The Phoenix

Cover of Issue Zero, showing the comic's fictional editing team.

The Phoenix is a weekly children's comic (aimed at 7-14 years) published in the United Kingdom containing serialised humour and adventure strips, puzzles, book reviews and drawing guides. A promotional issue of The Phoenix, numbered zero, was published in December 2011; the comic's proper run from issue 1 onwards began in January 2012.

The Phoenix reached its 700th Issue in May 2025.

The comic is a spiritual successor to The DFC, sharing a similar tone, many of the same contributors and one of the same strips (Dave Shelton's Good Dog, Bad Dog).

Features[]

Strips[]

3 & a Dog by "Two Ficklings" and Dan Boultwood (97-101)
Age of Stone by Thiago De Moraes (580–585, 606, 608–612, 616–620, 642–649, 651–658, 661–675, 677–711)
Art Monkey Adventures by Neill Cameron (24, 29)
Attack of the Hovermooers by Mike Smith (36)
Battle of the Brains by Matt Baxter (121)
Battle Quest by Paul Duffield (14)
Battlesuit Bea by Jamie Smart (200-205, 383-392)
Behemoth by Dave Shelton (148)
Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart (0–194, 196, 198–200, 215–217, 232–233, 235, 237–333, 354–364, 366–407, 409–416, 418–435, 446–469, 500–520, 522–534, 547–582, 584–614, 637–708, 711)
Charlie and the Chicken Factory by Mike Smith (71-72)
Chatterbox by Daniel Hartwell and Karen Rubins (83)
Chip Charlton and Mr Woofles by Jim Medway (22, 77, 101-102, 116-117, 145-146)
Claire Justice Ninja: Ninja of Justice by Joe Brady, Kate Ashwin, Lisa Murphy, Matthew Smith, Abby Bulmer (289-292, 309-311, 313, 324, 325, 334, 345-348, 385-388, 424-426, 434, 435, 438, 439, 447-449, 452-455, 469-471, 474, 475, 478-480, 489-491, 501-504, 511-513)
Clatters & Bump by James Turner (457–468, 470–493, 495–512, 513–515, 522–525, 527–535, 548, 559–564, 565–568, 590–593, 602–616, 617–625, 627–629, 631–648, 661–670, 684–690, 697, 699–711)
Cogg and Sprokit by Jamie Littler (4, 9, 11-16, 21, 26, 31, 35-41, 50-51, 61, 71-72)
Cora's Breakfast by Nick Abadzis (53-70)
Corpse Talk by Adam Murphy (0–18, 21–28, 31–34, 38–42, 44–47, 49–50, 52–56, 59–65, 67, 70–79, 81–88, 90, 92, 94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110–114, 116–122, 125, 127, 129–130, 133–134, 137–138, 141–142, 145–148, 151–152, 156–157, 160–161, 164–165, 168–169, 172–173, 176–177, 180–181, 184–185, 188–189, 191–192, 197–198, 200–202, 205, 209–210, 213–214, 217–218, 223–225, 227–228, 231–232, 237–238, 241–242, 246–247, 249–250, 254–255, 263–264, 270–271, 275–276, 279–280, 282–283, 286–287, 290–292, 296–297, 300–301, 304, 313–314, 318, 323, 349, 353, 366–367, 380–381, 383, 406–408, 412–416, 423–424, 433, 435–438, 440–441, 454–455, 462, 472, 475–478, 484, 488, 490, 492, 495, 497, 514, 545–547, 550–554, 559, 565, 568–571)
Crafty Crocklewit's Guide to Port Fayt by Conrad Mason and David Wyatt (124)
Crunchwood by Dan Gaynor (186)
Crybaby by Daniel Hartwell and Karen Rubins (95)
Danica Starborn's Secrets of the Universe by Paul Duffield (29, 35, 44, 50, 55, 60)
Daniel Crisp + His Amazing Imagination! by Benedict Tomczyk-Bowen (142-143, 146-149, 219-226)
Daughters of the Demon by Neill Cameron (608-615)
Dead Pets Society by Faz Choudhury (335-342)
Dirk Lloyd the Dark Lord by Dan Boultwood (166-170, 186-190, 195-199)
