Judge Dredd-Batman Collection out soon

If you're a fan of those once occasional cross-company comic crossovers, then you'll be happy to hear that the epic Batman vs. Judge Dredd stories are still among the most brutal crossovers in comics, 20 years since it was first published.

Out later this month from 2000AD and DC Comics is The Batman Judge Dredd Collection, which brings together the four team-ups between the Lawman of the Future and the Dark Knight for the first time in a brand new hardback edition, with a fantastic roster of superstar talent, including Simon Bisley and Glenn Fabry.

Originally released between 1991 and 1998, these epic crossovers - Judgment on Gotham, Vendetta in Gotham, The Ultimate Riddle, and Die Laughing - brought the dynamic duo together to fight their ultimate foes. From alien super-fiend Judge Death escaping to Gotham to the Joker teaming up with the Dark Judges to cause mass slaughter in Mega-City One, The Batman Judge Dredd Collection brilliantly captures the lunacy and non-stop action of these two all-too-similar worlds from either side of the Atlantic.

Judge Dredd co-creator John Wagner leads a pack of top names, including Alan Grant (Batman, Lobo), Simon Bisley (Hellblazer), Glenn Fabry (Preacher, Hellblazer), Val Semeiks (The Demon, Lobo), and Cam Kennedy (Batman, The Light and Darkness War) - all contained in a cover from Hellboy creator Mike Mignola.

Published by 2000AD in the UK and Ireland, and by DC in North America, this ultimate new edition also includes the hard-to-find meeting between Dredd and psychotic biker Lobo, and deserves a place in the collection of any self-respecting Dredd or Batman fan.

• The Batman Judge Dredd Collection is available from 27th November 2012

• Buy it from amazon.co.uk

• Buy it from ForbiddentPlanet.com

 

Second Glasgow Comic Convention proves success

Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely at Glasgow Comic Con 2012. Photo: Craig Hastie of Comics Anonymous

David Robertson of Fred Egg Comics reports on a weekend offering a range of big name guests and upcoming comics revelations... Photos kindly provided by Craig Hastie at Comics Anonymous

The second Glasgow Comic Convention moved into two venues this year, giving more room, with small pressers, Waterstones and various signings happening right across the street from The Mackintosh Church at Queens Cross Hall. The event was still a bit tight at times. At one point there was a single line of people that split off to Jim Starlin sketching, a snack / coffee vendor and the toilet.

There were lots of events on, and as with all cons, you had to pick and choose. The first talk I attended was a panel with writers David Bishop, Alan Grant and John Wagner and Multiverse editor Mike Conroy asking the usual questions such as “Why do you think 2000AD has lasted so long?” David Bishop came up with a memorable line, describing the big superhero companies constant representing of their characters and stories as “rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic”.

Next was a Cosmic comics talk with artists Rufus Dayglo and Jim Starlin and writer Eddie Deighton. Dayglo swore a lot, which was disconcerting as there were a fair amount of kids in the room. He also was the most politically vocal of all the guests over the weekend, stating his displeasure at Marvel Comics’ poor treatment of Jack Kirby’s estate.

Artist Jim Starlin. Photo: Craig Hastie 
of Comics Anonymous

Jim Starlin was asked what he thought of the movies that featured the characters he’d created to which he remarked that he had to pay to see (SPOILER WARNING) Avengers, in which Thanos pops up at the end for 30 seconds. He wryly commented that he could find no fault with it.

During Saturday, attendees were encouraged to vote in the SICBA Awards for small press comics. The books were available to read to help you make your choice, and the winners were announced on Saturday night.

There are always things going on at comics conventions that make you wonder what the connection is to comics. The ICW Wrestlers were in attendance, ostensibly to judge a cosplay competition, but really to stage one of their mock bouts onstage to publicise an event they were holding in Glasgow on Sunday night.

Changes to the schedule meant that after going across the road to see Jim Starlin signing as advertised I found he was actually in the church in the dealers’ hall. Also Mike Ploog and Colin MacNeill did not turn up at all, which was disappointing.

Frank Quitely and Grant Morrison appeared on stage to end Saturday. Maintaining his mystique, Morrison appeared only as he walked onstage. He seemed a bit nervous at first, which was perhaps understandable as he was appearing to his home crowd. Notable in his talk was his statement that in his upcoming revamp of the Charlton Comics characters, he plans to update the storytelling techniques of Watchmen. The example he gave was that instead of having a nine panel grid structure on each page, he would have eight panels. This talk was a lot shorter than advertised so they could move on to a signing session.

Cosplayers at the Con. 
Photo: Craig Hastie of 
Comics Anonymous

Sunday was a quieter day from the beginning. It started off with a quiz. Comedian Billy Kirkwood was shouting in order to get the crowd enthused, and asked a organiser if he was allowed to swear. The answer came in the affirmative and it wasn’t long before we’d heard more swearing onstage.

Then came Rufus Dayglo and Karrie Fransman. They were the first comics creators of the weekend to actually talk about making comics, which was great. Specifically, they talked about how they approach the blank page and decide what to put in their stories. Dayglo said he was sick of reading dark superhero stories all the time, and laughingly pointed out a Batman cosplayer off to one side of the stage – “I can see Batman over there giving me the evil eye; “I’ll pull you offstage. I’ll f*** you up”

During John Wagner’s talk he revealed that he can see himself retiring very soon. He said there is one more Judge Death story that he thinks looks really great. Wagner became very enthusiastic when talking about his hobby/small business of keeping chickens and selling eggs around his village.

I quickly ran off to catch up with Frank Quitely, whom I’d first met at Dundee Comics Day last year. He always makes time to encourage small pressers.

Although he wasn’t scheduled to do so, Jim Starlin spent all weekend signing and sketching. In the final talk of the weekend, he revealed that he made up his Warlock stories in the 1970s by sitting down, drawing and making it up as he went along. He also said that when he killed off Robin in Batman, it created lots of publicity, but there was masses of merchandise that featured Robin still in the stores and so Starlin’s name became mud and his DC work dried up in the space of two weeks.

