I picked up the first issue of Rok of the Reds today.
Since I never read any Roy of the Rovers, I wasn't sure what I'd make of it.
I really enjoyed it, good to see the writing team back together and a great job all round, and can't wait for issue 2.
Like most boys, my life went through the phase of having a collection of Shoot magazines under the bed, (and then onto having a collection of magazines into which I'd shoot under the bed), so this was a nice little nostalgia trip.
So far it seems a simple enough tale - but well told and with some cracking art.
(I picked mine up at Capital Sci-Fi Con in Edinburgh so will have a six week wait for teh next issue).
Really glad you guys liked it. Can't tell you how chuffed I was to see it in print. I would also say it gets better and better!
Just picked up the first 3 issues of Rok of the Reds at Bedford's Nice comic con. It's fantastic - like a classic New Eagle story in the Doomlord style. The art is great - a bit like Steve Parkhouse - great clear storytelling and good facial expressions. I wish it had been in 2000ad - sometimes you need some light between the the grim sci-fi stories. Looking forward to issue 4...
Quote from: robert_ellis on 04 September, 2016, 12:11:06 PM
Looking forward to issue 4...
Just doing the last of the production work on it now. Dan's powering ahead with the art for #5 as I type.
Jim - thanks for the info! Is it an ongoing? All the best!
I finally got around to reading issues 1 and 2.
A very enjoyable, well paced read.
Looking forward to the rest.
Quote from: robert_ellis on 04 September, 2016, 09:03:47 PM
Jim - thanks for the info! Is it an ongoing? All the best!
I'm sure Jim will correct me if I'm wrong but I think its a 6 issue mini.
Yep 6 issue - speaking to John today, issue 4 should be about a month.
so is 3 out now?
I picked up at 3 Rok of the Reds from Mr Wagner and he was absolutely glowing about the artwork inside especially as a the football scenes involved so many crowds.
My take was
1) The artwork is really really good. An effortless cross between Phillip Bond and Steve Parkhouse.
2) The story reads like a witty Doomlord update with a great football plot
3) It's the most fun I've had reading a comic since Nikolai Dante and Lawless (which admittedly was just last week)
Its very very highly recommended especially for fans of 80s Eagle.
I got a set of the first three from Dan himself a couple of weeks ago and will totally recommend it. A superb strip with a fantastic 'feel' to the whole package.
A triumph.
I got the first three issues direct from Dan too, signed by his good self and John Wagner.
Very good fun, and nicely put together.
Imagine how professional it would have looked with a decent letterer? ::)
I've been playing catch up after reading #2 and 3 and it's quite, quite superb.
Yeah it certainly is.
The name on the ref's mobile made me smile.
Well, barring any horrendous fuck-ups on my part, that should be#4 ready to go the printers. It warms my black old heart to read the enthusiasm for Rok on the forum. Thank you for all the kind words, and for actually buying the comic. If people don't mind, I'll feed some of this back to John, Alan, Dan and Abby via FB...?
You'll enjoy #4, where things take a turn for the-- no, no, I've said too much. ;-)
Not at all - although John knows how much I like it :)
I've told Abby Bulmer in person how great Rok is and she's really enjoying working with legends like Wagner, Grant and Dan...oh, and Jim. ;)
Long may this winning creative team continue!
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 05 September, 2016, 07:55:50 PM
You'll enjoy #4, where things take a turn for the-- no, no, I've said too much. ;-)
For the Albuquerque junction?
Heresy maybe I know in strict 2000Ad terms, but it's my favourite read at the moment. It really has floated my old boat. Dan's art is such a fit for it.
Incidentally I think I still view the interweb through the eyes of an infant-I still get a huge thrill when I have an on line yarn with somebody involved in comic creation.
I can agree totally , Rok of the Reds has been a joy to read - I bought the 1st issue from John Wagner personally at the Manchester Comic-Con in May this year , what a nice , genuine guy
I now have all 4 issues and they have been great to read , and display the best sign of a great writer and artist - you want them to go on and on ........ its that enjoyable a read
I am looking forward to ordering in January 2017 , issue 5 from Dan Cornwell !
