Other than for the Dandy & Beano the old days of the British annual are long gone. Even these are tamer than than the editions I grew up with. Dennis and Minnie no longer get the well deserved slipper for their misbehaviour and as for the Bash Street Kids the cane has long gone. A sign of the times i suppose!
One of things I used to like getting at Christmas were annuals. My favourites being Wham! and Smash! though Lion & Valiant were always welcome but somehow relatives always thought a Blue Peter or Look & Learn Book would be such fun in the holidays....
Comicscene is therefore to be congratulated for bringing an adventure style annual into print albeit in limited quantities via Kickstarter which i was more than happy to support. It's still available iI believe and comes in both hardback and paperback editions.
I chose the hardback which has an excellent cover by Charlie Gillespie whilst David Boughton provides the artwork for the paperback edition.
This is a collection of independent and small press strips from mostly amateur creators though some professionals are involved and the results are as would be expected mixed and some content a matter of individual taste.
There are some excellent strips including a Shaman Kane story Trouble on Sigma 958, Western Noir by Dave West & Gary Critchley (who have a graphic novel I have backed via Kickstarter on the way), Poker Night by Rich Carrington & Brian Dawson, The Interview by Sarah Millman (of which I would like to see more) and an amusing contribution from Colin Maxwell, Captain Commando.
Other good stories include Dick Turpin by Steve Tanner & Brett Burbidge, Geek Girl by Sam Johnson & Carlos Granda plus a nice little short Father's Day by Michael Powell & Phil Elliott.
A lot of work has gone into the production of this volume and hopefully it will be successful enough to warrant a second edition next year.
Rating: 3.5 Stars (but 5 Stars for effort)
More Info from: Comicscene
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