Starlin stated that both his own mother and his mother-in-law are both very ill and this is inspiring him in a direction for a final Dreadstar story. Starlin’s talk was a really great way to end the weekend and when it was over he received an ovation that appeared to make him a bit embarrassed.

The weekend was very enjoyable, and I hope the rumours of a third next year turn out to be true.

Craig Hastie, Sha Nazir of Black Hearted Press, Frank Quitely and Jim Stewart 
on stage at Glasgow Comic Con 2012.
Photo courtesy of Craig Hastie of Comics Anonymous

In Review: The Loxley's and the War of 1812

Writer: Alan Grant
Artist: Claude St. Aubin
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Letterer: Todd Klein
Editor: Alexander Finbow
Publisher: Renegade Arts Entertainment
Diamond Code: APR121209
ISBN-13: 9780986820007

The Book: The story follows the Loxleys, a Canadian family living in the Niagara peninsula! as they're torn apart by the American invasion of Canada in 1812, and the subsequent war that raged across both countries as British troops, Canadian militia, and First Nation warriors sought to thwart the expansionist plans of the American government.

The story follows the characters through key historical events as they deal with the realities of war on their doorstep, the personal loss, setbacks and victories tied into the conflict.

The book comprises some 176 pages - 101 pages of story and 53-page summary of the warm written by acclaimed Canadian military historian Mark Zuehlke, presented with maps and illustrations.

The Review: Alan Grant, perhaps better known to DownThe Tubes readers for his work on 2000AD and Batman, delivers a superb script on this graphic adaptation of a little-known conflict that has echoes with troubles facing our contemporary world.

Enhanced still further by the beautiful line work of Claude St. Aubin, Grant not only tells the tale of the war itself - in which Britain most famously attacked and burnt the White House, but is also noted for some of the United States most appalling actions against Native Americans - but also gives the conflict a powerful humanity. With much of the war told from the perspective of those who fought and suffered because of it, the stupidity of the conflict and the actions of those who ran it are all the more exposed, such as the actions of men who stirred up the fight in the first place, then brokered for peace - only for both sides to continue fighting for months after a peace treaty hasd been signed, because negotiations took place on the other side of the Atlantic.

Alan Grant pulls no punches when it comes to the dangers of war, although there is none of the visceral horror that ocasionally graces his better known work. And yet such events as the massacre of troops, the casual disregard for human life by mercenaries are made more telling by Aubin's deceptively simple but beautifully realized line work.

The War of 1812 is perhaps little known to many on both sides of the Atlantic, despite its wider outcome: the development of Canada as an individual nation and a Canadian identity being perhaps one of the most obvious. For Britain, it was a war fought on the sidelines, when Europe was already mired in conflict with Napoleon. Fighting another war on the other side of the world at the same time must have - and clearly was - a logistical nightmare, with Britain's navy for example clearly under strength in comparison with its recent successes against the French in the Mediterranean and the Battle of Trafalgar.

This is a part of America's shared history peppered with what might have beens and what ifs, but The Loxley's and the War of 1812 never strays into such supposition, offering a straightforward and detailed re-telling, in pictures and text, of an oft-forgotten war. It's a terrific book, well deserving of a read by anyone at all interested in the period, and a powerful story of those caught up in war - at any time. Recommended.

- Note the Amazon link right is to amazon.com, not amazon.co.uk


More Information:

- Renegade Arts: www.renegadeartsentertainment.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Renegade-Arts-Entertainment-Ltd/57109448507
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/renegadeartsent

In addition to the graphic novel, Renegade Arts Entertainment has also hired Oscar nominated screen writer Tab Murphy (Thundercats, Batman: Year One) to adapt the story into a school play, most recently performed at the Canmore Collegiate High School Theatre, as well as a movie screenplay.

Fans wanting more on The Loxley's and the War of 1812 can visit Renegade’s website, www.1812timeline.com, which incorporates the fictional characters from the book, and takes you through the events leading up to, during and after the war.

Alan Grant pens War of 1812 for Renegade

Renegade Arts Entertainment has just announced another Alan Grant-scribed project - this time with a historical setting rather than, perhaps, the horror and futuristic themes he might be better known for.

Due for release in June, The Loxley's and the War of 1812 is written by Grant, who has written several projects for Renegade, with art from Claude St Aubin (R.E.B.E.L.S., Batman: Turning Point) and Lovern Kindzierski (Animal Man). This paperback features a 101-page story about a Canadian family caught up in the war, as well as a 53-page summary of the war and its implications for Canada and America, written by acclaimed Canadian military historian Mark Zuehlke, presented with maps and illustrations.
 
The story follows the Loxley’s, a Canadian family living in the Niagara peninsula as they're torn apart by the American invasion of Canada in 1812, and the subsequent war that raged across both countries as British troops, Canadian militia, and First Nation warriors sought to thwart the expansionist plans of the American government. The story follows the characters through key historical events as they deal with the realities of war on their doorstep, the personal loss, setbacks and victories tied into the conflict.

In addition to the graphic novel, Renegade Arts Entertainment has also hired Oscar nominated screen writer Tab Murphy (Thundercats, Batman: Year One) to adapt the story into a school play, most recently performed at the Canada's Canmore Collegiate High School Theatre, as well as a movie screenplay.

Fans wanting more on The Loxley's and the War of 1812 can visit Renegade’s website, www.1812timeline.com, which incorporates the fictional characters from the book, and takes you through the events leading up to, during and after the war.

• The Loxley's and the War of 1812 will be on sale in UK comic shops June, 2012 for $19.99 US and is available to order in the April 2012 edition of Diamond Previews (APR121209, ISBN: 978-1-908217-04-1). Retailers receive one FREE copy for every three ordered. 

