TV Comic’s “Doctor Who” – art by Bill Mevin

“The Perishers” and TV Comic “Doctor Who” artist Bill Mevin is one of several comics creators interviewed on a special release of the Doctor Who story The Time Meddler, released 4th February 2008 in the UK.

A panel from the penultimate First Doctor “Doctor Who” strip for TV Comic. Art by Bill Mevin

This is the first of several “Stripped for Action” features which will feature on upcoming Doctor Who DVD releases. This documentary centres on the First Doctor’s comic strip adventures which began in TV Comic and in addition to Mevin includes interviews with comics historians Jeremy Bentham and John Ainsworth and former Doctor Who Magazine editors Gary Russell and Alan Barnes. (Gary edited Marvel UK’s Doctor Who Classic Comics, after John Freeman negotiated purchase of publishing rights for all the Doctor Who TV Comic strips on behalf of Marvel UK, with what was then owner London and North Surrey Newspapers).

Bill Mevin, now 87, studied at Liverpool School of Art Before joining Gaumont British Studios as a trainee film animator, working on the 1954 animated film Animal Farm and various shorts. He then went on to work as a topical cartoonist for the Sunday Chronicle newspaper for six months, later working in children’s comics for several years on characters that included a six-month stint on “Doctor Who” for TV Comic – a strip he remains proud of to this day – “Popeye”, “Bugs Bunny”, “Yogi Bear”, “Space Patrol” and many others.

He later created “The Soapremes” for the Daily Mail, a cartoon strip satirising American soaps Dallas and Dynasty, before going on to work on “The Perishers” for the Daily Mirror for over eleven years, before its cancellation.

Every comics incarnation of the Doctor will feature in the “Stripped for Action” series which is being co-ordinated by acclaimed writer and publisher Marcus Hearn. Interviews for a Seventh Doctor segment, recorded this week in London include Paul Cornell, Lee Sullivan, Simon Furman, John Freeman and Andrew Cartmel.

The Time Meddler also features a commentary with actor Peter Purves, producer Verity Lambert, script editor Donald Tosh and designer Barry Newbery, plus production and publicity photos from the story.

• Buy The Time Meddler from amazon.co.uk

• View caricatures and other art by Bill Mevin on The Authentic Perishers web site (Internet Archive)

• Read a more detailed profile of Bill’s career on Bear Alley

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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.

Categories: British Comics, Creating Comics, Doctor Who, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds, Television

Tags: Bill Mevin, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Stripped for Action, The Time Meddler, TV Comic