Barrie Tomlinson: Greetings to all my friends in Greece!

Ο θρυλικός εκδότης των αγαπημένων μας ηρώων σε μία συνέντευξη για τους Έλληνες νοσταλγούς των βρετανικών σειρών κόμικς.

(Του Νίκου Δ. - Θ. Νικολαΐδη)

Dear Mr. Tomlinson, ·

You have been editing Tiger & Roy of the Rovers comic magazines for many decades. What is your most memorable feeling of all this experience?

B.T.: That people still remember what we produced so many years ago. It is very good to talk to people on X who were readers of the comics. Also of course launching Roy’s own comic was a bit special. I’m retired now and getting very old. It’s good to look back on a career in comics.

Barrie and Roy (Tiger, October 4th, 1975/art by Yvonne Hutton)

During early 70s at least two Greek magazines published the RotR stories. One of those was Zagor (by Stelios Anemodouras) and the other was titled Drek (by G. Dragounis). Can you recall any of this stuff back then?

B.T.: No. I wasn’t aware that this was happening. I was concentrating on making the British version a big success. IPC was a very big company which had a special department for dealing with overseas sales. ·

As a little boy, since when you realized that you liked football comics? · Have you played football in amateur or professional basis?

Malcolm McDonald, Roy Race and Barrie Tomlinson

B.T.: It was only when I was introduced to Roy of the Rovers that I became interested in football comics! I’ve never played regular football except at school. I was a defender. ·

 What do you think about comic publications market future in the U.K.? · Are you preparing something new (another book maybe?) concerning Roy and Rovers?

B.T.: If a comic was in tune with football today and well written and well drawn, it could still be a success. I’ve finished writing my third book, which is my life story. I now have to find a publisher! ·

 What is your personal opinion about RotR “new era” by Rebellion S.A.? ·

B.T.: I wasn’t involved with the new Roy publications so it would be unfair for me to comment on them.

A message to all Greek Roy Race fans would be… ???

B.T.: Greetings to all my friends in Greece. I hope you still enjoy Roy’s adventures. Thank you for being readers! Good luck to you all!

Thank you so much for this interview!

B.T.: I’ve enjoyed answering your questions. Thanks for remembering me!

[*] Mr. Barrie Tomlinson is a British comics (Tiger, Roy of the Rovers, Scorer e.t.c.) editor and writer, plus the author of Real Roy of the Rovers Stuff & Comic Book Hero. He is also a honored member of Greek Roy of the Rovers fan Club.