• For more information visit www.renegadeartsentertainment.com and www.facebook.com/LoxleysandtheWarof1812

30 Years of the New Eagle

Thirty years ago last month, a new incarnation of one of Britain’s most famous comics burst on to the news-stands (ok, we're a bit slow off the mark with this one, but the down the tubes office is a busy place ok?!). Eagle, the Rolls Royce of comics during the 1950s, was back in a new format for a new generation. In some ways it was a completely new title - only Dan Dare survived from the previous version. Many purists hated the re-launched publication but for a new generation, Eagle became the comic of choice.

How to mark this landmark anniversary? Well, we could tell you about Doomlord and the other photo-stories. We could tell you about the wide range of features in the comic including columns by major personalities of the day. We could tell you about the interviews with people as high-profile as Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott and… Cannon and Ball. (Actually, that’s a cheap shot - Cannon and Ball were major stars in their day). We could even tell you about the free space spinner in issue one. But you know all that. Instead, let’s look at what made Eagle different. What made it special, unique, pioneering… And no, we’re not talking about the Glamorous Teacher feature!

Here’s how -

New Eagle Did It First!


The magazine format

A lot of boy’s comics today aren’t really comics at all. They are magazines with puzzles and all sorts of features and information for children to enjoy. Eagle was effectively a magazine and was ahead of its time in being so. Sure, there were comic strips but there were also columns written by major sporting personalities, radio DJs and comedians of the day. Eagle was so much more than just a comic.

Predicting/showcasing new technology
Eagle used to have lots of features about up and coming technology and gadgets, some real and some imagined, be it wrist watch radios or shiny little discs which music could be recorded on called CDs (wonder if they caught on?). They didn’t always get it right. In January 1983, Eagle suggested that by the year 2000 the skies might again be full of airships! And in February of that year they suggested that Dalek-style security robots would be available within 2 years and that they could replace security guards! Now, I know some security guards might act like Daleks but even so…

Amazing 3D

In February 1983, Eagle promised us a ‘super new picture-story and features in 3D’. Using red and green glasses that came free with the comic, readers could enjoy stories and photographs in three fabulous dimensions. Ok, 3D had been around for decades and is commonplace today, but in the 80s this was an exciting new development for young comics reader who knew nothing of the craze for 3D movies in decades past.

Showcasing new talent

A lot of very talented people did early work on Eagle and there’s no better example of this than writers Alan Grant and John Wagner who went on to become international comics legends achieving the dizzying heights of, amongst many other things, writing Batman for DC. And the 30 April 1983 issue featured a rather splendid Dan Dare drawing by reader Jonathan Haward - he actually went on to draw the Dan Dare strip for the comic in future years.

Ideas which cropped up in TV/films years later

Eagle’s writers were very, very imaginative. And some of their ideas were used in movies and films years after they had been in the comics. That’s not to suggest plagiarism - two writers can come up with the same idea independently and you will often see an idea in one programme that’s been used in a film years before. Even so, it really is remarkable how some of the concepts in Eagle have been recycled.

Yes, Doctor Who fans may say how original their favourite programme was introducing a flying shark in the first Matt Smith Christmas special, A Christmas Carol, in 2010. A flying shark - who would have thought of that! In fact Dan Dare introduced a flying shark in 1982. The sinister mercenary Star Rider had his own flying pet shark, Zarkuda. Once off its leash , it was a deadly killer. And very cool. Keeping on the Doctor Who theme, the next series is going to feature a cybernetic cowboy it seems - Eagle did a robotic cowboy years ago in - you’ve guessed it - Dan Dare (mind you, that was arguably a homage itself to the 1973 film Westworld). Then there was The Mask of Evil strip which featured a mask which, once worn, merged with the wearer’s face and changed their personality - eat your heart out Jim Carrey! And here’s what Alan Grant said to the fanzine Eagle Flies Again about the Eagle story The Thirteenth Floor (which had begun in the short-lived horror comic Scream): ‘I’ve seen several movies based on the same concept - one of which was actually called The 13th Floor (I think it was Australian, and I bet the writer or director had seen Eagle as a kid).’

Truly, the 1980s Eagle was a comic ahead of its time!

Renegade set to release 'Tales of the Buddha' collection

Renegade Arts Entertainment have announced that they will be publishing the first ever complete collection of Alan Grant, Jon Haward and Jamie Grant's long-running humour strip Tales of The Buddha Before He Became Enlightened.

Collecting the entire 66-page saga to date initially for digital release in April, followed by a print release in the autumn, Tales of the Buddha answers the much asked questions about just what this holiest of men got up to before gaining enlightenment.

The strips take a very lighthearted approach to Buddha's journey of discovery as he samples other religions and hangs out with well known religious icons, as well as getting the chance to experience life's pleasures along the way.

"I've been aware of the strips for a long time thanks to Wasted magazine and working with Alan," explains publisher Alexander Finbow, "and I was intrigued when the guys suggested we release the collection through Renegade.

"I sat down with the strips to get up to speed and found myself laughing out loud which was reason enough to say yes straight away.

"I'm overjoyed that Renegade will be releasing Tales of the Buddha as an e-book," says Alan Grant. "I consider it to be my funniest work since the sad demise of Lobo. It contains some of Jon Haward's most beautiful and delicate art, with colouring and lettering by Jamie Grant of Superman fame. Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll...with a smattering of violence. My copy is already ordered!"

“I'm very pleased that after 10 years, the Buddha's tales has a publisher with 'faith' in the crazy funny tales written by my inspirational friend Alan Grant," adds Jon. "It's been a total joy and honour to work on these stories. I have laughed at every story and I hope the collection will entertain and raise a smile for all readers.

"Let the enlightenment begin!”

Alan Grant is without doubt one of the most successful and prolific comic book writers in the industry. Having written many stories for the UK's 2000AD including the man himself, Judge Dredd. His work then found an international audience at DC Comics, with Lobo, Batman and The Demon amongst his many successes.

