Rich Johnston Explained

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Birth Name:Richard Johnston
Birth Place:United Kingdom
Area:Comics journalist, gossip columnist, comics writer
Cartoonist:y
Write:y
Notable Works:Lying in the Gutters
Watchmensch
Bleeding Cool
Awards:Shel Dorf Award, 2012
Children:2

Richard "Rich" Johnston is a British comics creator, columnist,[1] and founder of the comics news site Bleeding Cool.

The Comics Journal described Johnston as having claimed to be "the oldest extant comics news reporter on the Internet."[2] His past columns include "All The Rage" (for Silver Bullet Comic Books), and "Lying in the Gutters" (for Comic Book Resources).

Early life

Johnston grew up in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. He subsequently moved to London.[3]

Career

Comics journalism/gossip

Rich's Revelations was originally a simple relisting of British magazine comics news.[4] Johnston began writing gossip on USENET newsgroups in 1994 as Rich's Ramblings.[5] He then took the column, around onto the burgeoning World Wide Web, with "Rich's Revelations" on the now-defunct Twist And Shout Comics website.[6] He later started the comics gossip column "All The Rage" for Silver Bullet Comic Books, later Comics Bulletin.[7]

Johnston wrote the column "Lying in the Gutters" for Comic Book Resources,[8] posting rumours and gossip, with a traffic light icon imparting advisory caution as to the possible credibility of each rumour: a red light denoting the least likelihood of accuracy, a green light for the most credible reports, and a yellow light for those that fall somewhere in between.

Johnston's writing does not often impart sources. About that, Johnston said, "I often obfuscate sources to hide their identity—even deny that a story has sources on many occasions." Johnston sees himself as part of a tradition established by the "British tabloid press, one that seeks to entertain rather than inform."

Bleeding Cool

On 27 March 2009, Johnston announced his launch of the website BleedingCool.com.

Bleeding Cool was nominated for the "Favourite Comics Related Website" Eagle Award in 2010[9] and 2011 and won in 2012. It was named as one of PC Magazines top blogs of 2010.[10] and Technorati gave it a perfect 1000 score for influence in the comics category.[11] Johnston was awarded the Shel Dorf Award for Best Comics Blogger for his work on Bleeding Cool in 2012.[12]

Comics creator

Johnston has written a number of comics, mainly consisting of one-shots and graphic novella. The first consists of parodies, such as Watchmensch[13] and Civil Wardrobe (alluding to Marvel's 2006 story Civil War).[14] The second include his original work, both creator-owned and those based on licensed properties, like ,[15] The Flying Friar (based on the life of Joseph of Cupertino)[16] and Chase Variant which started life at Mam Tor Publishing's Event Horizon.[17]

In 2007, he wrote the IDW trading card set George W. Bush and the Weapons of Mass Distraction.[18] [19]

He wrote and drew a number of pages for the Popbitch book and curated the Harrods Comic Timing exhibition of original comic book artwork.[20]

In 2009, he had a story scheduled for the Spearmint anthology from Image Comics with Sleaze Castle writer-artist Terry Wiley.[21] He wrote a short story, "Rustlin Up Business," for the second volume of Outlaw Territory, published in February 2011.

He has also written Kate and William: A Very Public Love Story, a comic commemorating the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, published by Markosia.[22]

In 2012, he wrote a comic serialised in Dark Horse Presents entitled The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne, with art from Simon Rohrmüller. He also wrote a series of parody comics for Boom! Studios, taking on Marvel Studios films, with Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers reinterpreted as "Iron Muslim", "Scienthorlogy," "Captain American Idol," and "The Avengefuls," respectively.

Johnston writes and draws weekly cartoons for the UK blogger Paul Staines, appearing each Monday and collected at RichAndMark.com.[23]

Non-comics writing

Johnston wrote briefly for newspapers like The Guardian[24] and magazines like PlayStation World.[25] The now-closed publication Punch Magazine named him Young Writer of the Year Award in 2001.[26]

His poster campaign for the Churches Advertising Network in December 2006 generated coverage,[27] including a leader in the Times Newspaper[28] and an appearance on BBC's The One Show.

