STRIP Magazine Issue 2 on sale for IPad now, print edition in newsagents tomorrow

Slightly ahead of its print release, the digital edition of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine #2 is now on sale for iPad in the iTunes store.

The print edition goes on sale in newsagents across the UK from tomorrow (Friday).

Wrapped in a Crucible-inspired cover by Benard Kolle (colour by Sebastian Cheng), the second stunning issue of Britain’s newest action adventure anthology includes strips from John McCrea, Stephen Downey, John Freeman, Smuzz and more.

• BLACK OPS EXTREME (written by Richmond Clements, art by Stephen Downey) The anti-terrorist team run into trouble in the American Bayou – with survivalists and an angry alligator!

• WARPAINT (by Phil Hester and John McCrea) Re-told from the very beginning - Mia learns more about an ancient war between gods!

• CRUCIBLE (by John Freeman and Smuzz) Trouble on the streets when our adventurers set out to recover a mysterious artifact sought by the Temple of Orlyth!

• OPERATION INFERNO (by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer) Steampunk spy Ryuu heads to Paris as the British Empire faces a deadly new peril from a dangerous rogue scientist!

• DENIZENS (by Miljenko Horvatic and Maxim Simic) Modern civilisation has been wiped out and the world is a greener, deadlier place...

Plus: KING COBRA SECRETS REVEALED – a special guide to the new incarnation of King Cobra, a hero who first appeared in DC Thomson’s Hotspur! KING COBRA MINI POSTER by Wamberto Nicomedes; and an interview with author Benjamin Read, writer of the highly acclaimed new graphic novel fairy tale, Porcelain!

• Buy the digital edition of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine from the iTunes store (iPad only)

STRIP finally hits the high streets

Print Media's STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine, an all-ages British adventure anthology comic, is now on sale in selected UK high street newsagents (and available to order from any newsagent).

The title will be on sale in UK comic shops from next week and is already available digitally for iPad.

The new comic – inspired by the great adventure comics of Britain’s comics past such as Eagle, Valiant and Lion - features some great art and stories from some brilliant creators including John McCrea (Hitman, The Boys), Smuzz (2000AD), John Freeman (Doctor Who), Milo Horvatic (Marvel) and Richmond Clements (Renegade) - plus comics news and interviews and other features.

The move to Britain’s high street is the latest stage of publisher Ivo Milicevic's desire to bring the anthology to a wider audience in the UK, in addition to its continued sale in comic shops and as a digital edition for iPad, in association with ROK Comics.

Headed up by long time comic creator Ivo Milicevic, Bosnian-based comics publisher Print Media began the long road to bringing a British version of their action adventure anthology to the UK back in February 2010, after their re-publication of Dan Dare from the 1950s comic Eagle drew the attention of comics fans.

Print Media publishes three comics-related magazines in Bosnia, including Strip Magazin and a localized edition of Metal Hurlant.

Mr Milicevic began to investigate the possibility of bring his STRIP brand to the UK, horrified to discover the British comic characters he had grown up reading such as Steel Claw, the Spider and Black Archer were nothing but distant memory. Although these incredible heroes had been re-published in the former Yugoslavia and indelibly helped shape his life-long love of comics, the British titles that spawned them - weekly comics like Lion and Valiant - were long gone from the news stand, replaced largely with licensed fare and more magazine-based titles for teenagers.

Unimpressed, he decided to take the plunge and trial a new action adventure anthology through UK comic shops. The first volume of STRIP was intended to road test the title and story ideas - and iron out any issues arising from its long distance publishing.

Although Mr Milicevic freely admits the journey has not been easy at times, with the support of some of Britain's best and brightest comic creators those first seven issues got the positive reaction he was hoping for. The response made him all the more determined to join the likes of 2000AD, Commando and The Beano in WH Smiths and other select newsagents.

Offering a mix of action adventure, science fiction and fantasy strips, stories in the pipeline include Dragonrir, a stunning fantasy tale by Miljenko Horvatic and Damir Zitko; a thrilling story of the criminal underworld, Deliverer, by Miljenko Horvatic, drawn by Bernard Kolle; WarWorldz by Stephen Walsh and Giancarlo Caracuzzo; the tale of an ancient warrior battling magic, Thracius, by James Hudnall and Mark Vigoroux; plus the return of other strips, including Age of Heroes by James Hudnall and John Ridgway and The Devil’s Heritage by Jerome Felix and Paul Gastine.