In 25 years in the publishing world Jon has worked on iconic comic titles and characters including Judge Dredd, Dan Dare, Spectacular Spider-Man, Shinobi, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles and Doctor Who.

Renegade is a creator owned publisher of comic books - but only a few and they are very discerning with their choices. Their mix so far has been from experienced A list writers - including Gordon Rennie and PJ Holden's amazing and much-anticpated Monsterology - and artists and newer blood who pitched projects just too good to turn down.


• Official web site: www.renegadeartsentertainment.com

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From script droid Alan Grant

Name: Alan Grant

Blog or web site: 

Check out www.2000adonline.com for Alan's numerous 2000AD credits

Currently working on: 

I've just finished Part 5 of the new 6-part Cadet Anderson series, Algol; hopefully, the villain of the piece will re-emerge from the cubes 35 years later, to tie into current Anderson timelines as a major character.

Once that's done, I'll be thinking about a new Durham Red series, with original artist and co-creator Carlos Ezquerra.

First memory of 2000AD?    

John Wagner arriving at my house in Dundee, wanting to consult my collection of US Marvel/DC comics to make sure his new stories didn't use already-established ideas. John was working full-time on the new material for 2000AD, and asked me if I'd like to take over his commitment to writing Tarzan stories for European publication. So, although I didn't start work on 2000AD for another 18 months, 2000AD was actually the catalyst that got me my first break in comics.

Favourite Character or Story?

Much though I like Judge Dredd, I have to say my co-favourite characters are Strontium Dog and Psi-Judge Anderson. Favourite stories that I wrote or co-wrote were Anderson in Satan (art by Arthur Ranson) and Strontium Dog in Rage (art by Ezquerra).

My favourite Dredd story has to be America, by Wagner and Colin MacNeil. And there's an honourable mention for Alan Moore's DR and Quinch series.

What do you like most about the 2000AD?     

Its in-your-face, don't-give-a-shit attitude, which I'm very happy to see continued in stories by Al Ewing and Si Spurrier, amongst others.

What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?     

I'd like to see a story set in the near future employing the very real trials and tribulations of the current political/economic scene. While these matters are often projected into the future via Dredd stories, I think they can lose some of their immediacy in the process.

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?     

Most of the ones I recall are too embarrassing to commit to print, involving large quantities of alcohol and a very liberal attitude to personal health and safety!

• This post is the first in a series of birthday tributes from a wide range of comic creators celebrating 2000AD's birthday on 26th February 2012. For more about 2000AD, visit www.2000adonline.com

Judge Anderson © Rebelllion

Mazeworld collection set for 2011 release

Rebellion (the publishers of 2000AD) are to release a collection of Mazeworld, the acclaimed story written by Alan Grant, later this year.

The creator-owned comic series ran in 2000AD between 1996 and 1999. With the tagline "Is Death the Door to Another World?", it's a fantasy story about Cadman - the first person hanged in Britain since 1964 transported to the Mazeworld.

Only ever collected by in the US by Caliber Comics and in three black and white volumes, Mazeworld is well overdue a full-colour collected edition. Fans who started a campaign to get it back into print in 2010 felt that with Ranson's collaboration with John Wagner, Button-Man, having its option renewed by Dreamworks, it might not take much more than some demand from the public to see Mazeworld finally reprinted.

Talking about the collection over on his official web site last October, Arthur Ranson said there was "No way to measure what effect the ‘Let’s get Maze World back in print’ campaign had on Rebellion’s decision but a coincidence seems unlikely."

Fans will have to wait until November 2011 to see the collected edition, which is being edited by Keith Richardson.

• Pre-order Mazeworld from amazon.co.uk

• Info on Mazeworld on amazon.com

Win Bad Press goodies signed by Simon Bisley, Alan Grant and John Wagner

Bad Press Limited, publishers of the adult comic Wasted, have announced their festive competition, running from 10th December 2010 to 10th January 2011.

If you spend £9 (excluding postage) or more at www.badpressltd.com, they'll enter you in a grand prize draw to win a signed copy of their Bad Press Ltd. Edition #1 bundle, featuring an ultra-rare S*** The Dog #1 traced by Simon Bisley, Alan Grant and John Wagner, Wasted #1 defaced by All Star Supremo Frank Quitely, Northern Lightz #1 misplaced by Scottish Underground hero Dave Alexander and New British Comics #1 debased by rising star Tim Rees!

Of course, if you're a Wasted fan, for just £6 you could treat yourself this Christmas to one of just 25 limited edition #1 bundles packs, comprising of Wasted, S*** The Dog, Northern Lightz and New British Comics! (This offer includes free postage to UK residents, £3.00 to Europe and £6.00 to absolutely anywhere in the rest of the known world).

The winner of the competition will be announced in Wasted #7, on sale 5th February 2011 - check out the cover to that above!

• Full details at: www.badpressltd.com

Cal-Hab Droids Infiltrate Megazine 301

The latest issue of the Judge Dredd Megazine, Meg 301, has a distinctly Scottish flavour to its art and script droids.

Behind a lovely Judge Inspector Inaba cover by Frank Quitely, from Cal-Hab's west coast, comes the Dredd story The Natural (shown below) about a Mega City One athlete who, controversially, refuses cybernetic assistance for his races. Written by Gordon Rennie, pencilled by Graeme Neil Reid, both from the east coast and inked by west coast Gary Erskine, the strip is the debut for Graeme in a 2000AD title. Graeme has been talking about his route to drawing Dredd professionally on his blog where he bravely shows off some of his earliest Dredd artwork from 20 years ago, as well as the spec scripts and responses he received from the Nerve Centre at the time.

The Judge Inspector Inaba story Hondo-City Justice, with art by Neil Googe, is written by Cal-Hab-er Robbie Morrison while Robbie's Nikolai Dante co-creator Simon Fraser, another Cal-Hab-er, writes and draws Lilly MacKenzie And The Mines Of Charybdis now on its fourth episode in which Lilly and Cosmo finally make it onto the surface of the planet.