DNA: With Space Bear and Robot by Joe Brady, Will Fickling, Dan Boultwood, John Cullen, Faye Stacey (628-637)
Doctor Law's Mysterious World Presents: Could You be a Robot? (167)
Doggo by Abby Bulmer (480–512, 514–520, 522–525, 527–529, 531–544, 553–558, 560–561, 565, 567–568, 576–589, 594–599, 603–605, 609–617, 627–636, 638–650, 659–691, 692–696, 697–711)
Donut Squad by Neill Cameron (569–711)
Doug Slugman by Joe List (212–213, 215–220, 226–229, 244, 246, 248–249, 251–256, 259, 264, 266, 269, 271, 273, 275, 279, 282, 286, 298–299, 305–306, 312–313, 315, 336, 353, 355–359, 361–362, 416, 419–422, 430, 455–461, 464, 482–484, 486, 494, 496, 498, 500–501, 503, 505, 526, 531–532, 538–539, 545–546, 550–551, 553, 564, 567–568, 570–571, 578–579, 582, 597–599, 601–603, 622–624, 627, 629–633, 639, 650–653, 662–665, 667, 672, 678, 681, 686–687, 691, 693, 697, 709, 711)
Dragon Guard by Zak Simmonds-Hurn, Emily Kimbell, Lou Ashworth, Will Fickling, Tom Fickling, Matthew Smith (540-544, 585-595, 605-614)
Duck Dare by Marc Jackson (602-616)
Earth Protection Force by Abby Bulmer, Team Phoenix, Joe Brady, Jonathon Dobbs (532, 533, 540-543, 570-573, 575, 626-628)
Edwin and Molly by Dave Shelton (155)
Eggs by James Turner, James Stayte (366-373)
Emilie's Turn by Neill Cameron and Kate Brown (47)
Emily Lime: Librarian Detective by Dave Shelton (493, 494)
Evil Emperor Penguin by Laura Ellen Anderson (30, 37, 46, 55, 63, 71–72, 86, 90, 93, 96–97, 99, 101, 108, 110–111, 116, 118, 122–123, 133, 137–138, 141–144, 149, 154, 162–169, 175, 185, 189, 193, 196, 200, 204, 207, 212–213, 223, 226–227, 230, 235, 242, 244, 256, 261, 264, 279–281, 287, 299, 302–303, 346–353, 358–359, 364, 562–566, 694–699)
Fate: A Sicilian Tale by Adam Murphy, Lisa Murphy (248, 249)
Fawn by Robert Deas (481-483, 485-487, 500, 505-507, 511-514, 517-520, 526-528, 534-537, 580-584, 596-600, 607-610, 618-622, 645-656, 658-666, 673-677, 679-683)
Fish Head Steve by Jamie Smart (602-609, 648, 649, 651-656, 678)
Flember by Jamie Smart, Darren Stephens (412-415, 417, 444-448)
Fluffy for President by Neill Cameron, Leanne Daphne (676)
Frankencrab by Dave Shelton (12)
Frankie and Her Machines by Robert Deas, Robyn (456-458)
Funny Fruit Inc. Peculiar Pumpkins by Robin Boyden, David Fickling (304)
Gary's Garden by Gary Northfield (2, 4–5, 7, 9, 13, 17, 22, 24–28, 30–31, 34–39, 43–46, 51–52, 54–61, 65, 67, 71–78, 85–88, 91–92, 97–101, 103, 106–107, 111, 113–114, 123, 139–140, 156, 171–172, 236, 245–247, 250–251, 254–255, 257, 262, 272, 274, 276–277, 281, 283–285, 438–445)
Ghost Ant by Dave Shelton (2)
Good Dog, Bad Dog by Dave Shelton (13-23, 27-35, 285, 286, 294-301, 312, 319-326)
Gorebrah by James Stayte (315-317, 319-321, 328-334, 337-344, 355-357, 361-364, 382-388, 400-412, 416, 418-422, 425, 432-437, 442, 443, 449-451, 456-461, 467, 470-474, 476, 477, 479, 482-485, 497-499, 502-506, 508-510, 520, 522, 523, 525, 527, 531-533, 538, 539, 547-549, 551, 553-555, 564, 565, 574, 575, 578-582, 593-596, 600, 601, 611, 612, 615-617, 625, 627-629, 639-641, 662-665, 667-672, 678, 680, 700-704, 709-711)
Grandma Toad by Tor Freeman (524, 525, 527-530, 537, 538, 542, 544, 546, 548, 550, 551, 554, 567, 684-693, 695)
Haggis & Quail by Dan Boultwood (64, 68, 73-74, 82-83, 85, 88, 92-93, 105-109, 115-118)