"I am really excited our plans for STRIP Magazine are finally developing as I planned three years ago" says publisher Ivo Milicevic. "There is no certain formula for success, but the Magazine will have some good stories and really great art."

• List of stockists: http://stripcomicmagazineuk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/strip-magazine-1-wh-smiths-store-list.html
Please note you can order STRIP from any newsagent. STRIP is distributed by Warners


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STRIP - THE ADVENTURE COMICS MAGAZINE Issue 1 (Volume 2) 
Cover by Alan Robinson, colour by Wamberto Nicomedes

• KING COBRA (written by John Freeman, art by Wamberto Nicomedes) A classic British hero resurfaces when the Bank of England is robbed!

• BLACK OPS EXTREME (written by Richmond Clements,  art from Stephen Downey) The anti-terrorist team head for Eastern Europe when a nuclear power station is raided!

• WARPAINT (by Phil Hester and John McCrea) Re-told from the very beginning - one teenager's deadly battle with ancient forces!

• CRUCIBLE (by John Freeman and Smuzz) A deadly task for a mis-matched team of adventurers - in a world where not everything is as it seems!

• OPERATION INFERNO (by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer) Steampunk spies battle to defence the British Empire!

• DENIZENS (by Miljenko Horvatic and Maxim Simic) Modern civilization has been wiped out and the world is a greener, deadlier place...

• STRIP: THE ADVENTURE COMICS MAGAZINE #1 is available from selected high street newsagents now and in UK comic shops from next week (Diamond order code for UK comic shop orders is MAR132384.)

• The first issue is also available digitally now for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/app/strip-magazine-2.1/id619259147

Unabashed Self (and Smuzz) Promotion: Crucible debuts at last

Here are two pages of the the first episode of Crucible, which features in the relaunched STRIP Magazine #1, out this week. The strip is written by me, with art by Smuzz, colour by Kris Carter, lettered by the wonderful Jim Campbell.

As some long-suffering readers of this blog know, the story is based on a concept I’ve had in my head for years but I never wanted it to be sold to a company and Smuzz was the artist most connected with it down the years. (We almost got it picked up by Marvel’s Epic brand, thanks to Dan Chichester, just to give you an idea of how long this one has been in the works! Grateful thanks to everyone who has supported this project along the way, especially Smuzz.

This is one of the mag’s creator owned strips, which also included Phil Hester and John McCrea’s Warpaint on that front.

The print version of the Magazine should be on sale from today (Thursday) in selected WH Smiths although getting a straight answer out of them as to the exact release date has been a struggle, causing a bit of disappointment for the title's (currently) small but fervent fan base: it will certainly will be be on sale, I’m told, in the London area today with full roll out tomorrow.

There’s a full list of WH Smiths that will be stocking it on the STRIP blog (http://stripcomicmagazineuk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/strip-magazine-1-wh-smiths-store-list.html).

It’s also available to order from any WH Smiths or newsagent in the UK, heading for UK comic ships via Diamond and you can definitely buy it for iPad now (https://itunes.apple.com/app/strip-magazine-2.1/id619259147.

STRIP Magazine publisher announces March relaunch date

STRIP Magazine is heading for the UK news stand at last - with a launch date of 28th March 2013.

While the move to get the magazine into WH Smiths and other stores has been delayed several times, Bosnian-based comics publisher Print Media seems confident it has overcome its delivery issues and its owner, Ivo Milicevic, says he is ready to bring the adventure anthology to newsagents is finally underway, after a “test run” of seven issues in UK comic stores.

The line up of the monthly anthology magazine will be a mix of action adventure, science fiction and fantasy strips, alongside feature material about the world of British comics, including the continuation of Black Ops Extreme, centred on a secret anti-terrorism team; Crucible, a creator-owned story described as “science fiction - with swords!”; teen heroine thriller, Warpaint; and the return of 1970s action hero King Cobra, in all-new stories, under license from original publisher DC Thomson.

Creators in the launch issue include Jim Campbell, Richmond Clements, Stephen Downey, Nick Dyer, John Freeman, Phil Hester, Miljenko Horvatic, John McCrea, Wamberto Nicomedes, Maxim Simic and Smuzz.

