Rebellion is pleased to announce a limited pre-order for the hardcover edition of the first volume of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire.
Available to pre-order exclusively through the Treasury of British Comics webshop between 1st November and 4th December, this individually numbered 304-page special edition hardcover will ship in March 2020.
Featuring stunning artwork taken from crisp scans of Don Lawrence original artwork, this first volume includes a touching introduction from Liam Sharp (Green Lantern), who – along with Judge Dredd artist Chris Weston – was mentored by Lawrence early in his career.
Co-created by Mike Butterworth and Don Lawrence, The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire merges the movie serials of the 1930s, Flash Gordon, John Carter, and ancient history into a sprawling, classic science-fiction epic. It has been named as a major influence by the likes of writer Neil Gaiman (Sandman), artist Dave Gibbons (Watchmen) and Brian Bolland (Judge Dredd), amongst many others. This special hardcover edition perfectly showcases the remarkable talent of Lawrence, who is rightfully regarded as one of the finest artists in British comics history.
Rebellion is offering this limited-time pre-order to give fans the opportunity to own a slice of history in a sumptuous hardcover that will have pride of place on any shelf.
Originally published in the anthology titles Ranger from September 1965, and Look and Learn from June 19966 until April 1982, the series told the story of an alien empire on the planet Elekton that was heavily influenced by history, particularly that of the Roman Empire. Created by Mike Butterworth, who died in 1986, and artist Don Lawrence, who died in 2004, the series’ mix of political intrigue and Lawrence’s lush painted artwork won a host of fans worldwide, and proved to be highly influential, inspiring a generation of comic book creators with its depth and beauty.
Don, who started out as a comics creator in the Gower Street Studios in London, first working on Marvelman before moving on to Karl the Viking for Lion. Other artists who worked on the strip include Ron Embleton, Miguel Quesada, Philip Corke, Oliver Frey and Gerry Wood.
Although the strip has seen only limited English-language release it remains one of the most popular comic series in Holland and Germany, with over two million albums sold.
The limited edition Don Lawrence cover hardcover of volume one of The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire is available to order now from www.treasuryofbritishcomics.com, until 4th December.
Legendary comics Battle and Action are back as part of a roster of TWELVE new special titles for 2020 from Rebellion Publishing!
Some of the biggest titles in comic books return, many of them for the first time in decades, as Rebellion lights up newsstands, comic stores, and digital devices from March through to December.
Reviving old favourites while introducing new audiences to the very best of British comics, these new specials include original fresh work from top names such as Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher), Ram V (Catwoman), Alex de Campi (Dredd), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad), Dan Lish (Egostrip), VV Glass (Doctor Who), Danijel Žeželj (Luna Park) and many, many more!
From the groundbreaking war stories of Battle to the violent carnage of Action, from home-grown superhero action in Smash! to old school derring-do with The Return of Sexton Blake and classic espionage in Thriller Picture Library, there’s something in this line-up for all readers! As if that wasn’t enough, then we’re heading to the future with a special focusing on Rebellion’s eagerly anticipated release of Evil Genius 2 and kicking off exciting European Cup action with Roy of the Rovers!
There’s also the return of last year’s hit specials – Cor!! Buster, Misty & Scream!, and Tammy & Jinty – along with a 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special celebrating two decades of Thrill-power under the Rebellion banner!
These titles will all be available from all good newsagents and comic book stores.
All the 2020 specials are available to pre-order as a special £59.99 subscription bundle from the 2000 AD webshop, which includes 20% off and with an exclusive bagged reproduction of the infamous ‘banned’ issue of Action from October 1976!
Keith Richardson, senior editor at Rebellion Publishing, said: “We’re really excited about our 2020 specials and to be able to put together such an impressive roster of talent has been a real privilege, with plenty more announcements still to come.
“Rebellion owns the world’s biggest archive of English language comics and to say we’re spoilt for choice is an understatement – but we’ve picked out iconic titles to reinvigorate for the 21st Century, alongside some of the best new products Rebellion has to offer. We’re putting these comics back where they belong – back on the newsstand and back in front of new audiences.”
