buyonic - 1978
For a while during the late 70’s I was pretty obsessed with a comic book called 2000 AD. It’s hard to stress just how much of an impact it’s arrival at the newsagents had on my brother and I. Prior to this we had to make do with the Dandy, Beano and occasional war comic to read at the weekend, all of which seemed strangely stuck in an earlier age.
2000 AD by contrast was from the future (hence the masthead) and featured stories set in a post apocalyptic mega city (Judge Dredd) and drawings of men screaming while being eaten by time traveling dinosaurs (Blood Flesh).
Sadly, my older brother, by virtue of rank, assumed control of each issue once it was purchased so I had to wait until he had finished reading before I could feast my eyes on Judge Dredds latest neo-fascist proclamation. My solution to this dilemma was to start drawing my own comic book, loosely based on the object of my obsession. ‘Buyonic’ was therefore born, lovingly drawn by hand and bound with staples and sellotape.
The cover and spreads to the left are from issue three. I think I convinced myself that I would sell this to my peers and eventually set up my own comic book publishing house to rival 2000 AD. That didn’t happen. However, the fascination I still have with designing and making books definitely started here as a sweaty and deluded 11 year old.
The object of my obsession, 2000 AD issue 1.