Only 4 weeks or so and 5 will be out. Then just issue 6 to go and no more Rok. For a while anyway. Boo
John will have #5 at the 40th bash which he'll be signing with Abby and myself hopefully
Will you be selling signed copies via post as before, Dan?
I should think so. We need them ready for the 40th so hoping to have them before then.
Woo, and indeed- Hoo!
Actually for those attending the 40th this will be the best chance to get Alan Grant (and that lettering bod) to sign as well.
Yeah, all 5 of us.
Quote from: dancornwell on 17 January, 2017, 02:07:44 PM
I should think so. We need them ready for the 40th so hoping to have them before then.
Good stuff Dan.
I've to pick up issue 4 as well. Great series.
Quote from: Link Prime on 17 January, 2017, 06:30:57 PM
Quote from: dancornwell on 17 January, 2017, 02:07:44 PM
I should think so. We need them ready for the 40th so hoping to have them before then.
Good stuff Dan.
I've to pick up issue 4 as well. Great series.
4 and 5 didnt make it to Birmingham (or at least in sufficent quantitues to get my hands on them!) so I will be snapping them up... erm, along with a new issue 1 if possible (and I dont find it in the mean time) as mine has gone walkabouts!
Think we will have loads of each issue, well as many as John can carry there
Quote from: dancornwell on 17 January, 2017, 01:57:20 PM
John will have #5 at the 40th bash which he'll be signing with Abby and myself hopefully
That is great news. Will be poppin' by to get one.
I've been meaning to say how much I loved issue 4. This really is one of me favourite comics of last year and with two more issues to come this year it's gonna be tip top for two years straight.
I can't make it to the 40th bash due to work which is a bummer now that along with everything else I'm missing issue 5 there. Looking forward to getting it in the post sure.
Nice one Dan and John.
Just great comics. Make sure ye pick em up lads.
Quote from: jabish on 18 January, 2017, 12:25:46 PM
Nice one Dan and John.
And Alan and Abby and Jim too of course. Big time. That was amiss of me.
ROK OF THE REDS #5 now available! Will Radford Reds continue their fairytale cup run and what will happen now the Executioners have arrived? Find out in issue 5.
Package deals available. 3 for £10 or all 5 for just £17 with £2.50P&P. Msg me here or via my Facebook page. PayPal payment.
John Wagner will have all 5 issues at the 2000AD 40th bash on the 11th February where you'll be able to get them signed by the entire creative team, John Wagner, Alan Grant, Dan Cornwell, Abigail Bulmer and Jim Campbell.
Will be picking thus up at 40th really looking forward to it. Nice to see a cover quote from the forum too!
Ha! John said he was going to use that line and I thought he was joking!
Cracking cover Dan- really looking forward to getting this. Apart from the prog this is the only 'floppy' I'm reading. It really is 'that' good.
A superb cover and man, that Mr.Bolt gets about! Cant wait to nab my copy from Travelling Man, but hilariously it'll be the first issue thats NOT signed by the mighty Wagner. :lol:
So looking forward to this!!!!
hey Dan
Can you bring some original artwork to sell? Or some pre-done Rok sketches?
I doubt it, I'm not a guest so can't really do any selling. I'm going as a punter
Fair enough.
Be great to say hello.
There's a lot of love for Rok.
I will be signing Rok at John's table at some point in the day. Not sure when though.
Thanks to a surprise benefactor I had a copy of this waiting for me last night when I returned to FQP towers.
I was not disappointed. Each issue just gets better and Dan delivers page after page of top quality storytelling. The only downside is how long I'm going to have to wait to read the finale! If you are at the 40th, and you have NOT got copies of Rok of the reds- get them. You will not be sorry.
On that very point-when is the finale?
Quote from: Prodigal2 on 06 February, 2017, 10:35:43 AM
On that very point-when is the finale?
