Radio interviews with Accent UK and Sloth Comics creators

Panel Borders: Small Press Publishers

Starting a month of shows in a new time slot, Panel Borders is looking at small press and self published comics, including the titles produced by two British independent publishing companies in interviews recorded at the London Super Comics Convention.

Alex Fitch talks to Nicolas Rossert, Loran and Charles Cutting about Sloth Comics, a new publisher devoted to both British and European graphic novels, including reissues of classic titles. Loran discusses his book Booyah!, about a playful green monster with anger management issues; Cutting talks about his steampunk adventure Steam Hammer, and Rossert describes his approach to choosing graphic novel formats and the process of getting the rights to republish Moebius and Alejandro Jodorowski's classic Madwoman of the Sacred Heart.

 

Also, publisher Colin Mathieson discusses his company Accent UK which has built up a commendable body of work over the last dozen years concentrating on anthology books which have showcased the work of some of the country's finest small press creators. Artist Conor Boyle joins the conversation to talk about Accent's latest graphic novel Who on Earth was Thaddeus Mist? and the importance of design to the company's range of books.

• 8.30am, Monday 8th April, repeated 3pm, Thursday 11th April, Resonance 104.4 FM / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / extended podcast after first broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

 

Dundee Comic Expo: A Creator's View by MontyNero

Comics writer and artist MontyNero was one of many at the Dundee Comic Expo last weekend, and, complementing Jeremy Briggs' Photo Report on the event, offers his take on the event...

For some reason I don't often take tables at cons, but Dundee Expo was an exception for three reasons. Firstly, it's free to the public and a family event which is admirable. Secondly it's barely ten minutes from my home, a distance even a lazy artist like me can handle. Thirdly, the good work of Dundee University in promoting the comics medium is something I wanted to support in my own modest way.

On arriving at my table it became clear that I was surrounded by Expo experts with banners and hoardings and plates of enticing cakes to attract a crowd. In contrast, my own self-published wares were meagre and rudimentary. A lot of guests sell comics, merchandise or do sketches for cash which is commendable. I'm frankly too unsure of myself for the latter, and there are technical issues with the former. I've got stuff in 2000AD and Clint this very month but I can't very well sell that as both Rebellion and Mark Millar get annoyed when I post them coins through the post. I'm doing a six issue series - Death Sentence, with Mike Dowling - which Titan aren't releasing until October so it's too early to sell that. I decide the best thing is to do is get on with finishing the short story I'm drawing for 2000AD and chat to anyone that stops by.

Gary Erskine (left) with MontyNero (right) at the Expo. Photo courtesy Joe Gordon.
More of Joe's pictures form the Expo here

The Expo takes place over three main rooms, and my seat near the door of College Hall is cold. As I spend most of my life protesting to friends that Dundee is a sunny place - a veritable Scottish Marbella - this is somewhat disappointing. My fingers freeze up a little and I'm shivering, despite wearing a coat and scarf, which makes drawing tricky. The public all seem happy enough, and I eye their warming perambulations with envy. So many people stop to enquire about my work - perhaps intimidated by my perplexingly narrow-eyed stare - that there's barely time to draw comics anyway.

The people I meet can be roughly defined as twenty per cent curious newcomers to the medium, fifty per cent mainstream comic fans, and thirty per cent indie comic enthusiasts. There's a constant buzz of chatter and bonhomie, with a fairly equal male/female split and a sprinkling of young kids/babies and pensioners. A lot of the convention veterans around me are doing good business, and I enjoy hours of interesting chats with the steady stream of visitors to my table. Most people seem politely intrigued by Death Sentence and volunteer their email address so I can let them know how to buy the first issue in October. The day passes so quickly that I completely miss out on spending time in any of the other much warmer rooms at the Expo.

I eventually abandon my post to catch Mary and Bryan Talbot talk about their award winning graphic novel Dotter of my Father's Eyes. This splendid work concerns the lives of Lucia Joyce and Mary Talbot in conflict with their respective fathers, drawing resonances and parallels between two time periods. The Dundee Uni crowd ask a number of intelligent questions. Consequently we learnt a lot about how Mary's story emerged through research, dreams, intuition and hard work before Bryan brought the script to life in watercolour, pencil, ink and Photoshop.

Thrillingly, as I get me copy signed, Bryan casually mentions that he has 100 pages of their new graphic novel on his iPad. It's called Sally Heathcote: Suffragette and concerns a fictional maid at the heart of feminist activism in Edwardian Britain. I flick through the artwork, entranced, as Bryan's enthusiasm for his collaborator Kate Charlesworth bubbles over. I ask about the division of labour and Bryan explains how he breaks down and lays out Mary's script before Kate draws and paints her pages on top.

The end product is very similar in style and tone to Dotter but more refined and polished in its finish. Some of Kate's watercolour paintings of historic London are beautiful and emotionally stirring. The story's told within a nine panel grid structure, switching to narrow eight panel layouts for oppressive 'incarceration' scenes evoking prison bars. Look for it at the end of this year.

On the way out I spy a graphic novel and cake stall and eagerly stock up on both. As I greedily stuff my face with carrot sponge I reflect on what a wonderful environment for discussing comics the lecture hall is, with its modern sound and multimedia facilities, comfy seats, well informed audience and thoroughly effective heating system.

Back at my frosty table the Dundee students next to me have imaginatively cut through the frozen floor to search for fish in the frigid depths below Between triumphant whoops they're also selling an excellent compilation of university comics work, Anthology Three, which features a cover by visiting lecturer Dave Gibbons.

As the shadows begin to lengthen I spy a kettle, tea, fresh milk and a plate of what I immediately decide are complimentary biscuits. Manna from heaven! I make us all a brew and we huddle round a notional brazier munching Jaffa cakes and discussing our comic experiences. With so many skilful enthusiasts in one room - David Lloyd, Gary Erskine, Jim Alexander, Gary Gray, and the Accent and Black Hearted Press crew to name a few - it's impossible not to feel inspired.

Personally, I couldn't be happier with how it went. Roll on Dundee Comics Day, this October.

• MontyNero is a writer and artist for 2000AD and the co-creator of Death Sentence with Mike Dowling for Clint and from Titan in October 2013. You can buy Death Sentence 01 on Amazon, Itunes, Kobo or Graphicly. Check out his official web site at www.montynero.com or follow him on Twitter, follow his blog or Tumblr

 

Ron Smith joins other 2000AD for Free Comic Book day signing

Legendary 2000AD artist Ron Smith is to appear at a signing in London to mark Free Comic Book Day – his first signing for well over a decade.

Revered by Judge Dredd fans for his satirical and, at times, bizarre take on the world of Mega-City One, the 89-year-old artist will be joined by writers Dan Abnett (Sinister Dexter, Insurrection) and Al Ewing (Zombo), and artist Ben Willsher (Judge Dredd) for this signing.

The event will take place from 1pm on 4th May at the Forbidden Planet Megastore on Shaftesbury Avenue, London.

A former Spitfire pilot and animator, Ron first appeared in 2000AD in 1978 before helping define Dredd’s futuristic world, from the League of Fatties to the craze for Otto Sump’s ‘ugly’ products.

