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Something For the Weekend: US Comics (and more) on Sale 16th December 2015

By John Freeman on December 18, 2015

I’m still playing catch up and racing to meet some pre-Christmas deadlines, so no detailed list of new comics again this week. Sorry! Luckily for you, Mark Braithwaite at Lancaster’s First Age Comics has still posted his list of new titles, so his list appears below, with some additions to highlight at least some British publisher titles, particularly Titan Comics.

We made a big thing of Ian Kennedy’s cover for the 2000AD special, out this week in comic shops and newsagents, but the entire Prog is a stunner with great story and art throughout, rounded off with a lovely ‘classic’ Tharg tale drawn by Jesus Redondo. Well worth your galactic groats!

Don’t miss Jeremy Briggs interview with Ian about his return to 2000AD here.

Talking of things 2000AD, don’t forget that over at IDW, Dan McDaid takes on the art duties on for their new Judge Dredd series out now, in a new ongoing series written by Ulises Fariñas and Erick Freitas. After a bit of a break from their take on Dredd, the US publisher has really pushed the boat out with this relaunch, with several variant covers, including an Archie 75th Anniversary Variant by Francesco Francavilla, tying in with celebrations for the iconic American high schooler.

Away from SF and adventure, this week also sees the release of Hot Jazz from Knockabout, the work of ace artist Hunt Emerson. It’s the crazy story of Max Zillion, the ace saxophonist man-handling his chosen instrument Alto Ego, rising to artistic heights with music and sinking through financial depths thanks to the machinations of Mean McMudda, the eternal agent who takes 100% and then some.

Hunt’s the only cartoonist who has had the courage to take jazz as his story, and he improvises on it like Charlie Parker did. This book, originally funded through Kickstarter, includes a 25-page gallery by such luminaries as Dave McKean, Peter Bagge, Jay Lynch, Gilbert Shelton, Rian Hughes, and many more. Groovy, baby!

As usual, don’t forget that despite many British publishers lack of faith in full-blown cover to cover comic strip action and humour, there are still comics on sale in newsagents that still delight in bringing you such subversive delights, including The Beano, Commando, 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 Comic (collecting their strips from the US format titles) Mega, TOXIC and many others.

The Hachette Judge Dredd Collection is also on sale now, but you may now have to subscribe if you want to continue buying it as Part Works are not distributed in newsagents after their first few issues.

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.

• First Age Comics is at 3 Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QD. Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5.30pm. First Age Comics also has a shop site on e-Bay: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/First-Age

• You may also like to check out this year’s crop of annuals, which are available in all good bookshops and supermarkets now.

2000AD Prog 1961

Newsstand cover by Ian Kennedy
Diamond Previews UK comic store exclusive cover by Simon Bisley

In this edition: Judge Dredd: Melt by Rob Williams & Henry Flint; Strontium Dog: Repo Men by John Wagner & Carlos Ezquerra; The Order: In the Court of the WyrmQueene by Kek-W & John Burns; Absalom: Family Snapshots by Gordon Rennie & Tiernen Trevallion; ABC Warriors: Return to Ro-Busters by Pat Mills & Clint Langley; Kingdom: Beast of Eden by Dan Abnett & Richard Elson; Future Shock: The Mighty Mykflex by Martin Feekins & Jesus Redondo; Sinister Dexter: Blank Ammo by Dan Abnett & Simon Davis

Adventure Time Fionna And Cake: Card Wars 6
All New Inhumans 2
All New X-Men 2
Amazing Spider-Man 1.1
Autumnlands: Tooth And Claw 8
Avatar Last Airbender TP Vol 11 SMOKE AND SHADOW
Axcend 3
Batgirl 46
Batman 66 Issue 30
Batman And Robin Eternal 11
Batman Arkham Knight Genesis 5
Batman Europa 2
Big Trouble In Little China 19
BPRD Hell On Earth 138
Clean Room 3
Cognetic 3
Crossed Plus 100 Issue 12

Dark Horse Presents #17

Paul Levitz (Writer), Alex de Campi (Writer), Dennis Calero (Writer/Artist), Brendan McCarthy (Writer/Artist), Shawn Aldridge (Writer), Carla Speed McNeil (Writer/Artist), David Chelsea (Writer/Artist), Tim Hamilton (Artist/ Cover Artist), Jerry Ordway (Artist), and Julius Gopez (Artist)

Paul Levitz and Tim Hamilton premiere Brooklyn Blood! In a precinct not known for murder, a killer is on the loose. If Detective Billy O’Connor’s PTSD doesn’t get in the way, he may be able to help his partner Nadira Hasan solve this eerie case.

