Out now! Comic Heroes No.27

The latest issue of Comic Heroes has just been released from Future Publishing with another 148 big pages of news, reviews, and features on contemporary comics. Although the emphasis is on American comics there are a few features that should also interest fans of UK material. One such item is a look back at forgotten British indie comic The Savior, which was Mark Millar's controversial debut. As a bonus, the article includes pages drawn by Nigel Kitching of the never-published seventh issue of the title. 

There's also a nice lengthy feature on IPC's Action weekly with comments from Pat Mills. Anyone well versed in the comic's history won't really find much new information here but it's still an important article for readers who are unfamiliar with the title. It's good to see Comic Heroes again devoting some space to covering UK comics history as it really is in danger of being forgotten.

There's an interesting six page article on UK independent comic Beast Wagon, which I confess I'd never heard of but it looks fantastic. There's also two pages of a new Beast Wagon short story by Owen Michael Johnson illustrated by the brilliant Jay Gunn. 

There's also the second episode of Ka-Punch! the great superhero spoof by Marc Jackson. 

There are tons of other features in this issue of course. As the cover shows, the X-Men are quite prominent inside, and there are articles on Attack on Titan, the revamp of Archie comics, interviews with actor/comics writer Noel Clarke, Daredevil writer Charles Soule, Civil War 2 writer Brian Michael Bendis, and much more. 

It's just a shame that Comic Heroes is only published quarterly, as there's so much going on in the comics industry that it really needs a more regular magazine to keep up with everything. Yes, websites have supplanted print news mags for the most part, but personally I still find print a more comfortable experience for long term reading. Whether Comic Heroes ever increases its frequency again is down to sales of course (it used to be bi-monthly) and sadly I've noticed less shops are stocking it now. My local newsagents and WH Smith have dropped it, despite it selling, and I had to travel ten miles out of town to buy a copy, where it was still in short supply. 

Comic Heroes No.27 is in shops now at £7.99. If you have problems finding a copy, you might consider subscribing at:
http://www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk/CHSUB

Mark Millar on HARDtalk

Screen grab © BBC

Something that should be celebrated by all UK comic fans is that we now live in a time when comic creators are often interviewed in the mainstream media. This week comic writer Mark Millar was interviewed on the BBC's HARDtalk programme about his comics and movies and you can watch it on the BBC iPlayer here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05qgk4c/hardtalk-mark-millar-comic-book-author

Most of you will know Mark as the co-creator of comics such as The Ultimates, Kick-Ass, and Kingsman: The Secret Service amongst others. He was also the editor of the sadly short-lived comics anthology CLiNT where several of his strips appeared. 

The interviewer is Zeinab Badawi and as you might expect, the subject of violence in comics is addressed. Mark tackles the questions well and I share his opinion that comics do not make people violent. I was also as puzzled as Mark as to why anyone would claim his Hit-Girl character was 'sexualized' in her appearance. (I think anyone who sees that in the character has other issues going on. Hit-Girl is more like a foul-mouthed, ultra-violent Minnie the Minx.) Anyway, have a watch of the programme for yourselves. It's a good interview.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05qgk4c/hardtalk-mark-millar-comic-book-author

CLiNT relaunches with new No.1

 Published in time for the Kapow! Comic Convention last weekend, and now available in newsagents, the new issue CLiNT sees the adults-only comic reboot with a new issue one. (Technically it's issue 2.1 but there's no escaping the huge #1 on the cover.) 

Presumably the main reasons for such a relaunch are to attract new readers and also to encourage shops to stock more copies. Sadly, my local newsagents don't seem to have taken that on board and have only stocked the same quantities as before (ie: one copy in my corner shop, - and it's shelved between The Beano and some pre-school mag). I only hope the situation is better elsewhere. 

