More For 2022: The New Treasury Of British Comics Release List

As the end of the year creeps ever closer, we’re getting more and more publishers giving us their line-up for 2022. And here we have the new set of graphic novels for the year to come for The Treasury Of British Comics, the Brit publisher dedicated to bringing you not just classic reprints from the Rebellion archive of British comics…

Since Rebellion acquired the lion’s share of the British comics archive, The Treasury of British Comics has been devoted to bringing the lost classics back into print, revitalised and restored, along with reinventing some of the greatest characters in British comics history with modern creators bringing their interpretations to the likes of Cat Girl and Black Beth.

So, you can expect the best from the past along with a smattering of more recent material, with highlights including comedy with Trevor Metcalfe‘s  Birdman and Chicken and more Leo Baxendale brilliance in Badtime Bedtime Stories, along with the best of 1970s and ’80s girls’ comics with The Best of Cat Girl and A Spell of Trouble, and continuing reprints of classics like Steel Claw and the best-selling Trigan Empire series.

Other titles to look for include seeing the stunning art of Don Lawrence in perfect black and white with two volumes of the historical adventures of Karl the Viking, war action with The Sarge by Gerry Finley-Day and Mike Western, and the wonderful strangeness of the House of Dolmann getting a much-anticipated reprint volume at last.

And as for those modern reinterpretations of classic characters, you can find those in The Best of Cat Girl with a collection of stories from the pages of classic 1960s girls’ comic, Sally, and the modern interpretation in Cat Girl Returns by RAMZEE and Elkys Nova. And in Black Beth: Vengeance Be Thy Name, you’ll discover the ‘lost’ story of this fearsome fantasy warrior created by an unknown writer and Spanish artist Blas Gallego, but can also revisit the modern reinterpretation by Alec Worley and DaNi.

So… here’s the month by month breakdown of what to look forward to…

Karl the Viking – 20th January 2022

“Originally serialised in Lion, Karl the Viking is a sweeping historical fantasy story of an orphaned Saxon boy, adopted and raised by the viking Eingar after his raid on Britain. Upon coming of age Karl succeeds Eingar and leads his tribe into battle in Britain against wild tribes of Picts, and re-connects with his old Saxon family, gaining an ally in his cousin Godwulf, and making an enemy of the Earl of Eastumbria. These fast-paced stories were drawn by Don Lawrence shortly before he revolutionised painted comic art with The Trigan Empire, when he was already a master of pen and ink, and his Karl the Viking series was the pinnacle of black and white comic art.”

The Spider: Crime Unlimited – Hardcover – 3 February 2022

“From the pages of Super Picture Library! The Spider is the uncrowned king of the New York underworld, so elusive to the police that he even manages to taunt the Police Commissioner at his retirement party. But Professor Aldo Cummings, a famous but ill-tempered scientist, determined to stop the schemes of the Spider once and for all, invents a ray-machine which will eliminate the evil from a person’s personality. But a tragic miscalculation will turn Professor Cummings into the Professor of Power, and he will seek a more direct confrontation with the Spider. The first collection of the Spider stories originally published as part of the Picture Library series, these long-lost and fast-paced pulp adventure stories have never been reprinted before, written by Superman co-creator Jerry Siegel and Donne Avenell (Adam Eterno).”

Birdman and Chicken: The Krazy Crusaders – 3 March 2022

“To the outside world, Dick Lane and Mick Mason look like two average, law-abiding citizens. However, they lead an amazing double life – for when fiendish finks and vile villains step over the line, Dick and Mick strike back as the crime-fighting duo, Birdman and Chicken!

Cowled, caped and equipped with a vast array of crime-busting gadgets, Birdman and Chicken fight back against the likes of The Giggler, Sourpuss, The Puzzler and Father Time – and sometimes they win! A rib-tickling parody of the 1966 Batman television series, Trevor Metcalfe’s super-series was a highlight of Krazy comic every week and is finally collected here for the first time.”

House of Dolmann – 14 April 2022

“Genius creator and expert ventriloquist, Eric Dolmann has created a small army of robotic puppets to help the forces of law and order fight back against crime. Whatever the situation, Dolman has a mechanical warrior perfectly suited to get the job done! From the safety of his flying ‘Dolmobile’, he directs Raider, Elasto, Mole, Togo and Giggler into action! Occasionally they will question his judgment and bicker amongst one another – even though they aren’t capable of independent thought!”

