Out this week from the Treasury of British Comics is a collection of Birdman & Chicken by Trevor Metcalfe, the crazy Batman spoof first published in the weekly Krazy comic, from 1977 until 1978.
To the outside world, Dick Lane and Chic Dodds look like two average, law-abiding citizens. But they lead an amazing double life – for when fiendish finks and vile villains step over the line, Dick and Chic strike back as the crime-fighting duo, Birdman and Chicken!
Cowled, caped and equipped with a vast array of crime-busting gadgets, Birdman and Chicken fight back against the likes of The Giggler, Sourpuss, The Puzzler and Father Time – and sometimes they win!
Out on Wednesday 2nd March 2022, this collection reprints Metcalfe’s rib-tickling parody of the 1966 Batman television series for the first time, a highlight of Krazy comic every week
Now in his Eighties, Yorkshire born Trevor Metcalfe, the creator of the strip, a cartoonist, artist, illlustrator and web-designer, had an interest in cartooning from an early age. He was inspired by the work of sports cartoonist Tom Webster and comic arts such as Reg Parlett and Dudley D. Watkins.
At art school he studied alongside fellow future comics artist, Robert Nixon. The two became friends and collaborated on several strips, including “The Gems”, for The Sun newspaper.
After finishing his National Service, Metcalfe found work with DC Thomson on strips including “The Smasher” in The Dandy. After a brief period away from comics, he returned to work for Fleetway/IPC both drawing and writing several strips including “Jasper the Grasper” (for Buster), “Sweet Tooth” and “Junior Rotter” (Whizzer & Chips), “Doughnut and Rusty” (Monster Fun) and “Birdman and Chicken” and “The Amazing Three” (Krazy).
In the 1990s, he returned to DC Thomson where he illustrated the adventures of Billy Whizz in The Beano.
He also developed his own humour strip, ”Clown Town”, which looks great fun!
As a freelancer illustrator he has also produced strip work for a Thomas the Tank Engine comic, McDonalds and worked on a guide for African farmers that was commissioned by The World Health Organisation.
• Buy Birdman & Chicken by Trevor Metcalfe from your local book or comic shop | ISBN 978-1786184924 | Buy it from AmazonUK (Affiliate Link)
Web Links
• Check out Trevor Metcalfe’s Official Site: www.trevortoons.com
• Toonhound Gallery of Trevor Metcalfe’s Fleetway strips
• The Kazoop Guide to “Damsel in Distress”
• The Kazoop Guide to “Ghoul Getters”
• The Kazoop Guide to “Jasper the Grasper” (also drawn by Ken Reid)
- About the Author
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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, British Comics - Collections, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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