Plans and strips for the Magazine are fully commissioned for the next 12 months but include:

In Issue 1 -

Black Ops Extreme © Print Media

• Black Ops Extreme by Richmond Clements and Stephen Downey

Continuing the adventures of a covert military unit taking on terrorists across the globe - but facing its own troubles with a possible traitor in its midst!

King Cobra © DC Thomson

• King Cobra by John Freeman and Wamberto Nicomedes

A major action hero for DC Thomson who first appeared in Hotspur in 1976, a new King Cobra takes on old enemies and new

Warpaint © Phil Hester & John McCrea

• Warpaint by Phil Hester and John McCrea

A homeless teen finds herself drawn into a cataclysmic struggle between mankind and elemental monsters bent on the destruction of our world.

• Operation Inferno by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer

British and French steampunk spies take on the might of the dangerous Prusssian Empire in a feature-length adventure starring teen ninja Black Dragon!

Crucible © John Freeman & Smuzz

• Crucible by John Freeman and Smuzz

Swords meet science fiction as a mis-matched team of adventurers are tasked to recover a sacred relic from an ancient and deadly mine…

Denizens © Print Media

• Denizens by Miljenko Horvatic and Maxim Simic

Spurred by personal tragedy, humanity’s very existence is threatened with destruction when fast-growing plants are released, wiping out all organized centres of civilisation!

Dragonrir

Strips in the pipeline include Dragonrir, a stunning fantasy tale by Miljenko Horvatic and Damir Zitko; a thrilling story of the criminal underworld, Deliverer, by Miljenko Horvatic, drawn by Bernard Kolle; WarWorldz by Stephen Walsh and Giancarlo Caracuzzo; the tale of an ancient warrior battling magic, Thracius, by James Hudnall and Mark Vigoroux; plus the return of other strips, including Age of Heroes by James Hudnall and John Ridgway and The Devil's Heritage by Jerome Felix and Paul Gastine.

WarWorldz

Print Media publishes three comics-related magazines in Bosnia, including Strip Magazin and a localized edition of Metal Hurlant.

"I am really excited our plans for STRIP Magazine are finally developing as I planned three years ago" says publisher Ivo Milicevic. "There is no certain formula for success, but the Magazine will have some good stories and really great art.

Ivo, who grew up with British comic characters such as Black Archer, Steel Claw and The Spider, which were reprinted extensively in former Yugoslavia, has been working in publishing for nearly 25 years. After college, he worked as journalist, and later as a publisher. Print Media's business centres on print for the comic industry.

Complementing the re-launched magazine will be more UK comics albums, adding to its current titles - Iron Moon, Frontier and Mirabilis. Plans include collections of some of the strips published in the first limited edition run, including Black Ops Extreme, drawn by PJ Holden.

• The magazine is not accepting submissions or story pitches at this time

• STRIP Magazine blog: http://stripcomicmagazineuk.blogspot.co.uk

• Find STRIP Magazine on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Strip-Magazine-UK/107449926009722

• Follow Strip Magazine UK on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/StripMagazineUK

All images © respective creators

SciFi Art Postcard book on sale now

The long-awaited SciFi Art Postcard title from ILEX, compiled by myself with wonderful support from Tim Pilcher and all the artists involved - including many British comic artists - is now officially on sale in all good bookshops and online.

With a cover by Patrick J. Jones, the title comprises a selection of ace science fiction art also featured in my 2010 book, Sci-Fi Art Now and some other art specially selected for this project, too - 30 gorgeous SF-inspired postcards in total.

British artists featured are: Rian Hughes, Stuart Jennett, Paul McCaffrey, Steve Sampson, Smuzz (who I'm working with on the Crucible comic) and Dave Taylor. 

Other artists work in the book are: Larry Blamire, Matt Gaser,  Aaron Jasinski, Patrick J. Jones, Michael Kaluta & Lee Moyer, Tom Kelly, Yigit Koroglu, John Malcolm, Sergey Musin, Nemons, 2012 Hugo and Chelsey Award-winning John Picacio, Neil Roberts,  Jon Sullivan, and Oliver Wetter.

The book looks great and joins a number of similar titles from ILEX, more information here in an earlier post.

