Comics Unlimited #3 Out Now!

I was a bit slow off the mark in grabbing the second issue of this excellent home grown comics journal Comics Unlimited so I've prioritised reading it and have to say it's well worth the price of entry. This magazine mixes stories and interviews about both British and American comics. The magazine contributes to small rebirth of Britain's comic industry.

Despite the lock-down we have seen not just 2000AD & Judge Dredd Megazine increasing it's readership via subscriptions there's also been the launch of a whole new comic with Shift, The 77 continues to establish itself and small press publishers continue to produce comics that warrant wider readership. This plus a "fanzine" of our own is just what is needed.

With 100 A4 pages there is penty to read in the latest issue including a rather nice piece on The Unknown Soldier one of DC Comics war heroes. Reference is also made to Sgt Rock and the origin of the Unknown Soldier is retold something I hadn't read before despite having several issues of the comic.

I personally always preferred British war stories growing up in the sixties. I read most in those little pocket picture libraries of which Commando still continues to this day though there was a Zombie story recently which I missed as nowhere round here sells the bloody thing! However I digress as Stephen Hooker writes a nice piece War, Good God! What is it Good for? examining the war comics we used to love to enjoy. 

There's also a short piece on The Phantom Eagle from Marvel which I do recall reading in an edition of Marvel Superheroes back in the sixties but that's about it.

Meanwhile in a very timely piece Steve Laming looks at the history of TV21 the Gerry Anderson based comic from the sixties along with it's short lived companion Joe 90 and Lady Penelope which outlived them both albeit as a "normal" girls comic. 

Whilst it concentrated on the obvious features of Fireball XL5, Stingray, Thunderbirds and eventually Captain Scarlet it also had one other very fondly remembered series The Daleks in solo adventures without a certain Time Lord  getting in their way. These full colour strips have been collected and re-issued by Panini which is available in Supermarkets and newsagents now, in fact I just picked up my copy and will shortly be reading with glee!

You'll also find articles on The DNA Agents with whom I am not at all familiar, The Defenders, The Invaders and more. Of particular interest is a piece on DC's Crisis, On Infinite Earths which comes at a time when my years of patient loyalty to the company has finally run out and time is up for DC it appears except for a handful of titles such as Superman, Batman, Harley Quinn and a digital future with Trades for bookshops...or so the rumour goes. 

I can't of course ignore the interview and photo gallery with cosplay star Viva Wonder Woman who does a lot of charity work and got an endorsement from Lynda Carter!

There's much more besides in this issue and there is a "Golden Age Special" to come in December before #4 which will be out in January. I wish these guys luck. A lot of hard work has gone into this.

Rating: 5 Stars. Highly Recommended

Order via Amazon. 

Further Info: Comics Unlimited Facebook

Shaman Kane #6

The latest issue of David Broughton's self-published comic Shaman Kane is out and it brings together all the loose strands that lie behind the devastated universe that humanity has been left with. The origins of the Zombie War and the fate of an old friend are just amongst the reveals in this issue which concludes the current story  line.

Shaman Kane along with his A.I Annie, Shaman Jane Rain, Obsidian Dark and a werewolf are in the dark Dimension seeking the enemy in a final battle. here the vampires are different, more powerful and there is entropy. A battle ensues with the big head giving explanations about why this all happened and the team face their final nightmare.

But all are not to be trusted......

It's difficult to write much more without giving the game away and since this is one of the superior small press titles I want to encourage you to go and buy it.

All six issues are still available if you want to read the story in one go and haven't given this a try yet.

Rating: 5 Stars (Highly Recommended) In fact as a series now it's complete gets a 5 Stars plus rating which I save for only the best. 
 

Available from: comicsy.co.uk

Spacewarp Phase 1 (Millsverse Comics)

 

Pat Mills is one of Britain's best known creators and was responsible for the establishment of 2000AD the UK's premier comic. Pat's latest project is Spacewarp a collection of six linked stories in a format which is reminiscent of one of those Summer or Winter specials that we used to have back in the day.  It's not numbered but there is a promise of more.

