Preview: ‘Big-Ass Sword’ – New Original Graphic Novel From Andreas Butzbach And Rebellion

by Richard Bruton

An unusual move for Rebellion, publishers of 2000 AD, an original graphic novel by Andreas Butzbach – something of robots, futuristic wastelands, a talking skull, and a Big-Ass Sword…

Yes, it’s very rare that 2000 AD/ Rebellion go the route of original graphic novels, sure there were the Batman/Judge Dredd graphic novels a way back, maybe Button Man and Mazeworld, but I think this might be the first non-2000 AD or crossover original graphic novel they’ve put out that hasn’t appeared in 2000 AD or the Judge Dredd Megazine first. Which shows just how much faith they have in Big-Ass Sword to do the business. It’s due to appear as a one-off tale in a future issue of 2000 AD before the 96-page graphic novel is published in November.

Anyway, the 96-page book explores a futuristic wasteland through the eyes of a lone, unnamed robot whose only companion is a talking skull and the big-ass sword on the robot’s back. It’s not your typical sword and sorcery tale, no matter what the title might make you think.

Early word/look has this as something very European but also evoking the worlds of both Mike Mignola and Katsuhiro Otomo, a very broad, very worldly vision indeed.

Here’s the Rebellion/2000 AD blurb for this one…

‘In a world far from our own reality, a robot warrior wanders through a vast and hostile techno landscape, filled with strange lifeforms and mechanical beings left over from a long, forgotten war. At the robot’s side is a talking Skull. On his back? A BIG-ASS SWORD!’

It’s the first English-language book from acclaimed German creator Andreas Butzbach, whose art we’ve seen on several Treasury of British Comics strips over the last few years, including The Thirteenth Floor, Smash!, and The Treasury of British Comics Annual.

But this sounds, and looks, like something very different, something obviously classically Euro in style, evoking Metal Hurlant and so many of the European greats, but also taking in the likes of Otomo and Mignola along the way, plus a nice bit of Simon Bisley along the wat, all to give you something playing to its influences but then blazing its own trail.

According to Butzbach, it’s a tale that had its genesis in Covid isolation and lockdown:

‘I’ve seen a lot of zombie movies so I knew I would be in for a rather long time. And I wanted to make good use of the time in isolation. I grabbed a pencil and an empty sketchbook and started to draw full comic pages right into it. The plan was, to just fill the book with comic pages. No scanning or adjusting, just like back in the old days when I was a kid: ideas straight onto the paper. When I started with this comic, I did not know where to go or where it would lead me – just like the robot who leads the story. I’m not telling one big epic story arc in the traditional way. This is not a ‘save the world’ comic: it’s more a ‘this is how the world is now, deal with it’ comic. I don’t want to tell you what is going on: you should read and think about it, make your own picture and then you can tell me. I love nature, but tech and industry is part of life as well. I enjoy the aesthetics of trees and flowers as much as I’m able to cherish industrial machinery and buildings. I’m inspired by Brutalism, with railings and huge pipes, twisting and bending where every pipe and hose has its purpose – just like tree roots or the veins running beneath our skin.’

So, preview time…