Arkensword/Issues 13-24

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Zine
Title: Arkensword
Publisher: Titan Books
Editor(s): Paul Duncan
Type: non-fiction
Date(s): 1980-1990
Medium: print
Size: varying, usually around 36 pages
Fandom: multifandom, comics fandom
Language: English
External Links: Fanscene Project
League of Comic Geeks
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Arkensword is a zine published in the UK. Issue 6 onwards focussed on comics fandom.

In 1990 the zine was published by professional comics publisher Titan Books and name changed to Ark. Paul Duncan was still acting as editor.

There were 34 issues; 23 as Arkensword (or Arken-Sword as it was sometimes titled) and 10 as Ark before the zine/magazine folded in 1990.

Issue 13/14

Issue 13/14 cover art by Brian Bolland

Arkensword 13/14. Published May 1st, 1985. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover of Judge Dredd & American Flagg girls by Brian Bolland. 36 pages. Print run: 300.

Writers: Paul Duncan, John Jackson and Dave Harwood

Artists: Martin Chaplin, Mark Lockett, Pete Martin, Nigel Kitching, Alan Davis, Howard Chaykin, Phil Elliott, Dave Harwood; cover artist Brian Bolland.

Interviewees: Alan Moore, Alan Davis, Howard Chaykin, Phil Elliott, Dave Harwood, Brian Bolland

Full contents:[1]

External Links

Issue 15

Issue #15 cover art by Ian Gibson

Arkensword 15. Published September 2nd, 1985. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover of Halo Jones characters by Ian Gibson. 36 pages. Print run: 300.

Writers: Paul Duncan, Alan Moore and Bambos Georgiou.

Artists: Bambos Georgiou, Bryan Talbot, Dave McKean, Jeff Anderson and Mike Matthews; cover artist Ian Gibson

Interviewees: Ian Gibson,

"Albert the Mouse Interviews..." comic strip series by John Jackson

Full contents:[4]

Issue 16

Issue #16 cover art by Ron Smith

Arkensword 16. Published 1985. Edited by Paul Duncan. 36 pages Original cover of Judge Dredd by Ron Smith.

Writers: Paul Duncan and John Wagner

Artists: Glenn Fabry, Cam Kennedy, Chris Williams/Chris Cross and Martin Crookall

Interviewees: Glenn Fabry, Ron Smith, Cam Kennedy

Full contents[5]:

Issue 17/18

Issue #17/18 from cover by Steve Bissette

Arkensword 17/18. Published March 3rd, 1986. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover Swamp Thing, Arcane, Monkey King & Sunderland by Stephen R. Bissette. 100 page double issue. Print run: around 400.

Writers: Paul Duncan, Phil Elliott and John Jackson.

Artists: Phil Elliott, John Jackson, Ian Gibson, Martin Hand, Chris Wlliams, Stephen R. Bissette, Alan Davis, Eddie Campbell and John Totleben. Cover by Stephen R. Bissette.

Interviewees: Richard Starkings, Marv Wolfman, Jenette Kahn, Stephen R. Bissette, Alan Davis and Eddie Campbell

Full contents[7][8]:

  • The Ballad Of Halo Jones feature with eight Ian Gibson pencil sketches of Halo characters,
  • Nexus feature.
  • Jenette Kahn interview.
  • Phil Elliott - "Red's Luck" strip.
  • "The Eddie Campbell Interview" with extensive art & strips.
  • "American Gothic" (Swamp Thing no.37 to no.50) feature with Steve Bissette pencil art (inc pencils for cover of Swamp Thing no.47).
  • Marv Wolfman interview & photo & extensive fan-art.
  • The Rocketeer feature, with Pete Scott art.
The Rocketeer art by Pete Scott
  • Alan Davis interview & extensive art.
  • "Win this art" original "Miracleman & Captain Britain" competition strip (see Arken Sword no.20).
  • John Jackson "Albert The Mouse interviews Captain Britain" strip.
  • Richard Starkings letter.
  • John Jackson "Nasty Chucks Big Night out" strip.
  • Steve Bissette interview, photo & extensive art & strips.

Issue 19

Issue #19 cover by Martin Chaplin
Advert for Paul Duncan's "Second City" comic, art by Phil Elliott and Martin Hand.

