Egmont expands its digital collections with Misty, Battle and Scream stories

Egmont UK’s Classic Comics imprint was created to re-publish the wealth of classic comics in their archive. Four volumes of Roy the Rovers kicked off their e-comic publishing in June this year – and now they have announced the launch of further classics on popular comic series from the 1970s and 80s.

A fifth Roy of the Rovers is now available, along with strips from popular girls comic Misty and The Thirteenth Floor from the short-lived but fondly-remembered Scream.

Also joining the digital line-up soon are strips from Battle Picture Weekly, including Johnny Red, Major Eazy and the ground-breaking Charley’s War. Some of the biggest names in British comics were involved in the creation of these stories, including Pat Mills, John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

Roy of the Rovers is one of the best-known and enduring British comic strips. Roy’s journey began in 1954 as a comic strip in Tiger; he became a popular fixture, so much so that in 1976 he was given his own comic, charting the highs and lows of his eventful career as a footballer.

Misty’s edginess and adventurousness paved the way for a new genre of girls’ comic books. The stories were dark and mysterious, the characters flawed and morally ambiguous; upon its publication, Misty introduced readers to an imperfect world which didn’t always have a happy ending.

Battle Picture Weekly encompassed several action-packed strips that sought to invigorate the British comics scene with punchy, thrilling storylines and adventurous but believable characters. Featuring well-known strips such as Charley’s War, Johnny Red, Major Eazy and Rat Pack, it became well-known for packing a punch like no other.

The Thirteenth Floor which first ran in Scream but transferred on that title's demise to New Eagle, is about Maxwell Tower, a unique block of apartments that was built without a 13th floor. The building is watched over by Max, a computer who has created his own 13th floor, which he uses for his own sinister practices. People who harm the tenants of the building are lured to Max’s 13th floor, and often don’t come out, causing suspicion among the authorities and trouble for Max.

David Riley, Managing Director of Egmont Publishing Group, said: “Roy, Battle, Misty…these are iconic magazines which still have a place in the national consciousness. They deserve to be brought back; their appeal also has the potential to transcend the generation gap and reach an entirely new, younger audience.

"With the limitless possibilities offered up by digital publishing, there has never been a better time to bring these comics to the fore.”

• Roy of the Rovers Volume 1 on iTunes 
It's the start of the 1976-77 season and the Melchester Rovers are on great form! However, player manager Roy Race feels the pressure when a supermarket offers £30,000 to the first player to score 50 goals in the season. Can Roy show the world - and journalist Eric Eddleston - that he's playing for the team and not himself? Meanwhile, new signing Roger Dixon just can't wait to get onto the field.

• Roy of the Rovers Volume 2 on iTunes 
Roy Race soon realises that new signing Roger Dixon doesn't have the stamina to last a whole match, but the players and fans want to see more of him. Things go from bad to worse when Roy starts to lose form himself, and Dixon starts competing with his own manager. Then, just as Roy cracks the Dixon problem, the Rovers come up against the toughest referee in the league, and a freak accident leaves Charie Carter short of confidence in goal! What's a player manager to do?

• Roy of the Rovers Volume 3 on iTunes 
Roy manages to restore Charlie Carter's confidence, but not before he has to act as goalie himself! Roy and Penny announce that they are expecting, but the happy moment is short-lived as the Rovers are knocked out of the league cup by Swinford. In the league itself, the Rovers continue their unbeaten run and even match the all-time record. However, after being knocked out of the FA cup in a fog-affected match, can the Rovers hang on to the league's top spot? 

• Roy of the Rovers Volume 4 on iTunes  
The Rovers win the league and it looks like Roy has achieved the Gold Rush with the winning goal, but he reveals it was in fact Mervyn who scored the clincher to win the £30,000 prize! Penny gives birth to twins, and the comic readers get to name them! Roy's invited to America by ex-Rover Steve Mason to play some matches for the Pine City Pirates. When Roy and Blackie arrive, they find a game which is much louder and brasher than they're used to. Roy wins extra publicity for the Pirates by beating the Americans at their version of football, but will he be able to craft the Pirates into a functioning team before his final game?

