Bacchus (comics)
Encyclopedia
Bacchus is a comics
character created by Eddie Campbell
and based upon the Roman god of wine and revelry, known to the Greeks as Dionysus
.
), a Harrier Comics
title which lasted eight issues. In issue five Campbell spun the character out of that book and into his own comic, the eponymous Bacchus, a book that lasted two issues, focussing the Deadface comic on Joe Theseus, an updated version of Theseus
. When Harrier Comics
ceased publication, Campbell managed to sell stories containing the character to numerous publishers; the American
publisher Dark Horse
, where the character appeared in their anthology title Dark Horse Presents
, and who also collected the Deadface comics in the Deadface:Immortality Isn't Forever collection published November, 1990
; and two British
publishers, Trident Comics
, where the stories appeared in their black and white anthology
, Trident, and Atomeka, appearing in A1, another black and white anthology.
Dark Horse then collected these short stories and serialised them in comic book
form as the three issue mini-series Deadface: Doing The Islands With Bacchus (1991
), as well as serialising the adventures of another character from the mythos, The Eyeball Kid, grandson of Argus
"all eyes", in Cheval Noir
, which was later extended and repackaged as a three issue mini-series, The Eyeball Kid in 1992
.
After these collections and repackaging, Dark Horse commissioned the new storyline, Deadface: Earth, Water, Air, & Fire, a four issue mini-series published in 1992. Following this in May 1993
came 1,001 Nights of Bacchus, a single issue comic book compilation of various other previously uncollected storylines which Campbell had placed with various publishers but which he had also created within a unified framing sequence.
The next storylines related to the Bacchus mythos were again serialised, this time in Dark Horse Presents
as Hermes vs the Eyeball Kid (1993-1994
) and The Picture Of Doreen Grey (1995
), the former also collected as a three issue mini-series in 1994-1995.
The final work in the Bacchus mythos to be published by Dark Horse was also the first time Bacchus appeared within a comic published in colour, The Ghost In The Glass, published in 1995. At this point Campbell decided to self publish his own comic, Eddie Campbell's Bacchus, in which he published two new storylines featuring Bacchus, King Bacchus and Banged Up, while concurrently revising and reprinting the material already published, and also adding new stories to the 1,001 Nights of Bacchus sequence. The Bacchus character's stories came to an end after the Banged Up storyline, and although Campbell eventually finished the reprinting of the previously published material, he continued publishing Eddie Campbell's Bacchus, updating the name to Eddie Campbell's Bacchus Magazine to reflect the growing number of text pieces he was running, before cancelling the book with issue sixty.
Campbell also published these revised storylines in the graphic novel
format in collaboration with the publisher Top Shelf
.
The entire Bacchus saga is to be published in two 500 page volumes by Top Shelf Productions. These volumes are currently scheduled for release in 2010 (Vol 1 ISBN 978-1-60309-026-1, Vol 2 ISBN 978-1-60309-027-8).
, whom Campbell approached to colour the Deadface and Bacchus covers.
Ed 'Ilya' Hillyer worked as inker on the last four issues of Deadface, before taking full art chores on The Eyeball Kid series initially serialised in Cheval Noir.
Wes Kublick collaborated with the writing on some of the short stories which made up Deadface: Doing The Islands With Bacchus, and Stephen Bissette, Phil Elliott and Pete Mullins collaborated on the art on other stories in this sequence. (Mullins helping to redo Elliott's story which was reworked and retitled.)
Kublick again helped Campbell with the writing on the first two issues of the Deadface: Earth, Water, Air, & Fire series.
1,001 Nights of Bacchus saw collaborations on the writing front with Kublick, Marcus Moore, Daren White and Mark Campbell, with Mark Campbell also writing one story in this sequence solely. Artistic collaborators on this sequence were Steve Stamatiadis, Dylan Horrocks and Pete Mullins, who all collaborated on one story each.
Hermes vs. The Eyeball Kid is credited as being written by Eddie Campbell and Wes Kublick and drawn by Eddie Campbell, Pete Mullins and April Post, with Mullins again assisting with the art on the latter two thirds of The Picture Of Doreen Grey. The Ghost In The Glass featured art by Teddie Kristiansen.
Mullins again assisted on King Bacchus, with another credit for April Post on part 9. The final serial, Banged Up saw Marcus Moore again assist with some of the stories and Mullins assist on almost all of the art with a little help from Steve Francis on part 8.
Bacchus mythos include:
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
character created by Eddie Campbell
Eddie Campbell
Eddie Campbell is a Scottish comics artist and cartoonist who now lives in Australia. Probably best known as the illustrator and publisher of From Hell , Campbell is also the creator of the semi-autobiographical Alec stories collected in Alec: The Years Have Pants, and Bacchus , a wry adventure...
and based upon the Roman god of wine and revelry, known to the Greeks as Dionysus
Dionysus
Dionysus was the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, of ritual madness and ecstasy in Greek mythology. His name in Linear B tablets shows he was worshipped from c. 1500—1100 BC by Mycenean Greeks: other traces of Dionysian-type cult have been found in ancient Minoan Crete...