He was an advertising copywriter until 2009.

Media appearances

Johnston contributed to the British Channel 4 sketch show Smack the Pony as well as for BBC Radio 4's satirical sketch show Week Ending and the stage/TV show The Sitcom Trials.

He appeared as an interviewee in After the Chalk Dust Settled, a documentary included on the DVD release of Steven Moffat's sitcom Chalk.[29]

He was a zombie extra in Shaun of the Dead and a congregation member in the movie Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.[30]

He wrote and directed a series of radio advertisements for telecommunications company TalkTalk starring Mark Heap. [31]

Parodies

In 2006, he appeared as a character in the comic book as a source of "inside joke" humour by featuring him as the victim in a murder mystery set at a comic book convention and using other notable real-world comics creators as suspects in the crime.[32] He also appeared as a character in the Jodie Picoult novel, The Tenth Circle[33] and made a more major appearance in the Leverage novel The Con Job.[34]

Personal life

Johnston has two daughters.[35] [36]

Bibliography

A Very Public Prince (with art by Gary Erskine, 36 pages, Markosia, April 2011,)

A Very Private Princess (with art by Mike Collins, 36 pages, Markosia, April 2011,)

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Pulp Friction. The Village Voice. New York City. 14 March 2006. 27 January 2008. 15 March 2006 . Matt . Singer. https://web.archive.org/web/20060315212816/http://villagevoice.com/film/0611,singer,72528,20.html.
  2. Dean . Michael . Online Comics Journalism: Does It Exist? Part 3: Rich Johnston's Honest Lying . . 2005 . 266 . 21–23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060505030232/http://www.tcj.com/266/n_johnston.html . 5 May 2006.
  3. Johnston, Rich (4 July 2013). "Adi Granov: Man Of Ilkley, Yorkshire" . Bleeding Cool.
  4. Web site: Johnston . Rich . Rich Johnston . What is Ramblings 98? . Rich's Ramblings '98 . 14 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/19981202170019/http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/features/columns/about_rrevs.html . 2 December 1998 . 2 December 1998 . Ramblings 98 has had a number of forms. Originally a simple relisting of British magazine comics news, Rich's Revelations, it has been praised, condemned, exhalted and threatened with libel suits. This culminated in a series of targeted attacks that led to the author conducting a vote. The final tally was 104:5 in favour of the continuing of the column with an advisory label, written by Greg Morrow and a name change to Rich's Rumblings. But that was then..
  5. Web site: Lying in the Gutters . . 1 July 2002 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110616195237/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14141 . 16 June 2011 . dmy-all .
  6. Web site: Johnston . Rich . Rich Johnston . Rich's Ramblings 1999 . Twist and Shout Comics . 14 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/19991012033836/http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/features/ramblings.html . 12 October 1999 . 10 October 1999 . Archives: Feb 1998 to Sep 1999 (Rich Johnston is an advertising copywriter, co-self publisher of Twist And Shout Comics, BBC comedy writer and comics columnist. He currently lives in South London, England.).
  7. Web site: Rich . Johnston . It Lives! . https://archive.today/20120723022604/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/rage/96503688615423.htm . dead . 23 July 2012 . All the Rage . . 31 July 2000 . 12 November 2010 .
  8. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=column&id=11 CBR's Lying in the Gutters Archives
  9. Web site: 2010 Eagle Awards nominations . . 24 May 2010 . 12 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100530075157/http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/05/24/2010-eagle-awards-nominations/ . 30 May 2010 .
  10. Web site: Eric . Griffith . Our Favorite Blogs: 2010 . . 11 November 2010 . 12 November 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160313204544/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372438,00.asp . 13 March 2016 . dmy-all .
  11. Web site: Bleeding cool . 21 September 2011 . 2 April 2013 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20111227052743/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/21/wednesday-runaround-going-to-bat-law-school . 27 December 2011 . dmy-all .
