Britannia! Bulldog! Lionheart! Stonehenge! Moonwitch! Helspawn! In the ’90s they were BritForce – the UK’s very own team of super-powered heroes. But driven appart by catastrophy, BritForce disbanded and haven’t seen each other in over a decade…until now.
Waiting in the wings is a threat so huge it might just be enough to throw the team back together. The Grail and his army of meta-human zealots have attacked Downing street and are intent on making Britain the power base for their brutal religious crusade
Will BritForce reunite to combat the threat? Or does Britain face a future crushed beneath the heel of religious oppression, presided over by a man convinced he’s the ressurection of the Messiah himself?
Apologies but my scanner blew and for some reason none of the links given in reviews,etc.,are “live” anymore. They haven’t been for a few weeks and I’ve no idea why! Just cut and paste into search!
Another problem is that I’m having to use this clunky pre-millenium computer so what took me 5 minutes now takes around 40! And word plus is suddenly making text vanish once published…but I’ve caught it all so far!
So,when I stopped by the Soaring Penguin table I was attracted to a very eye-catching cover on a bulky manga-sized book:Planet Karen -First Contact. And none other than Gail Simone[Wonder Woman,Birds Of Prey],who wrote the introduction,writes:”Hers was the first webcomic I fell in love with”. The web comic has been running since 2006[?] and this is the first compilation book.
What I liked was the fact that you can see a progression in Karen Ellis’ art style from a rather basic,almost “scratchy” style into clean and grey-toned work. Even the more sombre events in this book have a quirky sense of humour in them. It is meant as a sort of diary but it’s far more. World Of Warcraft,Cosplay,super heroes,everyday life and Star Trek get a look in. In fact,one of my favourite pages was about watching Star Trek re-runs at 2 a.m. and involves “the evil elves of Star Trek”.
web comic dated 5th May,2006
This is a very enjoyable book and I’ve looked through it several times since Saturday and found even more favourite pages. It could be addictive!
To be honest I had vaguely heard of Dealer Comics.However,when Big Jim Stewart asked whether I’d been to their table at the Expo I said “no”.So along I went with Jim who did the introductions and so I met Jason Wheeler.
Jason is the writer and artist of this look at how two Brits on holiday in Spain can get rather inadvertently caught up in drugs.It sounds very sobre and don’t get the impression that it’s preachy in any way.I think Bryan Talbot said it best:
“An epic of an underground comic firmly steeped in the tradition of British humour strips.Smuggling Vacation is a funny,hi-octane romp through the genres of The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers,Carry On films and Lock,Stock and Two Smoking Barrels!”
If a recommendation from Bryan Talbot ain’t enough for you well,Paul Gravett?Hunt Emerson?Alan Grant?Or maybe Dave Thomson of Stoner Magazine or even WeedWorld?Not forgetting Jim Stewart’s praise.
If you visit Dealer Comics web site you’ll find out a lot more about the books and the background to them as well as information on how a “crime consultant” was used.
Ahh,this book brought back memories of when petty crooks and villains had proper names:”Pastille”,”Polo”,Trebor”,”Smarty” and ”Minstrel”.A lot of these characters are based on known “crime personalities”.Don’t be put off by thinking anything drawn in this style can’t be gripping story-wise:it can!
Smugglers hide a stash and put a man on watch who falls asleep.Along comes a inebriated Brit who’s just argued with his girlfriend and they steal the stash.The fella who fell asleep gets “dealt with”.It really is a cracking story and I just do not want to give it away –you ought to buy this because if you do not then don’t come sobbing later!
Of course,the deceptive part of the book isthe art.Firstly,quality-wise it’s an excellent piece of production that cannot be faulted –there’s good colour reproduction,excellent binding and the covers are sturdy.Had someone told me that this was a Euro album I would have had no trouble believing it.The panel layouts look so European and there is the good use ofcolour toning for indoor and night time scenes.
In the last panel of this book I did think our two main characters were going to end up rather badly [if not dead].This really was a very enjoyable book so check out the site and learn more –but,PLEASE,order a copy!
And then….
Above:cover for the “straights”.
Above:a cover I think is far more appropriate and nothing objectionable about it.
Day Of The Deal
Comic Album Size
Full Colour
80pp
Perfect bound
ISBN – 978-0-9559170-2-8
£6.99
According to Jason I got the cover “endorsed by the inmates of HMP Birmingham.”It has some curious Rastapharian motif on it.Anyway,everything I said before regarding quality of production applies.The art is still good and very nice characterisations.
