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Rats in (cool) Hats: MULP adventure comic gets set for debut

By John Freeman on May 2, 2014

MULP: The Sceptre of the Sun follows the exploits of Jack Redpath and Vicky Jones as they attempt to unravel a mystery surrounding an ancient stone tablet .

The first issue of MULP – an anthropomorphic comic book, a Pulp adventure set in a world of mice, by Matt Gibbs and Sara Dunkerton – goes on sale in a number of comic shops next week around the UK.

The Sceptre of the Sun follows the exploits of Jack Redpath and Vicky Jones as they attempt to unravel a mystery surrounding an ancient stone tablet unearthed during an archaeological excavation in Egypt. This tablet is the first marker on an adventure that sees them racing around the world in search of a legendary treasure. Joined by their friends Cornelius Field, Prof. Walter Harvest-Scott, and Elisabeth Harvest-Scott, together they must prevent a powerful artefact falling into unscrupulous paws.

Suitable for all ages, MULP: The Sceptre of the Sun is being published in five parts, beginning with the first in 2014. Here’s a 12-page trailer, via ISSU:

The book is the work of Matt Gibbs, a freelance writer and editor. Represented by the Sidelines Agency for games writing and narrative design, he has worked on titles such as Creative Assembly’s Total War: ROME II, Sega’s Binary Domain, and Ubisoft Reflections’ Driver San Francisco. Alongside games, he is the managing editor of Improper Books (publishers of the incredible Porcelain and other great books) and collaborates with a number of talented artists on creator-owned comic and graphic novel projects. Originally an archaeologist, he spent several years grubbing about in holes before turning to writing as a career.

MULP is an anthropomorphic comic book, a Pulp adventure set in a world of mice, by Matt Gibbs and Sara Dunkerton.

This promotional image for MULP is by Chris Wildgoose

The art is by Sara Dunkerton, an Illustration graduate living and working in Bristol. Her debut as a comics artist was collaborating with Matt Gibbs on a short story for the Bayou Arcana: Songs of Loss and Redemption anthology. Since then she has illustrated comics for Dark Harvest: Resistance, Sugar Glider Stories 2, and Into the Woods: A Fairy Tale Anthology, as well as working on various projects and commissions. She lives with her two pet rats, River and Kaylee, who have become a source of inspiration for MULP.

The work is rounded off with lettering from the most excellent Eagle Award-nominated letterer Jim Campbell, whose work can be seen in titles from Classical Comics, Dark Horse, Image, ROK Comics, Markosia, Renegade Arts, Timebomb and Zenescope. He lives and works in darkest Nottinghamshire and maintains a blog on matters relating to comics, lettering and other random musings.

• MULP: Sceptre of the Sun #1 is out next Wednesday May 7th from Gosh!, Page 45, and Travelling Man, and creators Sara Dunkerton and Matt Gibbs will be attending BCExpo on May 10-11th and selling copies there. Web: http://mulpcomic.com

• MULP – Sceptre Of The Sun on AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “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.