Revolutionary War

Steve Wacker has tweeted a rather tantalizing image for something called "Revolutionary War", a limited series by Andy Lanning which is apparently coming to Marvel in January. Those who remember the old Marvel UK line will recognize Death's Head II, pictured standing in front of what looks like Pete Wisdom, and the eagle eyed might just spot what looks like Dark Angel and Digitek, too. Since this is basically a lineup of old Marvel UK characters and they're standing in front of the Union flag, looks like thic could be a treat for British Marvel fans...

I had a Death's Head II comic when I was younger. I had no idea where it came from (it was just there, one day) and for some reason I found it absolutely terrifying. I think I got rid of it, but part of me's afraid to check, in case it found its way back into my collection again.

What I'm saying here, Tony, is that I hate you for reminding me that this character exists. Love Pete Wisdom and Digitek, though!

Sam_Vimes wrote:I had a Death's Head II comic when I was younger. I had no idea where it came from (it was just there, one day) and for some reason I found it absolutely terrifying. I think I got rid of it, but part of me's afraid to check, in case it found its way back into my collection again.

What I'm saying here, Tony, is that I hate you for reminding me that this character exists. Love Pete Wisdom and Digitek, though!

Death's Head II, terrifying? I'll grant you, some of the writing was terrifyingly bad! But comics in the 90s had far worse terrors than that; just look at the grotesque deformities on show in any page of Rob Liefeld's art...

Well, the first issue of Revolutionary War (Alpha) is out, and so is Revolutionary War: Dark Angel, and so far it's looking pretty good. I suppose it was inevitable that the villains would be MysTech, back for another atttempt at world conquest (or so it seems), but it's really just a treat to see characters like Dark Angel, Death's Head II and the wonderfully named Colonel Tigon Liger again, whatever the story itself is about; someone even remembered former head of S.T.R.I.K.E, Commander Lance Hunter! A real treat for Marvel UK fans, even if I do still hate that New Excalibur Captain Britain outfit...

Just read Revolutionary War: Death's Head and Revolutionary War: Knights of Pendragon, both of which were pretty good. I'm glad they've decided to go with the original Knights rather than the Pendragon II lineup (and even more glad that Union Jack is in his original costume) as I never really warmed to the likes of Breeze James and Gawain the android. The real treat, though, was seeing Death's Head II fight alongside his predecessor, and the original's acerbic reaction to his later self's look ("droopy horns and no cape? I really do need help"). I also actually cheered when Death's Head II revealed that the code word he was trying to remember was "Overkill".   

By the way, the numbers for this series through Diamond U.S. (the main comic book distributor here in the states, in case anyone isn't familiar with them) on the Top 300 Comic Books listings of January, February, and March 2014:
Jan. 2014
* 130th = REVOLUTIONARY WAR ALPHA #1 - 16,788 copies
* 142nd = REVOLUTIONARY WAR DARK ANGEL #1 - 14,083 copies
* 146th = REVOLUTIONARY WAR KNIGHTS OF PENDRAGON #1 - 13,440 copies
(http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/27835.html)

Feb. 2014
* 159th = REVOLUTIONARY WAR DEATHS HEAD II #1 - 11,310 copies
* 173rd = REVOLUTIONARY WAR SUPERSOLDIERS #1 - 10,310 copies
(http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/28148.html)

March 2014
* 186th = REVOLUTIONARY WAR OMEGA #1 - 9,820 copies
* 195th = REVOLUTIONARY WAR MOTORMOUTH #1 - 9,355 copies
* 197th = REVOLUTIONARY WAR WARHEADS #1 - 9,249 copies
(http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/28315.html)

And a reminder: these are the number of print copies ordered by comic book shops and other places that get their comic books through Diamond, and the initial orders are placed well before the Alpha issue would have gone on sale. How many copies were actually sold to customers is unknown, and these numbers don't include any digital sales. Also, don't know if there are any good sources for sales overseas / outside of Diamond.

I'd be interested to know the UK sales figures. Incidentally, Diamond also distribute outside the US. Diamond UK effectively controls European (not just British) distribution. Sadly.

tony ingram wrote:I'd be interested to know the UK sales figures. Incidentally, Diamond also distribute outside the US. Diamond UK effectively controls European (not just British) distribution. Sadly.

Don't know if there are any sites that list that information.