Subscription Copies and STRIP Magazine Issue 3: A Statement

Here is an update on STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine Issue 2 subscription copies and the release of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine Issue 3.

As readers will have already guessed, we are trying to address a number of administrative difficulties, not helped by the receipt of incorrect information as regards the dispatch of subscription copies from our UK printer.

We hope you will therefore understand that we would rather issue a statement when there has been movement on this front, rather than making one, for things to go wrong - again.

However, while we are still concerned, after many set backs, that subscription copies may again be delayed we are now hopeful they will be dispatched very soon. As soon as they are, we will inform all subscribers who have chosen to be on our mailing list.

We have also of course, (again, obviously), revised the release date of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine Issue 3. While the issue has been prepared for some time it has also been affected by the same issues impacting on the rest of this project.

However, we do at last appear to be reaching some resolution of these difficulties and, while like you we remain cautious and therefore do not wish to commit to definite announcements or release dates, we are optimistic that we might finally be "through the tunnel" very shortly and will have good news for you and all our readers.

Our publisher Ivo Milicevic is planning to be at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival next month, where we hope readers will have the chance to ask him about STRIP and our other publishing plans.

Print edition of STRIP Issue 2 on way at last

We'd like to put it down to sabotage by Enemy Apes and dimensional rifts, but the delay to getting the print edition of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine Issue 2 into newsagents has been down to far more mundane (but probably more complex) reasons.

But, at last, our distributors have confirmed receipt of the Magazine from our UK printers and they are aiming for it to be on sale from Wednesday 31st July.

Our printers are also in the process of dispatching subscription copies.

(No, we can't quite believe it, either).

Once stock has also reached our UK book warehouse we'll be dispatching copies to Diamond for comic store delivery.

We're very sorry for the delay to the Magazine, and we're going to have to apologize right away for what will now be the early September release date of Issue 3.

Because of costs of distribution and a crinkle in the inner workings of one of our major UK distribution points that would mean releasing Issue 3 in August would cost as much as it would to promote three issues from September onwards, we have decided to delay the release of Issue 3 until the beginning of September.

IN ISSUE 2...

Wrapped in a Crucible-inspired cover by Benard Kolle (colour by Sebastian Cheng), the second stunning issue of Britain’s newest action adventure anthology includes strips from John McCrea, Stephen Downey, John Freeman, Smuzz and more.

• BLACK OPS EXTREME (written by Richmond Clements, art by Stephen Downey) The anti-terrorist team run into trouble in the American Bayou – with survivalists and an angry alligator!

• WARPAINT (by Phil Hester and John McCrea) Re-told from the very beginning - Mia learns more about an ancient war between gods!

• CRUCIBLE (by John Freeman and Smuzz) Trouble on the streets when our adventurers set out to recover a mysterious artifact sought by the Temple of Orlyth!

• OPERATION INFERNO (by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer) Steampunk spy Ryuu heads to Paris as the British Empire faces a deadly new peril from a dangerous rogue scientist!

• DENIZENS (by Miljenko Horvatic and Maxim Simic) Modern civilisation has been wiped out and the world is a greener, deadlier place...

Plus: KING COBRA SECRETS REVEALED – a special guide to the new incarnation of King Cobra, a hero who first appeared in DC Thomson’s Hotspur! KING COBRA MINI POSTER by Wamberto Nicomedes; and an interview with author Benjamin Read, writer of the highly acclaimed new graphic novel fairy tale, Porcelain!

• The digital version of STRIP is on sale now for iPad and is also available as a PDF download on Scribd.

COMING SOON...

King Cobra resumes in Issue 3, drawn by Doctor Who Adventures artist John Ross, while further down the line we have an all-new Cobra stories in the works from Wamberto Nicomedes (who drew the Issue 1 opener)!

All your favourites will continue and we have plans for new strips well into 2014 from artists including Bernard Kolle, Marc Olivent and many more. (And yes, those are plans on the basis of getting the title firmly back onto a monthly schedule...)

STRIP IN THE LAKES!

We're pleased to announce that Print Media will have a presence at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ed Brubaker, Kurt Busiek, David Lloyd, Bryan Talbot, Sean Phillips and many more top comic creators from both sides of the Atlantic (18th-20th October, see www.comicartfestival.com for details).

Ivo Milicevic

THANK YOU!

