Mohawk Media announces Dick Turpin project

By John Freeman on November 26, 2011

Publisher Mohawk Media has announced the release of a preview issue of its upcoming project, starring history’s most notorious masked highwayman, Dick Turpin.

Not to be confused with Time Bomb Comics similar-sounding title (see news story), the issue is available exclusively via the publisher’s groundbreaking line of paperless Eco Comics.

“It’s every writer’s dream to write such a famous, or should I say, infamous character as Dick Turpin,” enthuses writer Chris Bunting.”His multi-layered, unpredictable nature makes for great drama.

“Expect some startling revelations about the life of this legendary lawbreaker,” he hints.

Born in England in 1706, Dick Turpin became one of history’s most notorious highwaymen. Reports of the day ranged from branding him a ruthless thief to a charming and gallant highwayman.

“Turpin lived at a time when England was more like the Wild West, and criminals faced the death penalty at the gallows. Highwaymen led a very exciting life but often a very short one.

“This 18th Century swashbuckling firebrand was born to be a 21st Century complex comic book character. Dick Turpin’s return is a case of perfect timing.”

Writer Chris Bunting seems to be on a quest to make literary and cultural giants accessible to a new generation, while simultaneously pleasing established fans. Legendary names already on his résumé include Mr. T, Action Man, Dracula, Robin Hood and Jekyll & Hyde.

A Fine Arts Bachelor Graduate, Salvador Velázquez has worked under a pseudonym as a gallery artist, advertisement illustrator, and graphic designer. His comic books include Swords of Suburbia, while Dick Turpin is his first international project.

The digital and paperless Dick Turpin: Pencil-Only Preview features pencil-art from the first instalment of the upcoming title.

“This format allows the reader the opportunity to see Dick Turpin ride again in the untouched, gorgeous art of Salvador Velázquez,” explains editor Stuart Buckley. “The creative team gives us a taste of what is to come: forget stuffy historical fiction, this is a comic book cocktail of action-adventure and mystery-thriller featuring one of Britain’s, if not the world’s, most recognisable rogues.

“With his mask and famous steed, Turpin has been the archetype for many highwaymen and outlaws: even the Lone Ranger bears remarkable parallels.”

Further details on the Dick Turpin project are due to be announced.

Mohawk Media launched in 2008 with the top-selling graphic novel adventures of one of Hollywood’s most instantly recognisable superstars, Mr. T. The publisher followed up with a range of new titles, including Dracula vs. Robin Hood vs. Jekyll & Hyde. Eco Comics is a new range of paperless comic books designed with the specific purpose of having a minimal carbon footprint. Eco Comics titles are also available via digital platforms Graphicly and MyDigitalComics. Further information: www.facebook.com/ecocomics

• Dick Turpin: Pencil-Only Preview is a 16-page issue featuring lettered pencil art only, and is available now in various digital formats via the Eco Comics store: www.mohawkmedia.co.uk/ecocomics for $1.95 (approximately £1.20).

• Preview art and images: http://blog.mohawkmedia.co.uk/ and www.facebook.com/official.dickturpin

About the Author
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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.