Wildcat (British comics)

In 1987 IPC Magazines had sold their comic titles to Robert Maxwell's Mirror Group Newspapers. The following year the experienced group editor Barrie Tomlinson – who had previously launched the successful Tiger spinoff Roy of the Rovers and the 1982 revival of Eagle, as well as the shorter-lived Speed and Scream![1] – was asked to create a new science fiction-themed anthology as a 'junior version' of 2000 AD. Tomlinson devised a novel concept for the new title, Wildcat; whereas previous Fleetway anthology comics 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 that Wildcat gave him a chance to try science fiction;[3] while 2000 AD itself was under his group, he largely left the capable Steve MacManus to run the title unless his help was asked for.[4] The idea of linking the stories was also something new for Tomlinson, while also giving Wildcat a different twist to 2000AD.[3]

The central conceit of Wildcat concerned 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 the Wildcat itself, 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 by Ian Kennedy and later Spanish duo Vanyo – and "Loner", with art by David Pugh. David Robinson took over as writer on the Massimo Belardinelli-drafted "Joe Alien"; Belardinelli would later make way for Ron Smith as artist.[3] José Ortiz meanwhile drew "Kitten Magee",[5] which was later written by Tomlinson's son James, who wrote for Wildcat (as well as Eagle and Battle Action Force) under the pseudonym James Nicholas to avoid the appearance of nepotism. 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 the Wildcat itself, which Tomlinson felt was "superbly drawn".[4]

Wildcat was previewed by a 16-page insert given away with issues of 2000 AD, Eagle, Roy of the Rovers, Buster, Oink!, Whizzer and Chips and M.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 seen MASK, Oink! and Hot-Shot all end.[3] He later felt "the title was one of the best [he] produced",[4] and was gratified when Rebellion Developments chose serials from Wildcat for their Treasury of British Comics reprint series decades later.[3]

Wildcat was subsequently merged with Eagle from 8 April 1989. All five strips would subsequently rotate in the title until "Loner" ended on 21 April 1990; the joint branding disappeared from Eagle after 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 by Quality Communications for the international market – the former as a seven issue limited series and the latter as a one-shot graphic novel.[7]

After Rebellion Developments bought the rights to IPC's back catalogue of comics in 2016, it announced that it would reprint most of the stories from Wildcat under its Treasury of British Comics imprint, starting with Turbo Jones in January 2019 and then Loner in September 2019.[7] As of 2023, no further volumes have been produced.

• Wildcat Holiday Special (1989)[6]
• Wildcat Winter Special (1989)[6]

• Wildcat at the Grand Comics Database