Torchwood – drawn by Paul Grist

By John Freeman on May 15, 2008

Torchwood Magazine Issue 5 is on sale in the UK and Ireland today. If you’re in the US, you’ll have to wait just that little bit longer – the mag will be available from June 10.

Check out the magazine’s Facebook group page for exclusive teaser imagery from the new issue’s comic strip “Rift War.” I have to agree with comic artist Mike Collins, who I was talking to yesterday — comics editor Steve White has pulled off a masterstroke getting the brilliant Paul (Jack Staff, Kane) Grist to draw on the Torchwood strip, which this issue is written by Simon Furman.

“Rift War”, which began in Issue 3, is This issue Torchwood’s first big comic story arc, a ten-part epic (broken up into smaller, self-contained stories amidst the main thrust) that sees the team face an alien race led by the dread Sanctified, who have declared all-out war on humankind. Why?

“Because Torchwood, apparently, are to blame for a catastrophic future event, centered around the time and space spanning Rift, ” explains Simon via his blog, “one that wipes out an entire civilization. Can it be? Check out “Rift War” for the answers over the coming months. Superlative colour on the strip is by Kris Carter.

• More about Torchwood Magazine on titanmagazines.co.uk

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.