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The Complete Scarlet Traces #2
The Complete Scarlet Traces, Volume Two
The brand new series of Scarlet Traces continues the story of HG Wells' classic SF The War Of The Worlds, taking the story back to Mars...
Thanks to the technology left behind by the Martians and salvaged by the survivors, the British Empire has become a dominating world power once again, and has taken the fight back to the Martians! But an aging Robert Autumn knows there is more to this war than the propganda suggests. He sends journalist Charlotte Hemmingway undercover to Mars in order to discover the truth. What she discovers there is truly earth-shattering...
This volume contains the very latest series of Scarlet Traces, which has never been collected before.
Thanks to the technology left behind by the Martians and salvaged by the survivors, the British Empire has become a dominating world power once again, and has taken the fight back to the Martians! But an aging Robert Autumn knows there is more to this war than the propganda suggests. He sends journalist Charlotte Hemmingway undercover to Mars in order to discover the truth. What she discovers there is truly earth-shattering...
This volume contains the very latest series of Scarlet Traces, which has never been collected before.
224 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2017
5 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Ian Edginton
795 books147 followersEdginton sees part of the key to his success coming from good relationships with artists, especially D'Israeli and Steve Yeowell as well as Steve Pugh and Mike Collins. He is best known for his steampunk/alternative history work (often with the artist D'Israeli) and is the co-creator of Scarlet Traces, a sequel to their adaptation of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. With 2000 AD we has written Leviathan, Stickleback and, with art by Steve Yeowell, The Red Seas as well as one-off serials such as American Gothic (2005).
His stories often have a torturous gestation. Scarlet Traces was an idea he had when first reading The War of the Worlds, its first few instalments appeared on Cool Beans website, before being serialised in the Judge Dredd Megazine. Also The Red Seas was initially going to be drawn by Phil Winslade and be the final release by Epic but Winslade was still tied up with Goddess and when ideas for replacement artists were rejected Epic was finally wound up - the series only re-emerging when Edginton was pitching ideas to Matt Smith at the start of his 2000 AD career.
With D'Israeli he has created a number of new series including Stickleback, a tale of a strange villain in an alternative Victorian London, and Gothic, which he describes as "Mary Shelley's Doc Savage". With Simon Davis he recently worked on a survival horror series, Stone Island, and he has also produced a comic version of the computer game Hellgate: London with Steve Pugh.
He is currently working on a dinosaurs and cowboys story called Sixgun Logic. Also as part of Top Cow's Pilot Season he has written an Angelus one-shot.
http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Edgi...
His stories often have a torturous gestation. Scarlet Traces was an idea he had when first reading The War of the Worlds, its first few instalments appeared on Cool Beans website, before being serialised in the Judge Dredd Megazine. Also The Red Seas was initially going to be drawn by Phil Winslade and be the final release by Epic but Winslade was still tied up with Goddess and when ideas for replacement artists were rejected Epic was finally wound up - the series only re-emerging when Edginton was pitching ideas to Matt Smith at the start of his 2000 AD career.
With D'Israeli he has created a number of new series including Stickleback, a tale of a strange villain in an alternative Victorian London, and Gothic, which he describes as "Mary Shelley's Doc Savage". With Simon Davis he recently worked on a survival horror series, Stone Island, and he has also produced a comic version of the computer game Hellgate: London with Steve Pugh.
He is currently working on a dinosaurs and cowboys story called Sixgun Logic. Also as part of Top Cow's Pilot Season he has written an Angelus one-shot.
http://comicbookdb.com/creator.php?ID...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Edgi...
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 7, 2017
I have been waiting a long time to get my hands on the stories contained in this book for a very a long time.
But first a trip back to where it all started...
I have always been a fan of War of the Worlds (I was allowed to choose the book we read in English lessons at school, ha that will teach them) anyway the idea of what happened next has always been an intriguing one with sequels and other such works constantly coming out (am still waiting to read the officially sanctioned sequel).
Now the idea of what happened after, after all the martians equipment and machinery were left behind is really the starting point for the series of Scarlet Traces. What it did to the people, the country and beyond.
This is the second volume in the complete tales. It contains material never before collected together, which to me is an extra bonus as the originals were so rare and expensive to find I thought I may never get to read any of them.
Now why the mission to find THESE books in particular - well that is down to the fact I read the Stickleback books by the same author/artist partnership some time ago and absolutely loved them (not to mention their links to 2000AD).
So what of the books - well the first tale is really what happens when the British Empire returns to Mars to take the war to them - with disastrous and totally unexpected results. The second tale really expands the whole story universe exponentially to the point it really could go anywhere.
Now the first complete volume I love - how could I not - this one I am not so sure. The story and artwork are without question brilliant - just I am not sure I am ready for the Martian story to be taken quite this far - but that I think is just me.
The book is brilliant (shame its not hardback) and worth the wait, the question that remains now, is this the end of the story or are there still tales to be told.
But first a trip back to where it all started...
I have always been a fan of War of the Worlds (I was allowed to choose the book we read in English lessons at school, ha that will teach them) anyway the idea of what happened next has always been an intriguing one with sequels and other such works constantly coming out (am still waiting to read the officially sanctioned sequel).