Thanks to all involved - the creators and the ILEX production team, headed up by Tim Pilcher.

Dog delight from comic creator Smuzz

Comic artist Smuzz - whose credits include ABC Warriors for 2000AD, award-winning art for the SF magazine Interzone - has just launched his own children's book as a delightful digital edition.

In If I had a Dog, a little boy imagines all the exciting things he could do if only he had a dog. In the end, it's not the dog, but his imagination that makes the magic...

"If I had a Dog began as one of a series of drawings to entertain my four year old son in between 'serious' work," says Smuzz of the book's origins.

"The book incorporates all the things most popular with him on Library visits."

The illustrations are just stunning - these small samples below don't do Smuzz's work real justice - and it's a moving read.

Smuzz has been an illustrator and comic book artist since 1987. He started work as Sms, but is now known as Smuzz to avoid confusion with mobile phone services. He has won two "British Science Fiction Awards" and been regularly voted best artist for the UK SF magazine Interzone and is currently working on Crucible, a comic strip with John Freeman, out in 2013. The strip has no actual dogs but lots of strange animals.

• If I had a Dog is now available to purchase in pdf format, readable on iPad, Android tablet and Kindle Fire via Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/l/UHwLX

• Find out more about the book on the If I Had a Dog facebook page and to download some free colouring-in pages

• Check out more Smuzz artwork at www.smuzz.org.uk

 

SciFi Postcard Book to be released in January 2013

Just through my door this weekend: an advance copy of the Sci-Fi Art Now postcard book ILEX asked me to compile earlier this year, which features illustrations by a number of British comic artists, including Rian Hughes, Smuzz and Dave Taylor.

With a cover by Patrick J. Jones, it features some art used in the Sci-Fi Art Now book and other illustrations - 30 gorgeous SF-inspired postcards in total.

The artists featured are: Larry Blamire, Matt Gaser, Rian Hughes, Stuart Jennett, Paul McCaffrey, Aaron Jasinski, Patrick J. Jones, Michael Kaluta & Lee Moyer, Tom Kelly, Yigit Koroglu, John Malcolm, Sergey Musin, Nemons, 2012 Hugo and Chelsey Award-winning John Picacio, Neil Roberts, Steve Sampson, Smuzz (who I'm working with on the Crucible comic), John Sullivan, Dave Taylor and Oliver Wetter.

My thanks to them all for being part of this spin-off, which is set to be published in January and looks absolutely fantastic! Thanks also to editor Tim Pilcher and the ILEX team for creating another great book.

The collection is one of a series of Postcard books published by ILEX, which have been well received and sold very well in the UK. They include:  

• Army Camp! 30 Postcards That Do Ask and Do Tell! - A riotous introduction to the unintentionally homoerotic side of military life. Classic images date from between 1914 to 1946, when armies everywhere were crying out for fit, toned men to join up, bond together and make the world a better place.  

• Fantasy Art - Includes art by Robert Chang, Matt Dixon, Raymond Swanland and Matt Gaser featuring modern twists on traditional themes such as dragons, orcs, fairies and adventurers.  

• Lovelorn - 30 of the very best in cult romance comics of the 1950s. From Brides in Love and Romantic Hearts to G.I. Sweethearts and Romantic Adventures there are dozens of romantically quirky postcards ready for you to send to your beloved!  

• Tales of Terror - 30 of the scariest, most bizarre and downright strange horror comics covers. These pre-code horror comics make an ideal gift and are perfect to send chills in the post, or to simply keep and laugh at the uncanny covers. Each cult postcard includes the title, artist, publisher and publication date on the back.  

• Tattoos: 30 Postcards to Colour and Send - A fun, interactive postcard set includes 30 of the coolest designs by top manga artist and tattooist, Jian Yi. All the designs are clear line drawings of everything from fairies and flowers to dragons and tigers, and are easy to complete and colour, before wowing friends and family with a piece of original art through the post.  

• Vampires: 30 Postcards - Artists from different backgrounds and cultures share their versions of the vampire in their chosen medium. Each postcard includes the titles, artist, publisher and publication date on the back.  

• More about Sci-Fi Art Now on its dedicated blog here

As any Doctor Who fan knows...

Art by Smuzz. Our purpose is to amuse, simply to amuse... Nothing serious, nothing political....