Arkensword 19[9]. Published September 1st, 1986. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover of The Spirit by Martin Chaplin. 36 pages. Print run: 500.

Writers: Paul Duncan, Eddie Campbell, Bambos Georgiou and Lew Stringer.

Artists: Eddie Campbell, Bambos Georgiou, Lew Stringer, Arthur Adams, Bill Sienkiewicz, Glenn Fabry, John Bolton, Dave McKean, Jaime Hernandez, Cliff Robinson, Phil Elliott, Martin Hand, Chris Williams, Alan Davis and Paul Neary (inker).

Interviewees: Dave Sim, Tony Isabella, Tony O'Donnell

Full contents:

(Issue includes the art created for Short Fuse no.3 - which was never published):

Interior art from issue #19, by Alan Davis 'Fooled again Joker, my constipated old Bat Foe... those Bat Suppositories were, in actual fact... mini Bat Grenades' "[11]

Interior art:

  • Alan Davis & Paul Neary ("Batman with Joker on exploded toilet... 'Fooled again Joker, my constipated old Bat Foe... those Bat Suppositories were, in actual fact... mini Bat Grenades' ")
  • Mike Higgs ("There Are Many Heroes In Nottingham... Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, Miracleman, Swamp Thing, Wolverine, Reuben Flagg, Batman, Cerebus, Spider-man, Elf-Quest, Judge Dredd, Mr Monster, Rorschach" Nostalgia & Comics bookstore advert); ("There Are More At The Place... Disney's Robin Hood, Miracleman, Swamp Thing, Wolverine, Reuben Flagg, Batman, Cerebus, Spider-man, Elf-Quest, Judge Dredd, Mr Monster, Rorschach all winking" The Place bookstore advert);
  • John Ridgway? "For A Trip Down Memory Lane... Spider-man, Doctor Who & the Tardis, Transformers & Zoids, Samurai Penguin", Nostalgia & Comics bookstore centre-spread advert);
  • Arthur Adams ("Girl on dinosaur" pencil art);
  • Glenn Fabry ("Slaine");
  • John Bolton ("Wolverine");
  • Bill Sienkiewicz ("Moon Knight" pencil art);
  • Lew Stringer ("Brickman no.1 - Experience The Brickmania Sensation" advert);
  • Chris Williams ("Superman" & "Hawkman with Hawkwoman" and "The Spirit");
  • Dave Sim ("Cerebus", "X-Men" & "Moon Roach");
  • Martin Hand ("Cerebus", "The Beavers", "Spock, Wolveroach & Cerebus... I seem to have landed on a planet called Ca-Na-Da Captain... ", "Maggie", "The Spirit & females");
  • Jaime Hernandez ("Maggie" pencil art) ;
  • Dave McKean ("Will Eisner and city-scape" portrait wash);
  • Cliff Robinson ("Judge Dredd tied to Short-Fuse bomb")

Issue 20

Issue #20 cover by Mike Kaluta

Arkensword 20. Published January 1st, 1987. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover by Mike Kaluta. 64 pages.

Writers: Paul Duncan, Spencer Woodcock, Phil Elliott and Lew Stringer.

Artists: Lew Stringer, Frank Miller, Alan Davis, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Higgins, Dave McKean, Carl Critchlow, Ian Gibson, Dave Harwood, Chris Williams, Chris John, Michael Wm. Kaluta, Dave Sim.

Interviewees: Michael Wm. Kaluta, Dave Sim, Will Eisner, and Glenn Dakin.

Full contents[12]:

  • "Alan Davis competition result" editorial feature with Spencer Woodcock / Alan Davis "Devilswrack" original strip featuring Miracleman, Captain Britain & D.R. & Quinch (publication of the winning competition entry from Ark no.17/18 with final panel & lettering completed - rest drawn in 1983) with Alan Davis commentary, plus further editorial on Ian Gibson's "Grain" and Paul Duncan's "Second City".
Page from "Grain" by Ian Gibson and Paul Keatley

Issue 21

Issue #21 cover by John Higgins

Arkensword 21. Published May 1st 1987. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover of Wolverine by John Higgins. 36 pages. Print run: 500.

