Starscape Online launches new Storypaper

Longtime British indie publisher and comic creator Chris Smillie has announced the launch of the Starscape storypaper, just part of his comic projects that can be found at Starscape Online. With a cover from 2000 AD artist Alex Ronald, the first 50-page issue features work from a range of creators that includes Matthew Soffe and Dustin Parr.

"After a long time in planning, I'm pleased to announce the long-awaited return of the storypaper (or, if you like, an updated penny dreadful)," says Chris.

"If you don't know what these are, have a look at the Storypaper link on http://StarscapeOnline.com for information and downloads of a past penny dreadful (featuring Spring-Heeled Jack) and storypaper (with Sexton Blake).

"Starscape Storypaper is an update on these, such as Hotspur, Union Jack and The Marvel.  Basically, it's an A6 pocketbook of around 50 pages (very handy for the train or bus) of the sci-fi, fantasy, superhero and horror genre.  The pocketbook contains both serials and one-shots with a fair splattering of awesome covers and spot illustrations.


"The idea came to me when lamenting the popularity of Harry Potter and the lack of British all-age adventure comics," he reveals. " I should once again stress that by all-ages, I mean the output of writers, such as Stan Lee, Chris Claremont, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Tolkien, John Wagner and much of Alan Moore.  Growing up, as a kid, I thrilled to the likes of the Human Torch and Strontium Dog. And now, as I regrettably age evermore, I still see the Silver/Bronze Age as stand-out periods in the world of comics.

"I also fancied reading something a little more substantial," he adds. "Response to the fanfiction has been good and I thought that I would love to be able to pick up a journal of prose featuring the likes of Green Lantern, Dr Strange or Slaine. 

"As usual, that got me thinking that, if no-one else is likely to do it, I might as well have a go. Perhaps not those characters but expect to see some familiar names from myth, legend and Starscape, as well as all-new material."

The first issue features a mix of sci-fi, fantasy, superpower & horror tales. In The Knights of Eternity by Chris Smillie, with art from Alex Ronald and Alex McCarthy, Merlin conquers time - but what does the Son of the Devil need the Ankh of Time for?


Extermination Theory by Matthew McLaughlin and Dustin Parr posits that even in the future, pest control is a nasty business - especially when it's Mankind versus gruesome alien bug!

Plus, in Identity Unhidden by Shaun Avery and Ivan Eight, we discover dressing in longjohns and fighting supervillains isn't the career most mothers want for their son but has the Attendant met his match as he confronts the Big Boss?


• The Starscape Storypaper is just £1.50 inc. UK p&p for over 50 pages. As well as a paper copy, there's also a means to download digitally. For more info visit: http://starscapeonline.com


• Starscape is also on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pages/Starscape-comic/119437891434222

Alex Ronald's Red Sands Resurrrected

At the end of 1994 Alex Ronald, who's also a member of the downthetubes forum, wrote and drew Red Sands, his first comic, with the intention of getting noticed by 2000AD.

One year later, he was a regular artist for the comic, including drawing Judge Dredd for the weekly title.

For the last ten years Alex, whose career includes work as a storyboard artist for TV projects at Axis and Absolute Digital Pictures, has been working in CG, designing 3D characters and environment models for TV commercials and video games.

Most recently, he's been painting magazine covers and promotional art for Dundee-based Ruffian Games in Dundee as well as concept art for indy film studios Black Camel Pictures and Mothcatcher Films.

"Since last year I've been veering back toward illustration having landed concept art commissions," he says. "I've been bitten by the drawing bug again and plan to try comics again next year in a small press way. Checking out what other like minded folk are up to and hoping their enthusiasm will keep my batteries charged."

Now, Alex' Red Sands has been posted online as a free-to-view comic over at http://StarscapeOnline.com, an enthralling tale of colonists, tyrants and anti-heroes set in a futuristic 'gold rush'.

"Alex has kindly let me put Red Sands on the website," Starscape publisher Chris Smillie told downthetubes. "It's free to view online, download or, if you want the printed copy, there's a cheap version (£1.49) to buy too."

You can also view it right here, thanks to myebook.com

• Starscape Online
• Download the Red Sands CBR

• Buy the Red Sands print edition from lulu.com

• Alex Ronald's Official Blog
• Alex Ronald's deviantart page
• Alex Ronald's page on downthetubes forum

Starscape Launches Ouija: Heartstrings

Indie publisher Starscape has just published Starscape Presents: OUIJA: Heartstrings, written by Gary Simpson (Dead, 2000AD, RedEye) with art by Tim Youlden.

