Starblazer - Space Fiction Adventure in Pictures was a British small-format comics anthology<!-- is it? --> in black and white published by D. C. Thomson & Co. Ltd.

History

The comic book magazine was launched in response to the popularity of science fiction in the 1970s at the cinema and on television. A science fiction comic had first been considered by Ian Chisholm and Jack Smith, editors at DC Thomson, in 1976. A decision was made to launch the comic in September 1978. Smith was the first editor. His successors in the role were Bill Graham and Bill McLoughlin.

Starblazer reached 281 issues, running from April 1979, to 1 January 1991. The front cover was printed in colour while the back page featured an ongoing subject that was relevant to space. This included pictures of astronauts, brief details of the missions they were on, artificial satellites and the planets and planetoids of the Solar System. The first three issues were published monthly, changing to two issues a month from issue four until the last issue in 1991.

Partway through its run, from issue 168 onwards, the anthology changed format. Instead of a single front cover and a black and white subject on the back, a new all-colour 'wrap around' cover was instituted, most of the time showing a collage of subjects from that issue's storyline. The subject matters also appeared to have a more adult emphasis and there was a heavier focus on fantasy storylines. The cover title also changed format slightly to Starblazer - Fantasy Fiction in Pictures; despite the title change, there were still a considerable number of science fiction storylines up till the final issue.

thumb|200px|The later style of Starblazer cover from Issue 200, which had a wrap around effect. Also showing an emphasis on fantasy storylines, this was the first appearance of the Kingdom of Anglerre.

Prior to the new format, there had been several issues that had been classed as interactive fiction, with the title Starblazer - Space (or Fantasy) roleplaying game in pictures similar in idea to the then popular Fighting Fantasy and Lone Wolf gamebooks, but this idea was quietly dropped after a few issues when it proved unpopular.

In May 2007 Cubicle 7 Entertainment announced that they were producing a licensed Starblazer role-playing game using the FATE 3.0 system. The game was released by Cubicle 7 in August 2008, at Gen Con Indianapolis, followed by a hard-cover edition in June 2009.

British comics creators to have worked on Starblazer include Grant Morrison, Mike McMahon, Followup games included Legends of Anglerre, which concentrated on the fantasy elements of the later issues.

References

Sources

  • Issues list
  • Pictures of some of the covers
  • Grant Morrison's Starblazer's, Fish1000 Comics
  • A Starhawk tribute site features 3 Starblazer comics
  • Cubicle 7 Entertainment home of the licensed Starblazer roleplaying game