Both stories are coloured by Gary Caldwell, yet another Cal-Hab-er.

Last but certainly not least of the Cal-Hab droids in Meg 301 is Alan Grant who is writing the Anderson Psi-Division story The House Of Vyle, drawn by Boo Cook, in which Cassandra is called to the hamlet of Salem just outside the Mega-City's walls where strange things are afoot.

Megazine 301 also includes Armitage by Dave Stone and John Cooper while the reprint is a selection of Mick McMahon's Judge Dredd stories.

• Judge Dredd Megazine 301 is available from newsagents and has a cover price of £5.99.

• Graeme Neil Reid, Gary Erskine and Simon Fraser are all members of the daily artblog Scotch Corner.

Wasted 5 Out Now

The latest issue of adult humour title WASTED is now on sale.

It features the usual mix of madcap strips, including 10 pages of Alan Grant and Jon Haward's Tales of the Buddha, Kevin Eastman and Kevin O'Neill and Simon Bisley on S*** the Dog, Gary Erskine inking Gibson Quarter's War on Drugs, Alan Kerr's latest superb Lusi Sulfura, Alan Grant and Jim Devlin's The Dopranos, plus Alan Burrows takes his Fun Guys to the world of Alice in Wonderland.

It's a jam packed issue - and we're told Cam Kennedy is doing the cover of Issue 6. Aces!

• Buy it now from www.badpressltd.com/buy-wasted.php#5

Get Wasted! Issue 4 hits the stands

Issue 4 of adult humour magazine Wasted is on sale now, featuring a sexy cover by the ever-brilliant Dave Taylor.

This issue features more War On Drugs, Alan Kerr's absolutely superb Lusi Sulfura ("She was sent to Earth to drag souls to hell... but couldn't be bothered!"), and three fab Tales of the Buddha before he got enlightened strips by Alan Grant, drawn Jon Haward - always a highlight of each issue of the adults-only magazine.

"Buddha is bonkers stuff," admits Jon, "but every one I know say they like it – even Buddhists!"

This issue also see the debut of Adventures in Sherweed Forest: Robin Head and his Merrywanna Men, again written by Alan and drawn by Jon

"I decided to draw this strip in a homage style to humour comic greats Ken Reid and R.T.Nixon," says Jon, "who drew British humour kids comics that I read growing up in comics like Cor!, Buster, Shiver and Shake and Whizzer and Chips.

"All these stories were great fun to draw as they made me laugh all the time as I was drawing them," he adds, and given the above line-up of characters on Robin Head, we can see why!

• Wasted costs £3.25, ISSN 1751-2522 and is available in all disreputable comic stores across the country or you can buy it on line via http://badpressltd.com/buy-wasted.php or subscribe via http://badpressltd.com/subscriptions.php. We're sure copies will also be on sale at the upcoming Comics Expo in Bristol later this month, too.

• Read our review of Wasted Issue 3

• Read our review of Wasted Issue 2

• Tales of the Buddha: a WASTED gem!

In Review: Wasted #3

All right, confession time: Wasted Issue 3 has been on sale for postively ages and a review of this adult comic, available from specialist comic shops and online, is long overdue. The delay is not the fault of the Wasted team, who were not too zonked to kindly send me a copy for review simply ages ago, but my zonking out at the end of most days recently as I juggle several projects at once.

The issue is a the usual eclectic mix of humour strips, featuring a cover by Simon Bisley and work by the likes of Alan Grant, Jon Haward, Gibson Quarter, Alan Kerr, Curt Sibling, John A. Short, Jamie Grant, John Wagner and many others.

Highlights of the issue? For me, certainly the four-page 'Lusi Sulfura' by Alan Kerr, and the ever bonkers 'Tales of the Buddha' by Grant and Haward.

'The Steel Teacher' by Colin Barr, with art by Sibling and Jamie Grant, is another twisted gem, featuring a psychotic robot teacher looking not dissimilar to a once popular robot character from another comic, as its military programming reasserts itsef mid lesson. 'The Dopranos', with art by Jim Devlin is also great.

Since the issue was sitting on the top of my reviews pile, threatening to savage me if I ignored it any longer, as you can imagine, more than one person flicked through it. I have to note that many of the strips raised a laugh, but for those who had seen Wasted #1 and 2, the feeling was that some of the drug and alcohol jokes were a little repetitive and, perhaps, a wider range of topics need poking fun at in future issues.

Nevertheless, the good outweighs the humdrum and if you can still find a copy, do so, and consider giving it a try. The creative line up on this adult humour title is really impressive.

• More about Wasted at: www.wastedcomic.com. the comic also has a Myspace page: www.myspace.com/wastedcomic

Bambos Goes Expo!

Comics artist Bambos Georgiou reports on London MCM Expo 16 which ran 24th & 25th October 2009 and is fast developing the comics element of its line-up...

I first realized that there were movie cons which included comics in their line ups when I bought a model magazine for research purposes. I have since discovered that there are huge London conventions held at Olympia and the Excel Arena, events attracting huge audiences over a weekend with cheap entrance fees of around £5. Alarmingly, they’re almost completely ignored by the UK direct sales comic market.

I attended the London MCM Expo at the Excel Centre on the Saturday and was amazed at the number of young people patiently waiting in line to enter. Previous MCMs have seen over 30,000 people through the doors over a weekend and the organizers predict even more this year!

As you can see from the event's online guide, while there is a heavy accent on cosplay, manga and anime, there are also plenty of video games and movie companies displaying their wares. The movie and games companies use these events as promotional tools, running constant trailers for their movies and letting attendees try out their new games. Other stalls are packed with manga and anime on special offer and a suprising number of cosplay stalls selling replica costumes and weapons. (I traveled from the expo in the same train carriage as a young chap who had just bought a samurai sword, who got a few funny looks from fellow passengers).

