Sunday 30 April 2023
Cinebook Ltd Newsletter 184 - April 2023
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Dear Reader, |      |
Legends and myth abound this month in our new titles! In Nottingham, for example, the new take on the tale of the outlaw of Sherwood Forest comes to its conclusion. How did William de Wendeval, Sheriff of Nottingham, get to be called Robin Hood? It’s a clever answer, and it comes at the end of a tense, exciting adventure. As for Yoko Tsuno, she is back in Germany, and after the Lorelei in volume 8, it’s another classic myth she is confronted to: the Rhine Gold, ancient saga and Wagner opera. Of course, this is Yoko Tsuno, and cutting edge, even futuristic, technology, finds its way into the mix … along with an old adversary. Oh, and a steam train – so, all aboard! Finally, Leo’s ongoing The Worlds of Aldebaran saga continues with the second volume of Neptune, and the myth it tackles is … flying saucers! Will Kim and Marie prove they were not a 20th century legend? And will they find out what is going on inside the massive world-ship heading for Earth? April with Cinebook – gather around the campfire, everyone! |        |
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 | Neptune Leo Episode 2 A first attempt to enter the world-ship and make contact with the Humans inside has failed after the exploration team was contaminated with deadly nanorobots. Only Marie, with her Mantris-improved body, was able to fight them off … … Read more |
 | Nottingham 3 Dellac & Brugeas and Herzet Robin Now rid of Prince John’s henchman, William, Marian and their friends are finally free to relax a little. Their respite is short, however. A judge known for his integrity and doggedness has been dispatched to Nottingham by the regent to investigate the recent trouble … Read more |
 | Yoko Tsuno 18 Roger Leloup The Rhine Gold While visiting her friend Ingrid in Köln, Yoko finds herself thrust in the middle of a mystery when a young Japanese woman is attacked in the cathedral, and whispers a few words before passing out – notably ‘Rheingold’, the German name of a Wagner opera … Read more |
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Saturday 29 April 2023
Thursday 27 April 2023
Wednesday 26 April 2023
Monday 24 April 2023
Let's Just Tell The Truth Shall We?
Let me squash a very silly and malicious rumour posted by so called comic professionals on certain forums (they REALLY need to get lives).
The whole reason that I am not active as much on CBO is that (with a weakened immune system anyway) I got covid. Over two months later I am still getting battered by it,
That is it. Anything else written is a lie from people who do not know me.
Friday 21 April 2023
Wednesday 19 April 2023
Tuesday 18 April 2023
Monday 17 April 2023
Saturday 15 April 2023
Thursday 13 April 2023
Wednesday 12 April 2023
Sunday 9 April 2023
Friday 7 April 2023
Wednesday 5 April 2023
Comic Bits: THE British Golden Age of Comics magazine!
A4
B&W
80pp
Text, comic strips and some rare photographs!
£8.00
The return of THE British Golden Age of Comics magazine!
Interviews with Mike Western, John Cooper and Jon Haward plus a look at Ally Sloper on film, Defining the Ages of British Comics, William McCail plus a lot of art and stripwork.
Comic Bits No. 2
Ed T Hooper-Scharf
A4
B&W
80 pp
£8.00
https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/comic-bits-no-2/paperback/product-2ed6pe.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4
The second issue of the magazine celebrating creators, titles and characters of the British Platinum, Golden and Silver Ages of comics.
In this issue William A. Ward finally gets some long deserved recognition for his contribution to comics John McCail gets "bigged up" something rotten!
We look at comedian and actor Bob Monkhouse's comic creation career
Steve Dowling -Father of the Garth newspaper strip speaks to Denis Gifford (the ONLY interview he ever gave)
There is a look at Dennis M. Reader and his comics work that spawned some of the UKs first super heroes.
also a look at William Fletcher Thomas, Ernest Wilkinson, Jos Walker, Mary Byfield and William H A Chasemore... oh, and LOTS of lovely art and stripwork!
