Enter The Englishman - from Eco Comics

Eco Comics has been celebrating St. George’s Day by announcing its next comic book series, Englishman, written by Chris Bunting and illustrated by Valentin Ramon.

It will be a paperless-exclusive title from the award-winning 'green' publisher.

"I often feel quite envious of the patriotism that so many other countries display, but 'England' has almost become a forgotten, even a dirty, word," Bunting says. "To paraphrase the historian David Starkey, we should celebrate, and not be ashamed of, England.

"To help address this, just as the US has its Captain America, I realised that England needed its own patriotic super hero: enter Englishman.

"This is the most ambitious, dark and controversial title that I’ve yet written," he continues. "But expect fun, fireworks, and my usual irreverence.

"Also, expect plenty of famous English faces to appear in comic book form for the first time - the cover preview reveals some of them. Plus, there are brand new, quintessentially English characters, including Greenbelt and Dry Stone Wall."

Further details on the Englishman project are due to be announced. The publisher states that the first issue will be in a new format previously unseen in comic books and free to download.

• More info: http://blog.mohawkmedia.co.uk

Eco Comics wins Green Apple Award

British digital comics publisher Eco Comics, whose titles include Mr T, Green Man and Dick Turpin, is a winner of a 2012 Green Apple Award.

The award was presented to the comic book and graphic novel publisher during a carbon-neutral ceremony at the House of Commons in London.

"Global deforestation by paper production continues to have a major negative impact on the eco-system," notes the publisher. "Therefore Eco Comics takes advantage of the emerging digital technologies to produce exclusively in the new frontier of the paperless format.

"The publishing industry, and readers, must realise that wildlife, such as tigers and gorillas, are likely to pay the ultimate price of deforestation: extinction," they argue. "Even sustainable forestry is not a magic cure-all, shown by the criticism received from leading environmental organisations.

"Our titles are designed to the same physical format as leading print titles, but are kept paperless. The digital platforms also allow the reader an even greater interactive experience. There is no excuse for deforestation due to comic book production."

In a continuing bid to raise awareness through various initiatives, the publisher recently brought the legendary Green Man to comic books, with the character also becoming its official mascot.

Eco Comics competed against more than 500 other nominations at the awards ceremony.

"That our achievements have already been recognised by the prestigious Green Apple Awards has given us added faith that we are trailblazing the future direction of this industry, and it will help show that paperless is best for both readers and the ecosystem."

• More about Eco Comics: www.mohawkmedia.co.uk/ecocomics/

Mohawk Media announces Dick Turpin project

Publisher Mohawk Media has announced the release of a preview issue of its upcoming project, starring history’s most notorious masked highwayman, Dick Turpin.

Not to be confused with Time Bomb Comics similar-sounding title (see news story), the issue is available exclusively via the publisher’s groundbreaking line of paperless Eco Comics.

“It’s every writer’s dream to write such a famous, or should I say, infamous character as Dick Turpin," enthuses writer Chris Bunting."His multi-layered, unpredictable nature makes for great drama.

"Expect some startling revelations about the life of this legendary lawbreaker," he hints.

Born in England in 1706, Dick Turpin became one of history’s most notorious highwaymen. Reports of the day ranged from branding him a ruthless thief to a charming and gallant highwayman. 

“Turpin lived at a time when England was more like the Wild West, and criminals faced the death penalty at the gallows. Highwaymen led a very exciting life but often a very short one.

“This 18th Century swashbuckling firebrand was born to be a 21st Century complex comic book character. Dick Turpin’s return is a case of perfect timing.”


Writer Chris Bunting seems to be on a quest to make literary and cultural giants accessible to a new generation, while simultaneously pleasing established fans. Legendary names already on his résumé include Mr. T, Action Man, Dracula, Robin Hood and Jekyll & Hyde.

A Fine Arts Bachelor Graduate, Salvador Velázquez has worked under a pseudonym as a gallery artist, advertisement illustrator, and graphic designer. His comic books include Swords of Suburbia, while Dick Turpin is his first international project.

The digital and paperless Dick Turpin: Pencil-Only Preview features pencil-art from the first instalment of the upcoming title.

“This format allows the reader the opportunity to see Dick Turpin ride again in the untouched, gorgeous art of Salvador Velázquez," explains editor Stuart Buckley. “The creative team gives us a taste of what is to come: forget stuffy historical fiction, this is a comic book cocktail of action-adventure and mystery-thriller featuring one of Britain’s, if not the world’s, most recognisable rogues.

“With his mask and famous steed, Turpin has been the archetype for many highwaymen and outlaws: even the Lone Ranger bears remarkable parallels.”


Further details on the Dick Turpin project are due to be announced.


Mohawk Media launched in 2008 with the top-selling graphic novel adventures of one of Hollywood’s most instantly recognisable superstars, Mr. T. The publisher followed up with a range of new titles, including Dracula vs. Robin Hood vs. Jekyll & Hyde. Eco Comics is a new range of paperless comic books designed with the specific purpose of having a minimal carbon footprint. Eco Comics titles are also available via digital platforms Graphicly and MyDigitalComics. Further information: www.facebook.com/ecocomics

• Dick Turpin: Pencil-Only Preview is a 16-page issue featuring lettered pencil art only, and is available now in various digital formats via the Eco Comics store: www.mohawkmedia.co.uk/ecocomics for $1.95 (approximately £1.20).
 
• Preview art and images: http://blog.mohawkmedia.co.uk/ and www.facebook.com/official.dickturpin