ROK Comics Launches PULSE, new Digital Comics Anthology, and New ‘Marketplace’ for digital comics

We're pleased to announce that our new ROK Comics Ultra marketplace app on Apple’s iTunes store is generating a lot of interest – and that sales of our new digital anthology, PULSE, are on the rise!

Issue Two of PULSE is expected to go on sale next week, dependent on Apple approvals. Here's a sneek peek of the cover..

The new app brings all ROK Comics amazing audio comics titles under one roof, including Team M.O.B.I.L.E. and The Beatles Story.

The app also features “Comics Communique”, a comics news service and a number of comic titles published in partnership with other publishers, with more to come in the next few months.

Exclusive to the platform is a new ongoing digital comics anthology, PULSE for iPad users, published in partnership with Markosia Enterprises. The title, aimed at teenagers, will initially feature Team M.O.B.I.L.E., Dinocorps, Serpent Wars and Endangered Weapon B.

An ongoing adventure created by Jonathan Kendrick, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others.

Entombed for millennia, a team of combat dinosaurs – Dinocorps  (written by Andy Briggs & Steve Horvath, with art from Robert Molesworth) – are accidentally reanimated by 14-year-old Carl Heyward. While trying to keep them a secret, Carl discovers the evil Saurons have survived too. Responsible for the last mass extinction event, they’re planning to eradicate the human mammalian vermin with another extinction event. The race is on to save the planet… again. World shaking action-adventure in this all-ages story!

Serpent Wars (written by Christian Rodriguez & Chris Campanozzi, with art from Antonio Rojo) is set in the mid-1800’s where a young scientist smuggles himself aboard the war ship of a British Lord bound for South America only to discover a land filled with serpent gods destined to rule mankind. With the aid of a spiritual goddess the brave adventurer must battle to free the island and humanity from the tyranny of these giant creatures.

What kind of lunatic forces a grizzly bear to wear mechanized combat armour and fight his battles? What kind of fiend kidnaps a beautiful Polynesian computer genius to be his child bride? And just who has a ninja for a butler anyway? Meet the Professor: eccentric, scientist, explorer and Englishman par excellence. There’s madcap steampunk hi-jinks aplenty in Endangered Weapon B, written by David Tallerman, with art from Bob Molesworth).

• The first issue of PULSE is available now through the ROK Comics Ultra App. #2 will be available in mid-May.

• Follow PULSE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pulsecomic and Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComicPulse

• View the ROK Comics Ultra app here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/rok-comics-ultra/id804413888?mt=8

Want to be immortalised in comics?

 ROK Comics - publishers of the audio comics Team MOBILE, Houdini Adventures, Master Merlini and more - is offering the chance for you to be drawn into an upcoming ROK Comic as a supporting character!

All you have to do is upload to Instagram and hashtag #rokcomics by 12 noon GMT 31st July, 2013.

ROK Comics will scour the entries and pick the best entry, which will then feature in the next available audio comic from our growing list of exciting audio comic titles.

The photo can be funny, heroic, sad, silly or thoughtful - the important thing is that it's YOU (not your pet!) and a good enough image for our artists to work from!

What are you waiting for? Break out your secret identity gear and upload now!


Lancaster-based ROK Comics publishes a range of audio and other digital comics titles, with Team M.O.B.I.L.E., Houdini Adventures and Master Merlini among several on sale for iPad, iPhone and Android devices – and many more titles in the works.

All ROK Comics titles deliver great comic content, enhanced by a fully authored audio soundtrack and other features that only digital comics can fully exploit, including animation and, in the case of its music comics range, music videos.

Says ROK CEO Jonathan Kendrick: “ROK is pioneering the creation and delivery of original audio comic books across a range of new titles and we are delighted to be bringing comic books to life in this dynamic way via the latest technologies.”