D-Gruppe: Zeitgeist (Trade)
D-Gruppe Annual: The Resurrection
A4
56pp
B&W
£6.00
https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/d-gruppe-annual-2012/paperback/product-1pey2pg5.html
D-Gruppe 4 The Final Confrontation -Zeitgeist Revealed
A4
B&W
34pp
£6.00
https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/d-gruppe-4/paperback/product-15g4ye7v.html
D-Gruppe No. 3 Zeitgeist Strikes
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A4
B&W
24pp
£5.50
https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/terry-hooper/d-gruppe-3/paperback/product-19q4q74d.html
D-Gruppe No. 2: Zeit-Geist
D-Gruppe No. 1: The Revengeof the Ice Queen
B&W
31pp
£6.00
https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/d-gruppe-vol1/paperback/product-159nejq4.html
Germanys first super team created in the 1970s when there were no German created super heroes.
D-Gruppe first saw print in the 1980s in this story "The Revenge Of The Ice Queen" written and pencilled by Terry Hooper-Scharf and inked/lettered by Ben R. Dilworth.
Monday 3 April 2023
Cinebook: VALERIAN AND LAURELINE - WHERE STORIES ARE BORN
Authors: Pierre Christin & Virginie Augustin
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 56 colour pages
Publication: March 2023
£8.99 Incl VAT
ISBN: 9781800440975
https://www.cinebook.co.uk/valerian-and-laureline-by-where-stories-are-born-p-4510.html
The Delphs are an artificial species who depend entirely on an extremely rare substance, that not only allows them to live and reproduce, but also fuels their creative talents – for the Delphs are the most sought-after storytellers in the galaxy. They call upon Galaxity to find a new source of it, as their own is exhausted. The problem is, the only available deposit is on 21st century Earth, and the agents on station … are still going to high school!
For me this felt a bit weird. After all I have only ever seen Valerian and Laureline as adults for the last few decades and now we have the teen versions. The art is as luscious as it always is and there is something about the printers Cinebook use as they always seem to produce really crisp and standout colour art (not a given even in 2023).
The story was fun and after a while I just read it and accepted V & L as youngsters. The whole point of characters and stories is that you develop and create new scenarios for them and I was a bit hesitant about the serious version of Lucky Luke but it won me over. So, as a long term fan of the series did I enjoy this? Yes.
And you can check out the albums published to date on Cinebook's site at
https://www.cinebook.co.uk/v-graphic-novels-c-143_377.html?osCsid=i4nl0q6skmnve507rvp8annhg2
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Sunday 2 April 2023
Cinebook: Lonesome 3 -The Ties of Blood
Author: Yves Swolfs
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 56 colour pages
Publication: January 2023
£8.99 Incl VAT
ISBN: 9781800440814
https://www.cinebook.co.uk/lonesome-3-the-ties-of-blood-p-4505.html
Markham, the murderous preacher, is dead at last. And yet, for the lone rider who tracked and killed him, the hunt goes on. Now he must find who was behind the preacher’s campaign of terror. He has a name – Senator Dawson of New York. But getting to his quarry won’t be easy; the man is powerful, rich, engaged in a conspiracy against the government of the United States … and that’s not even considering any other … less natural abilities he might possess …
Volume 1 appeared in August 2021 and volume 2 in May, 2022 so I was a little lost trying to remember what had gone before. No criticism of Cinebook as there a re many factors that decide when a book appears and those factors can often throw a spanner in the works.
Volumes 1 and two were posted here:
Vol. 1
https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2021/08/cinebook-9th-art-lonesome-1-preachers.html
Vol. 2
https://hoopercomicart.blogspot.com/2022/05/cineboo-ltd-lonesome-2-ruffians.html
Yves Swolfs story comes to an end...or so it seems. The story is great and pulls you in. The art, also by Swolf, is absolutely lovely. The scenery, clothing as well as the atmospheric settings and, yeah, gun fights and chases are all rendered well. The colour work by Julie Swolfs cannot be added and gives the book that extra slap in the eyes you need.
I did say "WTF??" out loud at the revelations on the last page and then I said "WHAT??!!" Can I wait another year (I do hope not) for volume 4? I am willing to. After those revelations and a book to follow titled The Sorcerer's Domain you can bet that Swolf just took this from a standard Western saga to the next level and, okay, I am hooked.
Check out Cinebook's site to order books 1 and 2 -and 3!
