Tag: treasuryofbritishcomics

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‘Into Battle’ exhibition to showcase the best of British war comics

  • Into Battle: The Art of British War Comics goes on show from 1st October 2023 – 30th April 2024
  • Drawing on comics such as War Picture Library, Battle Action, to explore the art and history of British war comics
  • Original comic cover and panel artwork on public display for the first time
  • A collaboration between Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum and Oxford-based Rebellion, publisher of beloved British comics series such as 2000AD, Roy of the Rovers and Battle Action.

Into Battle: The Art of British War Comics will open to visitors at Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock, from 1st October 2023 to 30th April 2024.

The county’s military history museum is collaborating with Oxford-based Rebellion Publishing on the new exhibition which will offer visitors a chance to explore the history of British war comics through the archives of classic comic titles such as War Picture Library and Battle Action.

Hugely popular today, Britain has been publishing comics continuously for over 130 years. During that time, conflict has remained a staple of comic book storytelling and by the 1960s and 1970s war stories were the most popular genre.

The exhibition, featuring original comic artwork on public display for the first time, tells the story of war comics decade by decade. From satirical comic strips and patriotic illustrated story papers of 19th Century and early 20th Century, to the revolutionary comics of the 1970s, which presented much more gritty, authentic and emotionally-charged stories.

Long-time readers of comics will be given a nostalgic look back at some of their favourites, while younger and more recent fans will gain an insight into how their favourite medium has developed over the years.

Drawing on Rebellion’s extensive archives, the exhibition features artwork from the very best of British comics – taking in spectacular covers and action-packed panels from the War Picture Library, Battle Picture Weekly and Battle Action.

Battle Action, which Rebellion have recently revived with the work of renowned comic writers and artists such as Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys), Keith Burns (Commando Comics, Johnny Red) and Dab Abnett (Warhammer 40k, Marvel Comics) features heavily throughout. The comic, which was known as Battle Picture Weekly before merging with Action comics in 1977, notably featured the series Charley’s War by Pat Mills and Jo Colquhoun – regarded as one of the greatest war comics of all time.

Following its working-class hero from underage recruit in 1914 through almost every major event of the war, the strip sees Charley lose friends in battle, portraying the human cost of war through the eyes of an ordinary soldier.

The incredible artwork on display will includes original 1983 Charley’s War panels by Mill and Colquhoun, alongside full colour original artwork from Jordi Penalva (Bulldog Breed, 1965), Giorgio de Gaspari (Spy 13, 1959) and Graham Cotton (Gun Duel, 1967).

Alongside much to capture the interest and imagination of adults, the exhibition will offer younger visitors the chance to discover how comics are made and have a go at creating comics themselves.

Into Battle: The Art of British War Comics has been proudly sponsored by Ridge, multidisciplinary property and construction consultants. Partner Mark Richards said of the exhibition,

‘Ridge is delighted to support the local community near its Oxford office with a new exhibition showcasing the best British war comics. Supporting this exhibition on British war comics celebrates the rich history and honours the bravery and sacrifices of soldiers while promoting cultural engagement and education in our community. This exhibition will showcase the best of British war comics, providing a platform to appreciate the storytelling, artwork, and historical significance they offer, which Ridge is proud to be a part of.’

About Rebellion

Founded in 1992, Rebellion is one of Europe’s biggest independent studios. Its flagship Sniper Elite series is renowned for its authentic stealth and sniping gameplay with more than 20 million players worldwide. 2000 AD is synonymous with the absolute finest in British comic book art. With the acquisition of a $100m film studio and the world’s largest archive of English language comics, Rebellion continues to grow from strength to strength.

Rebellion now operates across books, comics, TV and film, but at its core it’s still a leading developer and publisher of games. Whether it’s the breathtaking intensity of Sniper Elite 4, the face-hugging terror of Aliens vs. Predator or the grindhouse frenzy of the Zombie Army series, the Oxford-based studio is revered for creating stand-out games designed to thrill.