Considered one of the ‘big four’ Dredd artists alongside Carlos Ezquerra, Mick McMahon, and Brian Bolland, Ron is also one of the most prolific artists in 2000AD’s history and his work continues to delight fans thanks to the best-selling Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files series.


Ron also drew many of the Judge Dredd newspaper strips for the Daily Star. Beyond 2000AD, his comics credits, which date back to the 1950s, also include "Codename Warlord" for DC Thomson's Warlord, and he is credited with the creation of the British hero "King Cobra" for Hotspur, now revived in STRIP Magazine.

Now retired from illustration, Ron has not attended a public signing for many years and fans should grab this opportunity to meet one of the greatest Judge Dredd artists of all time.

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event in May each year aimed at helping promote local comic book stores and the comics industry in general. Participating shops across the world give away special comic books free to anyone who comes into their stores.

• More about the Forbidden Planet Free Comic Book day evets here on the Forbidden Planet Megastore web site

• Download a copy of the "Thank You, Ron" comic given to Ron last year, organised by the Everything Comes Back to 2000AD web site (zip file)

In Review: Illustrated British Classics Volume 1

Publisher: Book Palace Books
Out: Now

The Book: The Illustrated British Classics: King Solomon's Mines + Allan Quatermain + Montezuma's Daughter features the talents of Jesus Blasco, Mike Hubbard, Cecil Doughty, Bill Baker and John Millar Watt (cover).

The strips are reproduced from the original artboards and have never looked better. Based on the novels by H Rider Haggard, the 'father of the lost-world genre'.

The Review: The first in a series (Volume 2 will feature Arthur Conan Doyle stories), this first collection of three British comic strips (albeit only one of the three in a 'modern' balloon and panel format) and it's a welcome collection. The stories were first published in Look and Learn and Ranger.

The adaptation of books to comic form has a long history offering both good and bad results. Many of a certain generation may have been introduced to the work of Dickens and his like through America's Classics Illustrated. (And of course, Classics Illustrated is still published  in the UK).

More recently, Classical Comics has delivered some stunning adaptations of Shakespeare, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley and more, while SelfMadeHero have published Manga Shakespeare and other equally eye-catching and page-turning comic versions of famous novels - Rob Davis' quite brilliant version of Don Quixote and Ian Culbard's stunning At the Mountain of Madness, to name but two.

These publishers are continuing a long tradition of literary adaptations by British publishers and while the three strips in this first Illustrated British Classics may be slower paced, the artwork throughout is of an incredible quality, well deserving of this 'treasury' collection, created, luckily, from original art boards (luckily, because the treatment of art boards by most British publishers a most woeful tale of poor storage and ill-considered disposal to skips or through wholesale sell off).

King Solomon's Mines is one of the most famous of all adventure novels: Allan Quatermain helps find his friend's brother who is presumed lost deep in the unexplored interior of Africa whilst looking for the legendary mines. The artwork is some of Bill Baker's best, although he did not draw the full story: the equally talented C. L. Doughty took over part-way through, whose own style complements Baker's initial pages well. Speaking from my own recent experience, finding an artist whose style is a near match to another can be a fraught task.

In Allan Quatermain, in mourning for his only son, Quatermain persuades his friends (jncluding Zulu chief Umslopogas) to accompany him into Maasai territory. Travelling by canoe, they find themselves in Zu-Vendis, a country ruled by an isolated warlike white race… The artwork is in line and wash by Mike Hubbard, who delivers some fantastic figure work and battle scenes. It's perhaps a rare story for its time, too, given the heroic status afforded the Zulu character.

(One should bear in mind that both Haggard's original tales and these adaptations were published at a time when general attitudes were very different).

Montezuma's Daughter is the most modern story, superbly illustrated by Jesus Blasco, perhaps best known for his work on Steel Claw and Invasion for 2000AD. In the story,  Thomas Wingfield sets off to avenge the murder of his mother. After a brush with the Spanish Inquisition, shipwreck and slavery, his search leads him to the shores of Mexico where he is captured by the Aztecs. He is taken to the emperor who will decide his fate. Then the Spaniards arrive…

For me, this final strip is the best of the three, but it's a close call. Blasco's work and is attention to detail is simply breath-taking.

Illustrated British Classics accompanied by an excellent overview of Rider Haggard's body of work by Steve Holland.

• This edition of Illustrated British Classics from Book Palace Books, ISBN: 9781907081163 is priced at £15.99

• Buy it from Book Palace Books here

Photo Review: Dundee Comics Expo 2013

Saturday 30 March saw the inaugural Dundee Comics Expo at the University of Dundee. The university had been running the event that is now known as the Dundee Comics Day since 2008, a day of creator talks normally tied into an artwork exhibition plus one or two sales tables for attendees to buy books relating to the guests. It crosses the divide between a comics convention and an academic conference and is often highly social with guests chatting to the attendees in the university foyer between talks.

The Dundee Comics Expo came out of an idea the university lecturers had to run a Dundee comic mart but, with the desire to have an education element of workshops or talks, coupled with their contacts within the industry, that comic mart idea soon grew into a small convention. The university Tower Building where the Dundee Comics Day takes place provided the lecture theatre for the guest talks and the Baxter Suite (above) for workshops and sales tables, indeed they even managed to squeeze extra sales tables into the suite, more than were shown on the event’s map, without it feeling crowded.

The university’s College Hall (above and below), a bright and airy hall that was very reminiscent of the Harland and Wolff drawing offices that the RMS Titanic was designed in, and just at the rear of the Tower Building, provided the rest of the sales table space. Indeed given that so many comics conventions have their sales tables in places with no windows, the College Hall with its high ceiling and large windows was a very people friendly space.

The guests included Costa Award winners Bryan and Mary Talbot, along with artists David Lloyd, Hannah Berry, and Nigel Dobbyn, all of whom gave talks and were happy to sign books. Local creators there included Gary Erskine, Alex Ronald, Team Girl Comic, Jim Alexander and Jim Stewart all selling their wares plus DC Thomson put on a Commando display including some of the merchandise that is normally only available directly from the DC Thomson shop. Needless to say, since it was a University of Dundee event, the students of the MLitt in Comic Studies and the DJCAD Comics and Animation courses were there promoting their UniVerse titles including the new Anthology Three which was launched on the day.

The Baxter Suite area also provided a small exhibition of original artwork although I wonder how many attendees actually realised that there was original artwork on display from adventure artists like Steve Yeowell and Colin MacNeil or humour artists like Ken Reid and Dudley D Watkins as they walked into the main suite area. Above is original artwork for Faceache from a 1972 issue of Buster by the master of the humour comic strip, Ken Reid, while below is the original artwork for Oor Wullie from the 19 November 1944 edition of The Sunday Post by Dudley D Watkins, one of the finest all round comics artists the UK has ever produced.

The day ended across the road from the university in the Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) venue where the excellent Judge Minty was screened with two Judge Dredd art-droids in attendance, and was then followed by DeeCAP, a performance event for comic creators. The DCA bar also provided the main evening meeting place for those who did not rush off to see the new Doctor Who companion.

