Dave Elliott (Atomeka) and Chris Northrop (Horrible Future) are merging two of the most influential UK comic magazines of the ’90s — A1 and Deadline. Launching this fall on Kickstarter, this 80-page special will feature comics, culture, music, and art from some of the most groundbreaking creators in the industry.

No algorithmic storytelling. No censorship. No compromise. No AI.

Real voices from legends alongside new stories, the book revisits classic material while bridging the anarchic energy of the originals with the next wave of creators pushing the medium forward.

“The last few years have been a hell-hole for creators, publishers, and retailers. So we decided not to take a traditional publisher/distributor route,” says Dave Elliott, co-creator of A1DEADLINE. “Working with Horrible Future and building this Kickstarter ourselves lets us put the artists first, creating a space to make art and tell stories without censorship, in a place where everything between the covers is creator-owned. A place where they can truly feel free. With A1DEADLINE, a new or unknown talent can have their work sandwiched between a TANK GIRL and a Bill Sienkiewicz strip. We’re just here to elevate and amplify. Comics need a magazine

like this. Since we started talking to creators, the project has grown massively — beyond anything we could have imagined.”

“This isn’t just a book I’m proud to work on — it’s fearless, loud, and alive,” adds Chris Northrop, the project manager and designer. “A1DEADLINE Special Edition is a place to mouth off, push back, and speak to the world we’re living in, just like DEADLINE did in the ’90s.”

The Artists

A1Deadline Special brings together a powerhouse roster of artists who embody the spirit of countercultural comics. From the heavyweights of British underground style to today’s rising innovators, the project is designed as a showcase of unfiltered creativity.

Shaky Kane (BULLETPROOF COFFIN), Rufus Dayglo (LAST GANG IN TOWN), Alison Sampson (WINNEBAGO GRAVEYARD), Alan Martin (TANK GIRL), Mark A. Nelson (ALIENS/THUNDER HUNTERS), Steve Pugh (HOTWIRE/FLINTSTONES), Ed Hillyer “ILLYA” (DEADLINE, ROMO), Eryk Donovan (MEMETIC), Alice Pasquini (CROSSROADS),

and many, many more are to be announced for this special issue in the days leading up to the campaign, which is scheduled for early this fall.

Inside the Book

This 80-page oversized anthology magazine fuses the DNA of A1 and DEADLINE into a single volume. Inside, readers will find:

All-new comics from today’s most daring voices
Classic bangers restored and presented in full colour for the first time
Comics, articles, and features exploring the intersection of comics, music, and culture
Over 15 stories to be revealed.

The anthology is structured to echo the chaotic, genre-bending spirit of its roots while introducing modern themes and experimental formats for new audiences.

Inspiration and Conception

A1 (created by Dave Elliott and Garry Leach in 1986, launched in 1989) was a creator-owned playground where names like Moebius, Alan Moore, Eddie Campbell, and Bill Sienkiewicz ran wild.

DEADLINE (created by Brett Ewins and Steve Dillon in 1988) mashed comics, youth culture, and indie music into a punk-fueled magazine that gave the world TANK GIRL.

Both were united in the desire to give artists a platform to express themselves freely and own the fruits of their labour.

Now Elliott and Northrop are reviving these titles for a new generation — not as relics, but as a living, evolving community platform that celebrates both the past and the future of comics counterculture.

The Kickstarter

The A1DEADLINE KICKSTARTER campaign will launch this fall and run for several weeks. Backers can expect a wide range of rewards, including:

The 80-page oversized anthology, a perfect-bound glossy magazine
Exclusive prints and collectables
Variant covers from top-tier artists
Stretch goals unlock additional stories and features
Coming in October

Pre-Register now for exclusives!

Pre-register now at A1DEADLINE.com and you’ll get a free print by Rufus Dayglow and be entered to win one of five limited SDCC-exclusive Funko Pop Tank Girl with Tank, made available by our friends at FUNKO for this campaign!*

Pre-reg offers require a pledge on day one, so make sure to enable alerts on the Kickstarter page! Winners will be announced upon campaign conclusion/funding and contacted by Atomeka.

Join over 400 campaign followers and enable alerts on the Kickstarter page here:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/deevelliott/a1-deadline-special

About Atomeka

Atomeka is the forever home of Dave Elliott, longtime comics creator, editor, and publisher behind projects such as A1, DEADLINE, HEAVY METAL and THE GIRL WITH NO NAME.

Horrible Future, owned by Chris Northrop and Mark Schey, is a creative studio focused on comics and games, collaborating with publishers like Magnetic Press on projects including BLACK BOX CHRONICLES, the highest funded sci-fi anthology of all time on Kickstarter, and currently working with Middle Earth Entertainment, developing new projects.

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Author Profile

Al Mega

I'm Al Mega the CEO of Comic Crusaders, CEO of the Undercover Capes Podcast Network, CEO of Geekery Magazine & Owner of Splintered Press (coming soon). I'm a fan of comics, cartoons and old school video games. Make sure to check out our podcasts/vidcasts and more!