Tammy & Jinty Remixed, Reviewed.

How about some empowering and entertaining storytelling starring talented footballers, demonic roller skates, a powerful poetry blogger, weaponized children, archaeologists, Greek goddesses, and a time-travelling code breaker extraordinaire? Absoflippinglutly right, behold the spirit of "girls comics" returns with Tammy & Jinty Remixed.

Rebellion's The Treasury of British Comics is well established at providing a definitive catalogue of classic British comics in original formats and with updated reimaginings. Tammy & Jinty Remixed is an upcoming gem, taking last years and 2019s Tammy & Jinty specials, collecting them all together and adding some new interviews and features including reprints of classic strips. It's a highly entertaining mix of stories, some with important roots, some brand new, but all with a nod to and heart of a "girls comics" annual. While feeling like an outdated term, "girls comics" does have an important historical context, and really the term is about addressing representation. The original separate entities of Tammy and Jinty were pioneers seeking to open up a more inclusive channel while giving a more personalised voice to a demographic often overlooked. This annual pays careful tribute to this history by directly educating as well as entertaining, providing what could be a more accessible gateway for younger women to find their feet in the world of comics.

To emphasise the history, in case you are unfamiliar, in a time when comics were still considered a plainly divided landscape, heavily set for boys, a handful of comics pointed themselves to talk directly to women. Two of the most popular were Tammy and Jinty. Tammy ran from 1971-1984 and is said to have focused on darker cinderella Esq stories while Jinty 1974-1981 was a more sci-fi driven affair. The two merged in 1981 and over their runs came to truly define "girls" comics in the U.K, particularly Tammy's Bella At The Bar being one of the most popular and successful comic strips of its time. Important stuff. For the modern times then, Tammy & Jinty, while showcasing some exciting female creators also offers a more commercial representation for new fans in a world of predominantly male leaning stories. Inclusive representation has made leaps alongside its big strides in a medium that has most often been a more open playing field (especially behind the scenes) but the recent emphasis alongside emerging talent is a testament to the comic art form as a whole and this comic is a wonderful celebration and torchbearer of this fact.

So, let's start with the art. Across the eleven stories on offer, there is a really diverse set of styles. Combined with the design of the comic there's a really nice flow between these strips which feels like a showcase for modern styles. Andy Clift channels Jinty vibes with a bold sci/fi pop art presentation, the legendary P.J Holden captivates with a more classical style holding silver age aesthetics with Dearbhla Kelly's colours complimenting and elevating the art. There's Elkys Nova's super modern, super eye-catching style, made to pop even bolder with Pippa Bowland's colours. Lisa Henke delivers the striking, high action style instrumental in revitalising Roy Of The Rovers. The ridiculously talented Yishan Li offers some really captivating art in particular for Boarding School which is full of beautiful detail with Pippa Bowland accentuating and adding to the magical air of the story. My absolute favourite would have to be Dani's art for The Enigma Variation with its true to original comic strips of Tammy & Jinty era skeleton, composited with a graffiti stencil element which leaps off the page with the added monochromatic presentation. These are just my favourites, there are spades of visual entertainment on offer. The overall design and layout aspects with lettering by Jim Campbell, Mike Stock and Simon Bowland round out the fully accomplished package. A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Well, the wonderful art serves to enhance a fascinating myriad of stories, revamping originals while offering new avenues for interesting new characters as well as one-shots that are hugely entertaining. There are running undertones throughout this comic, of empowerment, of overcoming adversity, the pitfalls of underestimating oneself and others, there's the importance of empathy and a reinforcement of being true to oneself. It's all aimed with a lens to young women and it's really stirring stuff for all. There are real optimism and wholesomeness in these messages that exudes from the pages. The subjects of these stories are as diverse as their art so let's hop through these.

We start with Rocky Of The Rovers by Rob Williams and Lisa Henke with the story of the overshadowed younger sister of Roy as she tries to find her feet as a football star in her own right.

Sarah Millman presents Speed Demons, the story of a roller derby team and a pair of demonic roller skates.

Bella At The Bar is presented in its original strip before a reboot by Rachel Smith with art by Vannesa Cardinali who turns the aspiring window cleaner into a talented delivery driver and adds a secret street dance performer.

Rachel Smith and Yishan Li deliver two big hitters with Duckface, the story of a powerful poetry blogger and the misgivings of assumptions along with some selfie lessons, and The Boarding School with its tale of two mysterious orphans.

Grainne McEntee and Dani present The Enigma Variation, the story of a misfit codebreaker on a mission towards time travel.

We get In The Cold Dark from Matt Gribbs and artist V.V. Glass a tale of cursed archaeology. Maisie's Magic Eye appears next by Kate Ashwin and Kel McDonald who offer a powerful magic pendant story.

Next up is Andy Clifts Affirmative Action a rise of a space hero origin story, or is it?

There's the updated Justine The Justice Messenger by Emma Beeby and P.J Holden which is the unexpected delight of a Greek Mythology wrapped agony aunt letter. Very fun.

Finally, alongside its original strips of The Cat Girl, there is Ramzee and Elkys Nova's Cat Girl Returns, a greatly entertaining revamp of its original which sees the daughter of The Cat Girl stepping into that magical catsuit for her own adventure which really feels like the origin issue of a wildly entertaining series.

So many brilliant stories on offer and that's not all. The original strips are given context and history of importance, then there's some really interesting insight on offer with three "meet the creator" interviews. Each delving a little deeper into the immense talents of Rachel Smith, Dani and Ramzee. This great comic is finished off with an interesting behind the scenes strip providing a window into the thoroughly accomplished workings of Olivia and Gemma with a snapshot of their roles as editor and designer respectively.

Tammy & Jinty Remixed then is a proper comic annual with a powerful heart, using the spirit of its past to give an often uncatered demographic of young women some empowering lessons while showcasing all the good stuff comics has to offer. How could you not be onboard comic world bound? For comic fans of all ages, of entertainment with heart, nostalgia and reboots, sci/fi, the supernatural, heroines and football get your pre-orders in for June 10th from www.2000ad.com, www.treasuryofbritishcomics.com and all good comic retailers.

Review: An overspilling 5/5 .