Led by comics writer and editor Tim Quinn and publisher Robin Baynes MBE, the team behind the Liverpool Heartbeat comic project have just presented a new concept, Zowie!, to the management team at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
The team ultimately hope to extend the concept, offering free comics for young hospital patients to more organisations across the UK – and, perhaps, beyond.
Zowie! leads with a special Doctor Who-inspired cover and content celebrating 60 years of the long-running SF TV series, and features a fantastic cover by Tim Keable while, inside, comics material is provided by by Lew Stringer and others.
“The idea is that every child coming into the hospital will be given a free comic to take their mind away from all fears,” Tim says of the new comic, “and let their imagination fly across the universe.”
Merseyside children’s charity Liverpool Heartbeat was founded by Robin Baynes, who has created literacy projects for schools across the country, the organisation given Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award given to volunteer groups in the UK, last year.
“Staff and directors and management were bowled over by the brand new comic,” he reports. “Hospital management want to create a very special launch day for the comic in August, bringing in the BBC, ITV and all media from the city. It’s so great to work with people who put children first.
Former Marvel Comics editor Tim Quinn – writer, publisher and more – is the genius behind the FAB4000 project that he created with comic artist Russ Leach, inspired by Jayne Massey and her seeing eye dog Witney who feature in the stories.
“The idea for the comic book came from my dear old Dad back in 1964,” Tim reveals. “He had the frightful task of taking me into hospital to get my tonsils ripped out. He knew I was anything but a brave little soldier. We had to get there for 9.00am for the operation at midday. That’s a long wait.
“As he sat by my bedside, Dad pulled out a copy of Fantastic Four issue #4 from his inside pocket. For the next hour or so, I was transported to New York City with Stan Lee’s finest. Dad knew me well. And so this new comic book is his idea and certainly in honour of him.
“Special thanks to Tim Keable for our fab cover, and Lew Stringer and the usual suspects for inside work. Heroes all.
“If all goes to plan we shall get the comic into other children’s hospitals around the country.
“Our ultimate intent is that the comic book will catch on with children’s hospitals across the globe,” Tim enthuses. “Shine on!”
The Liverpool Heartbeat web site features a number of previous comics they’ve published, some free to read online.
Fundraising print editions are also for sale in their webshop, including The Queen, Everest 2022 and the recently-published The Boat of Hope, the full astounding story of the attempt to row, single handed, across the Atlantic Ocean by Bernie Hollywood OBE, spotlighting his campaign to open a conversation on depression with early years children.
• Check out the work of Liverpool Heartbeat at liverpoolheartbeat.co.uk
• Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is online at mft.nhs.uk/rmch
• You can find Tim online at mightyquinnmanagement.com
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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.
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