The Dundee Comics Expo had a constant stream of people throughout the day but never seemed that busy perhaps due to it being split over three areas. As the first event of its kind taking place on a cold Easter Saturday in Dundee outside of term-time it was perhaps understandable that it was not as busy as it could have been but with big name guests and completely free of charge, it deserved a bigger turn-out than it seemed to get. However that benefited those attendees that were there as no long queues for any given guest or sellers tables meant that there was time to chat to all and sundry and that it made it a laid back and friendly event.

Art-droid Alex Ronald and his new self-published title Outpost: Black Sun, a prequel to the second Outpost film, with sepia art by Alex and written by Rae Brunton and Steve Barker. There are more details of the title at Alex’s blog.

Team Girl Comic show off their latest issue, TGC 7, which is available from their website which also has the beginning of their new weekly web-comic.

Nigel Dobbyn sketches his latest creation, the children’s story book character Dave The Diver. There are more details of this and Nigel’s other work on his website.

David Lloyd promoted his on-line comic Aces Weekly with a special deal of a free sketch when people bought a subscription to volume 1 – it proved rather popular.

Jim Alexander shows off his latest title Planet Jimbot title, Amazing And Fantastic Tales, which he launched on the day. There are more details of this and his other titles on his blog.

In disguise on the Commando table, deputy editor Scott Montgomery and editor Calum Laird with some of the Commando merchandise available from the DC Thomson on-line shop.

There are more images from the Dundee Comics Expo 2013 courtesy of Joe Gordon on the Forbidden Planet International blog.

London's Rich Mix to host "DIY Cultures Fair'

London's Rich Mix arts venue is hosting the first DIY Cultures Fair this Sunday (7th April). It will be a day long festival of zines, artist books, comics and distros with films, animation and video art as well as art exhibitions, workshops and music.

The aim is to celebrate all things independent, autonomous and alternative.

Events include a talk from the Black Feminists, talks on unemployment and creativity, artist-run spaces and prisoner zines as well as DIY workshops throughout the day. You can also enjoy a film screening of DIY or Die featuring Ian Mckaye of Fugazi & Lydia Lunch.

“DIY culture is about creating alternatives to what is out there, whether it’s news, music or art, and doing it without the need of any experts or a lot of money,” explains Sofia Niazi, DIY Cultures Co-curator.

“In spite of blogs, facebook and twitter, zines seem to have had a nationwide comeback," adds DIY Cultures Co-Curator Hamja Ahsan. "This will showcase the best of alternative and independent activities from all across the UK in one big gathering.”

You'll be able to browse over 50 exhibitors' stalls and buy original publications direct from the artists. If you make your own zine you can bring some copies on the day to sell at our free communal table.

Rich Mix is a Bethnal Green-based charity and social enterprise that offers live music, film, dance, theatre, comedy, spoken word and a range of creative activities for people of all ages and all cultures. All profits go back to support their education, arts and community activities which nurture new and local talent.

Programme

Upstairs:

Craft & drawing Workshops by ExtraBones, DIY Couture & Blindfold Drawing with Dimitri Antorka-Pieri

Downstairs:

1.00pm: We All Can Do It! Black Women in DIY Culture - TALK
Join Black Feminists in a discussion about how black women have played a vital role in DIY cultures with Stephanie Phillips, Aurella Yussuf and Rianna Parker.
Web: www.blackfeminists.org
#DIYBlackFems

2.00pm: FIlm - DIY OR DIE: How to Survive as an Independent Artist
feat. Zinesters, Lydia Lunch, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr, Artists.

3.00pm: Unemployment & Creativity Panel Discussion
with Sarah Tea-Rex (Graduating in Unemployment Zine), Saban Kazim (Gissa a Job Zine), Robin Bale (Dole arts) Janine Francois
#DIYDole

4.30pm: Prisoner Zines, Writing & Creativity Panel
with Marek of Not Shut Up Magazine, Nicki Prisoner Fightback & Hamja of Free Talha Ahsan Campaign
#DIYPrison

6.00pm: DIY Artists Communities - Panel Discussion
with Pippa Koszerek (Post-Artists / Independent Art School / Arts Against Extraditions), Craftivist Collective, Gareth Llyod Owen (Foodface gallery) & other TBC
#DIYArt



• Programme - www.diycultures.tumblr.com
• Twitter - @DIYCulturesFair
• Facebook - www.facebook.com/pages/DIY-Cultures

• More info: www.richmix.org.uk/whats-on/event/diy-cultures-2013-zines-and-artists-books-fair Alternative Press/London or www.alternativepress.org.uk

ROK Comics teams with escape artist 'Master Merlini' for latest audio title

Lancaster-based ROK Comics, publisher of audio comics for a range of mobile devices, have announced the release of Master Merlini, its latest interactive title featuring an all-new incarnation of the real-life, world famous escape artist David Merlini.
Escape artist, crime fighter, adventurer, Master Merlini is all of these things and more, as he battles the villainous Caligari while a mysterious woman helps him discover an incredible truth about his world and his existence!

Written by Cy Dethan, author of the acclaimed Cancertown series and Starship Troopers, with art from Giancarlo Caracuzzo (artist on Marvel's Formic Wars and Gorilla Man), the debut Master Merlini audio comic plunges the hero into a strange world beyond our own, linked to a real world event in New York on April 18th 2013.

With full audio 'play' to accompany the comic and escape artist tricks revealed in exclusive videos as well as animations and extra background information on some of the characters, Master Merlini will leave you wondering... where does fiction end and reality begin?
Based on a concept by ROK Comics founder Jonathan Kendrick and David Merlini himself, who also voices his comic alter ego, Master Merlini merges the real world with a fiction that is all too real for its hero!
Master Merlini joins a range of audio comics published by ROK, including Team MOBILE, a teen secret agent title, Houdini Adventures and The Beatles Story. The company is developing a number of new audio comic titles. There's a full list of released comics below.
MASTER MERLINI ONLINE
• Master Merlini Online at www.mastermerlini.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Master-Merlini/576738435671570
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MasterMerlini
Available now for iPad, iPhone and Android

• From iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/app/master-merlini/id615910310

• From Google Play for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.mastermerlini001

Other ROK Comics


Team MOBILE #1
https://itunes.apple.com/app/team-m.o.b.i.l.e-1/id578981996
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile01


Team MOBILE #2
https://itunes.apple.com/app/team-m.o.b.i.l.e-2/id579055097
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile02


Houdini Adventures #1
https://itunes.apple.com/app/houdini-adventures-1/id579058111
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.houdini


MUSIC COMICS

The Beatles Story

https://itunes.apple.com/app/the-beatles-story/id569176209
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.beatles001
Rick Fury

https://itunes.apple.com/app/rick-fury/id573928983
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.rickfury001


OG Niki
https://itunes.apple.com/app/og-niki/id594555051


ZeZi
https://itunes.apple.com/app/zezi/id573944649
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.zezi001


Joe Whelan
https://itunes.apple.com/app/joseph-whelan/id562249855
Also available for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.joewhelan

Dandy App promo video released... and here it is!

Britain’s longest-running comic has been dishing up anarchic fun since 1937 but went solely digital eaerlier this year.

