ComicScene Review: The Treasury of British Comics Annual 2025

It is lovely to see the return of the Treasury of British Comics Annual after it’s success last year. The new edition improves on that and is a well rounded package with a lot to like.

There are three new strips in this 112 page book. The Sludge celebrates his 60th Anniversary next year and Paul Grist and Simon Williams team him up with Robot Archie on Smash TV (Smash being probably the best new comic produced by Rebellion). My only gripe here is the lettering. Whilst me and my trusty magnifying glass can deal with too small lettering on some of the reprint material (usually the panels) the lettering here was too thin and small and ruined my enjoyment of the story. Good lettering should be read without any thought so you can enjoy the visuals and here it failed miserably. I feel really bad for saying that, and it is just my view (and my mid 50’s eyesight), but there it is.

Simon Furman and Mike Collins produce a dependable Kelly’s Eye story (when will we get that oft promised reprint?) and Alec Worley and Anna Morozova bring us a new Black Beth adventure. The lettering is fine in both. Anna’s artwork, as always, is distinct and accomplished. As always she knocks it out of the ballpark with her 70’s european artists style, the fluidity of Ian Gibson and her modern twist. If anyone should replace him on completing Halo Jones with Alan Moore it should be her.

If Anna has a recognisable style then so does Ian Kennedy whose fabulous Stryker strip by Tom Tully from the weekly Valiant and his Adam Eterno strip is taken from the Valiant Annual 1976. In fact most of these stories have appeared in previous annuals and specials with pictures slightly bigger than in the weekly titles giving them a modern look despite the word panels and thought balloons.

There is some fabulous art from Carlos Ezquerra, John Burns, Mike Western (a highlight), Mick McMahon, Eric Bradbury and some surprising work from Belardinell that is solid and worth a look. I particularly like the inclusion of ‘Gorilla Island’ from Tiger 1965 by Frank Langford. Perhaps this story was influenced by Pierre Boules 1963 book which the 1968 film ‘Planet of the Apes’ was based on. Needless to say it’s a nice tie in with the current Apes movie, pairing the ever present popular culture with comic book stories.

We love these annuals and we are so pleased they are back and this is a superb offering.

Of course ComicScene has been given some credit for the return of this and the 2000AD Annual after our ComicScene Annual featuring popular indie characters a few years ago. We have made it available again for only £12.99 in hardback (order before 18th November for Christmas) and it won’t be out of place on your book shelves (details below).

We are also offering a copy of the £30 web shop hardback exclusive copy of the Treasury of British Comics Annual 2025 in a draw for everyone who subscribes to our website for all the latest comic news before the end of November. The draw will be made 1st December.

You can get more info and details how to buy the Treasury annual here before it sells out and details of the ComicScene Annual here.