''Speakeasy'' was a British magazine of news and criticism pertaining to

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

comic strip A comic strip is a Comics, sequence of cartoons, arranged in interrelated panels to display brief humor or form a narrative, often Serial (literature), serialized, with text in Speech balloon, balloons and Glossary of comics terminology#Captio ...

s and

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

s. It published many interviews with both British and American comics creators. ''Speakeasy'' published 120 issues between 1979 and 1991, and won the Eagle Award for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication four times in five years, from 1986 to 1990.

Publication history

Origins

''Speakeasy'' began as a

mimeographed A mimeograph machine (often abbreviated to mimeo, sometimes called a stencil duplicator or stencil machine) is a low-cost duplicating machines, duplicating machine that works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper. The process is called ...

fanzine A fanzine (blend word, blend of ''fan (person), fan'' and ''magazine'' or ''zine'') is a non-professional and non-official publication produced by enthusiasts of a particular cultural phenomenon (such as a literary or musical genre) for the pleas ...

printed on

A4 paper ISO 216 is an International Organization for Standardization, international standard for paper sizes, used around the world except in North America and parts of Latin America. The standard defines the "A", "B" and "C" series of paper sizes, wh ...

, published by Richard Ashford beginning in August 1979. At that point Ashford had already been producing the ''Fantastic Four Fanzine''. By the late 1970s, there were already a number of comics fanzines being published in the U.K., including the long-running ''

Fantasy Advertiser ''Fantasy Advertiser'', later abbreviated to ''FA'', was a British fanzine focused on comic books, founded in 1965 by Frank Dobson, the "Godfather of British Fandom." Considered the first British comics fanzine, ''Fantasy Advertiser'' started out ...

'', Martin Lock's '' BEM'',

Richard Burton Richard Burton (; born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr.; 10 November 1925 – 5 August 1984) was a Welsh actor. Noted for his mellifluous baritone voice, Burton established himself as a formidable Shakespearean actor in the 1950s and gave a memor ...

's '' Comic Media News'', Alan Austin's ''Comics Unlimited'', and George Barnett's ''The Panelologist''. After publishing a second issue in October of that year, ''Speakeasy'' went on a year-and-a-half hiatus, until issue #3 was published in June 1981. From that point onward the publication maintained a monthly schedule. By issue #35 (Nov. 1983) ''Speakeasy'' had settled on a permanent logo (which lasted through 1986) and a tagline, "All the latest UK/US comics news". In addition, Ashford had taken on editorial help, with ''Speakeasy'' being edited by Bambos Georgiou and Richard Hansom alongside Ashford. ''Speakeasy'' published

Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', ''V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', Swamp Thing (comic book), ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman: The Killing Joke' ...

'' Maxwell the Magic Cat'' (produced under the pen name "Jill de Ray"), which appeared in most issues published between June 1984 and June 1988. Issue #43 (Oct. 1984) featured another Moore written- and drawn-strip, created under the name "Curt Vile", called ''Nutters Ruin'', which was a previously unsold strip originally produced in 1979. ''Speakeasy'' #53 (Aug. 1985), subtitled "X-Mania", featured interviews with a number of

X-Men The X-Men are a superhero team in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer/editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men, ''The X-Men'' #1 (September 1963). Although initial ...

creators.

Acme Press era

In 1986 Ashford, Bambos, Hansom, and Cefn Ridout formed Acme Press as a publishing

cooperative A cooperative (also known as co-operative, coöperative, co-op, or coop) is "an autonomy, autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly owned a ...

to continue producing ''Speakeasy''. Acme would soon branch out into comic book publishing. The Acme Press logo started appearing on the cover with issue #65 (Aug. 1986), which also featured a new ''Speakeasy'' logo, designed by Richard Starkings; this logo lasted through issue #101 (Aug. 1989). By 1986 Ridout was the publication's editor, with Ashford having moved to the editorial board. With issue #75 (July 1987), ''Speakeasy'' changed its logo tagline to "Read about the world of comics in... peakeasy and became more of a professional magazine than a zine. The June 1988 issue was a double issue, being numbered #86/87. Beginning in the summer of 1988, ''Speakeasy'' began being

distributed Distribution may refer to: Mathematics *Distribution (mathematics), generalized functions used to formulate solutions of partial differential equations *Probability distribution, the probability of a particular value or value range of a varia ...

in the United States via

Eclipse Comics Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several independent publishers during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for the newly created comic book store, comic book specialty stor ...