Described as a comic for fans of Hellblazer or Ghost Rider, the 28-page title introduces Sebastian, someone who isn't looking for trouble but trouble usually finds him. All he wants is a quiet life away from the demons - both human and vampire - in his urban Britain.

Born with a mysterious tattoo of a Ouija board on his breast, Sebastian is able to call forth demons and speak to the dead. Will his desire for vengeance and battle against the supernatural lead to salvation or doom?

• Preview at Clickwheel

• Preview at MyEbook

• Available from http://StarscapeOnline.com or alternatively buy direct from IndyPlanet or Lulu, where it's also available as a download

Leopard of Lime Street Fun...

A few years ago, UK indie publisher Starscape, run by Chris Smillie, licensed some of Buster's Leopard of Lime Street strips from Egmont.

"I made an ad for Starscape by using some images, making an animated comic," says Chris, which he's now re-posted on YouTube.

Leopard of Lime Street was a hugely popular strip in the 1970s and 80s, appearing in the weekly Buster comic, soon to get Egmont's "Classic Comic" treatment with a special due for release in December. In the strip a schoolboy photographer is bitten by a radioactive leopard and develops the powers of a fuly-grown jungle cat.

Sound familiar? The strip was, however, a lot more more juvenile than Marvel's Spider-Man: stories generally saw the Beast of Selbridge battle giant robots, common thugs and dopplegangers, plus his evil uncle, whilst all the time trying to contain his vicious leopard-like nature.

Zombies invade the Wild West!

Spitfire Comics, the publishing arm of StarscapeOnline.com have a couple of new items out: a re-release of the sold out Collected Hook Jaw by Pat Mills and others, compiled from the pages of the 1970s comic, Action!; and a zombies in the Wild West horror comic called Dead. There's just no stopping these reanimated corpses invading every milieu, is there?

Starscape Presents: Dead is a 24 page US-sized comic in which zombies have invaded the Wild West. All that stands between the hungry mouths of the living dead and the last refuge of salvation is one kick-ass beautiful female sheriff.

Recommended for fans of The Walking Dead and other zombie horror comics, this self-contained horror tale is the work of writer Gary Simpson (2000AD, Engine Comics) with quite breathtaking art from Lee O'Connor (Vurt, Shelf Life and Iraq: The Graphic War).

Collected from the pages of the million sales-per-month Action! comic, The Collected Hook Jaw is the tale of the man-eating great white shark, Hook Jaw. This forerunner of 2000AD sees blood-n-guts and limbs-a-flying mix with environmental issues. The collection comprises the two storylines prior to Action!'s banning after protests about the levels of violence, written by Pat Mills (2000AD, Charley's War, Slaine and more and Ken Armstrong (Flesh, Dan Dare and other uncredited stories), with art by Ramon Sola (Action!, 2000AD, Battle) and Felix Carrion.

• Starscape Presents: Dead and The Collected Hookjaw are available via Diamond Distribution (UK only), IndyPlanet, Lulu or from StarscapeOnline.com. For cover art and previews of Dead, click here for its page on Indyplanet.

Starscape Comic Turns Magazine

For the past seven or so years, Chris Smillie's Starscape has been a comic then a webcomic, inspired by the idea of the evolution of traditional British comics, such as 2000AD, Mighty World of Marvel, Eagle and the Victor, taking up the title 'Valiant for the 21st Century'.

Now, Chris has announced Starscape comic has evolved into Starscape comic magazine.

Now, along with all-new comic strips from emerging and established creators from 2000AD, Marvel, DC Thomson etc., plus classic tales from the golden age to modern classics, Starscape also presents Comicscape and Moviescape, offering news feeds, reviews of current and past comics, graphic novels, tv series and films, plus downloads of classic movies, serials, cartoons and fanfilms.

Chris wants all fans of the title to get involved in the revamp, perhaps by sharing your views on the latest graphic novel, a favourite fantasy book or a sci-fi drama from many years ago. If you have the desire to interview comic creators (contacts preferred but not required) or are looking for somewhere to publish your comic, or a story to draw, then head over to StarscapeComic.co.uk or pitch your ideas to Chris via editorATstarscapecomic.co.uk.

Please note, there's no indication in Chris' PR for the relaunch that there is any renumeration for contributions -- check with him for more information.