• Roy of the Rovers Volume 5 on iTunes
Melchester Rovers are in high spirits following their League Championship win the previous season and Roy’s return from his summer of football in America. But the good feelings are soon overshadowed by hooliganism at the stadium. Will Roy’s suggestion to install giant screens in the stands to show highlights from the game help control the situation or cause even more trouble?

• The e-comics can be downloaded onto the iPad and Kobo. More info on the range from Egmont: www.egmont.co.uk

30 Years of Knight Rider to be celebrated at Memorabilia

No, they didn't have the internet as we
know it back in 1986. That URL has been
added by David's fan site.

Break out your Look Ins! The 30th Anniversary of cult SF detective show Knight Rider will be marked at Memorabilia at Birmingham's NEC later this month, with a rare signing event by its original star, David Hasselhoff.

Memorabilia Birmingham, Britain's biggest collectors' event, returns to the NEC on 24-25 November, and there's a host of special guests already confirmed for the show - from Hollywood stars to sci-fi heroes, cult favourites to sporting legends.

Here's just a small selection from the first wave of announcements:

World First Signing

- David Hasselhoff will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of Knight Rider by making Memorabilia his first ever signing event. The Knight Rider and Baywatch star will be meeting fans at the show on both Saturday and Sunday.

Movie & TV Guests

- Warwick Davis - Show favourite and star of Life's Too Short, Warwick's movie credits include Willow; Star Wars; Harry Potter and Leprechaun..

- Michael Biehn - Starred in James Cameron sci-fi movies The Terminator as Kyle Reese, Aliens as Cpl. Dwayne Hicks, and The Abyss as Lt. Coffey.

- Eddie McClintock - Star of Warehouse 13, where he plays co-protagonist Pete Lattimer. Other credits include Bones and Desperate Housewives

- Britt Ekland - Best known for her roles as an iconic Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun and as Willow in cult British horror film The Wicker Man.

- Craig Charles - Most famous for playing likeable slob Dave Lister in Emmy Award-winning sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf, which recently retirned to UK screens for its tenth season in Dave.

- Only Fools And Horses - Cast member reuniting at Memorabilia include John Challis (Boycie); Tessa Peake-Jones (Raquel); Sue Holderness (Marlene); Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra); Patrick Murray (Mickey Pearce); Paul Barber (Denzil) and Christopher Ryan and Roy Marsden (The Driscoll Brothers).

- Craig Parker - Best known for his roles as Haldir in The Lord of The Rings movie trilogy and Gaius Claudius Glaber in Spartacus: Blood And Sand.

- Virginia Hey - Starred in sci-fi favourite Farscape as Pa'u Zotoh Zhaan, the Delvian priestess imprisoned aboard Moya for assassinating her planet's leader.

- Ken Foree - Most famous for playing Peter in George A. Romero's classic Dawn of the Dead, widely regarded one of the best horror films ever made.

- Jeremy Bulloch - Best known for playing Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy. Jeremy's TV credits include Doctor Who and Robin of Sherwood.

- Claudia Christian - One of the main cast in J. Michael Straczynski's popular science fiction series Babylon 5, starring as Commander Susan Ivanova.

- Peter Lamont - First ever signing by Oscar-winning art director and production designer famous for working on 18 James Bond films, Titanic and Aliens.

- Eunice Gayson - Best known for playing James Bond's girlfriend Sylvia in Dr. No and From Russia with Love. Also appeared in The Saint and The Avengers.

- Alan Tomkins - Oscar-nominated art director who has worked on movies such as The Empire Strikes Back; Batman Begins; Saving Private Ryan and JFK.

- Garrick Hagon - Best known for his role as Biggs Darklighter in Star Wars: A New Hope, Garrick's credits also include Batman, Doctor Who and Spy Game.

- David Hedison - Played James Bond's ally Felix Leiter in Live And Let Die and Licence to Kill. Also appeared in The Fly, Knight Rider and Charlie's Angels.