"Looking from the outside in, we appreciate that after the way STRIP has been knocked sideways, uphill and down dale due to its overseas administration, you must be thinking we're gluttons for punishment by now," says our publisher Ivo Milicevic. "But when you've put as much time and effort into a publication, a project I really believe in, you don't let go easily. I hope you, our readers, won't either.

"Thank you for your comments on Facebook, Twitter (good and bad) about STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine. We do read them all. We've taken a lot of them on the chin, too.

"We're now hoping the project plan is firmly grounded in reality for it to continue and we appreciate your support and creative involvement."

• Latest News: http://stripcomicmagazineuk.blogspot.co.uk
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Strip-Magazine-UK/107449926009722
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/StripMagazineUK

STRIP #2 - Print edition release date pushed back

We're sorry for the ongoing and frustrating delays to the release of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine Issue 2.

We were hoping to have the title on sale in UK newsagents from Thursday 20th June 2013 but behind the scenes issues means the release date has been pushed back and at this point, although the magazine has been printed, we are unable to confirm a print publication date at this time.

The delayed publication is the result of a major change to the way STRIP is brought to readers. After innumerable distribution delays that have plagued the title since launch, because of printing in Bosnia, Print Media publisher Ivo Milicevic decided to print and distribute the title in the UK.

Subscription copies are also being handled from the UK.

Publisher Ivo Milicevic commented: "We would like to apologize to our readers, who have been kept waiting for Issue 2 for far longer than was expected by anyone involved. I am making every effort to resolve the situation and hope to bring you good news next week."

We'll published revised release dates for Issue 3 onwards in due course.

The digital version of STRIP is on sale now for iPad and is also available as a PDF download on Scribd.

Wrapped in a Crucible-inspired cover by Benard Kolle (colour by Sebastian Cheng), the second stunning issue of Britain’s newest action adventure anthology includes strips from John McCrea, Stephen Downey, John Freeman, Smuzz and more.

• BLACK OPS EXTREME (written by Richmond Clements, art by Stephen Downey) The anti-terrorist team run into trouble in the American Bayou – with survivalists and an angry alligator!

• WARPAINT (by Phil Hester and John McCrea) Re-told from the very beginning - Mia learns more about an ancient war between gods!

• CRUCIBLE (by John Freeman and Smuzz) Trouble on the streets when our adventurers set out to recover a mysterious artifact sought by the Temple of Orlyth!

• OPERATION INFERNO (by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer) Steampunk spy Ryuu heads to Paris as the British Empire faces a deadly new peril from a dangerous rogue scientist!

• DENIZENS (by Miljenko Horvatic and Maxim Simic) Modern civilisation has been wiped out and the world is a greener, deadlier place...

Plus: KING COBRA SECRETS REVEALED – a special guide to the new incarnation of King Cobra, a hero who first appeared in DC Thomson’s Hotspur! KING COBRA MINI POSTER by Wamberto Nicomedes; and an interview with author Benjamin Read, writer of the highly acclaimed new graphic novel fairy tale, Porcelain!

• Buy the digital edition of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine from the iTunes store (iPad only) 

• Buy STRIP Issue 2 Volume 2 via Scribd

STRIP Magazine Issue 2 - Revised Release Date confirmed

Much later than expected or planned, we can now confirm STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine Issue 2 should now be on sale in newsagents from Thursday 20th June 2013.

The delayed publication is the result of a major change to the way STRIP is brought to readers. After innumerable distribution delays that have plagued the title since launch, because of printing in Bosnia, Print Media publisher Ivo Milicevic decided to print and distribute the title in the UK.

Subscription copies are also being handled from the UK.

"The changeover and behind the scenes administration involved in this has taken longer to resolve than expected," he says, "but the change should mean the Magazine will no longer suffer delivery delays and import issues associated with past releases.

Digital Cover of #2

"We would like to apologize to our readers who have been kept waiting for Issue 2 for far longer than was expected by anyone involved."

We'll published revised release dates for Issue 3 onwards in due course.

The digital version of STRIP is on sale now for iPad and is also available as a PDF download on Scribd.

Wrapped in a Crucible-inspired cover by Benard Kolle (colour by Sebastian Cheng), the second stunning issue of Britain’s newest action adventure anthology includes strips from John McCrea, Stephen Downey, John Freeman, Smuzz and more.

• BLACK OPS EXTREME (written by Richmond Clements, art by Stephen Downey) The anti-terrorist team run into trouble in the American Bayou – with survivalists and an angry alligator!

• WARPAINT (by Phil Hester and John McCrea) Re-told from the very beginning - Mia learns more about an ancient war between gods!

