Parallel worlds and a 60's style hero, created in the 70's. Shades of Jerry Cornelius but much more sinister. That's Luthor Arkwright. I think this may be my favorite comic. England seen in an alternative universe where the descendents of Cromwell continue to rule.

Luthor moves between parallel worlds. In one, Hitler may have won, in another we have all died in World War Three. Luthor Arkwright is a dense and complex story where aliens affect the events of the universe and Luthor and his comrades try and stop them. 

The main action is centred around an alternative earth where the disease ridden, crazed fanatic descendant of Oliver Cromwell reigns. To combat him, Luthor has become a resistance leader, giving aid to the sister of the king who is killed in an insurrection. 

She bears his child who is the subject of a new Luthor Arkwright story currently on the bookshelves.

The scanned pictures do not convey how good this comic is. 

"One Bad Rat" is the story of Helen. Helen is being sexually abused by her father so she decides to run away from home to London. Helen is disturbed and suicidal but she has a secret friend who prompts her to carry on. He is a rat. Helen has always been crazy about rats. Things look up. Helen moves into a squat. The rat dies but in her imagination it is her constant companion. Helen's abuse has made her delusional and distrusting of men. Not without good cause sometimes.

Helen leaves London for the country where slowly she begins to sort her life out. She visits Beatrix Potter's house where she discovers - or seems to discover - a Potter manuscript which relates to her own story.

This is a brilliant story - a change from tired old science fiction and superheroes. Very well drawn too although some people may not like the heavy black outline that Talbot uses to enclose his figures.