(which had a co-publishing arrangement with ''Speakeasys parent company Acme Press). With issue #95 (Feb. 1989), the magazine introduced a new look (and devoted much of the issue to

Tim Burton Timothy Walter Burton (born August 25, 1958) is an American filmmaker and producer. Known for popularizing Goth subculture, Goth culture in the American film industry, Burton is famous for his Gothic film, gothic horror and dark fantasy films. ...

's ''

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

'' film). Issue #95 also featured an interview with Frank Plowright of the United Kingdom Comic Art Convention. The Managing Editor was Ashford, the Features Editor was Hansom, and the News Editor was Nigel Curson. Board members were Ridout, Hansom, Curson, and Ashford.

Grant Morrison Grant Morrison (born 31 January 1960) is a Scottish comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. Their work is known for its nonlinear narratives, Humanism, humanist philosophy and counterculture, countercultural leanings. Morrison has writt ...

wrote a column for Speakeasy, titled ''Drivel'', beginning with issue #101 (Aug. 1989).

John Brown Publishing era

John Brown Publishing John Brown Media is one of the world's largest content marketing agencies. It was bought by Dentsu Aegis in May 2015. While originally formed as a magazine company, the company creates multichannel content for various brands, with services incl ...

acquired ''Speakeasy'' from Acme Press in late 1989; with issue #106 (Feb. 1990)

Rian Hughes Rian Hughes is a People of the United Kingdom, British graphic designer, illustrator, type designer, comics artist and novelist. Overviews Hughes has written and drawn comics for ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'', Vertigo CMYK and ''Batman Black ...

redesigned the magazine. The new editor was Nigel Curson. Curson left before the end of the year, and his assistant Stuart Green took the editorship. In 1990, after an obscenity raid by British police on a London comic shop, ''Speakeasy'' called for a comics legal defense fund. In April 1990, the magazine sponsored the inaugural Speakeasy Awards, which were presented at the Glasgow Comic Art Convention, held at

Glasgow City Chambers The City Chambers or Municipal Buildings in Glasgow, Scotland, has functioned as the headquarters of Glasgow City Council since 1996, and of preceding forms of municipal government in the city since 1889. It is located on the eastern side of the ...

, Glasgow, Scotland. Pressures on ''Speakeasy'' around this time included the 1990 debut of a competitor magazine,

Dez Skinn Derek Graham "Dez" Skinn (born 4 February 1951) Miller, John Jackson"Comics Industry Birthdays" ''Comics Buyer's Guide'', 10 June 2005. Accessed 14 August 2010WebCitation archive is a British comic and magazine editor, and author of a number of ...

's ''

Comics International ''Comics International'' was a British news and reviews magazine about comic books. Founded in 1990, it was published monthly by Quality Communications until 2006, and then by Cosmic Publications Ltd. until 2010. Over time, ''Comics International ...

'', and the fact that ''Speakeasy'''s sales were limited to comic shops (whereas, say, ''Comics International'' was also sold on newsstands). ''Speakeasy'' published its final regular issue, #120, in May 1991; that issue contained the results of the 1990 ''Speakeasy'' readers' poll. ''Speakeasy'' continued as a 16-page insert in the first five issues of the fellow John Brown Publishing title '' Blast!'', but that title itself only lasted seven issues, being canceled with the November 1991 issue. After ''Blast!'''s cancellation there was some talk of ''Speakeasy'' being revived as a free media guide distributed in comic shops and music stores, but it does not appear that ever happened.

Features and columns

* ''Keep the Home Fires Burning'' by Mr. M — a column about British comics * ''Speak Not Too Harshly''; later called ''Reviewspeak'' — comics reviews * ''Newspeak'' — UK and US comics industry news; often taking up the bulk of the pages * ''Zineseen'' — zine news & reviews * ''Speakout'' — letter column * ''Top Ten'' — top ten comics lists, selected by a guest creator each issue * ''Fandom Confidential'' — gossip column by "Vikki Veil" * ''Drivel'' by

Interview subjects (selected)

Neal Adams Neal Adams (June 15, 1941 – April 28, 2022) was an American comic book artist. He was the co-founder of the graphic design studio Continuity Associates, and was a Creator ownership, creators-rights advocate who helped secure a pension and re ...

(#55, Sept. 1985) *

Mark Badger Mark Billings Badger (October 16, 1958), known as Mark Badger, is an American illustrator who has worked as a penciler, inker, cover artist, painter, and occasional colorist in the American comic book industry. In addition to his career as a comi ...

