Return of the Leopardboy

Rebellion have just revealed the cover to their Leopard from Lime Street collection, reprinting the early adventures of the popular 1970s Buster strip. The book will be published in June.

The Leopard from Lime Street – Book 1

Originally published: 1976-1985

Release date: July

Trade Paperback

One of the most requested reprints from the Fleetway/IPC archive, The Leopard from Lime Street is the British Spider-man – a hugely popular home-grown teenage superhero! Billy Farmer lives with his Aunt Joan and Uncle Charlie in the when he is scratched by a radioactive leopard  at the local zoo. Gaining leopard-like strength, speed, reflexes, and tree-climbing abilities, when he’s not fighting crime, Billy sells photographs of himself to the local paper, using the money to support his frail aunt while contending with his violent, greedy and lazy uncle. With warmth, wit, and stunning artwork by Mike Western and Eric Bradbury, The Leopard from Lime Street is a gem of 1970s and 1980s British comics.

More info about Rebellion's other classic reprints here:

https://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/faceache-marney-one-eyed-jack-coming.html

BATTLE cover selection 1975 to 1979

Right from its early issues in 1975, Battle Picture Weekly used a combination of terse captions and striking artwork to deliver dynamic, eye-catching front covers. Admittedly, D.C. Thomson's Warlord had been the inspiration (see here), but IPC's Battle took it to another level, making previous kids' comics look sedate in comparison. 

Here's a selection of some of the best Battle covers...

Art: Geoff Campion

Art: Carlos Ezquerra

Art: Carlos Ezquerra

Art: Geoff Campion

Art: Carlos Ezquerra

Art: Mike Western

Art: Carlos Ezquerra

Art: Ian Kennedy

Art: Joe Colquhoun

Art: Carlos Ezquerra

Art: Mike McMahon

Composite artwork.

Art: Joe Colquhoun

Art: Carlos Ezquerra

All covers scanned from my own collection of comics.

Artwork © Rebellion A/S

If it's Wednesday it must be BEANO day!

Cover by Nigel Parkinson.

Here's the cover of this week's Beano, taken from the lively beano.com website. Another 36 pages packed with all-new fun stuff! Pressing deadlines mean that I haven't had chance to go into town to buy a copy yet but if my strips are being published in the order I did them, this should be an accurate preview of today's stories...

Ivy the Terrible has a nightmare. What could possibly have caused that? Are there clues in this panel? 

Tubby finds a piece of rope! It's tug of war time in Pup Parade!

Beano No.3877, - out now! Only £2.50.

Previews: COMMANDO Nos.5003 to 5006

Just in from Commando HQ, the latest info on the four issues of the comic that will be in newsagents this Thursday, 23rd March. Thomsons have sent a new look press release this time, in the form of a jpeg rather than a Word document, so you'll have to click on it to read it full size. On the positive front, it shows preview panels from each of the stories...

5003 Home of Heroes: American Eagles

Story – Steven Taylor

Art – Jaume Forns

Cover – Janek Matysiak

5004 Gold Collection: Trouble Squadron

Story – Boothby

Art – Auraleon

Cover – Ken Barr

5005 Action And Adventure: Urban Gunners

Story – Ferg Handley

Art – Manuel Benet

Cover – Manuel Benet

5006 Silver Collection: Go Down Fighting!

Story – Ian Clark

Art – Peter Foster

Cover – Jeff Bevan

Comic event in Sheffield this Saturday

I know some of you aren't interested in attending comic conventions but if any of you are visiting Sheffield this Saturday I'll be at Robot: Illustration and Creative Arts Convention at the Millennium Gallery. Other guests will include Fiona Stephenson, David Leach, Mychailo Kazybrid, Peter Doherty, Bambos Georgiou and more. There'll also be loads of exhibitors and indie comics publishers. Come along and meet us for sketches and comics!
http://www.robotcon.co.uk