Nikolai Dante is a comics

Comics

Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...

 series starring a hero of the same name and published in the weekly British science fiction

Science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...

 anthology 2000 AD

2000 AD (comic)

2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...

. Created by writer Robbie Morrison

Robbie Morrison

Robbie Morrison is a British comics writer most known for his work in 2000 AD and as the co-creator of popular character Nikolai Dante .-Biography:...

 and artist Simon Fraser

Simon Fraser (comics)

Simon Fraser is a British comics artist and writer best known for his work on Nikolai Dante, a series he created with writer Robbie Morrison in 2000 AD.-Career:...

, Dante first appeared in 1997 in Prog 1035. Fraser was the primary artist for the first three years of the series, with support from artists such as Charlie Adlard

Charlie Adlard

Charles "Charlie" Adlard is a British comic book artist and penciller.He is best known for providing art on The Walking Dead and Savage.-Biography:...

, Henry Flint

Henry Flint

Henry Flint is a British comic book artist who has worked mainly for British sci-fi comic 2000AD.-Biography:Flint has established a cult following for his hyper-detailed and wildly inventive work on series such as Judge Dredd, Zombo,,ABC Warriors, Shakara, Low Life and Aliens.A recent project was...

, Chris Weston

Chris Weston

Chris Weston is a British comics artist who has worked both in the US and UK comics industries.-Biography:Weston was born in January, 1969 in Rinteln, Germany, and lived in various countries as a child...

 and Andy Clarke

Andy Clarke (comics)

Andy Clarke is a British comics artist who came to prominence working at 2000 AD and became known to a wider audience at DC Comics.-Biography:...

. From 2000 the majority of the stories were painted by John Burns

John Burns (comics)

John M. Burns is an English comics artist, with a career stretching back to the mid-1960s.- Biography :His initial work was as an illustrator for Junior Express and School Friend...

, until Fraser returned to the character in October 2006, when the two artists began to alternate on different stories.

Plot

Set in the twenty-seventh century after a resurgent Imperial Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

 has seized absolute control of both the entire Earth and an interstellar domain, the series follows Dante, a swashbuckling

Swashbuckler

Swashbuckler or swasher is a term that emerged in the 16th century and has been used for rough, noisy and boastful swordsmen ever since. A possible explanation for this term is that it derives from a fighting style using a side-sword with a buckler in the off-hand, which was applied with much...

 young thief and ladies' man, as he discovers he is an illegitimate scion of the Romanov Dynasty, aristocratic rivals to the Tsar, Vladimir the Conqueror of the House of Makarov. Dante's Romanov genes enable him to bond with a sentient "Weapons Crest", a biological weapon which gives members of the dynasty superhuman abilities: in Dante's case, the ability to extend bio-blades from his hands and hack into computer systems at will. He gleefully outrages aristocratic society and enjoys a turbulent relationship with the Tsar's daughter Jena.

Eventually war breaks out between the Makarov and Romanov dynasties, despite Jena and Dante's attempts to prevent it, and they break off their burgeoning romance to side with their families. After the end of the war and the defeat of the Romanovs, Dante returns to thieving, joining his estranged mother, Katarina Dante, and her notorious pirate crew. He is forcibly recruited by the Tsar to investigate the proliferation of cyborganic weaponry similar to the Romanov Weapons Crest. Unpopular in his new role, Dante is secretly abusing his position to plot against his employer, but after witnessing a brutal massacre while on duty in the oppressed state of Amerika, Dante loses his cool and tries to kill the Tsar.

Imprisoned and tortured, Dante escapes from jail with the help of Jena. The two renew their relationship and raise an army of thieves and whores to fight (and win) a revolutionary war against the Tsar. The Tsar is put on trial for his crimes and a victorious Dante proposes to Jena, vowing to end his womanising ways once and for all. Their newfound happiness is cut short by the surprising return of Dmitri Romanov, who had been long thought dead.

