Hellfire (Comics zine)

Hellfire is a gen zine focusing on European and American comics, published in Cardiff by Ian Jenkins and David Roach (aka Lakeside Graphics). A total of four issues were produced between 1984 and 1986. The zine contained articles on comics and comics producers, art, comic strips and interviews. 
== Issue 1 ==
Issue 1 was published in 1984 and contained 28 pages. The staff were Ian Jenkins and David Roach (editors); Paul Roach (co-editor and typesetting); David Roach (art editor); Greg Hill (calligrapher and transcriber); Nick Setchfield (moral support) and Andrew "Ducky" Jones (immoral support). The cover art was by John Ridgway. Contributors were Pete Martin, Pete Campbell, Dale Coe, Graeme Bassett, Simon Jowett.
Contents
* Front cover by John Ridgway.
* Editorial by Ian Jenkins and David Roach, including art by Pete Martin
* "Starslayer" by Dave Coe - article about Starslayer (DC Comics/First Comics), art by David Roach?
* "Born Again" by Graeme Bassett - article on Born Again (Spire Comics), a 1978 comic based on the true story of Chuck Colson, the Watergate criminal who converted to Christianity.
* "Vander" by David Roach, lettered by Greg Hill - comic strip
* "French for Beginners" by David Roach - article on French and Spanish comics, including reprints of art by Moebius, Philippe Druillet, Enki Bilal, Philipe Caza, Alain Voss, Paul Gillon and Julio Ribera.
* "Gary Leach and Alan Moore" transcribed by Greg Hill - interview with Gary Leach and Alan Moore conducted at the 1983 Cymrucon by David Roach, Andrew Jones, Simon Jowlett and Greg Hill. Art by Gary Leach and David Loach, Paul Roach, Ian Jenkins, Alan Davis, plus reprints from V for Vendetta and a comparison between Gary Leach and Alan Davis art.
* "Hellfan" by Ian Jenkins - fanzine reviews: Fantasy Advertiser #86; Infinity #6; The Owl's Effort #26; The Early Brickman; Shadows #8. Art by Hunt Emerson.
* "Dicky Ducky" by Andrew Jones, words and pictures by Paul Roach and David Roach, letters by Greg Hill.
* "Ronin" by Pete Campbell - article on Ronin (DC Comics). Reprinted art by Frank Miller
* "Video Nasty" by Ian Jenkins - comic strip
* "The Cardiff Comic Shop" - advertisement, artist unknown.
*Download link.
== Reviews and Responses Issue 1 ==
== Issue 2 ==
Issue 2 was published sometime around December 1984 (based on the publication dates of the reviewed fanzines) and contained 28 pages. The staff were David Roach and Paul Roach as editors; Ian Jenkins as editor-in-absentia; cover art by Garry Leach and "sideburns and long hair" by Andrew Jones.
Contents:
* Front cover by Garry Leach
* "Davitorial" by David A. Roach - editorial
* "The Good, The Bad and the Batman" by Nick Setchfield - article on the history of Batman (DC Comics).
* "The Video Nasty Goes Job Hunting" by Ian Jenkins - comic strip.
* "Alex Nino Etc..." by David Roach - article on comic artist Alex Niño. Includes art from Creepy #94, 1994 Issue #26, Goblin #3.
* Two short articles, one on New Zealand artist Colin Wilson; one on the Batpac Specials. Author unknown.
* "Whistling Clarence" by Paul Roach - article on the voice actor for Donald Duck, Clarence Nash.
* "Vander" by David Roach - comic strip
* "David Lloyd Interview" transcribed by Paul Roach, edited by David Roach - interview with David Lloyd conducted at the 1984 Cymrucon by David Roach and Simon Jowlett, with cameo appearances by Dez Skinn, Mike Austin and Garry Leach. Includes reprints of art by Steve Ditko, Tony Weare and John M. Burns, Jim Steranko, Mike McMahon; David Lloyd art from Warriors #22, The Weirdling, Nightraven, House of Hammer and V for Vendetta.
* "Hellfan" by David Roach - fanzine reviews: Cerebro #21; Doctor Death/Sand Tramp #1 & 2; Chain Reaction #6; Captain Surprise and his Pals; Infinity; Escape #5; Alec; Short Fuse #1; Aura #2; Zero Order #1; Scan A.D.
* "The All New Adventures of Dicky Ducky" by Paul Roach and David Roach.
* "Sent To Hell" - letters of comment; includes letters from Sean Roberts, Nick Setchfield, Jack McArdle, Andrew Muir, Simon Jowett, Russell Willis, Ross Cowin. Art by Ian Jenkins, Paul Roach, John Banyon (?) and David Roach.
* "Dumb Comics" by Paul Roach - article about the worst of DC's 1960s comics. Art reprinted from Plastic Man #2.
* "The Cardiff Comic Shop" - advertisement, art by David Roach?