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Cinebook: BLAKE & MORTIMER 29 - EIGHT HOURS IN BERLIN
Authors: José-Louis Bocquet, Jean-Luc Fromental & Antoine Aubin
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 72 colour pages
Publication: December 2022
£10.99 incl VAT
ISBN: 9781800440852
https://www.cinebook.co.uk/blake-mortimer-29-eight-hours-in-berlin-p-4501.html
1963. As Professor Mortimer is invited to the USSR by an old archaeologist friend to join in the search for the lost city of Arkaim in the Urals, Captain Blake goes to Switzerland for an important conference between the intelligence services of the Western Powers, in order to prepare for the top-secret Operation Prince in Berlin. Berlin where a West German agent was just shot trying to cross the Wall back from East Germany, uttering a single word before dying: doppelgänger …
It's been a year since the last volume appeared so to those who asked -it is here now!
I must admit that I much prefer the comic series as opposed to the animated series (I have the full series') which was such a chore to watch I still have not, after 10(?) years watched all the episodes. But here is how you should view Blake and Mortimer -on the printed page.
The story is what any B&M fan would expect and this one was very "The Ipcress File" (if you are a cold war spy book reader/movie or Harry Palmer fan). Look at that cover -straigh6t from a 1960s spy novel! If it helps the late President John F. Kennedy is a guest star! The art is crisp and clean and the colour work by Laurence Croix is gorgeous.
I still have to ask what size these pages are drawn at because at A3 it would be amazing if all the detail in the panels was crammed in. At A2 maybe possible.
This series is always fun and there is so much to see on each page that you get your money's worth! Check out the other n28 volumes at the Cinebook site https://www.cinebook.co.uk/
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Saturday 1 April 2023
Cinebook: TRENT 8 - LITTLE TRENT
Authors: Leo & Rodolphe
Age: 12 years and up
Size: 21.7 x 28.7 cm
Number of pages: 48 colour pages
Publication: February 2023
£7.99 incl VAT
ISBN: 9781849183987
https://www.cinebook.co.uk/trent-8-little-trent-p-4507.html
While Agnes is in Europe to visit family, Trent is given a somewhat unusual mission: to escort a woman to her father’s home. Mrs Taylor has left her husband – a man that alcohol turns horribly violent – and is now taking their son to safety at his grandfather’s – a former senator. Tasked with protecting them, Trent takes a liking to young Jeremy, and begins to dream of his own Little Trent with Agnes – until the father tracks them down...
The "Trentverse" is growing. Cinebook's Mountie has a further twist to his life -guess what it is by reading the title. Well, there is a deceptive twist...of course there is. Protecting a woman and her son from a psycho husband and along the way there's a rescue from drowning, some fist fights, an encounter with a bear, a bowler hatted and tashed little fellow who needs his own story and all leading up to Trent's own disappointment...until the final page.
There is a lot to these stories and I doubt anyone will appreciate that until they read the series and there have been some amazing stories. Trent brings back the whole sub genre of Mountie stories and is highly recommended.
HEXAGON COMICS USA / APRIL 2023 RELEASE:KABUR: THE RED STAR
Hexagon Comics USA now offers translations of selected titles from the catalog of this 70-year-old French comics publisher. Books can be purchased on amazon or through the website www.hexagoncomics.com. Retailers can purchase them at a 40% discount from distributor Ingram or from the publisher at the website above.
KABUR:THE RED STAR
Story by Jean-Marc Lofficier;
Art by Mike Ratera;
Colors by Peru Bros & N. Sayago;
cover by Mike Ratera.
64 pages
colour.
US$19.95.
ISBN 978-1-64932-163-3.
Over a hundred million years ago… KING KABUR of Thule has reigned over the kingdoms of Hyperborea for decades... Then, like all must do, he died; however, his name became legend...
Several centuries later, Earth was conquered by the monstrous HEMOCRATS, the Wan Lords of the RED STAR, cosmic vampires who came from a far away, nameless region of space...
Thus KABUR was summoned back from the dead by his ancient foe, the mysterious REAPER, and with his help, and that of the brave young feline MIRAMAZE, he took up once again his legendary Spear to free his world and reclaim his throne...
This fantastic saga by Jean-Marc Lofficier and renowned Spanish artist Mike Ratera completes the cycle of the adventures of the classic heroic fantasy character created in 1975 by Claude J. Legrand and Luciano Bernasconi.