Dmitri embarks on a psychopathic rampage, murdering several of Dante's close allies, capturing Jena and 'killing' Dante's weapons crest. As he sets about tightening his grip on the empire, planning to marry Jena and execute Vladimir on their wedding day, Dante finds himself fighting the same war against a different enemy. Dante starts leading raids against major cities that are vital to the empire, and even shuts off the entire power in Russia leaving only the hospitals working. As he plans to lead a raid with him, Katarina Dante, Victor and Lulu Romanov, Lord Peter Flintlock and Spatchcock and Sargent Ellna Kurakin, Lulu turns traitor and captures Dante and takes him back to the Imperial Palace where Jena finally says she will marry Dmitri if he stops hurting Dante.

Characters

• Nikolai Dante - thief, ladies' man and illegitimate son of Dmitri Romanov. Dante's mother is Katarina Dante, a feared pirate. Abandoned at a young age, Dante was forced to survive by turning to crime. Inadvertently bonded with the weapons crest intended for Arkady Romanov, the crest allows Dante to generate bio-blades as well as providing him with limited regenerative abilities. The crest is also programmed to educate Dante on the correct manners of a nobleman. Nikolai's weapons crest was removed from him when he tried to fight Dmitri on his return.

The Romanovs

The Romanovs are one of the most powerful dynasties in Russia, descended directly from Peter the Great, rivalling the Makarovs in influence and military power. The main source of the family's power are its "Weapons Crests", cybernetic symbiots from another dimension which provided their bearers with incredible powers. The Crests were designed to only bond with members of the Romanov family.

• Dmitri Romanov - Patriarch of the Romanov dynasty and bitter rival of the Tsar. Also Dante's father. Fanatically devoted to seeing his family regain their rightful place as the masters of the empire. Possessed a Crest that could override the abilities of all the others - apparently commits suicide at the end of the war, but in fact downloads his consciousness into his youngest child Arkady Romanov, allowing for his dramatic return six years later.
• Jocasta Romanov - Dmitri's sister and, via genetic engineering, the mother of his legitimate children. She is eventually killed by Dmitri after his shock return from the dead. Her children with Dmitri were:
  • Valentine - the "blunt instrument" of the Romanov Dynasty, scarred physically and mentally by his prototype Crest - Killed by Dante during the "Darkstar Crisis"
  • Konstantin - born leader, Crest generates nuclear fusion energy - Believed killed (by Dante) during the Battle of New Moscow, though it is later revealed that he survived and became the Lord Protector. After the battle for St Petersburg he is imprisoned but is freed and pardoned by Dmitri.
  • Andreas - womaniser and hellraiser, Crest gives him throwable bio-blades - Killed during the Siege of Rudinshtein (Only Romanov with Crest to have been killed by anyone without a Crest).
  • Viktor - mute enigmatic loner, Crest transforms him into a Romanov eagle - Believed killed by the Lord Protector, though later revealed that he survived to lead a secluded existence with a female lover. Possibly killed not long after his wedding when Dmitri returned and killed his bride. He actually did survive but his bride didn't; He has since rejoined Dante's Revolutionary army to get revenge on his Father.
  • Lulu - seductive vamp, Crest creates swarms of vicious demons, at the end of the Civil War Lulu surrenders to Imperial forces but escaped shortly after, she then begins waging a terrorist campaign against the Empire - Believed to have been killed by Dante after the war, but has recently resurfaced as part of Dante's army as a reward for helping Dante win she is made ruler of Italy. After Dimitri's return, he contacts her saying The Romanov Dynasty is back in its rightful place and wants her to rejoin him saying she is the only loyal child he had; it is unknown whether she has accepted the offer or not. She has apparently accepted her Father's offer of rejoining him by capturing Dante and taking him to the Imperial Palace.
  • Nastasia - narcissistic sexual predator, Crest allows her to spit deadly venom and acids - Killed by the Lord Protector.
  • Alexandr and Alexandra - twins whose Crests allow them to combine into one super-being as well as produce explosive nano-mines - the first of the Romanovs in the saga to be killed by Dante after they attempted to take his and Jena's lives
  • Arkady - youngest of Dmitri's sons, the Crest intended for him bonded with Dante instead. Always the closest to Dmitri, Arkady survived the war and was made a ward of the Imperial Court. Recently promoted to commander of the Scarlet Wraiths, part of the Empires intelligence agency. It is later revealed that he does possess a weapons Crest, transferred into him by Dmitri shortly before his apparent suicide
    Suicide
    Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
    