* Download link
== Responses and Reviews Issue 2 ==
== Issue 3 ==
Issue 3 was published in 1985 and contained 28 pages. The staff were David Roach (edits and art), Paul Roach edits and typography; Ian "Whirling Dervish" Jenkins as intermittent editor; Andrew V. Jones as itinerant editor; cover art by David A. Roach and "Blackhawk impressions" by Nick Setchfield. 
Contents:
* Editorial by David Roach; plus "thanks and hellos to": John Ridgway, Graeme Bassett, Simon Jowett, Martin Crookall, Graeme Bleathman, John Harvey, Rajesh Shah, Greg Hill, Sue and Dave of Aura, Cosmic Ben, Steve (Familyman) Chapman, Pete & Dave, Rob Sutton, Tony O'Donnell, Andrew Wicks and Graham Edwards, Martin Lock and all at Harrier, Martin Skidmore, Pete Campbell, Carol Ann Miller, John at Ravenswood, music by Led Zepplin. Man of the year: Bob Geldof.
* "The Rocketeer" by Martin Crookall - article about the Pacific Comics character, the Rocketeer. Includes reprints of comic art by Dave Stevens and an advertisement for Knock Yaself Out, a humour stripzine.
* "Manara" by David Roach - article about the Italian comics artist, Milo Manara. Includes reprints of art by Manara.
* "ETC" Reviews and News:
**comic strips: "The Tragic End of the Gori Bau and the Corrupt Sister" by Milo Manara, Metal Hurlant Adventure (review by David Roach); The Katzenjammer Kids (King Features Syndicate) created by Rudolph Dirks (review by Paul Roach); Bringing Up Father (King Features Syndicate) by George McManus (review by Paul Roach).
** artists: Frank Hampson (by David Roach); Roy Crane (by David Roach); Franco Saudelli (by David Roach).
** zines: Fantasy Advertiser #92; Aura #3; Mad Dog #10; Alternate Headmaster's Bulletin #6; Fif #3; Amalgam #12; Amalgam Primer #3; Psychedelic Fruit Juice #2; Tadpoles from Beyond the Stars (reviewed by David Roach)
** comics: Daredevil (Marvel Comics) art by David Mazzucchelli; "Supergirl In Requiem" in Adventure Comics #410-420 (DC), art by Bob Oksner (reviewed by David Roach); comics abroad (David Roach and Andrew Jones).
** Felix the Cat (Paul Roach)
** "Beano Uber Alles" - sales figures show The Beano is the largest selling title in Britain.
* "Creation 1: Old Lovers and New Friends" by Simon Jowett (writer); David Roach (artist) and Greg Hill (letterer) - comic strip
* "The Hellfire Interview: John Ridgway" by David Roach - interview with comic artist John Ridgway. Includes reprinted art by Burne Hogarth, Jose Maria Jorge, Mac Raboy, Hal Foster and John Ridgway.
* "Dicky Ducky Reviews Comics", script by Paul Roach and Andrew Jones; art by Paul Roach, occasional inks and ideas by David Roach.
* "TV Century 21" by Graeme Bassett, research by Graeme Bleathman - article on British 1960s comic TV21 (City Magazines). Includes reprinted art by Mike Noble.
* "Sent to Hell" edited by Ian Jenkins - letters of comment; includes letters from John Gatehouse, Pete Campbell, Martin Crookall and Andrew Jones.
* "Camelot" by Simon Jowett - article on Camelot 3000 (DC Comics) by Mike W. Barr (writer), Brian Bolland (pencils), Bruce Patterson and Terry Austin (inkers) and Tatjana Wood (colours).
* "The Video Nasty in Rambo Goes to Russia" by Ian Jenkins - comic strip.
*Download link.
== Reviews and Responses Issue 3 ==
== Issue 4 ==
Issue 3 was published in 1986 and contained 32 pages. The staff were David Roach (edits and art); Paul Roach (edits and typography); Ian Jenkins (Lord Lucan impressions); Simon Jowett (Help Above and Beyond); Andrew V. Jones (Foreign Correspondent). The front cover was by David Roach.
Contents
* "Edits... Fear and Loathing with the F.C.S." by David or Paul Roach - editorial/criticism of the Federation of Conservative Students plus a number of "ITEMS" (aka notes/corrections/thanks):
** Awards: Thanks for those who voted for Hellfire in the FA ballot, with the zine featuring in five categories and winning "best new zine". Also congrats to regular contributors who did well: Martin Crookall, Graeme Bassett, Pete Campbell, Pete Scott and Pete Martin.
** Correction: an explanation of the "ETC" feature introduced in the previous issue.
** Music: an assessment of Hellfire's music preferences over the past year (includes Roy Harper & Jimmy Page, Marillion, The Cult, Kate Bush and Hawkwind).
** Conventions: acknowledgments to the 1986 UKCAC organisers, plus hints that 1987's guests may include Jack Kirby, Gil Kane and Jamie Hernandez. 
** Thanks and Hello To: Martin Crookall, Pete Scott, Steve Bissette, John Totleben, Alan Moore, John Harvey, Martin Skidmore, David Lloyd, Mike Collins and Fraggle, Greg, Pete, Dave, Sean, Simon and "all the crowd at Pete and Dave's".
