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Atomic Comic Interviews Top British Comics Artist Tom Paterson

By John Freeman on 11 March 2016

After many ups, downs and false starts The Atomic Comic – a smashing-looking ‘zine edited by New Zealand-based British humour comics aficionado George Shiers – is back, and includes a first-ever interview with Scottish comics artist Tom Paterson.

Tom’s talent as a cartoonist was discovered at the age of 16 by original Dandy editor Albert Barnes, who was impressed with the cartoon samples Paterson had sent to him.

He was a stalwart of comics such as Whizzer & Chips (and whose departure from the title is often considered by fans as a mistake by the publisher). He drew characters for Fleetway between 1973–1990, and DC Thomson from 1986 onwards. His work has featured in The Beano, Beezer and Dandy, to name but a few publications he’s worked on.

More recently he’s been drawing for VIZ and his work has appeared in Jamie Smart’s Moose Kid Comics – and has also drawn the cover of this issue of Atomic Comic, complete with trademark smelly striped sock!

Atomic Comic is all about British comics old and new – especially the funny variety. Titles covered on the project’s blog and print editions include The Beano, The Dandy, Sparky, The Phoenix, Wham, Knockout, Monster Fun – not to mention co-editor and designer, Harry Rickard’s very own comic, The Wizzo and anything else the team can get their hands on.

You can read Issue One, published in 2013 online for free here and Issue Two here.

The ‘zine also reviews web comics – from Andy Fanton’s The Carrotty Kid and James Turner’s Beaver and Steve all the way up to the more “adult” ones such as Jamie Smart’s Corporate Skull.

Offering interviews from all your favourite comic artists and writers, never-seen-before rejected strips and pitches as well as loads of reviews, comparisons and other brilliant stuff, this is well worth checking out.

• Atomic Comic Issue Three will be released on 10th April 2016, and pre-orders are ready to be taken. The magazine will cost $10 (NZD) + postage, but you can get a digital copy for just $5. Pre-orders are being taken so to secure your copy email us at: whizzerandchips@live.com

• Check out The Atomic Comic at https://theatomiccomic.wordpress.com

• Check out Tom Paterson’s official web site at http://tompatersoncartoons.x10.mx

About the Author
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John Freeman

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.