    . His consciousness appears to have been more or less subsumed by his father since Dmitri's return, though he does in some sense survive.

The Makarovs and their allies

• Tsar Vladimir the Conqueror - ruthless ruler of the Russian empire. Though he hates the Romanovs, he had feelings for Jocasta and it is hinted though they are at war, he still does. When they were younger Vladimir, Jocasta and Dmitri liberated Russia from Tsar Ivan The Oppressor who Vladimir strangled to death with his bare hands. Vladimir proposes to Jocasta and also declares himself the new Tsar, Dmitri is angered because he believes only Romanovs have the right to be the Tsars. Vladimir and Dimitri duel with Vladimir winning. Jocasta rejected his proposal following this, recognising Vladimir's cruelty whilst he humiliated her brother and saying they can never be together. Vladimir is proud of his daughters but acts with cruelty towards them at a young age, to show them what they must do when they are rulers. Vladimir is hurt when his oldest Jena joins Dante's Revolutionary Army. He is eventually overthrown and is at present in the Imperial Palace Dungeons being tortured by Dmitri Romanov.
• Tsarina Eugenia (Jena) Vladimirovna Makarova - the Tsar's eldest daughter and Dante's on-off love interest she has a love hate relationship with Dante kissing him and then hating him for cheating on her. She eventually learns that her Father ordered her Mother's execution, so she helps Dante escape from jail and joins his army to overthrow her Father but when it seems over she is captured by Dmitri and is now a prisoner in the Imperial Palace Dungeons being prepared to marry Dmitri.
• Lady Juliana Makarov - the Tsar's younger daughter. Killed by Konstantin Romanov, her death starts the civil war.
• Count Pyre - shape-changing alien, Lord Protector of the Tsar and commander of the Scarlet Wraiths. He is killed by Dante during last days of the Tsar Wars and is replaced by Konstantin Romanov
• The Lord Protector - Mysterious armoured warrior who serves the Tsar, kills several members of the Romanovs. The Lord Protector reveals himself to be Konstantin Romanov, He joins Tsar Vladimir The Conqueror to get his revenge when Dante tried to kill him. When Dante overthrows Tsar Vladimir the Conqueror he is imprisoned but escaped and is now on his Father's side again.
• Mikhal Deriabin - Head of The House Of Bolshoi. Was going to marry Jena in marriage arranged by her Father Tsar Vladimir the Conqueror. Secretly conspired with Sir Richard Hawksmoor (former Tsarist warrior) to kidnap Princess Jena and start a civil war between Tsar Vladimir the Conqueror and The Romanovs so that they could take power when the war was over. Unfortunately for both of them, Princess Jena's bodyguard is Nicolai Dante.
• The Arbatov family - whose members always seem to be on the wrong end of Dante's escapades.

The Rudinshtein Irregulars

During the war Dante is given command of a regiment raised in his own fiefdom, Rudinshtein. Initially made up of regular soldiers the regiment was eventually supplemented by troops drawn from penal units.

