Project Background
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Hi8us Midlands worked with John McCrea for the first time in 2002 on a project we had developed to write, illustrate and animate a graphic novel on the web entitled, Animatix. In the process, we became acutely aware that there was a dearth of careers information and training in the field of comic illustration which didn’t seem to match the interest and talent among the people we worked with. Many of these people were either discouraged from pursuing comic illustration as a serious career or, they had very little idea of how to go about it.

In September 2003, working with John McCrea, Hi8us Midlands launched the Strip-Search scheme to address the gap in guidance and training relating to comic illustration. Funded substantially by Birmingham City Council’s Equal-ESF project, our aim was to seek out and nurture comic and graphic illustration talent in Birmingham.

In order to gain a place on the Strip-Search scheme, applicants were asked to submit 2-4 pages of original art work to compete for the 10 available places, we expected that 20 or so people may bother to overcome this first hurdle but, 90 people rose to the challenge. John McCrea and Hunt Emerson led on evaluating the entries to create a short list. This was extremely difficult since so many of the entries demonstrated such a great deal of talent. Due to the huge demand and overdose of talent, we stretched the resources to accommodate a group of 13 finalists. The group range in age from 16-47. We received five entries from women and only one made it on to the scheme. The lack of women in the industry is something we would like to address in future projects.

The group received a series of organised workshops and activities to develop their technique and portfolio. The group has had the privelege to work with some of the best comic illustrators in the UK and in turn, the professionals have been impressed by the group’s standard of work. Everyone we’ve worked with, is credited below.
It was clear that one of the best ways to showcase the group’s work was to publish it as a real comic book. Group members have each illustrated at least two pages of GRAB. The story was conceived by the group, and developed and written by up and coming writer, Ben McCool. The story idea was conceived to make a virtue of the fact that the comic would change illustration style, every couple of pages.
As for the future of the Strip-Search scheme, we will be running it again in 2005.

Kulwant Dhaliwal
Director, Hi8us Midlands


LEAD ARTIST & CO-ORDINATOR OF ARTISTS ON THE STRIP-SEARCH SCHEME

John McCrea
Born in Belfast in 1966, all John ever wanted to do was draw: specifically comics. His first professional job was on the cartoon adaptation the Centurions before he went on to work on Action Force (British GI Joe), BLAAAM! and eventually drawing a few Future Shocks stories for 2000 AD. The big break came in 1988, when Garth Ennis wrote ‘Troubled Souls’, and a Northern Irish artist was required. A productive partnership was born between John and Garth that has lasted more than 10 years. They collaborated on For a Few Troubles More, Judge Dredd, the Demon and ‘Hitman’, to name a few. John also works for Marvel and D.C. Comics and has illustrated for many of the classics, including Spiderman, Batman and X-men.
Further details at: www.JohnMcCrea.com

WORKSHOP FACILITATION AND MUCH VALUED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE SCHEME

Hunt Emerson
Hunt is a prolific comic writer and illustrator with a career that dates back to the mid 1970’s. He has worked for an impressive array of clients from the Wall Street Journal to the Beano and was the first British artist to be published in his own American underground comic - ‘Thunderdogs’; Rip Off Press, San Francisco, 1980.
Further details at: www.largecow.demon.co.uk


WORKSHOP FACILITATION BY COMIC ART PROFESSIONALS

Andi Watson
Andy is the Eisner nominated creator of Skeleton Key, Geisha, and Breakfast After Noon. He also scripted the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic, has optioned Skeleton Key for an animated series, animated advent calendars for AOL.co.uk, and had one of his cover images appears fleetingly in the background of teen flick Coyote Ugly.

James Hodgkins
James hails from an advertising background, a relative late comer to the Comic Book industry he quickly made a name for himself and has been working as an inker for DC and Marvel Comics for almost ten years, working with people like Jim Aparot, Joe Staton, Brian Stelfreeze, Jason Pearson and John McCrea, amongst others. If you’re a fan of Batman you would have seen his work.

Phil Winslade
A man famed for his detail, Phil’s art can be seen on an impressive array of comics including Daredevil, Spiderman, Wonder-Woman and Ant-Man.

Kev F Sutherland
Kev F’s comic writing and art has graced the pages of Viz, 2000AD, The Beano, Star Trek, Red Dwarf, Gladiators, Funday Times, Spider-Man, Dr Strange, Werewolf By Night, Ghost Rider, The Flintstones, Gas, Bloody Hell, Brain Damage, Oink, The World’s Biggest Comic Book, Scholastic books, the Chalkface project, innumerable advertising jobs, and most comics inbetween. Ring or email for quotes on work in all genres.
Kev F is the founder and co-producer of the annual Comic Festival and the National Comics Awards, and presents Comic Art Masterclasses in schools and colleges. He also works as a stand up comedian and presenter and has recently begun exhibiting and selling canvasses as an exhibition artist.




This product has been part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) under the Equal Community Initiative Programme. The contents do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the European Commission or the Department for Work and Pensions.