Hellfire and Back covers the battles in Libya and Egypt between the Italian invasion of Egypt on 13 September 1940 until the end of Operation Crusader at the end of December 1941. During that time both the Allies and Axis raced backwards and forwards across the desert, each achieving overwhelming victories only to see the other side recover to come back at them once again.

August Full Shipment List:

• British Blister BR002 Light Mk VI B/C $42.00
• British Blister BR003 Light Mk VI B/C (Desert) $42.00
• British Blister BR023 A10 Cruiser MkII A (desert) $17.00
• British Blister BR026 A13 Cruiser MkIV A (desert) $17.00
• French Blister CHAR B1bis FR070 $19.00
• HELLFIRE AND BACK Hardcover Rule Book $75.00
• German Blister GE200 Sd Kfz 50/t $17.00
• German Small Box GBX31 STURMTIGER $58.00
• Flames of War Open Fire! Box Set FWBX01, $60.00
• Small Box AC008 Airplanes FIAT CR.42 FALCO $62.00
• Scenery Battlefield in a Box Large Pine Wood BB511, $45.00
• Scenery Small Pine Wood BB510, $45.00
• Supplies Flames of War AT002 RANGE FINDER $19.90

Lots of new releases on shelf this weekend – check out thefull list below – including the much requested Polish Train!

Full Shipment List:

• Flames of War German Box Set GBX36 Panzer IV/70 Platoon $82.00
• Flames of War German Small Box Set GBX42 Bunker Flak Platoon $42.00
• Flames of War Polish Small Box PBX01 Reconnaissance tank Platoon $60.00
• Flames of War Polish Extra Large Box PBX05 Polish Train $210.00
• Flames of War Polish Large Box PBX06 Mounted Kawalerii Regiment $82.00

Info sought:

Battlefront are  very pleased to announce that the re-release of the Vietnam range of products  starting April 2011.  Not only has the range been repacked into its own distinct green and black boxed set packaging but they have announced the first expansion as well (including the lethal Cobra attack helicopter).  The Vietnam range of products is a permanent addition to the Battlefront family of products and Mk1 needs your help to decide if we should add it to our family of offerings as well. Please use the comments section below to let me know if you are interested in this game – if I get enough of a groundswell of interest I’ll jump in with both combat boots on!

You are a young apprentice engineer, working for the most prestigious robotics company, Capek. To end your first year, you are given the task of building your own robot. This is what you’ve been working towards all year. All the long days spent repairing old service bots will finally pay off. Each year only one apprentice is accepted to carry on their studies at Capek, and work alongside the industry greats. Will you be the first to finish your robot and claim the prize, or will you be left scurrying about the factory floor as you watch your dream slip away?  Mk1 Price $30.00

Link:

• Publisher’s site http://www.garphill.com/capek
• Boardgame Geek link http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/44334/capek

Shaolin Burning

by Ant Sang

Reviewed by Joshua Drummond @josh_drummond

Shaolin Burning is a graphic novel sprung from the brush of Auckland-based cartoonist Ant Sang. It begins with the destruction of the famed Shaolin temple by the Imperial army, and the fabled escape of five monks who go on to found the various disciplines of Kung Fu.

Shaolin Burning diverges from myth in introducing a sixth escapee, Monk Who Doubts, who renounces the (paradoxical) peaceful path of the Buddhist warriors and burns a bloody trail of revenge across China. It’s also the story of Deadly Plum Blossom, a female warrior wielding a new style of Kung Fu, who is determined to destroy Monk Who Doubts.

The story, which could easily have descended into cliche, is rendered cleverly and memorably by Sang, who uses the device of making his scrappy underground Kung Fu gangsters talk in (distinctly Kiwi) modern street slang. “Classic,” says a Tigerman fighting Deadly Plum Blossom. “I’m fightin’ a girl who’s making up her own damn kung fu!” He gets schooled, of course.

