Missing: Award-winning comic, TV, radio and film writer Gordon McLean

This article was last updated on Sunday 5th January 2020 to include new information on sightings of Gordon

Scottish Police are appealing for help to find missing award-winning comic, TV, radio and film writer Gordon McLean.

The 39-year-old was last seen on Wednesday 18th December at Dalmeny train station in Edinburgh around 3.00pm on 18th December 2019. Gordon was alone and may have travelled onwards via public transport.

He had previously been sighted in Prospecthill Street in Greenock, Inverclyde, after going to a party.

Gordon is described as white, 5ft 10, brown eyes, short brown hair and facial stubble and normally wears glasses. It is not known what he was wearing when last seen, well over one week ago.

“Gordon’s family are becoming increasing concerned that they have not heard from him over the Christmas period and say that this is completely out of character,” said Sergeant Chris McKay at Greenock in an initial press appeal for information.

“I’d like to speak to anyone who has seen Gordon since 18th December or anyone who knows of his present whereabouts to contact police immediately via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 3388 of 26th December, 2019.

“I’d also urge Gordon if he reads this to get in contact with either his family or police to let us know that he is safe and well.”

Gordon McLean is an award-winning scriptwriter who has worked across comics, film, TV and radio. He’s written and produced a number of films and won a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award for the mini-series Mission 1212. He also wrote for STV’s sketch comedy /Comedy.

His comic book work includes No More Heroes, which won the SICBA award for Best Comic, “General Jumbo” for DC Thomson and Comic Book Heroes and shorts in various anthologies.

He’s also a founder of Trongate Publishing, who specialise in social outreach projects, in addition to general publishing work.

His most recent work is the recently-launched five issue mini-series Supermom: Expecting Trouble, drawn by Caio Oliveira, coloured by Fahriza Kamaputra and lettered by Frank Cvetkovic, published by US publisher Action Lab Entertainment, which he wrote about just before Christmas for Bleeding Cool.

The article reveals the project has been bitter sweet, Gordon describing it as the “most personal and emotion-laden comic project I’ve ever worked on because of how it came to be.” It was funded through money left to Gordon in his will by his late Uncle, who was a big supporter of his work.

“My mother Jean was a big influence on the comic,” he wrote. “A lot of story beats are a ‘superhero spin’ on my memories of her, especially when she was pregnant with my little sister. I kept this secret because I wanted it to be a surprise when I put Issue One in her hand and revealed the truth. I never got the chance. Cancer took her just like it took my Uncle David.”

“I’ve done everything I can to try and make this comic the best I possibly can because of the wonderful woman who brought me into the world and inspired so much of Supermom and the kindly uncle who showed me such heartbreaking generosity and support in his final months. I hope I’ve done them both proud.”

• If anyone who knows of Gordon’s present whereabouts contact police immediately via telephone number 101 quoting incident number 3388 of 26th December 2019

• Renfrewshire and Inverclyde Police Division Facebook Page

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: downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News

Tags: Action Lab Entertainment, downthetubes News, General Jumbo, Gordon Mclean, Missing, No More Heroes, Supermom