March: Action Special (cover by Staz Johnson, colour by Quinton Winter)
April: Cor!! Buster Easter Special (cover by Neil Googe, colour by Jim Boswell)
May: Smash! Special
June: Roy of the Rovers Euro 2020 Special
June: 2000 AD Sci-Fi Special: Twenty Years of Rebellion
July: Tammy & Jinty Special
September: Battle Special
September: Misty & Scream! Special
November: Thriller Picture Library Special
November: The Return of Sexton Blake
December: Misty Presents… Special
Date TBC: Evil Genius 2 Special
It horrified prudes and censors alike – but the ground-breaking Actionis back! The 1970s comic they tried to ban returns with the same blend of unbeatable characters and no-holds-barred action – all brought to you by the best talents of today! Featuring the killer shark Hookjaw by Dan Lish, juvenile delinquency in Kids Rule OK by Ram V and Henrick Stahlstrom, frontline German Panzer with Hellman of Hammer Force by Garth Ennis and Mike Dorey, merciless secret agent action with Dredger by Zina Hutton, and the brand new Hell Machine by Henry Flint. Plus, the exclusive edition available from the 2000 AD website will come with a bagged reproduction of the ‘banned’ issue of Action from October 1976!
The biggest and brightest humour comic in Britain is back for another 48-page special! A smash hit with kids, the Cor!! Buster Easter Specialbrings together two of Britain’s most beloved humour comics for 48 pages of belly laughs and silly japes from some of the best creators around, including Lew Stringer and John Freeman on Busterand Delbert, Sweeny Toddler and Gah! by Tom Paterson, Grimly Feendish by Ned Hartley and Tom Paterson, Frankie Stein by Cavan Scott and Steve Mannion, Daisy Jones’ Locket by Olivia Hicks and Shelli Paroline, Birdman and Chicken by Edward Whatley, Swines of Anarchy by Lee Langford and Pye Parr, Faceache by Matt Smith and John Lucas, Gums by Lizzie Boyle and Abigail Ryder, Deadly Hedley by Paul Goodenough and Rositsa Vangelova, Kid Kong by Alec Worley and Tiernen Travallion, and Duck Turpin by Robin Etherington and David Follett.
They’re the home-grown superheroes who gave Superman and Spider-Man a run for their money – and now their back in the Smash! Special! Featuring some of the most original and unusual caped crusaders you’ll ever encounter, this 64-page special features super-villain-turned-hero The Spider by Rob Williams and John McCrea, supercharged secret agent The Steel Claw by Danijel Žeželj, the ‘missing link’ who became the man of the future Johnny Future by Tom Raney, giant robot ape Mytek the Mighty by Suyi Davies Okungbowa and Anand Radhakrishnan, and many more!
It’s going to be an incredible summer of football with the European Championships and the Roy of the Rovers Euro 2020 Specialwill bring you excitement on and off the pitch. Featuring the talents of the Roy of the Rovers creative team – Rob Williams, Lisa Henke and Tom Palmer – this 48-page special kicks off this June!
2020 marks two decades since Rebellion stepped in to save the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. The 2000 AD Sci-Fi Specialcelebrates 20 Years of Rebellion with a specially-curated look at 2000 AD during the tenure of its longest-serving owners and longest-serving editor; featuring some of the best talents of the past 20 years, this 48-page special celebrates the evolution of 2000 AD since its namesake year with comics and features about Britain’s biggest and best comic!
Tammy & Jinty return for two feature-length stories from modern creators in a new 48-page comic, continuing the work of last year’s hit special! Tammy and Jinty were ground-breaking female-led comics covered that everything from science fiction and fantasy to romance and domestic drama. Now retooled for the 21st Century, the Tammy & Jinty Specialpays tribute to this legacy of trail-blazing comics while introducing a new audience to the medium!
It was the comic than inspired a generation and introduced readers to some of the reality of war – Battleis back and it’s bigger than ever! This 96-page special features the returns of Rat Pack, Destroyer, El Mestizo, and more of your favourite characters – direct from the comic book front lines! Inspired by the classic comic and ground-breaking characters, creators such as Garth Ennis, Alex De Campi, Alan Hebden, Brent McKee, Keith Burns, Rob Williams, and more bring you stories of war inspired by real events but with the flair and excitement that made Battle the innovative comic it was!
