BeanoMAX and Roy of the Rovers

By John Freeman on 2 February 2007

Just posted a couple of news on the main site about the new BeanoMAX – I’d say DC Thomson have noted the success of TOXIC, Wallace & Gromit and the clear ABC sales figure records that have been racked up by Simpsons Comics and are seeking to emulate that. Initial print run is 120,000.

Also a welcome return for Roy of the Rovers, courtesy of footie mag Players Inc. Be interesting to see if the reports that new stories may follow – the editor denied this on BBC Breakfast this morning – eventually pan out.

For me, the Sun’s Striker is the natural successor to Roy of the Rovers, despite its more adult style. Certainly the best thing about The Sun.

Busy week for me. In addition to the day job — and a comics-related project is shaping up nicely but I can’t talk about it here yet — freelance-wise, I just finished work on three strips for an IT company, Cardium Solutions, creating their very own superhero to promote their services, drawn by Mike (Doctor Who Magazine) Collins. One of them is now posted on my full bio page.

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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.