It’s been almost two years of scribbling and painting, but it’s done – and Alidor Books have just released a new fantasy graphic novel, Alidor: The Forbidden Friend, written by Matthew Hillsdon and Norm Chung.
The book will be launched at a signing at Oxford’s Lamb & Flag pub on Saturday 30th May 2026, from 1.00 to 3.00pm
Alidor: The Forbidden Friend is a story of friendship tested by hardship, involving Elves, Orcs and big Wolves, written by Alidor Books’ Matthew Hillsdon and illustrated by me
“The world of Alidor is a place of mythical creatures and beings such as, giant wolves, trolls, goblins, wizards, orcs and Elves,” Norm tells downthetubes. “Here, there has been an ancient and ongoing battle between Elves and Orcs.
“To gain an advantage, the Elves created Humans to fight their wars and because of this all humans are completely subservient to Elves… until one day, a human girl named Filinder encounters the wolf, Nirey. Together, they form a bond that threatens the Elven council’s hold over the humans.
“The legend of Filinder and Nirey is told by Wasiz, the goblin, to a boy and young wolf whose own adventures will begin in the novel, Alidor: The Unlikely Allies.
“The graphic novel is 80-plus pages of traditionally painted artwork inspired by my love of Hal Foster’s work,” Norm says of the story’s origins and development. “The Forbidden Friend took me about a year and a half to put together, although I do have a full time job, too!”
Norm isn’t letting up the pace, though. He’s currently working on a new project by Matthew that, he teases, is “a bit more science fiction based and in a different art style.”
• Alidor: The Forbidden Friend Launch 1.00 to 3.00pm Saturday 30th May 2026, Lamb & Flag 12 St Giles’, Oxford OX1 3JS
• Alidor Books are online at alidorbooks.co.uk
Meet the Creators
Matthew Hillsdon is known for his fantasy series set in the world of Alidor, a fantastical world filled with unique tales and characters. His first novel, Alidor: The Unlikely Allies, introduced readers to this expansive realm and has conrtinued into a number of books set in the same world.
Hillsdon’s works features detailed narratives with elements such as shadowy threats and brave rangers, as exemplified in Alidor: The Forgotten Hero, a
prologue to the main series. His storytelling often weaves themes of adventure, mystical creatures, and epic quests.
As we noted back in 2022, Norm Chung has been a comic creator for a long time. His independent comics career actually began in the early 2000s, when he first self published the adventure Akuto, re-released by the Dice Comics collective in 2021.
From 2003 to 2010 Norm worked in the games industry, then started freelancing part time as an illustrator. His first book, written by Brian O’Connell, The Fat Boy with the Bomb and 299 of the World’s Craziest Politicians, was published in 2013.
In 2015, Norm was one of the winners in the “Lost in Space” challenge run by the Lakes International Comic Art Festival (digital copies of that anthology, published by Titan Comics still available here).
2022 saw the release of The Adventures of Lady Guinevine Strathmore, a historical adventure comic written by Amsel Von Spreckelsen, with art by Norm Chung, and Markosia published Gilbert’s Universe, written by Harry Markos the same year, about a genius who loves to build things using all kinds of rubbish.
• Alidor Books are online at alidorbooks.co.uk
• Check out Norm Chung’s official web site at waivisuals.carbonmade.com
• Follow Norm on Twitter @waivisuals | Instagram @norm_waivisuals | Facebook
• downthetubes: Comic Creator Spotlight: Comic Artist and Writer Norm Chung
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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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