A1 (comics)

A1
Cover of A1 vol. 1 (1989 Atomeka Press), art by Garry Leach.
Publication information
PublisherAtomeka Press (Vol. 1)
Epic Comics (Vol. 2)
ScheduleIrregular
Title(s)
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Book 4
Book 5
Book 6
FormatsOngoing graphic novel anthology
Genre
Publication dateOctober 1989 – April 1992
Number of issues6 (Vol. 1)
4 (Vol. 2)
Editor(s)Garry Leach
Dave Elliott

A1 is a graphic novel anthology series published by British company Atomeka Press. It was created in 1989 by Garry Leach and Dave Elliott. In 2004 it was restarted, publishing new and old material.

Publication history

The first series (from the late 1980s) comprised six issues, plus the A1 Bikini Confidential. Page-count varied around the 64-128 range. Most stories were one-off showcases, sometimes featuring characters that had publishing history elsewhere (e.g. Concrete, Mr. Monster, Mr. X, the American, Flaming Carrot). "Bricktop" was the one ongoing serialized story, though The Bojeffries Saga by Alan Moore and Steve Parkhouse appeared as self-contained stories in almost every issue. Issue #6 was numbered "6A" and a proposed "6B" never saw print, although most of the stories did see print in other publications, such as Heavy Metal magazine.

In 1992 a second series of A1 appeared under Marvel Comics's Epic Comics imprint, edited by Dave Elliott. These were four 48-page color books featuring work from Dave McKean, Kent Williams, Scott Hampton, George Pratt, P. Craig Russell, Glenn Fabry, Pedro Henry, and many others, including the late Martin Emond.

In 2004 Atomeka started publishing A1 again starting with A1 Big Issue Zero. It featured a Bojeffries Saga story that had originally appeared in two parts in Warrior with an introduction that was produced for the U.S. market to introduce the tone of the material. The new material for that issue was a strip by Steve Pugh called Shark-Man. Shark-Man eventually had a three issue run in full colour in 2008 published by Image Comics.

Titles

Volume 1

Book 1

ISBN 1-871878-05-5

Book 2

ISBN 1-871878-11-X

Side A

Side B

  • Mr. Monster, by Michael T. Gilbert and Dave Dorman
  • Bricktop: "Firework Night", Glenn Fabry
  • Jeepster, by Philip Bond
  • Cowboys and Indians, by Al Davison
  • Men and Hats, by Barry Windsor-Smith
  • Kyrn, by Paul Behrer and Simon Bisley
  • Obsessional, by Kevin McManus, Steve Moore and Shawn McManus
  • Comics Are Really Grate, by Gary Pleece and Warren Pleece
  • Fortean Times, by Steve Moore and Hunt Emerson
  • The Talk of Creatures, by Ted McKeever
  • Deadface: "About Hermes, Between You and Me", by Eddie Campbell

Book 3

ISBN 1-871878-90-X

Book 4

ISBN 1-871878-56-X

Book 5

ISBN 1-871878-39-X

Book 6

ISBN 1-871878-80-X

Special

ISBN 1-871878-69-1

  • Mr. Monster's Most Wanted!, Michael T. Gilbert
  • Parcels of Events, Brian Bolland
  • Zirk: "Siren of the Stars", Pedro Henry and Brian Bolland
  • Hell City II, Alan Martin and Jamie Hewlett
  • Jaremsheela:
    • "Chapter I", Steve Moore and David Jackson
    • "Chapter II", Steve Moore and David Jackson
    • "Chapter III", Steve Moore, Dougie Braithwaite and Dave Elliott
  • Tales of the Taco Fiend, Bob Burden
  • Click, Melinda Gebbie and Carol Swain
  • The Betty Page Portfolio
  • Better than a Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick, Dave Elliott and William Simpson
  • The Temple of Sweat, Peter Milligan and John Higgins
  • Bojeffries: "Our Factory Fortnight", Alan Moore and Steve Parkhouse
  • Zirk: "The Perils of Polizei", Pedro Henry and Garry Leach

Volume 2

Book 1

ISBN 0-87135-949-9

Book 2

ISBN 0-87135-950-2

  • Max Zillion and Alter Ego: "Pawnshop", Hunt Emerson
  • Deadline, George Pratt
  • Cheeky Wee Budgie Boy: "The Castafiore Affair, Philip Bond and Jon Beeston
  • Saccharine Fools, Nick Abadzis
  • King Leon (Part One), Peter Milligan and Jamie Hewlett
  • Frankenstein Meets Shirley Temple (Part Two), Roger Langridge
  • Wonderful Life, Steve White

Book 3

ISBN 0-87135-951-0

  • Axel Pressbutton: "The Movie", by Pedro Henry and Martin Emond
  • Pale Horses, Dan Abnett, Steve White and Gary Erskine
  • Stripey: "Social Victim Fashion Frenzy", Roddy MacNeil and Colin MacNeil
  • King Leon (Part Two), Peter Milligan and Jamie Hewlett
  • Frankenstein Meets Shirley Temple (Part Three), Roger Langridge
  • Wonderful Life, Una Fricker

Book 4

ISBN 0-87135-952-9

  • King Leon (Part Three), Peter Milligan and Jamie Hewlett
  • The Edge, Dave Dorman
  • Uptown Ruler, Dave McKean
  • Frankenstein Meets Shirley Temple (Part Four), Roger Langridge
  • Wonderful Life, Una Fricker

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ "1990 Harvey Award Nominees and Winners". Hahnlibrary.net. Retrieved 2010-10-11.
  2. ^ "1992 Will Eisner Comic Industry Award Nominees and Winners". Hahnlibrary.net. Retrieved 2010-10-11.

References