Zarjaz
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''Zarjaz'' is a
comics anthology A comics anthology collects works in the medium of comics, typically from multiple series, and compiles them into an anthology or magazine. The comics in these anthologies range from comic strips that are too short for standalone publication to co ...
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 ...
for the long-running British science fiction comic '' 2000 AD''.


Publication history

''Zarjaz'' was started in
2001 The year's most prominent event was the September 11 attacks against the United States by al-Qaeda, which Casualties of the September 11 attacks, killed 2,977 people and instigated the global war on terror. The United States led a Participan ...
by Andrew J. Lewis. The fanzine contained comic strips based on various ''2000 AD'' characters and also ran an in-depth interview with writer
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' ...
. There were contributions from established ''2000 AD'' creators like Alan Grant and gave a start to others such as
Adrian Bamforth Adrian Bamforth is a British comic book artist who has worked for '' 2000 AD'' as well as producing work for British small press comics like '' FutureQuake''. Bibliography Comics work includes: *'' Judge Dredd'': ** "Pret-a-porker" (in '' Zarj ...
and
Simon Spurrier Simon "Si" Spurrier (born 2 May 1981) is a British comics writer and novelist, who has previously worked as a cook, a bookseller, and an art director for the BBC. Getting his start in comics with the British small press, he went on to write hi ...
. It was originally printed in A4 format and reproduced cheaply giving it something of the feel of the original 2000 AD comic as it appeared in the 70s and early 80s. Issues 3 and 4 were printed in the smaller A5 size in an attempt to keep costs low and were published simultaneously. After four issues, ''Zarjaz'' was re-launched in
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
by Colin J. Dinnie under the Underfire Comics banner, with whom he had previously edited the small press anthology Rapid Fire. The new run produced seven issues edited by Dinnie in A5 format and with colour covers. Zarjaz was then taken on by a new team led by Dave Evans and was produced and published by FutureQuake Publishing starting in May 2008. The team also took over publication of ''
Dogbreath ''Dogbreath'' is a fanzine dedicated to the ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' series ''Strontium Dog''. Publication history ''Dogbreath'' was started by Dr Bob (Amanda Kear), who had been writing ''Strontium Dog'' fan fiction since 1981. Her experi ...
'', the ''
Strontium Dog ''Strontium Dog'' is a long-running British comics series starring Johnny Alpha, a mutant bounty hunter who lives in Earth's future. The series was created in 1978 by writer John Wagner (under the pseudonym T. B. Grover) and artist Carlos Ezquer ...
'' fanzine at issue #15 (December 2006). Following the death of Evans, Zarjaz was put on indefinite hold. In 2023 original editor Andrew J Lewis announced that he would be reviving the title with a relaunch planned for August 2024. The comic will once again be published in the larger A4 size for the first time since its original issues. It will be rebranded as Zarjaz Vol.3.


Contributors

Contributors have come both from mainstream comics and the
small press A small press is a publisher with annual sales below a certain level or below a certain number of titles published. The terms "indie publisher" and "independent press" and others are sometimes used interchangeably. However, when a distinction ...
and include Alan Grant,
PJ Holden Paul Jason Holden (born 28 December 1969) is a Northern Irish comic artist based in Belfast. He has worked for '' 2000 AD'', '' Warhammer Monthly'', and ''Judge Dredd Megazine''. Among other stories for these publications, he has provided the a ...
,
Al Ewing Al Ewing ( ; born 12 August 1977) is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press, for '' 2000 AD'', and for Marvel Comics. Career Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the four-page '' Future Shocks'' format for '' ...
and Arthur Wyatt and has helped showcase for some of the newest generation of ''2000 AD'' writers and artists like
Simon Spurrier Simon "Si" Spurrier (born 2 May 1981) is a British comics writer and novelist, who has previously worked as a cook, a bookseller, and an art director for the BBC. Getting his start in comics with the British small press, he went on to write hi ...
,
Adrian Bamforth Adrian Bamforth is a British comic book artist who has worked for '' 2000 AD'' as well as producing work for British small press comics like '' FutureQuake''. Bibliography Comics work includes: *'' Judge Dredd'': ** "Pret-a-porker" (in '' Zarj ...
and Nick Dyer. It has also featured interviews with major ''2000 AD'' talent (from the past and present) including
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' ...
, Alan Grant and
Frazer Irving Frazer Irving (born 1970) is a British comic book artist known for the series '' Necronauts'', published by the British magazine '' 2000 AD''. After breaking into the American market he has worked on a number of superhero titles, including a s ...
. There have also been stories which have been picked up and continued in ''Zarjaz'' like
Al Ewing Al Ewing ( ; born 12 August 1977) is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press, for '' 2000 AD'', and for Marvel Comics. Career Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the four-page '' Future Shocks'' format for '' ...
's "Bones of Eden", the first issue of which appeared in the ''2000 AD Winter Special 2005''.


Availability

''Zarjaz'' was published twice yearly and sold in comic shops around the UK, including
Forbidden Planet ''Forbidden Planet'' is a 1956 American science fiction action film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Nicholas Nayfack and directed by Fred M. Wilcox (director), Fred M. Wilcox from a script by Cyril Hume that was based on a film story by ...
, as well as through the internet and mail order. The relaunched version is also available on subscription.


Andrew J. Lewis

Andrew J. Lewis, the author of Zarjaz, is a writer, musician and artist. Comics written by him include two
Tharg's Future Shocks ''Tharg's Future Shocks'' is a long-running series of short strips appearing in the British weekly comics, comic ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' since 1977. The name originates from the fictional Tharg the Mighty, editor of 2000 AD and the book t ...
stories: "Goldie Locke & the Three B.E.A.R.s" (with art by Boo Cook, in ''2000 AD'' #1288, 2002) and "Escape" (with pencils by Gary Crutchley and inks by Cliff Robinson, in ''2000 AD'' #1410, 2004).


Awards

In
2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
''Zarjaz'' won the "Best Self-Published/Independent" National Comics Award at the annual Bristol Comic Festival and came second to ''
Jack Staff ''Jack Staff'' is a British superhero created by comic book writer/artist Paul Grist. While the title character is billed as "Britain's Greatest Hero", the series is known for being in the style of an anthology title and featuring an ensemble c ...
'' in
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
. It was also nominated for the "Favourite British Comicbook: Black and White" Eagle Award in 2011.


See also

*''
Dogbreath ''Dogbreath'' is a fanzine dedicated to the ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' series ''Strontium Dog''. Publication history ''Dogbreath'' was started by Dr Bob (Amanda Kear), who had been writing ''Strontium Dog'' fan fiction since 1981. Her experi ...
'', the
Strontium Dog ''Strontium Dog'' is a long-running British comics series starring Johnny Alpha, a mutant bounty hunter who lives in Earth's future. The series was created in 1978 by writer John Wagner (under the pseudonym T. B. Grover) and artist Carlos Ezquer ...
fanzine


Notes


References


2000 AD's Zarjaz profile
* *


External links


Andrew J. Lewis
at 2000AD online *
New blog
for ''Zarjaz'' and ''
Dogbreath ''Dogbreath'' is a fanzine dedicated to the ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' series ''Strontium Dog''. Publication history ''Dogbreath'' was started by Dr Bob (Amanda Kear), who had been writing ''Strontium Dog'' fan fiction since 1981. Her experi ...
'' (defunct since 2016)
Old blog
(defunct since 2008)
Zarjaz details
on Comics Village {{Judge Dredd 2000 AD (comics) 2001 comics debuts 2005 comics debuts Comics anthologies British small press comics Fanzines