New Release: King Cobra Returns - Hibernia Comics Celebrates 50 Years of Britain's Emerald Avenger
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Fifty years ago, one of Britain's most popular superheroes made his first appearance in the pages of DC Thomson's Hotspur comic. King Cobra - the emerald avenger - quickly won over young British readers, and his adventures ran for nearly five years. Now, Hibernia Comics is marking the anniversary with a brand-new collected edition, produced in partnership with DC Thomson.
Behind the mask was Bill King, a bumbling newspaper reporter with a knack for finding trouble. That double identity gave the strip a warm, comedic edge that set it apart from its American counterparts. While US publishers were making superheroes grittier and more serious, King Cobra kept things playful and distinctly British - and readers loved it for that.
Much of the strip's lasting charm comes down to the art. Ron Smith, one of the best Judge Dredd artists of his generation, drew King Cobra's adventures with real energy and flair. His style suited the character perfectly, and this collection is a fine showcase for just how good that work was. His dynamic art made King Cobra one of Hotspur's most beloved characters of the seventies.
The book is published under the Red Dagger imprint, which Hibernia has revived for this release. The original Red Dagger label released collections of DC Thomson material in the early 1980s, and it's great to see it return. If Red Dagger Presents continues in this vein, there's plenty to look forward to.
This is a 64-page perfect-bound book with a colour cover and black-and-white interiors. It's priced at €12.99 - around £19.87 including postage for UK buyers. Only 200 copies have been printed (and I've snagged one), so it won't be around for long. The book ships from Ireland; delivery to the UK and Europe takes around three weeks, and up to six weeks for the rest of the world.
You can order King Cobra directly from the Hibernia Comics website. If classic British comics are your thing, this one is well worth grabbing. And you definitely want to be following what Hibernia Comics do.
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