The comeback of the comic book
Once derided as being only for children and geeks, the comic is enjoying an amazing resurgence in the capital.
Comic-con, the US event which sees thousands (many in fancy dress) flock to hear their idols speak, is coming to the capital, while digital comics on smartphones and iPads are flying off the (virtual) shelves.
In east London, even the old-fashioned printed comic is getting a makeover.
Shoreditch designer BERG London is giving it an unusual twist with SVK, which uses ultraviolet ink to hide the thoughts of characters.
Each £10 comic by legendary writer Warren Ellis (Transmetropolitan) and artist Matt Brooker (2000 AD) will come with an ultraviolet torch (which also appears in the story). Shine the torch on the page, and you see hidden thoughts and messages.
"It's set in London but it's an imaginary London from the era of Quatermass and Doctor Who. People will definitely spot things that are familiar, though," says BERG London design director Matt Jones.
"It's about surveillance, technology and computing. It's very dark."
Jones says the key to the resurgence in comics is down to their creators being inventive.
"Comics have always been a slightly outsider medium, they've always been inventive about how they make money. Comic creators have been good at exploiting new media, so it's no surprise that they are doing very well digitally.
"It's been an interesting project, right down to finding a printer. It almost echoes the story, as we had to work with people more used to anti-fraud and secure documents."