This issue also features new chapters of Carla Speed McNeil’s Finder, Shawn Aldridge and Julius Gopez’s Last Act, Dennis Calero’s The Suit, and David Chelsea’s Sandy and Mandy. Alex de Campi and Jerry Ordway’s Semiautomagic and Brendan McCarthy’s Dream Gang conclude!

Darth Vader Annual #1

Writer: Kieron Gillen Artist/ Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu

• The planet Shu-Torin has gone against the will of the Empire.
• It’s time for Vader to bring them in line.
• A great, evil jumping-on point for fans of the Dark Lord!

Descender 8

Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor Volume 3: The Fountains of Forever

Writer: Nick Abadzis Artists: Elena Casagrande, Eleonora Carlini, Rachael Stott & Leonardo Romero

Returning to New York from her travels with the Doctor, Gabby has never felt more alive. But for the Doctor, Gabby and Cindy, this is only the start of their greatest adventure yet, as a secret auction, a cult organization, an ancient artifact, an aging movie idol, a cosmic conspiracy and a cosmic threat from the heart of the universe collide in NYC to threaten all of reality!

Dragon Age Mage Killer 1
From Under The Mountains 3
Goddamned 2
Grampa Simpsons Choose Your Own Adventure 1
Hacktivist Volume Two 6
Harley Quinn 23

Hot Jazz
By Hunt Emerson

The story of Max Zillion, the ace saxophonist man-handling his chosen instrument Alto Ego, rising to artistic heights with music and sinking through financial depths thanks to the machinations of Mean McMudda, the eternal agent who takes 100% and then some. Hunt Emerson is the only cartoonist who has had the courage to take jazz as his story, and he improvises on it like Charlie Parker did. Includes a 25 page gallery by such luminaries as Dave McKean, Peter Bagge, Jay Lynch, Gilbert Shelton, Rian Hughes, and many more.

Huck 2
I Hate Fairyland 3
Illuminati 2
Imperium 11
Invincible 126
Ivar Timewalker 12
Jem And The Holograms Holiday Special

Judge Dredd Ongoing 1

In “Mega-City Zero”, Judge Dredd awakens to find that Mega-City One has been sent back to the Stone Age, with city blocks overgrown and nary a citizen to be found. Witness as Dredd struggles to unravel the mystery as he copes with being just an ordinary Joe…

Judge Dredd Megazine 367

Cover: Ryan Brown
In this edition: Dredd: Dust by Arthur Wyatt and Ben Willsher; DeMarco PI: Damocles by Mike Carroll and Steve Yeowell; Judge Dredd: Terror Rising by John Wagner and Colin MacNeil; Demon Nic by Paul Grist.
Bagged graphic novel: Tyranny Rex: Deus Ex Machina Book II by John Smith, Paul Marshall, and Richard Elson

Justice League 46
Justice League United 16
Kanan 9

Klaus 2
Writer: Grant Morrison Artist/ Cover Artist: Dan Mora

Synopsis: As the downtrodden people of Grimsvig struggle under totalitarian rule, Klaus stealthily evades the guard and slips magical, living toys into the poorest of homes to lift their spirits.

Looking For Group 9
Lucifer 1
Lumberjanes 21

Martian Manhunter 7
Writer: Rob Williams Artist: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira Cover Artist: Dan Panosian

The Red Rising is complete: Mars is reborn, Earth is dead, and the Martian Manhunter walks again. But what will befall his once disparate aspects-Mould, Agent Wessel, The Pearl and Mr. Biscuits-when they are discovered alive on the new red planet? Hailed as one of the best and most unpredictable new DC series in years, MARTIAN MANHUNTER begins a major new story with this crucial issue.

Marvel Universe Avengers Assemble Season Two 14
Marvel’s Captain America Civil War Prelude 1
Marvels Mightiest Heroes HC Vol 52 WONDER MAN
Mighty Thor 2
Ms Marvel 2
My Little Pony Friends Forever 23
My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic 37
Phonogram The Immaterial Girl 5
Power Up 6
Red Thorn 2
Secret Six 9
Sex 26
Silk 2
Spire 5
Squadron Supreme 1
Star Trek Starfleet Academy 1
Starbrand And Nightmask 1
Superman American Alien 2
Tech Jacket 12
Teen Titans Go 13
Tokyo Ghost 4
Transformers Robots In Disguise Animated 5
Ultimate End 5 SW
Unbeatable Squirrel Girl 3
Uncanny Inhumans 3
Unclae Scrooge 9
Wayward 12
We Are Robin 7 ROBIN WAR
Web Warriors 2
Wicked And Divine 17
Wrath Of The Eternal Warrior 2

• First Age Comics is at 3 Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QD. Open: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5.30pm. First Age Comics also has a shop site on e-Bay: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/First-Age

• You may also like to check out this year’s crop of annuals, which are available in all good bookshops and supermarkets now.

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.