• Sergeant Elena Kurakin - Half Russian, half Mongolian swordswoman, imprisoned for killing her superior officer for cowardice. Following the war she is captured by the Tsar and sent to a gulag where she is later freed by Dante who makes her his bodyguard;
• Lord Peter Flintlock - Former British officer, a somewhat foppish coward, survives the war and later (along with Spatchcock) joins Dantes pirate crew;
• Spatchcock - Described as the filthiest man in the Empire due to his poor personal hygiene habits. Survives the war.
• The Grozny Gang: A family of violent criminals who are drafted into the Irregulars.
  • Boris Grozny - Eldest member and leader of the gang. Dies during the siege of Rudinshtein destroying several Imperial war machines;
  • Foma "the Coma" Grozny - A fragment of metal in his brain makes him impervious to pain. Dies alongside Boris;
  • Ursa Grozny - the only female in the gang, killed by Dante to prevent her being tortured to death;

Other recurring characters

• Katarina Dante - pirate queen and Dante's mother;
• The Countessa de Wynter - a beautiful and manipulative con-artist. She first meets Dante when he is trying to rob The Hotel Yalta and manges to steal the jewels from him, then they pull a heist on The Church Of The Skoptzy, then she cheats him out of the jewels from "The Romanov Job", then years later she hires The Solnkin Assassin Society to start a war between Tsar Vladimir The Conqueror and Papa Yeltsin so she can take over Yeltsins criminal empire and New Moscow. Unfortunately, Dante helps Yeltsin capture her. Her fate is currently unknown.
• Eloise de Janissaire - leader of the mercenary Warlords and Dante's wife - killed by Valentine Romanov;
• Akita Sagawa - Japanese Yakuza
  Yakuza
  , also known as , are members of traditional organized crime syndicates in Japan. The Japanese police, and media by request of the police, call them bōryokudan , literally "violence group", while the yakuza call themselves "ninkyō dantai" , "chivalrous organizations". The yakuza are notoriously...
  
   leader killed by The Kraken.
• The Kraken - leader of the Pacific Rievers killed by The Lord Protector
• Alexander "Papa" Yeltsin - Leader of the criminal elements in New Moscow. When Papa Yeltsin first meets Dante he offers him to take part in a heist to steal The Romanov family jewels ('The Romanov Job'). Some Years later, Dante is sent by Tsar Vladimir The Conqueror to take back New Moscow which has fallen into the hands of The Russian Mafiya but Dante helps fake Papa Yeltsins death. Yeltsin is a key ally of Dante during the revolution - he is murdered by Dmitri Romanov.
• Lauren Stone - Dante's childhood sweetheart (though Dante describes her as "more like the girl next ship") - killed by Imperial forces during the closing stages of the revolutionary war.
• Henry Winsdor Mckray- The Legendary "Mad King" Of Britannia and close friend of Nikolai Dante. Believes Nikolai is an attractive woman.
• Major Liberty- Leader of the Amerikan rebels in Imperial occupied Russia, Helps Dante fight The White Army as they try to take over Manhattan but killed when Tsar Vladimir The Conqueror's Imperial Fleet destroys Manhattan.

Other Characters and Imperial Factions

• The White Army and the Red Guard - warring factions from a parallel dimension, the White Army created the Weapons Crest technology, while the Red Guard fight to preserve their humanity. In Sword of the Tsar, the White Army have begun inserting themselves into Dante's dimension. Their agents claim to have defeated the Red Guard.
• Sir Richard Hawksmoore - former Tsarist warrior turned mercenary, obsessed with Jena Makarov; Secretly conspired with Mikhail Deriabin to Kidnapp Jena and start a civil war between Tsar Vladimir The Conqueror and The Romanovs so that they could take power when the war was over unfortunately for both of them Dante goes as Jenas personal bodyguard.
• Captain Elizabeth Hawksmoore- Daughter of Sir Richard Hawksmoore, She is arrested after she kills a member of the Arbatov family but Arkady Romanov makes her head of The Order Of The Dragon the greatest strikeforce in the Empire. She leads an attack on the House Of Sin and captures Seargent Elena Kurakin and tells her that she is the one who killed her father. After Dante leads a rescue attempt on Vyborg Castle he is captured but is rescued by Spatchcock and Flintlock it is thought she is killed by Seargent Elena Kurakin but she survives and pledges her loyalty to Dimitri Romanov saying she hates the Makarovs after what they did to her father.
• Captain Luther Emmanuel - Former agent of Britannia Intelligence and member of the Cadre Infernale. A powerful Psionic, he uses his abilities both to interrogate prisoners and swindle casinos. After the war he supports Lulu Romanov's terror campaign before being captured (and killed) by the Lord Protector.

