{{Short description|British publisher of comics, 1987–1989}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox publisher | name = Valkyrie Press | founded = 1987 | status = defunct (1989) | founder = Chris Bell | image = ValkyriePress-logo.jpg | headquarters = Bristol | country = United Kingdom | keypeople = Fox, Harry Payne<ref name=Bell /><ref>{{cite comic|writer=Harry Payne|story=Aardvark Comment|title=Cerebus the Aardvark|issue=169|page=23|date=April 1993}}: "I remember when I was involved with Valkyrie Press..."</ref> | parent = Luckyglobe Limited | divisions = | publications = Comic books | topics = | genre = Adventure, fantasy | imprints = | url = }} '''Valkyrie Press''' was a British<ref name=ComicVinePub>{{cite web|title=Valkyrie Press|url=http://www.comicvine.com/valkyrie-press/4010-2859/characters/|publisher=Comic Vine|accessdate=17 August 2013}}</ref> publisher of comics that operated from 1987 to 1989. It published Fox's ''Redfox'', and Bryan Talbot's ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'', both of which won Eagle Awards. Valkyrie Press was owned by ''Redfox'' co-writer Chris Bell and jointly operated by Bell and ''Redfox'' artist Fox.<ref name=InternationalHero>[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/v/valkyriepress.htm "Valkyrie Press,"] An International Catalogue of Superheroes. Retrieved Dec. 6, 2022.</ref><ref>Bell, "Arkeology," ''ARKeology'': "Pleased to meet you. I'm Chris Bell. I'm Valkyrie Press."</ref>

==History== Valkyrie Press begin in 1986 as an imprint of Harrier Comics,<ref>[https://www.comics.org/brand_group/5893/ "Harrier : Valkyrie Press (Brand Groups),"] Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2022.</ref> established to collect the first four issues of ''Redfox'' (which had been published by Harrier) in a trade paperback.<ref>[https://www.comics.org/series/71883/ "The Book of Redfox,"] Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2022.</ref>

''Redfox'' co-writer Chris Bell launched Valkyrie as a standalone publisher in 1987, initially solely to continue publishing ''Redfox''.<ref name=Arkeology /> As Bell described it, "the board of Valkyrie Press, which is [a] ... limited company, consists of five people: one solicitor...; one accountant...; one company secretary and transport manager...; one Chairman <nowiki>[</nowiki>Fox<nowiki>]</nowiki>...; and me."<ref name=Bell />

''Redfox'' won the 1987 Eagle Award for Favourite New Comic<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120314223555/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1987/ Previous Winners: 1987] at the Eagle Awards website, archived at The Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 22 September 2018.)</ref> (reflecting its run with Harrier).

The company then took on ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'', publishing nine issues — the first six of which were reprinted from ''Near Myths'' #1-5 (Galaxy Media, 1978–1980) & ''pssst!'' #2-10 (Never–Artpool, 1982) with extra pages; <ref name=Talbot>Méalóid, Pádraig Ó. [https://www.bryan-talbot.com/features/interview-padraig-o-mealoid.php "Interview with Bryan Talbot,"] BryanTalbot.com (Started 6th May 2009. Finished 21st September 2009).</ref> and the last three with all-new material; followed, at readers' request, by a tenth issue, entitled ''ARKeology'', containing articles about the history and production of the comic and some extended back story and character information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.comics.org/series/11956/|title=The Adventures of Luther Arkwright: Valkyrie Press, 1987 Series|website=Comics.org|publisher=Grand Comics Database|access-date=February 9, 2023}}</ref> During this period, Valkyrie also published the trade paperback ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright Book 2: Transfiguration'', the money for printing of which was put up by Serge Boissevain, publisher of the cancelled ''pssst!'' anthology.<ref name=Arkeology>Bell, "Arkeology," ''ARKeology'': "Serge Boissevain ... has been waiting for the complete ''Adventures'' for about ten years now, patiently encouraging Bryan, publishing the first Book, putting up the money for the second...; without him, Bryan might well never have managed to make time to complete ''Luther''."</ref>

Valkyrie's ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' won four 1988 Eagle Awards — for Favourite Character (UK), Favourite New Comic (UK), and Favourite Comic Cover (UK) (for ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' #1); with Talbot winning the Eagle for Favourite Artist (UK).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120314223933/http://www.eagleawards.co.uk/category/previous-winners/1988/ Previous Winners: 1988] at the Eagle Awards website, archived at The Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 22 September 2018.)</ref>

Valkyrie's titles were printed by Wiltshire Ltd. of Bristol, and were distributed by Titan Distributors.<ref name=Bell>Bell, "Arkeology," ''ARKeology''.</ref>

In 1989, Bell announced her retirement from publishing as she wanted to focus on raising a family.<ref>Bell, "Arkeology," ''ARKeology'': "I'm expecting a baby in May."</ref><ref name=InternationalHero /> After publishing all nine issues of ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' and the last ten issues of ''Redfox'' (as well as co-publishing two ''Redfox'' trade paperbacks and the ''Luther Arkwright'' TPB), Valkyrie Press ended its publishing operations.<ref name="Bryan Talbot">{{cite web|title=The Valkyrie Press edition of Arkwright: thumbnail cover gallery.|url=http://www.bryan-talbot.com/oldsite/Luthergallery/index.html|publisher=Bryan Talbot|accessdate=17 August 2013}}</ref>

== Titles published == * ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' (9 issues, Oct. 1987–Feb. 1989) plus one issue of ''ARKeology'' in early 1989 ** ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright Book 2: Transfiguration'' (Nov. 1987), {{ISBN|978-1870923002}} — introduction by Alan Moore<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bryan-talbot.com/oldsite/moore_intro.html|title=Introduction|first=Alan|last=Moore|author-link=Alan Moore|publisher=The Adventures of Luther Arkwright Book 2: Transfiguration|website=The Official Bryan Talbot fan page|date=November 1987}}</ref> * ''Redfox'' (10 issues [issues #11–20], Sept. 1987–June 1989) — numbering continued from Harrier Comics series ** ''The Book of Redfox'' (Dec. 1986), co-published with Harrier Comics, {{ISBN|1-870217-00-4}} — collects Harrier issues #1–4 as well as the story "Fair Exchange," by Martin Lock, Fox, and Carl Cropley, from ''Swiftsure and Conqueror'' #9 (Harrier Comics, July 1986) ** ''Redfox Book II: The Demon Queen'' (Dec. 1988), co-published with Harrier Comics, {{ISBN|1-870217-01-2}} — collects Harrier issues #5–8

==References== === Notes === {{reflist}}

=== Sources consulted === *''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' editorials *''Redfox'' editorials *{{gcdb publisher|id=2072|title=''Valkyrie Press''}} * {{cite magazine|url=http://www.arkeology.org.uk/Editorials/ed_arkeology.html|title=Arkeology: Not just Luther Arkwright 10|magazine=ARKeology|date=Spring 1989|last=Bell|first=Chris|publisher=Valkyrie Press}} *{{cite magazine|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/1T6w5J3BraYZ7yhTex-zg-8210WHMBAZ7/view|first=Martin|last=Skidmore|magazine=Fantasy Advertiser|title=Interview: Fox & Chris Bell|number=102|date=May 1988|pages=18–20}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Valkyrie Press}} Category:1989 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Category:British companies established in 1987 Category:British companies disestablished in 1989 Category:British small press comics Category:Comic book publishing companies of the United Kingdom Category:Defunct comics and manga publishing companies Category:Publishing companies established in 1987