Alan Martin (writer)
Encyclopedia
Alan Martin is a British comics writer best known as author of the comic strip Tank Girl
.
, when Martin was in a band with Philip Bond
called the University Smalls. They began collaborating on a comic/fanzine
called Atomtan.
The Tank Girl series first appeared in the debut issue of Deadline
(1988
), a UK magazine intended as a forum for new comic talent, or as its publishers Brett Ewins
and Tom Astor put it, "a forum for the wild, wacky and hitherto unpublishable," and it continued until the end of the magazine in 1995.
. The film featured Lori Petty
as Tank Girl and Naomi Watts
as Jet Girl.
Martin and Hewlett are known for speaking poorly of the experience, with Martin calling it "a bit of a sore point" for them. Despite its critics, the film did however undeniably broaden the comics' fanbase from a relatively modest UK cult following to an international audience.
with hippie
friends, looking for stone circles and ancient sites
before settling in Berwick Upon Tweed in Northumberland
with his wife Lou and son Rufus Bodie (named after Lewis Collins
' character in The Professionals
). Martin has played in various bands, written a Tank Girl "novel" (Armadillo) published in March 2008 by Titan Books
, as well as various screenplays and scripts. He wrote the first new Tank Girl limited series
in over ten years: Tank Girl: The Gifting with award-winning Australian artist Ashley Wood
and Rufus Dayglo
. Published by American publishers IDW, the first issue of which was released in June 2007
. He is also producing Tank Girl: Carioca with Brit comics' legend Mike McMahon
for Titan Books
which should see print in summer 2010. On 24 October 2008, it was announced that Alan and Rufus will be doing an exclusive page a month of Tank Girl for SuicideGirls
. The first page in the series was posted on 2 November 2008.
Summer 2008 saw Tank Girl: Skidmarks appearing in all-new Nine-page episodes in the Judge Dredd Megazine
, again written by Martin, with art duties taken on by Rufus Dayglo
, who drew issues 2-4 of the The Gifting, and Visions of Booga for IDW Comics. In an interview Martin revealed that Visions of Booga was the only Tank Girl comic that doesn't contain any major swear words: "It has a "bastard" here and a "bitch" there, but it doesn't have any F-words or C-words."
Martin and Dayglo have produced a comprehensive Tank Girl www.tank-girl.com website which has info, exclusive art, forums, blogs, exclusive sneak previews, as well as links to all Tank Girl material in print.
Titan Books
have released The Cream of Tank Girl, compiled by Alan Martin, containing Jamie Hewlett
art and Alan Martin scripts, starting from her earliest beginning as a pin-up in Atomtan, it features a brand new Hewlett cover as well as brand new script from Martin.
Tank Girl
Tank Girl is a British comic created by Jamie Hewlett and Alan Martin. Originally drawn by Jamie Hewlett, it has also been drawn by Rufus Dayglo, Ashley Wood, and Mike McMahon.The eponymous character Tank Girl drives a tank, which is also her home...
.
Hewlett and Martin
Martin and Hewlett first met in the mid-1980s in WorthingWorthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
, when Martin was in a band with Philip Bond
Philip Bond
Philip J. Bond is a British comic book artist, who first came to prominence in the late 1980s on Deadline magazine, and later through a number of collaborations with British writers for the DC Comics imprint Vertigo....
called the University Smalls. They began collaborating on a comic/fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
called Atomtan.
The Tank Girl series first appeared in the debut issue of Deadline
Deadline magazine
Deadline was a British comic magazine published between 1988 and 1995.Created by 2000 AD stalwarts Brett Ewins and Steve Dillon, Deadline featured a mix of comic strips and written articles targeted at older readers...
(1988
1988 in comics
-Events and publications:* Jack Binder, creator of the original Daredevil, dies at c. age 86.* Tarpé Mills, creator Miss Fury, dies at c. age 73....
), a UK magazine intended as a forum for new comic talent, or as its publishers Brett Ewins
Brett Ewins
Brett Ewins is a British comic book artist best known for his work on Judge Dredd and Rogue Trooper in the weekly comic book 2000 AD.-Biography:...
and Tom Astor put it, "a forum for the wild, wacky and hitherto unpublishable," and it continued until the end of the magazine in 1995.
The Tank Girl Film
In 1995, the comic was also adapted into a critically and financially unsuccessful film, albeit with a considerable cult followingCult following
A cult following is a group of fans who are highly dedicated to a specific area of pop culture. A film, book, band, or video game, among other things, will be said to have a cult following when it has a small but very passionate fan base...
. The film featured Lori Petty
Lori Petty
Lori Petty is an American film and television actress best known for playing "Tyler Endicott" in Point Break in 1991, "Kit Keller" in A League of Their Own in 1992, and the title role in Tank Girl in 1995.-Early life:...
as Tank Girl and Naomi Watts
Naomi Watts
Naomi Ellen Watts is a British actress. Watts began her career in Australian television, where she appeared in series such as Hey Dad..! , Brides of Christ , and Home and Away . Her film debut was the 1986 drama For Love Alone...
as Jet Girl.
