Issue four is here! With more shocks than a bag of electric eels the final
gripping instalment of the SAM119 mini series is available at last. If you
haven’t got your copy – get it now or risk missing out on the story of the
year/century/millenium!

Well when the delivery module finally arrived at Undercurrent Comics secret
headquarters, we couldn’t quite believe that at last we had arrived at this
point – a full mini series out there – fantastic. And not only that but we
are now working on a new SAM119 project – codename SAM119 ADVENTURES.

You may have seen some of the art-work for SAM119 ADVENTURES already, but in case you haven’t – then here’s a little taster.

Undercurrent Comics hot shots are in top level negotiations with authorities to get the new comic out there on a much bigger scale than last time, so if all goes to plan, you should be seeing a copy of SAM119 ADVENTURES near you very soon.

Well must dash – the radar has just pinged to let us know we’ve got bogies incoming on the northern side of the island, and we still haven’t made the tea! Steve, blow your nose and get on with some work!

Issue three should have been with you ages ago, we're almost done with issue four too! Its been an action packed few months, things have picked up a lot from where they were at the beginning of the year. For a start the GreenJade video is complete, and will be seen by a lucky few of you over the summer and beyond at selected events. At this point the Gunz Down single is scheduled to be released in the new year - watch out for more news.

Plans for the future of SAM119 are moving on too, we've been working on the
SAM119 adventures series, artwork for which you may be able to see before
too long - look out on this site for news updates. We're also forging ahead
with plans for a translated bound edition of the SAM119 miniseries.

We had a good time at the Bristol comic convention this year, it was
interesting to see the change in people's reactions to us - last year we
were an unknown quantity, this year we were a bit more of an oddity!
Funnily enough, the only negative reactions we've received have been from
the 'devil oriented' contingent, maybe everybody else is just being
polite...?

All in all a good year so far, looking forward to a long hot summer, lots of
sci-fi action in issue four, and the impending launch of the all new SAM119
Adventures...so we're happy with that.

New subscribers always welcome... tell your friends!

SAM119 issue #2 has finally arrived on the door steps of its eager
subscribers!!

The planned publication date of September had to be pushed back a full two
months after the incredible reaction issue one engendered led to
Undercurrent Comics being contacted by a number of people wanting UCC to
work with them.

And we can reveal that one of those projects will mean that SAM119 will be starring in a music video in 2004 - Gunz Down will be the first single off the stunning second album by Hip hop stalwarts GreenJade (winners of a prestigious gong at the UK Hip hop awards in 2002) and will be accompanied by an animated video featuring GreenJade and SAM119 characters in a dystopian future world.
For more information on GreenJade visit www.greenjade.co.uk.

Keep your eye on this site and the web for more news, this would have been
an exclusive but we just couldn't stop the word leaking out...(thanks a lot
Cross Rhythms;)

But there you have it, issue two is out and already gathering a lot of
attention, this issue really builds on the explosiveness of the first, with
some deepening of the story line, and some interesting new twists. Also
this issue we introduce a new ongoing strip - DOG SAINT from our pal Eric
Merced.

If you haven't got yours yet, order it now, its not too late!

SAM119 issue #1 was launched in May 2004 at the Bristol Comic Convention which is THE British comic event of the year.

Following a rather early arrival and set up the Undercurrent comics stall
soon had a thriving trade – using the age old combination of excellent
comics and a bigger banner than everyone else!

The fact that SAM119 was printed in full colour and top notch quality soon
raised a few eyebrows among the indie comic fraternity, eagerly they jostled around the table - all agog to learn the secret of Undercurrent comics extraordinary success… well alright it wasn’t quite like that, but our presentation certainly made us stand out from the crowd.

The convention this year was particularly rich in indie comics, and some
fantastic titles were available for almost every taste in comics – from the
most weird and wonderful to good old fashioned superheroes. SAM119
certainly held its own among its peers, with a lot of interest from public
and critics and respectable sales too.

“I think it went down well” said Steve Beckett, “we certainly made ourselves
known, and I don’t think our banner will be forgotten quickly!”

Other highlights of the Bristol comic con were the rather bizarre sounds of
Scandinavian Rockabilly band Rex Rudi entertaining (if that is the right
word) the crowds at the evening knees up. Also, a rant which appeared to
come out of nowhere from the illustrious Dez Skinn, (Editor of Comics
International) regarding the comic buying policy of WH Smith, (we just got a
rejection letter from them – so we agree wholeheartedly) and a rather
strange game show based upon The Weakest Link, again featuring Dez Skinn,
and a host of others – actually that was more surreal than a highlight.

So anyway, we’re looking forward to next year, when (all being well) we will
be selling all four issues of the SAM119 mini series, and who knows what
else. If we can manage it, our banner will be bigger as well!

SAM119 is a new title which has already proved to be a hit with the mainstream critics:

"I really liked it. I found it very easy to read and at the end of the issue I wanted to read more. That is all that is important, really. If a comic is engrossing then the appeal is greater and Sam119 is VERY engrossing.

“The comic is a blend of Cyberpunk, William Gibson and George Orwell and should appeal to most sci-fi fans looking for an entertaining and interesting read.”

Glenn Carter – Silver Bullet Comics

“All in all a fun sci-fi punk comic with a solid story and bags of promise, this is a great effort from James and Beckett.”

Immelda Alty – Broken Frontier.com

Uniquely SAM119 is a British Christian comic, which means that many of its readers are churched or Christian readers.  The Christian press are also keen on it:

“A really great comic – like a modern day Pilgrim’s progress!”

Mike Rimmer – Cross Rhythms

“…my 10-year-old son loved it and kept enthusing about details that had escaped my middle-aged gaze.  For their target audience, it works!

Steve Carroll – New Christian Herald

"Sam119 delivers on its cover promise of an ‘explosive first issue’ with riveting fast-paced action and a captivating cyberpunk setting. It’s certainly a title worth checking out and I recommend it to all the sci-fi comics fans."

Manolis Vamvounis - Comics Nexus