Kickstarting Comics: Time Bomb’s Anthology Series ‘Brawler’ Is Funding For Issue 3
by Richard Bruton
More Kickstarters to get behind now… this time it’s more from Time Bomb Comics, as Steve Tanner et. al. bring you the third issue of their always-entertaining Brawler anthology.
Well, a great company never slows down and so it is with Time Bomb… only the other week were we telling you about the first issue of their new newsstand comic, Quantum, and now it’s time for another Kickstarter launch for the third volume of their anthology, Brawler.
Previous issues of Brawler came out in 2019 and 2021, but now it’s time for another issue of what Time Bomb describe as its genre-bending anthology – and yep, those who remember it will instantly make the visual and design connection there with the cover, it’s definitely modeled after the legendary Warrior.
Please, please tell me you’ve heard of Warrior? Alan Moore, David Lloyd, Garry Leach, Alan Davis and so many more bringing you Marvelman, V For Vendetta, Bojeffries, Shandor, Zirk, Laser Eraser & Pressbutton et. al.
Anyway, the new Brawler comic collection will be a 56-page, perfect bound, full-colour anthology featuring eight comic strips of unique characters in strange tales in amazing stories.
The cover comes from the brilliant and rather legendary John Higgins whilst on the inside, another rather legendary name, Mike Carey provides a new prose tale based on Higgins’ imagery for the cover.
Brawler issue 3 contains the following tales and creators… Wolfheart by Ferg Handley, James Devlin & Rob Jones; Major Rakhana by Steve Tanner, Pete Woods & Rob Jones; The Killing Stroke by Gary Crutchley & Matt Soffe; Space Banshee Exorcist by Katie Cunningham & Danielle Wiebe; Karl Kampe, Monster Hunter by Jorgen Karlsson, Hakan Aydin & Ichsan Ansor; Amnesia Agents by Jason Cobley & James Grey; Keiko Panda by Jason Cobley and Andrew Richmond, and The Baker Street Irregulars by David Morris.
“The comics anthology is as popular as ever. It’s a very British thing as far as comics are concerned, fueled by our unique comics history and driven by nostalgia. But contemporary anthology comics can’t succeed by just relying on the past, so Brawler is all about featuring some great current creators and their latest creations in its pages.
This time I also wanted to do something a bit different with our backer rewards so rather than the limited print approach we’ve taken in the past, this time Brawler backers can get something that’s still inclusive but much more interactive – a core set of Brawler Battle Cards!” – Time Bomb Chief and Brawler writer Steve Tanner
Brawler #3 from Time Bomb launched on Kickstarter on 1 April 2023
WOLFHEART – Mercenary Karn Wolfheart struggles to survive in the brutal years that followed the collapse of the once mighty Roman Empire. By Ferg Handley, James Devlin & Rob Jones.
MAJOR RAKHANA – The steampunk space-ace that calls the shots, Major Rakhana is our Glorious Empire’s staunch defender against the wicked alien hordes in our outermost colonies. By Steve Tanner, Pete Woods & Rob Jones.
THE KILLING STROKE – Feudal Japan, a lone Samurai, and actions that speak louder than words. By Gary Crutchley & Matt Soffe.
SPACE BANSHEE EXORCIST -Fenshaw is a banshee who’s moved into space and become an exorcist. Undead in the space age, she makes a ‘living’ travelling between moon colonies and star stations, helping hapless humans rid themselves of the spectres and ghouls they’ve brought with them from earth. By Katie Cunningham & Danielle Wiebe.
KARL KAMPE, MONSTER HUNTER – The hit Swedish adventure comics character makes his Brawler return! By Jorgen Karlsson, Hakan Aydin & Ichsan Ansori.
AMNESIA AGENTS – There is a physical place where your memories go. You forget a person, a place or even your keys, they end up in Echo. Sometimes, evil forces led by the Forget Foxes steal memories and hide them, and it’s the job of the Amnesia Agents to get them back. By Jason Cobley and James Gray.
KEIKO PANDA – Turn left and the world is different. Humans live and fight alongside and against Mammalians and Arboreans, intelligent animals and vegetables! Samurai Commander Keiko Panda of Nippon investigates strange events and crimes in the mountains and mists of the east. By Jason Cobley & Andrew Richmond.
THE BAKER STREET IRREGULARS – Tasked by Winston Churchill to “set Europe ablaze” during WWII, the Special Operations Executive had their headquarters at 64 Baker St and were nicknamed the ‘Baker Street Irregulars’. Officially disbanded in 1946, they secretly continued with a new remit. For the Baker St Irregulars, alien invasions and paranormal incursions are all in a day’s work. By David Morris.
So that’s the comic, now for the tiers/reward/stretch goal things…
For a start, there’s the limited edition of 50 virgin covers to see that John Higgins art in all its glory…
Next, Brawler Battle Cards. Designed by James Gray. There’s a core set of available with the hope to add more as stretch goals. Plus the Kickstarter exclusive card featuring the artwork of John Higgins.
Next, there’s a limited A3 print signed and numbered by John Higgins, just 25 of them up for grabs.
And finally, you have the Brawler Surprise Package – just two available and the promise of ‘something unique produced just for the backers who pledged for it. It’s perhaps a bit of a gamble, or could be instead a really shrewd investment, but the backers of this reward won’t know for sure until they receive their surprise package and find out what it contains.’ Ooooh.
As for add-ons, there’s a number of pledge options that also include first-print copies of Brawler #1 and #2, including the limited variants. Plus, there’s a separate add-on to include the Battle Card Set.
Finally, finally, it wouldn’t be right for us to get all this way and now remind you that Time Bomb Comics also has a website where you can buy their comics, including Brawler 1 and 2, with covers by Staz Johnson and David Millgate…