The story is where this book hits home.If you enjoy those crime films where some relatively ‘innocent’ people [yes,Kaye and Stan return!] get caught up in something a whole lot bigger than they imagine,you ought to enjoy this.Kaye and Stan are,um,”cultivating herbs” along with Stan’s brother Mikey.Mikey is a petty crook but under the big gruff exterior is a real softy at heart.
“Roo” is another petty crook but one who wants to move into the “big time” –and he soon gets his break.The problem is that Mikey is a “bit old-fashioned” and whereas dealing with weed is okay,he has no idea that Roo is also smuggling in cocaine.And Mikey reluctantly let’s Stan get involved as he needs the money.
However,the Serious Organised Crime Agency [SOCA –they are the ones who lobbied for the 500 Euro note to no longer be available in the UK as it was “mainly used by criminals”] seem to know everything.In case you haven’t guess it yet,SOCA has a snitch/informer on the inside.
As Mikey,Stan and the informer head for the drop-off point,Mikey begins to suspect that something is wrong.The police are closing in and….
“What happens??”Buy the book.Seriously,right up until the last pages I was gripped on this.And the understory of Kaye and Stan and Mikey who so wants to get together with Jen the librarian is well set out.There is more,of course,but you need to have the book to enjoy it.
Whether it is Jason’s experience with running the strip as a web comic [see the web site] I don’t know but I have to say that it is plotted,drawn and the characterisation so good that you’d think it was the work of a long time comic pro.
I’m quite glad Jim introduced me to Jason.And I hope,in the near future,some Euro publisher who is bright enough picks these books for translation.Excellent.
The Dealer Comics link is now on the blog roll so no excuses!
ARCHIE COMICS BRINGS BACK LEGENDARY WRITER TOM DEFALCO
WITH THE ACTION-PACKED RETURN OF
“THE MAN FROM R.I.V.E.R.DA.L.E.”
New York, NY (May 24, 2010): Archie Comics, publisher of Archie and Stan Lee Comics, continues to bring excitement to new heights with legendary Marvel writer/editor Tom DeFalco with the explosive action of The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.—a brand new four-part thriller!
“In recent years, James Bond, Star Trek and now the A-Team have been modernized for today’s audiences. It’s time for the super-spies and secret agents of The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. to return,” states Co-CEO Jon Goldwater. “After the success of ‘Archie Meets the Punisher,’ Tom DeFalco was a perfect fit for the explosive adventure the world is about to see.”
InDeFalco-style, The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. features the pulse-pounding exploits of Archie and his friends as high-tech spies working for the world-defense organization P.O.P. (Protect Our Planet). Their chief enemy, a counter-group known as C.R.U.S.H., is up to no good as they pursue their obsession to obtain the dangerous Formula Z!
Tasked with defending the formula from the evil spy ring, The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. (aka Archie Andrews) only has one weakness, and you can be certain C.R.U.S.H. will exploit it! Can girl-crazy Archie resist the va-va-va-BOOM powers of bombshell vixen Sharry the Spy Girl? Together with his cousin, Andy Andrews—star of a never-published Archie Comics crime story—Archie is determined to save the day. But a terror-filled thrill ride awaits them and the entire town of Riverdale!
“In bringing back The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., my question was: if spies actually existed in the Archie world, how could they be seamlessly integrated into Archie’s continuity while still being true to his universe?” remarks Archie Comics alum and writer, Tom DeFalco. “That is my creative challenge – to create a realistic and dangerous situation for the characters to act in, kind of like mashing up 24 and The Bourne Identity with Chuck and Get Smart.”
In addition to Stan Lee’s Super Seven, Archie comics on iTunes, Archie’s Red Circle superheroes at DC, and new partnerships, Archie Comics continues to bring action-packed adventures to eager fans world-wide with the return of legends like Tom DeFalco and The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.!
THE MAN FROM R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E. explodes into action with Archie #610, available 6/23/2010 and continuing through Archie #613!
I woke up to find computer problems again -including an ISP failure. So,not much today but the rest of the week will see news and reviews -books are arriving even today!