Martin and Hewlett are known for speaking poorly of the experience, with Martin calling it "a bit of a sore point" for them. Despite its critics, the film did however undeniably broaden the comics' fanbase from a relatively modest UK cult following to an international audience.
Since 1995
After the film, Martin wandered around for a bit, staying at communesCommune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
with hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
friends, looking for stone circles and ancient sites
Ruins
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction...
before settling in Berwick Upon Tweed in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
with his wife Lou and son Rufus Bodie (named after Lewis Collins
Lewis Collins
Lewis Collins is an English actor best known for his tough-guy role as Bodie in The Professionals. He was educated at Bidston Primary and Grange School in Birkenhead. He started out as a ladies' hairdresser before playing drums and guitar in pop groups. He had a number of other jobs before...
' character in The Professionals
The Professionals (TV series)
The Professionals was a British crime-action television drama series produced by Avengers Mk1 Productions and London Weekend Television that aired on the ITV network from 1977 to 1983. In all, 57 episodes were produced, filmed between 1977 and 1981. It starred Martin Shaw, Lewis Collins and Gordon...
). Martin has played in various bands, written a Tank Girl "novel" (Armadillo) published in March 2008 by Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
, as well as various screenplays and scripts. He wrote the first new Tank Girl limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
in over ten years: Tank Girl: The Gifting with award-winning Australian artist Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood
Ashley Wood is an Australian comic book artist and illustrator who is well known for his cover art, concept design and his work as an art director....
and Rufus Dayglo
Rufus Dayglo
Rufus Dayglo is a London-based comics artist working for 2000 AD and Titan Books in the United Kingdom, and IDW Publishing and Image Comics in the United States...
. Published by American publishers IDW, the first issue of which was released in June 2007
2007 in comics
-January:*January 10: Superman & Batman vs. Aliens & Predator released.*January 24: The Boys is canceled with issue #6.-February:*February 2: Newsarama reports that The Boys has been picked up by Dynamite Entertainment....
. He is also producing Tank Girl: Carioca with Brit comics' legend Mike McMahon
Mike McMahon (comics)
Michael McMahon is a British comics artist best known for his work on 2000 AD characters such as Judge Dredd, Sláine and ABC Warriors, and the mini-series The Last American....
for Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
which should see print in summer 2010. On 24 October 2008, it was announced that Alan and Rufus will be doing an exclusive page a month of Tank Girl for SuicideGirls
SuicideGirls
SuicideGirls is a website that features softcore pornography and text profiles of goth, punk and indie-styled young women who are known as the "Suicide Girls"...
. The first page in the series was posted on 2 November 2008.
Summer 2008 saw Tank Girl: Skidmarks appearing in all-new Nine-page episodes in the Judge Dredd Megazine
Judge Dredd Megazine
Judge Dredd: The Megazine is a monthly British comic magazine, launched in October 1990. It is a sister publication to 2000 AD. Its name is a play on words, formed from "magazine" and Dredd's locale Mega-City One.-Content:...
, again written by Martin, with art duties taken on by Rufus Dayglo
Rufus Dayglo
Rufus Dayglo is a London-based comics artist working for 2000 AD and Titan Books in the United Kingdom, and IDW Publishing and Image Comics in the United States...
, who drew issues 2-4 of the The Gifting, and Visions of Booga for IDW Comics. In an interview Martin revealed that Visions of Booga was the only Tank Girl comic that doesn't contain any major swear words: "It has a "bastard" here and a "bitch" there, but it doesn't have any F-words or C-words."
Martin and Dayglo have produced a comprehensive Tank Girl www.tank-girl.com website which has info, exclusive art, forums, blogs, exclusive sneak previews, as well as links to all Tank Girl material in print.
Titan Books
Titan Books
Titan Publishing Group is an independently owned publishing company, established in 1981. It is based at offices in London, England's Bankside area. The Books Division has two main areas of publishing: film & TV tie-ins/cinema reference books; and graphic novels and comics reference/art titles. The...
have released The Cream of Tank Girl, compiled by Alan Martin, containing Jamie Hewlett
Jamie Hewlett
Jamie Christopher Hewlett is an English comic book artist and designer. He is known for being the co-creator of the comic Tank Girl and co-creator of the virtual band Gorillaz.-Biography:...
art and Alan Martin scripts, starting from her earliest beginning as a pin-up in Atomtan, it features a brand new Hewlett cover as well as brand new script from Martin.
Interviews
- Suicide Girls Interview - With Alan Martin about the Tank Girl relaunch
- Alan Martin interview - about the 2007 relaunch from IDW comics.