e-mail:hoopercomicsuk@yahoo.com
blacktowercg@hotmail.com
SKILLS
Author, script-writer (comics and TV/radio),
penciller, inker, letterer and editor. In these days of specialisation, I can
take a project from start to finish. Either as an editor, or undertaking any
one (or more) of the tasks required to produce a superb finished product.
From flyers and
advertising materials to blogs, newsletters and comics, I can move a project
through from an idea to delivery, providing quality at every stage.
I began in the era
of photocopy-cut-and-paste. Although things have developed and I now use a
computer to put together publications, press releases and promotional material
the old skills are still useful when a computer breaks down –usually at the
most awkward time.
My reputation has
been built on the ability to meet and more often run ahead of deadlines. On more than one occasion, when something or
someone has fallen through at a publisher’s, I’ve been asked to put together
comic scripts and other material within a few hours.
Having interviewed
many creators and publishers and talked to comic buyers/fans as well as
retailers, I have a good grasp of the current market. This is helped by running
Comic Bits Online which currently has had more than 12 million views world wide
since 2011. I have also previously put together British Comic Industry reports,
accurately predicting future trends.
The last report [2007] looked at various age group breakdowns in European
countries supporting comic industries and analysed the sustainability and
viability of a rejuvenated British comics industry based on UK age groups.
This was later up-dated for the 2016 industry paper UK Comics Looking For Long Term
Investment (of which there were English and Chinese versions).
I am perfectly able
and willing to work as either part of a team or by myself. My commitment to a project is always
100%.
In twenty years of
packaging and publishing books, as well as distributing in the UK and beyond,
I have come across most of the problems and hazards of the industry. My
contingency planning is excellent.
As a talent spotter
I have helped various creators break into the comic industry, names such as
John Royle, Jon Haward, Duncan Fegredo, Art Wetherell, Matt Brooker et al.
Outside of comics I
have worked with companies such as Yorkshire Television and HTV to create ideas
and programmes, for example Channel 4’s “Carry
On” Film weekend in 1999. I have
also featured in documentaries and TV/Radio news programmes in my capacity as a
naturalist and Police Consultant.
CAREER
I’m currently working
on the comic and 3D animated series, The Paranormals (based on the work
produced for Fleetway after it lost the Tonka Toys Supernaturals licensing) as
well as a series of short TV horror stories, Tales From The Grave. Other projects are currently optioned for, or
being looked at by various TV companies.
1976- I was an exotic animals
consultant for UK
police forces, farmers groups and other organisations.
2008-2021 New line of very successful
black and white comic albums published.
These can be found listed here: http://www.lulu.com/hoopercomicsuk
2009 my first book, Some Things Strange And Sinister,
was published. The follow-up, Some
More Things Strange & Sinister, was published in January, 2010
while The Hooper Interviews containing the best comic creator
interviews from 35 years of journalism was published in 2011 and the wildlife
book The
Red Paper in 2012 while Pursuing The Strange and Weird: A
Naturalist’s Viewpoint was published in 2014. Strange & Mysterious Beasts (2019), UFO Contact (2018), Unidentified Identified (2018), Contact! (2019)
2000 --- I have worked as an interviewer
for SBC Online and currently am owner/Editor of Comic Bits Online [CBO] www.comicbitsonline.com . CBO is tagged as “highly influential” by
comic fans and publishers as well as by comic store owners. The site has attracted over 3 million views,
this figure is increasing as it gains in reputation.
Also helping to promote
Cinebook-The 9th Art and Classics Illustrated UK as well as showcasing
new talent.
I am a recognised
as a British comics historian, having met and interviewed many of the creators
who worked for comics in the UK
and have also traced the history of UK
comic publishers and German comic book history.
2000-2005 I
produced packages of work for companies in India,
Hong Kong and China. As an industry advisor I have worked for
smaller companies in countries such as India,
Canada, Singapore, China,
Europe and the US.
1992-2004 published Annual Reports On The British Comics
Industry looking at trends and sales as well as predicting trends, carrying out
comic buyer surveys and so on. These began with 75% accuracy but by 1997
were between 89-97% accurate on predictions and trends.
1984-2012 self publishing comics as well
as publications on a wide variety of subjects under the Black Tower
banner. 1983 saw the first printed story
of the first German super hero characters and team, D-Gruppe, still going
strong today. Black Tower Comics and
Books is now the UKs biggest Independent Comics publisher with over 90 new titles published since 2010.
1984-1994 worked freelance as a
writer/artist/editor/agent in comics as well as
comics journalism for MU Press, Blue Comet Press,
Fantagraphic Books, Eros Comics, Dorne, Fleetway, Marvel UK, IPC and others in
the United States, UK and Europe.
During this period
I also produced large numbers of single panel gag cartoons for agencies in Germany such as Boiselle-Lohmann and the Baaske
Agency –these going to magazines and publications around Europe
and with the latter agency these were collected in book form. I also worked as a freelance editor in comics
and publications ranging from wildlife to astronomy and science fiction.
1982-1984 took over the running of Comic Haus comic
store in Detmold, Germany, which was failing badly in
an unstable market. I turned the store
into a profit maker and was then given control of the Hameln Comic Haus, whose
situation was also turned around; both stores became very profitable going on
the be sold for a considerable sum.
1979-2004 I have published numerous papers on the
topics of both wildlife and history
1978-1983 worked at Silver Surfer Comics shop,
Totterdown, Bristol.
1974-1978 worked within the printing industry,
beginning as a paste-up assistant,
designing and then laying out/pasting up newsletters, commercial
flyers,etc.,etc..,I swiftly moved on to designing and compiling publications as
well as advertising material.
1977
began writing articles on astronomy,
meteorological phenomena space exploration and other general subjects
–something I have continued with up to today in the UK
and Europe as well as United
States. In the UK
the main market has been the County
Magazine trade.
During the late
1970s, I was employed as a sales representative, helping to promote toys such
as The Micronauts, Atlantic Soldiers, Action Force figures and other
products. This involved visiting
retailers, setting up displays, promotional material and so on. This led to my designing a series of toy
soldier style sets for Hong Kong manufacturers
such as “Dawn of Man” and “Space Frontier.”