Writers: Paul Duncan, Glenn Dakin, Ian Gibson

Artists: Charles Vess, Dave McKean, Phil Elliott, Steve Gibson, Chris Kelly, John Higgins and Barry Windsor-Smith.

Interviewees: John Higgins, Barry Windsor-Smith and Dave Harwood

Full contents[14]:

Issue 22

Issue #22 cover by Dave Gibbons

Arkensword 22. Published September 1st, 1987. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover of The Comedian by Dave Gibbons. 60 pages. Print run: 400.

This was the first colour issue of my fanzine ARK. @davegibbons90 interview. Ian Gibson interviewing Don Lawrence. Great contributions from @DaveMcKean, @rianhughes, @GlennDakin, Charles Vess etc. I was 23, working at a computer company so learned/used their DTP software after work.

[15]

Writers: Paul Duncan, Paul Neary, Glenn Dakin, John Jackson

Artists: Glenn Dakin, John Jackson, Eddie Campbell, Charles Vess, Dave McKean, Phil Elliott, Steve Way, Chris Kelly, Ian Gibson

Interviewees: Ian Gibson, Don Lawrence and Dave Gibbons.

Full contents[16]:

  • Watchmen "Who Watches The Watchmen" TPB advert (Titan) by Dave Gibbons
  • "Stop Making Sense - A Word To The Wies" commentary by Paul Neary on the truth!
  • "Speaking In Tongues" LOCs.
  • "Don Lawrence Has A Chat With Ian Gibson" interview by Ian Gibson (Marvelman, Trigan Empire, Storm).
  • Charles Vess portfolio & feature.
  • "The Inferiority Complex:" Harrier Comics news feature & adverts with art by Eddie Campbell, Phil Elliott, John Jackson & Glenn Dakin.
  • "Secret Service" Rian Hughes news feature.
  • Bryan Talbot "Valkyrie Press - Luther Arkwright".
  • Richard Piers Rayner's "The Solthenis" advert.
  • "Millennium" DC Comics' Millennium news feature with Ian Gibson commentary & pencil art.
  • John H. Marshall's "Cuirass" advert (Harrier Comics).
  • John Jackson "Albert The Mouse" review strip of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
  • John Jackson "Albert The Mouse interviews the Watchmen" strip (promo for "Watchcats").,
  • Glenn Dakin / Steve Way "Paris The Man of Plaster! Left To Dry" strip 7pg,
  • "The Dave Gibbons Interview - The (Not So) Secret Origin"[17] by Paul Duncan at the Camden Mart on 11th July 1987 (the day Watchmen no.12 was released) with extensive Watchmen art 9pg
  • Interior art:


Issue 23

Issue #23 cover by Dave McKean

Arkensword 23. Published December 1st, 1987. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover by Dave McKean. 60 pages.

Writers: Paul Duncan

Artists: Bryan Talbot, William Simpson, Dave McKean, Alan Davis, Paul Neary (inker)

Interviewees: Bryan Talbot, William Simpson, Dave McKean, Alan Davis, Grant Morrison and Howard Chaykin.

Full contents[18]:

  • Cover and inside front cover by Dave McKean (inside front cover is a SANDMAN cover minus cover logo & text).
  • Interviews with:
  • Feature article on Howard Chaykin.
  • United Kingdom Comic Art Convention 1987
  • Comic book reviews[19]: Kogaratsu the Lotus of Blood; Saviours 1; Sentinel 4; Cuirass 1-2 ; More Tales from Gimbley; Deathwatch 1; Bacchus 1; Lucifer 1; Deadface 3; Angels 1; Preview 1; The Soltenis 1; Watchmen; Storm the Last Fighter; You are Maggie Thatcher; Violent Cases; Redfox 12; Heartbreak Hotel 1; Love & Rockets 23; Border Worlds 6; Male Call; The Building; The Punisher 5; A Soldier's Tale; Mister X 10; The Golden House of Samarkand; The Man from Harlem; Fox Comics 16.
  • News
  • B&W repro of the cover to MIRACLEMAN #14 (1/3 page).
  • Back cover by Alan Davis & Paul Neary.

Issue 24

Issue #24 cover by Brendan McCarthy

Ark 24. Published April 1st, 1988. Edited by Paul Duncan. Original cover of of Mirkin The Mystic by Brendan McCarthy; Joker (Batman The Killing Joke sketch art) inset by Brian Bolland. 64 pages. Print run: 600. First issue with the new name of "ARK".