I’ve said thank you for all the support from people over the weekend regarding my problem with lulu.com which may now be going to a lawyer as an infringement of my rights as a publisher and what-not. I do know that the jerks responsible for the problem read CBO and I note that certain persons quickly avoided me and left rooms when I appeared. Hysterical.
Some people were worried that I came right out and said things and annoyed the wrong people. The thing is,as I pointed out,I have files full of copies of emails,letters and more going back to 1983 with IPC,Fleetway,Maxwell Pergamon and then IPC and Fleetway again -all with editors and very senior management. Some of those documents could,quite easily be seen as devastating for the company. I have not and never will publish them or use them unless it is to defend myself in court.
Let’s be honest,I have not set out to deliberately anger anyone. There are people who alledge that they are comic fans and really “nice guys” but who are malicious trouble-makers hiding behind fake names. I am an easy target because I DO NOT hide like this-you can find information on me anywhere because I do everything above board and legally.
Companies who renege on legal agreements,call me a liar and cite such gobble-dee-gook law to prove it need to be set straight. THEY have openly attacked me despite my saying that I would willingly present my case in court.
That’s it.
Now there is added weight to my case.
On Saturday at around 4.00p.m. I was so exhausted that I left the Mercure when I heard my name called,yet again. I turned to see someone I’d not met in years. It was this person who introduced me to Gil Page at IPC/Fleetway many years ago. How he recognised me I have no idea as I’ve changed a bit. It seems he had brought his grandchildren to the Expo as they were into Manga [something he doesn't like] so while his grandchildren went off we headed to the foyer for a talk.
He had read CBO because his grandson had pointed it out to him. I asked what he thought so he asked for a fuller briefing -which he got. He actually laughed at what the IPC Intellectual Copyright manager had written and was dumbfounded by the response from IPC Legal department. [I ought to point out that I had about 200 pages of documentation with me to had over to my solicitor who I was due to meet so -- got to look over all the emails].
“You obviously have to be stupid and completely ignorant about the comics business to work in it now”,was his response. After 30 minutes my solicitor arrived and eventually we all talked for two hours [with a few minor interruptions from the grandchildren!].
Now,this man was one of the top men at Odhams,IPC and then Fleetway and had left after the Maxwell fiasco. We all agreed that his name would not be mentioned,nor the names of others he gave to cite examples,unless the matter ever went to court. He also agreed to give a written statement to the lawyers of the families putting together legal action for creators rights,financial reimbursement for characters used,etc.. He did sign a statement my solicitor had written down as we talked.
It is very,very tempting to publish what was said in detail but I agree hitting anyone suing with a legal bombshell sounds much better!
But then,this morning,I got an email. In Japanese. I thought I knew who it was from as it looked like an email I lost in a file on my other computer. So I wrote back and got a phone call -from the secretary of Japanese businessman Mr Okijodan who,back in the 1980s,had purchased characters from IPC for £3000. I asked if I could get an English translation of the email and was told I could. It arrived two minutes after I put the phone down
My friend it has been a long time since I wrote or spoke English!I do have all the papers and should you need to defend your honour and copyright in a court I shall forward all documents and appear in your defense.
Your friend,
SIGNED—–“
IPCs Intellectual Property Manager was sent a copy of the contract,etc.,via email by Mr Okijodan’s lawyer on 15th November,2005,but I was told that IPC had failed to respond despite follow-up emails -the material was sent again later but left until after business hours so that an automatic message was received from IPC confirming the email receipt. They still never responded.
So,I am hoping that things sort themselves out without nastyness. But all my documentation is now in the right hands and I shall say no more at this time.
I was pretty moody yesterday for day 1 of the comic expo but met a friendly face first in the form of Big Jim Stewart of Ganjaman fame. Met a few of the pro creators I know who blanked me because I’ve been taking freedom of speech too far!!
But,the biggest surprise was after 4pm when I met a man who was one of THE top IPC/Fleetway bosses who brought his grandchildren to the Expo. Let me say that,with something now in writing,IPC want to play silly beggars they are screwed!! More on this during the week.
Now,preparing to head off back to the venue and meet more people!
Well,I think this speaks for itself and Thank You “Anon”:
“Frankly, you know what the “comic industry” is like-what do you expect? Most of ‘em are liars, cheats and swindlers, the whole industry was founded on illegal practices;it’s entire history full of tales of ripped off creators and lying publishers, as you well know, having been on the receiving end.
And you wonder why I hate comics ?”
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