''Roachmill'' is an American

comic book A comic book, also called comicbook, comic magazine or (in the United Kingdom and Ireland) simply comic, is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are of ...

created by Rich Hedden and Tom McWeeney, published first by

Blackthorne Publishing Blackthorne Publishing, Inc. was a comic book publisher that flourished from 1986–1989. They were notable for the ''Blackthorne 3-D Series'', their reprint titles of classic comic strips like Dick Tracy, and their licensed products. Blackthorne ...

and then

Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, and manga publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, Oregon comic book shops known ...

Publication history

Blackthorne Publishing put out the first six issues of ''Roachmill'' before creators Hedden and McWeeney were lured away by Dark Horse Comics. Dark Horse published an additional ten issues before the series was canceled. Dark Horse also published a special introductory Roachmill story in ''

Dark Horse Presents ''Dark Horse Presents'' was a comic book published by American company Dark Horse Comics from 1986. Their first published series, it was their flagship title until its September 2000 cancellation. The second incarnation was published on MySpace, r ...

'' No. 17 (April 1988), to announce the acquisition of the character. Additional Roachmill stories have been published in ''Dark Horse Presents'' issues No. 28 (March 1989), 139 (January 1999) and the ''Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special'' (April 1991). Solo stories featuring Roachmill's rival Zoo-Lou have been published in '' Munden's Bar Annual'' No. 2 (published March 1991, by First Comics) and in ''Dark Horse Presents'' No. 67 (November 1992). Roachmill and Zoo-Lou also made cameos in ''

San Diego Comic-Con San Diego Comic-Con International is a comic book convention and nonprofit multi-genre entertainment event held annually in San Diego, California since 1970. The name, as given on its website, is Comic-Con International: San Diego; but it is co ...

Comics'' No. 1 (August 1992) Two trade paperback collections were issued. The first, ''Roachmill Book 1: Framed'' (1988), collects the first four issues. The second, ''Roachmill Book 2: The Greatest Roachmill Stories Ever Told'' (1989), features the final two Blackthorne issues, and the Roachmill stories from Dark Horse Presents issues No. 17 and 28. Both books were published by Dark Horse.

Series overview

The comic is set in 30th-century New York where an influx of aliens to Earth has caused social problems. In response, the ''Extermination Act'' is enacted, a law that allows anyone who carries a gun to use lethal force in "alien-related" situation. Eventually, the law is extended to allow the killings of humans as well, allowing for the creation of licensed Exterminators. Roachmill – a tall Dirty Harry-era

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...

lookalike with two extra

cockroach Cockroaches (or roaches) are a paraphyletic group of insects belonging to Blattodea, containing all members of the group except termites. About 30 cockroach species out of 4,600 are associated with human habitats. Some species are well-known as ...

arms extending from his abdomen – is one such Exterminator, willing – for a price – to kill anyone or anything. The stories veered wildly between comedy, satire and serious sci-fi and the art between cartoony and realistic, sometimes in the same issue.

External links

Roachmill at International Heroes

Roachmill publication history with Blackthorne at Atomic Avenue

Roachmill publication history with Dark Horse at Atomic Avenue
Blackthorne Publishing titles Comics characters introduced in 1986 Dark Horse Comics titles {{DarkHorse-Comics-stub