Results tagged “Alan Burrows” from Birmingham Mail - Speech Balloon

BRITISH INDEPENDENT publisher Bulletproof Comics is gearing up for some hefty publishing action in the months to come.

Bulletproof Comics began publishing the first of its comic books last year, with the self-titled 80-page anthology Bulletproof.

Various one-shots are intended as is a four-issue mini-series Redstitch: The End. There are also various ongoing web comic series that are unique to the publisher's website.

The latest issue of the anthology is imminent, according to editor-in-chief Matt Yeo, and a 16-page sampler Bulletproof # ½ already is.

"It's another 80-page beast of an issue, with a fantastically diverse range of stories from many super-talented creators. Best of all, this issue has a whopping 33-pages in full colour!" Yeo said of the second issue.

Contributors include Jim Alexander, John Freeman, Jon Haward and Rik Hoskin, with the colour pages featuring another episode of Funguys, scripted by Alan Grant & drawn by Alan Burrows.

Mr Grant of course is renowned for his work on many 2000AD series, Batman, Lobo and countless other best-selling titles, while Burrows' art has featured in Commando, The Eagle, Red Dwarf, various daily newspapers, European magazines and over at Dark Horse in America.

Alongside the web comics and an online stores where their comics can be purchased direct, there's actually an old interview I did with the Burrows featured on Bulletproof's website.

Yeo himself grew up in Halesowen and Stourbridge and still has family in the area. He has been living in London for a number of years though; initially editing computer magazines and since its debut the best-selling IPC kid's magazine Toxic (that has featured work by Nuneaton's Lew Stringer since day one and more recently Wolverhampton's Laura Howell), adding Bulletproof to his own cv along the way.

The editor-in-chief returns to the Midlands this October 4-5th for the Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) . Bulletproof has a stand at the show where t-shirts, badges, comics, including a limited BICS edition of Bulletproof ½ and quite possibly the third issue of the anthology, will be available.

"The great news is that issue # 3 is nearly complete too!" said Yeo. "I've been squirreling work away while I was putting issue # 2 together, and we're already looking at around 70 completed pages."

I should note that the Simba Khan adventure promoted on the back cover of Bulletproof #2 (illustrated by Jon Haward and coloured by Tim Perkins) will be appearing in a future issue of the anthology other than #3, as and when Haward's schedule permits. Authored by yours truly, it was created with Jon uniquely in mind and I'm happy to wait on this.

Whereas with Snowstorm, that debuted in Bulletproof #1, I'm on the lookout for a suitable replacement (original pencil artist Michael Perkins is busy adapting Stephen King's The Stand for Marvel, and sadly his replacement, Joe Ahern, passed away). Such a person would need to be of their high standards.

Still, if you're a glutton for punishment and would like to read material I'm involved with Bulletproof #3 should be featuring Switchblade by the previously mentioned Alan Burrows on story and art with additional scripting from yours still truly. Its 24 pages are best described as a darkly surreal sci-fi comedy-adventure, and not just because we like to have our cake and eat it! Switchblade also pays homage to the late popular entertainer and comedian Bob Monkhouse who was a comic book artist himself in his youth, and who Burrows got to know. There's also a short story I wrote that Mr B should be drawing for a future issue of Bulletproof.

But more than enough about me, Bulletproof Comics will be at Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS) and its more worthy creators will be in attendance signing and sketching for your pleasure!

For more on Bulletproof Comics visit: www.bulletproofcomics.co.uk