Welcome to our new article on ComicScene – Space Station Comics. It’s like Desert Island Discs in space. If you’d like to take part then email us at comicsceneuk@gmail.com
This week we spoke to Shane Chebsey, Editor and Publisher of Scratch Comics.
What is your earliest comic memory?
Reading Mighty World of Marvel and Planet of the Apes from Marvel UK. a whole new world was opened up to me in those early formative years.
What was the last comic you read and enjoyed?
Switchblade Stories #7 by Chris Askham via Kickstarter. Chris is a unique talent and I love his work.
What work are you most proud of and why?
In comics it’s Dinosuars Vs Cowboys. It’s my most recent publication and it’s very personal and dedicated to my late Dad. I co created it with Chris McAuley and it has art by some incredible creators, including John McCrea and Eoin Coveney.
Who do you thank for your career/interest in comics and who was your biggest influence?
Probably my second cousin, who was 10 years older than me and let me read all his old comics when I was little. And also my Mum, who taught me to read before I started school, so I could read comics.
What are you working on now?
Lots of things at once:
Wrapping up the final story on Peter Hogan’s Black Forests before getting it designed for print. The Shadows of The Stokerverse is being edited, promoting Jimmy Broxton’s Fully Loaded, more Dinosaurs Vs Cowboys books in the pipeline, more Dracula The Return, and a brand new series written by Matt Soffe called Spearpoint.
I have also completed my own script for a brand new series with and incredible artist, that I can’t talk about just yet, but it’s written and created by me. I am very excited about it.
What advice would you give your teenage self?
Work harder at school, ignore all the bullies, stop bothering with girls and buy more of those original art pages for £30 at UKCAC.
What five comics would you take to an orbiting space station with you?
Daredevil Born Again, The Dark Knight Returns #1 Watchmen #1, The New Frontier by Darwyn Cook #2 and Batman Year One part 4.
What graphic novel would you take?
The Ballad Of The Salt Sea by Hugo Pratt. I read this as a teenager and it changed my view of comics forever.
Anything you’d like to share with us before you go?
All the stuff I am working on above, but especially Jimmy Broxton’s Fully Loaded, as it’s out exclusively in comic shops only, so do go into your local comic shop and ask for it… it’s amazing!! It’s our best selling title to date too.
Thanks for your time Shane.
HISTORY OF COMICS
The Mighty World of Marvel UK was a British comic anthology published by Marvel UK in the 1970s and 1980s. The publication included a variety of serialised stories, both original and adapted from the U.S. Marvel comics. Planet of the Apes was an adaptation of the popular 1968 science fiction film of the same name. It followed astronaut George Taylor as he crash-lands on a mysterious planet ruled by intelligent apes. The adaptation was very popular among readers and served as an introduction to the Planet of the Apes franchise for many fans in the UK.
Daredevil: Born Again is one of the most iconic and influential comic book storylines in Marvel Comics, written by Frank Miller and illustrated by David Mazzucchelli. It was originally published in Daredevil #227-233 (1986), marking the end of a major era for the character and revitalizing Daredevil in a dramatic and unforgettable way. The story takes place after Matt Murdock’s secret identity as Daredevil is exposed to the public, leading to a chain of events that completely dismantle his life. His world unravels as his enemies, particularly the Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), use this information to target Matt in every possible way. His apartment is destroyed, his law practice is ruined, and he faces both physical and emotional turmoil. Matt Murdock, despite losing everything, refuses to give up on his quest for justice.
The Dark Knight Returns is a 1986 four-issue limited series written and illustrated by Frank Miller, published by DC Comics. The comic introduces a grizzled, older Bruce Wayne who has retired as Batman. In this issue, Wayne is in his mid-50s and has hung up the cape and cowl, but Gotham has descended into chaos. Crime runs rampant, and the once-vibrant city is plagued by corruption and violence. The issue focuses on the psychological toll that Gotham’s decline has had on Wayne, as well as the initial steps toward his return as Batman. The issue also introduces important elements, such as the new role of Gotham’s police force, led by Commissioner James Gordon, and the rise of new characters, including the Mutant Leader and Carrie Kelley, a young girl who later becomes Robin. The issue brought a more mature, adult perspective to comic storytelling.
Watchmen is a 1986 limited series published by DC Comics, written by Alan Moore, with art by Dave Gibbons. The series consists of 12 issues, and the first issue is titled “At Midnight, All the Agents…”. We are introduced to a world where superheroes have been active since the 1940s, but they are now largely retired or outlawed. The story begins with the murder of Edward Morgan Blake, who was also known as the Comedian, a former masked vigilante. His death sets off a chain of events that leads to the reassembling of the remaining heroes. The issue focuses on the investigation of Blake’s death, led by Rorschach, a morally ambiguous vigilante. Rorschach believes that someone is targeting former superheroes and begins to warn his former colleagues, including Dan Dreiberg (Nite Owl), Laurie Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre), and Dr. Manhattan, a godlike being who was once human but now possesses near-limitless power.
DC: The New Frontier is a 2004 miniseries written and illustrated by Darwyn Cooke, published by DC Comics. The series reimagines the origins of many iconic DC superheroes, set during the early days of the Cold War in the 1950s and 1960s. The second issue of The New Frontier continues the story from the first, diving deeper into the emergence of the Silver Age heroes and the increasing tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. The story is structured through multiple perspectives, showing the growing divide between the older heroes (like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman) and the newer, more idealistic heroes (like Green Lantern, The Flash, and The Martian Manhunter).
Batman: Year One is a 1987 storyline written by Frank Miller, with art by David Mazzucchelli and colors by Richmond Lewis. It was published in Batman #404–407 and is a modern retelling of Batman’s origin, focusing on his first year of crime-fighting in Gotham City. Issue #4 of Batman: Year One is the final part, concluding the story of how Bruce Wayne becomes Gotham’s protector and establishes himself as Batman in the city. The issue is significant because it showcases Batman’s evolution from a disorganized vigilante to a more strategic, disciplined hero who is beginning to gain the respect of Gotham’s police force and citizens.
The Ballad of the Salt Sea by Hugo Pratt follows Corto Maltese, a charismatic and adventurous sea captain, as he embarks on a journey across the South Pacific in the early 20th century. He is a cynical, independent, and somewhat philosophical anti-hero, who navigates the waters of both physical and moral conflict. The story is set in 1913, a period filled with political unrest, colonialism, and the uncertainty of impending world war.
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