Hey, Dr. Smartypants! by Adam Murphy (91, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 105, 107, 109)
Help! There's an Alien in my Head! by James Turner, Siobhan McKenna (623-624)
Hero Slam! by Jamie Smart, Darren Stephens (700-710)
Inspiring Heroes by Various (322-326)
Izzy Newton: Kid Billionaire by Robert Deas, Joe Brady (335-338, 349-352, 354-357, 397-399)
Jinks and O'Hare Funfair Repair by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (44)
Julius Zebra by Gary Northfield (172-173)
Kit and Clay by Alexis Frederick-Frost (23, 25, 33, 36, 45, 52, 56, 65, 81, 91, 94, 98, 106)
Lady Milly Happenstance and her Plucky Adventurers by Benedict Tomczyk-Bowen, Dominika Tomczyk-Bowen (447-450, 452-456)
Land of Noj by John Cullen (627–629, 631–636, 638, 640–646, 650–659, 671–675, 677–685)
Legacy by Tom Fickling, Zak Simmonds-Hurn (343–352, 354–360, 373–375, 378–379, 400–411, 418–423, 426–431, 447–453, 459–467, 469, 527, 706–711)
Long Gone Don by The Etherington Brothers (1–10, 16–22, 53–69, 122–136, 209–222, 389–399)
Looshkin by Jamie Smart (94, 96, 99, 102, 105, 109, 115, 124, 138, 183–185, 195, 197, 201–214, 245–248, 259, 264, 268, 274, 281, 284, 293, 332–353, 408, 418–420, 436–445, 475–486, 496, 498, 555–557, 559–561, 574–582, 627–636)
Lost Tales by Adam Murphy (88–89, 96–97, 103–104, 109–110, 115, 140–141, 150–151, 170–171, 190–192, 195, 224–225, 240–241, 265–266, 522–525, 531, 533, 536–537, 545–547, 549–550)
Lucie by Simone Lia (1-29)
Marvin Stinky Pants by Sarah McIntyre (187)
Medieval Day! by Adam Murphy (705)
Mega Robo Bros by Neill Cameron (112–122, 124–129, 134–138, 150–179, 192–197, 200–207, 219–226, 230–239, 243–245, 248–249, 252–253, 259–262, 267–278, 285- 302, 305–312, 320–346, 347–349, 351–353, 355–356, 357–364, 369–377, 393–396, 413–415, 417, 470–499, 504–521, 537–552, 562–566, 568, 630–632, 634–644, 646, 648–661)
Megalomaniacs by Jamie Smart (488-503, 505, 510-519, 521-527, 535-546, 583-589, 591-594, 596, 611, 615-626)
Mini Epics by various (303–305, 307–308, 551, 558, 566)
Misma and the Dumplings by Ben Haggarty, John Welding (15)
Moose Kid Comics by various (183-?)
Mummy's Boy by Daniel Hartwell and Karen Rubins (89)
Mungus Fungus and the Gninja Gnomes! by James Stayte, Jack Wood (400-402)
New Strip! Starts Today! by Neill Cameron (649)
Nico Bravo and the Celestial Supply Shop by Mike Cavallaro (34, 43, 62, 80, 87, 106-107, 113, 123, 142, 154)
Ninja vs Ninja by Adam Murphy (697-711)
No Country by Joe Brady, Patrice Aggs (366-372, 374-382, 548-563, 628-638, 640-647)
Obi by Armin Roshdi (681-690)
Oddstock by Jason Cawdell (578-600)
On The Clock by Adam Murphy, Lisa Murphy (567-570)
On the Flipside by Will Fickling, Zak Simmonds-Hurn (318, 320, 363, 364, 368, 417, 447-450, 452-466, 474, 475)
Pandora In Puzzlevale by Paul Duffield, Poqu, Siobhan McKenna (627-667, 669-677, 679-687, 689-695, 700-707)
Pet Crusaders by Gary Northfield (183)
Phoenix HQ by Matt Baxter, joined by Lee Robinson in issue 177 (31, 73, 82, 85, 95, 100, 147, 153–154, 177–180, 183, 199, 200–210, 212, 214–216, 232–233, 235, 237–241, 243–245, 247–249, 250–252, 257–260, 263–267, 271–282, 284–285, 287, 292, 297–299, 305–311, 500–512, 514–521, 552–554, 560, 565, 569, 600)
Planet of the Shapes by Mike Smith, as Ricardo Tangle (0-52)
Porky Pirates by Mike Smith (104)
