The Geeky Brummie Pull List with Kane and Able
A much anticipated comic takes the top stop as Comic of the Week this week, and two of my favourite ongoing titles make up the rest of the Pull List. Five more new comics make it in to our On The Radar section, including the first issue of Barbaric and you should definitely check them out.
In Meanwhile… we take a look at some of the titles due to be released to celebrate the 45th anniversary of 2000AD.
Now on with the comics…
Title: Kane and Able
Issue: 1
Publisher: Image Comics
Written and Illustrated by Shaky Kane and Krent Able
Comic book wise guys, KANE and ABLE, serve up a summer dump cake of genre-busting mischief and masked mayhem in this oversized anthology of never-before-published strips.
Slip in and out of subconsciousness with the Astonishing Shield Bug!
Surf the Fleshwave with Black Fur in “Who Fears The Deathroach?”!
Journey into the sub-basement in the gasoline-tinged “Dustmites”!
Ride into the Creepzone with Nightmare and Sleepy in the aptly named “Creepzone”!
What can I say about this one. Shaky Kane is a legend of British indie comics and I’ve been following his work since the 80s. Krent Able is a newer name to me but this oversized team up anthology of never-before-published strips looks spectacular. If you’ve never encountered these artists before you are in for a treat. The art is wild and the stories extraordinary and anyone who loves comics should be dashing to their local comic shop to pick this one up.
Title: Star Trek: Year Five
Issue: 21
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Written by Brandon M. Easton : Art by Silvia Califano
With Spock still missing, the crew of the Enterprise needs to figure out where-and when-he is if they want to save the future! Meanwhile, on Vulcan, Spock is faced with a choice that won’t only change his life, but Vulcan society as he knows it! The final voyages of the original mission continue in this episode from writer Brandon Easton (Transformers: War for Cybertron, Thundercats) and artist Silvia Califano (Star Trek: Year Five, X-Files: Case Files)
We edge ever closer to the end of this rather wonderful series. This book really has run with what a fifth year abroad the Enterprise would have been. Of all the Star Trek licensed book put out by IDW this has been my favourite.
Title: We Only Find Them When They’re Dead
Issue: 7
Publisher: BOOM! Studios
Written by Al Ewing : Art by Simone Di Meo
Marlyn Chen, Ambassador for the Inner Worlds, arrives at Malik’s Flight to broker peace between the Harvesters and the Worshippers.
When Jason Hauer, one of the fated Vihaan II crew, is pulled into these talks, he will soon discover that like all politics, nothing is as it seems…
It’s that Al Ewing again. Some may find this series a little ponderous but I’m enjoying its wide screen slow burn. Al is really having fun her and Simone is doing a fabulous job on the art. The time-jump has kicked this up a notch but it’s the the wonderful cast of characters that make this such a compelling read.
On the radar this week some other comics not on the Pull List but well worth checking out:
Godzilla Rivals: Vs Hedorah #1
IDW Publishing
Written by Paul Allor : Art by E.J. Su
It’s the 1970s, and the world’s most terrifying Kaiju smash their way through New York City! As Godzilla and Hedorah do battle above, down below Todd Hopkins is racing across Manhattan, in a desperate bid to save the only scientist who can stop the chaos and drive the monsters back into the sea. But before the day is over, secrets will be revealed, and terrible choices made, to save the city from utter destruction!
Beta Ray Bill #4
Marvel Comics
Written and Illustrated by Daniel Warren Johnson : Coloured by Mike Spicer
ARGENT STAR, PART 4
The penultimate chapter of Daniel Warren Johnson’s righteous Horse-Thor epic! When Beta Ray Bill’s quest brings him and his friends—Skurge the Executioner and Pip the Troll—to the fiery realm of Muspelheim, they are quickly attacked by horrible monsters and dark beings! To save his friends, Bill must journey through a maze of his own memories!
Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #4
Marvel Comics
Written by Simon Spurrier : Art by Sergio Fernandez Davila
BATTLE WHERE THE BLACK KNIGHT WAS BORN! Dane Whitman wields the magical Ebony Blade as the BLACK KNIGHT! Dane will need to master the EBONY CHALICE as well to stop the murderous new foe. But like the blade, the powers of the chalice come with a terrible cost. Dane, monster hunter ELSA BLOODSTONE and Arthurian scholar JACKS must face the dark truths of the Black Knight’s legacy AND the enemy at the very site of the first Black Knight’s birth. Does Dane have the strength to finish the fight that began long ago at Camelot by King Arthur, Merlin and Sir Percy?!
Red Room #2
Fantagraphics Books
Written and Illustrated by Ed Piskor
From the Publisher:
Grooming victims to be slaughtered on the DARK WEB for the enjoyment of psychopaths requires lots of work to keep them from being identified. The Poker Face organization, one of the most successful black market Red Room companies on the internet, goes to great lengths to fulfill their customers’ depraved fantasies while avoiding law enforcement every step of the way. From the creator of Hip Hop Family Tree and X-Men: Grand Design comes this ALL-NEW monthly comic book series! A cyberpunk, outlaw, splatterpunk deep dive into the subculture of criminals who live-stream and patronize webcam murders for entertainment in the darkest corners of the web with nearly untraceable crypto-currency. As seen on Piskor’s YouTube channel sensation, Cartoonist Kayfabe!
Barbaric #1
Vault Comics
Written by Michael Moreci : Art by Nathan Gooden : Coloured by Addison Duke
From the Publisher:
Owen the Barbarian has been cursed to do good with what remains of his life. His bloodthirsty weapon, Axe, has become his moral compass with a drinking problem. Together they wander the realm, foredoomed to help any who seek assistance. But there is one thing Owen hates more than a life with rules: Witches.Welcome to the skull-cracking, blood-splattering, mayhem-loving comic brave enough to ask: How can a man sworn to do good do so much violence? Hah! F***ing with you. It’s just…BARBARIC.
2000AD Plans for 45th Anniversary
In February 2022 2000 AD will celebrate its 45th birthday. In preparation for what is sure to be a bumper year for the Zarjaz publication they fine folks at Rebellion have announced just a few off the incredible titles we can look forward to. Further plans for more 2000 AD anniversary titles will be announced in due course, but they’re focusing on showcasing their best creators and 2000 AD‘s incredible legacy with these incredible collections and special editions. Sadly, there’ll be no big convention like there was for the 40th in 2017, but hopefully there will be some special signing events to go with these releases.
Here is the full 2000AD press release:
A brand new kind of comic hits newsstands almost 45 years ago – and the legendary 2000 AD is getting ready to celebrate its birthday in style!
Rebellion is delighted to announce its publication plans for the 45th anniversary of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic, with creator-led collections and special artist editions across eight months to mark its first publication.
Supported with special talent signings, these graphic novels and new editions will not only celebrate the rich legacy of 2000 AD but also honour the creators who have helped it continue to blaze into the new century! These books form just part of Rebellion’s plans to mark this unprecedented anniversary, with more announcements due nearer the time.
First arriving on newsstands in the middle of February 1977, 2000 AD was never expected to outlast all of its stablemates and rivals, but its difference and quality ensured it very quickly it became a cultural force far beyond its pages, its anarchic tone established by Pat Mills, John Wagner and a host of groundbreaking talent. As well as being the home of future lawman Judge Dredd, it has been a proving ground for comic book creators who have gone on to change the industry forever, from Alan Moore to Grant Morrison, from Simon Bisley to Jock.
Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion, said: “Before the turn of the millennium many people had decided that 2000 AD wasn’t worth saving, but over the past two decades it has not only proven them wrong but has gone from strength to strength. It is with no small amount of pride that we are now laying plans for celebrating its 45th birthday, even as it continues to produce comics of fantastic quality – not as an anachronism or museum piece but as truly the galaxy’s greatest comic. All that success is thanks to the hard work, commitment, and talent of everyone involved – from creators to editorial and also the fans – I thank them all and look forward to helping shepherd 2000 AD through its next decades and beyond.”
Ben Smith, head of books, comic books, film and TV at Rebellion, said: “Our line-up for spring 2022 is packed with tributes to the people who have helped make 2000 AD what it is. It’s a pleasure to be able to bring such collections and special editions to the fans, which really bring 2000 AD’s rich heritage and characters alive.