Now the idea of what happened after, after all the martians equipment and machinery were left behind is really the starting point for the series of Scarlet Traces. What it did to the people, the country and beyond.
This is the second volume in the complete tales. It contains material never before collected together, which to me is an extra bonus as the originals were so rare and expensive to find I thought I may never get to read any of them.
Now why the mission to find THESE books in particular - well that is down to the fact I read the Stickleback books by the same author/artist partnership some time ago and absolutely loved them (not to mention their links to 2000AD).
So what of the books - well the first tale is really what happens when the British Empire returns to Mars to take the war to them - with disastrous and totally unexpected results. The second tale really expands the whole story universe exponentially to the point it really could go anywhere.
Now the first complete volume I love - how could I not - this one I am not so sure. The story and artwork are without question brilliant - just I am not sure I am ready for the Martian story to be taken quite this far - but that I think is just me.
The book is brilliant (shame its not hardback) and worth the wait, the question that remains now, is this the end of the story or are there still tales to be told.
August 2, 2021
This is the second volume of Scarlet Traces and two interesting stories that continues from where it left off in the first volume.
In "The Great Game", the British Empire's war with the Martians on Mars has gone on for many years. Politics, unrest and war weariness has set in Britain, as well as a form of government that cracks down hard on dissent. A crack news photographer is secretly assigned to go to Mars to find out what is happening, for although thousands of troops have gone there, mere hundreds have been allowed to return.
What she finds on Mars is pretty shattering. Earth has a 'final solution' to the Mars problem (harking back to another of H.G. Well's stories), while the Martians have been busy studying humans and have their own new solution to conquering the Earth.
Both nearly achieve their objectives: the Martians are all but wiped out on Mars, while England itself is nearly decimated in retaliation, until scrappy units come to the rescue. And now, all eyes turn to Venus, for it is known that the Martians have also invaded that planet.
In "Cold War", the attention turns to Venus, years after the end of the war on Mars. Venusians have come to Earth years ago, seeking refugee status from the invading Martians. A new Venusian ship arrives with a message that the Martians on Venus have a plan to wipe out all life on Venus and Mars in order to survive.
Spies are sent to Venus to make contact with the Venus resistance to try to halt the plan, while the rest of Earth prepares an invasion fleet. The spies are captured but manage to escape, learning what the Martians on Venus intend to do and try to stop it. The invasion fleet itself arrives and in the massive battle that ensues, the Martian's plan to wipe out the rest of life is put into motion.
And that is where the stories end, so far. To be continued in the third volume.
In "The Great Game", the British Empire's war with the Martians on Mars has gone on for many years. Politics, unrest and war weariness has set in Britain, as well as a form of government that cracks down hard on dissent. A crack news photographer is secretly assigned to go to Mars to find out what is happening, for although thousands of troops have gone there, mere hundreds have been allowed to return.
What she finds on Mars is pretty shattering. Earth has a 'final solution' to the Mars problem (harking back to another of H.G. Well's stories), while the Martians have been busy studying humans and have their own new solution to conquering the Earth.
Both nearly achieve their objectives: the Martians are all but wiped out on Mars, while England itself is nearly decimated in retaliation, until scrappy units come to the rescue. And now, all eyes turn to Venus, for it is known that the Martians have also invaded that planet.
In "Cold War", the attention turns to Venus, years after the end of the war on Mars. Venusians have come to Earth years ago, seeking refugee status from the invading Martians. A new Venusian ship arrives with a message that the Martians on Venus have a plan to wipe out all life on Venus and Mars in order to survive.
Spies are sent to Venus to make contact with the Venus resistance to try to halt the plan, while the rest of Earth prepares an invasion fleet. The spies are captured but manage to escape, learning what the Martians on Venus intend to do and try to stop it. The invasion fleet itself arrives and in the massive battle that ensues, the Martian's plan to wipe out the rest of life is put into motion.
And that is where the stories end, so far. To be continued in the third volume.
January 7, 2021
Not as total brilliance as the first edition was still a damn good space war fun.
January 6, 2024
It is a matter of historical record that this great nation of ours has alone stood the watch for this world, not once but twice, and all within living memory. With blood, sweat and indomitable spirit, the British people repelled the Martian menace, defending not only our borders but the very bounds of the Earth itself. We bear our scars of service to this planet with pride, yet there is no denying the toll it has taken on our industry, economy, and latterly our society. Britain has always embraced tolerance and inclusiveness. We are always first to offer a hand to a drowning man, to feed a hungry child. It is against our nature to do otherwise. But what happens when our boat is full and we are the ones drowning? When it is our children who are disadvantaged?
I've long had my eye on this series and I was pleasantly surprised when Tania bought me the set for jólabókaflóðið (the Christmas book flood or Yule book flood); the Icelandic tradition of giving a book on Christmas Eve.
This second volume collects The Great Game, Cold War Part 1 and Cold War Part 2.
The Great Game is set a few decades after the events of Volume One and we learn that the great war to conquer Mars has hit a deadlock. We also meet Robert Autumn again, who is seeking allies to expose the truth behind the war effort and the loss of life it has entailed.
