Local Comics Creators Bid for Stardom!

Two Lancaster-based comic creators are pitching for a regular spot in a top selling British comic in a competition that will be decided by reader votes.

Paul Harrison-Davies and virtual-lancaster contributor John Freeman are among several nationally-recognized comics creators bidding for success in TOXIC, published by Egmont, which has just published its Crazy Comics supplement as part of the issue on sale in all good newsagents in the Lancaster and Morecambe area this week.

Readers will decide which strip deserves a permanent place in the comic by voting online for their favourite strips.

“I wouldn’t have a chance on X-Factor with my singing voice, but I reckon I can write a good strip,” says John Freeman, who wrote “Bovver Baby”, drawn by Paul J. Palmer, and “Bad Robots”, drawn by Paul Harrison-Davies.

John, who has written and edited comics for over 20 years, was delighted to work with Paul Harrison-Davies, who drew two of the strips for the title. “He’s a tremendous talent and it was smashing to work with someone you could actually sit down with in a café with for a change, and throw ideas around.” Most comics collaboration is done remotely and sometimes writers and artists have never met.

Having enjoyed reading from an early age, Paul Harrison-Davies, who also drew “Hoaxers” for the TOXIC Special, says he’s never forgotten the impact children's books and comics had on him, so much so that he started making his own. From early days self publishing comics using a photocopier he eventually got short comics accepted in small publisher titles such as Zombie Tales, and Best New Manga. Paul works in a bookshop and it's his dream to have a child come to the counter holding one his children's books.

John and Paul are in good company when it comes to comics talent in the area. “Lancaster and Morecambe are becoming a bit of a comics hotspot,” says John. “Green Arrow writer Andy Diggle lives locally, and we also have indie talents like David Hughes working here.”

• TOXIC’s “Crazy Comics” Special is being given away with the issue on sale now in all good newsagents including WH Smiths and ASDA. For more about John Freeman’s work visit www.downthetubes.net. For more about Paul Harrison-Davies’ work visit his blog at: paulhd.blogspot.com

• See how the vote is going for the Bad Robots writers!