Comics UK

Between Battle's cover-dated issues August 2nd - October 18th 1980, "Charley's War" saw our beleaguered hero, Charley Bourne, killed and... well, he was actually missing (presumed dead) until he resurfaced in a French hospital with memory loss, which was quickly arrested by 'Ole Bill Tozer who had a...

With "Kommando King", Gerry Finley-Day (writer) wrote his last series for "Battle" that featured a German protagonist and which had paled significantly against his former, popular strips: "Hellman", "Fighter from the Sky" and "Panzer G-Man". Hot on the heels of "Kommando King", "Cooley's Gun" contin...

Upon reading Battle's 282nd issue (cover-dated September 27th 1980)… (I know, I've let the reading of Battle elapsed of late as I've been somewhat occupied with another project on "Deviant Art" which... ahem, deals with comic-strip, adult-orientated material... but I shall endeavour with "Battle" be...

Following on from the previous two posts... Dave Hunt's "damned football" that was "Top Soccer" endured for a pitiful 17 issue-run and was summarily axed with its 05/01/80 cover-dated issue. In essence, "Top Soccer" was pro-offered as a sacrificial lamb from its launch; to protect and preserve IPC's...

Continuing from the previous post, Dave Hunt's "damned football" was kicked on to the newsagent's shelf in the shape of "Top Soccer" alongside long-running, weekly stablemate "Shoot" with its 15/09/79 cover-dated issue. On the "Soccerbilia" website, which provides a hive of information with regard t...

Approximately twelve months ago before the end of August 1980, Dave Hunt (Battle's pioneering and, arguably its greatest editor) was, essentially, delivered a football with which to kick straight out of Battle's bullet-riddled doors and follow its trajectory. The trajectory bounced into: Top Soccer ...

From Battle's launch back in March 1975 to August 2nd 1980, I have compiled a wealth of reference notes with regard to serials, features, complete stories, artists and writers. Within the aforementioned dates, I could quote not only the number of episodes (171) but also the amount of art pages (584....

Along with its 72nd showing within Battle's July 26th 1980 cover-dated issue, Charley's War completed its longest story arc to date which was far from a classic. Largely engaged with Colonel Zeiss and his Judgement Troopers over the Somme trenches, the series underwent a subtle shift in narrative an...

Cover-dated: July 12th 1980, this issue of Battle heralded a momentous turnaround for artists, writers and even letterers - their names were now in lights or, rather, in print and credited with the strips to which they had contributed. 2000 AD had promoted this practice since its launch back in 1977...

Mike Western (celebrated "Battle" artist between 1976 and 1980) and his departure from the bullet-riddled doors was somewhat understated as if he were slipping out the back door while no one was looking. After completing the first five episodes of "War Dog", Western signed off his last piece of orig...

Three months after the end of Crazy Keller, Alan Hebden returned to Battle and penned his next series: War Dog which ran from Dec. 29th 1979 to July 7th 1980 cover-dated issues. A good, healthy run on the face of these dates; yet, War Dog had but a modest tally of 16 episodes. With hindsight, the se...

For IPC, the first half year of 1980 was dire - through industrial disputes, Battle lost eight issues. No sooner had the new year bells faded, Battle went AWOL from the newsagent's shelf between January 19th and February 9th. There was a time that were a publication to miss just one week's deadline....

Charley's War has always attained a glorious legacy since its original run in Battle and has, deservedly, received many accolades. Yet, there are particular episodes that are largely forgotten within Charley's epic framework, which cry out for recognition. One such early episode involved Charley who...

Hi, Adam, the Charley's War World War Two series with Scott Goodall's scripts start with Battle's cover-dated issues February 2nd 1985 through to October 4th 1986. Thereafter, with October 11th issue, the reprints from Charley's First World War started which followed on with Battle's merger with Eag...

A new year and decade dawned on Battle's January 5th 1980 cover-dated issue. After nearly five years of service and, despite the recent loss of its flagship editor (Dave Hunt), Battle was still relatively in good shape with regard to its content and financial viability. During Battle's early-mid thr...