A new episode of the G.I. Joe dedicated podcast Talking Joe features a rare interview with comics writer Gerry Finley-Day, alongside Brian Hickey of Total Toys Books.
Talking Joe is a weekly podcast in which hosts Mark Seddon and Tim Finn, and a revolving set of guests review and discuss the ever evolving, always entertaining world of G.I. Joe comics. Past episodes include interviews with artist Kev Hopgood, writers Larry Hama, and the late Jim Shooter.
Gerry was the writer of most of the initial run of Action Force in the pages of Battle Action Force so Talking Joe host Mark Seddon was delighted to be able to speak with him about Action Force, and much more besides – and Brian Hickey says it was “one of the most special interviews I’ve ever been involved in.”
Gerry Finley-Day, born in 1947 in Dundee, is a former Paratrooper, and writer of comics and books, prolific from the 1960s to the 1980s, perhaps best known as the co-creator of “Rogue Trooper” for 2000AD, with artist Dave Gibbons in 1981, two years before launch of Action Force in 1983.
In 1974 he was drafted in by Pat Mills to help develop characters for Battle Picture Weekly, launched the following year, for which he wrote “Rat Pack”, “The Sarge”, “D-Day Dawson”, and more, including “Action Force”. He was also one of the mainstays of early 2000AD, and companion title Starlord, writing “Ant Wars”, “Invasion!”, “Dan Dare”, “Fiends of the Eastern Front”, and created two key future war stories, first with “The V.C.s”, and then his most enduring character, Rogue Trooper.
He’s also the author of the wartime secret service thriller, The Men From Morgenland, published in 2022.
“We talked about his amazing career, his work on war comics, and how he transitioned into writing ‘Action Force’, Brian outlines. “He also delves into his unique writing style— how he created action-packed, thoroughly researched stories that were firmly rooted in a believable, modern-day universe.”
Brian Hickey is a multi-disciplined visual artist and International Design Award winner, who’s worked in the publishing industry for many years and has self-published five books on collectible toys with Paddy Lennon, fulfilling the roles of art director, photographer and graphic designer for all.
Under the Total Toys Books banner, Brian, with kind permission from Hasbro and in collaboration with Rebellion Publishing and Skeletron, has published an officially licensed reprint of the “Action Force” tales from Battle Action Force collected in a series of deluxe sized “treasury editions.” They’re available to buy here.
Brian has also worked with acclaimed toy designers, Boss Fight Studio, designing the packaging for a number of their licensed products, including Bucky O Hare and Sam & Max. When not creating books, Brian designs award winning exhibitions for museums and visitor experiences in Ireland’s tourism and heritage sector.
• Check out the Gerry Finley-Day interview here on YouTube
• The interview is also available as audio only here on Cast | Or at your podcast platform of choice – options here
• Gerry Finley-Day is online at gerryfinley-day.com | X
• Total Toy Books is online at totaltoybooks.com | Buy the Collections
• American fan of Action Force? Purchase Total Toy Books with cheaper shipping here
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Creator Interviews, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features
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