The art is simple and the broad brush strokes reminiscent of Chinese calligraphy. Sang renders characters in sometimes deceptive detail on stark backgrounds. The effect is visually striking. The book is full of side stories to flesh out the main narrative, and one, “The Legend of Ma Ti Fu Ken,” is visual and narrative poetry that is added an extra poignancy by Sang’s notes at the end of the book.

Shaolin Burning is a great graphic novel from a talented Kiwi cartoonist, and absolutely deserves a place on your shelf. Buy it today.

Links

• Up for grabs in the Mk1 website – here’s the link
• Ant Sang’s Website!

Linwood

Linwood is the board game . . . without a board! Right from your first step, you decide how the land of Linwood will unravel. Will you rush off in pursuit of the hidden element stones, or patiently wait as others find themselves lost in a dark and unfamiliar forest?

• Catagory: Family/Adventure
• Allowed Players: 2- 6 players
• Avg Playing Time: 30 mins
• Recommended Ages: 8 to Adult
• Review from the Waikato Times http://www.garphill.com/linwood-reviewed-in-the-waikato-times
• Board Game Geek Entry http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/42380/linwood

On Shelf now  – but limited numbers!  Use our contact form here to request current stock status of Mark One’s board Game range – including Kiwi faves Stonewall & Linwood.  We can add any item from our shop shelves to a personal shopping cart – payment can be made using safe & secure online credit card processing!

The largest airborne operation in history began on a sunny Sunday in September 1944. An entire airborne army was committed in a bold attempt to seize the keybridges leading into the heartland of the German Reich. Over 4,000 Allied aircraft took off from airfields to launch a surprise assault on German-occupied Holland. 1300 British tanks were poised at the Belgian border to follow up this airborne attack. The ultimate goal was to gain a bridgehead at Arnhem over the Rhine River into Germany, in an attempt to end the war by Christmas.

Firestorm—Market Garden allows you and your friends the opportunity to recreate the airborne assaults, armoured attacks and desperate counterattacks that were Operation Market Garden. As Battlefront’s second game using the Firestorm system, new airborne, Allied armour, and variable Firestorm Troop rules have been introduced to allow the course of history to be replayed in those critical days of September 1944.

While the ultimate outcome of the real Operation Market Garden can’t be changed, your game’s final result is up to you. Either side can win. Generalfeldmarschall Model could once again rally his beleaguered German troops and halt the Allied advance through Holland, or you could keep the fires lit under XXX Corps and make the 64 mile (100km) trip from Eindhoven to Arnhem in the three days allotted, break through the German defences and end the war by Christmas.  Box Set Mk1 Price $90.00

Contents:

• 88 Full colour page book with inspirational photography and artwork.
• History and battle maps of the Market Garden campaign September 1944
• Rules for playing a Firestorm campaign, including using special Firestorm troop tokens.
• Two Market Garden Campaign scenarios, allowing you to follow the historical deployment of the troops involved, or take command and deploy your forces as you see fit.
• The General’s Wargame lets you play through the campaign as a fast-paced two player board game that allows you to challenge the historical outcome of Operation Market Garden in 60 to 90 minutes.
• Examples of how to set up your gaming tables to capture the look and feel of Dutch battlefields.
• Information for playing and organising the campaign.
• Two new missions and two new scenarios for Flames of War.
• Two large A1 quick-reference posters, featuring your Firestorm troops platoon organisation diagrams and arsenal for Flames of War.
• 59 plastic Troops, Tokens and Dice.

Also Look for:

A Bridge Too Far Operation Market garden Strategic Boardgame

Hicksville

Hicksville is back in print!  Kiwi cartoonist Dylan Horrock’s graphic novel is a tale of what we leave behind and what we climb all over, to get where we want to be. This tale will speak to the expat and Overseas Experienced, as well as those left behind – you know the one’s who didn’t go to London but stayed in their home town and married their High School sweet heart (and bought the local comic shop)! The novel explores the comic book industry, with a fictionalized and veiled  history of mainstream American comics – one told through the eyes of a town of comic loving New Zealanders.  Hicksville really is one of my all time favorite graphic novels – and it’s return to print is most welcomed!

• Hicksville is instock now at our webstore now.