Dogbreath

Last updated
Zarjaz
Publication information
Publisher Dr. Bob
FutureQuake Press
Schedule Twice yearly
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication date 1997 -
No. of issues 24 (as of July 2015)
Editor(s) Dr. Bob
Dave Evans
Richmond Clements

Dogbreath is a fanzine dedicated to the 2000 AD series Strontium Dog .

Fanzine magazine published by fans

A fanzine is a non-professional and non-official publication produced by enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest. The term was coined in an October 1940 science fiction fanzine by Russ Chauvenet and first popularized within science fiction fandom, and from there it was adopted by other communities.

<i>2000 AD</i> (comics) comics magazine from Britain

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. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary, which was sold to Robert Maxwell in 1987 and then to Egmont UK in 1991. Fleetway continued to produce the title until 2000, when it was bought by Rebellion Developments.

<i>Strontium Dog</i>

Strontium Dog is a long-running British comics series featuring in the British science fiction weekly 2000 AD, starring Johnny Alpha, a mutant bounty hunter with an array of imaginative gadgets and weapons.

Contents

Publication history

Dogbreath was started by Dr Bob (Amanda Kear), who had been writing Strontium Dog fan fiction since 1981. Her experience with getting other work published in other fanzines (covering, for example, Doctor Who and Blake's 7 ) made her realise that she could create her own publication devoted to Strontium Dog.

Fan fiction or fanfiction is fiction about characters or settings from an original work of fiction, created by fans of that work rather than by its creator. Fans may maintain the creator's characters and settings or add their own. It is a popular form of fan labor, particularly since the advent of the Internet.

<i>Doctor Who</i> British science fiction TV series

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC since 1963. The programme depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called "the Doctor", an extraterrestrial being, to all appearances human, from the planet Gallifrey. The Doctor explores the universe in a time-travelling space ship called the TARDIS. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Accompanied by a number of companions, the Doctor combats a variety of foes while working to save civilisations and help people in need.

<i>Blakes 7</i> British science fiction television series

Blake's 7 is a British science fiction television series produced by the BBC. Four 13-episode series were broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also created the Daleks for the television series Doctor Who. The script editor was Chris Boucher. The main character, at least initially, was Roj Blake, played by Gareth Thomas. The series was inspired by various fictional media, including Robin Hood, Star Trek, Passage to Marseille, The Dirty Dozen, Brave New World and classic Western stories, as well as real-world political conflicts in South America and Israel.

After 14 issues, over 8 years, she handed over the reins to members of the FutureQuake Press (FQP) team.

Creators

Dogbreath contributors during Dr Bob’s editorship who have gone on to be art and script droids for 2000 AD itself include Rufus Dayglo and Al Ewing. Scott Montgomery has written a few articles for the Judge Dredd Megazine and works for The Dandy .

Rufus Dayglo British comics artist

Rufus Dayglo is a British comics artist working in comics, illustration, and storyboards. He is working for 2000 AD and Titan Books in the United Kingdom, and DC Vertigo, IDW Publishing and Image Comics in the United States. His Tank Girl work has also been published by Ankama Editions in France in 2011.

Al Ewing writer

Al Ewing is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press and for 2000 AD and Marvel Comics.

Judge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in October 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Dredd's locale Mega-City One.

Issues

Issue 1 of Dogbreath came out in 1997. It contained some pre-written fanfics by Dr Bob, Allan J. Sim, and specially written fanfic by Gary Loveridge, plus a specially written chronology of the Strontium Dog universe by Dr Bob. Inspired by the latter, and with Stront data provided by Dr Bob, James Norton wrote "Tax Return" – a spoof tax demand from the Inland Revenue's cartoon character 'Hector', used in adverts of the time. [1] This was later, in turn. to inspire John Wagner to write "The Tax Dodge" for 2000 AD, which was drawn by Carlos Ezquerra, the first page of which was a version of the original tax demand letter that was redone by James Norton. [2] Issue 1 also contained a Helltrekker parody written by Dr Bob, Val Douglas and Jackie Marshall. All the art (except Hector) was done by Dr Bob.

Inland Revenue Defunct department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation

The Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty. More recently, the Inland Revenue also administered the Tax Credits schemes, whereby monies, such as Working Tax Credit (WTC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC), are paid by the Government into a recipient's bank account or as part of their wages. The Inland Revenue was also responsible for the payment of child benefit.

John Wagner Scottish/American comics creator

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 best known as the co-creator, with artist Carlos Ezquerra, of the character Judge Dredd.

Carlos Ezquerra Spanish comics artist

Carlos Sanchez Ezquerra was a Spanish comics artist who worked mainly in British comics and lived in Andorra. He is best known as the co-creator of Judge Dredd. Ezquerra died of lung cancer on 1 October 2018, at the age of 70.

Issue 2 came out in late spring/early summer of 1998. Several new contributors, including Gary Simpson and David Morris who became regulars, wrote and drew material for it. It had a normal and a 'glow-in-the-dark, nude variant' cover, drawn by David Morris. This was the Gronkinator robot with and without his covering of fake fur, and with glow-in-the-dark stickers added.