The Dandy app for iPad and other devices is now being relaunched and includes a regular Dandy digital comic you collect on your virtual book case - and other Dandy-inspired interactive features. Create and dress your own Dandy avatar, play about with the sounds in the Joke Room, collect stuff for your Den and play games with your favourite characters, including Bananaman in "Go Go Go Bananas". You can also look after your very own virtual pet in "The Dollops".

Try it before you buy it? Then you want The Dandy Taster Issue, the FREE taster comic featuring all your favourite Dandy characters including Desperate Dan with voice for the first time ever.

 • Dandy App for iPad, iPhone

• Dandy App for Android

• DC Thomson have also released the Beano iPrank for iPad and Android devices. 

David Hine, Mark Stafford create graphic adaptation of Victor Hugo's "The Man Who Laughs"

The Man Who Laughs, Victor Hugo’s scathing indictment of the injustice and inequality within Britain’s political system, is the latest graphic adaptation from publishers SelfMadeHero, released in paperback this month.

David Hine and Mark Stafford have produced a gripping adaptation of Hugo's story of abduction, mutilation, loss and prejudice that captures the macabre social satire of the original novel.

Set in 18th-century England, Gwynplaine is the two-year old heir to a rebel lord, who is abducted upon the orders of a vindictive monarch, who has him mutilated (to produce a permanent, grisly smile), then abandoned. After years of living frugally he is re-introduced to the aristocratic life, and resolves to become the voice of the voiceless, whether he is heard or not.

Victor Hugo wasone of the most prominent French writers and political figures of the 19th century, perhaps best nown for writing Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. His influence can be found in the works of other great 19th-century European novelists such as Charles Dickens and Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

He wrote The Man Who Laughs while in exile on the Channel Islands. The book has been celebrated in film and theatre, but comic fans will know Batman creator Bob Kane found inspiration for the Joker’s look in the story – and Brian Bolland equally considered the silent film adaptation ideal source material for his own rendition of the macabre villain in Batman: The Killing Joke.

The adaptation is the work of David Hine and Mark Stafford. Hine has worked in comics since the 1980s, and has written for DC (Detective Comics, Arkham Unhinged), Marvel (Spider-Man Noir, X-Men, Silent War) Image (Storm Dogs), and 2000AD (Tao De Moto). It was during his work on Batman that he discovered the appearance of the Joker was based upon Gwynplaine’s likeness in the 1928 silent film adaptation of The Man Who Laughs.

Artist Mark Stafford is a cartoonist in residence at London’s Cartoon Museum. He has collaborated with Costa Award-winning creator Bryan Talbot on the Cherubs! graphic novels, painting dead hillbillies and writing about cinema for Electric Sheep magazine. Stafford previously collaborated with Hine on "The Colour Out of Space” for SelfMadeHero’s critically acclaimed Lovecraft Anthology Vol. I.

• The Man Who Laughs by David Hine and Mark Stafford is on sale from 18th April 2013

• SelfMadeHero: www.selfmadehero.com

• David Hine's official site: www.waitingfortrade.com

• Mark Stafford: www.hocus-baloney.com

Comic Book Babylon project announced, probing "British Vertigo"

Author Tim Pilcher has announced a Kickstarter campaign to publish Comic Book Babylon: A Cautionary Tale of Sex, Drugs & Comics, probing a bizarre period when, to outsiders, British creators looked set to take over American comics.

Tim Pilcher’s shocking, revealing and completely unofficial memoir of DC Comics' legendary London office, will, he hopes, celebrate the Vertigo imprint's 20th anniversary, lifting the lid on an intriguing part of British comics history.

“For a few glorious years only, before cost-cutting set in, there was Vertigo's 'British Office' - the comics equivalent of the Loaded HQ in the 1990s," recalls Grant Morrison, author of Supergods, All Star Superman, Batman Inc. and The Invisibles. "Vodka, mushrooms, Es, sex, money, travel and the pure unleashed creativity of young people having a good time together."

Comic Book Babylon is the candid, uncensored and utterly unofficial of story of DC Comic’s infamous Vertigo UK office, written by one who was the heart of the drug-fuelled, creative whirlwind. It’s the odyssey of how comic fan Tim, in pursuit of his dream job, became the first British member of the DC editorial staff, and learning the harsh realities of publishing life.

Along the way he meets comics professionals and celebrities including Grant Morrison, Peter Milligan, Jamie Hewlett, Mark Millar, Garth Ennis, Philip Bond, Paul Gambaccini, Glyn Dillon, Jonathan Ross, The Spice Girls, Blur, Adam Ant, and many, many more. Revealing the crazy, halcyon days of the British comics publishing in the mid-Nineties, it blows the lid off the debauchery and excess that was part and parcel of the industry.

When you reach such dizzy heights, there’s only one place to go.

“It was an incredibly exciting time to be in comics," Tim recalls of his time in the offices of "British Vertigo". "We felt we could achieve anything at the Vertigo office, and things got a little crazy. This is the book I’ve been threatening to write for the past 20 years! I suspect the first people wanting to pick this up will be all the comics professionals, to see what I said about them. There should be some very worried writers, artists and editors out there!”

Revealing the reason for writing this latest book - as well as many articles for a huge range of magazines, he's written books like Erotic Com­ics: A Graphic His­tory and The Essen­tial Guide to World Com­ics (with Brad Brooks) - Tim says he wanted to let the world know that the comics industry is not all geeky and nerdy as some might think.

"In fact it’s every bit as hedonistic as the music business," he declares. "If Paul Gravett is ‘The Man at the Crossroads’, then I’m ‘The Man at the Centre of a 15-Car Pile-Up’!”.

Tim's first job in the industry was at Comic Show­case, starting as a shop assistant but eventually becoming its man­ager. After four and a half years of that he worked as an assist­ant editor for Art Young at the Vertigo UK office on titles like Kill Your Boy­friend by Grant Morrison & Phillip Bond, Enigma by Peter Milligan & Duncan Fegredo, The Extrem­ist by Peter Milligan & Ted McKeever, The Mystery Play by Grant Morrison & Jon J Muth and Rogan Gosh by Peter Milligan & Brendan McCarthy. He was a founder mem­ber of the Les Car­toon­istes Dangereux col­lect­ive, along with Brad Brooks, Roger Lan­gridge, Charlie Adlard, Paul Peart, Faz Choudhury, Jonathan Edwards, and Dylan Hor­rocks.

"Then I moved to Pen­guin Children’s Books, Dorling Kinder­s­ley, and then as asso­ci­ate editor on Com­ics Interna­tional for a few years with Dez Skinn," he told Comics Bureau in 2011. More recently he's been an editor at Ilex Press, where he has comm­iss­ioned a whole range of pop cul­ture and comic-related books such as War Com­ics: A Graphic His­tory by Mike Con­roy, the Eisner-nominated and Har­vey Award-winning Art of Osamu Tezuka: God of Manga by Helen McCarthy and the brilliant Alan Moore: Storyteller by Gary Spen­cer Mil­lidge. He also commissioned me to edit SciFi Art Now, a collection of science fiction art, published in 2010.

He's also one of the founding members of the Comic Book Alliance, (www.comicbookalliance.co.uk), a not-for-profit organisation and "The Voice of the British Comics Industry" promoting books, graphic novels, webcomics and sequential art in its many forms.

