Friends of Tharg #2

I'm always happy to give a shout-out to ace ebay seller ewan_b (here) he really does find the most interesting British comics things. He's well worth following on ebay.

For posterity I've snagged these images from a sale a few months ago of "FRIENDS OF THARG no.2 - "The Newsletter of the 2000AD Society"

Super-rare original vintage 2000AD fanzine published in late 1979 by Sean Egan (I understand this was the first ever dedicated 2000AD fanzine?)
<50 print run
Ran for two issues then followed up with "Bloodblade" fanzine which ran for another two issues - though I've never seen the 2nd...
Features 2000AD interviews and art unpublished elsewhere
Front cover - Judge Dredd by Stephen Alban
Massimo Belardinelli interview with "The Great Beast" sketch art
John Wagner feature
Dan Dare feature
Letters inc from Steve McManus (Tharg)
Prog 178 news - Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog, Meltdown Man, Mean Arena, Nemesis, Dash Decent
Fanzine Reviews

UPDATED: Clive Barker's 'Hellbreed' - Marvel UK

Michael Carroll's timeline of Marvel UK comics (here) has an array of interestingly short-lived comics on that I thought I should create cover galleries for them. Sometimes this is easier said than done but let's look at the 3 issue Clive Barker's Hellbreed comic from 1995.

UPDATED with a better image for issue 2 and a better image for issue #3.

Clive Barker's 'Hellbreed' - issue #1, May 1995, £1.95

Clive Barker's 'Hellbreed' - issue #2, June 1995, £1.95

Clive Barker's 'Hellbreed' - issue #3, July 1995, £1.95

This appears to have then be collected in this volume (published under the Epic imprint) - or at least the cover has been re-used on this volume! Cover art by Mike Mignola.

Sláine & Spector signing at Gosh! comics announced

This is today! Have fun if you're going!

Gosh! comics have announced a double 2000AD themed signing for Saturday 26th April. Let's see what they have to say about this signing...

BORAG THUNGG, EARTHLETS, we have quite the thrill packed signing for you. Three titanic creator droids Dan Cornwall, Mick McMahon and John Wagner will grace us with their presence for a 2000AD signing on Saturday 26th April 2025, from 1-2pm. We'll be celebrating two brand new 2000AD releases, Sláine: The Definitive Edition and Spector: Incorruptible. Here's what publishers Rebellion say about the comics:

Sláine: The Definitive Edition

Sláine Mac Roth of the Sessair tribe is known as the Warped Warrior – a mighty barbarian who can master the ‘warp-spasm’, harnessing the power of the Earth to transform into a monstrous creature. Accompanied by his dwarf sidekick, Ukko, and wielding his legendary axe Brain-biter, he travels Tir-Nan-Og, a land marred by warring tribes and ruled by merciless gods.

Created by Pat Mills and Angie Kincaid, with art by Mick McMahon and Massimo Belardinelli, Sláine: The Definitive Edition collects the complete series in order, and includes original covers from the full run.

Spector: Incorruptible

Just a few years into our future, faced with unsustainable levels of corruption within the branches of city government, and a police force that is equally rotten, Spector is created. A robot detective, untainted by corruption and beyond bribery, Spector is charged with cleaning up the city. But it is an uphill battle, as many people currently in positions of power want the robot to fail.

Written by John Wagner (A History of Violence), this standalone graphic novel represents the final work of Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd), with Dan Cornwell (Rok of the Reds) completing the story.

You can meet Mick, John and Dan on Saturday 26th April, from 1pm. If you'd like to pre-order a signed copy of Spector: Incorruptible for mail-order or collection then head over to our website. We'll also have an exclusive Sláine mini-print signed by Mick McMahon to accompany all copies of the definitive edition!

Sláine & Spector signing at Gosh! comics announced

Gosh! comics have announced a double 2000AD themed signing for Saturday 26th April. Let's see what they have to say about this signing...

BORAG THUNGG, EARTHLETS, we have quite the thrill packed signing for you. Three titanic creator droids Dan Cornwall, Mick McMahon and John Wagner will grace us with their presence for a 2000AD signing on Saturday 26th April 2025, from 1-2pm. We'll be celebrating two brand new 2000AD releases, Sláine: The Definitive Edition and Spector: Incorruptible. Here's what publishers Rebellion say about the comics:

Sláine: The Definitive Edition

Sláine Mac Roth of the Sessair tribe is known as the Warped Warrior – a mighty barbarian who can master the ‘warp-spasm’, harnessing the power of the Earth to transform into a monstrous creature. Accompanied by his dwarf sidekick, Ukko, and wielding his legendary axe Brain-biter, he travels Tir-Nan-Og, a land marred by warring tribes and ruled by merciless gods.

