The greatest characters from Britain’s golden age of humour comics return this Easter for a one-shot celebration of daft and zany fun!
Rebellion Publishing is proud to announce the Cor! & Buster Special will be tickling your funny bone this spring and a whole new generation of readers are about to experience comics’ humour at its finest!
The 48-page special will hit newsstands in the UK and Ireland, and comic book stores in the UK, Ireland, and North America, on 17th April, retailing at £4.99.
It will be the first use of the vast number of classic humour characters by Rebellion since it acquired the archive of comics publisher IPC and the Cor! & Buster Special offers new takes on some of the greatest characters from Britain’s golden age of humour comics, with an edgy celebration of daft, zany fun.
From the world’s naughtiest baby, Sweeny Toddler, to Gums, the most incompetent shark in the seven seas, this one-shot special will feature top comics talent including a cover by Neil Googe (The Flash), and strips by Ned Hartley (Star Wars), Cavan Scott (Doctor Who), Abigail Bulmer (2000 AD) and Tanya Roberts (TMNT).
The special will also complement Funny Pages, Rebellion’s title for Free Comic Book Day on 4th May, which will be available for free from participating comic book stores around the world.
Editor on the Cor! & Buster Special, Keith Richardson, said: “Humour titles like Cor! and Buster were a massive part of many a childhood but have been sadly missing from the newsstand for years – the time is ripe to bring these amazing characters back for a new generation. Just at a time when many kids will be on their Easter break, this special will introduce them to some of our favourite classic characters, but all with a modern twist. For us, it’s time to put the comical back into comics!”
Humour comics were once a constant staple of the British newsstand, with dozens of titles filled by some of the industry’s greatest talents, such as Leo Baxendale and Ken Reid. IPC/Fleetway titles such as Cor!, Buster, Whizzer and Chips, and Shiver and Shake entertained generations of children for decades. They were part of the acquisition by Rebellion of arguably the world’s largest archive of English-language comics in 2016 and 2018.
Tyranny Rex, last of the Saurons and the troubleshooter with a tail for hire, has been many things over the years; body-cloning artist, adventurer, mercenary, nun (yes, a nun).
She’s kidnapped, killed, and protected across worlds. Not seen in the pages of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic since Prog 1399, over a decade ago, she’s finally returning in the 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special. Richard Bruton sat down with writer Katy Rex and artist Liana Kangas to talk all things Tyranny…
Richard Bruton: First of all, Katy, with your name, is writing Tyranny Rex something that you just knew was eventually going to happen?
Katy Rex: I think more “hoped” than “knew”- writing a Tyranny story is absolutely a dream come true.
What can we expect from the long time in coming return of Tyranny Rex?
KR: Expect her at her Tyranny Rex-est, cupcake!
Liana Kangas: All I know is Tyranny seems like she has a penchant for being up to no good – and I’m excited to be a part of that with Katy Rex.
Over the years, Tyranny has changed roles and jobs so many times, whether it was artist, gun-for-hire, or even nun. Which Tyranny Rex are we going to be seeing this time?
KR: As much fun as her nun run was, I wanted to go back to her roots. Tyranny’s personality shines best when she’s an artist and a grifter with a devil-may-care attitude. She’s a really singular personality, I absolutely love it.
How did you writing and drawing Tyranny in the Sci-FI Special come about?
LK: Matt Smith actually reached out to me and I was so stoked! I’m all in for female-led comics, I love representing an idea that I strongly believe in, and I’m trying to hold in my inner fan girl of working on a John Smith/Steve Dillon created character.
KR: I’ve been a 2000 AD fan for years, and I’ve been working at the booth at SDCC and NYCC since I think 2014. Working so closely with the company gave them a chance to get to know me and my work informally, so when this opportunity came up, I was lucky enough to be invited to participate.
As you’re both American, how did you first experience 2000 AD? And what does it mean to you to be in its pages?
KR: I was reading a lot of international comics, including 2000 AD, in college, but I don’t know if the full impact of what the company’s history was hit me until I was working at conventions for them and was not only *selling* the early short stories from comics legends, but meeting creators that I consider heroes. So to say I feel privileged to be a part of their line up is an understatement.
LK: I’ve been familiar with 2000 AD through working at comic shops but I haven’t held a copy of one in a hot minute since I lived in Canada. I think because the print version is such a niche here in the states I can appreciate the format that much more.
Do you have any particular memories of seeing Tyranny Rex in its pages, or is this something you’ve needed to go back through the old stories to get a feel for the character?
KR: I absolutely did due diligence and went back and read everything Tyranny has ever been in. Maybe I could have done without, but it was both really important to me to get it right, and also a really good excuse to re-read some badass stories.
LK: I’m fairly new to Tyranny. I’ve seen a pic of her here and there in passing, but I definitely had some help researching into Tyranny and her personality. Luckily I can kinda relate to her as a character which makes it that much more fun to bring to life with Katy.
Katy, Tyranny Rex has been one of those characters with a singular vision behind her. All of her tales have come from the pen of John Smith. Is there possibly some trepidation when taking on a one-writer character such as this?
KR: Yes, actually, I’m terrified- thanks for bringing it up! No honestly, I’m following in the footsteps of legends at basically every step here, and it would be ridiculous not to feel at least a little out of my depth. But I know that the editors at 2000 AD know my work, and although I can’t and won’t be John Smith, I have to believe that my take will do her justice. And hopefully the ways I personally relate to her (morally questionable, art lover, badass lady, tail) will help this story fit in his canon with my own voice!
