STARSCAPE & SOLAR WIND are two of the many, many 'small press' publications which are currently available, IF you know where to get them that is. With the current resurgence of popularity and appreciation of comics by the general public, many enthusiasts have taken it upon themselves to create their own publications.

Now, I don't know too much about this particular genre of comic-world, but I do know that it appears to have been around for over 20-odd years. Indeed, the long-running VIZ comic started out in just this way. As an aside, I also know that there may be a bit of a shake-up in the small-press world, with many of the creators orgainsing themselves into just one or two publications. In this way, the reader will benefit from getting the cream of the stories without the 'not-so-good' filler stories. The long-term plan is to create a totally new, independant and professionally produced comic. I mean, Pete Nash is doing it with his Striker comic, why stop there.

Now, I've had the good fortune to have had two of these publications sent to me by their respective creators to overview them and bring them to your attention, which I am pleased to do.

     

STARSCAPE - This is the very first issue and comes from Chris (SuperHeroStore) Smillie. Chris has managed to obtain the rights to reprint the classic 1970's Buster strip, Leopard From Lime Street and this issue shows how 13-year-old Billy Farmer becomes 'Leopard Boy'. In this issue we are treated to the first seven pages of this popular strip.

The Deterrent story, created by Chris Smillie and Nic Williams is a superhero type story which has the being that is responsible for protecting against crimes, handing over the 'powers of the bracelets' to a younger person, known as the Chosen. However, this youngster doesn't appear to be quite ready to take-on the responsiblilites required and this seems to open the door to the villians of the piece.

The Golden Age is a two page article on superheroes.

Damage Circus is a robot sport story that is set in the future which has realised that the old Roman gladitorial duals are the way to go, but instead of using people, robots are used. But the robot known as Lash has a secret.

The comic can be ordered online by going to it's website at www.starscapecomic.co.uk/. It costs £1.25 to download or you can have the actual comic sent to you for £2.50.

 

 

  

SOLAR WIND - has now released it's second issue and it's easy to see why. developed by Paul Scott and Gareth Whitty, it's one of those publications where you have to read everything, because everything has received the Solar Wind comical touch-up treatment. Including the famous old 'stamp' adverts.

Basically, the comic paradies many of the stories from comics glorious past, like Alf (Tough Of The Track) Tupper who becomes Death Runner. An amateur athlete who was accidently killed by his team-mates javelin, but who has made a pact with the devil.

There is Death Sphere which is a violent sport strip which has Robot v's Man v's Robot vying to become the Death Sphere champion. I think this is loosely based on the old 2000AD strip from the 1970's called Aeroball.

Cosmic Ray is the not so super superhero of the comic, who shows two children how to cross a busy road. Unfortunately, the kids don't make it to the other side of the road, but CR does, thanks to his power of flight ("hasn't everyone got the power of flight?). There is also a comical one-pager called Judge Droidd who is a robotic judge of the future with a speech impediment.

There are loads of short stories and adverts like this throughout the whole comic, including "The great new game of severe surgery" called Amputation.

The good thing about this comic is that it doesn't use foul language or sex in order to get it's laughs. It's just plain funny. It also comes with a free gift.

This comic has a very good website dedicated to it at www.solarwindcomic.co.uk where you can buy the comic for £3 + postage (60p).