Barrie Tomlinson is a former editor and writer of British comics in the 1970s and '80s.
Tomlinson began his career at IPC Magazines in 1961, initially as a writer and then later as sub-editor on the comics Lion (1961–1967) and then Tiger , becoming editor of the latter title in 1969. He later became the founding editor of the comics Roy of the Rovers (1976), Speed (1980), Scream! (1984), Wildcat (1988) and Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles (1990). He became Group Editor for Sports and Adventure in 1976, and oversaw the launch of the new Eagle in 1982, something for which he had long campaigned.
Tomlinson wrote most of the stories in Wildcat, as well as "Death Wish" for Speed, all of which continued to appear in Eagle after the cancellation of the comics in which they had originated. He also wrote "Survivor" for Eagle.
Tomlinson has written two books of memoirs about his career in the British comics industry:
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic magazine. As a comics anthology it serialises stories in each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. Since 2000 it has been published by Rebellion Developments.
John Wagner is an American-born British comics writer. Alongside Pat Mills, he helped revitalise British comics in the 1970s, and continues to be active in the British comics industry, occasionally also working in American comics. He is the co-creator, with artist Carlos Ezquerra, of the character Judge Dredd.
Battle Picture Weekly was a British weekly boys' war comic published by IPC Magazines from 8 March 1975 to 23 January 1988, when it merged with the new incarnation of Eagle after 644 issues. Most stories were set in World War II, with some based on other conflicts, while factual features also focused on warfare.
Judge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in September 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Judge Dredd's locale Mega-City One.
Scream! was a weekly British comics periodical published by IPC Magazines from 24 March to 30 June 1984. A horror comic anthology comic, the title lasted for 15 editions before being merged with another title, Eagle.
"The Thirteenth Floor" is a British science fiction strip character, appearing in titles published by IPC Magazines. The strip debuted in the weekly anthology Scream! on 24 March 1984, before continuing in Eagle until 28 February 1987. The stories were written by John Wagner and Alan Grant; art was provided by José Ortiz. Since 2016 the property has been owned by Rebellion Developments, who have revived the strip in several specials. The plot was set in a tower block called Maxwell Tower, controlled by an experimental sentient computer called Max located on the 13th floor of the flats. Max himself narrated the strip, and as befitting a computerised custodian of hundreds of people, was quite chatty and light-hearted. However, he was also portrayed as having a programming flaw; programmed to love and protect his tenants, he could remorselessly kill anyone who threatened or even just annoyed them.
"The Tower King" is a British comic strip, appearing in titles published by IPC Magazines. The story was published in the anthology Eagle from 27 March to 4 September 1982, written by Alan Hebden, with art by José Ortiz. The story was set in a dystopian London, where society has broken down.
Tornado was a British weekly boys' adventure comic published by IPC Magazines from 24 March to 18 August 1979. The comic was partly created as a way to use up stories already commissioned for the other titles, and was marred by a difficult production. Tornado sold poorly and was merged with 2000 AD after 22 issues.
Tiger was a weekly British comics periodical published by Amalgamated Press, Fleetway Publications and IPC Magazines from 11 September 1954 to 30 March 1985. The title was initially launched in a large tabloid size to mimic newspapers; while it featured some action-adventure stories Tiger contained a large number of sport strips. The most famous of these was "Roy of the Rovers", which debuted in the first issue and was the comic's most popular feature, eventually transferring to its own comic in 1975. Tiger would go on to become one of the company's longest-running titles, notching 1573 issues before being merged with Eagle in 1985. Over the course of its run, Tiger featured columns by numerous famous sports figures, including Ian Botham, Geoff Boycott, Tony Greig, Trevor Francis, and Charlie Nicholas.
Lion was a weekly British comics periodical published by Amalgamated Press from 23 February 1952 to 18 May 1974. A boys' adventure comic, Lion was originally designed to compete with Eagle, the popular weekly comic published by Hulton Press that had introduced Dan Dare. It debuted numerous memorable characters, including Captain Condor, Robot Archie, Paddy Payne and the Spider. Lion lasted for 1,156 issues before being merged with stablemate Valiant.
Wildcat was a fortnightly British comics periodical published by Fleetway Publications from 22 October 1988 to 25 March 1989. A science fiction adventure comic, the title only lasted for 12 editions before being merged with another Fleetway title, Eagle.