Rebellion Publishing was founded in 2000 by Rebellion owners Chris and Jason Kingsley with acquisition of legendary UK comic imprint 2000 AD, and has expanded over the last 15 years with the creation of cult imprint Abaddon Books in 2006, acquisition of SFF powerhouse Solaris Books in 2010.

About the Soldiers of Oxfordshire (SOFO) Museum

SOFO Museum first opened during the summer of 2014, tucked away in the beautiful gardens in the grounds of The Oxfordshire Museum and Woodstock Library, and just on the doorstep of Blenheim Palace.

A new take on the classic military museum, SOFO shares stories of heroism, combat and peace from across the globe and throughout time. We also tell stories of how conflict has affected the county and its people, from soldiers serving on the front lines to ordinary people living on the Home Front.

As well as a range of ever-changing displays and events, our permanent exhibits explore topics that you’ll find surprising and moving in equal measure, such as raw accounts of the liberation of Bergen-Belsen from both camp survivors and Oxfordshire soldiers.

Battles of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry puts you on-board a Horsa Glider as it prepares to land in Normandy in the early hours of D-Day 1944, while Secret Agents, Secret Armies explores the world of spies and espionage through the lens of Ian Fleming and his creation, James Bond.

SOFO holds a collection of over 3,500 objects and 7,500 archive items from two county regiments, the Queens Own Oxfordshire Hussars (QOOH) and the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. These are our starting point for reflecting on the county’s rich and diverse military heritage.

Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum, Park Street, Woodstock, OX20 1SN

Registered Charity No. 1145408

www.sofo.org.uk

frontofhouse@sofo.org.uk

01993 810 210

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Get the new classic girls’ comics T-shirts

Apparel of Laughs is launching a new range of six T-shirts celebrating IPC Fleetway’s classic comics for girls.

Created in collaboration with Rebellion Publishing, each design features a vintage illustration taken from the vast archive of these nostalgic comics and spans the decades with famous titles like June, Tammy, and Misty getting their own unique t-shirts.

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Founder and Designer of Apparel of Laughs, Jude Coram, said: “As an avid collector of classic comics, I have seen the value and love heaped onto these girls’ titles. They were not just shelf fillers, each one was made with care and consideration for the reader with some of the best artists around. The care taken to give a girl something to read and enjoy, but also to learn and aspire to is something we should see more of today. Each comic had it’s own unique selling point and was able to find it’s own audience amongst the school girls of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. The comics featured mystery stories, sci-fi fantasy, and fantastical tales as well as school strips and relationships. They weren’t afraid to tackle harder topics and gave their readers a safe space to grow. A whole generation of women were brought up with these comics, and we are very happy to take these ladies back to happier days with a healthy dose of nostalgia. “

Apparel of Laughs has been selling t-shirts and gifts celebrating British culture from when it first launched in October 2019. Since then, it has spread a bit of Britishness to customers all over the world with designs featuring food, TV, film, sports, and art from the UK. All the shirts are printed using vegan inks, and all are sent in plastic free packaging. All clothing orders are also sent for free to the UK. The new collection of girl’s comic t-shirts perfectly encapsulates what Apparel of Laughs is all about; showcasing classic parts of British cultural history with fun, unique, and original designs.

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Out Now! Check In for Chills with The Thirteenth Floor: The Return of Max

THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR: THE RETURN OF MAX

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comic shop or bookshop

He’s the legendary star of classic British horror comic Scream!, and now Max – the murderous AI – is back with new adventures in a fantastic collection!

Max, the A.I. superintendent of Maxwell Towers has found a kindred soul in one of his residents, a young, disturbed boy call Sam Bowers. Together they work to rid the building of all the ne’er do wells who lurk in the dark corridors of the block, luring them to the dreaded thirteenth floor. But this power has started to corrupt Sam, surprising even Max – and their activities have not gone unnoticed, as WPC Hester Benedict becomes more aware of the sinister events taking place at the building.