Collected editions

Rebellion

Rebellion Developments

Rebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...

 are collecting the stories into a series of trade paperbacks.

Trade paperback (comics)

In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...

The most recent edition is volume #10, "Hero of the Revolution", released July 2011.

• Nikolai Dante: The Romanov Dynasty (November 2004, ISBN 1-904265-20-0):
  • "Nikolai Dante" (with Simon Fraser
    Simon Fraser (comics)
    Simon Fraser is a British comics artist and writer best known for his work on Nikolai Dante, a series he created with writer Robbie Morrison in 2000 AD.-Career:...
    
    , in 2000 AD #1035-1041, 1997)
  • "The Romanov Dynasty" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1042-1049, 1997)
  • "Russia's Greatest Love Machine" (with Chris Weston
    Chris Weston
    Chris Weston is a British comics artist who has worked both in the US and UK comics industries.-Biography:Weston was born in January, 1969 in Rinteln, Germany, and lived in various countries as a child...
    
    , in 2000 AD #1066, 1997)
  • "The Gentleman Thief" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1067-1070, 1997)
  • "The Full Dante" (with Charlie Adlard
    Charlie Adlard
    Charles "Charlie" Adlard is a British comic book artist and penciller.He is best known for providing art on The Walking Dead and Savage.-Biography:...
    
    , in 2000 AD #1071, 1997)
  • "Moscow Duellists" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1072-1075, 1997)
  • "The Gulag Apocalyptic" (with Henry Flint
    Henry Flint
    Henry Flint is a British comic book artist who has worked mainly for British sci-fi comic 2000AD.-Biography:Flint has established a cult following for his hyper-detailed and wildly inventive work on series such as Judge Dredd, Zombo,,ABC Warriors, Shakara, Low Life and Aliens.A recent project was...
    
    , in 2000 AD #1079-1082, 1998)

• Nikolai Dante: The Great Game (March 2005, ISBN 1-904265-32-4):
  • "The Trouble with Arbatovs" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1083, 1998)
  • "Cruel Britannia" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1084, 1998)
  • "The Great Game" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1101-1110, 1998)
  • "The Octobriana Seduction" (with Andy Clarke
    Andy Clarke (comics)
    Andy Clarke is a British comics artist who came to prominence working at 2000 AD and became known to a wider audience at DC Comics.-Biography:...
    
    , in 2000 AD #1113-1116, 1998)
  • "Masque of Dante" (with Charlie Adlard, in 2000 AD #1125-1127, 1999)
  • "The Moveable Feast" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1128-1130, 1999)
  • "Tour of Duty" (with Charlie Adlard, in 2000 AD #1131-1133, 1999)
  • "The Cadre Infernale" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1134-1137, 1999)
  • "The Hunting Party" (with Andy Clarke, in 2000 AD #1139-1140, 1999)

• Nikolai Dante: The Courtship of Jena Makarov (January 2006, ISBN 1-904265-44-8):
  • "Fists of Fury" (with Charlie Adlard, in 2000 AD #1141, 1999)
  • "Last Dance of the Trans-Siberian" (with Charlie Adlard, in 2000 AD #1142-1143, 1999)
  • "Cruel Seas" (with John Burns
    John Burns (comics)
    John M. Burns is an English comics artist, with a career stretching back to the mid-1960s.- Biography :His initial work was as an illustrator for Junior Express and School Friend...
    