Following the success of last year’s fright-filled outing, the Misty & Scream! Specialreturns this Hallowe’en! Two of Britain’s best loved comics reunite for an anthology of brand new tales that are guaranteed to terrify and entertain you – courtesy of a coven of creators, including Kek-W, Simon Coleby, Vincenzo Riccardi, Cavan Scott, Alec Worley, DaNi, and many more!
Thriller Picture Library was the pocket book series packed with thrilling tales of danger and adventure, which delighted audiences for more than a decade in the mid-20th Century, establishing the careers of D. C. Eyles, Mike Hubbard, Eric Parker and Septimus E. Scott. With a brand new cover by VV Glass, this 128-page special includes two classic John Steel adventures from the 1960s, drawn by Luis Bermejo (Eerie, Vampirella) and coloured for modern audiences!
He’s the world’s greatest detective and now one of the most popular fictional characters of all time, Sexton Blake, is back! Part Sherlock Holmes, part action hero, Blake was created by Harry Blyth in 1893 and his instant success saw him become the subject of countless novels, comics, radio, and TV, making him one of the last century’s most popular characters. Featuring a guide to his adventures alongside just some of his timeless comic book adventures, The Return of Sexton Blakeis a 96-page collection that will reintroduce the master of mystery and suspense!
Christmas is the perfect time for a ghost story and this year’s Misty Presents…special will bring a few seasonal scares with a 48-page special that will shock your Xmas stocking off the wall and have you cowering under the tree with your presents! Prepare yourselves for a Yuletide shocker as M.R. James meets Black Mirror in a brand new title to round out a very special year!
Evil Genius 2: World Domination is coming to Steam in 2020 in a fully-fledged sequel to the 2004 classic PC game – and, like all the best villains, now that we have you captive we’re going to reveal the inner workings of our fiendish plans in a 64-page special! In this spy-fi lair builder you take control of an Evil Genius, with your aim nothing less than taking over the world and the Evil Genius 2 Specialwill take you behind-the-scenes on this long-awaited sequel!
This new collection from The Treasury of British Comics brings together some of Romero’s of work for Misty, the 1980s supernatural-themed comic for girls.
From Mrs Barlow’s Lodger to Darkness At Noon, from The Forest Of Fear to Screaming Point, his work for Misty showcases his extraordinary ability and in credible depth of talent.
But who was this lost master? Richard Bruton explores the work and legacy of one of the finest artists of his time…
As IPC’s very first horror comic aimed at the girls market, the launch of Misty in 1978 was something of a departure from their usual fare of classic girls titles and children’s’ humour titles such as Buster, Shiver & Shake, Cor!!, Whizzer and Chips.
Of course, by the time of Misty’s publication, IPC had already diversified with 2000 AD, but the creation of a girls supernatural comic was a giant leap into something very different.
Part of the idea behind the Treasury was to bring the works of those vaguely remembered or criminally underrated comic artists back into print. And with The Art of Jordi Badia Romero, the imprint is doing just that with a lavish hardcover book of his beautiful work from Misty.
Inside, you’ll be treated to some of the finest artwork you’ll see in comics at the time from an artist of incredible skill. Jordi Romero sadly short life produced incredible examples of romantic comic art and fabulously dark horrors. But it’s his work on the gothic and the supernatural for Misty that marks perhaps his finest art, full of gorgeous gothic glamour. Whether it was the fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London, teenage jealousy that gets out of hand when unusual magics become involved, or the strange tale of a young girl in Pompeii dreaming of the future and discovering the horrors awaiting the doomed city, Jordi’s beautiful imagery captured it all and it’s all collected here.
Jordi was born in Barcelona in 1958 and, by the age of 15, entered comics as assistant to his older brother Enrique, already a fixture in Spanish comics. Their work appeared in many Spanish romance and adventure comics, often under the name ‘Hrno Badia’ (a short version of hermanos or brothers). As Jordi’s confidence grew and his talents recognised, his work appeared across more and more of the burgeoning British romance and girls’ comics market that included Jackie, Love Story, Roxy, Marty, Valentine and many more.
