Butcher Billy, known for his art for each episode of the British anthology television series Black Mirror screened on Netflix, has signed up to be the official cover artist for the upcoming tie-in graphic novels from independent publisher Twisted Comics.
Building on the iconic artwork fans have come to know and love, Billy will be creating brand new covers for the graphic novels, revisiting each episode in this new form.
Since Butcher’s original stylised take on the episodes of Black Mirror reimagined as retro comic posters in 2016, he has gone on to be an official artist for the show at Netflix, creating imagery for each episode, including the newly aired Season Seven earlier this year, as well as on-screen visuals.
He has since gone on to work on other series artwork, including Stranger Things with the streaming giant, and developed his Tortured Poets Department-inspired series of Taylor Swift pop art, which was displayed across the UK.
The first graphic novel adaptation will be USS Callister, written by Neil Gibson and illustrated by Silvano Beltramo, and launches this summer via Kickstarter. Fans can sign up to be notified when the campaign is live, and be first to access rare and exciting items, in both the real and virtual world.
Other episodes in the pipeline for adaptation include “San Junipero”, with more to be revealed.
“[The episode ‘USS Callister’] in particular was close to my heart,” says Billy, “since it was the one that actually had my work crossed over from merely internet fan art to actual production design props in the series. I suddenly became part of the stories that first served as fuel to me, in the most Black Mirror way possible. The concepts there are so rich that you can’t help but let it expand and worldbuild inside your mind, imagining new circumstances, situations, and points of view. Such ideas will not leave you that easily.
“It was under that light that I decided to take on the challenge to revisit that world, and the comic book media couldn’t be more perfect for that. Excited for what’s to come.”
“It has long been a dream of mine to work on Black Mirror,” enthuses Neil Gibson, Founder and CEO of Twisted Comics, “One of my ‘hero brands’… and adapt these iconic episodes into comic book form.
“Now that dream is a reality, and I believe both fans of the show and new readers will love what we are planning. Watch this space…”
Banijay Rights represents a range of global ancillary rights for the Black Mirror brand. Created by Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, the dark satirical anthology series taps into our collective unease with the modern world. Each stand-alone episode is a sharp, suspenseful tale exploring themes of contemporary paranoia.
Ever pondered being a pilot? A football star? Join the club. Neil Gibson, the creator of Twisted Comics, was once in your shoes. Acquiring an engineering degree and an MBA, he later found his true calling where you’d least expect – in the vibrant panels of comic books. Comics: not just a hobby, but a secret world where Neil’s imagination ran wild.
And then, bam! – a hobby turned into a hit comic. Who knew? Neil’s epiphany wasn’t just about telling stories; it was about crafting worlds. From a casual comic fan to a dedicated tale-spinner, his journey has been nothing short of a comic book saga itself.
• Check out Black Mirror on the Twisted Comics website | Sign up for Kickstarter
• Watch Black Mirror on Netflix
• Follow Butcher Billy on Instagram
• Silvano Beltrano is online at silvanobeltramo.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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The artwork style for USS CALLISTER reminds me of the style used by Jack Kirby.