A background story Sfeer & Loathing kicks of the book as we meet the Earp Lords who toy with humanity across the multiverse who are confronted by The Slayer a sentient "robot" in the service of "the Goddess who created the universe. A battle ensues, the slayer leaves, the adventure is afoot!

We then turn the page into the world of Jurrasic Punk where civilisation has collapsed and London is in ruins as survivors battle it out with dinosaurs.  There's plenty of monsters, big guns and an unexpected rescue & development. Plus a weird reference to The Old Grey Whistle Test......

There's supernatural threats galore in Hellbreaker as three prisoners try to escape Hell and De La Rue succeeds to exact cosmic vengeance on the guilty and warns the police to steer clear of him when confronted. Then there's his mate who survives as a head being interrogated by New Scotland Yard and a Priest.

Next up is a science fiction based adventure, The Executioner fighting hidden aliens amongst the survors of of humanity living amongst the moons of Saturn. Futant follows with schoolboys being prepared for battle or Eden. There are mutants and one man who sees himself as becoming the Lord protector of the multiple earths is on a mission. One kid must do a deal to keep his friends alive.

SF1 sees humanity as an unrecognised species as they are more bacteria than human and there's a war going on which looks like Starship Trooper the movie but with giant bacteria as the rampaging enemy.

The book then wraps up with an epilogue of sorts as the Slayer returns to confront a rampaging human army exterminating all alien life it meets. The Slayer vows to protect humanity against the warp Lords with one exception, Drageda, the "Lord protector who appeared in Futant.

The connections between the strips are clear as Pat Mills with various artists constructs a whole multiverse of action and adventure.

Website: spacewarpcomic.com

Rating 4 Stars (Recommended)

TV 21's Daleks Strip collected by Doctor Who Magazine (Out Nov 11th)

 

(Photo: John Freeman: Down The Tubes)

The iconic and probably most "popular" Doctor Who villains the Daleks once had their own strip in a Gerry Anderson orientated comic back in the sixties TV21. Alongside adventures of Thunderbirds, Stingray. Fireball XL5 were solo adventures of the Daleks.

These stories saw the Daleks as the central characters in several ongoing adventures without the Doctor being involved. Back in those days Doctor Who was in black & white on TV and we didn't know that the Doctor was a Timelord either. The Doctors race did not appear until the end of The War Games when he (in the form of Patrick Troughton) was forced to call for help.

These adventures of course are in glorious "technicolor" as these things were referred to back in the day and featured Daleks in various colours including the golden "Emperor" Dalek.  I remember reading these stories as a child and look forward to reading them again!

In total The Daleks appeared in 104 one page full colour pages in TV21. This spin-off edition of Doctor Who Magazine brings together all 16 stories with background articles on creators. It will cost £9.99 and be available from WH Smiths, some supermarkets or direct from the publisher Panini next week November 11th.

Hopefully if this is a success then Panini might consider it worth sorting out the Doctor Who strips in Countdown/TV Action for ca collected edition or two! With the continuing revival of British comics and popularity of Doctor Who

Website: store.panini.co.uk

Comics Unlimited #2

 

It's been a while since the first issue of Comics Unlimited had come out on a whim I checked out Amazon who print the magazine/journal to order and was pleasantly surprised to see the second issue had already been published back in September. 

If there is one thing that the folks who create Comics Unlimited must do is publicise their wares!

Just before I decided to write a quick review of the second issue I double checked on Facebook and found they have a page which has nowhere near the number of followers it should have. This British mag deserves support from comic book fans in this country. You'll find the link at the bottom of the page.

Comics Unlimited covers both British and American comics in a bookshelf format that is quite suitable for what they are attempting to achieve. The creators are no strangers to the world of fanzine publishing having been responsible for the short lived Crikey! magazine.

The main attraction is an interview with Joe Staton whose work I first came across in the form of E-Man when it appeared at Charlton Comics. These are some of the best comics Charlton ever produced. I have as yet to sample any further E-Man comics from other publishers but maybe after the lock-down.

There's something for everyone with a look at The Inhumans early series at Marvel, Sad Sack and Grandville (both of which I've heard of but never read), Infinity Inc, Stontium Dog, Lady Penelope, Warlord and more.

There are interviews with Howard Chaykin & Tim Perkins plus who couldn't resist a trip down memory lane with General Jumbo from The Beano.