The Comic Village section had its own stage area as well as over 80 small press and artists’ tables. The comic village does have a manga bias, which is to be expected. As well as manga publishers such as Tokyopop, Self Made Hero and Sweatdrop Studios there were Markosia, Diamond Distributors, Ilex Press, Avatar and Incognito Comics. Alan Grant was also there, promoting and selling Wasted, and Bryan Talbot was scheduled to promote his graphic novel, Grandville, on Sunday.

At the moment the comic sections of these cons seem unable to attract enough comic fans to encourage comic professionals, dealers and publishers to attend, or should that be there aren’t enough comic professionals, dealers and publishers to encourage comic fans to attend? If the MCM expo could attract a hard core comic audience it would give dealers and publishers a base from which to try and reach the much wider audience who attend.

MCM represents the latest lost generation of comic readers, which both UK and US comic companies have failed to sell their products to. This audience is perfectly at home with fantasy based action, they are a prime target audience, and they’ve got money to spend (those samurai swords were £40 a pop!).

Whereas comic conventions are, primarily, the domain of men 30 years and over the MCM was a multicultural mix of teenage boys and girls. This type of event seems a golden opportunity for the comic industry to sell and/or promote its wares to the wider audience it’s been searching for. The task of the comic industry is to find a way to speak to them in the same way that manga, anime, computer games and movies.

• The next London MCM Expos at London's Excel Centre take place on 29-30 May 2010 and 30-31 October 2010. For al the latest news visit www.londonexpo.com or for all MCM events across the UK visit www.mcmexpo.net


More MCM Reports...


• On Warren Ellis' Whitechapel Forum: The MCM Aftermath Thread


""MCM is the UK's only convention that combines such a massive range of stuff in one place," comments comics creator Paul Duffield, who had a stall at the event, "and to be honest, even if you stripped away every non-comics stand in the place, the remaining stalls would still challenge (and probably beat) the other major UK comic conventions in terms of number and diversity. I think it'd be a big shame to write it off just because the comics presence is still new and overshadowed by the parts of the convention that are already well established."

• 5 Talented Artists we met at the MCM Expo


"After waiting in a queue that went round like a long snake, we were pleased that it was worth it. Games, anime, and comics aplenty. But the most exciting bit for us was meeting some very talented artist that were showcasing their work."

• Comics Artist ChaMonkee

"I didn't sell as well as I was hoping but I had great fun running around and talking to people hanging out. The whole thing was massive and very tiring."

• Comics Writer Tony Lee


• MCM London in Pictures: Bleeding Cool Round Up
(We also like their "Andy Dingle" picture report)

Opening image © 2009 MCM Expo

Comics @ Wigtown Book Festival

Wigtown in Dumfries and Galloway is Scotland's National Book Town and advertises itself as "a book lover's haven" with over a quarter of a million books in twenty book-related businesses. It is not surprising therefore that it has its own book festival.

This year the Wigtown Book Festival programme has more than 170 events over 10 days at the end of September and the start of October with authors such as Iain Banks, Roddy Doyle and Nick Nairn appearing. Also in the programme are two comics related events featuring writers Alan Grant and David Donaldson.

On Saturday 3 October at 1:30 pm Alan Grant will be interviewed by Stuart Kelly on the subject of his work on Batman and Judge Dredd as well as adapting Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped for the One Book-One Edinburgh reading campaign. The event will take place in the Stena Line Marquee in the town's main square and tickets cost £8 for adults and £4 for children.

The next day on Sunday 4 October, DC Thomson editor and writer David Donaldson will give An Audience with the Broons at 3 pm. Donaldson has been the scriptwriter for the Sunday Post's comic strips The Broons and Oor Wullie on and off since 1962, during which time he's been party to all the Broon family secrets, such as Pa Broon's flutters on the horses and his need for ample supplies of baccy. The event will also take place in the Stena Line Marquee and all tickets cost £8.

More details of the Wigtown Book Festival and its events including on-line ticket purchasing can be found on the festival website.

In Review: Timeframes Dundee

Now in its third year, Dundee University's comics conference has become established as a regular part of the British comics year and both the number and the recognition factor of the comics creators who attend has increased year on year. Under the auspices of the Dundee Literary Festival, this year's Sunday conference had the theme of how comics both deal with, and subvert, the passage of time within their stories.

Prefaced by a morning workshop on writing for graphic novels by ex-2000AD editor David Bishop, the main conference began after lunch with an introduction by organiser Dr Chris Murray of the university's English department. After the pink Hawaiian shirt that he sported at the Beano celebration last year, Chris' shirt this time was a more ecological themed lime green. It is worth reiterating that Timeframes was set in a university and billed as a conference rather than a convention and so the first two speakers were academics with what was, to many in the audience, an over analysis of how time passes between the panels of a comic strip and how Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean used time in both the real and fictional worlds in the graphic novel of Signal To Noise.

The dryness of the initial two topics was brought into sharp perspective with the first talk by a comics creator. Manga Shakespeare artist Emma Vieceli bounded to the front of the lecture theatre in an explosion of enthusiasm that lifted the mood of the room considerably. Looking for all the world like a Manga character herself, with her long hair and black and white outfit, she took the audience through her adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing showing the real Italian locations that she had used as well as her more unusual graphical trickery to illustrate parts of the narrative. Borders, who were running the bookstall in the reception area, definitely missed out here as they did not have any copies of Much Ado About Nothing of sale on their stall which would have sold well for them based on the first enthusiastic applause of the day from the audience. The final speaker of the first section was Dr Mel Gibson, who regularly gives talks to non-academic audiences, covered how Bryan Talbot dealt with different time periods and the story-within-a-story concepts of Alice In Sunderland. While the earlier talk didn't inspire me to read Signal To Noise this did make me want to return to Talbot's book and the number of people looking at it on the bookstall afterwards suggested that I was not alone.

