British Comic Stamps: 2000AD

Here's the final post to mark the release of the Royal Mail's Comic Collection, celebrating 75 years of British comics. The Royal Mail have kindly sent us large versions of each stamp, so we thought we'd show them off in all their glory, in the order of first comic publication.

2000AD needs no introduction to regular readers of this site, but for those of you finding us for the first time as a result of these stamp posts, it's a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic, first published in 1977, which has just enjoyed its 35th birthday.

It's most noted for its Judge Dredd stories, and has been contributed to by a number of artists and writers who became renowned in the field internationally, such as Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Grant Morrison.

There's more about 2000AD at the title's official web site at www.2000adonline.com

• Stamps and stamp products are available at all Post Office branches, online at www.royalmail.com/personal/comic-stamps-and-collectibles, the Royal Mail eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Royal-Mail-Stamp-Collections and from Royal Mail Tallents House (tel. 08457 641 641), 21 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB.

CamCon 2012 lines up its guests

A new British comic convention will take place in May and has an impressive line-up of guests that includes longtime indie creator Glenn Dakin, 2000AD artist Leigh Gallagher and many others.

The brainchild of Ziggy Newman, CamCon - Cambridge's new comic/cult convention - will take place at the The Junction J2 on 12th May 2012. Guests announced so far include manga creator Sonia Leong, Glenn Dakin, Leigh Gallagher, Emma Vicelli and Murky Depths editor Terry Martin.

"Basically this is a project I have set up and funded myself using money I raised in my gap year," Ziggy tells us. "It is the first of its kind in East Anglia and I have set it up because of my strong interest in pop/geek culture and want to share it with others."

This brand new convention dedicated to comics, anime fandom, gaming, alternative fashion and everything else wickedly cool will include guest talks from manga and other comic creators, a Cosplay Masquerade, Manga Drawing Workshops, Live bands, Gaming Tournaments, an Alternative Fashion Show and more.

- For more information visit www.thecamcon.com or the a facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/camcon/.

 

British Comic Stamps: Twinkle

Here's the ninth of our ten posts to mark the release of the Royal Mail's Comic Collection, celebrating 75 years of British comics. The Royal Mail have kindly sent us large versions of each stamp, so we thought we'd show them off in all their glory, in the order of first comic publication.

Twinkle, 'the picture paper especially for little girls', was published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd from 1968 to 1999. It was aimed at young girls and came out weekly. Nurse Nancy, who ran a toy hospital with her grandfather, was one of the most popular characters.

• Stamps and stamp products are available at all Post Office branches, online at www.royalmail.com/personal/comic-stamps-and-collectibles, the Royal Mail eBay shop: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Royal-Mail-Stamp-Collections and from Royal Mail Tallents House (tel. 08457 641 641), 21 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB.

Good Cop, Bad Cop checks into High-Ex

If you're planning a trip to the Highlands for the Hi-Ex Comic Expo next weekend, then be sure to track down the latest comics from Black Hearted Press, run by Jim Alexander, David Brayher, John Farman and Sha Nazir.

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 added several new titles including the much-praised School of the Damned, Gabriel and Scout One.

Their latest title is Good Cop, Bad Cop by ace writer Jim Alexander, whose credits include stories for 2000AD, DC and Marvel Comics and Metal Hurlant.

In a modern and suitably macabre take on Jekyll and Hyde, the Good Cop and Bad Cop just happen to be the same person and the first issue features three all-new stories written by Jim, with art by Garry McLaughlin (Junkie Dad, Year of Fear, Taking Flight).

With suitably black humour and some nice touches on the characterisation, it's a project with immense potential - I'm looking forward to seeing how it develops. For example, given the Bad Cop's predilection for killing, rather than arresting villains, how will Good Cop cover the tracks of his alter ego? Do they have entirely different DNA, for example?

I'm sure this is the kind of thing Jim will be having fun with in later issues.

Also out is Scout One, what Jim previously described as "a super-hero strip with a difference." Sha Nazir's art lends the story a gritty DC Thomson look, and the first issue again features three stories from the mythology of Scout One.

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

Hi-Ex takes place at Eden Court, Inverness 31st March - 1st April. Other guests include Jim Montynero, one of the creators on CLiNT, Rok Comics editor John Freeman, artist Graeme Neil Reid, Inko and many more. More info at www.hi-ex.co.uk.

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

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