(Order via Amazon)

Rating 5 Stars: Highly recommended

Further Info: Comics Unlimited Facebook

Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious (Two issue mini series/Titan Comics)

Doctor Who: Time Lord Victorious continues in a second comic strip from British publisher Titan Comics though in an American format and available through specialist comic shops in the UK. This features the Tenth Doctor (plus a special appearance at the end, no spoilers) whilst the strip in Doctor Who Magazine features the Ninth.

This is a self contained two issue mini-series which sees the Doctor (in the form of David Tennant) transported to an alternative timeline. The Time War not happened and the Daleks have their Empire but it's under threat and for some reason their strategy sees the Doctor as their saviour from a foe they cannot beat.

Once again we find ourselves looking at the Dark Times with menaces long thought past raising their heads and threatening the whole of creation let alone the Daleks whose quest to exterminate their enemy has failed.

The Dalek Strategist (a rather battered individual) asks the Doctor to stop their enemy, a choice he has no choice in refusing if the universe is to survive but can the Daleks be trusted? The Doctor wants to talk but Daleks they like to shoot at things they fear.

Meanwhile the BBC have released a Blue ray containing all the Doctor Who adventures that tie in to the Dark Times with appearances by Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Sylvester McCoy and David Tennant! There's lots of Daleks and other threats to fight in this splendid collection due out shortly. 

As for the comic? Highly recommended: 

Rating 4.5 Stars

Shift #1 Out Now!

 

At long last there is a new British comic available in good newsagents around the country. Frankly given the pandemic this is a very brave attempt at getting a much needed addition to the depleted world of British comics. 

This comes from the publishers of the British comics magazine Comic Scene which sadly has now had to go on hiatus as it failed to get itself a solid financial foundation before the present crisis. The publishers say they are not entirely done with Comic Scene yet and there may be "specials in the future". In the meantime Shift is the breakout comic book we need.

Shift is a professionally produced comic on glossy paper with the majority of its strips produced in colour and black & white does suit the stories that use it. With the exception of Foot Soldiers this is all new material.

First up is science fiction strip To The Death a violent war which is taking place 4.7 Million light years from eart and with all due respect to the creators  (Simon Furman & Geoff Senior)did remind me of Starship Trooper but was much more serious that that film. This actually looks very promising.

Next up is Foot Soldiers by Jim Kreuger (w) & Steve Yeowell (a) which is being published in a fold out continuous one panel format. Although this was originally published by Image Comics (I have the three collected trades) this is the first time the story is in colour. Very much about an "oddball" bunch of grave robbing superheroes this was/is a great read.

Part one of the silent Kora sees a woman stranded on a strange island/planet facing some pretty weird threats page after page from savage men to cute monsters with lots of teeth and then some tiny furballs that are like something out of a Hanna-Barbera cartoon. Can't wait to see how this goes and whether there will ever be any dialogue!

Fantasy adventure Soulwind takes a boy across the universe to retrieve a sword. Billed as a mix of genres this was the one strip that for me the jury is still out on as they say.

Tiny Acts of Violence is a "brooding horror story" according to the editorial in Shift. Unlike Kora this is dialogue intensive and set in Communist dominated East Berlin. Younger readers will not be familiar with the Cold War that my generation grew up in so kids just remember the hammer & sickle is just as evil as the swastika from the thirties! 

Shifter is a very strange yet entertaining story that like a couple of others in this comic will require a second reading not something I usually do but I think it's worth it especially when unfamiliar concepts and stories only come out monthly.

Last up and by no means the least is the done in one complete story Hungerville. Oh I really liked this so no spoilers from me. Just read.

There are some features including an interview with Jim kreuger over his Foot Soldiers reboot and several more text pieces at the end including news about Comic Scene's Annual (which I've pre-ordered via Kickstarter), Brian Haberin, Pat Mills (on his new comic which I has just arrived and will be reviewed in due course) and more.

Verdict: Highly recommended and deserves to be a success. 

Rating: 5 Stars!

Please support this comic:

Get a copy from your local newsagent or buy a copy or subscribe via: theshift.store

Next issue out 10th December!