Are you ready for THE VIGILANT?

Dash to your newsagent on August 15th for The Vigilant, - a new one-off comic from Rebellion. John Freeman has an exclusive about it on his blog, so dash there first! 
https://downthetubes.net/?p=45010

Guest list announced for Oldham Comic Con

Stoke-Con-Trent was good fun yesterday, and you can read a brief report about it on my other blog here:
http://lewstringercomics.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/thank-you-stoke-con-trent.html

The next convention I'll be attending will be Oldham Comic Con on 12th May. They've just published the final guest list and it's very impressive! Check this out...

Marc Ducrow 
Lew Stringer
Jessica Lucas
David Roach
The Etheringhton brothers
Steve Austin
Yasmin Sheikh
John Wagner
Carlos Ezquerra
Alan Cowsill
Jay Martin
Chris Sides
Jon Laight
Grant Richards
Lyndsey Green
Jon Scrivens
Dan Whitehead
Tad Kimpton
Joe Glass
Matt Warner
Pete Mckeirmon
Patrick Goddard
Neil Edwards
Dave Taylor
Tim Perkins
Neil 'Bhuna' Roche
Nigel Parkinson
Nika Nartova
Chris Imber
Sarah Millman
Dan Cornwell 
Peter Doherty
John Royle
Ian Richardson
Aly Fell
Neal McClemets
Mindstrain comics
Joe Mathews
Dan Charnley
Katie Whittle
Jenika Loffreda
Sonia Leong
David Leach
Chris J Thompson
Marc Jackson
Staz Johnson 
Tazio Bettin
Dave Windettt
Antony Johnston
Rachael Smith
Mayamada

Find out more at their Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/oldhamcomiccon/

See you there!

STRIKER to return

Adult football comic Striker is set to return as a weekly this Autumn, thanks to the determination of its creator and publisher Pete Nash. It's looking for readers to pledge towards a Kickstarter goal of £32,000, with various subscription offers including digital and print editions. You can find all the details here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1602281104/striker-new-worldwide-weekly-comic-plus-animated-f

Coming from Rebellion this week...

There's some top quality work coming up in both 2000AD and Judge Dredd Megazine this Wednesday! Here's a preview of both comics, courtesy of the publishers, Rebellion...

The teenage graffiti artist turned Skysurfing champ returns after a long absence to the Megazine this month - Marlon Shakespeare, aka Chopper, is one of 2000 AD's most enduringly popular characters and his return features psychedelic art by Brendan McCarthy, who helped define the character's second age in the epic Oz.

Also this issue, the usual bagged graphic novel is replaced with a special monograph on Nemesis the Warlock by 2000 AD editor Matt Smith which examines the ideas, influences, and impact of Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill's alien freedom fighter!


• UK and DIGITAL: 18th April 2018 £5.99
• NORTH AMERICA: 18th May 2018 $13
• DIAMOND: FEB181727
• COVER: BRENDAN MCCARTHY


In this issue:
JUDGE DREDD: KRONG ISLAND by Arthur Wyatt (w) Jake Lynch (a) John Charles (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)


THE RETURNERS: IRMAZHINA by Si Spencer (w) Nicolo Assirelli (a) Eva De La Cruz (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)


CURSED EARTH KOBURN by Rory McConville (w) Carlos Ezquerra (a) Simon Bowland (l)


CHOPPER: WANDERING SOUL by David Baillie (w) Brendan McCarthy (a) Ellie De Ville (l)


DREDD: THE DEAD WORLD by Arthur Wyatt & Alex De Campi (w) Henry Flint (a) Chris Blythe (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)


BONUS STORY: RAZORJACK - THE GLIMPSE OF SUMMER by Michael Carroll (w) John Higgins (a) Sally Hurst (c) Ellie De Ville (l)


Features: New Comics: 2000 AD Regened


BAGGED GRAPHIC NOVEL: Nemesis the Warlock: A Monograph by Matt Smith

*************************************

UK and DIGITAL: 11th April 2018 £2.75
NORTH AMERICA: 11th May 2018 $6.75
DIAMOND: FEB181725
COVER: RAID71

In this issue:
JUDGE DREDD: FLAWS by Michael Carroll (w) Staz Johnson (a) Abigail Bulmer (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)

JAEGIR: IN THE REALM OF PYRRHUS by Gordon Rennie (w) Simon Coleby (a) Len O'Grady (c) Ellie De Ville (l)

SINISTER DEXTER: THE DEVIL DON'T CARE by Dan Abnett (w) Steve Yeowell (a) John Charles (c) Annie Parkhouse (l)

ANDERSON, PSI DIVISION: UNDERTOW by Emma Beeby (w) Mike Collins, Cliff Robinson (a) Jose Villarrubia (c) Simon Bowland (l) 

STRONTIUM DOG: THE SON by John Wagner (w) Carlos Ezquerra (a) Ellie De Ville (l)

Available in digital from: 2000 AD webshop, 2000 AD iPad app, 2000 AD Android app, 2000 AD Windows 10 app

Review: The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine No.1

Even 50 years on, The Prisoner TV series remains one of the most remarkable and unique programmes in television history. Although only 17 episodes were produced, its combination of spy thriller, satire, and social allegory has never been equalled and is still very relevant. A powerful, screen-dominating performance by its co-creator and lead actor, Patrick McGoohan, added to its appeal. All in all, the mixture won over a legion of fans who remain fascinated by its appeal even today. 

There was never a comics adaptation of The Prisoner back in the 1960s. Perhaps it was considered too esoteric, or perhaps because of its short run it wasn't considered worthwhile. Marvel Comics did intend to publish a Prisoner comic in the 1970s, but the project was abandoned before completion. (The pages will soon be published in a collection from Titan Books. See here for more information.) DC Comics published Shattered Visage, a four-issue Prisoner sequel in 1988, but the concept hasn't returned to comics... until now. 

London based Titan Comics are launching The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine on April 25th, the first issue of an all-new monthly series. It is written by Peter Milligan (from a plot by David Leach, who is also the editor) and illustrated by Colin Lorimer (with colours by Joana Lafluente). My first impression was that I was pleased that this professional comic hasn't followed the route that so many "fan fiction" Prisoner stories have, of presenting "untold" tales of Number Six. Titan have wisely chosen to present us with a new lead character, with a setting that's firmly in the present day. An excellent move because now we have no idea what to expect. There is a hint though that it is connected to the original series.

While the TV series never really clarified what Number Six's profession was, (because he was intended to be an everyman), our new hero is most definitely a spy, and we're given quite a bit of backstory on him. The TV series had a fast paced opening that got the protagonist into the Village within a few minutes. This new comic takes the whole issue to get there, but the pacing is still fast and intriguing, and sets up plot elements that will no doubt be relevant to the whole series. 

Some of the most distinctive aspects of The Prisoner TV show were its satire and humour. That's not really evident in this dramatic and intense first issue, but I hope we'll see glimpses of it in future issues once our hero explores his new surroundings. 

If this first issue is anything to go by, The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine should appeal to fans of the series as well as to new readers unfamiliar with the franchise. Superbly written and drawn, it's a strong debut issue that has certainly hooked me, and I'm eager to see where the story takes us next. We want information...

Issue No.1 will be available from comics speciality shops on April 25th, with a range of variant covers.