    , in 2000 AD #1148-1149, 1999)
  • "Requiem for Lost Love" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1150, 1999)
  • "The Courtship of Jena Makarov " (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1161-1172 , 1999)
  • "Love and War" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD Prog 2000, 1999)

• Nikolai Dante: Tsar Wars Volume 1 (September 2006, ISBN 1-904265-95-2):
  • "Rudinshtein Irregulars " (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1183-1190, 2000)
  • "Love and War" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1200-1207, 2000)
  • "Battleship Potemkin" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1213-1220, 2000)

• Nikolai Dante: Tsar Wars Volume 2 (March 2007, ISBN 1-905437-24-2):
  • "One Last Night in the House of Sin" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2001, 2000)
  • "The Beguiling" (with Steve Yeowell
    Steve Yeowell
    Steve Yeowell is a British comics artist, well-known for his work on the long-running science fiction and fantasy weekly comic 2000 AD.-Biography:...
    
     in 2000 AD #1234-1235, 2001)
  • "Fiends" (with Steve Yeowell in 2000 AD #1236-1239, 2001)
  • "The Romanov Empire" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1250-1262, 2001)

• Nikolai Dante: Hell and High Water (April 2008, ISBN 1-905437-59-7):
  • "The Return of the Gentleman Thief" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD Prog 2002 & #1273-1274, 2001-2002)
  • "The Romanov Job" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1280-1287, 2002)
  • "Hell and High Water" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2003 & #1322-1328, 2002-2003)
  • "The Sea Falcon" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2004, 2003)
  • "Agent of Destruction" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2005 & #1420-1427, 2004-2005)

• Nikolai Dante: Sword of the Tsar (July 2008, ISBN 978-1-905437-69-6):
  • "How could you believe me when I said I loved you when you know I've been a liar all my life?" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1428-1431, 2005)
  • "Primal Screams" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1433-1436, 2005)
  • "Devil's Deal" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2006, 2005)
  • "Usurper" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1487-1489, 2006)
  • "The Depths" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1500-1501, 2006)
  • "Dragon's Island" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1502-1507, 2006)
  • "Sword of the Tsar" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1511-1516, 2006)

• Nikolai Dante: The Beast of Rudinshtein (February 2009, ISBN 978-1-905437-92-4):
  • "The Road of Bones" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2007, 2006)
  • "Deadlier than the Male" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1518-1520, 2007)
  • "Hellfire" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1526-1531, 2007)
  • "The Beast of Rudinshtein" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1532-1535, 2007)
  • "The Dissenter" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1537, 2007)
  • "Thieves' World" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1538-1544, 2007)
  • "The Chaperone" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1560-1564, 2007)
  • "Destiny's Child" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2008, 2007)
  • "The Tsar's Daughter" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1578-1580, 2008)

• Nikolai Dante: Amerika (January 2010, ISBN 978-1-906735-12-8):
  • "Amerika" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1589-1599, 2008)
  • "Prisoner of the Tzar" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD #1612-1616, 2008)
  • "Bring Me the head of Nikolai Dante" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2009, 2008)
  • "An Army of Thieves and Whores" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1629-1634, 2009)
  • "Lulu's War" (with Paul Marshall, in 2000 AD #1651-1654, 2009)

• Nikolai Dante: Hero of the Revolution (July 2011, ISBN 978-1-907992-22-3):
  • "Hero of the Revolution" (with John Burns, in 2000 AD Prog 2010, #1666-1675, 2009-2010)
  • "Heroes Be Damned" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1679-1684, 2010)
  • "A Farewell to Arms" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1685, 2010)
  • "City of the Damned" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1700-1704, 2010)
  • "The Master of Kronstadt" (with John Burns in 2000 AD #1705-1708, 2010)