Created by Pat Mills and Angie Kincaid, with art by Mick McMahon and Massimo Belardinelli, Sláine: The Definitive Edition collects the complete series in order, and includes original covers from the full run.

Spector: Incorruptible

Just a few years into our future, faced with unsustainable levels of corruption within the branches of city government, and a police force that is equally rotten, Spector is created. A robot detective, untainted by corruption and beyond bribery, Spector is charged with cleaning up the city. But it is an uphill battle, as many people currently in positions of power want the robot to fail.

Written by John Wagner (A History of Violence), this standalone graphic novel represents the final work of Carlos Ezquerra (Judge Dredd), with Dan Cornwell (Rok of the Reds) completing the story.

You can meet Mick, John and Dan on Saturday 26th April, from 1pm. If you'd like to pre-order a signed copy of Spector: Incorruptible for mail-order or collection then head over to our website. We'll also have an exclusive Sláine mini-print signed by Mick McMahon to accompany all copies of the definitive edition!

UPDATED: Battle from Rebellion

To celebrate 'Death Squad' being published by the Treasury of British comics I've re-freshed my list of the Battle branded list of publications from Rebellion...

Thought I'd just try and start collating all the instances where Rebellion Publishing have used the Battle logo - please let me know if I've missed anything...

New items highlighted in red

Operation Overlord
Standalone (so not presented free with the Megazine) comic issues 1-4 of Operation Overlord

Operation Overlord

Presented free with Judge Dredd magazine issue 404 

Presented free with Judge Dredd magazine issue 405

Presented free with Judge Dredd megazine issue 406

Presented free with Judge Dredd megazine issue 407

and then collected together in a single volume...

Sniper Elite: Resistance

Sniper elite: Resistance, Issue 1 - cover A, Patrick Goddard art

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 1 - cover B, Edouard Groult art

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 1 - Forbidden Planet variant cover, Ian Kennedy art 

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 2 - cover A, art by Patrick Goddard & Quinton Winter

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 2 - cover B, Colin Wilson art

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 3

Sniper elite: Resistance Issue 3 - cover B, Carlos Ezquerra art 

And then collected together... 

And, pre-dating all of these, was this Sniper elite: Resistance ash-can comic sold at San Diego Comic-con

Battle reprints books

Major Eazy vs Rat Pack - Alan Hebden & Carlos Ezquerra

Major Eazy - the Italian campaign (not yet released)

El Mestizo - Alan Hebden & Carlos Ezquerra

Originally serialised in Battle 4th June 1977-17th September 1977

Death Squad - by Alan Hebden and with art by Carlos Ezquerra & Eric Bradbury

You can order it here

This book collects the Death Squad stories published in Battle Action from 12 July 1980 - 4 June 1981, as well as the Battle Annual 1982.

Invasion 1984! by John Wagner, Alan Grant and Eric Bradbury

Specials

softback, 'holiday special' style publication - Keith Burns cover (2000AD webshop exclusive cover)

softback, 'holiday special' style publication - this was the version available in newsagents 

Mini trade - Lofty's one-man Luftwaffe

This was free with the Judge Dredd Megazine #397 (cover dated 17th July 2018)

Reprinted from Battle issue #1-#18

More recent Battle material

Judge Dredd Megazine #456 reprints issue #1 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from November 2015

Judge Dredd Megazine #457 reprints issue #2 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from December 2015  

Judge Dredd Megazine #458 reprints issue #3 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from January 2016  

Judge Dredd Megazine #459 reprints issue #4 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from February 2016  

Judge Dredd Megazine #460 reprints issue #5 of the Titan comics Johnny Red comic from March 2016  

plus it's part of the Battle Action crossover with prog 2350

Battle Action, 5 issue mini series

Battle Action #0, May 2023

very small runs of these were produced, my copy (acquired at Enniskillen comic festival in 2023) is marked as "2nd printing, May 2023"

Battle Action #1, May 2023, webshop exclusive cover

Battle Action #1, May 2023, newsstand cover

Battle Action #1, May 2023, Diamond exclusive cover

this copy signed by Garth Ennis

Battle Action #2, June 2023

Battle Action #3, July 2023

Battle Action #4, August 2023

Battle Action #5, September 2023

Recent books

1). Clash of the guards

the 'regular' edition of this is in paperback; the webshop exclusive (limited to 200 copies) looks the same but is hardback

2). The Sarge

'regular' edition, softback

webshop exclusive hardcover - limited to 200 copies

Battle Action 'annual' 

The regular (hardback) edition

The webshop exclusive hardback edition - Dredger cover by John B Higgins