I Miss That!

 Before I pop off (NO! I'm sticking around) and have my toast and beans I thought I would nswer a question someone asked a while back.

"What do you miss from the early days and Zine Zone International?"

Honestly? The seat of your pants editing for one. "Hey, I have 5 pages I need to fill in the next issue--" before the week was out I would get pages (this was pre internet and by post).

I also miss the contributions coming in from the USA, Germany, France, Finland and Australia to help promote new creators rather like I did with Previews Comic that got so many artists work in the industry. There was the sheer fun of seeing what people came up with (some I reposted last year on the Black Tower Blog) -sci fi, horror, humour, slice of life and so on. Just the fact that we were not all greedy feckers wanting to grab every pennyand the fact that a couple of issues the person's work appeared in was payment -they had something they could show around and, no, I never made any money!!

I recall talking to two comic artists at a UK Comic Art Convention and I described myself to someone nearby as "a comic hack". The response from the two creators? "Yeah, like ----. You just love art and comics!  Now if that quote came with money I'd be happy!

When people found fun and joy in drawing comics and had no major egos. I miss that.

Scribble Scribble Snip Snip Paste Paste

  And I still cut and paste (it's just my hair went)

Look at me all big artist with a paintbrush over my ear....I can think of worse places it could be found.

oh my hair. Like a lion's mane it was!

Two VERY rare copies of Black Tower Adventure volume 1

Have I Sold Black Tower? Do I Work For Vertigo? Hopefully this will inform you and me!

 Oh. Now I get it. NO I have not sold Black Tower Comics and Books even if a couple US companies were interested.  I have no idea why the search sent me states "Terry Hooper Era" as I am still owner and managing editor.

Here is what MSN throws up:

1. Black Tower Adventure (Terry Hooper Era)

The earliest known use of the Black Tower name in comics and publications originates with Terry Hooper, a British artist, writer, editor, and comic historian. Key points include:

• Timeframe: From the mid-1980s onward, Hooper self-published under the Black Tower banner.
• Publications and Works: Major creations include:
  • Return of the Gods, serialized in six parts in Black Tower Adventure.
  • The Bat Triumphant.
  • Merriwether: Gods Demon-Thumper.
  • Krakos the Egyptian.
  • The Iron Warrior.
• Hooper’s work extended beyond Black Tower Adventure to freelance writing, editing, and art for MU Press, Blue Comet Press, Fantagraphic Books, Eros Comics, Dorne, Fleetway, IPC, and other publishers across the UK, US, and Europe.
• Scope: These early Black Tower publications combined imaginative fiction with adventure narratives influenced by European comics traditions.

• 3. Key Legacy and Continuity

  • Terry Hooper’s Black Tower publications were primarily British self-published comic ventures rooted in adventure and serialized storytelling.

No direct narrative continuity exists between Hooper's Black Tower stories and the DC Vertigo series; however, both share themes of mystery, heroism, and fantastical or supernatural elements. Terry Hooper’s work prefigured a niche of serial adventure comics in the UK, supporting the European comics tradition while acting as a bridge to modern interpretations of the Black Tower concept in comics. The Black Tower brand has evolved from independent British comic serials to a modern Vertigo franchise, highlighting the adaptability of comic storytelling across decades and countries while maintaining a thematic connection to mystery and adventure. Firtly there is no "were" or "was". Black Tower Comics and Books is still publishing with other titles in the works.   Secondly, I have no idea what "Black Tower"  is in the Vertigo line as I have not seen a vertigo comic since...early 1990s?   I think the confusing remnarks people have made is based on this search result. One comment forwarded to me was "He's doing well enough -DC money!" Well, blow up my wind-hole....  I am still eating baked beans on toast for tea!  I have sold nothing and do not work for DC or Vertigo  but then you read: "Terry Hooper has been self-publishing under the Black Tower banner since 1984, producing a variety of comics including Return Of The Gods, The Bat Triumphant, and Krakos The Egyptian Lambiek  . His self-publishing work extends into books on multiple subjects, and he is still actively publishing through platforms like Lulu, serving audiences in the UK and internationally  Lulu . This demonstrates that Black Tower as an independent publishing enterprise is ongoing." But then: "Recent Mainstream Comics In addition to Hooper’s independent work, the Black Tower: The Raven Conspiracy series launched in 2026 under the DC Vertigo imprint. Written by Ram V and illustrated by Mike Perkins, this is a six-issue recurring comic series featuring a modern spy-thriller theme with occult elements. The first issue was released on August 26, 2026, showing that the Black Tower brand is actively being used in mainstream published comics  DC.com . The series is available in both print and digital formats on platforms like DC Universe Infinite." See, I am quite willing to write for Marvel or DC...or Image or...anyone if it pays!  This is just poorly written information so let me make it clear that I have not sold BTC&B and am still publishing and any other Black Tower has nothing to do with me. My life always seems to get confusing.