To give you an idea of his skills and the esteem his artwork was held in at the time, in David Roach’s foreword to this new collection he recounts how a young Jim Baikie visited the offices of Valentine for an art gig and was told that the best thing he could do was look at Jordi’s work, simply the finest example of romance comics of the time. He was that good.
After the romance comics of the ’60s, he moved to other genres, including work on Dr Who (1973 Holiday Special), Modesty Blaise, Axa, and, as Jorge B. Galvev, he had work in Creepy in the 1970s and Tarzan comics in the ’80s. But it was his art on The Super Cats for D.C. Thomson’s Spellbound, a girls’ supernatural and fantasy title of the mid ’70s, pre-dating the creation of Misty, that paved the way for his very best work.
And when you look at the artwork in The Art of Jordi Badia Romero, you can see all that glamour of romance comics provided a distinctly gothic twist, perfect for Misty. Whether it’s in the 18 short strips or the longer serial of Screaming Point, everything has a truly beautiful line, Jordi’s figure work always perfect, capturing both glamour and horror in equal measure.
His female characters all have the classical look of the tragic, gothic heroine, the sort of imagery you immediately think of from the novels of the Brontës, but also from classic horrors, whether it’s the imagery of the novel Dracula or the subsequent Hammer Horror films. Every one has that slightly windswept look; unbelievably pretty, so many flowing dresses, so much incredible hair, all captured with Jordi’s fine line work and sumptuous brush work. The artwork full of opulence and fine detail, a delicate balancing act of the romantic and the spooky, never veering into nastiness, never horrific, just a perfect spooky gothic beauty all the way through.
Sadly, the Misty work you see in the Art of Jordi Badia Romero was some of his last, as Jordi died at the age of 46 in 1984. But with this collection of some of his finest work we have a chance to admire the beauty and brilliance of his artwork.
Bringing this sort of lost works from criminally underrated artists is exactly what the Treasury of British Comics was created for. And with The Art of Jordi Badia Romero, it’s an absolute pleasure to bring back this gorgeous work of a lost master of supernatural comics back to find an audience today.
It’s time to get your spook on as we bring you your annual Halloween horror, this year in the shape of a very special special returning us to the fear-filled The Thirteenth Floor!
Yes, we’re heading back to Maxwell Tower, where the experimental sentient computer, Max, takes protecting the tenants a step too far, banishing anyone he thinks is a threat to the nightmarish Thirteenth Floor!
We talked to write Guy Adams about the comic, illustrated by a veritable fear factory of artists, about what it meant to be the man responsible for putting a chill down our spines this Halloween!
Misty Presents… The Jordi Romero Badia Collectionis out now!
This deluxe over-sized art-book celebrates the art of a lost master of horror illustration!
Collecting Jordi Badía Romero’s work from supernatural girls comic Misty for the first time, this sumptuous hardcover art book collects stories from the 1980s showcases this remarkable, and criminally-overlooked, artist who died in 1984.
Romero – also known as Jorge – started his career in the early 1950s, illustrating Spanish romance and adventure stories alongside his brother, Enrique Badía Romero (artist on Modesty Blaise and Axa). Within a decade he would find work with UK publisher Fleetway, where he made a huge contribution, flourishing in the 1970s on titles such as Pink and Misty. As Jorge B. Gálvez he went on to work on several short stories for the American horror-comic Creepy, before moving onto Tarzan in the 1980s.
One of the unsung masters of British horror comics, this book celebrates his timeless talent and showcases the impact his work had on the readers of Misty. This exquisite collection is a must have for fans of great comic book art!
The Thirteenth Floor Special: Home Sweet Home is out now!
Feast your fleshy optical sensors on the new terrifying tale from the scariest strip eve to grace the comics page! Watch in horror as Max, the malevolent caretaker computer, unleashes the savagery of his Thirteenth Floor on unsuspecting victims!
Written by Guy Adams with art by Frazer Irving, John Stokes, Jose Ortiz, Vince Locke, Jimmy Broxton, Henrik Sahlstrom, Tom Paterson, V.V. Glass, Abigail Harding, Kelley Jones and Andreas Butzbach, make sure you grab your copy now!
Created by John Wagner, Alan Grant, and José Ortiz, The Thirteenth Floor is where the homicidal caretaker computer Max puts those he doesn’t like – a mysterious floor of the tower block he controls where he keeps their worst fears. Few, if any, survive if they get on Max’s wrong side!
