TechnoFreak, a funny, irreverent – and, says its British comic creator John Charles, genuinely different – action-packed modern comic is launching across the United States at the end of August. with “the cheeky slogan It ain’t Marvel and it ain’t PC”.
The American issue #1, from US publishers American Mythology, available to pre-order now, will feature a six-page story by best-selling author of The Girl With All the Gifts and Marvel’s X-Men, Mike Carey.
TechnoFreak, the title character, is Jon Sherlok, who has a computer embedded in his head and drinks too much to handle the pain of it. He was created 20 years ago by John Charles, who has a comics track record dating back to Marvel UK in 1993 and including graphic design for Trident Comics.
“TechnoFreak excites and sometimes surprises me,” enthuses John. “We have created a family of characters around the central figure of Jon Sherlok. Chief among these is Maurice, the robot cat, who narrates Sherlok’s adventures. He’s Watson to Sherlok’s Holmes, and, rather unfortunately, steals every scene he walks into. I am beginning to hate that damned cat, but the readers adore him!”
John lives in Guildford, Surrey and still lectures on the Cartoon and Comic Arts degree course at Staffordshire University. He is a regular colourist for 2000AD comic, where his work has included recent stories by his former student, outstanding comic book artist, Tom Newell, who draws the TechnoFreak comic.
Co-writer Barry May had a hand in TechnoFreak’s conceptual development from the start. Barry and John also co-wrote the three-part Spider-Man story “Mutant Menace”, for Panini UK in 2006, which guest-starred the highly popular Marvel characters the X-Men.
The final member of the TechnoFreak team is letterer Nikki Foxrobot.
The enjoyably bonkers TechnoFreak comic was initially independently self-published in the UK late in 2018, with #4 currently in production, garnering great reviews and a strong following of readers aged 14-40.
American Mythology Productions is a publishing house dedicated to creating the best new comics for all audiences, with recent titles that also include Zorro: Galleon of the Dead, Hatchet: Unstoppable Horror, and The Land That Time Forgot.
• American Mythology’s edition of TechnoFreak #1 can already be pre-ordered in comic shops | Diamond Distributors item code: JUN211233. Diamond Distributors will make it available in both the US and the UK from 25th August 2021. TechnoFreak is $3.99 per issue (the same as typical Marvel comic), or £3.50
• American Mythology are online at www.americanmythology.net
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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.
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