(#101, Aug. 1989) * John Byrne (#95, Feb. 1989) *

Chris Claremont Christopher S. Claremont (; born November 25, 1950) is an English-born American comic book writer and novelist. Claremont is best known for his 16-year stint on ''Uncanny X-Men'' from 1975 to 1991, far longer than that of any other writer,Clarem ...

(#53, July 1985; part of special issue "X-Mania"; #54, Aug. 1985) * Dan Green (#53, July 1985) — part of special issue "X-Mania" * James Hudnall (#63, June 1986) *

Joe Kubert Joseph Kubert (; September 18, 1926 – August 12, 2012) was a Poland, Polish-born Americans, American comic book artist, art teacher, and founder of The Kubert School. He is best known for his work on the DC Comics characters Sgt. Rock and Hawk ...

(#57, Dec. 1985) *

Stan Lee Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book author, writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Comics which later bec ...

(#20, Nov. 1982) — transcript of a

1975 It was also declared the ''International Women's Year'' by the United Nations and the European Architectural Heritage Year by the Council of Europe. Events January * January 1 – Watergate scandal (United States): John N. Mitchell, H. R. ...

interview with Lee from the

Institute of Contemporary Arts The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is an modernism, artistic and cultural centre on The Mall (London), The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. Located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps a ...

' ''Marvel'' exhibition * David Lloyd (#63, June 1986) *

(#54, Aug. 1985; #85, Apr. 1988) *

(#100, July 1989) *

Dean Mullaney Dean Mullaney (born June 18, 1954) is an American editor, publisher, and designer whose Eclipse Enterprises, founded in 1977, was one of the earliest independent comic-book companies. Eclipse published some of the first graphic novels and was o ...

(#52, July 1985) * Ann Nocenti (#53, July 1985; part of special issue "X-Mania"; #95, Feb. 1989) *

Dennis O'Neil Dennis "Denny" Joseph O'Neil (May 3, 1939 – June 11, 2020) was an American comic book writer and editor, principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics from the 1960s through the 1990s, and Group Editor for the Batman family of titles until h ...

(#95, Feb. 1989) — part of the special issue on Batman *

Jerry Ordway Jeremiah Joseph Ordway (born November 28, 1957) is an American writer, penciller, inker and painter of comic books. He is known for his inking work on a wide variety of DC Comics titles, including the continuity-redefining ''Crisis on Infinite E ...

(#95, Feb. 1989) * John Romita, Jr. (#53, July 1985) — part of special issue "X-Mania" *

Jim Shooter James Shooter (born September 27, 1951) is an American writer, editor, and publisher in the comics industry. Beginning his career writing for DC Comics at the age of 14, he had a successful but controversial run as editor-in-chief at Marvel Comic ...

(#71, Feb. 1987) *

Walt Simonson Walter Simonson (born September 2, 1946) is an American comic book writer and artist, best known for a run on Marvel Comics' ''Thor'' from 1983 to 1987, during which he created the character Beta Ray Bill. He is also known for the creator-owned ...

(#35, Nov. 1983; #61, Apr. 1986) *

(#39, Apr. 1984; #67, Oct. 1986) *

Bryan Talbot Bryan Talbot (born 24 February 1952) is a British comics artist and writer, best known as the creator of '' The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' and its sequels '' Heart of Empire'' and '' The Legend of Luther Arkwright'', as well as the ''Gra ...

(#45, Sept. 1984) *

Colin Wilson Colin Henry Wilson (26 June 1931 – 5 December 2013) was an English existentialist philosopher-novelist. He also wrote widely on true crime, mysticism and the paranormal, eventually writing more than a hundred books. Wilson called his p ...

(#63, June 1986)

Awards won

* 1986 Eagle Award for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication * 1987 Eagle Award for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication * 1988 Eagle Award for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication * 1990 Eagle Award for Favourite Specialist Comics Publication

''Speakeasy'' awards

1990

Conducted via a reader's poll and presented at the Glasgow Comic Art Convention, April 1990: * Best Writer:

* Best Artist:

Dave McKean David McKean (born 29 December 1963) is an England, English artist. His work incorporates drawing, painting, photography, collage, found objects, digital art, and sculpture. McKean has illustrated works by authors such as S. F. Said, S.F. Said, ...

* Best Colourist: Steve Oliff * Best Letterer: Tom Frame * Best Editor:

Karen Berger Karen Berger (; born February 26, 1958) is an American comic book editor. She is best known for her role in helping create DC Comics' Vertigo imprint in 1993 and serving as the line's Executive Editor until 2013. She currently oversees Berger ...