Writers: Paul Duncan, John Jackson, Phil Elliott

Artists: Phil Elliott, Duncan Fegredo, Brian Bolland, Brendan McCarthy, Hunt Emerson.

Interviewees: Phil Elliott, Brian Bolland, Brendan McCarthy, Hunt Emerson, Howard Chaykin, Ian Gibson.

Full contents[20]:

  • "Editorial" on Harrier Comics & The Eagle Awards.
  • "Speaking In Tongues" LOCs with John Jackson "Albert The Mouse" art.
  • "Whiskers On Kittens - Brendan McCarthy's Favourite Things" feature.
  • "Brendan McCarthy Introduction", interview & extensive art.
  • Comic Reviews: MAUS review, Batman The Killing Joke review ("The problem with this comic is that it's about 3 years too late"), Luther Arkwright Book 2 review, Blackhawk no.1 to no.3 (DC Comics) review by Howard Chaykin, Moebius no.5 review (Titan),
  • Alan Moore news feature.
  • Phil Elliott news feature and interview on 2000AD work with "Judge Dredd & Gimbley".
  • Ian Gibson news feature.
  • "Views From The Real World" The business of comics feature with info on Batman The Dark Knight Returns printings.
  • "Stop Making Sense" British Comics commentary by Phil Elliott.
  • "Out of the end of the brush - Hunt Emerson Talking To Paul Duncan 20th Feb 88" interview & extensive art including a self-portrait & Knockabout advert.
  • Phil Elliott "Post Apocalypse" strip.
  • "A Bit Of Bollo" Brian Bolland interview & extensive art including "Swamp Thing" pencil art (unused cover to Annual no.3), "Taiwan Monster" art, "The Actress", "The Killing Joke" pencil art for 2 pages and "Mr Mamoulian" strip.
  • Interior art:
    • Duncan Fegredo "Judge Dredd" (white on black) art.
    • Hunt Emerson "One of Life's Natural Victims" art.

References

  1. ^ Arkensword Issues #13/14 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  2. ^ Excerpt from "SOPHISTICATED SCRIPTWRITING Part.3", posted by smoky man at AlanMooreWorld, Jan 23/20
  3. ^ Brian Bolland Talks Powerman interview reprinted with permission by Richard Sheaf at Boys Own Adventures, Sep 8/19 [Wayback Sep 8/21]
  4. ^ ArkenSword #15 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  5. ^ Arkensword #16 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  6. ^ Article reprinted with additional "revisit" by Martin Crookall as *Retroactive Fandom* The Riddle of The Spectre at Martin Crookall – Author For Sale, Mar 27/20 [Wayback Jul 15/22]
  7. ^ Arkensword Issues #17/18 Review - League of Comic Geeks
  8. ^ Arken Sword 17-18 (1986), by John Boylan at Roots of the Swamp Thing, Feb 10/15 [Wayback Sep 28/20]
  9. ^ Arkensword Issue #19 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  10. ^ Reposted as Dave Sim: The Arkensword Interview at A Moment of Cerebus, Jun 12/15, along with the photos. [Wayback Aug 7/22]
  11. ^ "Arken Sword Issue #19" by John Boylan at Roots of the Swamp Thing, Apr 2/18 [Wayback May 29/23]
  12. ^ Arkensword Issue #20 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  13. ^ part of the interview and art can be found reblogged as "Ian Gibson's lost children's book illustrations - part 1" by Richard Sheaf at Boy's Adventure Comics, January 9/18 [Wayback Jan 16/20]
  14. ^ Arkensword Issue #21 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  15. ^ Paul Duncan - Twitter/X - Jan 10/22
  16. ^ Arkensword Issue #22 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  17. ^ Reprinted by Paul Duncan as "Interview: Dave Gibbons on Watchmen" at Wordsmith, Oct 13/09 [Wayback Nov 6/17]
  18. ^ ArkenSword Issue #23 - Review - League of Comic Geeks
  19. ^ Index to Comic Book Collection: "Savvy the" to "Savvy"
  20. ^ Ark #24 - Review - League of Comic Geeks