I was just about to ask that, having picked up issues 3,4, and 5 from John Wagner on Saturday and having just received 1 and 2 in the post from him.
Also, dumb question, where can I buy them from?
Quote from: Prodigal2 on 06 February, 2017, 10:35:43 AM
On that very point-when is the finale?
Dan is hard at work on it now, but both he and Abby are doing this around 'proper' jobs so it takes a little while to get each issue over the finish line. I reckon March might be a little optimistic, but it should be April if not...
Quote from: Magnetica on 14 February, 2017, 07:41:22 PM
Also, dumb question, where can I buy them from?
John has a stack to sell anywhere he does a signing, both he and Dan are amenable to requests for issues via Facebook, or you can order direct from publishers BHP. (http://bhpcomics.tictail.com/products/comic-books)
The book
has been solicited through Diamond, meaning that
theoretically you could get it in your local comic shop, but Diamond's distribution system is unintentionally (?) hostile to smaller publishers, so I wouldn't put money on it.
Edit to add: At some point, I would imagine a TPB will be forthcoming. I haven't discussed production specifically with John, but that's certainly the feeling I have.
I'm glad to hear a TPB is under consideration. This is an excellent comic that would appeal to a wider audience. Get it into bookshops!
Jim, sorry I didn't get to meet you on Saturday. Rok was the only set of books I brought with me to get signed.
filippo
I was really pleased to finally meet Dan.
I managed to get the Dad in front of me to buy his son a run of ROK but blimey he needed some convincing. I honestly think there's a retro school of 2000AD fans who have bought a comic (including 2K) for 15 years!
Hope Traveling Man have copies of #5 in today!
Just read issues 1 to 5. It's a great, easy to read comic and is the sort of thing that could easily fit into 2000AD. It features some nice art from Dan Cornwell and I am glad to see he will be doing some work for 2000AD.
There were a few little touches I liked including:
- Corn Well Flakes
- the suggestion from the commentators that the missing ref had popped off to the optician
- the names of some of the United players made me chuckle
In amongst a story of space changing aliens taking on human form there were two plot points that frankly stretch credibility to breaking point:
1) Real Madrid expressing an interest in a lower league player - regardless of how many goals they score in a series of games
and
2) possibly the most unlikely thing I have seen in a comic in a very long time - professional football clubs taking the FA Cup seriously. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Quote from: Magnetica on 23 February, 2017, 10:22:49 AM
1) Real Madrid expressing an interest in a lower league player - regardless of how many goals they score in a series of games
I thought they were a lower half of the Premier side, rather than a Championship side?
I would have to check but I am pretty sure that when they played Albion, Albion were described as being near the top of the Championship and as a higher team than the Reds which I took to mean the Reds were in a lower league e.g League 1 or lower.
Or have I missed some where it is more explicitly stated.
Final issue of ROK OF THE REDS is all complete and ready for printing!
All being well it should be available in the next few weeks. It's been an absolute blast drawing these comics and this last issue is the best yet. Promise.
Currently drawing a Judge Dredd story by Mr Wagner himself which will appear in a prog sometime soon so if you'd like a chance to see if I'm good enough for The Galaxy's Greatest Comic then grab some or better still all of the Rok of the Reds comics. Contact me here or on my FB page. You can also grab copies through Mr Wagner himself via his own FB page!
Quote from: dancornwell on 19 April, 2017, 05:21:27 PM
Final issue of ROK OF THE REDS is all complete and ready for printing!
All being well it should be available in the next few weeks. It's been an absolute blast drawing these comics and this last issue is the best yet. Promise.
Currently drawing a Judge Dredd story by Mr Wagner himself which will appear in a prog sometime soon so if you'd like a chance to see if I'm worthy for The Galaxy's Greatest Comic then grab some or better still all of the Rok of the Reds comics. Contact me here or on my FB page. You can also grab copies through Mr Wagner himself via his own FB page!
That's great news - I hope there's a collected edition at some point!
