Solar Wind

Solar Wind is the award-winning homage and spoof of British kids adventure comics. In total there were eight themed issues produced and two issues of Sunny for Girls and one issue of Big War Comic. In 2008, two 250+ page volumes collecting all of the issues went on sale entitled The Bumper book of Solar Wind (Volumes 1 &2), which are profit free collections keeping them available for anyone who wants them. You can find them at Lulu.com.

The last issue of Solar Wind, the Summer Special was released in November 2007 and issues are available from the shop. Solar Wind #6, Sunny #1 and Sunny#2 are also available from the shop at a reduced price, get them while you can!

ARCHIVE MESSAGE FROM COSMIC RAY

Greetings, I am Cosmic Ray, editor of the great new comic, Solar Wind!

When ‘The Rulers of the Future’ asked to chrono-import Solar Wind from the late 1970’s and early 1980’s into the early 21st century I was at first dubious. Then they discounted all my fears that I would become my own grandfather and showed me the royalty cheque and all was well.

Of course the Solar Wind that you hold in your hands will have some subtle differences, there may be some slight chrono-blurring, page counts may change, even the quality of the stories may mysteriously worsen. Could this be connected with the disappearance of the crew of the Mary Celeste? Possibly.

So, you, the Rayngers of the Future (your present) now have the opportunity to enjoy the Universes greatest comic in the comfort of your own home. Hang up your hover boots, order your robo-servant to fetch you a Quiglimbrian Shandy, turn off the coverage of hyper-golf on Channel Five and read Solar Wind…

Stay Cosmic!

AWARDS

National Comic Award 2004 (Winner) - Writer Gary Wilkinson accepted the award on the comics behalf as I turned up late (never thought we'd win!) and the evening was filmed by the late James Redington. Other nominees included The Girly Comic, Patient Zero, Phobias, Bear, Strangehaven, The Rainbow Orchid, Jack Staff, No More Mrs Nice Nun and the ever excellent Thrud The Barbarian. All worthy of support.

Eagle Award Best B/W Comic 2005 (Nominee) - Dave Hitchock's Spring-Heeled jack was the much deserved winner, with Solar Wind in excellent company with Freakshow as runners up.

REVIEWS

Solar Wind #1 (Comics International #161) - "Don't let anyone tell you different: Solar Wind is the funniest comic of the decade. Quite which decade you'll have to decide for yourself, as its heart and soul are firmly entrenched in the halcyon days of the 1970s, when comics were loud, unruly and a hell of a lot of fun. 9 out of 10"

Solar Wind #2 (Comics International #180) - "It's a 56 page edition of the award winning indie: more slickly produced than ever. 9 out of 10"

Solar Wind #2 (Redeye Magazine #2) - "The jokes are literally thick and fast, with everything from spoof adverts to bogus footnotes, and they're all very funny. The retro strips were also well done, with 'Death Squid' standing out as being worthy of its own title."

Solar Wind #2 (SFX Magazine #113) - "Splendid '70's-style comic, full of period-flavoured strips and spoof ads warning against dangerous activities like playing with fireworks and, er, eating crisps. Fanzine of the Month"

Solar Wind #3 (Redeye Magazine #3) - "I wound up laughing out loud at nearly every page. Top marks to all the writers and creators involved in this, and a big thumbs up to Cosmic Ray. It’s just a shame he’s not real…"

Solar Wind #4 (SFX Magazine #125) - "A bumper issue of the superb zine that's a spoof of '70's comics. Highlights include 'Jack Knacker', in which the eponymous hero fights off an invasion of alien bloboids with the use of potatoes. Fanzine of the Month"

Solar Wind #5 & Sunny for Girls #2 (SFX Magazine #133) - "Both 'zines are incredibly funny. Very Cool!"

Solar Wind #7 (Comics International) - "Great value. The photo-strips are brilliantly conceived."

Solar Wind #8 (SFX Magazine) - "A moment of silence, if you please. We are terribly sad to learn that this issue of Solar Wind, a fanzine we have truly loved and always looked forward to receiving, will be the last. Sniffle. farewell Cosmic Ray, you shall be sorely missed! Fanzine of the Month"

SOLAR WIND ON WIKIPEDIA

Cosmic Wiki

REFERENCES TO SOLAR WIND

A 1976 Solar Wind Annual can be seen in Charlie Peace's antique shop in Albion, Episode 4 by Alan Moore, Leah Moore, John Reppion, Shane Oakely and George Freeman. Published by Wildstorm.

CONTRIBUTORS & SPECIAL THANKS

Chris Allen, Mike Allwood, Jonathon Ashby, Chris Askham, Adrian Bamforth, Matthew Badham, Andrew Bartlett, Tony Bennett, Edward Berridge, Ian Berriman, David Bishop, Andy from BooksN’Comics, Debra Boyask, Jeremy Briggs, John Peter Britton, David X Brunt, Simon Burch, Michael Carroll, Don Carter, Ben Clark, Richmond Clements, Comics International, Bryan Coyle, Jim Croasdale, Paul Harrison-Davies, Angus Day, Gerry Finley Day, Rufus Dayglo, Jeremy Dennis, Mike Donaldson, Charles Ellis, Martin Ellis, Darren Evans, David Evans, Al Ewing, Garen Ewing, John Freeman, Forbidden Planet international, Scott Forrester, Dave Gibbons, Ben Glasswell, Daniel Glasswell, Paul Glasswell, Chris Geary, Alan Grant, Kelvin Green, Simon Gurr, Sam Haldane, Matt Harpam, Matt Herbert, Richard Heslop, PJ Holden, Lorna Hopkins, Jason Hornsby, Richard Hunter, John Hutcheson, Frazer Irving, Hans Jacob-Aas, Vicki Jacob-Aas, James Jampot, Tom Jutland, Amanda Kear, Ed Kho, James Kircough, David Knight, Knockabout Comics, Jared Lane, Jim Lavery, Robin Lees, Chris Leighton, Robert Lunn, Ronnie McDonnell, John MacMonagle, Joyce Manford, Pat Mills, Nathan Milner, Mike Molcher, Scott Montgomery, Alan Moore, Leah Moore, Patrick Moore, Moose, Kieran Murphy, Jared Myland of OK Comics, Peter Nagle, Redeye Magazine, Duncan Nimmo, Lee O’Conner, Michael O’Sullivan, Shane Oakley, Simon Penter, Photostrip crew: Chris, Scott, Martin, Rick, Matt, Barry, Julia, Simenon, Steve, Rich, Cody, Tyler, Keld, Candace & Steve Johnson, Iseabail, Talitha, Vicky; James Redington, Oliver Redding, Gordon Rennie, John Reppion, Gary Scott, Jenni Scott, Pamela Scott, Paul Scott, SFX Magazine, Leigh Shepherd, Dez Skinn, Smiffy’s, Chris Smilie, Matt Smith, SMS, Sprout, Ian Stacey, Richard Stevenson, ‘Stoner’, Vicky Stonebridge, Kev Sutherland, Matt Timson, Ed Traquino, Tom Tully, 24pigs.com, Owen Watts, John Wagner, Gareth Whitty, Gary Wilkinson, John Williamson, Mark Wilson and Arthur Wyatt.

And everyone who ever helped out, voted for us or read the comic.  Cheers!

Introduction

The Game

The Background

Downloads

FAQ

Introduction

The Game

The Background

Downloads

FAQ

Introduction

The Game

The Background

Downloads

FAQ

Introduction

The Game

The Background

Downloads

FAQ