* Most Promising Newcomer — Writer:

Garth Ennis Garth Ennis (born 16 January 1970) is a Northern Irish-American comics writer, best known for the Vertigo series ''Preacher'' with artist Steve Dillon, his nine-year run on Marvel Comics' ''Punisher'' franchise, and '' The Boys'' with artist Dar ...

* Most Promising Newcomer — Artist: Sean Phillips * Best Continuing Title: '' 2000 AD'' * Best New Series: '' The Sandman'' (DC) * Best Limited Series: '' Skreemer'' ( Peter Milligan, Brett Ewins, and

Steve Dillon Steve Dillon (22 March 1962 – 22 October 2016) was a British comic book artist, best known for his work with writer Garth Ennis on ''Hellblazer'', ''Preacher (comics), Preacher'' and ''The Punisher''. Early life Dillon was born in London i ...

) * Best Independent Title: '' A1'' * Best One-Shot or Graphic Novel: ''

Arkham Asylum Arkham Asylum () is a fictional psychiatric hospital appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in stories featuring Batman. It first appeared in ''Batman'' #258 (October 1974), written by Dennis O'Neil with art by Irv N ...

'' (

and

) * Best Story in a Single Issue: '' The Sandman'' (

Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman (; born Neil Richard Gaiman; 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, audio theatre, and screenplays. His works include the comic series ''The Sandman (comic book), The Sandma ...

) * Best Continued Storyline: '' Sláine the Horned God'' (

Pat Mills Patrick Eamon Mills (born 1949) is an English comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys' comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since. He has been called "the godfath ...

and

Simon Bisley Simon Bisley is a British comic book artist best known for his 1990s in comics, 1990s work on ''ABC Warriors'', ''Lobo (DC Comics), Lobo'' and ''Sláine (comics), Sláine''. Early life Simon Bisley began drawing when he was six years old. He is ...

) (''2000 AD'') * Best Cover: '' The Sandman'' (Dave McKean) * Best Newspaper Strip: ''

Calvin and Hobbes ''Calvin and Hobbes'' is a daily American comic strip created by cartoonist Bill Watterson that was Print syndication, syndicated from November 18, 1985, to December 31, 1995. Commonly described as "the last great newspaper comic", ''Calvin a ...

'' * Hype of the Year: ''Arkham Asylum'' * Most Regretted Cancellation: ''

The Shadow The Shadow is a fictional character created by American magazine publishers Street & Smith and writer Walter B. Gibson. Originally created to be a mysterious radio show narrator and developed into a distinct literary character in 1931 by Gibs ...

'' * Biggest Disappointment: ''Arkham Asylum''

1991

Conducted via a reader's poll (about comics published in 1990) and announced in the magazine's final issue, #120 (May 1991): * Best Writer:

* Best Artist: Brendan McCarthy * Best Ancillary Creator: Steve Whitaker * Most Promising Newcomer — Writer:

Mark Millar Mark Millar (; born 24 December 1969) is a Scottish comic book writer who first came to prominence with a run on the superhero series ''The Authority (comics), The Authority'', published by DC Comics' Wildstorm imprint. Millar has written ext ...

* Most Promising Newcomer — Artist: George Pratt * Best Continuing Title: '' The Sandman'' * Best New Series: ''

Shade, the Changing Man Shade, the Changing Man is a comic book character created by Steve Ditko for DC Comics in 1977. The character was Shade, the Changing Man (Vertigo), later adapted by Peter Milligan and Chris Bachalo in one of the first Vertigo Comics, Vertigo ...

'' * Best Limited Series: '' Breathtaker'' * Best Independent Title: '' Cerebus'' * Best One-Shot or Graphic Novel: '' Enemy Ace'' * Best Translated Comic: '' Akira'' * Best Story in a Single Issue: ''The Sandman'' * Best Continued Storyline: ''Cerebus'' * Best Cover: ''

Doom Patrol Doom Patrol is a superhero team from DC Comics. The original Doom Patrol first appeared in ''My Greatest Adventure'' #80 (June 1963), and was created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, along with artist Bruno Premiani. Doom Patrol has appear ...

'' #34 (

) * Best Newspaper Strip: ''

'' * Best Reprint: '' Little Nemo in Slumberland'' * Hype of the Year:

Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appearance, first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in ...

* Most Regretted Cancellation: ''

Revolver A revolver is a repeating handgun with at least one barrel and a revolving cylinder containing multiple chambers (each holding a single cartridge) for firing. Because most revolver models hold six cartridges before needing to be reloaded, ...

'' * Biggest Disappointment: ''Revolver''