Out on 14 September and written by Guy Adams (Heavens Gate), this collection includes art by Frazer Irving (Batman and Robin), John Stokes (Star Wars), Tom Paterson (Sweeny Toddler), Kelley Jones (The Sandman), VV Glass (Dr Who) and Vince Locke (A History of Violence).

PAPERBACK >>

WEBSHOP EXCLUSIVE HARDCOVER >>

Standard paperback cover
Webshop exclusive hardcover
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Pre-order BATTLE ACTION #5

The thrilling new BATTLE ACTION mini-series comes to an explosive end with its fifth issue!

The last issue of Battle Action is now available to pre-order from your local comic book store (Diamond code JUL231918) or from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops.

Out on 27 September, this issue kicks off with an early adventure of ‘Hellman of Hammer Force’, when he leads the Condor Legion in Spain and the conflict forces him to determine what he will stand for – written by Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher), with art by Mike Dorey (2000 AD).

In ‘Nina Petrova and The Angels of Death’, Petrova takes a new Commissar under her wing and the green officer sees first-hand what war truly entails, by Torunn Grønbekk (Thor, Punisher War Journal) and Patrick Goddard (Rogue Trooper).

PRE-ORDER FIFTH ISSUE (UK) >>

PRE-ORDER FIFTH ISSUE (US) >>

ORDER THE COMPLETE FIVE ISSUE BUNDLE >>

BUY FIRST ISSUE >>

Classic series from the legendary British comics Battle Picture Weekly and Action such as ‘Johnny Red’, ‘HMS Nightshade’, ‘Crazy Keller’, ‘D-Day Dawson’, ‘Dredger’, ‘Major Eazy’, and ‘Hellman of Hammer Force’ burst back into life in this new five-issue mini-series, which features the work of John Wagner (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog), Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy, Warhammer 40k), Torunn Grønbekk (Thor, Punisher: War Journal), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen, Judge Dredd) and Chris Burnham (Batman Incorporated, Unstoppable Doom Patrol)!

Available through comic book stores and the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops, this first issue features the return of fan favourite World War Two flying ace ‘Johnny Red’ by Ennis and Burns, as well as the return of Battle Picture Weekly’s co-creator John Wagner to ‘HMS Nightshade’, the series he co-created with artist Mike Western in 1979, which tells the story of a Royal Navy warship protecting Allied shipping from the U-Boat menace!

Battle Picture Weekly was where the revolution in British comics began. Created in 1975 by writers and editors Pat Mills and John Wagner, it introduced new grittiness into comics with its cast of anti-heroes and misfits. Its bombast and energy sparked a sea-change in what comics could do, leading to Mills’ creation of the controversial Action and the globally influential 2000 AD.

The new Battle Action mini-series celebrates the merging of this landmark title with its controversial stablemate, Action, a combination that took the two comics to even greater heights. Now, more than forty years after the original, some of the cream of British comics talent are bringing these classic characters back to life.

Battle Action #1 is out on 31 May from comic book stores and will be available for stores to order through Diamond Distribution’s Previews magazine. It will also be available in print and digital from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops and digitally through the 2000 AD app.

Issue 1:

  • JOHNNY RED by Garth Ennis and Keith Burns
  • HMS NIGHTSHADE by John Wagner and Dan Cornwell

Issue 2 on sale: 28 June

  • CRAZY KELLER by Garth Ennis and Chris Burnham
  • D-DAY DAWSON by Dan Abnett and Phil Winslade

Issue 3 on sale: 26 July

  • DREDGER by Garth Ennis and John Higgins
  • MAJOR EAZY by Rob Williams and Henry Flint

Issue 4 on sale: 30 August

  • COOLEY’S GUN by Garth Ennis and Staz Johnson
  • DEATH SQUAD by Rob Williams and PJ Holden

Issue 5 on sale: 27 September

  • HELLMAN OF HAMMER FORCE by Garth Ennis and Mike Dorey
  • NINA PETROVA AND THE ANGELS OF DEATH by Torunn Grønbekk and Patrick Goddard
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Giant bats and dogfights – pre-order Black Max Vol.3

German World War One flying ace Baron Maximilien Von Klorr returns to the skies over the Western Front – and this time he isn’t on his own!

