Bob's #1, cover art by Stuart Luke
Bob's is a small press series by Andrew Luke that ran for six issues, an annual and two short specials from 1997 to 2002. Lottery winner Bob's flat in Bangor, County Down, is a kind of drop-in centre frequented by a regular cast of "dole-hacks, drug users and alcoholics", as well as a succession of characters from TV and popular culture.
- Issue 1, "Waiting for Steve", was published in September 1997 and features a guest appearance by Sam Becket from Quantum Leap, who has leaped into the body of flat regular Paddy-Joe. John A is looking for a new place to live, and Gamblor, the flat fruit machine, isn't paying out. Cover by Stuart Luke
- Issue 2, "Movement of Boxes", published in October 1997. The lads give John A a hand as he moves out of Maisie's house, there's a visit from the Mormons and a guest appearance by Josie Lawrence from Whose Line is it Anyway?. Also includes a "Bob's Dog's" backup strip by Stuart Luke, and a feature by Andrew on a DNA Swamp comics workshop in Galway. Cover by Patrick Brown.
- Issue 3, "VSONGHEAR", published in November 1997. The day after John A's flat-warming party, which nobody can remember much about. Barrfield can't find his keys, and Steve brings in a bum off the street, who turns out to be William Shatner. Background art and "Bob's Dogs" backup strip by Stuart Luke. Cover by Emmett Taylor.
- Bob's Annual #1: "The Debt Collectors" part 1. Bob invites John Craven for afternoon tea, but Mycole comes round looking for John A on behalf of his former landlady Maisie, and the escaped Bea Smith holds everybody hostage. Features a wraparound cover by Dek Baker and the "Bob's Brigade" superhero strip by Emmett Taylor, and a four page "Bob's Dogs" strip by Stuart Luke.
- Issue 4, "The Debt Collectors" part 2. The hostage situation continues, requiring the attention of Police Constable Charlie Browells, dog handler. Cover by Gary Parkin.
- Bob's: Steve Meets The Mormons. An eight-page spin-off expanding on the story from Issue 2 which sees the Mormons reduced to tears and fleeing from Bangor and the Mouth of Steve.
- Bob's: Can I have your autograph, Mr. Hooker? A second eight-page spin-off featuring William Shatner returning to his role as Captain Kirk, post-Bob's. Spock and Bones worry about his health as he has a Playstation installed on the ship and encourages the whole crew to get stinking drunk with him. Features a cover by Ralph Kidson.
- Issue 5, published in 1999. Contains three stories, all written by Andrew Luke: "Responsibilities of a milkman", drawn by Stuart Luke and inked by Andrew; "Bob's TV", drawn by Dek Baker; and "Just Another Day", drawn by Ralph Kidson. Also features "Bob's Dogs" by Stuart Luke, an interview with cartoonist Gary Parkin, and a selection of small press reviews, including one of Patrick Brown's A Virtual Circle. Cover by Ralph Kidson.
- Issue 6, published in 2002, did double duty as Andrew Luke's Comic Book #2, Written and part-drawn by Andrew Luke; "Copper Pipes", drawn by Patrick Brown; "JCB Starter Buttons", drawn by Dave Morris. Front and back cover art and illustrations by P. J. Holden, and illustrations and a "Bob's Dogs" backup strip by Stuart Luke. It featured a guest appearance by Chief O'Brien from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, who was there to fix Gamblor, the fruit machine, which had been hit by a bullet in issue 4.
Issue 2, cover by Patrick Brown, 1997
Issue 3, cover by Emmett Taylor, 1997
Issue 5, cover by Ralph Kidson, 1999
Issue 6, cover by P. J. Holden, 2002
External links[]
- Bob's at Luke Books website (via Internet Archive)