Turbo Jones is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by Fleetway Publications. The character debuted in the preview issue of the science fiction anthology Wildcat, included in titles dated 15 October 1988. The character's eponymous strip was one of the four linked ongoing serials in Wildcat, and was continued briefly in Eagle after Wildcat was cancelled. A brilliant scientist, Turbo Jones sinks his knowledge and invention into creating the colony ship Wildcat after his warnings of disaster for Earth is dismissed by the authorities. As well as being the de-facto commander of Wildcat, Jones pilots exploration shuttle Wildcat One, aided by his companion Robo.
"Baker's Half-Dozen" is a British comic war story published in the weekly anthology Speed from 23 February to 16 August 1980, published by IPC Magazines. The story is set in the North African campaign of World War II, and features six British Commonwealth stragglers formed into a unit by the mysterious 'Sarge' Baker.
"The Dracula File" is a British comic horror strip published by IPC Magazines and Rebellion Developments. It debuted in the first issue of the weekly anthology comic Scream on 24 March 1984. The story was written by Gerry Finley-Day and later Simon Furman, and was drawn by Eric Bradbury. The story featured Count Dracula escaping from the Eastern Bloc at the height of the Cold War before appearing in modern-day England, with KGB Colonel Stakis in pursuit. Scream was short-lived, being merged into Eagle in June 1984 after only 15 issues.
Eagle, sometimes referred to as The New Eagle and known at various points in its life as Eagle and Scream!, Eagle and Tiger, Eagle and Battle, Eagle and M.A.S.K. and Eagle and Wildcat, was a British boys' adventure comic published by IPC Magazines from 27 March 1982 to January 1994. A revival of the famous Eagle, the title was initially a weekly publication until turning into a monthly in May 1991. The title was finally cancelled in January 1994, after 505 issues.
"Terror of the Cats" is a British horror comic strip character, appearing in titles published by IPC Magazines. The strip was published in the weekly anthology Scream! from 24 March to 28 April 1984. The story was initially written by Chris Lowder before he quit, with Simon Furman taking over; it was Furman's first published comics work. José Gonzalez and John Richardson provided artwork. The story concerns housecats suddenly becoming hostile to humans.
"The Nightcomers" is a British science fiction strip character, appearing in titles published by IPC Magazines. The strip debuted in the weekly anthology Scream! on 5 May 1984, running until the comic was cancelled after the 30 June 1984 edition. The story was written by Tom Tully and drawn by John Richardson.
Joe Alien is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by Fleetway Publications. The character debuted in the preview issue of the science fiction anthology Wildcat, included in titles dated 15 October 1988. The character's eponymous strip was one of the four linked ongoing serials in Wildcat, and was later briefly featured in Eagle after Wildcat was cancelled. Joe Alien is an identity taken on by the last survivor of the friendly planet Xgangbe-4, and joins the Wildcat mission to help humanity find a new home. He is placed in command of the Wildcat 2 exploration shuttle.
Kitten Magee is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by Fleetway Publications. The character debuted in the preview issue of the science fiction anthology Wildcat, included in titles dated 15 October 1988. The character's eponymous strip was one of the four linked ongoing serials in Wildcat, and was continued in Eagle after Wildcat was cancelled. A militant feminist and former leader of the World Campaign Against Male Domination, Kitten Magee joins the Wildcat mission to help humanity find a new home after donating a $20m inheritance towards the ship's construction. She is subsequently placed in charge of the exploration shuttle Wildcat 3 with her handpicked all-female team - Doc Barnes, Casandra Cardeti and Bonnie Fox - and her hated, sycophantic robot Crud.
Loner is a British comic character, appearing in strips published by Fleetway Publications. The character debuted in the preview issue of the science fiction anthology Wildcat, included in titles dated 15 October 1988. The character's eponymous strip was one of the four linked ongoing serials in Wildcat, and was continued in Eagle after Wildcat was cancelled. A former mercenary and lone wolf, the self-described Loner puts $20m of his career earnings towards the Wildcat mission in order to leave the doomed Earth. As the crew search for a new planet for colonisation he is assigned to exploration shuttle Wildcat 4. Unlike the other shuttles, which are crewed by teams, Loner's only companion on Wildcat 4 is his custom gun - which he has named 'Babe'.