By Jacob H Baxter

Growing up, we take heed of the deeds and qualities of those we wish to be like. We strive to emulate the actions of those that we admire. We refer to these people as role models.

Perhaps people is not the correct operative word for that statement. Sure, I had quite a few role models that were people that I knew. I looked up to my cousin Michael so very much. He was the coolest guy I knew. Then, you have those people that are famous. Hulk Hogan was the be all and end all of heroes in my little eyes. But, is it possible to have a role model that is neither real nor a person? I say yes.

As a child, my number one role model was none other than the head Autobot in charge, Optimus Prime. An argument could possibly be made that he is a person. He displays very humanistic qualities; personification indeed. So, that is my case for representing him as a person. After all, isn't fiction nothing more than things that are not real, represented as though they are?

By Aaron Nash

Daredevil is one of those heroes that pretty much passed me by as I was growing up. He didn’t have the immediate draw of heroes like Spiderman and Wolverine. Not much seemed to happen, and the stories didn’t feature as much in the way of sheer spectacle as the other comics around. I didn’t exactly avoid reading his comics, I just didn’t go out of my way to read them - I guess the appeal of a blind superhero whose main power is to see was just kinda lost on me.

Then, in 2003, the Daredevil movie was released, and I started to think he might not be quite as boring as I first thought. After watching and enjoying the film, I decided to pick up the book Daredevil: Guardian Devil, by Kevin Smith. The story felt familiar, but much darker than the likes of Spiderman and X-Men. I absolutely loved it. 

By Sarah Wagner

Ian Crowford is the creator of Musomic - the digital comic app taking the world by storm. Released this month, this awesome app looks set to transform the comic industry, offering users the chance to write and design their own comics (and their own soundtracks), before publishing them worldwide via the app - all for free.

With interest from film companies already heating up, I grabbed Ian for a quick chat to find out more…

By Sarah Wagner

Ever dreamt of creating your own comic? Well get ready, because Musomic has arrived.

Launched this month, Musomic is a revolutionary app which allows you to write, design, add music and publish your own digital comics worldwide. What’s more – it’s free!

Created by Ian Crowford, a former teacher, musician and massive comics fan, the app promises to transform the way comics are created, giving new talent and aspiring writers the chance to develop and share their own comic masterpieces with other fans all over the world.  

By Cherean Ashley

If the rumour is true, the Gods in the comic book universe have spoken. Much to the delight of female comic fans everywhere, Sony has announced plans to release a female superhero movie in 2017.

The internet is buzzing with the possibility of a female-led franchise. Not the first of its kind, we've had a handful of female-led action films including Jennifer Garner’s Elektra and Halle Berry’s Catwoman.

Critical and financial disappointments I know, but with Wonder Woman popping up in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, could we be in for a major on-screen change?

By Sarah Wagner and Sam Hurcom

One of the most talented and respected artists on the comic scene, John Higgins has built his reputation working on titles as diverse and well-known as Watchmen, Judge Dredd and Batman. Having worked prolifically for 2000AD, DC Comics, Dark Horse and Marvel, he is also the artist, writer and publicist of his self-published comic, Razorjack – the story of three friends terrorised by the vicious killer, Razorjack, after they unwittingly stumble into The Twist Dimension, a sinister parallel world. Known as one of the friendliest talents in the business, I was lucky enough to meet John at London Comic Con, where he gave us the chance to pick his brain about his life, work, and what the future holds.

By Sam Hurcom

What exactly is an autobiography? Traditionally it's an anecdotal, nostalgic reflection of one’s own life and career.  Okay, these days most athletes and celebrities knock out several autobiographies before they are thirty, riding the crest of popularity that befalls those who will almost certainly be confined to the archives of wash-outs and pub quiz tie-breakers. But for simplicity, we’ll stick to the traditional definition – an autobiography is written towards the end of life, reflecting on one’s achievements and personal triumphs.

So, what exactly is Hollis Mason’s autobiography in Watchmen reflecting on? Dressing up as an owl and battling thugs with the Minutemen? That’s certainly a big part of it. But, as with any of the master works produced by Alan Moore, there is a hell of a lot more going on below the surface. As Iain Thomson notes "...upon rereading Watchmen it becomes painfully obvious that the meanings of almost every word, image, panel, and page are multiple – obviously multiple."*

By Emlyn Roberts-Harry

The latest rumour to come out of Marvel, now owned by Disney, is that they're planning to cancel all their Fantastic Four titles, including Ultimate FF, to try and hamper the chances of the upcoming Fantastic Four movie. The reason? There's apparently bad blood between Marvel and Fox, to whom Marvel sold the film rights in the late '90s when on the verge of bankruptcy.

Marvel CEO, Ike Perlmutter, is certainly in a position to enforce a decree like this. And, given the colossal multimedia success of the Avengers, it's understandable that Marvel would want to focus on them in its publications, since they're as popular now as the X-Men were in the '80s and '90s. But, leaving aside the fact that it's clearly an absurd idea to think that cancelling a handful of comics could impact a major movie's chances (given it's pretty clear that films boost the sales of the comics, and not the other way around) it would still be petty and short-sighted. 

By Aaron Nash

The comic ‘blockbuster’.  A term which, much like its film counterparts, signifies a big, loud, expensive hit. It may not be great, but it’s sure to sell in mass numbers, as people know what they’re going to get. But is this a good thing, or is it taking a toll on the industry in a negative way?

It’s a hard question to fully answer. With so many people currently reading comics, the industry is at its peak, and this is partly down to the success and breakout of the ‘superhero film’. This has arguably made comics ‘cool’ again. What once were considered only for geeks and kids are now being read by a far more mainstream community. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great thing. More people than ever are enjoying this amazing visual medium and the industry is thriving because of it, and this means more comics and new, fresh stories, doesn’t it?

By Sarah Wagner

If you like more than a little creepiness in your comics, Pumpkinface – Origins, promises a deeply complex, fright-filled read.

Written by Graeme Buchan, author of Creepy Scarlett, Pumpkinface was originally created as a character for a short horror film, before becoming a staple baddie in the Creepy Scarlett series. Introduced in Creepy Scarlett vs. Pumpkinface, the character is a vicious serial killer, who works as an assassin for Vincent, Scarlett’s nemesis and the head of The Order of the Red Sun. Tasked with capturing Scarlett, who resides in a graveyard and battles the evil doings of the Order with her faithful teddy-bear, Mr. Ted, the story follows his attempts to trap our heroine, who repeatedly evades his clutches.