“The ongoing uncertainty over the pandemic means we’re not planning a major convention to rival our 40th birthday celebrations, but that doesn’t mean we’re staying silent over this landmark. Far from it – our publishing schedule for both the anniversary and beyond will make 2022 a watershed year for 2000 AD and Rebellion.”
The festivities begin with The 2000 AD Encyclopedia (published in February). The first ever comprehensive and definitive encyclopedia of the worlds of 2000 AD, this weighty tome will bring together synopses and details of every series published in the weekly anthology and its sister comic, the Judge Dredd Megazine, as well as popular and distinctive characters from major series such as Judge Dredd. Written by writer and journalist Scott Montgomery, The 2000 AD Encyclopedia promises to become the definitive, go-to resource for the hundreds of creations that have appeared in the Galaxy’s Greatest Comics over the past four decades including comprehensive sections on Sláine, Nemesis the Warlock, A.B.C Warriors and many more.
Alongside this, The Brian Bolland Apex Edition (published in February) will showcase the Judge Dredd work of one of 2000 AD’s greatest creators. This deluxe, over-sized facsimile edition will feature new high-resolution scans of Bolland’s original art from 2000 AD, showing his delicate inking brushwork in unprecedented detail. As one of the first creators in the ‘British Invasion’ of the American comic book industry in the 1980s, Bolland’s work on series such as Camelot 3000 and Batman: The Killing Joke, and covers for Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Batman, and many more, have made him one of the most distinctive and famous artists in comics. This Apex Edition, which will be available in an exclusive edition through the 2000 AD webshop and a standard edition through comic stores via Diamond Distribution, will provide fans with unprecedented insights into his original art in an edition befitting such a landmark talent.
The mainstay of 2000 AD since its second issue, Judge Dredd is one of the world’s most famous comic book characters, not only spawning two major movie adaptations but becoming a cultural icon and a breeding ground for generations of creators who have helped transform comics as we know them. To mark Dredd’s 45th anniversary, 2000 AD will honour his co-creators, writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra, with two collections that bring together some of their best work for the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic. The Best of John Wagner (published in March) and The Best of Carlos Ezquerra(published in May) will give long-time fans and those new to the work of these two giants of British comics the opportunity to enjoy and savour some of the highlights from two talents that helped seal 2000 AD as a cultural trailblazer, with Wagner’s action-packed, terse, and often blackly comical writing paired with the gritty and dynamic art of Ezquerra, who sadly passed away in 2018.
Also published in March, Judge Dredd: Blaze of Glory will showcase the work of one of the best writers of the new generation of Judge Dredd scribes – Al Ewing. Beginning his career at 2000 AD, Ewing quickly established himself as one of comics’ most unique voices. A master of character, plot, and wit, Ewing’s work on Judge Dredd sealed his reputation as one of 2000 AD’s most exciting creators, as he has gone to work extensively for Marvel Comics on critically-acclaimed titles such as Immortal Hulk and Guardians of the Galaxy. The Blaze of Glory collection will bring together his best stories of the ‘lawman of the future’ and provide fans with an overview of his energetic and enthralling writing.
The special new editions culminate with 45 Years of 2000 AD (published in May). To mark 2000 AD’s galaxy of characters, forty-five popular artists from the worlds of comics and illustration will give their unique takes on some of 2000 AD’s most famous characters. The brand new collection will feature work by David Aja (Seeds), Michael Allred (X-Statix), Jamie Smart (Bear), Colleen Doran (New York Times bestseller), Annie Wu (Hawkeye), Mick McMahon (Judge Dredd), Kevin O’Neill (League of Extraordinary Gentlemen), Rachael Stott (Doctor Who), Chris Weston (The Filth), Henry Flint (Judge Dredd) and many, many more
No conversation about 2000 AD’s first great ‘golden age’ is complete without one name – Gerry Finley-Day. The co-creator of Rogue Trooper as well as the distinctive writer on series such as Blackhawk, The VCs, Fiends of the Eastern Front, Dan Dare, Ant Wars, Harry Twenty on the High Rock and many more, The Best of Gerry Finley-Day (published in August) will delve into this punchy, high-powered writing of one of the comic’s greatest ‘ideas men’. Finley-Day brought both a creative energy and a great sense of character to his work and this volume will pay tribute to the work of one of 2000 AD’s best talents.