• CRUCIBLE (by John Freeman and Smuzz) Trouble on the streets when our adventurers set out to recover a mysterious artifact sought by the Temple of Orlyth!

• OPERATION INFERNO (by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer) Steampunk spy Ryuu heads to Paris as the British Empire faces a deadly new peril from a dangerous rogue scientist!

• DENIZENS (by Miljenko Horvatic and Maxim Simic) Modern civilisation has been wiped out and the world is a greener, deadlier place...

Plus: KING COBRA SECRETS REVEALED – a special guide to the new incarnation of King Cobra, a hero who first appeared in DC Thomson’s Hotspur! KING COBRA MINI POSTER by Wamberto Nicomedes; and an interview with author Benjamin Read, writer of the highly acclaimed new graphic novel fairy tale, Porcelain!

• Buy the digital edition of STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine from the iTunes store (iPad only) 

• Buy STRIP Issue 2 Volume 2 via Scribd

STRIP Magazine price drop for digital edition

The digital edition of STRIP Issue 5
will include alternate content to
the print edition

STRIP Magazine fans waiting for the arrival of our print edition – victim of the craziest combination of circumtsances yet in terms of getting it in to the UK – may be interested to know that Issue 5 for iPad is being worked on now by ROK Comics and should be submited to Apple sometime next week.

The price of all back issues of STRIP Magazine for iPad has also just been dropped to £1.99 per issue.

We decided to delay submission of STRIP Issue 5 to Apple in view of the distribution issues for the print edition, but with changes to our plans for the relaunch - moved to September - that have superceded some copy in the print edition, the digital STRIP Issue 5 (which will also be priced at £1.99) will include updated pages from the 'real world' magazine, as well as some trailer imagery for the new-look to the title.

The iPad edition will have less pages than the print verison of Issue 5 but some exclusive trailer images from the revamp, and we have also updated 'Comic Cuts' to reflect the change of launch plans.

The big news on the digital front is that by way of an experiment, we'll be publishing a digital only version of STRIP in July. This special Issue 6 will wrap some storylines that complete in the print 'bumper' version of Issue 5, as well as again trailing the new look STRIP.

Promotion for Black Ops Extreme
by Richmond Clement and Stephen
Downey. Black Ops Extreme
© Print Media Productions

We'd also like to use some pages to promote new British comics and projects. If British and Irish comic creators would like to have a plug for their own indpendently created titles in that digital-only issue, direct us via infoATprintmediaproductions.com to a 1536 x 1920 image we'll consider for inclusion. On your left is an example of the kind of image we're looking for.

We'll also consider running strip samples but they must be action adventure, SF, fantasy or one page humour - no horror or adult comics, no swearing and no excessive violence. (No, I don't know how Hook Jaw gets away with it, either).

The digital issues of STRIP - for iPad only at present - are now available for just £1.99 each.

• STRIP Magazine for iPad Issue 1 here: ht.ly/brSDc 

• STRIP Magazine for iPad Issue 2 here: ht.ly/brSHf 

• STRIP Magazine for iPad Issue 3 here: ht.ly/brSPV 

• STRIP Magazine for iPad Issue 4 here: ht.ly/brSUj

STRIP Magazine #4 on sale next week in UK

Good news! STRIP Magazine #4 has finally arrived in the UK and will be on sale in British comic shops next week.

For those of you who have asked - and those that haven't! - the delay on the comic shop-only issues should not affect the news stand launch at the end of May.

We are making Issue 5 of our first volume a double issue (so there will now be no #6 Volume 1) to close some storylines and clear the decks for the new line-up in #1 Volume 2.

This double issue will only count as a single issue as far as subscribers are concerned to thank them for their loyalty.

Back issues of STRIP Magazine will also soon be offered via our web site if you have missed an edition.

You can also get STRIP Magazine digitally on iTunes for iPad.

If you want to receive our newsletter, we have launched a new mailing list. To subscribe, follow this link: http://eepurl.com/j5iA1

STRIP Magazine to go UK news stand in May

Promotional (not final) cover for STRIP Magazine
Issue 7, on sale in May. Art by Giancarlo Caracuzzo
Colour by Kirsty Swan. Please note some content may change

We're delighted to announce that STRIP Magazine will go news stand in the UK with Issue 7, on sale in May.

The initial plan for the title's new stand presence is to target a selected range of top high street stores, but not supermarkets at this time.