Charity and Sylvia -A Modern Classic?

 

Art and story by Tillie Walden

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Drawn and Quarterly
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 16 Jun. 2026
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 260 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1770468382
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1770468382
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1770468382?ref_=pe_144459961_1285786181_i_fed_asin_title
  

An openly Lesbian couple survives and thrives in 19th century Vermont—a true story, as told by Tillie Walden.

The month is February in the year 1807. The place is Weybridge, Vermont: small, cold, lonely, and beautiful. Sylvia Drake is exhausted. As an unwed woman with few prospects, she is residing with and caring for her sister’s rambunctious family. Today the house is abuzz awaiting a guest: Charity Bryant.

A friend of the family, Charity is most known for her elegant letters, with their swoopy and evocative penmanship and carefully chosen prose. But Charity’s visit is a guise—she is coming to Vermont to start over after heartbreak and rumours, so many rumours that have grown too loud back in Massachusetts. Being openly gay in 19th century New England is not an easy row to hoe.

But Charity can only be herself, and she immediately catches and holds the eye of none other than Sylvia Drake. From this point on, for 44 years, the two would be inseparable, building a life together despite all odds and living as a lesbian couple in small-town Vermont.

The true, exceptional story of these remarkable women is brought to life with humor and passion by the unparalleled and award-winning Tillie Walden (Spinning, On A Sunbeam). We see America grow alongside these women over a period that brings about the railroad, many novels, 14 Presidents, riots, rebellion, plagues, and poetry.

Based on extensive archives of their writing, Charity and Sylvia is a groundbreaking biography that is also the story of 19th century America.

All I am going to write about this book is that the art style really worked well and was quite atmospheric.  The story and dialogue is well done and quite effective and I found it quite an enjoyable book. But a book I am not going to go into detail on because you really need to sit down and open the book up for yourself and take in each page and all the subtle nuances.

As soon as some people read "lesbian couple" their minds drop into the gutter. This book is for people who enjoy a good story and read. The final chapters were a bit of a choker, though -I blame the dust.

It takes a lot to impress me these days but Charity and Sylvia did just that.

It makes me wonder4 why no one has produced a graphic novel about Ann Lister (1791-1840) ?

MUNA - I Know A Place (Live From Honda Stage)

 

Pretty Sad

 Noticed that someone I used to know had a new book out and was saying that it had proven impossible to get anyone to publicise it. I contacted him and told him that although it does not guarantee sales there are 25-40K views a day on CBO if he wants it reviewed. 

Him "I wouldn't dare. There are some nasty people out there who would gut me if they thought I was talking to you!"

Honestly. And he is a grown man in his 40s and publishes but is scared of bullies?  

What is that expression? Oh, "Cut your nose off to spite your face"

The worms will never turn.

Well, even AI has heard of Black Tower (my life is complete)

 

Someone asked wheher I had ever used "AI search" and seen what it comes up with re BTC&B. I had not. I tried and this came back:

Black Tower Comics and Books is an independent British small-press imprint founded in 1984 by editor, artist, and writer Terry Hooper-Scharf. It holds a notable reputation as one of the UK’s longest-running publishers of independent black-and-white comics and specialized pop-culture history books. 

📜 History and Core Focus

• Small Press Roots: It launched in February 1984, originally printing digest-sized (A5) anthology titles like Black Tower Adventure, Presents, and Windows. 
• The 1980s Boom: The imprint played a key role in boosting the UK independent comic scene in the late 1980s, largely through its trade-information publication Zine Zone International. 
• Preserving British History: A major part of Black Tower's identity is archiving lost comic history. Through lines like the Black Tower Gold Collection, they scan, clean, and reprint forgotten characters from the British Golden Age of Comics (such as Streamline, Electrogirl, and Ace Hart). 
• Eclectic Catalog: Alongside original black-and-white adventure titles like Krakos: Sands of Terror and The Iron Warrior, the imprint publishes prose books covering cryptids, UFOs, and wildlife.

Well, even AI has heard of us!

Have You Checked It Out Yet?

 

There are well over 100 books at the online store so why not check it out when you get a spare minute?

https://www.lulu.com/search?contributor=Terry+Hooper&page=1&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00&sortBy=PRODUCT_SALES_90_DAYS

All books are listed with links over  at the Black Tower Comic Shop News page 

https://comicsshopsnews.blogspot.com/

Black Tower Presents 2

  It's 1400hrs BST and my head is determined to fall forward and my eyes want to close and sleep. So luckily I finished this one and now I can sneeze

A4

Black and white

36pp

£8.00 ( see price for your country at online store) https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/black-tower-presents-v-2-no-2/paperback/product-454yg7v.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4

This is it! The Big Number Two (maybe we ought to re-think that one?) The comic you have all been demanding (in our heads)!