Never before reprinted, September 2022 will see the first ever collection of DC Comics’ Judge Dredd: Legends of the Law. Capitalising on the hoped-for success of the Judge Dredd movie starring Sylvester Stallone and modelled on the Batman series Legends of the Dark Knight, this mid-‘90s series bought in Dredd writers John Wagner and Alan Grant to jettison most of Dredd’s established continuity and focus on the lawman’s earliest exploits. This unique collection will finally bring the thirteen-issue series together, with art by Brent Anderson (X-Men) Tommy Lee Edwards (Marvel 1985), John Byrne (Superman), Barb Kaalberg (Planet of the Apes), Gary Martin (Nexus), and Anthony Williams (Judge Dredd).
And, rounding off 2000 AD’s 45th birthday celebrations, October will see the eagerly-anticipated Mick McMahon Apex Edition. Few artists have stamped their signature on Judge Dredd the way McMahon has; the artist on the first published Dredd story in 2000 AD Prog 2, he was initially hired to imitate Ezquerra’s distinctive style but soon developed his own kinetic, visceral style, which evolved into the chunky, powerful ’big boots’ style. Constantly evolving, his work on seminal Dredd stories such as ‘The Cursed Earth’, ‘Block Mania’ and ‘The Judge Child’ was a world away from the almost woodcut-like art on Sláine, and his slick, sci-fi action on The VCs and Ro-Busters. This deluxe, over-sized facsimile edition will feature new high-resolution scans of McMahon’s original art from 2000 AD. It will also be available in an exclusive edition through the 2000 AD webshop and a standard edition through comic stores via Diamond Distribution.
2000 AD 45th anniversary publishing schedule
February
The 2000 AD Encyclopedia
Brian Bolland Apex Edition
March
The Best of John Wagner
Judge Dredd: Blaze of Glory
May
The Best of Carlos Ezquerra
45 Years of 2000 AD
August
The Best of Gerry Finley-Day
September
Judge Dredd: Legends of the Law
October
Mick McMahon Apex Edition
Your Local Comics Shops
After April 12th non-essential shop were allowed to open their doors again. This means many of your local comic shops are now open and you can pop in for your geek fix. Listed below are some of the best shops across the county with links to check the very latest information including opening time and covid safety measures. When visiting these shops please be patient and respectful to all the staff who are doing an incredible job in very difficult circumstances.
FORBIDDEN PLANET INTERNATIONAL (VARIOUS) – includes Worlds Apart Birmingham
Please check with stores for any changes to opening times and services.
Follow the stores social media pages for updates!
FORBIDDEN PLANET (VARIOUS) – includes Birmingham Megastore
Check their website for more information –
https://forbiddenplanet.com/stores/
GOSH! COMICS (LONDON)
Check their website for more information –
https://goshlondon.com/the-gosh-blog/the-gosh-authority-130620-reopening-news/ and https://twitter.com/GoshComics
OK COMICS (LEEDS)
Follow the stores social media pages and website for updates!
http://www.okcomics.co.uk/ and https://twitter.com/OKComics
PAGE 45 (NOTTINGHAM)
Check their website for more information –
http://www.page45.com/ and https://twitter.com/PageFortyFive
TRAVELLING MAN (VARIOUS)
Check their website and social media for more information –
https://travellingman.com/ and https://twitter.com/TravellingManUK
On YouTube
Subscribe to our channel
New videos are available on our channel – Geeky Brummie.
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Visit Worlds Apart Birmingham for all your comic and geeky collectable needs.
Keep a track of all your upcoming comics, trade and creators using the Hypedrive app – download for iOS here.
Or use the awesome League of Comics Geeks website – leagueofcomicgeeks.com
Tune in to our podcast every other Saturday to hear our pick of the week during Geeky Goings On.
Get the podcast: iTunes, Podiant, Sticher, Pocket Casts , TuneIn, Podbean
Follow @GeekyGoingsOn On Twitter
Follow @GeekyBrummie On Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Support us on Ko-fi
Leave a Reply