Pow! The Diary of a Space Gladiator by Alexander Matthews (111–112, 120–123, 125, 142–145, 147–148, 153, 161, 164, 174–176, 185–186, 188, 197, 205–207, 211, 263)
Quantum Turbo by Will Fickling, Wil Overton (373, 374)
Radioactive Christmas by Dave Shelton (103)
Ravi and Jess! by Jess Bradley (576-582, 584, 586-588, 596-599, 616, 618, 620, 622-625, 641, 642, 671-673)
Red Jack by John Dickinson and Sally Jane Thompson (130-132, 139-141, 155 -160, 176-184)
Saint Georgia and the Ends of the World by Robin Boyden (200-205, 215-222)
Sausage and Carrots by Simone Lia (447-450, 452-468, 470-491)
Scaredy Cat by Morag Lewis and Paul Duffield (53)
Scrambles by Chris Garbutt (188)
Sgt. Chip Charlton and Mr Woofles of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police by Jim Medway (22, 77)
Sigismond's Neighbourhood by Tor Freeman (338-342, 344, 345, 347, 350, 353, 354, 357-360, 362-364, 377-381, 383, 384, 404-411, 434-439, 441, 447-452, 470-475, 482)
Silk Roads by Ben Haggarty and various artists (0-1, 11, 15, 23-26)
Simon Swift by Thomas Fickling and Zak Simmonds-Hurn (37-52, 74-81, 84-92)
Sir Loynstake by Rick Eades (189)
Sky Drifters by Zak Simmonds-Hurn (20, 24-26, 107, 109, 126-129, 179-184, 191-194)
Squashy The Pumpkin by Laura Ellen Anderson (301-303)
Squid Bits! by Jess Bradley (124, 126, 131–132, 135–136, 139–140, 143–144, 149–150, 153–155, 158–160, 162–163, 166–167, 170–171, 174–175, 178–179, 182–183, 184, 186–187, 190, 193–196, 198–200, 203–204, 207–208, 211–212, 215–216, 219–221, 229–230, 233–236, 239–240, 243–244, 246–247, 251–252, 256–258, 260–262, 265, 267–269, 272–273, 277–278, 281–286, 288–289, 293–296, 299, 302–303, 307–308, 311–312, 314–317, 320–321, 326–332, 333, 334–337, 339–342, 343, 344–345, 348, 350–351, 353–354, 358–364, 366–434, 446–468, 471–485, 487–510, 512–519, 521–528, 535–559, 561, 563–575, 579–587, 594–612, 614–624, 626–640, 643–650, 652–657, 659–670, 674–711)
Squid Squad by Dan Boultwood (136, 141, 147–152, 181–185, 227–229, 268–269, 294–295, 297, 306)
Star Cat by James Turner and Yasmin Sheikh (0–12, 28–29, 32–33, 40–42, 47–49, 53–55, 61–63, 68–70, 78–80, 94–96, 119–121, 180, 208–216, 245–247, 282–284, 300–303, 326–331, 364, 392, 404–405, 409–411, 450–452, 467–468, 470–473, 476–479, 499–504, 509–510, 522–523, 528–529, 534–535, 538–540, 546, 562–564, 576–578, 602–604, 630–633, 647, 663–664, 684–686)
Starborn by Paul Duffield (7)
Super Animal Adventure Squad by James Turner (370-380, 390-401)
Susie + Brad by Joe Brady, James Stayte (431–450, 452–456, 458–468, 470–512, 514–520, 522–525, 527–568, 570–579, 589–591, 592–604, 606–625, 627–697, 696–703, 704–711, 599, 601, 666, 503)
Tale of the Dragon Boy by Orlando Treuille, Neill Cameron (300-303)
Tales of Fayt by Conrad Mason and David Wyatt (125-137)
Tales to Give you the Shivers by Daniel Hartwell and Karen Rubins (114, 119, 130, 139-140, 152, 199, 206, 209-210)
Tamsin and the Dark by Neill Cameron and Kate Brown (224-233, 235, 237-244, 319)
Tamsin and the Days by by Neill Cameron and Kate Brown (293-298, 304, 305, 307-311, 313-318)
Tamsin and the Deep by Neill Cameron and Kate Brown (118-122, 131-135, 143-147, 157-163)
The Adventures of John Blake: The Mystery of the Ghost Ship by Philip Pullman and Fred Fordham (229-233, 235, 237-242, 248-263)
The Adventures of Julius Chancer: The Secrets of the Samurai by Garen Ewing (75-78)
