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Striker – The Final Comic Edition Special, “Psycops” collection release dates revealed

By John Freeman on June 11, 2019

Fans were understandably disappointed with Striker creator Pete Nash‘s announcement last week that the football story is to end as a comic and Sun newspaper strip after an amazing 34 years – but if you think the game’s all over, it most definitely isn’t, because among other things, the release date of the final comic Special and the Psycops strip collection which includes strips drawn by John M. Burns have been announced.

Firstly, there’s the commemorative final edition of the comic to publish. Orders can be made from the shop on the official Striker website from Monday 1st July, with an expected publication date of 17th July. Sporting a gloss card cover, it will be a bumper issue of at least 52 pages, bringing the epic Striker saga to a fitting conclusion.

“Those buying the comic from our website will have their issues delivered by mail,” says Pete. “I am hoping that the comics will also be available in as many newsagents as possible – but the safest bet will be to buy online. The comics are likely to sell out and there will not be a second print run.”

For fans who have been asking if the Complete Collection books will continue, the answer is yes – as long as the demand continues. And in the absence of new strips to produce, the Striker team should be able to publish a new volume every three months. Volume Eight will hopefully be on sale before the end of July.

In the meanwhile, as previously noted, Pete will be publishing a very different book – a 300-page volume of his Psycops comic strips that ran in The Sun from mid-1994 to the end of 1998, some the work of 2000AD artist John M. Burns.

There will be two purchasing options – a cheaper softback edition and a signed hardback edition. Estimated on-sale date is the end of June. More on this soon!

This was to have been the cover for a “Psycops” album by John M. Burns, who drew many episodes of the strip, which eventually never happened… but might now. With thanks to Colin Brown

Also on the agenda is a commemorative Striker poster in A3, A2 or A1 sizes that would feature all the principal characters from 1985 to date.

Writing on the Planet Striker web site, Pete says he is also giving a lot of thought to the best approach to the re-telling of the Striker saga.

“I mentioned in my last update of my intention to write a pilot screenplay for a possible adaption into a TV series,” he says. “That would involve sending the finished script to an agent or production company in the hope that it would be commissioned and developed.
But there may be a better way forward. I’m thinking about pre-empting the screenplay by writing a series of Striker novels that would start with Nick’s move to Warbury in 1994.

“The advantage of this is that the fans would be able to enjoy the re-telling of Striker in a new format of ebooks and paperbacks that I would write in the style of the envisaged TV series.
The stories would have the same essential ingredients of comedy and drama, but with a more realistic feel – and clear variations to the plots.

“These books in themselves could lead to a film or TV series being optioned, while simultaneously keeping Striker going for the fans in a brand new format. If I go ahead, the first book could be ready by the end of the year.”

• Official Site: www.planetstriker.com | Order Striker Books: The Complete Collection here from Planet Striker

• Let Pete know what you think about these plans on on the Strikerworld Facebook and forum

About the Author
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John Freeman

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.