In keeping with its growing number of revivals of vintage British titles, 2000 AD publisher Rebellion has just launched its first ever Kickstarter for its homage to classic girls’ romance with Roxy. Running from July 16 to August 8 with a £5000 (~$6500) funding goal, the 80-page special features four stories by contemporary creators giving their own take on this once-beloved genre.
According to a Rebellion press release:
“The summer of love starts now! Rebellion is delighted to announce the Kickstarter launch of its brand new romance comic, Roxy!
“Available to back today and featuring a host of exclusive rewards, merch, and surprises for backers, Roxy is guaranteed to leave you gasping for air.”
Adding:
“Shipping for fans old and new worldwide. Whatever your level of spice, Roxy has something for you as it revives the spirit of classic British romance comics for the 21st century.”
The stories on offer include:
- A flirtatious supermodel heist thriller The Getaway Girls, by Alex de Campi and Erica Henderson
- Supernatural tale of lost love Flowers for Agatha, by Sarah Gordon
- Secret rooms and a spot of time travel to Regency era England in Banmoor, by Magdalene Visaggio and Sterric
- Love, loneliness, spaceships and the symbiotic connection between a soldier and their mech in What I Was Made For by Nadia Shammas and Jaws Stone
The campaign will feature three alternate cover options by Tula Lotay, Hannah Templer, and Marguerite Sauvage; and a bundle of extras including special totes, pins and prints. Digital tier will be £9 (~$11), print will be £18 (~$23) for paperback and £25 (~$33) for hardcover – with a special £59 (~$77) bundle offer.
The UK had a once-vibrant market for romance comics with multiple titles featuring stunning work by British and European artists hitting the shelves. The original Roxy weekly ran for 288 issues between March 1958 and September 1963, published by Amalgamated Press and Fleetway Productions before (as was typical for the British industry) it was merged with fellow stablemate Valentine – which continued until 1974. Roxy was the company’s second foray into the teenage girl market, hot on the heels of its successful first title – Marilyn (1955-1965). For a fascinating exploration of the height of the British romance comic scene, artist and comics historian David Roach released a curated selection of highlights in A Very British Affair (2023).
Rebellion have been on a roll in recent years with special revivals of vintage titles – kids comic Monster Fun is now a monthly, supernatural girls’ title Misty releases its latest special helmed by Gail Simone this week, and Garth Ennis’ revival of war anthology Battle Action unleashes a third salvo from August. And that’s not to mention its vibrant reprint initiative. First teased in May, Roxy marks a new direction for the publisher as it explores a still untapped genre in its first foray into crowdfunding.