The Cold War jumps further into the future again and we are now in the 1960s. Earth, especially Britain, has become home to Venutian refugees and the 'Martians' are plotting a move which will destroy all life in the galaxy whilst creating themselves a new home. All that stands against them is a plucky Venutian RAF engineer and a Martian-Human hybrid, who has risen up against his creators.
All sterling stuff which shows the lengths to which people (and aliens) will go to grab power and to maintain it, whilst reminding us that its the ordinary man who suffers most. Another 5 stars.
I've long had my eye on this series and I was pleasantly surprised when Tania bought me the set for jólabókaflóðið (the Christmas book flood or Yule book flood); the Icelandic tradition of giving a book on Christmas Eve.
This second volume collects The Great Game, Cold War Part 1 and Cold War Part 2.
The Great Game is set a few decades after the events of Volume One and we learn that the great war to conquer Mars has hit a deadlock. We also meet Robert Autumn again, who is seeking allies to expose the truth behind the war effort and the loss of life it has entailed.
The Cold War jumps further into the future again and we are now in the 1960s. Earth, especially Britain, has become home to Venutian refugees and the 'Martians' are plotting a move which will destroy all life in the galaxy whilst creating themselves a new home. All that stands against them is a plucky Venutian RAF engineer and a Martian-Human hybrid, who has risen up against his creators.
All sterling stuff which shows the lengths to which people (and aliens) will go to grab power and to maintain it, whilst reminding us that its the ordinary man who suffers most. Another 5 stars.
February 1, 2018
I absolutely loved the Victorian feel to Volume One. This Volume Two is different. Charlotte Hemming is an interesting character to follow and her perspective is refreshing in such an action story - hat tip to Edginton! I wondered whether the story was going to mention the fact the Prime Minister looked like a martian, but obviously I wasn't appreciating D'Israeli's caricature art!
In the second half containing two stories I see wonderful homages to Gerry Anderson and Dan Dare which is much appreciated! The 'moonbase girls' wondering why their wigs had to be so purple was brilliant. The architecture and spaceships freely re-purposed, great fun. Thank you D'isreali.
My problem was that I didn't clearly have a sympathetic protagonist and following a couple of aliens didn't do it for me as I expected one of them to turn at any point and be aiding the Martians. The epic scope of this whole volume is superb but I preferred the first half better than the epic in the latter part.
In the second half containing two stories I see wonderful homages to Gerry Anderson and Dan Dare which is much appreciated! The 'moonbase girls' wondering why their wigs had to be so purple was brilliant. The architecture and spaceships freely re-purposed, great fun. Thank you D'isreali.
My problem was that I didn't clearly have a sympathetic protagonist and following a couple of aliens didn't do it for me as I expected one of them to turn at any point and be aiding the Martians. The epic scope of this whole volume is superb but I preferred the first half better than the epic in the latter part.
October 4, 2025
About half way through this I realised just how much it puts into sharp relief every problem I have with The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, because where Moore delights in cramming every tiresome reference point into the narrative which results in the thing slowing to a crawl dramatically like some sort of well read Peter Kay, Edginton has zero interest in doing that. He has a narrative he wants to tell and he’s happy to incorporate countless references from all manner of 20th century science fiction to do it, but it’s all secondary to the narrative. It’s an additional pleasure and never drags the story into inertia like so many LOEG books end up being. Plus D’Israeli is genuinely one of the all time great comic artists. This is a beautifully drawn and particularly beautifully coloured book
January 8, 2018
I read the first scarlet traces back when it was in the megazine, it was an interesting epilogue to a classic bit of British science fiction. This volume in a sense is the second and third part of that story. Overall I’ve enjoyed this take on the future of the war of the worlds britain pushed forward by alien invasion. Eddington has written a great tale and D’Israeli has an art style that suits weird and grand scale visuals. His space battles and warring robots and future tanks are a visual treat.
March 16, 2021
Continuing the excellent work of the first two volumes and moving into League of Extraordinary Gentlemen territory as Eddington and D'Israeli incorporate Dan Dare, Doctor Who, UFO, Space 1999, Ray Bradbury and Edgar Rice Burroughs into the mix. Marvellous storytelling and great SF ideas.
July 31, 2025
La guerra en Marte dura décadas. El gobierno británico ha girado al totalitarismo y hará cualquier cosa para ocultar los desastres del fallido contraataque.
La segunda parte de un salto a los años 60 e introduce nuevas civilizaciones del Sistema Solar. Aquí ya me pierde un poco.
La segunda parte de un salto a los años 60 e introduce nuevas civilizaciones del Sistema Solar. Aquí ya me pierde un poco.
April 29, 2018
Really good British comic work, in the spirit of 2000AD, bringing a modern aesthetic to one of the early classics of sci fi. It feels like steam punk but I think that's an error - it's more a result of the source material being from the late 19th century. The Great Game is brilliant, the Cold War a little less so. Its almost all out in space, away from the distinctive backdrop - 1940s Britain with Martian technology - that gives the series its distinctive feel. I wanted more Charlotte Hemming and less of the blue dude and the guy who looks like Loki.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews