Harrier Comics
Encyclopedia
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. During their short existence, Harrier published more than 120 issues of over 30 titles.
. The success of Kevin Eastman
and Peter Laird
's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
led to a short-lived explosion of black-and-white independent comics in the United States in the mid-1980s. The U.K. publisher Harrier's titles followed the same mold (unlike most British comics publishers, who favored the comic magazine format). Harrier's aesthetic was also inspired in some ways by the bold design of the UK's Escape magazine. The company's name was an homage to the famous British-designed military jet the Harrier
.
Harrier's first title was Conqueror, written by Lock, which ran for nine issues. Its popularity spawned a number of spin-offs and one-shots, published throughout 1984 and 1985. 1985 also saw the first volume of Swiftsure (also written by Lock), which ran for six issues and was followed by a second volume in 1987.
In 1986, Harrier released Avalon, which ran 14 issues, and Redfox, which ran ten issues before being picked up by Valkyrie Press
. Second City and Shock Therapy also debuted in 1986. That same year, Harrier published one issue of Lew Stringer
's Brickman (a parody of Batman
), which featured pages drawn by notable British creators Dave Gibbons
, Mike Collins, Mark Farmer
, and Kevin O'Neill
, and an introduction written by Alan Moore
. (A number of top UK professional comics artists gave their support to Harrier by contributing covers to various Harrier titles.)
1987 was Harrier's most active year, as they published the series !Gag!, Barbarienne, Deadface, Grun, Nightbird, and Swiftsure vol. 2; as well as the one-shots By The Time I Get To Wagga Wagga, Captain Oblivion, Conqueror Special, Deathwatch, More Tales From Gimbley, and Watchcats. In 1987 Harrier also debuted its New Wave imprint — the first title published under it being Glenn Dakin
and Steve Way's Paris the Man of Plaster, which ran for six issues. Also in 1987, the Harrier title Redfox won the Eagle Award for Favourite New Title.
In 1988, Harrier released another batch of new titles — including Harrier Preview, Kalgan the Golden, Moon Fighting, Nick Hazard, and Vignette Comics — none of which lasted for more than two issues. That year, Harrier's New Wave imprint released the four-issue Sinister Romance, Ace, and Bacchus
.
By the spring of 1989, low sales forced Harrier to close its doors forever.
's long-running character Bacchus
, first in Deadface and then in a self-titled comic.
Harrier's New Wave imprint featured Glenn Dakin
's work, in Paris, The Man Of Plaster (with Steve Way) and the anthology !Gag!. Dakin (with Woodrow Phoenix
) also co-edited, wrote, and drew the New Wave humor title Sinister Romance.
Long-time British comics creator Phil Elliott
edited !Gag!. Harrier also published two collections of Elliott's A Tale from Gimbley stories, as well as Elliott and Paul Duncan's four-issue Second City title.
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...
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...
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. During their short existence, Harrier published more than 120 issues of over 30 titles.
History
Harrier was founded in 1984 by Martin Lock, a former member of the British Amateur Press AssociationBritish Amateur Press Association (comics fandom)
The British Amateur Press Association was an amateur press association created by comics fans in late 1977, following a proposal from Phil Greenaway in the letter pages of the comics fanzine Bemusing; the first mailing was circulated in January 1978...
. The success of Kevin Eastman
Kevin Eastman
Kevin Brooks Eastman is an American comic book artist and writer, best known as the creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Eastman is also the current owner, editor and publisher of the magazine Heavy Metal.-Early life:Eastman was born on May 30, 1962 in Springvale, Maine...
and Peter Laird
Peter Laird
Peter Alan Laird is an American comic book writer and artist. He is best known for co-creating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with writer and artist Kevin Eastman.-Early life and career:...
's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are a fictional team of four teenage anthropomorphic turtles, who were trained by their anthropomorphic rat sensei in the art of ninjutsu and named after four Renaissance artists...
led to a short-lived explosion of black-and-white independent comics in the United States in the mid-1980s. The U.K. publisher Harrier's titles followed the same mold (unlike most British comics publishers, who favored the comic magazine format). Harrier's aesthetic was also inspired in some ways by the bold design of the UK's Escape magazine. The company's name was an homage to the famous British-designed military jet the Harrier
Harrier Jump Jet
The Harrier, informally referred to as the Jump Jet, is a family of British-designed military jet aircraft capable of vertical/short takeoff and landing operations...
.
Harrier's first title was Conqueror, written by Lock, which ran for nine issues. Its popularity spawned a number of spin-offs and one-shots, published throughout 1984 and 1985. 1985 also saw the first volume of Swiftsure (also written by Lock), which ran for six issues and was followed by a second volume in 1987.
In 1986, Harrier released Avalon, which ran 14 issues, and Redfox, which ran ten issues before being picked up by Valkyrie Press
Valkyrie Press
Valkyrie Press was a specialised publisher of British comics. Originally established to publish Redfox, they also later published Bryan Talbot's The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, both of which won Eagle Awards....
. Second City and Shock Therapy also debuted in 1986. That same year, Harrier published one issue of Lew Stringer
Lew Stringer
-Biography:Stringer began his career from the late 1970s with a series of fanzines, many featuring his popular Brickman character; these were read by several pro creators who encouraged Stringer to try comics as a profession and Stringer recalls that "Alan Moore actually introduced me to one of...
's Brickman (a parody of Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
), which featured pages drawn by notable British creators Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons
Dave Gibbons is an English comic book artist, writer and sometime letterer. He is best known for his collaborations with writer Alan Moore, which include the miniseries Watchmen and the Superman story "For the Man Who Has Everything"...
, Mike Collins, Mark Farmer
Mark Farmer
Mark Farmer is a British comic book artist. He is best known as an inker, often working with Alan Davis.-Biography:Farmer got his start in the UK comics industry before becoming part of the British Invasion, the wave of UK creators that were an integral part of the DC Comics "new look" of the...
, and Kevin O'Neill
Kevin O'Neill (comics)
Kevin O'Neill is an English comic book illustrator best known as the co-creator of Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law , and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen .-Early career:...
, and an introduction written by Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
. (A number of top UK professional comics artists gave their support to Harrier by contributing covers to various Harrier titles.)
1987 was Harrier's most active year, as they published the series !Gag!, Barbarienne, Deadface, Grun, Nightbird, and Swiftsure vol. 2; as well as the one-shots By The Time I Get To Wagga Wagga, Captain Oblivion, Conqueror Special, Deathwatch, More Tales From Gimbley, and Watchcats. In 1987 Harrier also debuted its New Wave imprint — the first title published under it being Glenn Dakin
Glenn Dakin
Glenn Dakin is a British cartoonist and author of children's books. He was a contributor to a number of British comics magazines including Escape and Deadline and was part of the British small press comics scene in the 1980s...
and Steve Way's Paris the Man of Plaster, which ran for six issues. Also in 1987, the Harrier title Redfox won the Eagle Award for Favourite New Title.
In 1988, Harrier released another batch of new titles — including Harrier Preview, Kalgan the Golden, Moon Fighting, Nick Hazard, and Vignette Comics — none of which lasted for more than two issues. That year, Harrier's New Wave imprint released the four-issue Sinister Romance, Ace, and Bacchus
Bacchus (comics)
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.-Publication history:...
.
By the spring of 1989, low sales forced Harrier to close its doors forever.
Notable creators associated with Harrier
Harrier first published Eddie CampbellEddie 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...
's long-running character Bacchus
Bacchus (comics)
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.-Publication history:...
, first in Deadface and then in a self-titled comic.
Harrier's New Wave imprint featured Glenn Dakin
Glenn Dakin
Glenn Dakin is a British cartoonist and author of children's books. He was a contributor to a number of British comics magazines including Escape and Deadline and was part of the British small press comics scene in the 1980s...
's work, in Paris, The Man Of Plaster (with Steve Way) and the anthology !Gag!. Dakin (with Woodrow Phoenix
Woodrow Phoenix
Woodrow Phoenix is a British comics artist, writer, editorial illustrator, graphic designer, font designer and author of children's books.He was a contributor to a number of British comics magazines including Escape, Blaaam! and Blast! and was part of the British small press comics scene in the...
) also co-edited, wrote, and drew the New Wave humor title Sinister Romance.
Long-time British comics creator Phil Elliott
Phil 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:...
edited !Gag!. Harrier also published two collections of Elliott's A Tale from Gimbley stories, as well as Elliott and Paul Duncan's four-issue Second City title.
Ongoing series
- !Gag! (January 1987 - Spring 1989), 7 issues
- Avalon (October 1986 - February 1988), 14 issues
- Barbarienne (March 1987 - November 1988), 8 issues
- Conqueror (August 1984 - December 1985), 9 issues
- Conqueror Universe (1985), 2 issues
- Cuirass (1988), 4 issues
- Deadface (April 1987 - October 1988), 8 issues
- Grun (1987), 4 issues
- Nightbird (1987), 2 issues
- Redfox (January 1986 - July 1987), 10 issues — series picked up by Valkyrie PressValkyrie PressValkyrie Press was a specialised publisher of British comics. Originally established to publish Redfox, they also later published Bryan Talbot's The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, both of which won Eagle Awards....
- Second City (1986), 4 issues
- Shock Therapy (December 1986 - August 1987), 6 issues
- Sunrise, 2 issues
- Swiftsure
- vol 1. (May 1985 - January 1986), 6 issues
- vol. 2 (July 1987 - January 1988), 4 issues
- Swiftsure and Conqueror (March 1986 - May 1987), 8 issues
One-shots
- BrickmanBrickmanBrickman is a humour comic strip and character created by UK cartoonist Lew Stringer, and appears to be Stringer's most recurring character. A parody of Batman, the spoof features the adventures of zillionaire Loose Brayne and his partner Tina Trowel who fight crime in Guffon City, fighting...
(1986) - By The Time I Get To Wagga Wagga (1987)
- Captain Oblivion (1987)
- Conqueror Special (1987)
- Conqueror Special Preview (1984)
- Deathwatch (1987)
- Harrier Preview (1988)
- Kalgan the Golden (1988)
- Moon Fighting (1988)
- Nick Hazard (1988)
- A Tale from Gimbley
- Some Tales From Gimbley
- More Tales From Gimbley (1987)
- Vignette Comics (1988)
- Watchcats (1987)
New Wave imprint
- Ace (1988), 1 issue
- BacchusBacchus (comics)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.-Publication history:...
(1988), 2 issues - Paris the Man of Plaster (May 1987 - September 1988), 6 issues
- Sinister Romance (1988), 4 issues
Further reading
- Amazing Heroes #128 (Nov. 1, 1987)
- Sabin, RogerRoger SabinRoger Sabin is a writer about comics and lecturer at Central St. Martins in London, England. He is best known for his book titled Comics, Comix & Graphic Novels: A History of Comic Art and has also written newspaper articles on the topic of comics.-Books:...
. Adult Comics: an Introduction (London: Routledge, 1993), p. 69. - Wiater, S. and Bissette, S.RStephen R. BissetteStephen R. Bissette is an American comics artist, editor, and publisher with a focus on the horror genre. He is best known for working with writer Alan Moore and inker John Totleben on the DC comic Swamp Thing in the 1980s....
. Comic Book Rebels (New York: D.I. Fine, 1993), p. 176.