Sales of digital comics are growing rapidly, but many are simply re-formats of existing print titles which fail to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital devices. ROK has embraced the new medium head on, delivering not just great comics but extras that will appeal to all ages now well used in the potential of modern media.

“With all the extras, we wanted to complement the comic storytelling that make a comic a comic,” says editor John Freeman, “but added new elements that will give the stories even greater appeal.

“We’re hoping our carefully-created titles will appeal outside of comic fandom. We’ve had feedback from parents who tell us our audio comics are a great help with children coming to grips with learning to read, for example. “

Team M.O.B.I.L.E.
An ongoing adventure comic, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others. The series was created by Jonathan Kendrick and features art by Andrew Chiu.

Houdini Adventures
An ongoing adventure comic recounting all-new adventures of the world’s greatest escape artist. Written by magician Jamie Allan Nicklin and composer and script writer Simon Wheeler, the launch issue features art by the highly-regarded Spanish artists Rafael Broseta and David Belmonte.
The comic includes exclusive videos revealing magician’s secrets – some included for free, some offered as in-app purchase.

Titles also on sale now include several audio “bio comics” including The Beatles Story, an eight-issue limited digital series collecting, in full, the stunning creator-owned comic co-created by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, which will include rare video of the Beatles. Rok has also published bio comics of British music acts ZeZi, 2012 X-Factor favourite Joe Whelan and OG Niki – and an action adventure-oriented mini comic starring British rapper Rick Fury.

Titles in Production include:

• The Elvis Story, an eight-issue limited digital series by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson telling revealing the legend of the King, never re-published since its first appearance in British comic Look-In in the 1980s

• My Favorite Martian Collecting the My Favorite Martian comics by Bill Titcombe from British comic TV Century 21, never before seen in the United States, as the show celebrates its 50^th Anniversary, in conjunction with Jack Chertok Television

• A new digital comics anthology, in partnership with Markosia Enterprises, launching later in 2013

• Banned Across the Universe… In space, no-one can hear you sing – unless you pretend you’re someone famous, and probably dead! An ongoing action-humour strip drawn by Kev Levell

• Ex Astris, an amazing science fiction comic set in the far future on an Earth transformed by alien intervention and environmental disaster, by Bill Storie

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

Team MOBILE #3 audio comic on sale now from iTunes

The Team MOBILE #3 audio comic from ROK Comics is now on sale in the iTunes store for Apple devices.

The adventures of Team M.O.B.I.L.E. continue! They are the undesirables, the no-hopers, misfits… the teenagers who don’t fit in, who flunk every school test and often end up on the wrong side of the law.

But these teens have a secret – they are secret agents for a mysterious international organisation – the Mindmerge Organisation Bureau – International Law Enforcement. Selected using secret tests, they're gifted with skills to tackle any threat to the world, anywhere and any time!

In Game World, the teen agents investigate the disappearance of children from a major theme park - and uncover a sinister plot - the work of deadly Cyboks!

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. is aROK  Comics production brought to you by creator Jonathan Kendrick, Ferg Handley (script), Andrew Chiu (art), Kris Carter and Kirsty Swan (colour) and Jim Campbell (letters), backed by a full UK-US voice cast and soundtrack!

- Full colour action comic with swipe to read navigation

- Click-to-listen full audio soundtrack: don't just read Rok Comics, hear them!

- Easy to use navigation

- Controllable Pop-Up extras profiling key characters and equipment

- Background feature on the world of Team M.O.B.I.L.E. and the Cyboks!

• Now on sale in the iTunes store for Apple devices

ROK Comics expands its Audio Comics range

ROK Comics is pleased to announce the expansion of its audio comics range, with Team M.O.B.I.L.E., Houdini now on sale for iPad, iPhone and Android devices – and many more titles in the works.

All ROK Comics titles deliver great comic content, enhanced by a fully authored audio soundtrack and other features that only digital comics can fully exploit, including animation and, in the case of its music comics range, music videos.

