Black Hearted Press to launch new titles at Thought Bubble

Comics writer Jim Alexander, whose credits include stories for 2000AD, DC and Marvel Comics and Metal Hurlant has been heavily involved with Glasgow-based publishers Black Hearted Press and is the writer on two new books that will be launched at Thought Bubble in Leeds later this month.

Co-founded by David Brayher, John Farman and Sha Nazir last year, Black Hearted Press is a new Scottish comic book publisher promoting new, exciting and diverse creator owned, collaborative comic books whose first release was Black Maria issue 616.

Building on that success, they've published three titles this year - Black Hearted Love, Laptop Guy and School of the Damned with contributions from Jim Alexander, Dave Alexander, Jim Devlin and Jack Lothian - and are now set to publish Gabriel and Scout One, both written by Jim.

A page from the first issue of Gabriel, drawn by David Hill

"Gabriel written by myself with art by David Hill, was published almost a decade ago by Caliber," he tells us. "Now serialised by BHP over four parts, it's the story of one man's isolation and dislocation, wrapped up in horror and religious themes, as a demon runs rampage through the streets of Glasgow - which seems as pertinent to me now as it did then.  I'm firmly of the belief the strip deserves a second outing."

The back-up strip is 'Manchester', also written by Jim with art by Andy Dodd. The story is set at the end of the world. "For one man," says Jim, "the last day on Earth is quite possibly the happiest day of his life."

Also out is Scout One.  "This is a super-hero strip with a difference," Jim reveals. "I know you've probably heard this a hundred times before, but artist Sha Nazir's lovely expressive art lends the story a gritty DC Thomson look, which never detracts from the three different storylines from three different time periods, chronicling the modern myth that is the super-hero known as Scout One.

"The story has a Doctor Who sensibility to it; there's a real sense of adventure and fun to be had.  Something parents and kids can both enjoy."   

• Gabriel #1 is on sale now.  For more details check out the link http://jimalwriter.blogspot.com/2011/10/im-now-member-of-black-hearted-press.html#links


• Gabriel #1 and Scout One #1 will also be on sale at Thought Bubble, Leeds, Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November.  Black Hearted Press will be sharing a table with the Burke & Hare team in Saviles Hall.

• Black Hearted Press: www.blackheartedpress.co.uk


• Jim Alexander's blog: http://jimalwriter.blogspot.com

The Furies Preview Released

The full first chapter of Time Bomb Comics forthcoming graphic novel The Furies, written by Steve Tanner with artwork by Andy Dodd is now up and running at myebook.

A dark, apocalyptic tale set in 2012, The Furies is also the first comic Steve and Andy first completed together more than twenty years ago!

Originally due to be serialised in the short-lived Ground Zero anthology in 198, only three chapters were published before Ground Zero ceased to be. The forthcoming Time Bomb release, of The Furies, due for release this autumn, will be first time the story will be collected in its entirety.

In Review: Dick Turpin And The Restless Dead

A break from the keyboard and other projects have jointly conspired in my attempts to write this review of TimeBomb Comics' Dick Turpin And The Restless Dead, written by Steve Tanner and drawn Andrew Dodd.

Notorious highwayman Dick Turpin stumbles across a deserted village following his latest highway robbery, and it seems the ideal place to hide out. But the village is not as empty as it first appears – and Turpin soon finds himself surrounded by hordes of rotting, hungry zombies!

This straightforward action-horror yarn is a change of pace from the intricacies of Timebomb's first title, Ragamuffins:
Stitches in Time, but zombies and the darker, grislier setting rather suit Andy Dodd's 'scratchy' art style (and I don't mean for that description to sound derogatory). Turpin himself is an interesting choice of anti-hero, and there's no doubt he's a villain at heart from the get-go, as the book opens with his hold up of a stagecoach.

The script is fun with a serious edge although I'm sure the closing line is a homage to a film, but I can't think which one. While there are some odd choices of panel -- Andrew favours mid shots with few close ups which I think is to the detriment of some pages -- this is fun one shot worth checking out from either the publisher's web site or the company's other distributors.

• You can read the first five pages of Dick Turpin and the Restless Dead on TimeBomb Comics' ComicSpace gallery.
• Visit the official TimeBomb Comics web site