* "Jim Holdaway" by Martin Crookall - article on the late Modesty Blaise (Hall Syndicate, Los Angeles Times Syndicate) artist, Jim Holdaway. With reprints of art from the Modesty Blaise comic strip by Jim Holdaway.
* "Barry Smith" by David A Roach - article on artist Barry Smith (now better known as Barry Windsor-Smith). Includes reprints of his art from "The Frost Giant's Daughter" (Savage Tales #1, Marvel Comics); Western Gunfighters #4 (DC); Conan #3; "The Song of Red Sonja" (Conan #24, Marvel); Uncanny X-Men #198 (Marvel); plus a "Barry Smith Checklist" for his comics, books, portfolios and miscellaneous.
* "ETC" 
** Top Ten Comics of 1986 by David Roach - by fannish "experts" vote (Martin Skidmore, Simon Jowett, Martin Crookall, Rajesh Shah, Pete Campbell, Ben Saunders, Sean Roberts, Andrew Jones, Paul Roach and David Roach).
** "Zapped Again" by David Roach - short review of Zap Comix Issue #11. Includes reprint of art by Rick Griffin.
** "More Manara" by Andrew V. Jones - news of two new retrospectives on Milo Manara recently imported into the U.K.; the Milo Manara Glamour Book, Vol 1 & 2. Includes reprint of art by Milo Manara.
** "Pendulum Press" by David Roach - review of the original inspiration for Marvel's "Classic Comic" series, the Pendulum Press series of paperback classics adapted for primary schools; emphasis on the artists involved:
* 
** "Steve Gan" by David Roach - short article on Filipino artist Steve Gan who worked for Marvel Comics in the 1970s. Includes reprinted art from Ka-Zar.
** "Knockabout" by Andrew Jones - short review of Knockabout #10.
** "Australian Comics" by David Roach - short article about the reprint titles being put out by Australian comic publishers, specifically reprints by Gredown Pty Limited of various horror comics, various lines from America's Charlton Comics and Spanish publisher Norma Editorial. Includes reprinted art by Ruben Pellejero.
** "Rare Adams" by David Roach - article on a rare piece of comic inking work by Neal Adams found in French magazine L'echo Des Savanes US Special #7 which had included an unpublished Larry Hama story "Curse of the Moonbeast". The inks are credited to The Crusty Bunkers, a collective of artists of whom Adams was a part.
** "Early Leach" by David Roach - article on Garry Leach's "skeleton in the closet" Richard Shafter Codename Scorpio, a 1975 book put out by Quasar Visual Paperbacks with art by Leach and Trev Goring.
** "Alec: Love and Beerglasses" by Andrew Jones - review of the second collection of Alec strips (Escape Magazine); the series is a semi-biography by artist Eddie Campbell.
** "Weirdo #11" by Andrew Jones - review of the underground comic Weirdo, issue #11.
** "Starstruck" by David Roach - review of Starstruck (Epic Comics) by Elaine Lee (writer) and Mike Kaluta (artist)
** Fanzine Reviews by Dave Price: Magnetic Fieldz #2; Fusion #8; Chain Reaction #7; Bum Comic #11.
* "The Hellfire Interview: Steve Bissette & John Totleben" by Simon Jowett, David Roach and Paul Roach. Transcribed by Simon Jowett and copy edited by David Roach and Steve Bissette. "The interview took place in an Indian restaurant which our party (then consisting of Steve Bissette, John Totleben, Alan Moore, Dave Sim, Bill Sienkiewicz and Carl Potts and the Hellfire crew), took what seemed like an eternity to find and in the process of doing so managed to lose several people. The following should best be read to the smell of curry and the sound of sitars... D.A.R."The Hellfire Interview: Steve Bissette and John Totleben", introduction by David Roach, Hellfire #4.". Includes reprints of comic strips and art by Steve Bissette from RBCC #150, Marvel Preview #18 (Marvel), Epic Illustrated #6 (Marvel); art by John Totelben from Heavy Metal #22 (HM Communications, Inc.) and Swamp Thing #2 (DC); joint art by Bissette and Totelben from Bizarre Adventures #33, Swamp Thing #16, #23, #24, #30, #34, #36 and #40.
* "Creation 2: Dreamers" by Simon Jowett (writer) and David Roach (artist) - comic strip
* "An Entertaining Comic" by Pete Scott - article on EC which was originally written in May 1985 to be published in Marvel UK's Starburst magazine. Includes reprinted art from EC Comics by George Evans, Jack Davis, Al Feldstein and Graham Ingles.
* "Sent to Hell" edited by David Roach - Letters of Comment
* "Dumb Comics" by Paul Roach - article on the worst dialogue of older comics. Includes a panel reprinted from Teen Titans #15 by Bob Haney (writer) and Nick Cardy (art).
* "Dicky Ducky Book Reviews" by Paul Roach and David Roach - comic strip with comic book reviews.
* Advertisement - The Cardiff Comic Shop.
*Download link
== References ==
Category:Comics Zines
Category:Non-fiction Zines
Category:1984 Zines
Category:1980s Zines