Mars Attacks!

The new Scarlet Traces prequel Empire Of Blood examines the aftermath of The War Of The Worlds

- WORDS: STEPHEN JEWELL

HAVING PRODUCED SIX SERIES of Scarlet Traces, their steampunk sequel to HG Wells's The War Of The Worlds, Ian Edginton and Matt “D’Israeli” Brooker are now journeying back into the past with new prequel Empire Of Blood. Debuting in both this year’s Free Comic Book Day issue of “Best Of 2000 AD” and 14 May’s Prog #2432, it bridges the gap between 2002’s first Scarlet Traces and the pair’s 2006 adaptation of HG Wells’s original 1898 novel.

“It touches on some events mentioned in the book, but it mostly fills in the backstory to the first series,” Edginton tells Red Alert. “We also start to see some of the political ripples the Martian invasion has created across Europe when it becomes evident that the British government now has sole access to the Martian technology.”

While Edginton confirms we won't see any characters from The War Of The Worlds, there will be some familiar faces from