"Comics were undoubtedly in my blood from day one," Tim says of his love of comics."I had 'four colour funnies' running through my veins before I’d even heard the expression. Cut me and I bled cyan, magenta, yellow and black. I inhaled the musty smell of old comics, as if they were perfume. I sweated Indian ink and I came in process white. It was my destiny to work in comics."

There are three versions of Comic Book Babylon planned: an eBook (with additional images), paperback, and 200 limited edition hardbacks, with covers created by design genius and comic book artist Rian Hughes.

“Rian’s out done himself,” said an impressed Pilcher, “The punky/acid house colours perfectly reflect the rave mood of the times in the book.” Hughes has also designed a limited edition print and three “Sex, Drugs and Comic Books” badges as incentives.

• Comic Book Babylon: A Cautionary Tale of Sex, Drugs & Comics launches Kickstarter on Thursday 4 April, 2013. See a preview of it here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/2016810024/1303051881?token=bb3f146a

• Website: sexdrugsandcomicbooks.blogspot.com

John Royle draws more Danger Girl for IDW

Recently released by US publisher IDW is a hardback collection of Danger Girl/GI Joe, with art from top British creator John Royle, inked by Philip Moy and colour from Romulo Fajardo – and he's now working on a new Danger Girl story.

First published as a mini series last year, John tells us a limited edition hardback is due out soon signed by him, writer Andy Hartnell and Danger Girl creator J Scott Campbell.

"Another version of only 50 is also coming out with a unique hand drawn original sketch included in each one of different Danger and GI Joe characters," he says.

Here's a few pages from the series itself.

"The reviews and fan reaction has been amazing!" enthuses John. "The new Danger Girl series I'm working on now is called Trinity, again with Andy Hartnell. He's total pleasure the work with."

Danger Girl is the creation of J. Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell and stars an eponymous group of female secret agents who are homages to Bond Girls and engage in adventures in the vein of James Bond and Indiana Jones., led by a former British Secret Service Agent named Deuce.

Madefire and deviantART To Launch "Motion Books" to Worldwide Audience

Digital comics makers Madefire and the art-focused social network deviantART have announced they have formed a strategic partnership to provide unprecedented access through deviantART’s creators and audience to the making and distribution of digital Motion Books ™ published with Madefire’s highly respected publishing platform.

The companies involved say the new partnership formed between deviantART and Madefire, will turbocharge a next generation of dynamic storytelling.

Founded in 2011 by Ben Wolstenholme, Liam Sharp (who DTT readers will recall as the artist on British comics such as 2000AD, Death's Head II and more) and Eugene Walden, Madefire provides artists and writers a publishing solution for iOS and the web, allowing creators to build their stories in a new format called Motion Books.

Madefire is backed by Toni Schneider, Partner at True Ventures and CEO of Automattic, the makers of the wildy popular blogging platform Wordpress, with angel investors including Sina Tamaddon, former Senior Vice President of Applications for Apple Inc. The Advisory Board also includes industry leaders Mike McCue, CEO and Founder of Flipboard, Dave Gibbons, co-creator of Watchmen, the bestselling graphic novel of all time, and Bill Sienkiewicz, widely recognized as one of the greatest innovators of sequential art.

The alliance between the 5-star App Store-rated sensation Madefire and the massive creative community of deviantART brings together the toolset and delivery system to reach a global audience.

"The walls of the traditional comic book world, limiting artistic access to the tools of production and distribution, have now fallen," claimed a spokesperson.

"Madefire and deviantART have seized the power of the digital space to introduce the next generation's shared cultural mythos with stories and characters that will move across the screen of imagination with incredible sound and fury.

“DeviantART and Madefire will provide the ultimate story engine, by bringing creators and readers together,” said Ben Wolstenholme, co-founder of Madefire. “The Madefire app for iOS has had a storming response, and now we are moving to the web with deviantART and enabling a new generation of storytellers.

The deal consists of a creative partnership where the entire deviantART creator community is given unlimited access to Madefire’s revolutionary, browser-based publishing platform to create and distribute content while individually controlling the price point. Using deviantART’s Premium Content Platform, the content will reach an enormous worldwide audience while taking advantage of the Platform’s built-in payment and royalty systems fuelled by deviantART’s virtual currency. The content will also then be available on mobile through the Madefire App.

“Madefire and deviantART share in the creator-first mission of empowering artists, writers and visionaries to liberate their narratives,” said Angelo Sotira, CEO and Co-Founder of deviantART. “It just looks so fantastic, exploding cells off the ‘page’ with the pop vibrancy that the comics style had always suggested, but never achieved until now.”

As a special introduction, the first flight of Madefire books will be made available on the Web through deviantART for 10 cents a piece - the same price at which the world first thrilled to Batman and Superman in the 1930s. The books will remain free on the Madefire App for iOS devices for a limited time.

As part of the agreement, Madefire will be the very first native motion-book reader on the deviantART platform. Madefire’s previously iOS app-only experience will now be available for web reading through madefire.com and deviantart.com. Top line publishers now will be able to distribute through to deviantART’s huge community with Madefire.

Several Motion Books are now available on your desktop by some of the top creators in the world working with Madefire, like Dave Gibbons, Liam Sharp, Bill Sienkiewicz, and now you can keep an eye out for radical content by some of deviantART’s amazing community of storytellers from every corner of the art world.

DeviantART - the seventh largest social network on the web – was created to entertain, inspire, and empower the artist and art lover in all of us. Founded in August 2000, deviantART is home to over 26 million registered members worldwide and features an extensive platform used to exhibit, promote and discover works and other members within a peer community. As the largest aggregator of creative talent on the Internet fuelled by over 150,000 daily submissions and an audience reaching 76 million monthly unique visitors, deviantART is one of the world’s largest websites enabling participation in the arts at a scale never imagined in the traditional art world.
• The Motion Books are available at http://browse.deviantart.com/motionbooks

• For more information go to madefire.com

Strip Magazine #1: WH Smiths Store List

Here's a list of WH Smiths across the UK that will be stocking Strip #1.2 when it goes on sale on 8th April 2013.
Once the issue goes on sale Print Media tell us that their distributors, Warners, will be able to supply a list of Independent newsagents stocking the title, which will be published on their blog and Facebook pages.

In the mean time, please do ask in your local newsagents, as any newsagent can order a magazine for you even if they don't have it in stock.

The magazine will also be available for iPad and in UK comic shops. The Diamond order code for UK comic shop orders is MAR132384.

