Maybe the best thing about the release of WEDNESDAY COMICS #1 is the reopening of the debate about format in comic books. Apart from the usual voices of reactionary conservatism, criticism seems limited to quibbles about the price-point and the paper-stock. And I'm especially optimistic about the way it has people enthused about the possibilities of this particular format, even if they aren't completely struck by the specifics of the anthology's contents. As such, it'd be great to see other publishers launching or experimenting with titles in this tabloid size. And specifically, I'd love to see a UK publisher take the plunge, whether it was Rebellion or some free-thinking new boy. A Dez Skinn for the 21st Century. As the seeming natural home of anthology comics, and with it's abundance of great-but-famously-slow artists, the UK seems like the natural home of such a comic. Surely even Brian Bolland, Mick McMahon and Kev O'Neill could produce a one page strip for a weekly, fortnightly or monthly comic? And when you think of this caliber of UK artists, other names just start flowing. The greatest hits of creators from 2000AD, WARRIOR and DEADLINE. Garry Leach, Colin Wilson (not technically from the UK, but he'll get my point), Shaky Kane, Brendan McCarthy, Bryan Talbot, Dave Gibbons, Glenn Fabry, Brett Ewins, Steve and Glynn Dillon, Phil Bond, Jamie Hewlett even. Steve Parkhouse, David Lloyd. Barry Windsor Smith, if anyone can still reach him. Simon Bisley. I'm trying to go out of my way to name artists not currently getting exclusive contract work in the U.S., or I'd throw in names like Alan Davis and Liam Sharp in, too. I'm also trying deliberately to throw out names from the commercial golden eras of those big three anthologies, or I'd soon get around to guys like Hitch, Quitely, Trevor Hairsine, Jock, Frazer Irving.
Hell, Tharg - pick any 15/16 of those, splash the cash, and that's your greatest ever end of year special right there.