.
Publication history
Bacchus first appeared as a character in Deadface (March 19871987 in comics
- Year overall :* Independent publishers continue to enter the comics arena, including Amazing, CFW Enterprises, Imperial Comics, Matrix Graphic Series, New Comics Group, and Rebel Studios...
), a Harrier Comics
Harrier Comics
Harrier Comics was a British comic book publisher active in the mid-to-late 1980s. Harrier was notable for putting out black-and-white comics in a mold more similar to American comics than typical British fare...
title which lasted eight issues. In issue five Campbell spun the character out of that book and into his own comic, the eponymous Bacchus, a book that lasted two issues, focussing the Deadface comic on Joe Theseus, an updated version of Theseus
Theseus
For other uses, see Theseus Theseus was the mythical founder-king of Athens, son of Aethra, and fathered by Aegeus and Poseidon, both of whom Aethra had slept with in one night. Theseus was a founder-hero, like Perseus, Cadmus, or Heracles, all of whom battled and overcame foes that were...
. When Harrier Comics
Harrier Comics
Harrier Comics was a British comic book publisher active in the mid-to-late 1980s. Harrier was notable for putting out black-and-white comics in a mold more similar to American comics than typical British fare...
ceased publication, Campbell managed to sell stories containing the character to numerous publishers; the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publisher Dark Horse
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
, where the character appeared in their anthology title Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents was the first comic book published by Dark Horse Comics in 1986 and was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, running from July 2007 until August 2010...
, and who also collected the Deadface comics in the Deadface:Immortality Isn't Forever collection published November, 1990
1990 in comics
-Year overall:Days of Future Present, the sequel to Days of Future Past, appeared in the annuals of Fantastic Four, New Mutants, X-Factor and X-Men.-January:* Dinosaurs for Hire is cancelled by Eternity Comics with issue #9....
; and two British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
publishers, Trident Comics
Trident Comics
Trident Comics was a comic book publishing company based in Leicester, UK, specializing in black and white comics created by new British talent...
, where the stories appeared in their black and white anthology
Comics anthology
Comics anthologies collect works in the medium of comics that are too short for standalone publication.- U.S. :- UK :British comics have a long tradition publishing comics anthologies, often weekly...
, Trident, and Atomeka, appearing in A1, another black and white anthology.
Dark Horse then collected these short stories and serialised them in comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
form as the three issue mini-series Deadface: Doing The Islands With Bacchus (1991
1991 in comics
-January:* Checkmate is canceled by DC Comics with issue #33.* El Diablo vol. 2 is canceled by DC with issue #16.* Count Duckula is canceled by the Marvel Comics imprint Star Comics with issue #15....
), as well as serialising the adventures of another character from the mythos, The Eyeball Kid, grandson of Argus
ARGUS
ARGUS, all capitalized, may refer to:* ARGUS , a particle physics experiment that ran at DESY* ARGUS distribution, a function used in particle physics named after the above experiment...
"all eyes", in Cheval Noir
Cheval Noir
Cheval Noir was a comics anthology published by Dark Horse Comics, containing mostly English Language reprints of European comics. The title features work by some of Europe's best known comics artists, with contributions from some American and Japanese artists too...
, which was later extended and repackaged as a three issue mini-series, The Eyeball Kid in 1992
1992 in comics
-Year overall:* Image Comics explodes onto the scene, releasing eight ongoing and limited series, starting with Youngblood in April; followed by Spawn in May; Savage Dragon in July; and Brigade, Shadowhawk, and WildC.A.T.S. in August....
.
After these collections and repackaging, Dark Horse commissioned the new storyline, Deadface: Earth, Water, Air, & Fire, a four issue mini-series published in 1992. Following this in May 1993
1993 in comics
-January:* Doom Patrol #63: " The Empire of Chairs," Grant Morrison's final issue as Doom Patrol writer.-February:* Action Comics, with issue #686, suspends publication following "The Death of Superman."...
came 1,001 Nights of Bacchus, a single issue comic book compilation of various other previously uncollected storylines which Campbell had placed with various publishers but which he had also created within a unified framing sequence.
The next storylines related to the Bacchus mythos were again serialised, this time in Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents
Dark Horse Presents was the first comic book published by Dark Horse Comics in 1986 and was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, running from July 2007 until August 2010...
as Hermes vs the Eyeball Kid (1993-1994
1994 in comics
-Year overall:* Huge changes in the marketplace force many retailers and small publishers out of business...
) and The Picture Of Doreen Grey (1995
1995 in comics
-January:*After Xavier: The Age of Apocalypse is launched. All X-titles change to different names for the next four months.* Thor marks his 400th appearance in Marvel Comics with issue #482....