The Boss by Patrice Aggs, John Aggs (458-468)
The Boy With Two Heads by Andy Mulligan and Zac Simmonds-Hurn (208, 242, 250)
The Demon Headmaster by Gillian Cross, Robin Boyden (288-290)
The Dragon in the Snow by Neill Cameron (102)
The Ghost Punching Club by Abby Bulmer, Leonie and Matthew (516-518)
The Graveyard by Adam Murphy (21)
The Heart Tree by Paul Duffield (40-42)
The Island with No Name by Joe Brady, Chris Hazeldine (687-701, 703-708)
The Legend of Morgar the Barbarian by Neill Cameron (180, 234, 278, 314)
The Lost Boy by Kate Brown (1-35)
The Lovely Pirates! by Gary Northfield (483–487, 493, 495, 497, 499, 502, 504, 522–523, 526–527, 529, 533–534, 540–541, 586–592, 597, 639, 641–646, 653–654, 660–666, 671–675, 677–683, 691–699)
The Magic Tower by Paul Duffield (19)
The Owl by Adam Murphy (8)
The Pack by Robin Boyden, Will Fickling (506-508, 528-532, 668-677, 680-688)
The Rocket of Rawangadalli by Ben Sharpe and Fred Fordham (158-178)
The Pie Thief by Faz Choudhury (267-293)
The Pirates of Pangaea by Daniel Hartwell and Neill Cameron (0-20, 33-36, 53-72, 79-82, 100, 110-113)
The Princess and the Peanut-Butter Sandwiches by Adam Murphy (3)
The Rocket of Rawangadalli by Ben Sharpe, Fred Fordham (158-178)
The Secret of the Samurai by Garen Ewing (75-78)
The Skull Sword by Alexander Matthews (95)
The Terrible Tales of the Teenytinysaurs! by Gary Northfield (82)
The Totally Normal Bricks by Neill Cameron (691)
The Totally Normal Humans by Neill Cameron (665-670)
The Twisting Temple by Neill Cameron (543-545)
The Valhalla Protocol by Robert Deas (556-561, 571, 572, 574-577)
The Villinoos by Neill Cameron, Logan Cameron (611-614, 670-679, 697-699)
The Weirding Waves by Neill Cameron (567-569)
Thingamajigs by Emily Kimbell, Daniel Kimbell (607-609, 611-616, 618-625, 666-674, 679, 681-683, 689-691, 693, 694, 702-705, 709-711)
Think Tank by Karen Rubins (186-191)
Tina is Never on Time by Yasmin Sheikh (686–711)
Toby and the Pixies by James Turner, Andreas Schuster (427–446, 453–457, 463–466, 468, 471–474, 480–481, 486–488, 492–499, 500–501, 507–508, 515–516, 521, 524–526, 529–530, 534–535, 541–542, 547–548, 552, 556–557, 566, 572–573, 579, 601–606, 639, 641–649, 690–691)
Tooth and Claw Academy for Magical Creatures by Sam Davies (516–520, 522–525, 527–563, 568, 570–578, 580–592, 601–602, 603–605, 606–608, 611–613, 616, 627–629, 631–640, 642–643, 647–649, 654–655, 657–659, 661–664, 670–674, 688–690)
Tosh's Island by Linda Sargent, Joe Brady, Leo Marcell (583-600, 608, 613-626)
Tracks by Daniel Clifford and Lee Robinson (112)
Trailblazers by Robert Deas (253-266, 314-327, 366-372, 375-381, 421-432, 439-445)
Troy Trailblazer by Robert Deas (10, 18, 27-32, 42-51, 58-59, 73-85, 100-115, 137-138, 142-151, 153-158, 187-203)
Useleus by Alexander Matthews and Wilbur Dawbarn (27, 32, 39, 48-49, 57, 66, 69, 79, 84, 86-87, 90-93, 97-99, 104-105, 108, 114, 117, 120, 124, 139, 146, 149-152, 156-157, 165, 173-174, 181-182, 186-187, 194, 198, 210-211, 214)
Valhalla Protocol by Tom Fickling and Robert Deas (553 onwards)
Warped by Doug Wilson (529-532, 534-537)
Welcome to Baked Alaska by Steve Tillotson (185)
Zara's Crown by John Aggs and Patrice Aggs (37-52)
Zara's Masterpiece by John Aggs and Patrice Aggs (83-92)
Zombee by Dave Shelton (6)