The Sarge Vol.1 Hardcover – 12 May 2022

“They depended on the Sarge. And the world depended on them. British Sergeant Jim Masters, a veteran of WW1, has to protect and lead his inexperienced platoon during the Second World War. From Dunkirk to North Africa, the might of the German Army face the ultimate adversaries when Masters and his boys spring into action – Nothing can substitute experience! With an introduction by Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys)”

The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Vol 4 – 24 May 2022

“The fourth omnibus of the science-fiction classic, The Rise and Fall of the Trigan Empire, collects the stories published from 1973 through to 1976. Don Lawrence’s painted art continues to be a highlight of the series, and as he takes a sabbatical from the strip Miguel Quesada and Philip Corke match his impressive work with their own style. The Trigan Empire remains resilient against enemies on all fronts, from treacherous politicians, murderous Zith assassins, and alien invaders, Trigo and Janno protect the citizens of Elekton.”

Black Beth: Vengeance Be Thy Name – 7 June 2022

“A warrior with a name born of the black rage that filled her heart! In a world of swords and sorcery, the evil tyrant Rassau discovers that he is destined to be killed by a fearsome warrior called Beth. Together with his men, Rassau seeks Beth out, destroying her village and killing all held dear to her. With the aid of a former warrior – the blind Quido – Beth becomes a skilled fighter and sworn enemy of all that is evil! She will not rest until her people are avenged! This book contains both the original strip and the brilliantly resurrected stories that have been masterfully guided by writer Alec Worley and DC Comic’s newest star, the astonishing Greek artist, DaNi!”

The Best of Cat Girl – 2 August 2022

“The beloved UK superheroine finally pounces into her own collection! From the pages of classic 1960s girls’ comic Sally comes the first ever collection of beloved British superheroine The Cat Girl! Cathy Carter is not your average teen. She can jump further, fight longer and climb higher than anyone she knows – with the aid of a magic suit, she is Cat Girl! Facing off in glamorous, globetrotting adventures against supervillains and master criminals, Cathy often finds the hardest fight comes from her bumbling detective father, who doesn’t believe Cathy can fend for herself. Can Cathy save the world when the person trying to hold her back – is her dad? This collection contains Cat Girl’s latest adventure, ‘Cat Girl Returns’ from the Tammy & Jinty special, as well as a purrfect selection of the best classic Cat Girl stories from Sally, and a brand new cover from Elkys Nova.”

Leo Baxendlae’s Badtime Bedtime Stories – Hardcover – 1 September 2022

“Once upon a badtime… In these explosive, hysterical comics, Jack the Nipper, Little Miss Muffet and Little Red Riding Hood run wild in chaotic retellings of beloved tales. These anarchic, frenzied comics stories from the pen of Leo Baxendale are arguably the jewel of the British humour comics, beloved by many for their DIY storybook aesthetic when they were originally printed in Monster Fun. Now, in this stunning new collection, the comics are restored to their full glory, while reprinted in a smaller style to retain the intimate feel of the originals. Crammed with gags and hidden details, these Badtime Bedtime Stories are the perfect late-night read for kids and grown-ups!”

A Spell of Trouble – 13 October

“Popular, rich and great at school, Carrie lives a charmed life – because, unbeknownst to her classmates, she’s a witch! Hailing from a long line of witches and warlocks Carrie has never wanted for anything – that is until her bumbling, nonmagical and anti-magic cousin Angela shows up! And worst of all – if Carrie can’t turn Angela into a legendary sorceress – she’ll lose all her powers! Worlds collide and sparks fly as these cousins have to learn to live together – or else! This comedy classic from British girls’ comic Jinty features a brand new cover by the original artist, Trini Tinturé, as well as another tale, the spooky, insect-infested ‘Creepy Crawley’, in a volume perfect for Halloween!”

The Steel Claw Vol.2 – Reign of the Brain – 10 November 2022

“One of Britain’s most enduring comic book heroes returns in two stories reprinted here for the first time! The second collection of the sci-fi classic, the Steel Claw collects writer Tom Tully’s first two stories originally published in the comic Valiant between 1963 and 1964. Featuring the stunning, realistic black and white art of Spanish comics’ legend Jesus Blasco!”

Karl the Viking Vol.2 – 6 December 2022

“In the second, and concluding, volume of Karl the Viking the brave Briton takes the fight even further abroad than before as he and his band of warriors battle against the rival viking Gefion One-Eye in Africa, become mercenaries in a violent dispute between treacherous Russian tribes, and survive against fantastical and unnatural sea monsters. Karl the Viking is the series which made Don Lawrence’s reputation, and it was on this basis that he was hired to revolutionise painted comic art with The Trigan Empire. This volume also contains stories written by Michael Moorcock penned when he was just beginning to create the adventures of Elric.”