''Dogbreath'' is a

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

dedicated to the '' 2000 AD'' series ''

Strontium Dog ''Strontium Dog'' was 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 Ezque ...

''.

Publication history

''Dogbreath'' was started by Dr Bob (Amanda Kear), who had been writing ''Strontium Dog''

fan fiction Fan fiction or fanfiction (also abbreviated to fan fic, fanfic, fic or FF) is fictional writing written in an amateur capacity by fans, unauthorized by, but based on an existing work of fiction. The author uses copyrighted characters, settin ...

since 1981. Her experience with getting other work published in other fanzines (covering, for example, ''

Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the u ...

'' and ''

Blake's 7 ''Blake's 7'' (sometimes styled ''Blakes7'') is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Four 13-episode series were broadcast on BBC1 between 1978 and 1981. It was created by Terry Nation, who also wrote the first ...

'') made her realise that she could create her own publication devoted to ''Strontium Dog''. After 14 issues, over 8 years, she handed over the reins to members of the

FutureQuake Press FutureQuake was a British small press comic book founded by Arthur Wyatt, and later edited by Richmond Clements, David Evans and Owen Watts. Dedicated to showcasing work by new writers and artists, they published mostly self-contained comic st ...

(FQP) team.

Creators

''Dogbreath'' contributors during Dr Bob’s editorship who have gone on to be art and script droids for ''2000 AD'' itself include

Rufus Dayglo Rufus Dayglo is a British comics artist working in comics, illustration, and storyboards. He is working for '' 2000 AD'' and Titan Books in the United Kingdom, and DC Vertigo, IDW Publishing and Image Comics in the United States. His ''Tank Girl' ...

and

Al Ewing Al Ewing () is a British comics writer who has mainly worked in the small press and for '' 2000 AD'' and Marvel Comics. Career Al Ewing began his career writing stories in the four-page ''Future Shocks'' format for '' 2000 AD'' and moved on ...

. Scott Montgomery has written a few articles for the ''

Judge Dredd Megazine ''Judge Dredd: The Megazine'' is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in September 1990. It is a sister publication to '' 2000 AD''. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Judge Dredd's locale Mega-City One. Content Like ...

'' and works for ''

The Dandy ''The Dandy'' was a British children's comic magazine published by the Dundee based publisher DC Thomson. The first issue was printed in December 1937, making it the world's third-longest running comic, after ''Il Giornalino'' (cover dated 1 Oct ...

''.

Issues

Issue 1 of ''Dogbreath'' came out in 1997. It contained some pre-written

fanfic Fan fiction or fanfiction (also abbreviated to fan fic, fanfic, fic or FF) is fictional writing written in an amateur capacity by fans, unauthorized by, but based on an existing work of fiction. The author uses copyrighted characters, setti ...

s by Dr Bob, Allan J. Sim, and specially written fanfic by Gary Loveridge, plus a specially written chronology of the Strontium Dog universe by Dr Bob. Inspired by the latter, and with Stront data provided by Dr Bob, James Norton wrote "Tax Return" – a spoof tax demand from the

Inland Revenue The Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation ta ...

's cartoon character 'Hector', used in adverts of the time. This was later, in turn. to inspire

John Wagner John Wagner (born 1949) is an American-born British comics writer. Alongside Pat Mills, he helped revitalise British comics in the 1970s, and continues to be active in the British comics industry, occasionally also working in American comics. ...

to write "The Tax Dodge" for ''2000 AD'', which was drawn by

Carlos Ezquerra Carlos Sanchez Ezquerra (12 November 1947 – 1 October 2018) was a Spanish comics artist who worked mainly in British comics. He is best known as the co-creator of ''Judge Dredd''. Biography Early work Born in Ibdes, province of Zaragoza, Arag ...

, the first page of which was a version of the original tax demand letter that was redone by James Norton. Issue 1 also contained a Helltrekker parody written by Dr Bob, Val Douglas and Jackie Marshall. All the art (except Hector) was done by Dr Bob. Issue 2 came out in late spring/early summer of 1998. Several new contributors, including Gary Simpson and David Morris who became regulars, wrote and drew material for it. It had a normal and a 'glow-in-the-dark, nude variant' cover, drawn by David Morris. This was the Gronkinator robot with and without his covering of fake fur, and with glow-in-the-dark stickers added. Issue 3 was published in 1999. Subsequent issues came out roughly every 6 months, and contained comic strips as well as the usual cartoons, pin-ups, articles and fanfic. Issue 12 contained a photo story featuring

action figure An action figure is a poseable character (arts), character model figure made most commonly of plastic, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, military, video game or television program; fictional or historical. These figures are ...

s of Johnny Alpha &

Durham Red Durham Red is a British comics character, originally created in 1987 as a female sidekick and lover for Johnny Alpha in the long-running comic book series ''Strontium Dog'' in '' 2000 AD''. She is a bounty hunter with a mutation that gives her ...

. Issue 14 (spring 2005) was the last one produced by Dr Bob. Issue 15, the first by the

FutureQuake FutureQuake was a British small press comic book founded by Arthur Wyatt, and later edited by Richmond Clements, David Evans and Owen Watts. Dedicated to showcasing work by new writers and artists, they published mostly self-contained comic stor ...

team of Dave Evans and Richmond Clements, was published at the end of 2006. However, this is an external publication to the FQP brand, though sharing close ties.

Availability

A number of back issues can be bought FutureQuake shop and at various British comic conventions.

Awards

''Dogbreath'' was nominated for the "Favourite British Comicbook: Black and White" Eagle Award in 2011.

Notes

References

''Dogbreath''
at 2000 AD online * {{refend

External links

The Quaequam Blog
blog for Dogbreath and ''

''
FutureQuake Press homepage

Reviews

1997 comics debuts Strontium Dog British small press comics Fanzines 2000 AD (comics)