Two UK comics to close

Cover of No.8 from the DC Thomson website.

I'm very sorry to hear that both D.C. Thomson's Danger Mouse and Panini UK's Doctor Who Adventures are to cease publication with their current issues. (Danger Mouse with No.12, and DWA with No.24). Both were excellent magazines, with originated comic strips and features. I really thought they would last longer but the children's market is a very competitive area, with numerous titles packed into the shelves, fighting for attention.

There is hope that both might return though. I understand Danger Mouse ended because of its short-term licensing contract, so I suppose it's possible it might be renewed one day. Likewise, Panini say that Doctor Who Adventures is only on hiatus, so perhaps that will be revived when the new series of Doctor Who begins on TV later next year.

For more about the DWA hiatus, see John Freeman's report on the Down the Tubes blog:
http://downthetubes.net/?p=38607

Christmas comics: DANGER MOUSE (2016)

A brief hiatus in our voyage into the past brings us to the present day to refuel, where the first Christmas issue of Danger Mouse is currently available. This 36 page, full colour mag includes an all-new eight page Danger Mouse adventure written by Alex Collier, a page of mini-strips, and loads of fun features and activity pages. 

I rate Danger Mouse as the best licensed comic around in the UK at the moment, and I've never really watched the TV series. I like the fact that the stories are originated and not adaptations of TV episodes, and Alex Collier is a funny writer so he's the right man for the job. The features are written in good humour too, so it's a livelier mag than most TV tie-in titles. 

This festive issue comes bagged with several gifts. I know there's an element of cynicism amongst older collectors these days that this is just "bagged tat" but these gifts are of a better quality than most. 

A bit steep at £4.99 but all in all it's a good value package. On sale now!

Just arrived in newsagents...

Here's a quick look at some of the British comics that were published this week. There are of course more titles than this, but in this post I'm only focusing on the ones available in newsagents and supermarkets, not the numerous independent comics available in comic shops or at conventions...

We start with Count Duckula (cover above), in which... hang on! There's a Count Duckula comic now? No, it's just a trick flip cover to the latest issue of Danger Mouse (see below). Issue 4 contains an all-new Danger Mouse strip written by Alex Collier, plus loads of fun features. Well worth any kid's £3.99.

Danger Mouse is published every four weeks by D.C. Thomson, who also publish Thunderbirds Are Go! which is up to No.13 this week. It contains a comic strip adaptation of the episode Legacy drawn by Martin Baines. All good stuff, although 8 pages is too cramped for adapting a full episode and I'd prefer to either see more pages of strip or each episode split across two issues (ie: 16 pages) to give the story more breathing space.  

This issue of Thunderbirds Are Go! comes with a free mask of The Hood. It could be said that some of us don't need it...

Also from D.C. Thomson this week is Beano No.3856 which leads with an extra-length Roger the Dodger story, and is packed with comic strips. All new material too! Don't miss it!

The Beano Christmas Special is also out now, with 68 full colour pages of all-new material and a free set of stickers inside. I'm very proud to say I drew the four page Bash Street Kids story in this issue, which was written by Andy Fanton. 

For older readers there's 2000AD No.2002, which continues the new stories that began in the previous issue. 2000AD has consistently been a great comic for nearly 40 years now and shows no sign of weakening. A must-buy!

Marvel Legends No.3, from Panini UK, has 76 pages reprinting recent Marvel material of Thor, Iron Man, and Captain America. Big changes have happened to the Marvel Universe over the last few years and this is the place to keep up with it. 

Last but not least, Viz No.260 is another 52 pages of adult satire with loads of strips from top UK cartoonists. You'll find it on the top shelves of the finest newsagents in the country. 

Also out now, although you might struggle to find it in newsagents, is Comic Heroes No.29, with 132 pages of comics news and views. I bought mine from Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham yesterday, as WH Smiths still don't have it in stock. 

That's just the comics that have arrived in newsagents this week. They join the titles from previous weeks that are still on display such as Toxic, Doctor Who Adventures, Commando, and more of course. Support UK comics, and Never Be Without A Beano - or any of the others!

In the shops now...

Just time for a very quick rundown of some of the comics available this week in British newsagents. First up the 2000AD Sci-Fi Special is very welcome. The traditional Summer Special is a rarity these days so it's great to see Rebellion upholding the tradition. I'll get the negative point out of the way first though; remember how IPC's Holiday Specials started out with 96 pages back in the 1960s, then reduced to to 64 in the 1970s, and slimmed down more to 48 pages years later? Sadly, this year, the 2000AD special is just the size of the weekly, at 32 pages. However... there is a fantastic free Judge Dredd poster by Chris Weston, plus all-new strips featuring old favourites Judge Dredd, Ace Trucking Co., Sinister Dexter, Robo-Hunter, and Rogue Trooper with creative talent including John Wagner, Brendan McCarthy, Nigel Dobbyn, Dan Abnett, Tom Foster, Jimmy Broxton and more. Never mind the width, feel the quality! 

The weekly 2000AD (Prog 1990) is once again packed with greatness. Judge Dredd, Brink, Black Shuck, Outlier, Scarlet Traces, with creators including Colin MacNeill, Dan Abnett, Inj Culbard, Leah Moore, John Reppion, Steve Yeowell, Ian Edginton, D'Israeli and more. Who could resist?

Judge Dredd Megazine No.374 is another whopper of an issue at 64 pages thick, including Judge Dredd, Realm of the Damned, Blunt, Lawless, and extra features. Carlos Ezquerra, Alec Worlsy, Pye Parr, Boo Cook, Phil Winslade and more. Mega!

Titan Comics have launched a Harley Quinn mini-series and No.1 (of 3) is out now. 76 pages reprinting three Harley Quinn DC comics by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with various artists. 

Panini UK bring Marvel Legends to a close with issue 24, but it's relaunched next month with a new first issue as part of the company's refresh of their Marvel Collectors Editions. Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America star, with creators such as Stuart Immonen and Jason Aaron contributing. 

For younger readers there is of course The Beano, and this week's issue is set to keep kids busy in the first week of their holidays as the comic comes bagged with several gifts. One of which is the Gnash-Attacker Glider kit, a new design of an old-school free gift many of you will be familiar with. All the usual favourite strips are included such as Dennis and Gnasher, The Bash Street Kids, Minnie the Minx, and I'm glad to say my Pup Parade page is still running.

D.C. Thomson's newest title Danger Mouse No.1 is out now. 36 pages of all-new fun, including an 8 page comic strip adventure written by Alex Collier but with anonymous artists, a page of short funnies, and other exclusive artwork. It also comes bagged with a few good quality gifts; an invisible ink pen, notebook, and ultra-violet light to read your secret messages, plus a Danger Mouse eyepatch! 


Panini have a new issue of Doctor Who Adventures out today, with artwork from Russ Leach, Grant Perkins, and more.

There's also a Guardians of the Galaxy comic (a one-off I think) featuring strips using screen grabs from the cartoon show, and last but not least, another issue of The Phoenix in selected WH Smith and Waitrose branches. 

Plus various independent comics available from comic shops and mail order. So UK comics are still surviving, despite what some may claim. To keep up to date with developments always check out john Freeman's brilliant Down the Tubes blog on a daily basis:
http://downthetubes.net/

DANGER MOUSE is coming! On sale 20th July

Updated: Who says British comics are dead? The latest title from D.C. Thomson is on its way and will be in shops on Wednesday 20th July. Danger Mouse Magazine is a new monthly featuring comic strips and features based on the popular TV series. Subscriptions are already available at the D.C. Thomson Shop at this link:
https://www.dcthomsonshop.co.uk/subscriptions/danger-mouse/danger-mouse-magazine-subscription.html

There's been little information forthcoming so far but I know that Alex Collier (of Viz comic) has written scripts for the comic strip in the mag. I've no idea who is illustrating it but it looks pretty slick and should please fans of the character. 

Look out for Danger Mouse Magazine next week!