The break after this allowed for free refreshments before the audience moved upstairs to the Lamb Gallery where the exhibition of artwork from DC Thomson's Starblazer digest was formally opened. Starblazer editor Bill McLoughlin gave the attendees a gallery talk as he walked around the exhibits pointing out details and relating tales of his time on the title. Also at the gallery talk were artists Ian Kennedy, Keith Robson and Colin MacNeil with cover artists Kennedy and Robson each getting a wall of the gallery devoted to their work while one of MacNeil's covers had been blown up into an enormous poster sized print. This free exhibition is now open to the public until 22 August 2009.

The second selection of talks began with editor Bill McLoughlin and artist Keith Robson talking about their work at DC Thomsons in general and on the Starblazer title in particular with some good natured needling of each other over the differences between editorial and artistic concepts of the same idea. As much as they did overrun their time slot, I could have listened to much more of this. Next up was academic Peter Hughes Jachimiack with a presentation given the less than riveting title of "Days Of Future Passed: A 1970s Britain, Economic Downturn An Utopian Futures In Children's Science Fiction Comics". This actually turned out to be an interesting overview of Starlord comic with an emphasis on Ro-busters and in particular the Lep-R rocket/Midpoint Tower collision story, as illustrated by Ian Kennedy, with its 9/11 overtones. Next up was ex-Tharg David Bishop, a university lecturer himself nowadays, with an entertaining look at how Alan Moore dealt with the concept of time in two different 2000AD Future Shocks and the final Halo Jones story. Artist Gary Erskine came next with a heavily illustrated talk on his work on the Virgin Dan Dare series from concept to completion emphasising writer Garth Ennis' attention to visual detail on his designs. A short presentation from Insomnia's Cameron Coutts on the Edinburgh company's current and forthcoming range of graphic novels completed the session.

After more refreshments and a popular signing session from all the professionals still in attendance, the conference moved into its final section with its two keynote speakers. Writer Alan Grant had originally been intending to talk about his career in comics but had been inspired by the academic nature of the event to instead change his theme to his thoughts on the current state of comics aimed at primary school age children. Emphasising the general lack of stories in the titles and the blandness of those that were included, he ranged from Barbie to biblical Armageddon making the point that children just are not interested in bland stories. The conference concluded with a short talk from writer Warren Ellis which had been, if his blog is to be believed, written earlier that day and fuelled by Red Bull and cigarettes. With Ellis seated comfortably at the theatre's microphone he concluded with a long Q&A session allowing the audience more of an interactive opportunity with him than with any of the other guests.

With other literary and book festivals regularly charging upwards of £9 per guest talk, at £10 for the entire day, plus refreshments during each break, Timeframes was an absolute bargain. The university theatre was well equipped and spacious, if a little warm at times, and the reception area outside, with its good selection of graphic novels and comics related books for sale, allowed for socialising between sessions. In addition, with most guests taking the opportunity to chat in the reception area during the breaks, the day had a friendly feel which is what organiser Chris Murray was aiming for.

That said, the extant dichotomy between the erudition quest emanating from the divergent knowledge levels of the independent researchers present and the referential requirements of academic study may always prove to be a cause of concern prior to each Dundee event, treading as it does the fine line in its temporal ratio of conference vs convention, so the event chairs should remain aware that the interest length of the non-academics present will show an inverse ratio to the sentence density of dictionary level words used during the presentation of academic papers.

In other words, as long as the academic presenters remember that they are not presenting to a university level peer review but to a general albeit attentive and knowledgeable audience and that an illustrated conversational style is therefore preferable to reading from sheets of A4 with too many long words and too few full stops, then Dundee will remain as it was this year, an interesting as well as an unique part of the comics events diary.

In Review: Wasted #2 - Back With Bite!

The second issue of Bad Press' adult humour anthology mag Wasted is on sale now, cranking up the quality several more notches on its launch issue with some terrific strips from a wide range of creators that include Alan Grant, Jon Haward, Martin Hayes, Adrian Bamforth, Jamie Grant, Frank Quitely, Alan Burrows and many others.

Wrapped in a stunning cover of demon teen Lusi Sulfura by Alan Kerr, this 70-page magazine is not for the lily-livered - crammed as it is with strips such as The Dirty Dog (toilet humour extreme from Grant, Quitely and John Wagner) and the brilliant Tales of the Buddha (from Grant and Haward, the Buddha partnered this issue with a very angry Jesus).

Alan Kerr's superb Lusi Sulfura - surely a character of Tank Girl and Nemi cult potential - a wonderful gem, as is Holmes Has It Large by Martin Hayes and Adrian Bamforth; and there's more gems in the form of Fun Guys (by Grant and Burrows, drawing in a much looser style than you'd expect from this line man-extraordinaire, and I liked it), The Dopranos, Space Cabby and tons of other strips.

Anthology titles - especially humour titles - are never going to score on every page, because there's no telling what will make any one person laugh out loud. But when even 'throwaway' strips like Rom McPherson's Amber Nectar raise a smile, the good outweighs the occasional dud.

With full colour throughout for a measly £3.25, Wasted eats rival titles like Viz - perhaps these days over reliant on a trusted formula for its continued success - for breakfast. Yes, there are some rough edges (not literally - it's not that dangerous), but for a second outing, Wasted #2 is another cracking read and well worth tracking down.

• Wasted is available from www.wastedcomic.com and selected newsagents and other outlets. "You can Try Before You Buy" by grabbing this still-available preview edition of the first issue

Starblazer Exhibition Details Announced

As we've previously reported, top comics writer Warren Ellis will be headlining the Comics Conference at this year's Dundee Literary Festival, but the Festival has now also released details of its planned exhibition dedicated to the 1980s SF comic Starblazer, published by DC Thomson.

The exhibition marks the first time artwork from the now defunct, but much missed British sci-fi comic Starblazer has been exhibited, which, in addition to art by the likes of Keith Robson, Jaimie Ortiz, Ian Kennedy and many others featured the early work of Grant Morrison, the hugley successful Glaswegian comics writer. The comic has such a cult status it's even recently spawned its own Roleplaying Game (see news story).