Says ROK CEO Jonathan Kendrick: “ROK is pioneering the creation and delivery of original audio comic books across a range of new titles and we are delighted to be bringing comic books to life in this dynamic way via the latest technologies.”

Sales of digital comics are growing rapidly, but many are simply re-formats of existing print titles which fail to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital devices. ROK has embraced the new medium head on, delivering not just great comics but extras that will appeal to all ages now well used in the potential of modern media.

“With all the extras, we wanted to complement the comic storytelling that make a comic a comic,” says editor John Freeman, “but add new elements that will give the stories even greater appeal.

“We’re hoping our carefully-created titles will appeal outside of comic fandom. We’ve had feedback from parents who tell us our audio comics are a great help with children coming to grips with learning to read for example.

Available now for free are Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #2 and Houdini #1 – with many more comics in the works.

• An ongoing adventure comic, Team M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of teenagers recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers – some stranger than others. The series was created by Jonathan Kendrick and features art by Andrew Chiu.

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 is FREE for iPad and iPhone:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/team-mobile-comic/id516600477

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 is free for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile01

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #2 is free for iPad and iPhone:
http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/team-mobile-2/id549502691?mt=8

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #2 is free for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile02

• Houdini is an ongoing adventure comic recounting all-new adventures of the world’s greatest escape artist. Written by magician Jamie Allan Nicklin and composer and script writer Simon Wheeler, the launch issue features art by the highly-regarded Spanish artists Rafael Broseta and David Belmonte.

The comic includes exclusive videos revealing magician’s secrets – some included for free, some offered as in-app purchase.

• Houdini #1 is FREE for iPad and iPhone at:
http://itunes.apple.com/app/houdini/id531385730?mt=8&ls=1

• Download Houdini #1 FREE for Android at:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.houdini

Titles to come include:

Tomorrow We Live, scripted
and drawn by Mike Collins

• Tomorrow We Live, a gritty no-holds-barred action adventure set in a world of jaded spies and dangerous villains, adapted from a story by Simon Piers Thurlow and Hollywood screen writers Shawn Curran and George Sanders by Mike Collins, acclaimed artist on several titles for Marvel and DC Comics, as well as Doctor Who Magazine

The Beatles by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson

• The Beatles Story, an eight-issue limited digital series collecting, in full, the stunning creator-owned comic co-created by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson, which will include rare video of the Beatles

• The Elvis Story, an eight-issue limited digital series by Angus Allan and Arthur Ranson telling revealing the legend of the King, never re-published since its first appearance in British comic Look-In in the 1980s

• Ex Astris, an amazing science fiction comic set in the far future on an Earth transformed by alien intervention and environmental disaster, by Bill Storie

ROK is also publishing a number of “music comics”, featuring audio-enhanced comic strip, videos and other bonus material, including:

Rick Fury, drawn by Marc Olivent

• Rick Fury, an ongoing “action music comic” starring an alternate version of one of Britain’s best-known emcees, written by Rick himself with art by Marc Olivent

• Banned Across the Universe… In space, no-one can hear you sing – unless you pretend you’re someone famous, and probably dead! An ongoing action-humour strip by John Freeman and Kev Levell

• ZeZi: The Story so Far, a bio-comic about the Birmingham-based rap band, scripted by Jasper Bark and drawn by Andrew Chiu

• OG Niki: The Story So Far, a bio-comic about the controversial British rapper OG Niki, scripted by Jasper Bark and drawn by Marc Olivent

• Joe Whelan: The Story So Far, a bio-comic about the amazing Heavy Metal guitarist, scripted by Jasper Bark and drawn by Marvel Comics artist Giancarlo Caracuzzo

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com

Declaration: John Freeman is Managing Editor at ROK Comics

Team M.O.B.I.L.E. Promotions available on YouTube

ROK's animation team have begin creating a number of promotional videos for our titles, starting, naturally, with our action adventure title, Team M.O.B.I.L.E.!