If you haven't bought CLiNT before, or are a lapsed reader, this is indeed an excellent jumping on point. 100 pages for £4.25, packed with comics and related features. The recent first U.S. issues of The Secret Service and Super Crooks are reprinted in full (comics that individually would cost you about £2.50) plus 11 exclusive pages of Rex Royd, and 11 pages of new series Death Sentence. There's also a very insightful interview with Mark Millar, who comes across as someone with his head screwed on right, an item on the 20th anniversary of Roman Dirge's Lenore, and a bizarre feature about some real-life masked vigilante who's running around London rooftops, calling himself Clint after claiming to being inspired by the comic. He says. Although the fact that thousands of CLiNT readers don't turn to using parkour and nightsticks would suggest there's a few other things that triggered him off there. It'll end in tears.

The next issue of CLiNT won't be out until July 5th. I can't help thinking that a six-week frequency isn't going to do continued stories any favours, but I appreciate that a longer shelf-life might sell more copies. It's up to you though folks. The more of you who buy CLiNT, the more likely it is to go back to monthly status.  

CLiNT No.2.1 (or #1 if you prefer, or No.16 if you're counting) is available now from comic specialist shops and newsagents, or you can subscribe at: http://titanmagazines.com/t/clint/

Kapow! on Saturday - Photo report

I was unable to attend the Bristol Comic Expo last week so to compensate for missing the camaraderie with my comic pals I bought a ticket to the Kapow! Comic Convention in London - and thoroughly enjoyed it. Here's a bunch of pics from today's show at the Business Design Centre in Islington... 

Smaller than I expected, but a good venue. This is the scene just a few minutes after the doors opened before the majority of the fans arrived...

It was good to meet up with my old pals David (Psycho Gran) Leach and Bambos (multi-talented artist/writer/letterer/editor) Georgiou...

John Freeman, editor of Strip Magazine and Rok Comics...

A variety of guests including.... wrestlers? 

Yep, wrestlers!

Jonathan Ross turned up and had a fight. See video here.

By mid-day the hall was packed, but still comfortable...

Fiona Stephenson (http://www.fionastephenson.com/) and Dean Ormston (http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID=934) were just two of many artists who were exhibiting there... 

Saturday afternoon, and Green Lantern shops for comics...

Indie creators Yel Zamor, Ian Sharman and David Wynne of Orang Utan Comics with Holly Rose as Loki, God of Mischief in the background...

What's better than comics and cakes? Comic themed cakes! More tasty stuff at http://www.cherryscupcakes.co.uk/ 

It's Noel Clarke from off the telly and films being interviewed about his career...

It's Clobberin' Cosplay Time!

Writer Mark Millar (Kick Ass, The Secret Service, The Ultimates, CLiNT and tons more) being interviewed about his work...

The event continues tomorrow, but I only decided to go for Saturday. (Tickets only folks, so don't turn up to pay on the door.) I haven't been to a London convention for years and although Kapow! has a different vibe to the old, much missed UKCAC events it was well worth attending. Great to meet up with Ian Edginton, Mike and Cassandra Conroy, Steve and Suzanne Tanner, Yel Zamor, G.M. Jordan, Tim Pilcher, Shane Chebsey, Emma Viecelli, Brady Webb, Ed Hammond, David Lloyd, Martin Averne and others again. Always good to see Dave Gibbons (albeit briefly this year), whose infectious enthusiasm for comics is always appreciated, and I was pleased to meet Kieron Gillan, Mark Millar and his wife Lucy Unwin, again too briefly. 

Well done to Lucy and Sarah Unwin for putting on a smashing event. Unlike some comic shows these days which downplay comics in favour of being autograph events for actors, Kapow! has the right ratio of comics and related media. Comics are definitely to the fore, but there's a small inclusion of media guests as well which adds more variety to the lineup without it overshadowing comics. Hopefully there'll be another Kapow! in 2013 so roll on next year! 

The Secret Service opens up

Next month, the new look CLiNT comic will include the start of the new Mark Millar / Dave Gibbons series The Secret Service, but for those of you who want to read it early head down to your nearest comic shop this weekend. Out now is the first issue of The Secret Service limited series published by Icon, the Marvel imprint for creator-owned projects, and $2.99 (roughly £2.50) will get you all 23 pages of chapter one.

In truth, this is a comic that needs no promotion from me as I'm sure copies will be flying off the shelves but I've known Dave Gibbons for 30 years and followed his work even longer than that so it seems only natural that I should give it a plug. If, like me, you've enjoyed Dave's artistry on everything from Harlem Heroes and Watchmen to Give Me Liberty and The Originals this new series won't disappoint. 

This is the first time that Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons have worked together so on that basis alone it was always going to be an appealing enticement to see what they'd produce, and the end result delivers the goods. Initially cloaked in secrecy (appropriately enough) The Secret Service is now revealed, and it's an interesting tale of how the high life and low life come together in mixture of spy thriller and kitchen sink drama. Put like that, it probably sounds terrible, but trust me, it works. Both creators are on form here and Mark Millar's script has the usual elements of snappy dialogue, violence, dark comedy and great pacing. Mention must also be made for Angus McKie's superb colouring. Angus has been in the business a long time and he's still at the top of his game.

And that's all I'm going to tell you about it because I feel to reveal more would dilute the enjoyment of reading the comic. There are more in-depth reviews online so seek them out if you wish, but personally I found the experience of reading the comic more fun by ignoring the reviews and coming to it fresh.

The comic is also being developed as a movie by X-Men First Class director Matthew Vaughan (who co-plotted the script of the comic) so this is going to be massive. Get in on the ground floor and buy The Secret Service No.1 from a comic shop today.  

Preview: CLiNT No.14

CLiNT No.14 isn't on sale until February 16th but here's a glimpse at it in advance, courtesy of Titan Magazines.

The last few issues have seen the mag jettison the weaker material (eg: humourous articles that never really worked), scrap the celebrity photo covers (no more beardy Frankie Boyle staring out at you) and focus on comic strips and related features. It's a massive improvement and CLiNT really holds together much better now.

Issue 14 really delivers the goods. There's a full 25 pages of Kick-Ass 2 by Mark Millar, John Romita Jr and Tom Palmer, 23 pages of Superior by Millar, Leinil Yu and Gerry Alanguilan, 25 pages of Graveyard of Empires by Mark Sable and Paul Azeceta, and a massive 12 page interview with Joe Quesada, Axel Alonso, and Tom Brevoort on the future of Marvel Comics.


No Rex Royd this issue, which I have mixed feelings about although I was beginning to warm to the strip. (The episode in the previous issue was quite layered and intriguing. I just wish it was easier to follow.) Apparently issue 15 will give us a double length episode to compensate.

For me, Kick Ass 2 and Superior are still the strongest strips in CLiNT and I'll be sorry to see them end in issue 15. The hyper-violence tinged with black comedy perfectly suits what CLiNT is all about. That shouldn't be too surprising as Mark Millar is both the author of those strips and editor of the comic. The strips really pile on the destruction in these penultimate chapters with Millar and his artists really understanding the beat of producing exciting modern adventure stories.


I know the hyper-violence and bad language of CLiNT isn't to the tastes of some readers, and that's fair enough. My personal feeling is that if one can enjoy a variety of TV shows from Doctor Who to Spartacus: Blood and Sand, or a variety of music from Glenn Miller to the Sex Pistols, one might also appreciate a variety of comics from Commando to CLiNT. There's room for everything.

CLiNT No.14 goes on sale in UK newsagents and comic shops next week (February 16th). 100 pages for £4.25. Adults Only, kids. Sorry.

In the meantime, CLiNT No.13 is still on sale if you're lucky, featuring all the above-mentioned strips plus interviews with various comics pros including Garth Ennis. Here's the cover by Brian Hitch:


http://titanmagazines.com/t/clint/