Uncollected

• Nikolai Dante:
  • "The Memoirs of Nikolai Dante" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1731, 2011)
  • "Bad Blood" (with Simon Fraser, in 2000 AD #1732-1736, 2011)
  • "The Marriage Of Jena Makarov" (with Simon Fraser, in "2000 AD" coming soon)

Cultural references

• In the installment "The Romanov Job" there are cameo appearances by thinly disguised characters from other comics including:
  • The Spider - "Abel Ganz. The Tarantula. Anarchist. Assassin and all-round master criminal"
  • Janus Stark
    Janus Stark
    Janus Stark were an experimental punk rock band from Peterborough, England. Their album "Great Adventure Cigar" was highly rated by The Foo Fighters and Die Toten Hosen and was a fusion of Punk, Hard rock, Heavy Metal and Alternative with influences from Helmet to Radiohead to The Beatles to...
    
     - "Janos Starak. Escapologist Extraordinaire"
  • Catwoman
    Catwoman
    Catwoman is a fictional character associated with DC Comics' Batman franchise. Historically a supervillain, the character was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Kane's cousin, Ruth Steel...
    
     - "Selina Solaris. The Panther"
  • Crusher Creel
    Absorbing Man
    The Absorbing Man is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Journey into Mystery #114 The Absorbing Man (Carl "Crusher" Creel) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first...
    
     - "Grushko Kreel"
  • Luther Arkwright
    The Adventures of Luther Arkwright
    The Adventures of Luther Arkwright was a limited series comic book written and drawn by Bryan Talbot.-Publishing history:Luther Arkwright made his first appearance in the mid 1970s in "The Papist Affair", a short strip for Brainstorm Comix where Arkwright teamed up with a group of cigar-chewing...
    
     - Captain Luther Emmanuel

• Similarly, in "The Hunting Party" Sinister Dexter
  Sinister Dexter
  Sinister Dexter is a long-running comic series in British comics anthology 2000 AD, created by Dan Abnett and David Millgate.Set in the near future, it features the exploits of gun sharks Finnigan "Finny" Sinister and Ramone "Ray" Dexter in the city of Downlode, sprawled across Central Europe...
  
   and Slaine
  Sláine (comics)
  Sláine is a comic hero from the pages of 2000 AD - one of Britain's most popular comic books.Sláine is a barbarian fantasy adventure series based on Celtic myths and stories which first appeared in 1983, written by Pat Mills and initially drawn by his then wife, Angela Kincaid. Most of the early...
  
   appear as thinly disguised parodies.

Novels

A number of Nikolai Dante novels have been written by David Bishop

David Bishop

David Bishop is a screenwriter and author. Born in New Zealand, he was a UK comics editor during the 1990s, running such titles as the Judge Dredd Megazine and 2000 AD, the latter between 1996 and the summer of 2000....

 and published by Black Flame

Black Flame

Black Flame was an imprint of BL Publishing, the publishing arm of Games Workshop and a sister imprint to the Black Library and Solaris Books. Black Flame was devoted to publishing cult fiction in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror...

. Each is a new Dante story, set in between events depicted by the comic serials. The first novel, "The Strangelove Gambit", details Dante's misadventures as a tutor in a boarding school for young ladies that hides a deadly secret. The second, "Imperial Black", finds Dante forced to seek out an ancient citadel on the roof of the world. The final Dante novel to date, "Honour Be Damned", is a romp set in future Britain that spoofs "The 39 Steps", along with numerous other things. All the novels are currently out of print, but e-Book editions are available.

So far they include:

• From Russia with Lust: The Nikolai Dante Omnibus (672 pages, March 2007, ISBN 1-84416-454-3) collects:
  • The Strangelove Gambit (January 2005, ISBN 1-84416-139-0)
  • Imperial Black (August 2005, ISBN 1-84416-180-3)
  • Honour Be Damned (March 2006, ISBN 1-84416-324-5)