Wildcat(British comics)

*Wildcat*
Wildcat
	The cover ofWildcatNo. 2 from 5 November 1988.
Publication information
Publisher	Fleetway Publications
Schedule	Fortnightly
Format	Ongoing series
Genre	Action/adventure;
Publication date	22 October1988 – 25 March1989
No.of issues	12
Main character(s)	Joe Alien; Kitten Magee; Loner; Turbo Jones
Creative team
Created by	Barrie Tomlinson
Written by	David Robinson; Barrie Tomlinson; James Tomlinson
Artist(s)	Massimo Belardinelli; Joan Boix; Ian Kennedy; José Ortiz; David Pugh; Ron Smith; Vanyo
Editor(s)	Barrie Tomlinson

Wildcatwas a fortnightlyBritish comicsperiodical published byFleetway Publicationsfrom 22 October 1988 to 25 March 1989^[a].Ascience fictionadventure comic, the title only lasted for 12 editions before being merged with another Fleetway title,Eagle.

Creation

In 1987IPC Magazineshad sold their comic titles toRobert Maxwell'sMirror Group Newspapers.The following year the experienced group editorBarrie Tomlinson– who had previously launched the successfulTigerspinoffRoy of the Roversand the 1982 revival ofEagle,as well as the shorter-livedSpeedandScream!^[1]– was asked to create a new science fiction-themed anthology as a 'junior version' of2000 AD.Tomlinson devised a novel concept for the new title,Wildcat;whereas previous Fleetwayanthologycomics had largely (if not universally) consisted of unconnected stories, he decided that the five strips of the new title would interlink.^[2]Tomlinson had enjoyed moving out of his comfort zone of sports comics previously and relished thatWildcatgave him a chance to try science fiction;^[3]while2000 ADitself was under his group, he largely left the capableSteve MacManusto run the title unless his help was asked for.^[4]The idea of linking the stories was also something new for Tomlinson, while also givingWildcata different twist to2000AD.^[3]

The central conceit ofWildcatconcerned an eponymous ship setting out from a doomed Earth in the year 2500, looking for a new planet to colonise. One thread consisted of standalone stories set on theWildcatitself, while four serials – "Turbo Jones", "Loner", "Kitten Magee" and "Joe Alien" – would follow the exploration exploits of various parties onboard the ship. Tomlinson devised the initial stories himself and wrote the scripts for the first couple of issues before passing some of them on to other writers. Tomlinson retained "Turbo Jones" – initially drawn byIan Kennedyand later Spanish duoVanyo– and "Loner", with art byDavid Pugh.David Robinson took over as writer on theMassimo Belardinelli-drafted "Joe Alien"; Belardinelli would later make way forRon Smithas artist.^[3]José Ortizmeanwhile drew "Kitten Magee",^[5]which was later written by Tomlinson's son James, who wrote forWildcat(as well asEagleandBattle Action Force) under thepseudonymJames Nicholas to avoid the appearance ofnepotism.Tomlinson would also continue to write the ship-based stories, most of which were drawn by Joan Boix, and were later titled "The Wildcat Complete".^[6]Kennedy designed theWildcatitself, which Tomlinson felt was "superbly drawn".^[4]

Publishing history

Wildcatwas previewed by a 16-page insert given away with issues of2000 AD,Eagle,Roy of the Rovers,Buster,Oink!,Whizzer and ChipsandM.A.S.K.on 15 October and 22 October 1988; it contained a prelude strip by Tomlinson and Kennedy introducing the premise^[6]The magazine launched on the latter date; Tomlinson opted for a fortnightly schedule both due to the falling circulations of comics at the time and to reduce the strain on the artists given that each story was 5 pages long.^[3]The title also featured pin-ups of the characters and a letters page 'hosted' by the robot Crud, one of Kitten Magee's sidekicks. As well as the front and back covers, six interior pages were in colour, typically used for "Joe Alien" and pinups.^[6]

However, the comic failed to find an audience, and was cancelled after 12 issues in March 1989. Tomlinson would later wonder if the decision to make the title fortnightly had cost it momentum, though he would also note that the British comics market was continuing to contract, with the previous year having seenMASK,Oink!andHot-Shotall end.^[3]He later felt "the title was one of the best [he] produced",^[4]and was gratified whenRebellion Developmentschose serials fromWildcatfor theirTreasury of British Comicsreprint series decades later.^[3]

Wildcatwas subsequently merged withEaglefrom 8 April 1989. All five strips would subsequently rotate in the title until "Loner" ended on 21 April 1990; the joint branding disappeared fromEagleafter 7 July 1989. Two specials were also issued in 1989, using material left over from the regular run^[3]as well as some reprints of vintage "Jet-Ace Logan"strips.^[6]"Loner" and "Turbo Jones" were both also repackaged byQuality Communicationsfor the international market – the former as a seven issuelimited seriesand the latter as aone-shotgraphic novel.^[7]

AfterRebellion Developmentsbought the rights to IPC's back catalogue of comics in 2016, it announced that it would reprint most of the stories fromWildcatunder its Treasury of British Comics imprint, starting withTurbo Jonesin January 2019 and thenLonerin September 2019.^[7]As of 2024^[update],no further volumes have been produced.

Stories

The Battle to Survive

Published:22 October 1988^[6]

Writer:Barrie Tomlinson^[3]

Artist:Ian Kennedy^[6]

A one page recap of the preview issue.