London

Brent Cross
Brent Cross Shopping Centre
London
NW4 3FB

East Ham
125 High Street North
East Ham
London
E6 1HZ

Elephant & Castle
Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre
Elephant & Castle
London
SE1 6SZ

Hammersmith
Kings Mall
King Street Northside
Hammersmith
W6 0PZ

Holborn Circus
124 Holborn
Holborn Circus
London
EC1N 2TD

Oxford Street
The Plaza On Oxford Street
120 Oxford Street
London
W1N 9DP

Putney
111/115 Putney High Street
Putney
London
SW15 1SS

Stratford - West
Unit Su37
Stratford East
London
E20 1EJ

Stratford East
41/42 The Mall
The Stratford Centre
London
E15 1XE

Surrey Quays
Surrey Quays Shopping Centre
Redriff Road
London
SE16 1LL

White City
Unit 1087 And 1088
White City Shopping Centre
Shepherds Bush
W12 7GD

Wood Green
110 High Road
Wood Green
London
N22 6HE

Woolwich
68/72 Powis Street
Woolwich
London
SE18 6LQ

England

Accrington
14 Cornhill
Accrington
BB5 1EX

Altrincham
8/12 George Street
Altrincham
WA14 1SF

Arndale Manchester
Arndale Center
Manchester
M4 3AD

Arnold
24-26 Front Street
Arnold
NG5 7EL

Ashford
70/72 High Street
Ashford
TN24 8TB

Ashton Under Lyne
Unit 30
Arcade Shopping Centre
Ashton-Under-Lyne
OL6 7JE

Aylesbury
27/29 High Street
Aylesbury
HP20 1SH

Balham
176 High Road
Balham
SW12 9BW

Banbury
23/24 Castle Centre
Banbury
OX16 8UE

Barnstaple
76 High Street
Barnstaple
EX31 1HP

Basingstoke
5/7 Old Basing Mall
Basingstoke
RG21 1AW

Bath Union St
6/7 Union Street
Bath
BA1 1RW

Beaconsfield
11 The Highway
Station Road
Beaconsfield
HP9 1QD

Bedford
29/31 The Harpur Centre
Harpur St
Bedford
MK40 1TG

Beeston
25 High Road
Beeston
NG9 2JQ

Berwick-On-Tweed
75 Marygate
Berwick-On-Tweed
TD15 1BA

Bexleyheath
89 The Broadway
Bexleyheath
DA6 7JN

Bicester
12 Crown Walk
Bicester
OX6 7HY

Birkenhead
10/14 St John's Pavement
Birkenhead
L41 2YB

Birmingham
29 Union Street
Birmingham
B2 4LR

Blackburn
9 - 11 Stoneybutts
Blackburn Shopping Centre
Blackburn
BB1 7JD

Blackpool
12/16 Bank Hey Street
Blackpool
FY1 4RT

Bletchley
2 The Concourse
Brunel Centre
Bletchley
MK2 2HE

Bognor Regis
45 London Road
Bognor Regis
P021 1PQ

Bolton
5/7 Victoria Square
Bolton
BL1 1RJ

Bootle
39/40 New Strand
Bootle
Liverpool
L20 4SX

Borehamwood
Unit 11
Boulevard
Retail Park
WD6 1AG

Boston
27 Strait Bargate
Boston
PE21 6EG

Bournemouth
The Square
Bournemouth
BH1 1DY

Bracknell
10 Princess Square
Bracknell
RG12 1XW

Bradford Kirkgate
10/11 Darley Mall
Bradford
BD1 1TG

Brecon
Units 2 & 3
Bethel Square
Brecon
LD3 7JP

Bridgwater
14/15 Cornhill
Bridgwater
TA6 3BU

Brighton
69 Churchill Square
Brighton
BN1 2ET

Bristol Galleries
The Galleries
Bristol
BS1 3XB

Bromley
132/138 High Street
Bromley
BR1 3EZ

Broughton Parc
Broughton Park
Chester
CH4 0BY

Burgess Hill
27 Church Road
Burgess Hill
RH15 9BB

Burton On Trent
13/17 Underhill Walk
Burton On Trent
DE14 1DE

Bury
Unit 18
Union Arcade
Bury
BL9 0QF

Bury St Edmunds
15 Cornhill
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 1DY

Camberley
51/53 High Street
Camberley
GU15 3RB

Cambridge
14/15 Market Street
Cambridge
CB2 3PE

Canterbury
19 St George Street
Canterbury
CT1 2LB

Carlisle
51/53 English Street
Carlisle
CA3 8JY

Carmarthen
7/8 Guildhall Square
Carmarthen
SA31 1PN

Castlepoint
Unit P
Castle Point Centre
Bournemouth
BH8 9UZ

Chatham
20/22 The Pentagon
Chatham
ME4 4DP

Chelmsford
73/75 High Street
Chelmsford
CM1 1EJ

Cheltenham High
192/194 High Street
Cheltenham
GL50 1EP

Chester
5/7 Foregate Street
Chester
CH1 1HH

Chesterfield
4 Middle Pavement
The Pavements
Chesterfield
SH0 1PA

Chichester
16 North Street
Chichester
PO19 1LF

Chippenham
2 High Street
Chippenham
SN15 3EP

Chipping Norton
12-14 High Street
Chipping Norton
OX7 5AD

Chorley
6/8 New Market Street
Chorley
PR7 1DB

Christchurch
Saxon Square Shopping Centre
Christchurch
BH23 1DG

Clev Middlesbrough
17/19 Centre Mall
Cleveland Centre
Middlesbrough
TS1 2NR

Colchester
19 Culver Walk
Lion Walk Shopping Centre
Colchester
CO1 1LX

Comercial Way Woking
41/43 Commercial Way
Woking
GU21 6XR
Coventry

West Orchard Shopping Centre
Smithford Way
Coventry
CV1 1QS

Crawley
23/24 County Mall
Crawley
RH10 1FF

Crewe
13 Victoria Centre
Crewe
CW1 2PU

Croydon
34 North End
Croydon
CR0 1UB

Darlington
37b The Cornmill Shoppng Cntre
Priest Gate
Darlington
DL1 1LS

Derby
5 London Road
Derby
DE1 2NS

Didcot
188 The Broadway
Didcot
OX11 8RN

Doncaster
14/16 West Mall
Frenchgate Centre
Doncaster
DN1 1ST

Douglas I Of M
48-50 Strand Street
Douglas
IM1 2EL

Dover
45-46 Biggin Street
Dover
CT16 1DB

Dunstable
24/26 Broadwalk
Quadrant Shopping Centre
Dunstable
LU5 4RM

Ealing
21/23 The Broadway
Ealing
W5 2NH

Eastbourne
110 Terminus Road
Eastbourne
BN21 3AL

Eltham
92/94 High Street
Eltham
SE9 1BW
Enfield

7/11 Palace Gardens Shop Cntre
Enfield
EN2 6SN

Epsom
36 The Ashley Centre
Epsom
KT18 5DB

Exeter
34/35 The Guildhall Shop Centre
Exeter
EX4 3NJ

Exmouth
The Magnolia Centre
19 Chapel St
Exmouth
EX8 1HW

Falmouth
17/18 Market Street
Falmouth
TR11 2AF

Fareham
4 Savoy Buildings
Fareham
PO16 0AG

Farnborough
Unit 16/17
Princes Mead Centre
Farnborough
GU14 6YB

Farnham
14 The Borough
Farnham
GU9 7NF

Fishergate Preston
105/107 Fishergate
St George's Centre
Preston
PR1 2AE

Fleet
The Hart Centre
Fleet
GU13 8AZ

Folkestone
57/59 Sandgate Road
Folkestone
CT20 1TU

Fort Retail Park
Unit 1,The Fort Shopping Park
20 Fort Park Way
Birmingham
B24 9FP