 

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From art droid Smuzz

An unpublished panel from the 'tryout' strip Smuzz did for ABC Warriors

Name: Smuzz
 
('Sms' is soooo Last Millenium)

Website: www.smuzz.org.uk

Currently working on:

Crucible with comics Guru John Freeman and coloured by Kris Carter.  To be published in the new Strip comic magazine (available in all good comics shops now), as from Issue 7, on sae in late May 2012.

Superficially a 'Sword and sorcery' strip but - since both John and I dislike the S&S genre - it's actually a covert way to sneak in a proper SF story about cargo cultures, PROPER aliens and massive engineering projects.

Oh dear. Now I've told you that, I have to kill your computer ...

First memory of 2000AD?

Looking at the comic in the newasagent with the word 'Flesh' on the cover and wondering "How can a comic for kids have a strip about 'Alien sex-slaves?' " ... I was high on teenage hormones at the time.

Favourite Character or Story?

It's a cliche to mention Judge Dredd, but the Dredd strips do have the advantage of having single-episode stories you can pick up and put down in one issue without having to remiond yourself what the story-arc is.

As an older reader, I keep falling into the trap of saving a story until it's finished before reading the whole thing... this isn't the proper 'Comic' experience and I should know better.

Shakara, 'coz it's like Nemesis used to feel, but even more Tekky, Alien and Relentlessly Inhuman.

Nikolai Dante 'coz it has wit, lovely art, a credible and coherent Universe and the story arc feels like a natural evolution of the character.

Halo Jones  and Skizz. It might be summatt to do with the writing ...

What do you like most about 2000AD?

That there's a proper comic on the shelves of small newsagents which kids (Not comics cognoscenti) can see without going into a specialist shop. Something they can take down, flick through and learn that there's more to their culture than Sky, The Sun and Zoo and that comics do not have to incorporate a TV or toy spinoff.

This - more than any single story or element of 2000AD's history - is vital to the health of our Nation and the future of our Yoof.

Seriously.

Never mind the 'Punk' trappings of '77 - this is the most 'Anti-Establishment' thing about 2000AD, and it's genuine.

A big part of this is that it's not owned by a massive multinational. Plainly, the owners have an idea of what they own and are doihng the best they can for it.

Thanks for that.

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

Satire.

It's where it started and it's mostly missing from all but the Dredd strips.

In a world in which the worst nightmares of the early 2000AD (A comic for kids!!) are on the daily TV News (Or worse - buried and only available on papers like the Guardian or alternative Net sources), 2000AD's still obsessed with guns and the ever-arch 'English Eccentric' hero.

Bring back satire.

- And employ me (And John) to do it.

An unpublished panel from the 'tryout' strip Smuzz did for ABC Warriors

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

When working on ABC Warriors: The Black Hole, I'd just bought a house and the Council Improvement Grant kicked in at exactly the same time as the ABC Warriors job came up. Since I was doing part of the building work myself, I was working in a house with no electricity. No bathroom/toilet facilities and no back wall.

The very helpful Steve MacManus commented that the Letratone (Stikky back plastic with tone on it. Ask yer dad) was mysteriously lifting off my artwork "As if it was really old". In fact, the tone was shop-new but the brickdust in the air was getting under the stikky-back plastic.

I didn't dare tell anyone this (Not even ever-helpful and supportive Pat Mills), as I was afraid they'd take me off the job. Instead, I started applying Letratone in the garden, when it wasn't raining.

Meantime:

Chief editor Richard Burton delayed and withheld my scripts "To teach Pat (Mills) who the editor is" (This is a common story amongst Pat Mills artists, aside from Simon Bisley). Steve tried - and failed - to get the last two episodes to me, as requested by Pat.

Years later, Burt was still telling writers I'd "Turned their scripts down". Apologies to the writers I'd "Turned down". I was never offered 'em.

Thanks Steve, for your help at a difficult time. Appreciated. Decent chap.

• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at www.2000adonline.com

2000AD © Rebellion

STRIP Magazine overseas subscriptions, news stand plans

Non-UK subscriptions to Strip Magazine are now available online at www.printmediaproductions.com.

Previously, the only ways for non-UK comic fans to get the Print Media Productions-published title was via mail order from comic shops, or by purchasing the iPad edition, co-published in association with ROK Comics.