Quote from: robert_ellis on 19 April, 2017, 07:10:46 PM
That's great news - I hope there's a collected edition at some point!
The press-ready file is away for printing. Also, Mr W has made reference to the TPB, so I figure that will definitely be a thing, although (as mentioned upthread) I imagine he'll want to shift as many of the single issues as possible before we put that together.
Quote from: dancornwell on 19 April, 2017, 05:21:27 PM
Currently drawing a Judge Dredd story by Mr Wagner himself which will appear in a prog sometime soon
Excellent news.
Two fantastic bits of news there. Really looking forward to seeing Dan in the Prog but more importantly (well to me at least!) Rok of the Reds 6 is almost here!
Wayhey!!!
Dan can I ask a cheeky question will the copies you have be signed by John and yourself, or do you not know yet? So far I have all 5 signed by you both and I'd love to be able to complete the set.
They sure will Colin. The ones I have are always signed by us both
Quote from: dancornwell on 19 April, 2017, 10:46:47 PM
They sure will Colin. The ones I have are always signed by us both
I'll be getting one of them then when they are good and ready.
Thanks Dan I'll be in touch when you know what's what.
Heh, me too. All of my issues are saigned by either Mr. Wagner, the main man Dan or the brilliant Abby (who works at my LCS anyway). Must smuggle a copy to a con to have maisers Grant and Campbell complete the entourage....
Woo, and indeed, Hoo!
Really glad to read you are working on the Dredd now Dan, the progs gain is Zarjaz's loss.
Rok of the Reds issue 6 out now! Taking orders for the final issue although I can't post until next week as I'll be at the Enniskillen Comic Fest over the weekend. If you've bought from me before then it's the usual deal, £5 via PayPal as a gift to my email address. If you haven't then you can msg me here or on my Facebook page to get details. Also we have Radford Reds t-shirts available too! How cool is that!
On a personal level I'm selling an unused Rok issue 6 cover on eBay.
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rok-Of-The-Reds-Original-Unused-Cover-Art-/201914296278?hash=item2f0307a7d6%3Ag%3Ayx4AAOSwrhBZCPnA&_trkparms=pageci%253A998c15ee-2f85-11e7-acaa-74dbd1807258%257Cparentrq%253Acb40762315b0abc1e1d5306afffe8a10%257Ciid%253A5
ooh, really nice cover Dan, it deserves to fetch a pretty penny.
And have a blast in Enniskillen!
Cheers Dave! Your comic will be in post next week
So excited about this and a fiver is winging its way to you via that there intersuperhighway thingie.
Really looking forward to see how this SUPERB series ends.
Sob sob. Missing it already. Thanks Colin
I'm about to sit and re-read issues 01-05 of Rok of the reds because look what little beauty just arrived courtesy of the postal droid.
And as well as John and Dan, this one is signed by Alan Grant as well. TPO for sure.
Thanks guys.
Cheers Dave. I may do just that myself. Not read them from start to finish in one sitting ye.
Just received issue 6 signed by Dan Cornwall & John Wagner. A great end and I'd love to see a collection. I wish it had been a double issue! Thanks for posting it so quickly Dan!
All 6 for £22.50, signed by John Wagner and myself. Msg me for payment details if you're interested
Got it, read it, loved it. Its just brilliant UK comics. Someone somewhere (I'm not sure where) said it managed to be a great footie comic AND a great sci-fi action comic and indeed it does its superb on all fronts. Packs in an astonishing amount of fun and looks perfect.
Why aren't there more comics this good.
If you haven't yet done so buy this... in fact buy two, one to read and treasure and one to rub all over your butter covered body as you explore all the new and different way to love this comic.
Thanks to all concerned in its creation. Now do more.
Cheers Colin! Superb review.
John wants to apologise for lifting this review without your permission but he thought it was such a great one he couldn't resist. He's also forgotten how to post himself.
Hopefully we'll have a second season, but as John says it got to be the right story and a better story than the original. No pressure then!