Fosse Park
Unit 10
Fosse Park
Leicester
LE3 2HJ

Gallions Beckton
Unit 7
Gallions Reach Retail Park
Beckton
E6 7FB

Gateshead Metro
57-59 Cameron Walk
Metro Centre
Gateshead
NE11 9YR

Gents Walk Norwich
27/29 Gentleman's Walk
Norwich
NR2 1NA

Gillingham
124a High Street
Gillingham
ME7 1AS

Gloucester
41/45 Eastgate Street
Gloucester
GL1 1NZ

Godalming
82 High Street
Godalming
GU7 1DU

Gosforth
Unit 28
The Gosforth Centre
Gosforth
NE3 1JZ

Grantham
49/51 High Street
Grantham
NG31 6PH

Grays
12-14 Grays Town Centre
Grays
RM17 6TG

Greenford Retail Pk
Westway Cross Shopping Centre
Greenford Road
Greenford
UB6 0UW

Grimsby
75 Freshney Place
Grimsby
DN31 1QQ

Guildford
56 High Street
Guildford
GU1 3ES

Halesowen
Hagley Street
Halesowen
B63 3AT

Halifax
5 Market Street
Halifax
HX1 1PB

Hamilton
46 Regent Way
Hamilton
ML3 7DZ

Hanley
213 The Potteries Shop Cntre
Market Square, Hanley
Stoke On Trent
ST1 1PS

Harlow
32 Broadwalk
The High
Harlow
CM20 1JD

Harrogate
Victoria Shopping Centre
Cambridge Street
Harrogate
HG1 1TU

Harrow
St Ann's Shopping Centre
St Ann's Road
Harrow
HA1 1ASS

Hastings
Queens Road
Priory Meadow
Hastings
TN34 1PH

Havant
Units 14-15
The Meridian Shopping Centre
Havant
PO9 1UW

Haverfordwest
17/19 Riverside Key
Haverfordwest
SA61 2LJ

Haywards Heath
65/73 South Road
Haywards Heath
RH16 4LQ

Hemel Hempstead
181/183 The Marlowes
Hemel Hempstead
HP1 1BB

Henley On Thames
27 Bell Street
Henley On Thames
RG9 2BW

Hereford
25/26 High Town
Hereford
HR1 2DJ

Hertford
Unit C
Green Street
Hertford
SG14 1BN

High St Orpington
189/193 High Street
Orpington
BR6 0PF

High Wycombe
Buckingham House
36 High Street
High Wycombe
HP11 2AR

Hinckley
29-31 Castle Street
Hinckley
LE1 5WN

Hounslow
201/205 High Street
Hounslow
TW3 1BL

Huddersfield
1/3 The Shambles
Huddersfield
HD1 2QJ

Huntingdon
122/123 High Street
Huntingdon
PE18 6LG

Ilford
50 The Exchange
High Road
Ilford
IG1 1DQ

Ipswich
12-14 Westgate Street
Ipswich
IP1 3DS

Keighley
27 Cooke Lane
Airedale Centre
Keighley
BD21 3PF

Kettering
21 The Mall
Gold Street
Kettering
NN16 8JL

Kings Lynn
7 Norfolk Street
Kings Lynn
PE30 1BU

Kingston Upon Thames
Unit L8,G13,G14
The Bentall Centre
Kingston Upon Thames
KT1 1TR

Lancaster
21 Market Street
Lancaster
LA1 1HZ

Leamington Spa
54/56 The Parade
Leamington Spa
CV32 4DD

Leatherhead
15 Swan Centre
Leatherhead
KT22 8AH

Leeds
3/7 Lands Lane
Leeds
LS1 6AW

Leicester Gallowtree
39 Gallowtree Gate
Leicester
LE1 5GD

Lewisham
59 Riverdale
Lewisham Centre
Lewisham
SE13 7EP

Lichfield
25/27 Bakers Street.
Lichfield
WS13 6NG

Lincoln
The Cornhill
Lincoln
LN5 7HE

Liverpool
10/16 Church Street
Liverpool
L1 3EG

Long Eaton
55 High Street
Long Eaton
NG10 1HZ

Loughborough
9 Carillion Court
Loughborough
LE11 0BW

Luton
The Arndale Centre
Luton
LU1 2TF

Maidenhead
51 Nicholson's Walk
Maidenhead
SL6 1LL

Maidstone
38/42 Week Street
Maidstone
ME14 1RP

Mansfield
Four Seasons Shopping Centre
Mansfield
NG18 1SN

Margate
94 High Street
Margate
CT9 1JW

Meadowhall
45 High Street
Meadowhall Centre
Sheffield
S9 1EN

Merry Hill
Store D   Merry Hill Centre
Brierley Hill
Dudley
DY5 1SY

Middleton
Unit G9-F9
Arndale Centre
Middleton
M24 4EL

Milton Keynes
126 Midsummer Arcade
Secklow Gate East
Milton Keynes
MK9 3BA

Monks Cross
Unit 11
Monks Cross Retail Park
York
YO32 9LF

Newbury
87/89 Northbrook Street
Newbury
RG13 1AE

Newcastle
36 Northumberland Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE1 7DE

