TREASURY OF BRITISH COMICS
In 2016, 2000 AD publisher Rebellion acquired the majority of a vast comic book catalogue previously belonging to British publishing giant IPC. Having been re-sold and re-branded several times over the years, the archive – containing British comic-book icons ranging from Roy of the Rovers to Hook-Jaw and Misty – was finally absorbed into Rebellion’s already sizeable horde of IP, forming the single largest archive of British comics in the world.
The acquisition included all titles and characters created after 1 January 1970 (with a couple of exceptions including Whizzer and Chips and Roy of the Rovers). This covers a dizzying range of titles from humour comics (Cor, Buster) and horror (Scream, Misty) to ‘girls’ anthologies (Tammy, Jinty), ‘boy’s own’ adventure (Battle, Action), and dozens more.
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Rebellion soon began producing prestige reprints of vintage material, as well as regular seasonal specials (most of them anthologies) containing new stories based on old properties. Here are several Treasury projects for which I've been commissioned.
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BLACK BETHA sword opera about an avenging medieval knight, Black Beth was created in the early 1970s for an aborted IPC horror title. The identity of the writer has since been lost to posterity, but the original artist and co-creator was Spanish illustrator Blas Gallego (who was working on movie adaptations for Dez Skinn’s House of Hammer at the time).
The comic for which the strip had been created got canned before issue one saw print and so Black Beth ended up in a drawer for over ten years! She was eventually exhumed by the editors of IPC’s horror weekly Scream! looking for material to fill up their 1988 Holiday Special.
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Having myself bought that Holiday Special back in the day and become obsessed with Black Beth’s bewitching atmosphere, I begged Treasury editor Keith Richardson to let me take a shot at reviving her alongside sensational Greek artist DaNi.
Click here for an interview with Rebellion about how we developed the new strip. So far, DaNi and I have created two one-shot adventures for Black Beth and sincerely hope we can do more...
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FATE OF THE FAIRY HUNTERFate of the Fairy Hunter was an original one-shot story created – with Black Beth artist DaNi – for the 2017 Scream and Misty Special. Editor Keith Richardson had asked for a story about evil fairies, and here’s what we delivered...
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KID KONGDebuting in the first issue of humour comic Monster Fun in June 1975, Kid Kong was created by artist Robert Nixon and later drawn by Rob Lee. Immensely popular in the ‘70s and ‘80s, the strip starred a monstrously large gorilla who lives with his adoptive grandmother. Kid was essentially a huge banana-obsessed child completely unaware of his own strength and whose short-sighted grandma always seemed oblivious to the havoc unfolding around her.
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Working with artists Tiernen Trevilian and Hilary Barta, I’ve written Kid Kong strips for two of Rebellion’s humour specials aimed at middle-grade readers.
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BLACK BETH
The Magos of Malice One-shot, with art by Dani and letters by Simon Bowland, in Scream & Misty, October 2018.
Driven by her crusade to punish the unjust, Black Beth must save a group of sacrifices from a warlock intent upon unleashing evil upon the world. But the witch Moldred has given Beth a dire warning: to undertake this mission will have terrible consequences! Will Beth heed Moldred’s advice? Or is her homicidal thirst for vengeance all that matters to her? The Witch Tree One-shot, with art by Dani and letters by XXXX, in Misty & Scream 2020 Special, XXXXXX 2020. Black Beth runs afoul of a superstitious mob who seek to hang a captive witch – alongside any who would seek to stop them Fate of the Fairy Hunter
One-shot, with art by Dani and letters by Maz Smith, in Scream & Misty, October 2017.
Approached by a vengeful fairy, 17-year-old Hannah learns the truth about her employer, Patricia Milson, an aging wiccan turned successful novelist. The fairy offers Hannah a fateful deal, but will she accept it? Kid Kong
Kid Kong Untitled one-shot, with art by Tiernen Trevallion and letters by A. Mann, in The Cor!! Buster Humour Special, April 2019
Chaos, crime, and colossal flatulence combine when Kid and Gran visit Banana-con – the greatest convention on earth (so long as you like bananas) Kid Kong Untitled one-shot, with art by Hilary Barta, colours by Wesley Wong and letters by Simia Magma, in The Cor!! Buster Easter Special, April 2020 A boring trip to the Museum of Really Old Stuff is livened up considerably when one of Doctor Feebee Fartzenberg’s dino-experiments runs amuck. 2000 AD RegenedStrontium Dog
Trial Run (one-shot, with art by Ben Willsher and letters by Simon Bowland, in the Free Comic Book Day 2018 edition of 2000 AD, May2018.
A train rockets through the desert radlands of post-apocalyptic London, its passengers terrorised by marauding zombie-master Carrion Jones. Hot on his tail is a young Johnny Alpha, taking his bounty hunter’s entry exam and charged with capturing Jones alive Judge Anderson
Spellcraft One-shot, with art by P.J. Holden, colours by Gary Caldwell and letters by Ellie De Ville, in 2000 AD #2130, May 2019 - all ages special.
A little girl has been psychically absorbed by the black-market video game Spellcrafters. Mega-City One’s top telepath Judge Anderson must enter this digital fantasy world, taking up sword and shield to help the girl fight for her freedom. 
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2000 AD REGENED
As part of their efforts to target younger readers, Rebellion also published several editions of 2000 AD Regened. Aimed at an older middle-grade readership, these special editions feature the adventures of regular 2000 AD characters but tailored for a younger audience.
For these I’ve written strips for Strontium Dog and – my favourite – Judge Anderson.
For these I’ve written strips for Strontium Dog and – my favourite – Judge Anderson.
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