- Kathryn Leigh Scott - Best remembered for regular appearances in US gothic soap opera Dark Shadows, which continues to enjoy a strong cult following.

For an up-to-date list of confirmed Memorabilia guests - including sports guests - and when they'll be appearing at the show, go to www.memorabilia.co.uk/birmingham.

For Memorabilia tickets, visit: www.memorabilia.co.uk/birmingham/tickets and for more about Memorabilia Birmingham, visit: www.memorabilia.co.uk.

You can discover more about MCM Expo events at www.twitter.com/mcmexpo; www.facebook.com/mcmexpo and www.youtube.com/mcmexpo

For more information about shows coming up at the NEC, visit www.thenec.co.uk

Pigeons, Phantoms and Piracy - all in new Commandos!

Attention! Due to enemy sabotage, news of the latest Commando comics was temporarily lost in action, but we're pleased to announce, now, the latest issues on sale in all good newsagents.

Proceed immediately to your high street, corner shop or iPad and purchase! That is all.

Commando No 4547 – The Pigeon Patrol
Story: Mac MacDonald Art: Keith Page Cover: Keith Page

As the First World War raged around him, Lieutenant Kenny Dean cast his eyes skywards at the sound of any aero engine. The one thing he really wanted to do was to get into the air, but he would have settled for anything to do with flying.

So he should have been happy when his CO posted him to a flying unit? Shouldn’t he? Maybe not, for The Pigeon Patrol was not quite what he had in mind...

Commando No 4548 – Grand Slam!
Story: Alan Hebden Art: Carlos Pino Cover: Carlos Pino


In 1995 an English historian discovered a mystery that had been hushed up for fifty years – with hidden airfields, commando raids, and deadly dogfights over the Himalayas. And, ultimately, there was a daring mission involving Lancaster B1 Specials carrying lethal, ton-ten Grand Slam bombs – the biggest and most powerful of World War II.

It certainly is an amazing tale. One that has remained top secret… until now.

Commando No 4549 – Phantom Fighters
Originally Commando No 46 (September 1962)
Story: Peter Ford Art: Peter Ford Cover: Ken Barr

Out of the sun the Hurricanes roared down on the Luftwaffe’s unsuspecting squadrons like eagles upon their prey. All over the Western Desert they struck – airfields, convoys, enemy fighter patrols – no German was safe. They swooped, fought and killed – only to disappear, flitting away at zero feet among the sand dunes, vanishing from the sight of men like ghost planes.

Terror reigned in German hearts whenever the high-pitched scream of power dives warned of the coming of the… Phantom Fighters!

"A lot of the early Commando stories were set in the jungle of in the Western Desert," notes comic editor Calum Laird, "like this one.

"What the two settings have in common is that the men at the centre of the stories are away from any real command structures so they can behave like pirates, wreaking havoc on their enemies.

"Peter Ford – the artist and the author – takes full advantage of the set-up and adds spice by throwing a potential traitor into the mix of flying action.

"You wouldn’t have guessed that from Ken Barr’s breakneck cover, but you’ll enjoy it just the same."

Commando No 4550 – Skull And Crossbones
Originally Commando No 2127 (October 1987)
Story: Bernard Gregg Art: Ibanez Cover: Jeff Bevan

Most U-boat captains were honourable men, but not this one. As his submarine pulled away from the burning hulk of the British ship he broke one of the rules of warfare – he machine-gunned the defenceless men in the water.

Those sailors who survived would never forget the emblem on the side of that U-boat…a red shield with a skull and crossbones.

"When we first see our hero, engineer extraordinaire Charlie Shepherd, we can almost feel the oily claustrophobia of his ship’s engine room – Ibanez’s inks are as thick and black as the very oil that powers the vessel," notes Commando deputy editor Scott Montgomery.

"It’s a tough seafaring tale, this one. However, thanks to author Bernard Gregg, the sadistic cruelty of the main Nazi villain is neatly balanced by the appearance of a humane German E-boat officer, giving the story – which cleverly changes tack two thirds of the way through – even more depth (pun intended, apologies).