The third volume of Black Max is available to pre-order now!

Ace fighter pilot Baron Maximilien Von Klorr is the scourge of the skies – menacing the Allied forces during the bloodiest battles in World War One, aided by two giant, mutated kingbats who fight by his side! Von Klorr AKA Black Max is almost unstoppable and only the brave pilots of the Royal Flying Corps oppose his complete dominance of the air…

Now, evil scientific genius Doctor Gratz has formed an unholy alliance with the giant bat-controlling Baron and together the two sinister fiends have formulated a plan to destroy Paris!

Out on 18 January and available as standard paperbacks or in a limited edition hardcover with new cover by Keith Burns (Battle Action), this third instalment features the stunning artwork of Alfonso Font and marks the final adventures of the original Black Max comic strip run from the pages of Thunder.

PRE-ORDER PAPERBACK >>

PRE-ORDER HARDCOVER >>

AMAZON.CO.UK >>

ORDER VOLUME 1 >>

ORDER VOLUME 2 >>

Paperback cover by Tiernen Trevallion
Hardcover by Keith Burns
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BATTLE ACTION #4 out now!

The next in the thrilling new BATTLE ACTION mini-series is out now!

The fourth issue of Battle Action is now available from your local comic book store (Diamond code JUN232047) or from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops.

This penultimate issue of Battle Action contains two all-new tales of ordinary soldiers performing heroic acts of bravery under extreme conditions!

On the bloody battlefield of Anzio, Italy, a raw 18-year-old soldier, Jim Miller, must devote every waking moment to ensure that Cooley’s Gun keeps firing in order to stave off the relentless Nazi assault, written by Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher) and Staz Johnson (Batman/Aliens, New X-Men).

On the Eastern Front the Death Squad are sent on a do-or-die mission to go behind Russian lines in order to rescue a Field Marshal’s son and are faced with a difficult decision when they find him, written by Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Sword of Hyperborea), and drawn by PJ Holden (The Lion & The Eagle, The Stringbags).

ORDER FOURTH ISSUE (UK) >>

ORDER FOURTH ISSUE (US) >>

ORDER THE COMPLETE FIVE ISSUE BUNDLE >>

BUY FIRST ISSUE >>

Cover by Keith Burns

Classic series from the legendary British comics Battle Picture Weekly and Action such as ‘Johnny Red’, ‘HMS Nightshade’, ‘Crazy Keller’, ‘D-Day Dawson’, ‘Dredger’, ‘Major Eazy’, and ‘Hellman of Hammer Force’ burst back into life in this new five-issue mini-series, which features the work of John Wagner (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog), Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy, Warhammer 40k), Torunn Grønbekk (Thor, Punisher: War Journal), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen, Judge Dredd) and Chris Burnham (Batman Incorporated, Unstoppable Doom Patrol)!

Available through comic book stores and the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops, this first issue features the return of fan favourite World War Two flying ace ‘Johnny Red’ by Ennis and Burns, as well as the return of Battle Picture Weekly’s co-creator John Wagner to ‘HMS Nightshade’, the series he co-created with artist Mike Western in 1979, which tells the story of a Royal Navy warship protecting Allied shipping from the U-Boat menace!

Battle Picture Weekly was where the revolution in British comics began. Created in 1975 by writers and editors Pat Mills and John Wagner, it introduced new grittiness into comics with its cast of anti-heroes and misfits. Its bombast and energy sparked a sea-change in what comics could do, leading to Mills’ creation of the controversial Action and the globally influential 2000 AD.

The new Battle Action mini-series celebrates the merging of this landmark title with its controversial stablemate, Action, a combination that took the two comics to even greater heights. Now, more than forty years after the original, some of the cream of British comics talent are bringing these classic characters back to life.

Battle Action #1 is out on 31 May from comic book stores and will be available for stores to order through Diamond Distribution’s Previews magazine. It will also be available in print and digital from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops and digitally through the 2000 AD app.

Issue 1:

  • JOHNNY RED by Garth Ennis and Keith Burns
  • HMS NIGHTSHADE by John Wagner and Dan Cornwell

Issue 2 on sale: 28 June

  • CRAZY KELLER by Garth Ennis and Chris Burnham
  • D-DAY DAWSON by Dan Abnett and Phil Winslade

Issue 3 on sale: 26 July

  • DREDGER by Garth Ennis and John Higgins
  • MAJOR EAZY by Rob Williams and Henry Flint

Issue 4 on sale: 30 August

  • COOLEY’S GUN by Garth Ennis and Staz Johnson
  • DEATH SQUAD by Rob Williams and PJ Holden

Issue 5 on sale: 27 September

  • HELLMAN OF HAMMER FORCE by Garth Ennis and Mike Dorey
  • NINA PETROVA AND THE ANGELS OF DEATH by Torunn Grønbekk and Patrick Goddard
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Back in stock: the definitive Charley’s War

“This really is the definitive edition” – Pat Mills

Considered by many as the most important war story to appear in comics, the three volumes of Pat Mills and Joe Colquhoun’s incredible Charley’s War are now back in stock – and with brand new bundle options, including a limited edition original art screen print.

One of the defining masterpieces of British comics, these three beautiful volumes feature rescanned and remastered artwork – plus with original colour pages lovingly restored.

As well as the standard three-volume bundle, you can order the special bookplate edition bundle, individually numbered and signed by Pat Mills.

Two of the new bundle options include a limited edition screen print of art by the legendary Colquhoun from Charley’s War episode #230 in 1979. This scale replica reproduces a page of artwork in its original size of 400x470mm and is taken from high-resolution scans, with five layers of hand-pressed screen printing capturing the creative process of the original page to produce an artefact that is faithful both to its creator’s vision and to the lost art of making comic books. This limited edition screen print is hand-numbered, and printed on archival quality acid-free Somerset satin 410gsm white paper.

Deeply affecting, unsparingly hard, and unflinchingly political, Charley’s War follows sixteen-year-old working class lad Charley Bourne who eagerly signs up to fight on the Western Front in 1916. The idealistic sixteen-year-old experiences a hellish world of trench warfare where every day is a bitter fight for survival, and Charley and his friends soon realise they have been thrust into a conflict where ordinary people are expected to throw away their lives to serve the selfish interests of those in power.

Order the Charley’s War bundle >>

Order the Charley’s War bundle with screen print >>

Order the Charley’s War bookplate bundle >>

Order the Charley’s War bookplate bundle with screen print >>


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Pre-order BATTLE ACTION #4

Pre-order the next in the thrilling new BATTLE ACTION mini-series!

The fourth issue of Battle Action is now available to pre-order from your local comic book store (Diamond code JUN232047) or from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops.

Out on 30 August, the penultimate issue of Battle Action contains two all-new tales of ordinary soldiers performing heroic acts of bravery under extreme conditions!

On the bloody battlefield of Anzio, Italy, a raw 18-year-old soldier, Jim Miller, must devote every waking moment to ensure that Cooley’s Gun keeps firing in order to stave off the relentless Nazi assault, written by Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher) and Staz Johnson (Batman/Aliens, New X-Men).

On the Eastern Front the Death Squad are sent on a do-or-die mission to go behind Russian lines in order to rescue a Field Marshal’s son and are faced with a difficult decision when they find him, written by Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Sword of Hyperborea), and drawn by PJ Holden (The Lion & The Eagle, The Stringbags).

PRE-ORDER FOURTH ISSUE (UK) >>

PRE-ORDER FOURTH ISSUE (US) >>

ORDER THE COMPLETE FIVE ISSUE BUNDLE >>

BUY FIRST ISSUE >>

Cover by Keith Burns

Classic series from the legendary British comics Battle Picture Weekly and Action such as ‘Johnny Red’, ‘HMS Nightshade’, ‘Crazy Keller’, ‘D-Day Dawson’, ‘Dredger’, ‘Major Eazy’, and ‘Hellman of Hammer Force’ burst back into life in this new five-issue mini-series, which features the work of John Wagner (Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog), Dan Abnett (Guardians of the Galaxy, Warhammer 40k), Torunn Grønbekk (Thor, Punisher: War Journal), Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Judge Dredd), John Higgins (Watchmen, Judge Dredd) and Chris Burnham (Batman Incorporated, Unstoppable Doom Patrol)!

Available through comic book stores and the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops, this first issue features the return of fan favourite World War Two flying ace ‘Johnny Red’ by Ennis and Burns, as well as the return of Battle Picture Weekly’s co-creator John Wagner to ‘HMS Nightshade’, the series he co-created with artist Mike Western in 1979, which tells the story of a Royal Navy warship protecting Allied shipping from the U-Boat menace!

Battle Picture Weekly was where the revolution in British comics began. Created in 1975 by writers and editors Pat Mills and John Wagner, it introduced new grittiness into comics with its cast of anti-heroes and misfits. Its bombast and energy sparked a sea-change in what comics could do, leading to Mills’ creation of the controversial Action and the globally influential 2000 AD.

The new Battle Action mini-series celebrates the merging of this landmark title with its controversial stablemate, Action, a combination that took the two comics to even greater heights. Now, more than forty years after the original, some of the cream of British comics talent are bringing these classic characters back to life.

Battle Action #1 is out on 31 May from comic book stores and will be available for stores to order through Diamond Distribution’s Previews magazine. It will also be available in print and digital from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops and digitally through the 2000 AD app.

Issue 1:

  • JOHNNY RED by Garth Ennis and Keith Burns
  • HMS NIGHTSHADE by John Wagner and Dan Cornwell

Issue 2 on sale: 28 June

  • CRAZY KELLER by Garth Ennis and Chris Burnham
  • D-DAY DAWSON by Dan Abnett and Phil Winslade

Issue 3 on sale: 26 July

  • DREDGER by Garth Ennis and John Higgins
  • MAJOR EAZY by Rob Williams and Henry Flint

Issue 4 on sale: 30 August

  • COOLEY’S GUN by Garth Ennis and Staz Johnson
  • DEATH SQUAD by Rob Williams and PJ Holden

Issue 5 on sale: 27 September

  • HELLMAN OF HAMMER FORCE by Garth Ennis and Mike Dorey
  • NINA PETROVA AND THE ANGELS OF DEATH by Torunn Grønbekk and Patrick Goddard
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Smash! – new superhero mini-series launches in October

Superheroes from across the ages – assemble! A brand new comics mini-series is unleashing the power of some of comics’ greatest characters of all time!

Rebellion is pleased to announce that Smash!, new three-issue US-format mini-series, is coming this October.

Written by renowned artist/writer Paul Grist (Kane, Jack Staff), this fast-paced action-adventure mini-series features the very best and the most outlandish heroes, superheroes, and anti-heroes that comics can offer!

From two very different 1960s secret agents – Jane Bond and The Steel Claw – to mechanical menaces Robot Archie and the murderous AI Max from The Thirteenth Floor, and villainous anti-hero The Spider and supernatural avenger Cursitor Doom, this is a series a whole century in the making.

With each issue featuring brand new art from Tom Foster (Judge Dredd), Anna Morozova (Lowborn High) and Jimmy Broxton (Hope), and stunning covers by Andy Clarke (Batman and Robin), Smash! #1 arrives in comic book stores and on the 2000 AD webshop and app on 25 October, retailing at £4.99 (UK) and $7.99 (US).

This brand new mini-series unleashes the power of some of the last century’s greatest comic book characters. Having been inspired by them to create his acclaimed self-published series Jack Staff, Grist now realises his vision with the original versions of these legendary characters.

In Victorian London, when the legendary elastic-limbed escapologist Janus Stark traps a demon in a stone idol, hoping to seal away the malevolent monster for all time – yet he has just created a prize too alluring for criminal masterminds to resist!

Sixty years later, terrifying high-tech thief The Spider organises a heist for his Crime Syndicate to the steal the statuette. But heroes from across the ages unite to confound the king of crime, and prevent him from unleashing the demon hidden inside. Can they succeed and keep the evil of the stone idol contained?

However, The Steel Claw and Jane Bond are assigned to halt the theft, but they encounter a mysterious stranger who throws both sides’ plans into disarray.

Paul Grist said: “The Spider is, without doubt, my favourite British comic character. There are others that are more famous, more heroic, or just longer running, but it’s the Spider that’s been living rent free in my head since I first came across him in the pages of a ‘Summer Special’ whilst on a caravan holiday with my family many summers ago.

“So to be asked to write a bunch of stories of his battles with his more ‘heroic’ contemparies wasn’t something I was going to turn down! At least I could finally get him to earn his keep!

“The three-issue that make up this series of Smash! give the Spider a chance to cavort across 60 years of British comics history, crossing paths with the Steel Claw, Robot Archie and Adam Eterno, as well as a few surprise ‘guest stars’ along the way. I even get to write a Janus Stark story to kick things off!

“But don’t worry, it doesn’t require the reader to have read years of British comics in order to appreciate it. But I hope that it will give the you, the reader, a flavour of the range, variety and, quite frankly, the sheer bonkersness of British comics over the years!”

Smash! is the latest comics mini-series from Rebellion, with Garth Ennis currently leading the charge with the five-issue Battle Action and YA/teen one-shot special Mega-City Max bringing audiences new takes on popular characters from the dystopian world of Judge Dredd.

Smash! #1 is out on 25 October, with subsequent issues released monthly. Comic book stores can order their copies through Diamond Distribution using code AUG232169

Grab this issue and more from your local comics shop – find your nearest comic book shop at ComicShopLocator.com.

To read Smash!, 2000 AD, the Judge Dredd Megazine, Monster Fun, fiction ebooks, and hundreds of graphic novel collections, download the 2000 AD app for iOS and Android devices. As well as reading a host of free comics, can read your purchases in the app or download them as DRM-free files from the 2000 AD webshop.

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Battle Action #3 out now!

The next issue in the thrilling new BATTLE ACTION mini-series is out now!

The third issue of Battle Action is now available from your local comic book store (Diamond code MAY231962) or from the 2000 AD and Treasury of British Comics webshops.

Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher) and John Higgins (Hellblazer, Before Watchmen) bring you a violent tale set in 1981, featuring the brutal secret agent Dredger who is tracking down kidnappers and delivering justice in his own unique way!

The laconic, laid-back WW2 British Army officers Major Eazy makes a comeback in a brand-new story written by Rob Williams (Suicide Squad, Sword of Hyperborea) and drawn by Henry Flint (Hawk the Slayer, Judge Dredd). It’s 1942 and Eazy must ensure that his soldiers survive the savage sands of the Battle of El Alamein!

This issue is out now in the UK and out on 30 August in North America.

BUY NOW >>

ORDER IN NORTH AMERICA >>

BUY PREVIOUS ISSUES >>

BUY FIRST ISSUE WITH WEBSHOP EXCLUSIVE COVER >>