The Christmas PHOENIX (2019)

Back in the 1930s it was the tradition for comics to have a Christmas "double number" and be twice as thick because they were skipping a week. It's good to see that tradition has been revived for the last few years and this week's Phoenix is once again a bumper 64 page edition. 

The gimmick The Phoenix uses is that the double issue has the second half as a flip comic, so when you reach halfway you turn it upside down and start again with the next cover...



Yes, it's a seemingly expensive £5.99, but as you're actually getting two issues in one it's actually a little bit cheaper than buying two regular issues.

It's packed with good stuff too, so you're getting strips by Jamie Smart, Jess Bradley, James Stayte, Neill Cameron, Adam Murphy and more. The Phoenix tends to employ the relatively new comics creators, although I'm sure that's just them wanting to set their own style for the comic and not them being ageist. It's understandable that they want to forge their own path, and its certainly worked for them so far.

There's news in this issue that The Phoenix will have a new look in the New Year. I'm a little apprehensive about that because change for the sake of change doesn't always sit well with loyal readers. In fact, offhand, I can't think of a title in the history of comics that's boosted its sales by having a makeover, yet makeovers are sometimes necessary to bring it to the attention of new readers. However, as The Phoenix is mainly subscription-based I'm sure its readers will have time to get used to the revamp and will accept it. The stories will no doubt be as strong as ever and that's the main thing.

The Phoenix  Christmas double issue No.417/418 is in WH Smiths now for £5.99 or you can subscribe at this link:
https://thephoenixcomic.co.uk

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