Issue 7 will also include at least two new strips - Black Dragon, a steampunk-inspired story by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer, and Crucible, an SF adventure masquerading as a fantasy tale, by John Freeman and Smuzz.

Six-issue subscriptions to STRIP Magazine are available online. Please note, the cover price of the Magazine is expected to rise with Issue 7 to reflect higher production costs.

• Visit www.printmediaproductions.com to subscribe

STRIP Magazine Issue 2 set for 1st December release

As readers of STRIP Magazine know, Issue 1 had a delayed released thanks to courier problems, so Issue 2 is set to go on sale 1st December, not 17th November as stated in the Magazine (which was obviously printed before our print run got stuck in a time warp somewhere in Austria).

Wrapped in a terrific Hookjaw cover from Rufus Dayglo, we have more great strips, including Warpaint by Phil Hester and John McCrea, Age of Heroes by James Hudnall and John Ridgway and Black Ops Extreme, drawn by PJ Holden.

The issue also featues a sneek peak at Crucible, due for publication in 2012, drawn by former 2000AD artist Smuzz (older readers will recall his amazing work on ABC Warriors) and an exclusive interview with artist John McCrea, talking about Warpaint and his hopes for an animated spin-off.

We're also giving away another giant-sized poster - Rufus' Hookjaw cover! How can you resist?

Issue One sold out quickly in UK comics shops (we're supplying new stock for those of you still chasing a copy) - so make sure you tell your comics retailer to put Issue 2 aside for you!

Hookjaw © 2011 Egmont UK

Strip Magazine launch now 2nd November

The delayed delivery of STRIP Magazine Issue 1 from Bosnia has forced us to push back its UK comic shop launch to 2nd November.

Naturally, you can imagine that after all the hard work of so many great creators and the enthusiastic support of so many fans and the British comic press, this is an unwelcome development but Diamond have confirmed arrival of the Magazine so there should be no more unwelcome delays.

I want to apologize to comic fans eagerly awaiting our title, who will now have to wait a little longer.

In some ways, the only consolation I have personally is that the decision to 'test bed' the magazine's production cycle by, initially, selling exclusively through UK comic shops, was a wise move on the part of our publisher, Ivo Milicevic.

We've already experienced some bizarre blips in trans-European delivery on our books, and will now be building more time into our production schedule to hopefully avoid this unfortunate situation arising again.

- John Freeman, Editor

• STRIP Magazine Issue 1 will now being on sale from 2nd November 2011 in all good UK comic shops. You will soon also be able to order single issues online from www.printmediaproductions.com.

• A digital edition, working in partnership with ROK Comics, available via iTunes, is awaiting Apple approval

STRIP Magazine: Publication Delay statement

Despite our best efforts, STRIP Magazine will not be on sale tomorrow (20th) due to courier problems beyond our control.

We will advise of new on sale asap as soon as it is confirmed, but please be assured we're working closely with Diamond to get our first issue into UK comic shops as soon as we can.

Naturally, we are extremely disappointed and annoyed by this turn of events and we know that this news will disappoint many people waiting for the Magazine's debut.

As soon as we have definite news we will publish it here and on the Print Media Productions web site: www.printmediaproductions.com

Coming Soon: the STRIP Magazine Comic Challenge

The Print Media Productions team would like to thank to many dedicated comics creators who have pitched ideas for graphic albums and comic strips at STRIP Magazine. Your submissions are being considered pending our next round of commissioning, but this will not be until later in 2011.

We will however be announcing a Comic Strip Challenge at the Bristol International Comic Expo in May which will offer the chance for the best creators to have a strip in the new Magazine. Please do not send us submissions until you have seen the guidelines.

Mighty World of Marvel Issue 17

I got one of my first breaks in comics thanks to a 'strip challenge' in Mighty World of Marvel way back in 1984. Editor John Tomlinson published a strip called Cat and Mouse, drawn by Matt Bingham.

I've been enthusing about doing something similar since I first started talking to Ivo Milicevic about the STRIP Magazine project and I'm glad he's backed the idea.

Other titles have also promoted new work in the same way, most recently in CLiNT in the UK, the brainchild of Kick Ass creator Mark Millar and publisher Titan Magazines. 

In addition to the announcement at the Expo, details of the Challenge will appear on our full, official web site when it goes live in the next few weeks.

Writers Jasper Barke and Jim Alexander and others will be joining me as part of a special Print Media Productions panel on Sunday at the Expo.

• Bristol International Comic Expo

• Please do not send us submissions for the Comic Challenge until you have seen the guidelines

-- John Freeman