Thrud The Barbarian smashes up comic shops to get to shelves – again!

By John Freeman on September 25, 2013

Carl Critchlow’s Thrud The Barbarian is back – and Titan Comics think they’ve got him. We all know that is a vain hope given what a dangerous clod this character is, don’t we readers?

Since his first appearances in White Dwarf in the 1980s, the hapless Thrud has delighted gaming fans for 30 years, most recently as a series of sporadic but award-winning full-length comics published by creator Carl himself, starting with Carborundum Capers in 2002 and a fifth story, Bungle in the Jungle, in 2007.

Now, Titan Comics has collected the series, much to the delight of his fans.

Thrud the Barbarian leads a simple life, one of popping down to his local pub, quaffing a few tankards of ale and starting a fight in which everyone else is beaten senseless. After which comes the wenches! Hurrah!

Trouble is, there always seems to be someone with a quest to interrupt his peace, quiet and packet of crisps…

In his first-ever collection, Thrud faces down a necromancer (FWAP! SPLATT! THWOK!), protects his beer against fierce Frost Giants (THWOP! KER-THUNK!), faces his arch-nemesis (MASH! THWACK! THUNKTHUNKTHUNK!), assumes the role of the king he accidentally killed (POK!) and gets his pint spilled on a mission into the depths of the jungle (SPLUTCH!)!

• Thrud the Barbarian is on sale now from all good comic shops and book shops. If they know what’s’s good for them.

• Carl Critchlow’s official web site: www.carlcritchlow.com

• Here’s some sample pages from the collection! Don’t spill beer on them.

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.