Redfox (comics)

Redfox was a British fantasy comic published in the late 1980s, nominated eight times for Eagle Awards and winner of Best New British Comic in 1986.

Background

"Redfox" herself first appeared in "Dragonlords" fanzine. Fox, the comic's artist and creator, used the strip to comment on barbarian fashion-sense in fantasy games, and later expanded his heroine's story into a three-issue "Redfox" fanzine.

The fanzine stories were revised and redrawn to form the early issues of a bimonthly US-format black & white comic, which were reprinted in the two "Book of Redfox" graphic novel compilations. Harrier Comics published the first ten issues in the UK. Valkyrie Press was then established solely to publish "Redfox", but later took on Bryan Talbot's comic "The Adventures of Luther Arkwright". After a further ten issues, publication ceased. An 8-page "origin of sorts", written by Martin Lock and drawn by Fox, was published in "Swiftsure" #9 (July 1986), another Harrier Comics title.

"Redfox" #7 (January 1987) had a specially painted cover by John Bolton. A number of the top UK professional comics artists gave their support to Harrier Comics by contributing covers in this way.

While "Redfox" began as a comedy set in a fantasy world, the story became increasingly serious as Chris Bell took over the writing and added a great deal more characterization than was typical of comics of the era. This was around the time when comics such as "Watchmen" were leading the charge towards treatment of more serious and adult themes, and "Redfox" was heading that way in the last few issues of its print run.

Comments from Chris Bell on the initiation of a new comics writer:

"The last six pages of Issue 6 were written in about three hours, when Fox had visited Chris Bell in Bristol for a weekend and stayed for three weeks and needed a script in a hurry to take back up to Nottingham with him. Chris had never written for comics before; Fox presented her with the image at the top of page 22, the phrase "a collection of enchanted cutlery", and a deadline of "yesterday". So she sat in her kitchen and wrote it. To her astonishment, he accepted it, and asked her to do the next issue as well, because the script for that had been abandoned half-finished. This was the beginning of the partnership which lasted until the end of the comic, two and a half years later. [Chris Bell's notes on the -- now long dead -- original Redfox fan site.] "

Major Characters

*Estaque

::"He's one of these hocus-pocus merchants... you must know the type. Yeah, that's right, always gushing on about manipulation of the cosmos, and their dedication to the science of magic for the benefit of mankind." - Ratty

::Estaque is an old wizard with a long beard who lives in a tower in the middle of nowhere, conducting weird experiments and summoning strange creatures. Bumbling and incompetent, he still puts up a good fight when he has to.

*Griff

::"But then the people who call themselves my friends so often don't understand me at all. Take that wretched procession, for example. I can't think where ever they got the idea that I like all that dancing in the streets." - Griff

::Griff is the creator god of the Redfox universe. He bears a striking resemblance to Neil Gaiman, and is most likely to be found picnicking amongst his creations with a Fortnum and Mason hamper.

*Lyssa The Axe

::"By the way, I'm known as Lyssa the Axe. Slayer of men. Vanquisher of cities. Mercenary extraordinaire! And I turn out a mean curry too." - Lyssa

::Lyssa was born Lady Alicia Y Maris D'Almeric, but ran away from home rather than live the dull life of a noble. A disappointed idealist who's turned to drink, her dislike of killing could be considered a disadvantage in her chosen career as a mercenary.

*Redfox (aka "Redfox the Barbarian")

::"Prettier than Conan, Funnier than Elric, Shorter than Red Sonja, Redfox - Another kind of heroine" -- Book of Redfox, cover quote

::Barmaid turned adventurer, Redfox sets out to steal the treasures of the Temple of Pthud, only to discover that crocodile traps are the least of her problems. World-renowned for being short, blonde and having lousy dress sense.

*Shoquastikan (aka "Ratty")

::"It ain't easy you know, going through life knowing that you're nothing more than a mistake. One chemical too many in the test-tube, and out I popped." - Ratty

::Ratty is a sentient rat, the result of one of Estaque's numerous failed experiments. He's just here for the beer, though he saves the world for a hobby.

*Trog

::"You want the throne room. Let's see, turn left at the snake pit, straight down the hall of knives, turn right at the croc pool, and it's the second door on your left..... or was it left at the croc pool?" - Trog

::Trog is the caretaker in the Temple of Pthud. Trog clears up bodies, puts slime on the walls, that kind of thing. It's a highly responsible job.

*Whitefox (aka "Snowy")

::Whitefox is one of Estaque's more successful projects, the result of an attempt to clone Redfox. He produced a near-perfect copy... other than her extreme magical abilities, poker skills, albino skin and respectable dress sense.

One particular rarity for a comic of the 80s was that some regular characters in "Redfox" died... and stayed dead. Permanently killing major sympathetic characters in a comic was quite a surprise at that time, and remarked upon — usually favorably — by readers in the letters column.

Guest Appearances

Particularly in the early issues, numerous characters from TV, movies, comics and other media put in appearances in the background, from Pacman to Daleks to Torquemada from 2000 AD. Other figures from British comics of the time also helped out now and again: for example, Bryan Talbot contributed the cover art for Issue Nine, and Neil Gaiman not only wrote part of the final issue when Chris Bell was rather distracted by the imminent arrival of her baby, but he also appeared in it as the creator god of the universe.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.neilgaiman.com/works/comic/comicsissues/document.2005-10-26.6799531633 Neilgaiman.com on Redfox #20]
* "Redfox Book Two", Harrier Comics, ISBN 1-870217-01-2