Starscape is a British anthology comic inspired by
the excitement of 2000AD, Valiant and the Mighty World of Marvel.
At Xmas 2008, Starscape Comic evolved into Starscape Comic Magazine
taking Comics International as it's role model.
STARSCAPE began life as a traditional paper
comic, lasting 7 issues plus a 'Best Of' Annual before transferring to
the web, where stories can now be read for free!
WANTED:PEOPLE!
Reviewers, interviewers, artists and writers!
No pay but but good exposure and experience. Start making your
mark with Starscape! Email me at
editor@StarscapeComic.co.uk
WANTED: IDEAS
Let me know what you want out of Starscape. A
forum? A talent database? Music reviews? Quizzes?
THE REAL ORIGIN OF STARSCAPE
The beginnings of Starscape (though I had no idea at the
time) had its roots deep in my childhood imagination. I was lucky in
that Central Scotland always had plenty of comics for sale. Not only was
the 1970s (for I was born in the late 60s) a boom time for British
comics but we also had a plentiful supply of US comics, including DC,
which were pretty difficult to get then. Indeed, Paisley had probably
the world's oldest comic shop in Yankee Mags, which began life in the
1940s!
The favourite comics of my childhood were undoubtedly Captain Britain
weekly and Starlord, so it was only natural that I should name my own
comic after these titles (STARsCAPe). CB really excited us at the time.
Stan 'the Man' Lee appeared on, at least, Scottish programmes to promote
Cap and the stories were something else. Although much derided now, I
think it deserves critical re-examination. Chris Claremont wrote some
classic bronze age style stories with some great villains. The Reaver
should have become a bigger character than a one-shot, whilst Hurricane
could have been a villain with enough power to take on the likes of the
Hulk and maybe even Thor! The Dr Synne/Mastermind story was absolutely
wonderful, combining the supernatural, super-villains, snow-covered
landscapes and sci-fi super machines! That's not to mention the fabulous
Fantastic Four stories with the Galactus and Gabriel the Air-Walker saga
- definately one of my favourite Marvel stories.
Starlord was a companion title to 2000AD. Boasting higher quality paper
and more colour, the stories just had that little bit more edge than
2000AD (which was also wonderful). Not so long ago, it was revealed that
at the time of the merger, Starlord actually outsold 2000AD. And that
9/11 style centrespread from Ro-Busters was just something else!
Other weekly titles I had a regular order for included Super Spider-Man,
Buster, Hulk, Whizzer & Chips, 2000AD, Krazy (THE best humour comic),
Cheeky, Tornado (again excellent), Whoopee!, Vulcan, Bullet, Team-Up,
Plug (no doubt others I can't remember offhand) with me also picking up
Action, Battle, Hotspur, Victor, Sparky, Rampage, Mighty World of
Marvel, Look-In and a million others. Thanks to my mother and
grandparents for that hefty bill! Though my mother has to take some of
the blame - y'see she bought her golden age Captain Marvel at Yankee
Mags when she was a girl and the first comic I remember reading was
Shazam Family!
Chris Smillie
(Starchief)