), the former also collected as a three issue mini-series in 1994-1995.
The final work in the Bacchus mythos to be published by Dark Horse was also the first time Bacchus appeared within a comic published in colour, The Ghost In The Glass, published in 1995. At this point Campbell decided to self publish his own comic, Eddie Campbell's Bacchus, in which he published two new storylines featuring Bacchus, King Bacchus and Banged Up, while concurrently revising and reprinting the material already published, and also adding new stories to the 1,001 Nights of Bacchus sequence. The Bacchus character's stories came to an end after the Banged Up storyline, and although Campbell eventually finished the reprinting of the previously published material, he continued publishing Eddie Campbell's Bacchus, updating the name to Eddie Campbell's Bacchus Magazine to reflect the growing number of text pieces he was running, before cancelling the book with issue sixty.
Campbell also published these revised storylines in the graphic novel
Graphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
format in collaboration with the publisher Top Shelf
Top shelf
Top shelf may refer to:* Pornographic magazines, which are kept on the top shelf in newsagents, out of the reach of children...
.
The entire Bacchus saga is to be published in two 500 page volumes by Top Shelf Productions. These volumes are currently scheduled for release in 2010 (Vol 1 ISBN 978-1-60309-026-1, Vol 2 ISBN 978-1-60309-027-8).
Creators
Campbell worked with numerous collaborators on the many series and appearances Bacchus made, beginning with Phil ElliottPhil Elliott
Phil Elliott is a British comic book creator who was published in Escape Magazine. He was part of the British small press comics scene in the 1980s.-Career:...
, whom Campbell approached to colour the Deadface and Bacchus covers.
Ed 'Ilya' Hillyer worked as inker on the last four issues of Deadface, before taking full art chores on The Eyeball Kid series initially serialised in Cheval Noir.
Wes Kublick collaborated with the writing on some of the short stories which made up Deadface: Doing The Islands With Bacchus, and Stephen Bissette, Phil Elliott and Pete Mullins collaborated on the art on other stories in this sequence. (Mullins helping to redo Elliott's story which was reworked and retitled.)
Kublick again helped Campbell with the writing on the first two issues of the Deadface: Earth, Water, Air, & Fire series.
1,001 Nights of Bacchus saw collaborations on the writing front with Kublick, Marcus Moore, Daren White and Mark Campbell, with Mark Campbell also writing one story in this sequence solely. Artistic collaborators on this sequence were Steve Stamatiadis, Dylan Horrocks and Pete Mullins, who all collaborated on one story each.
Hermes vs. The Eyeball Kid is credited as being written by Eddie Campbell and Wes Kublick and drawn by Eddie Campbell, Pete Mullins and April Post, with Mullins again assisting with the art on the latter two thirds of The Picture Of Doreen Grey. The Ghost In The Glass featured art by Teddie Kristiansen.
Mullins again assisted on King Bacchus, with another credit for April Post on part 9. The final serial, Banged Up saw Marcus Moore again assist with some of the stories and Mullins assist on almost all of the art with a little help from Steve Francis on part 8.
Other notable characters
Notable characters within Eddie Campbell'sEddie Campbell
Eddie Campbell is a Scottish comics artist and cartoonist who now lives in Australia. Probably best known as the illustrator and publisher of From Hell , Campbell is also the creator of the semi-autobiographical Alec stories collected in Alec: The Years Have Pants, and Bacchus , a wry adventure...
Bacchus mythos include:
- Joe Theseus
- The Eyeball Kid
- Hermes
- Simpson
- Big Ginny
- Collage
- The Stygian Leech
- The Telchines
Collected editions
- Bacchus Vol 1: Immortality Isn't Forever (1995) ISBN 0-9585783-6-2
- Bacchus Vol 2: The Gods of Business (with Ed Hillyer, 1996) ISBN 0-9585783-1-1
- Bacchus Vol 3: Doing the Islands with Bacchus (1997) ISBN 0-9585783-7-0
- Bacchus Vol 4: The Eyeball Kid - One Man Show (with Ed Hillyer, 1998) ISBN 0-9585783-2-X
- Bacchus Vol 5: Earth, Water, Air, Fire (with Wes Kublick, 1998) ISBN 0-9585783-0-3
- Bacchus Vol 6: The 1001 Nights of Bacchus (2000)
- Bacchus Vol 7/8: The Eyeball Kid Double Bill (with Wes Kublick, 2002)
- Bacchus Vol 9: King Bacchus (with Pete Mullins, 1996) ISBN 0-9585783-8-9
- Bacchus Vol 10: Banged Up (with Pete Mullins and Marcus Moore, 2001)
- Bacchus: Two Volume Omnibus Vol 1 (2010) ISBN 978-1-60309-026-1
- Bacchus: Two Volume Omnibus Vol 2 (2010) ISBN 978-1-60309-027-8