In the UK, a six-issue subscription now costs £16.99; Europe (including Eire), £36; US and Canada, £56 (air mail only); Rest of World, surface, £45, air mail £60.

12-issue subscriptions, part of the title's introductory launch, are no longer available online.

In other STRIP Magazine-related news, PMP have confirmed the comic magazine will go news stand with Issue 7, on sale in May. The price of the Magazine will also rise, but PMP have not stated what the cover price will be.

The initial plan is to target a range of top high street stores and the new title will include at least two new strips - Black Dragon, a steampunk-inspired story by Richmond Clements, editor of Futurequake and Judge Dredd artist Nick Dyer, and Crucible, an SF adventure masquerading as a fantasy tale, by John Freeman and Smuzz.

• Visit http://www.printmediaproductions.com/ to subscribe

Merlin magazine will return - but no date set

The  official Merlin magazine - launched in September but a victim of publisher Attic Brand Media going into administration last month - will make a return at some point.

That's the official line from a representative of the 22-year-old company, the customer and consumer magazine publisher behind Kick, National Geographic Kids and Kraze Club, one of the UK’s most popular children’s general interest magazines.

Media Week reported that ABM went into administration in mid-November, with the loss of at least 17 jobs. According to their sources, four ABM titles – Merlin, Kick, Kick Extra and Kraze Club - were to close but National Geographic Kids would continue to be published under a new company.

We now understand that Merlin, too, will continue to be published but no relaunch date has been announced and the publisher has not been named.

"Unfortunately Attic Brand Media has gone into administration and will no longer be publishing magazines," the company's former Marketing & Promotions Manager Peter Johnson, who is still working on National Geographic Kids, told downthetubes.net.

"I do believe someone else will be publishing the second issue of Merlin however I'm not entirely sure who - or when it will go on-sale."

As we previously reported, Merlin, which closely emulated the format of the BBC's Doctor Who Adevntures but was planned as a monthly rather than weekly title, launched in Septmber and included an orignated comic strip comic strip written by Damian Kelleher and drawn by Lee Carey. Retailing at £3.20, Attic were offering worldwide subscriptions for the title, the first magazine of the company's planned Futura Specials series, a range which also includes the football-themed posters and puzzles magazine, KiCK! Extra, and the games and entertainment title, Kraze Club.

The first issue also featured exclusive cast interviews, souvenir posters and prizes - including a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet Merlin actor, Colin Morgan. (We're told the competition will be honoured and the winner informed direct by the Merlin TV show production company, Freemantle Media).

"It will be a magical treat for boys and girls aged seven to 14 (and a guilty pleasure for all those Merlin fans who are that little bit older!)," the PR proclaimed.

Launched in 2008, the Merlin TV series tells the story of young Merlin in Camelot, as he comes to grips with his powers and destiny. Merlin's success and popularity continues to flourish across the globe .

Several publishers  previously pitched for a license for the Magazine, and samples designs and strips materials were created by Interzone illustrator Smuzz for one dummy.

In addition to Merlin, Attic Brand Media previously launched some of the UK's most popular teen, kids and TV magazines, including TV Hits, B, All About Soap, Sugar, the UK's first "baby glossy" for teenage girls, and Inside Soap, the UK's first dedicated soap title.

We're sorry to hear about Attic Brand Media's woes but hope it won't be long before Merlin
returns to newsagents shelves.

• BBC Merlin site: www.bbc.co.uk/merlin

The Quest - First Colour Promotional Image

© 2011 John Freeman and Smuzz (SMS)

Time for some gratuitous self promotion for The Quest, a comics project I'm working on with ace artist Smuzz (whose credits include 2000AD and Interzone).

Here's a terrific promotional image for The Quest, which will feature in STRIP Magazine later this year.

The story springs from a project Smuzz and I started over 20 years ago, but for various reasons it fell by the way side until now.

It might look like sword and sorcery... but trust us, there's a twist.

There's a little more information on the strip's blog here.

There's still a lot of work to be done - 12 pages are drawn so far, which feature, so far, two fights, more weird creatures than I know what to do with - all of them wonderful - and one of the major baddies has taken its first victim.

It's all tremendous fun and I hope you'll enjoy the final results when it's published.

• The Quest - Blog