When you’re working on a done-in-one story, do you find yourself writing as if this is merely the starting point in a potential series, or did the idea with Tyranny come to you as a complete tale?
KR: While this story totally could be a starting point in a series, it’s also DEFINITELY a stand alone. I didn’t write it specifically to start anything new, but I did want to place it strongly in Tyranny’s world so her longtime fans would have references and characters that they recognize.
Her links with Indigo Prime and the whole “Smith-verse” idea are long established. Is this something you could see yourselves developing or is your Tyranny Rex very much out there on her own?
KR: This Tyranny could definitely continue into stories featuring any number of Indigo Prime agents, I’d love to write something like that. Stay tuned, I guess?
Liana, from what I’ve seen of your style, I expect you’ll be bringing a more realistic portrayal to the last of the Saurons?
LK: I love drawing characters (especially sci-fi) within the means of how they were created but enjoy putting them in relatable practical aethstetic. I’m definitely excited to show her in my style to where I could give her a bit of normalcy – something that’s relatable but still true to Tyranny’s origin, without over sexualizing her.
This Sci-Fi Special will be very special for more than just its content. What are your thoughts about this all-female creative issue?
KR: As to the tagline itself, I’ll say that I find it really exciting. I’ve personally never felt tokenized by 2000 AD and have been hearing from people at the company for years about their work trying to find and bring in new voices. With their history of characters like Anderson, Durham Red, and Tyranny, I feel like an empowered female special is very consistent with the company’s ethos and sensibility.
LK: Having worked in comic shops, I could see the immediate arguments posed on both sides (and even in the middle,) but I’ll always stand for a woman’s place in comics as long as they’re talented, hard working and great at what they do. I think it’s pretty great that 2000 AD has decided to curate something to maybe reach out to an untapped market. Women are buying more comics than ever and to be represented and hired even, shows the progressive actions that they’re taking in the industry. And of course, I am honoured to be in the book alongside so many writers and artists I love. I’m hoping that these annuals will bring more visibility to the publisher and more copies over here in the States. We need more weird sci-fi, always.
As you’re both new to the pages of 2000 AD, readers would love to hear a little of who you are and what you’ve been involved in already. Do tell!
KR: Oy, a bio? I’m terrible at these! My first not-self-published book, Jade Street Protection Services with my co creator Fabian Lelay, came out from Black Mask Studios a couple years ago. My friend Magdalene Visaggio edited it, and at the same time I was editing her Black Mask book, Kim & Kim, which was nominated for an Eisner last year. Since then I’ve been working on the Charmed manga and a Sweet Valley High OGN over at Dynamite, some Doctor Who short story stuff at Titan, and a handful of crowd-funded horror anthologies. In fact, Liana and I are both currently (separately) part of an ongoing project on Kickstarter called Everything Is Going Wrong. Its intent is to spotlight punk and mental health, and the proceeds will go to fund the Trevor Project and MusiCares.
LK: Arguably the hardest question! I’m Liana, a freelance comic artist in the tri-state area near NYC. I’ve been pursuing comics for little over two years now, and have recently been published with Erica Schultz in Where We Live, the Las Vegas benefit anthology, from Image Comics and with Pat Shand for a Destiny, NY short in the Mine! Planned Parenthood anthology.
For the first time in four decades, legendary sci-fi action comic 2000 AD is to publish an issue with an all-female creative line-up, including work by award-winner Tillie Walden, Tula Lotay, and Alex De Campi.
On sale 20 June, the 48-page 2000 AD Sci-Fi Specialwill have an all-female roster of writers, artists, colourists and letterers, with covers from Tula Lotay (Supreme: Blue Rose, Bodies) and newcomer Emily Zeinner, and all-new stories by Alex De Campi (Twisted Romance, No Mercy), Maura McHugh (Witchfinder, The Nail), Tillie Walden (On A Sunbeam, The End of Summer), Katy Rex (Jade Street Protection Services), Laura Bailey (Future Shocks) and many more.
A unique venture in the history of Britain’s biggest comic, most of the creators will be working on the galaxy of 2000 AD characters for the very first time, including Judge Dredd, Rogue Trooper, Psi-Judge Anderson and DeMarco, P.I..
2000 AD editor Matt Smith said: ‘I’m especially excited to welcome a group of new creators to 2000 AD, most of whom are making their debuts at the House of Tharg. This year’s historic Sci-Fi Special is going to be packed with unique voices and amazing talent.’
The Sci-Fi Special is just one of three 2000 AD specials being published this year, available from all good newsagents, comic book stores, and online.
In August, a forgotten generation of British superheroes are set to take flight in a brand new special from the team behind The Treasury of British Comics! Following Rebellion Publishing’s acquisition of the Egmont Fleetway archive of classic British comics from the 1970s and 1980s, it will include home-grown superheroes that show the best of British, including The Leopard from Lime Street and Thunderbolt from Buster, Steel Commando from Thunder, and Blake Edmonds from Death Wish in Speed.
And following its sell-out success last year, the Scream & Misty Special will return in October, with more stories inspired by two of the spookiest comics ever! Scream! was a popular short-lived horror anthology while Misty was an innovative girls’ horror comic, both from the 1980s, whose former readerships made the 2017 Halloween Special a massive success. It introduced a new generation of comic book readers to characters such as homicidal caretaker computer Max in The Thirteenth Floor, the German World War One flying ace Black Max and his giant bats, and the sinister tower blocks of The Sentinels, and the 2018 special will continue to delve into the incredible, out-of-this-world-and-the-next characters from the heyday of British horror comics.
