey‘s continuing biting satire on family life in, Why Don’t You Love Me?; Jok and Santullo‘s rich fantasy story, Dungeons and Burglars; the horrorshow retro of Gentleman Ghouls, from Martin Hayes and Alfie Gallagher ; the total and unmitigated wackiness of Duckless, from Marc Makes Comics; willowy witches in Dr Queer; plus the upcoming return of the inestimable, Combat Colin from Lew Stringer; more from Grace’s Imaginary Menagerie; together with an extraordinary tale from Petri Hänninen and Jussi Kaakinen about a world where Wonderful Old Age has a very special quality.
It’s a lot, isn’t it? And easy to grab via www.acesweekly.co.uk/shop. Don’t miss out on all the Previous Volumes, either which have up to 200 pages including Extras, and in full form feature in an exclusive Week-to-Week facility, which transforms any volume’s serialized stories into continuous comic book-sized narratives.
Comics On Sale in UK Comic Shops
On Sale in all good UK comic shops from Wednesday 15th April 2016. Don’t miss out on a special DC Previews, available now. Info via First Age Comics Lancaster
British Publishers
2000AD/ Rebellion
2000AD Prog 1978
Featuring: Judge Dredd: The Lion’s Den by Michael Carroll, PJ Holden, Adam Brown, and Annie Parkhouse; Survival Geeks: Geeks Fatales by Gordon Rennie, Emma Beeby, Neil Googe, Gary Caldwell, and Ellie De Ville; Tainted: The Fall of Deadworld by Kek-W, Dave Kendall, and Annie Parkhouse; Brink by Dan Abnett, INJ Culbard, and Simon Bowland; Aquila: Charon’s Mercy by Gordon Rennie, Paul Davidson, Len O’Grady, and Ellie De Ville.
Titan Comics
Assassin’s Creed #2: Templars
Writer: Fred Van Lente
Artist: Dennis Calero
Colorist: Dennis Calero
In the bustling streets of Shanghai, Darius Gift has come unstuck, his head turned by a pretty girl and a stunning smile. His tenuous position as a newly initiated member of the Templar Order is under threat, until he is rescued by the mysterious figure that is Black Cross…
Deus Ex #3
Writer: Alex Irvine
Artist: John Aggs
Publisher: Titan Comics
FC – 32PP – $3.99 – On Sale: April 27
Titus King’s hate-mongering leads to escalating tension around TF29 HQ, leaving the strike force in an uncompromising position. Meanwhile, Jensen discovers a shocking new link to the pro-aug terrorists.
Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor #2
Writers: Gordon Rennie and Emma Beeby
Art: Brian Williamson
After the petrifying reveal at the end of last issue, the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith pry further into the affairs of Lady Emily Carstairs and her legion of Scryclops! What mysteries lurk within her half-veiled mansion? And what light can be shed by Professor Oydsseus and his daughter, Athena?
Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Volume 4: The Endless Song
Writer: Nick Abadzis
Artists: Eleonora Carlini, Elena Casagrande
Colorists: Claudia SG Iannicello, Arianna Florean
Cover: Alex Ronald
A bold new season begins for the Tenth Doctor and companion Gabby Gonzalez! Whether facing down an evil corruption of sentient music on a gas giant, catching up on unseen trips with Gabby’s best friend Cindy Wu, or journeying back to the dawn of humankind to witness the clash between Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons, there are no limits to the adventure – or the danger!
Collects Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Vol. 2 #1-5
Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Volume 4: The Then and The Now
Writers: Si Spurrier & Rob Williams
Artists: Simon Fraser, Warren Pleece
Colorists: Gary Caldwell, Hi-Fi
Abslom confesses a Daak secret. Alice develops a bond. The Squire recovers a memory. And the Doctor discovers the horrific truth about how The Then and The Now has been tracking them – and he doesn’t like it one bit. As the universe closes in around them, is escape even possible?
Collects Doctor Who: The Eleventh Doctor Year Two #1-5
Flash Gordon Dailies: Dan Barry Vol. 1 – The City Of Ice
Creator: Dan Barry
In 1951, Dan Barry revived the Flash Gordon daily newspaper strip, thus shaping the character for the rest of his extraordinary 52-year run! Collected together here for the first time in over 25 years are the adventures that enthralled a generation, with contributions from such legends as Harry Harrison, Frank Frazetta, Wally Wood and Harvey Kurtzman.
Independence Day #2
Writer: Victor Gischler
Artist: Steve Scott
With fear and suspicion running rife aboard the sub, Adams prepares to embark the alien vessel in search of answers. But how will its extraterresterial crew react to unwanted visitors onboard?
Vikings #1
WRITER: Cavan Scott
ARTIST: Staz Johnson
From the chronicles of the History Channel’s truly epic series, Vikings, comes a new saga of glory and plunder! Ragnar, Lagertha and their legendary kin sail once more for England and run straight into a shield wall of politics, intrigue, betrayal and, of course, axe-wielding, blood-spraying, sword-swinging combat!
• Read our interview with writer Cavan Scott
• Read our interview with artist Staz Johnson
• Check out the preview of Vikings #1
US Comic Publishers
Comics on sale in all good UK comic shops from Wednesday 27th April. This list courtesy First Age Comics Lancaster
A Year of Marvels Amazing
Aliens Defiance #1
All New Wolverine #7
Amazing Spider-Man #11
Angela Queen of Hel #7
Avengers Standoff Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega
Batgirl #51
Batman #51
Batman 66 Meets the Man from Uncle #5
Bill & Ted Go to Hell #3
Black Canary #11
Carnage #7
Circuit Breaker #2
Cyborg #10
Daredevil #6
Dark Knight III Master Race #4
Deathstroke #17
Doctor Strange #7
Doctor Strange Last Days of Magic #1
Drax #6
Dredd Dust #1
Evil Dead Cradle of the Damned #3
Fables the Wolf Among Us #15
Faith #4
Grayson #19
Harley Quinn #27
Hellboy & BPRD 1953 Beyond the Fences #3
Imperium #15
Injection #9
Insufferable On the Road #3
International Iron Man #2
Justice League #49
Justice League 3001 #11
Justice League Darkseid Special #1 (damage replacements)
Low #13
Marvel Graphic Novel Collection Volume 114
Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man Contest of Champions
Micronauts #1
Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur #6
Ms Marvel #6
Mythic #8
Old Man Logan #5
Omega Men #11
Outcast #18
Pathfinder Hollow Mountain #6
Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #5
Rick & Morty #13
Saga #36
Secret Six #13
Sex #27
Sex Criminals #15
Sinestro #22
Spider-Woman #6
Spidey #5
Squadron Supreme #6
Star Wars #18
Star-Lord #6
Strange Fruit #3
Suicide Squad Most Wanted Deadshot Katana #4
Superman Wonder Woman #28
Teen Titans #19
Transformers More than Meets the Eye #52
Transformers Sins of Wreckers #4
Ultimates #6
Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #7
Velvet #14
Venom Space Knight #6
We Are Robin #11
X-Men Worst X-Man Ever #3
• First Age Comics celebrates its tenth anniversary of trading on Free Comic Book Day. Drop in for comics cake and more! 3, Moor Lane Lancaster and online at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/First-Age and on Facebook
- About the Author
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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.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, US Comics