In addition to the exhibition, the publication's editor Bill McLoughlin and artist Keith Robson will discuss their experiences on Starblazer during the day.

Ellis, now best known for his work with US comics giants Marvel and DC, and relative newcomer, Avatar, will be discussing his career when he appears at the third annual Dundee Comics Day, part of the University of Dundee-organised Festival, on Sunday 28th June.

He's just one of a number of star names from the world of comics lined up to take part in the event, which features talks, exhibitions, book signings and workshops.

2000AD writer Alan Grant will also speak about his work while other speakers will discuss 2000AD. David Bishop, former editor of the comic, will discuss the work of Alan Moore, author of Watchmen, while other talks, delivered by scholars researching comics, will address how comics represent time.

The programme will begin with a workshop in Writing for Graphic Novels hosted by Bishop, which will prove an invaluable insight into the process of creating comics. Manga artist Emma Vieceli, creator of the recently released Much Ado About Nothing, a manga version of the Shakespeare play, will also discuss her creative process.

Comics Programme organiser Dr Christopher Murray said he is delighted to have been able to put together such an exciting line-up of authors, artists and writers.

"Comics are a wonderful form of literary and artistic expression," he feels. "They're entertaining for all ages, a unique artform blending words and images, and Dundee is a city with a long and proud history of comics production.

"The Third Annual Comics Day promises to be an important meeting of comics scholars and comics creators, and everyone with an interest in comics is welcome to attend. We're also proud to be be bringing together the considerable talents of writers Warren Ellis and Alan Grant, and artists Emma Vieceli and Keith Robson. Each year the annual Dundee Comics Day grows in profile and it is my intention to make it a staple event, underscoring Dundee's central position as the home of comic culture in the UK.

Comics Day not only gives the Festival a dimension not present in other literary celebrations, but also celebrates the city's position as a world leader in comics, established by the likes of The Beano and The Dandy, published by DC Thomson".

Tickets are priced £10/£5 (concessions) for the entire day's programme including workshops, and £3 for the workshop only.

The Dundee Literary Festival is now in its third year, and is bigger than ever, with star authors from the fields of philosophy, fiction, politics and poetry set to appear in Dundee. They include David Peace, renowned author of The Damned United and the Red-Riding Quartet and Straw Dogs writer John Gray. Talks, book signings, workshops and other events take place across four days.

• Exhibition Web Link: www.dundee.ac.uk/museum/starblazer.htm

• The full programme for the Dundee Literary Festival, and the Comics Day, is available online at www.dundeeliteraryfest.org

• Read our Starblazer feature on the downthetubes main site by Jeremy Briggs

Enter Burke and Hare...

After critical acclaim for Cancertown, Burke and Hare by writer Martin Conaghan, artist Will Pickering and letterer Paul McClaren is the next book from Insomnia Publications, which will be launched at the British International Comic Show) in early October.

The book, which features a cover by Rian Hughes, also marks the launch of the company's Vigil imprint, Insomnia's line of "bio-graphic novels".

Over a 12 month period from 1827-1828 in Edinburgh, Scotland, two Irishmen, William Burke and William Hare, murdered 16 people and disposed of their bodies to the eminent dissectionist Dr Robert Knox at 10 Surgeon's Square. This new book delves into the murky, misquoted history of Scotland's most notorious serial killers, offering a research-based graphic novel that unravels a ghoulish story of medicine, murder and money.

"We got to stare into the face of William Burke himself," reveals Martin of their background work for the book, "when the medical faculty at Edinburgh University granted us permission to view his skeleton." Creepy...

Burke and Hare also features a foreword by Alan Grant and its picture gallery will be graced by contributions from Gary Erksine, Frank Quitely and Colin MacNeil, among others.

• Managing Director Crawford Coutts joins the line up of comic creators at this year's Dundee Literary Festival (see previous news story) on the 27th- 28th of June and Insomnia will have a stall, offering the first previews of the new book.

• Catch some internal art images here on the Insomnia blog

• Martin Conaghan on SciFiPulse.net radio, talking about the book

Timeframes - The 3rd Dundee Comics Conference

With the successful Scottish comics convention Hi-Ex over for this year and already confirmed as going ahead next year, the countdown to the next major Scottish comics event of the year is now in full swing. The third Dundee University Comics Conference, Timeframes, will be taking place in the modern, comfortable and well equipped D'Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre in the Tower Building of Dundee University on Sunday 28 June as part of the Dundee Literary Festival. While the event is more of a conference than a convention, organiser Dr Chris Murray of the University's English Department has an impressive line-up of guests planned covering a wide range of artists, writers and editors.

In addition to the presentations, the conference will host the opening of an exhibition in the university's Lamb Gallery featuring DC Thomson's much loved science fiction digest, Starblazer, which follows on from the impressive Beano exhibition held there last year. Starblazer editor Bill McLoughlin and artist Keith Robson will open the exhibition as well as giving a presentation on the title.

Among the other presentations during the day, writer and former 2000AD editor David Bishop will remain with the science fiction theme for a presentation on Alan Moore's 2000AD stories, while Manga Shakespeare artist Emma Vieceli will discuss her adaptations of Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing. Dr Mel Gibson will discuss Alice In Sunderland by last year's keynote speaker, Bryan Talbot, while this year's keynote speakers will be writers Alan Grant and Warren Ellis who will be talking, answering questions and signing their books.

Tickets are available in advance from the Dundee Literary Festival website for a very reasonable £10 for the entire day which includes a morning Writing Workshop from David Bishop. The main conference begins at 1pm and is scheduled to last until 7:30pm. Concessions are £5 while those only wishing to attend the morning workshop can do so for £3. There are no hidden booking charges and refreshments will be provided on the day.

• Details of the Comics Day are available on the Dundee Literary Festival website. Tickets can be purchased via the Dundee University on-line shop.

• Read the downthetubes review of last year's conference.

• Read the downthetubes interview with Starblazer editor Bill McLoughlin.