Clint: The Origin of Mark Millar’s new comic title

By John Freeman on May 21, 2010

For those not already wondering, veteran publisher and editor Dez Skinn has just explained the origins of Mark Millar’s new comic title, CLINT, which Titan Magazines launch later this year.

If you’re easily offended by bad language, don’t read on.

“Back in the 1970s when IPC was rocking saleswise, there were two words you could never use in print in their holier-than-thou weekly comics: FLICK and CLINT,” Dez notes in a posting to his Quality Communications group on Yahoo.

“Because Gravesend’s letterpress printing was so blotchy the space between the capital letters L and I was virtually non-existent, so LI looked far more like a U.

“Hence the adage oft-heard in the corridors of Fleetway House…, FLICK OFF CLINT!

“It gives a whole new meaning to the old book/film/TV series My Friend Flicka,” he adds wryly.

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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.