By Robin Jones
Welcome back to the Inter-Comics Indie Spotlight, this column aims to make you, the readers, aware of cool indie/crowd funded comic book creators and projects!
This time around we have British comic writer Stu Perrins. Stu has written many different comics over the years, with titles including Mercury, Harvey Spig, Tales from a Lonely Planet, Imperials and others.
Rob: Can you give us an overview of the work you’ve been doing?
Stu: I created my first comic when i was about 9, which was a blatant Transformers rip-off called ‘Droid Squad’. I can’t remember much about it other than the big reveal at the end was that America had been secretly ruled by a series of cyborg presidents, and there was a time travel sub plot in there somewhere too. I used to get my Mum to photocopy it for me at work and then I’d give it out to the kids on my street.
But if you’re talking about things I’ve written that have been read by people other than the kids on my estate, then the first thing I wrote that anyone really took any notice of was a sci-fi / superhero tale called ‘Mercury’ which I self published with the artist Matt White. We launched that at MCM a few years ago and got some nice reviews and some very encouraging feedback. Since then I’ve had stories published in ‘Boredom Relief’, ‘Ashcan Oddities.’, ‘Hallowscream’ and ‘SPOD!: Oddities from Space’. I’ve also written ‘Avalon’ for ‘Red Leaf Comics’ amongst other stuff and of course there’s the ongoing ‘Harvey Spig’ saga.
Me: Where did the ideas for Harvey Spig come from?
Stu: Since i was a kid I’ve loved two things. 1) that typically British stuff upper lip hero and 2) OTT monster stories. So Harvey Spig is my open love letter to those two genres. I’m also incredibly lucky to have Mr Nick Gonzo as my Spig co-creator, not only does he like the bat shit crazy ideas I come with but he also actively encourages me to push things in as many insane directions as possible, so that sort of support and creative belief is invaluable. Every comic writer needs a Nick Gonzo in their life.
Me: What comics did you read growing up?
Stu: Like pretty much everyone my age the first comic I read obsessively was The Beano, but that all changed one day when on the way home from school my Mum brought the nine year old me a copy of 2000AD and the rest, as the cliche goes is history.
Me: Which creator has most influenced your work?
Stu: That’s an impossible question to answer really, there are so many creators I admire including the likes of Robert Kirkman, Mark Millar and Grant Morrison so you could say they have influenced me greatly. Having said that Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett and Terry Gilliam are huge inspirations to me, especially Terry Gilliam, that man is a genius as afar as I’m concerned.
Me: Where can we find your comics?
Stu: I’ve got a bunch of stuff available on drivethrucomics.com and comicsy. Check out my twitter, I can barely go 5 minutes without pimping something I’ve written or that I’m working on. A good starting point is either one of both of these frankly awesome FREE comics – Harvey Spig in “The Dead of Night and Stories from beyond sleep
Me: What projects/comics do you have lined up for the future?
Stu: Loads of stuff! Amongst other projects I’m currently writing the last part of ’Prime’ which is a 4 part story capes and capers epic which I’m working on with Israel Huretas. The stuff that Israel is coming up with is jaw droppingly awesome- just wait ’till you see it – one day that guy will be working for the big two, you mark my words. There’s also a something called ‘The Dark Shadow Apocalypse’ with I’m working on with Saad Azim that I can’t really say too much about because i don’t really want to give too much away but its probably one of the most ambitious things I’ve ever written. I’m also currently co-writing a horror/sci-fi one shot called ‘Infected’ with I A Austin, which I’m really enjoying doing having never co-written with anyone before, and Mr Austin is such an awesome writer that I’m really enjoying collaborating with him on this. I’m also in the process of putting together what I hope will become an ongoing anthology called ‘Clockwork Goat Presents’ , which contains all sorts of awesome. And as well as all that I’ve got strips in forthcoming issues of FutureQuake and The Psychedelic Journal of Time Travel and of course there’s more Harvey Spig – including an all new adventure for FCB day called ‘Happy Birthday Harvey Spig.’
Me: What’s the best part of crow funding your projects?
Stu: It’s a great feeling having a group of people pushing forward and supporting a common cause.
Me: Do you have regular artists you use or do you prefer using different artists to achieve a different perspective on your writing?
Stu: I’m very lucky to have worked with a bunch of awesome artists. Working with the likes of Israel Huertas, Nick Gonzo, Vince Hunt, Brian Burke and others is a genuine joy. Each artist I’ve worked with has brought something new and exciting to the table.
Me: Do you have any more crowd funding campaigns starting soon?
Stu: Not at the moment, but anything can happen. Watch this space!
So please, check out Stu’s work on DriveThruComics right here and you can catch him on twitter right here!
See you all next time!
For more comic views and reviews follow Robin on Twitter at @Hulksmash1985
Posted on May 10th, 2014
Category: Blog, INDIE SPOTLIGHT, REVIEWS
Tags: Harvey Spig, Imperials, Independent comcs, Indie Comics, Mercury, Robin Jones, Stu Perrins, Tales from a Lonely Planet