Puzzles[]

Blimpville by Patrice Aggs (9-14, 17-22)
Fates & Fortunes by Paul Duffield and Will Fickling
Inkspot Challenge (37, 46, 51, 78, 434–445, 447–459, 461–468, 470–508, 516–520, 522–626
Phoenix Soup (178-198, 200-216, 232, 233, 235, 237-281, 283-328)
Pierre the Maze Detective by Hiro Hamigaki (315-318, 342, 343, 448-451)
Something a Little Bit Random (301, 303-305, 307-323, 326-364, 366-399, 402, 404-417)
The 200th Von Doogan Puzzle Extravaganza by Lorenzo Etherington (200)
The Dangerous Adventures of Von Doogan by Lorenzo Etherington (0-117, 118-192)
Von Doogan (212–229, 231–232, 243–258, 265–280)
Von Doogan Danger Mazes by Lorenzo Etherington (194-199, 201-210)
What Will Happen Next? by Patrice Aggs (0-6, 9-14, 17-22, 67-72)

Text features[]

Charlie Small by anonymous (?, 63-64, 68-69, 73-74, 87-88, 92-94, 96-98, 101-103, 120-123)
Comet Hunter by Robin McKie and Richard Collingridge
Samples of current children's books by various authors
Tale Feathers by various (0–21, 23–40, 42–43, 47–48, 56–57, 60, 105, 388, 432, 491)
The Bishop of Bosh by anonymous (112)
The Book Club (235, 239, 243, 246, 252, 257, 261, 265, 268–299, 300–308, 314–363, 366–415, 418–427, 429–439, 442, 445–449, 451–452, 454–466, 470–519, 522–572, 575–600, 601–604, 605–621, 622–624, 627–711)
The Hunter's Desk by Richard Collingridge and Tom Fickling (70, 78, 81, 91)
The Little Gold Cup by anonymous (95)

Single-panel[]

Elsewhere... by Chris Riddell (0-23, 44-55)
Know Your Monsters by Zak Simmonds-Hurn
The Phoenix Phictionary by Mike Smith, as Alexi Con (53-190)
Unreliable Cross-Sections by Chris Riddell (42, 51)

Art Tutorials[]

How to Make Awesome Comics by Neill Cameron and occasional guests (0-13, 15-18, 20-33, 35-38, 40-46, 48-56, 58-68, 73, 75-97, 101-104)
How to Think When You Draw by Lorenzo Etherington