British comics died in the 1990s.

 There were things going on behind the scenes in British comics that most people do not know about. 

When a Japanese businessman wanted to launch comics in the UK I had a few long conversations with him. He was very enthusiastic and wanted me as editor of books. Two months later he had attended a number of UK comic conventions and noted how "It's a poisonous atmosphere!" One creator was all jolly and sweet in a group but when the others left stabbed each pof his 'pals' in the back. The businessman found that all the others did likewise. Some initial publicirty in Comics World and Comics International was weak and negative. The businessman backed out as he could not see a line of British comics being produced if every creator was stabbing at the other.

Robert Maxwell, before and after purchasing some of Fleetway (Maxwell Pergamon Publishing) had a short and a long chat with me about producing a line of comics. He smiled as he said "ignore anything from that man!" "That man" being Rupert Murdoch as it seems each wanted to outdo the other and iof one wanted to publish comics the other wanted to and intended outselling the competitor. 

Don't get me wrong, I was contacted by someone representing News International (Murdoch) who discussed a comics line with me ("off the record"). Again, I was to "keep mum".

Maxwell stumped up the money (allegedly) and I had five initial titles and contents ready to go. Then Maxwell "went for a swim" (look it up if you are too young to know what I mean). Interest from News International was then non existent.

I once had discussions with John Brown of John Brown Publishing who was behind the desk at publishing Viz at one point.  Very nice and genuine man and when I met him I had two others with me so I can safely say that he was not enamored by Richard Branson who had also jumped into publishing Viz with him.  However, at the very first slight downturn Branson jumped ship. Branson has basically down this with all business ventures except his own pet money guzzling projects -I did warn when he announced his Virgin Comics line that it would last long but everyone said he was "commited" to the line. He got what he wanted then jumped ship.

I was also once talking to some French and Belgian businessmen who wanted to set up comic publishing in the UK; new and reprint material. Very enthusiastic until the fella who was scouting the UK talent for them  reported on the "excessively toxic atmosphere in the comic creator community where they are publicly criticising the company that pays them".That was the kiss of death.

That "biting the hand that feeds you" still goes on to a degree but no one cares.

Neptune Comics, TridentComics, Harrier, Dark Horse UK -it goes on and on and I was told by Dark Horse later that that "Brit comics are a ****** cesspool!" No, it was never elaborated on.

So when you wonder why Cinebook Ltd are the biggest publisher of (translated Franco-Belgian) comic work in the UK you know why.

When you make a serious project proposal to Rebellion Studios and you get "Judge Hammer" write back with some insipid couple of lines, you then explain that you are serious and then get the "Try 2000 AD" you realise why most middling quality reprint paperbacks is what is appearing  (I do have a few of these).

That "comics nice guy" is a lying sack of manure when he tells you how "great" British comics are doing. Walk into W. H. Smith or any newsagent and look at the absence of comics and hpow many British comics go into UK comic shops? 2000 AD and the same old stuff.

Every single dirty trick you can think of was tried when I began publishing Black Tower Comics and Books in a more professional standard in 2010. Every dirty trick. I currently have 173 books up for sale -comics, comic albums, graphic novels as well as prose books and what do the poisonous little dwarves have out? One very poorly selling comic because, as a group of them told me at an old Bristol comic Expo; "We're not putting OUR money into publishing" (long periods of unemployment followed).

What you see in the UK is what you will always have and though I am nowhere near to them, Cinebook and Black Tower are the two largest comic publishers in the UK.

Listen to those popping blood vessels and grinding teeth. Who cares? We have had over a year in which these comic people could have put together plans for a new comic -several issues worth- and they have not.

British comics died in the 1990s.