Max has entered into an unholy partnership with a troubled young man called Sam Bowers. Together they are punishing the ne’er-do-wells who threaten the harmonious lives of the block’s residents, taking them to Max’s thirteenth floor – a place where nightmare and reality become one! WPC Hester Benedict suspected that something ungodly was happening at Maxwell Tower and went to investigate, causing Max to send her to the thirteenth floor…After a bout of neural programming Hester was let go – after all, she was an innocent. But now her memory is slowly returning, and Hester is ready to pick up where she left off…
She’s the daughter of Dracula and he’s a ‘feendish’ mastermind who just can’t get a break – get the mischievous Grimly Feendish and the devlish Draculass on brand new T-shirts from the Treasury of British Comics!
He’s the Rottenest Crook in the World and now he’s on a T-shirt in time for the spookiest time of the year!
Grimly Feendish was a would-be world conqueror, a master criminal who deployed everything from monsters to exploding treacle to take over the world! But he was constantly thwarted by his nemesis – Eagle-Eye, Junior Spy! Created by Leo Baxendale and first published in Wham! in 1964, and later appeared in Smash!.
Popping over from Transylvania to stay with her perfectly normal aunt, uncle and cousin Maisie, Draculass was the green-faced, sharp-fanged vampire always on the lookout for unsuspecting victims! While her family seemed blissfully unaware of her nocturnal activities, though luckily she proved constantly unsuccessful in sinking her teeth into the townsfolk!
Created by artist Terry Bave, Draculass first appeared in Monster Fun in 1975. She survived its merger with Buster, but only lasted until December 1977.
An ancient evil arises – and Dr. Mesmer’s Revengeis out now!
After several artefacts are stolen from his home, the mysterious Egyptologist Dr. Mesmer resurrects a five-thousand-year-old mummy called Angor – a Pharaoh possessed with great mystical power. Together they set out to retrieve the missing items, bringing terror and destruction in their wake!
Can anybody stop them? Both the army and constabulary will need to work together in order to stop Dr. Mesmer and his unearthly ally!
Originally serialised in Lion and Thunder from 16th October 1971 – 21st October 1972, Spanish superstar artist Carlos Cruz (Dan Dare) and Donne Avenell (The Saint), bring you a complete tale of bandage-wrapped terror and mayhem!
He’s mean, tough, ruthless … and alone! Loner bursts from the pages of Wildcat into his own collection – out now!
Do not miss Sláine artist David Pugh’s breathtaking work on this lost gem of 1980s British comics alongside comics legend Eric Bradbury, a comic that’s part Alice in Wonderland, part Star Trek, all action!
Ex-mercenary Loner always works alone. Even if it means being on an alien planet as the sole member of one of the spacecraft Wildcat’s exploration teams! With only his customised six-shooter, “Babe”, and some alien fur balls as company, Loner must contend with psychic aliens, subterranean monstrosities, and angry shapeshifters. He might be the toughest, but can he survive being shrunk, melted, and transformed on a planet that seems to want him dead?
Join humanity’s last surviving ex-mercenary on a surreal and grotesque adventure down the alien rabbit hole…
The strip was originally serialised in Wildcat from 22nd October 1988-7th April 1989, Wildcat Winter Special 1989, Wildcat Holiday Special 1990, Eagle & Wildcat from 29th April 1989-21st April 1990, Eagle Holiday Special 1990 & Eagle Annual 1991.
Don’t miss the new collection of a forgotten 20th Century comics classic, presented in the popular pocket-sized digest format!
With superhuman strength, bulletproof casing and an unstoppable resolve, the Steel Commando is the Allies’ ultimate weapon in the war against the Axis powers!
There’s just one bug in his circuits – he’ll only take orders from Ernie Bates, the laziest soldier in the British Army! Watch ‘Ironsides’ and ‘Excused Boots’ Bates carry out thrill-filled missions in dangerous enemy territories! This fun-packed army adventure also includes an early comic strip crossover as the Steel Commando joins forces with the mighty Captain Hurricane!
Created by Frank Pepper and Alex Henderson, Steel Commando debuted in Thunder in 1970.