Issue 3 was published in 1999. Subsequent issues came out roughly every 6 months, and contained comic strips as well as the usual cartoons, pin-ups, articles and fanfic. Issue 12 contained a photo story featuring action figures of Johnny Alpha & Durham Red. Issue 14 (spring 2005) was the last one produced by Dr Bob.

Action figure small toy that resembles a figure

An action figure is basically a poseable character doll made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game, or television program—fictional or historical. These figures are usually marketed toward boys and adult collectors. The term was coined by Hasbro in 1964 to market G.I. Joe to boys.

Durham Red

Durham Red is a British comics character, originally created in 1987 as a female sidekick and lover for Johnny Alpha in the long-running comic book series Strontium Dog in 2000 AD. She is a bounty hunter with a mutation that gives her a vampiric lust for blood.

Issue 15, the first by the FutureQuake team of Dave Evans and Richmond Clements, was published at the end of 2006. However, this is an external publication to the FQP brand, though sharing close ties.

Availability

A number of back issues can be bought FutureQuake shop and at various British comic conventions.

Awards

Dogbreath was nominated for the "Favourite British Comicbook: Black and White" Eagle Award in 2011. [3]

See also

Notes

  1. Hector was voiced by Alec Guinness and was used between 1995 and 2001. See: Hector the Taxman RIP
  2. Strontium Dog : "The Tax Dodge" (by John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra with first page written and drawn by James Norton, in 2000 AD #1350-1358, 2003)
    Details on 2000 AD's site
  3. Johnston, Rich (March 14, 2011). "Eagle Awards Nominations Announced". Bleeding Cool . Retrieved March 14, 2011.

Related Research Articles

Pat Mills Comic writer

Pat Eamon Mills is a British comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since. He has been called "the godfather of British comics".

Tharg the Mighty or The Mighty One is the fictional editor of the British science fiction comic 2000 AD. The character was introduced on the cover of the first issue in 1977 and is one of only two characters to appear in almost every issue of the comic, the other being Judge Dredd. Tharg rarely appears in stories but strips involving him have been written by such notable writers as Alan Grant, Alan Moore and John Wagner, albeit usually credited to "TMO" - "The Mighty One".

Alan Grant (writer) writer

Alan Grant is a Scottish comic book writer known for writing Judge Dredd in 2000 AD as well as various Batman titles from the late 1980s to the early 2000s. He is the creator of the characters Anarky, Victor Zsasz, and the Ventriloquist.

<i>Starlord</i> (comics)

Starlord was a short-lived weekly British science fiction comic book magazine published by IPC in 1978 as a sister title to 2000 AD, which had been launched the previous year in anticipation of a science fiction boom surrounding Star Wars.

British small press comics, once known as stripzines, are comic books self-published by amateur cartoonists and comic book creators, usually in short print runs, in the UK. They're comparable to similar movements internationally, such as American minicomics and Japanese doujinshi. A "small press comic" is essentially a zine composed predominantly of comic strips. The term emerged in the early 1980s to distinguish them from zines about comics. Notable artists who have had their start in British small press comics include Eddie Campbell, Paul Grist, Rian Hughes, Jamie Hewlett, Alan Martin, Philip Bond and Andi Watson.

The Eagle Award was a series of awards for comic book titles and creators. They were awarded by UK fans voting for work produced during the previous year. Named after the UK's Eagle comic, the awards were set up by Mike Conroy, Nick Landau, Colin Campbell, Phil Clarke, and Richard Burton, and launched in 1977 for comics released in 1976. They were last awarded in 2012.

FutureQuake

FutureQuake is a British small press comic book founded by Arthur Wyatt, and now edited by Richmond Clements and David Evans. Dedicated to showcasing work by new writers and artists, they publish mostly self-contained comic stories, preferably of 5 pages or less and usually of a sci-fi/fantasy/horror bent.

Arthur Wyatt is a writer for British comic 2000 AD, creating stories mostly in the Future Shock format and in the Judge Dredd universe. Wyatt was also selected as one of 2005's five best new comic book writers, contributing to the 2000AD Winter Special.

The National Comics Awards was a series of awards for comic book titles and creators given out on an annual basis from 1997–2003 for comics published in the United Kingdom the previous year. They were distinguished by the distinctive "Jimmy" statue designed by British cartoonist Mark Buckingham.

Archibald "Middenface" McNulty is a fictional character from the series Strontium Dog appearing in the British comic anthology 2000 AD, as well as his own spin-off series. He is a frequent companion of the series' star, Johnny Alpha.

Zarjaz is a comics anthology fanzine for the long-running British science fiction comic 2000 AD.

<i>2000 AD</i> crossovers

2000 AD crossovers are crossover stories appearing in British comic 2000 AD, its sister title the Judge Dredd Megazine, and other related output, such as novels, audio plays, films and role-playing games.

Andrew J. Lewis is a writer, musician, artist and co-founder of the Toshist movement.

References

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