• downthetubes is pleased to offer an exclusive discount on a subscription to DC Thomson's Commando comic, entitling readers to save 50% by ordering using our special discount code! Follow this link to DC Thomson's subscription page. When prompted, enter this unique code COMDT - then make your payment and your subscription will be up and running!

• Official Commando web site: http://www.commandocomics.com/

• Commando Official Facebook page

• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846

• Commando is also available for iPad and iPhone. The apps are free to download through the Apple iTunes App Store and a digital subscription is priced at £4.99 per month, compared to a £99 annual print subscription. For those not sure there are four free issues to download prior to making a purchase.

• Commando Comics iPhone App on iTunes

• Steadfast! the Commando artwork exhibition at The Gordon Highlanders Museum in Aberdeen runs until 30th November 2012. There are more details about the exhibition on the museum website.

In Review: Buck Danny - Ghost Squadron

After a gap of over two years Cinebook return to US military pilot Colonel Buck Danny in Francis Bergese's Ghost Squadron, originally published in France in 1996 as L'Escadrille Fantôme, the 46th Buck Danny album.

Colonel Buck Danny and his squadron are flying F/A-18 Hornet attack fighters from the carrier USS Eisenhower as part of the NATO Operation Deny Flight no-fly mission over Bosnia in 1995. Operating under strict 'no attack' orders, their planes are sometimes targeted by Serb ground forces and, when Lt Cindy McPherson's Hornet is hit, Danny's colleague Captain Sonny Tuckson attacks and destroys the missile battery that hit her.

As punishment, Tuck is reassigned to a secret squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons commanded by Danny that are due to launch a bombing strike on Serb positions, however their secrecy is threatened when a unidentified MiG-29 Fulcrum is spotted near the base.

Cinebook's previous Buck Danny title, The Secrets Of The Black Sea, was set during Russia's Glasnost period while this one moves on slightly to the war in the former Yugoslavia and the Serb forces siege of Sarajevo in 1995. As both writer and artist, Francis Bergese weaves a story that is a fictional precursor to the real Operation Deliberate Force that effectively ended the Bosnian war by bombing the Serbs to the peace table.

Danny's secret mission in unmarked F-16s places his men in jeopardy of being attacked not just by the Serb ground forces and the mysterious MiG-29 squadron, but by their own side as well and Bergese provides a battle royale as a massive dog fight breaks out between the F-16s, the MiG-29s and the Eisenhower's F/A-18s, with a few RAF Tornado F3s and French Air Force Mirage 2000s thrown in for good measure. It is somewhat amusing that in a book written and illustrated by a Frenchman the only fighters in the battle that do not have at least one of their number shot down are the French Mirages.

Francis Bergese's artwork is always impressive when is comes to the aircraft. Indeed the US Navy squadron that Danny and co begin the book with is Strike Fighter Squadron 37 operating as part of Carrier Air Wing 3 and I can tell you that not because it is in the text, because it is not, but because all the information is there in his artwork. He even goes as far as making the one UK military registration that we can just about read on the RAF planes a genuine Tornado F3 registration number. That is the level of detail and accuracy that he works to in his artwork.

The storyline is perhaps less impressive, getting shoehorned into a real life situation with genuine military tactics makes for a solid, if somewhat uninspiring, plot. The addition towards the end of the mercenary pilot known as Lady X, a longtime Buck Danny adversary in the French books but never before seen in the Cinebook translations, lifts the book away from its real-world foundations and onto somewhat shakier ground.

If Bergese's writing was as good as his artwork then this would be a great book, as it is Buck Danny - Ghost Squadron is merely good but, given that it was the first book in the series that he had written as well as drawn, we can hope that further titles will improve as Bergese grew into the idea of being Buck Danny's writer as well as his artist.

• There are more details of the English language Buck Danny books on the Cinebook website. 

• There are more details (in English) of the French language Buck Danny books on the Dupois website.

• Cinebook will be selling their range of books including Buck Danny at Thought Bubble's Royal Armouries Hall in Leeds on the weekend of 17-18 November 2012.