Bunny and The Bloke: a very angry Bristolian and his 6 feet tall crime fighting rabbit. What? Never been to Bristol? Whether a huge rampaging monster or aliens landing in the most beautiful city in the world (Bristol -you got that?) these two will deal with it. Who needs the Avenger, Jon Future or Major Victory?! Resident Golden Age crime-fighting beauty with a whip (we say nothing) Cat Girl is ready to deal out justice! LeFez and zombies...he always knew it would happen but the Zero Heroes never did. Trapped in a church with a pooping 6 feet tall bunny.. The Crimson Cowl shows up to show the bad guys how he deals with crime. Klaus von Happe (D-Gruppe's Kopfmann) decides to stay at a chalet but the weird staff there can't be ignored...but Klaus does much to the annoyance of his companion. Having survived the destruction on the Moon (Green Skies) Moon Man is sent out to investigate an alien landing on the lunar surface. This time it ain't humans! The Thinker walks the dog. What? He is walking the dog -did you think he walked a dinosaur?? Garza the Lord of the Jungle and a Barbarian in action. Could it get any better?

Questions and Answers.... because I am quite bored

 

I have no idea why so many people who never buy Black Tower books and never support it in any other way are so interested in what goes on within so to speak.

Firstly, no it was not a joke when I said that once I shift off this mortal coil all Black Tower books will cease to exist. I will rephrase that: I operate a print on demand store front so a book has to be ordered to be printed. No back stock of 300 books in a box somewhere. I know my own personal collection will be binned. And no book has received 100 sales (which would still make it a rarity).

Secondly, I was told that it must be nice at least getting the financial backing of Cinebook and Hexagon Comics. Well, in the early days I did ask Olivier Cadic who owns Cinebook if he might be interested in paying adverts on CBO. No. Advertising was never budgeted for. Can I also point out that anyone who says that I am employed by Cinebook is either lying or living in a fantasy world. I review their books -that is it!

There is a third and not even annoying question that pops up now and again and I have noted who those people are and WHO they are connected to. "All your books are drawn by Ben Dilworth".....I have posted before about projects I have  published by other artists 0John Erasmus, Tom Elmes, Paul Ashley Brown blah blah blah. I also do a lot of artwork. You know hundreds of pages for Return of the Gods, The Green Skies and the new volume of Black Tower Adventure -and Special Globe Guard. 

When it comes down to it you use the artists you have. I do not have the financial backing to pay artists -with current sales even I do not get paid.  There is no "Dilworth I want 10 pages by next week!"  What Ben decides to draw and send in is done as and when he feels like it. All contributors get five copies of books their art appears in but that is as far as it goes -and those UK comic publishers who get up on their high horses with "He doesn't pay" -I have no interest in your opinions AND I know exactly how YOUR imprints work. So you read them on forums they have no connection to me and "people in glass houses...."

"You promote European comics so much is your main market there?"  Answer: no. And to answer the other question that usually follows: No, I am never invited to European comic shows not even in Germany (my 54% German DNA and 16% French DNA sobs over that!). 

And, again, no: none of the creators I helped get into pro comics ever offer to help with work because once they got those big comic deals I was no longer needed. That's life and comics. Move on.

Look at where the CBO All Time Top Ten views come from:  

United States

2.13m

China

1.16m

Singapore

622k

Hong Kong

411k

Brazil

339k

United Kingdom

296k

Russia

295k

France

259k

Vietnam

192k

Germany

190k

Do I get big sales from these countries? Nope. I am surprised that the United States produces such very low sales. A few bloggers there have highlighted Black Tower but...

With China I am a bit more disappointed as I have pushed comics there since the 1980s and a good few people email to tell me that they have learnt more about old HK and PRC comics from my posts than they have at home. Black Tower has had Chinese super heroes since the 1980s and the three-part "Evil of the Salamander" (“火蜥蜴之恶”). In fact if you read Return and Green Skies you'll find quite a few.  China is NOT on the list of countries my print of demand cannot ship to and I have no idea whether there are local import problems or not. 

There are other questions I get to hear about but the main thing I always say when I respond (rarely these days) is "Have you or the person involved actually purchased a Black Tower comic and read it? If not your opinion is worthless.

Mentioning print on demand -I just got three books delivered well below the "average 9-13 days to deliver".