Newcastle Under Lyme
76 High Street
Newcastle-Under-Lyme
ST5 1QQ

Newport - Isle of Wight
55/56 High Street
Newport
PO30 1SB

Newton Abbot
30 Courtenay Street
Newton Abbot
TQ12 2DT

Newtown
24 High Street
Newtown
SY16 2NP

Northallerton
190 High Street
Northallerton
DL7 8LF

Northampton
14 Newland Walk
The Grosvenor Centre
Northampton
NN1 2EW

Nottingham Victoria
124/126 Victoria Centre
Nottingham
NG1 3QD

Nuneaton
10 Queens Road
Nuneaton
CV11 5JW

Oxford
22 Cornmarket Street
Oxford
0X1 3HE

Penzance
96 Market Jew Street
Penzance
TR18 2LE

Peterborough
32/36 Bridge Street
Peterborough
PE1 1DP

Plymouth
73/75 New George Street
Plymouth
PL1 1RP

Pontefract
37/39 Market Place
Pontefract
WF8 1AG

Poole
Towngate Shopping Centre
High Street
Poole
BH15 1ER

Portsmouth
154 Commercial Road
Portsmouth
P01 1EX

Prospect Centre Hull
10/20 The Prospect Centre
Kingston-Upon-Hull
HU2 8PN

Reading
39 Broad Street
Reading
RG1 2AD

Redditch
3/4/5 New Walk
Kingfisher Centre
Redditch
B97 4YP

Rhiw Centre Bridgend
7 The Rhiw
Bridgend
CF31 3BL

Richmond
16/17 George Street
Richmond
TW9 1JS

Rochdale
18/19 Market Way
Rochdale
OL16 1EA

Romford
8 The Liberty
Romford
RM1 3RL

Rugby
4 Market Place
Rugby
CV21 3DY

Rugeley
4-8 Brook Square
Rugeley
WS15 2DR

Salisbury
4-6 Old George Mall
Salisbury
SP1 2AG

Scarborough
106/107 Westborough
Scarborough
Y011 1LD

Shrewsbury
Charles Darwin Shopping Centre
Shrewsbury
SY1 1BN

Slough
176 High Street
Slough
SL1 1JN

Solihull
5 Mell Square
Solihull
B91 3AZ

South Hampstead
9/10 Harben Parade
Finchley Road
South Hampstead
NW3 6JS

South Shields
96/98 King Street
South Shields
NE33 1JE

South St Worthing
15 South Street
Worthing
BN11 3AP

Southampton
32/34 Above Bar
Southampton
S01 0DR

Southend
207 High Street
Southend On Sea
SS1 1LN

Southport
22 Chapel Street
Southport
PR8 1AF

St Annes
29-35 St Annes Road West
St Annes-On-Sea
FY8 1SB

St Helens
13/17 Church Street
St Helens
WA10 1BA

St Stephens Norwich
31/33 St Stephen's Street
Norwich
NR1 3QP

Stafford
3 Greengate Street
Stafford
ST16 2HW

Staines
49/51 High Street
Staines
TW18 4QR

Stevenage
95 Queensway
Stevenage
SG1 1EA

Stockport
35 Merseyway
Stockport
SK1 1PW

Stockton On Tees
1/2 John Walker Square
Stockton On Tees
TS18 1AQ

Stourbridge
35 Ryemarket
Stourbridge
DY8 1HJ

Stretford
91-92 Arndale Centre
Stretford
M32 9BD

Sunderland 2
Unit 2/3
18-28 Market Square
Sunderland
SR1 3HW

Sutton
118 High Street
Sutton
SM1 1LU

Sutton Coldfield
140/142 The Parade
Gracechurch Centre
Sutton Coldfield
B72 1PH

Swindon
10/12 Regent Street
Swindon
SN1 1JQ

Taunton
47/50 Fore Street
Taunton
TA1 1NE

Teeside Retail Park
Unit 17
Teeside Retail Park
Stockton-On-Tees
TS17 7BW

Telford
Units 112/114,The Border
Telford Centre
Telford
TF3 4AF

Tewkesbury
2 High Street
Tewkesbury
GL20 5AH

Thanet Westwoodcross
Unit 1, Terrace B
Westwood Close
Thanet, Kent
CT10 2BF

Thurrock
109 The Lakeside Shopping
West Thurrock
Grays
RM16 1ZG

Tonbridge
35/37 High Street
Tonbridge
TN9 1SQ

Torquay
7/13 Union Street
Torquay
TQ1 1ES

Trafford Park
34 Peel Avenue
The Trafford Centre
Manchester
M17 8BA

Truro
9/9a Pydar Street
Truro
TR1 2AX

Tunbridge Wells
121/122 Royal Victoria Place
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 2SR

Uxbridge
148 High Street
Uxbridge
UB8 1JY

Ventura Park
Unit 6 Ventura Park
Ventura Park Road
Tamworth
B78 3JD

Vicar Street Kidderminster
19/20 Vicar Street
Kidderminster
DY10 1DD

Wakefield
Bishop's Gate Walk
The Ridings Shopping Centre
Wakefield
WF1 1YB

Wallasey
13-15 Liscard Way
Wallasey
L44 5TL

Walsall
50 Park Street
Walsall
WS1 1NL

Walton-On-Thames
13 High Street
Walton On Thames
KT12 1BZ

Wandsworth
69 Centre Mall
Arndale Centre
Wandsworth
SW18 4TG

Warrington
18 The Mall
Warrington
WA1 1QE

Watford Harlequin
54 The Harlequin
Watford
WD1 2TF

Welwyn Garden City
30 The Howard Centre
Welwyn Garden City
AL8 6ER

Weston Super Mare
44 High Street
Weston Super Mare
BS23 1JA

Weymouth
87-89 St Mary Street
Weymouth
DT4 8NY

Wickford
45-47 High Street
Wickford
SS12 9AE

Wigan
1 Standishgate
Wigan
WN1 1UG

Wimbledon
16 Wimbledon Bridge
Wimbledon
London
SW19 7NW

Winchester
110 High St & Parchment Street
Winchester
SO23 9AH

Wisbech
36 Market Place
Wisbech
PE13 1DL

Witney
12 Woolgate
Market Square
Witney
OX8 6AP

Wolverhampton
17/23 Central Arcade
Mander Centre
Wolverhampton
WV1 3EP

Worcester
65 High Street
Worcester
WR1 2EH

Wrexham New Store
56-58 Hope Street
Wrexham
LL11 1RG

Yeovil
10 Middle Street
Yeovil
BA20 1LZ

York
39/41 Coney Street
York
YO1 1QW

Scotland

Aberdeen
408/412 Union Street
Aberdeen
AB10 1PD

Airdrie
60-62 Graham Street
Airdrie
ML6 6BU

Arbroath
196 High Street
Arbroath
DD11 1HY

Argyle Street
53-55 Argyle Street
Glasgow
G2 8AH

Ayr
198/200 High Street
Ayr
KA7 1RH

Braehead
Unit MSU 1
Braehead Park
Glasgow
PA4 8XE

Cameron Toll
Unit 2
Cameron Toll Shopping Centre
Edinburgh
EH16 5PE

Dundee
Unit 18
Overgate Centre
Dundee
DD1 1UF

Dunfermline
111/113 High Street
Dunfermline
KY12 7DR

East Kilbride
49 The Plaza
East Kilbride
G74 1LW

Elgin
Unit 20/21
St Giles Centre
Elgin
IV30 1EA

Falkirk
123-127 High Street
Falkirk
FK1 1ED

Glenrothes
21 Unicorn Way
Kingdom Centre
Glenrothes
KY7 5ND

Greenock
42 Hamilton Way
Greenock
PA15 1RH

Helensburgh
17-21 Sinclair Street
Helensburgh
G84 8SR

Inverness
25-33 High Street
Inverness
IV1 1HT

Kilmarnock
38-40 King Street
Kilmarnock
KA1 IMP

Kirkcaldy
183-187 High Street
Kirkcaldy
KY1 1JA

Livingston
33/35 Almondvale Centre
Livingston
EH4 6NB

Oban
42 George Street
Oban
PA34 5SD

Paisley
14-16 High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BS

Perth
91-97 High Street
Perth
PH1 5TJ

Sauchiehall Glasgow
177 Sauchiehill Street
Sauchiehill
G2 2ER

South Gyle U14 Edinburgh
33 Gyle Avenue
South Gyle Broadway
Edinburgh
EH12 9JT

St Nicholas Aberdeen
Unit E5
St Nicholls Centre
Aberdeen
AB1 1HW

Stirling
44 Thistle Centre
Stirling
FK8 2EE

Wales

Aberystwyth
36 Terrace Road
Aberystwyth
SY23 2AB

Cardiff
83/85 Queen Street
Cardiff
CF10 2NX

Cwmbran
11 The Mall
Cwmbran
NP44 1PX

Frogmore Abergavenny
1 Cibi Walk
Frogmore Street
Abergavenny
NP7 5AB

Llandudno
Penrhyn House
101 Mostyn Street
Llandudno
LL30 2NY

Market Bangor Books
The Market Hall
High Street
Bangor
LL57 1NY

Newport Gwent
166/167 Commercial Street
Newport
NP9 1QY

Swansea
37 The Quadrant
Shopping Centre
Swansea
SA1 3QW

• The Diamond order code for UK comic shop orders is MAR132384