Here's their first promo for #1, which can also be viewed on the Team M.O.B.I.L.E. Comic YouTube channel.

The animation folk are busy working on several projects connected to our books – stay tuned for more information...

• Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 is available free for iPad and iPhone via http://itunes.apple.com/app/team-mobile-comic/id516600477?mt=8 and on Google Play for Android devices at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rok.comics.teammobile01

Praise for Team MOBILE #1

Top SF web site SF Crowsnest has given Team M.O.B.I.L.E. #1 a positive review in its latest round up of genre publishing.

“ROK Comics have certainly invested some time and effort here, as the audio soundtrack is excellent,” says reviewer Andy Whitaker. “There is a good mix of voices which are all clearly audible.

“On my first reading, after the second I found myself just looking at the pictures and listening to the audio without reading the speech bubbles. It feels and looks like a quality product making good use of the iPad’s capabilities.

“… It is refreshing to see something new, especially a UK comic,” he concludes. “With its use of an audio soundtrack and icons to provide additional information it deserves to be a big success. I have no trouble recommending this to anyone who has an iPad. Personally, I want to find out what happens to the latest two new recruits to Team M.O.B.I.L.E so will be keeping a look out for issue # 2.”

• Read the full review here

ROK Comics releases first audio comic, Team MOBILE, on iTunes

ROK Comics, Britain's dedicated mobile comics publisher, has published its first originated audio comic title for the iPad – TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E.

Featuring a fully authored audio soundtrack and its own theme tune, TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. is the exciting story of teenage secret agents battling dangerous enemies across the globe.

An ongoing adventure story, the first issue of TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. centres on the story of misfit duo Maisy Brown and Sam Thompson, who are recruited into a secret organisation to battle crime, terrorism and other dangers.

TEAM M.O.B.I.L.E. is the creation of ROK Group PLC co-founder Jonathan Kendrick.

Jonathan has long harboured an ambition to marry comics with sound and published on mobile devices including the iPad and iPhone. Inspired by a love of James Bond and comics, he came up with the back story for the comic, including its top secret 'MindMerge' technology and gadgets.

"We are really pleased with the originality and quality of our first audio comic which has just been published on the iTunes store and we look forward to developing the story further," said Jonathan.

The strip is written by John Freeman from storylines by Jonathan Kendrick, with art by Andrew Chiu. Kris Carter is colouring the title, with Jim Campbell providing lettering and logos.

John's credits include work for Marvel, Judge Dredd Megazine and Black Ops Extreme for STRIP – The Comic Magazine, but he's perhaps better known as an editor, for ROK Comics and titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, STRIP and many others.
Andrew's credits include 2000 AD, the mainstay of the British comics industry, DC Comics, Vertigo Comics and ILEX Press.

Kris Carter's credits include Transformers and Doctor Who while Jim Campbell has worked for pretty much every major British comic publisher and some American companies, too.
The soundtrack, which complements the strip action, features the voices of both British and American actors, produced by Sneaky Snake Films in New York. The Team M.O.B.I.L.E. theme tune was created by accomplished composer Bob Townley, who's worked with a number of established chart artists in the US and UK.

ROK Comics is also publishing strips for mobile under license, including an Andy Capp iPhone app in partnership with the Mirror newspaper and a Viz iPhone app in partnership with Dennis Publishing, and Print Media's STRIP - The Comic Magazine.


Three iPhone apps published in partnership with individual creators – Ligeia the Vampire by Rodrigo Diaz Ricci, The Mobile Gospel by Rich Diesslin and Madd Science by Steve English – are also available.

Further comics are in development.

ROK Comics, part of ROK Global PLC, continues to provide mobile comics content for WAP subscription services across the globe and is currently working with partners in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

• Team M.O.B.I.L.E.online: www.theteammobile.com

• Visit ROK Comics at: www.rokcomics.com