The Really Heavy Greatcoat by myself and Lancaster-based artist Nick Miller was published fairly regularly for about 20 years in alternative Lancaster print titles such as On The Beat and Off the Beat and online on virtual-lancaster.net.
These days, Nick Still draws an annual celebratory Greatcoat at most turns of the year, but a life meets art computer fire means this year’s is a little delayed. (We’re of course very sorry to hear of this, an blame Dennis the Cat for everything).
Nick Miller has been a cartoonist since he was able to hold a pencil, also working as an illustrator and graphic designer. He’s been working in this field for over 25 years with clients in the UK, US, Italy, China, Luxembourg, Croatia and has been the regular poster artist for Lancaster Comics Day.
His cartoons have been used in academic texts, advertising, apps, children’s books, children’s comics, graphic anthologies and sport magazines.
You can find him online at nickmillercartoonist.wix.com/nickmiller
The Really Heavy Greatcoat’s last regular appearance in print was in the now defunct Comics International, but Nick did publish a number of RHG-inspired strips on the web platform Tapastic alongside his The Worry Man pocket cartoon. (Sadly, both Skid Avenue and The RHG are on hiatus, as is Worry Man – he’s a busy man doing stuff that pays for cat food, working with partner Antonella Caputo).
When last seen in a regular strip, Kevin, the current owner of the Greatcoat – a talking garment with transcendentally dimensional pockets – was a student. He was clearly not postgraduate material so Nick and I reckon he’s in a bedsit in Skerton, Lancaster somewhere, eking out a life on benefits…
If anyone ever offered to pay us to write it, it might still be running today – but Nick still creates an annual Review of the Year, bless him!
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2016
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2015
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2013
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2012
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2011
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2010
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2009
• Greatcoat Review of the Year 2008
• The Really Heavy Greatcoat Archives (on Tapas)
- About the Author
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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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