Anyone still wanting issues, I do still have signed copies. All 6 for £22.50! That includes postage. Message me here on via my Facebook page.
Quote from: dancornwell on 25 May, 2017, 08:14:09 AM
John wants to apologise for lifting this review without your permission but he thought it was such a great one he couldn't resist. He's also forgotten how to post himself.
Yeah Wagner coming here and 'nicking my stuff... or to put it another way...
Mr Wagner liked what I said... I've gone all star struck and silly inside... pass me the Lurpack please.
They have just announced that the TPB will be out in April 2018
Quote from: rogue69 on 01 November, 2017, 09:55:11 PM
They have just announced that the TPB will be out in April 2018
And that John's finishing up the script for the first episode of the next series...
That's great news about the tpb & new series. It's a great comic.
Quote from: rogue69 on 01 November, 2017, 09:55:11 PM
They have just announced that the TPB will be out in April 2018
I'd been holding off for that, but when I saw John at Thought Bubble last month, I couldn't resist picking up 1-6 all signed for £20 - and it is as fantastic as everyone says! I know that John actually loses (quite a bit of) money making these, but I'm so glad that he enjoys them so much that he thinks it worthwhile. What a guy!
Great news.
You'd hope that the collected edition would open up some other retails routes, like book shops etc., who don't stock single issue comics.
Looking forward to the next series.
Yeah I was so chuffed when I saw John Wagner annouce this on Facebook, confirming that Dan will be back on art with an 'Of course'. Can't wait.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 01 November, 2017, 10:07:29 PM
And that John's finishing up the script for the first episode of the next series...
Oh...my...god....yes.
BHP have just announced that The Rok of the Reds trade will be released on the 16th of April and you can preorder your copy here: https://goo.gl/7BwCDm
Indeed it is. It'll be a great book too with extra content. On top of that series 2 is in the works!
Quote from: dancornwell on 13 February, 2018, 08:29:04 AM
Indeed it is. It'll be a great book too with extra content. On top of that series 2 is in the works!
Now I haven't a clue what is going on over at photobucket but this picture is not the direct link I saved. Anyone know a better site to upload from?
Quote from: dancornwell on 13 February, 2018, 08:34:07 AM
Now I haven't a clue what is going on over at photobucket but this picture is not the direct link I saved. Anyone know a better site to upload from?
Photobucket won't let you link to your images any more, unless you pay them $400/yr (
not a typo).
I've been using IMGUR (https://imgur.com) ever since Photobucket brought the fee in. Seems to do everything I used Photobucket for and is still free.
Wow! £400 a year! They won't be around for much longer then. I'll try imgur. Pity we can't upload directly from our own devices or libraries.
I assume you were wanting to show off the TPB, cover, Dan...?
Ha! That'll be what I've been attempting for the last 30 mind. Cheers Jim!
Great collection but I was a little surprised and disappointed that the format is smaller than the original comics.
New Rok website which has a cool competition - get your name on the back of one of the team's shirts - a great excuse to get the comics out and read again!
Well worth checking out
https://www.rokofthereds.com (https://www.rokofthereds.com)
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 02 August, 2018, 08:13:29 PM
New Rok website which has a cool competition - get your name on the back of one of the team's shirts - a great excuse to get the comics out and read again!
Well worth checking out
https://www.rokofthereds.com (https://www.rokofthereds.com)
John Wagner' biog picture alone is worth a visit :lol:
Quote from: Dandontdare on 02 August, 2018, 08:30:33 PM
Quote from: Colin YNWA on 02 August, 2018, 08:13:29 PM
New Rok website which has a cool competition - get your name on the back of one of the team's shirts - a great excuse to get the comics out and read again!
Well worth checking out
https://www.rokofthereds.com (https://www.rokofthereds.com)
John Wagner' biog picture alone is worth a visit :lol:
I thought so. Sorry,
Colin: I must have been typing my post on the other thread while you posted yours.
It's best placed on both threads I'd say.