  12. Web site: Bleeding Cool Wins Shel Dorf Award For Best Comic Blogger (Other People Win Things Too) - Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. 27 October 2012. bleedingcool.com. 25 April 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180203072938/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/27/bleeding-cool-wins-shel-dorf-award-for-best-blogger/. 3 February 2018. dmy-all.
  13. Web site: Steve . Ekstrom . Who Skewers the Watchmen? Rich Johnston on Watchmensch . . 5 March 2009 . 16 December 2009 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20090309235435/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030905-Watchmensch.html . 9 March 2009 . dmy-all .
  14. Web site: Arune . Singh . Rich Johnston Changes Minds In "Civil Wardrobe" . . 14 August 2006 . 16 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180723/http://www.comicbookresources.com:8080/?page=article&id=7859 . 8 July 2011 . dmy-all .
  15. Web site: Rick . Marshall . EXCLUSIVE: 'Doctor Who: Room With A Deja View' Writer Rich Johnston Talks TARDIS And Time Lords . Splash Page . MTV . 17 April 2009 . 16 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100329093156/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/04/17/exclusive-doctor-who-room-with-a-deja-view-writer-rich-johnston-talks-tardis-and-time-lords/ . 29 March 2010 . dmy-all .
  16. News: Tim . Dowling . Tim Dowling . A saint with the powers of Superman . . 3 December 2007 . 16 December 2009 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160110122536/http://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,2220813,00.html . 10 January 2016 . dmy-all .
  17. Web site: Josh . Wigler . Johnston Pursues His "Chase Variant" . . 10 December 2009 . 16 December 2009 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20091215032847/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23994 . 15 December 2009 . dmy-all .
  18. http://www.idwpublishing.com/titles/bushcards.shtml Weapons of Mass Distraction
  19. News: Maev Kennedy . Report on George W Bush cards . Guardian . 21 June 2007. 8 December 2011 . London.
  20. http://londonist.com/2008/10/review_comic_timing_at_harrods.php Harrods Comic Timing Exhibition 2008
  21. http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18471 Image Comics Solicitations for January 2009
  22. News: Oliver . Good . Wills'n'Kate: the comic book . . 16 January 2011 . 17 January 2011 . London . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160110122536/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jan/16/kate-william-public-love-story . 10 January 2016 . dmy-all .
  23. http://www.richandmark.com RichAndMark.com site
  24. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/feb/28/internetnews.g2 The Guardian, Feb 28th, 2001
  25. http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/f/all-the-write-moves/a-2007071911468272068/g-20060313151238825080 PlayStation World UK
  26. http://www.sequart.com/interviews/?interview=740 Sequential Tart interview, November 2002
  27. https://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=times+churches+advertising+network+beer&um=1&sa=N&cid=8616803907404920 Google News Cache
  28. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article639683.ece Times newspaper, September 15th 2006
  29. After the Chalk Dust Settled, featurette on Chalk Series 1 DVD, ReplayDVD.co.uk, prod. and dir. Craig Robins
  30. . Accessed 18 January 2008
  31. Web site: Terry's Story, a series of radio ads for TalkTalk, starring Mark Heap, written by Rich Johnston. YouTube. Rich. Johnston. 18 June 2024.
  32. http://www.idwpublishing.com/dyinggut.shtml IDW's Dying In the Gutters' site
  33. http://filmick.blogspot.co.uk/2006/03/jodi-picoults-tenth-circle-hidden.html Film Ick
  34. http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/01/15/getting-more-leverage/ Bleeding Cool
  35. Web site: Johnston. Rich. 7 June 2005. Lying In The Gutters. ComicBookResources.com. March 30, 2016. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060313/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14947. live.
  36. Web site: Joyce Chin Admitted to Chicago Hospital With Arthur Adams, Not at C2E2. Johnston. Rich. March 23, 2019. Bleeding Cool. March 23, 2019.
  37. http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/titles/dirtbag.html Official Dirtbag site
  38. http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/titles/xflies.html Official X Flies site
  39. http://www.holedup.net Official Holed Up site
  40. Web site: Official Flying Friar site . Flyingfriarcomic.com . 8 December 2011 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20120106051522/http://flyingfriarcomic.com/ . 6 January 2012 . dmy-all .
  41. http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1354 Civil Wardrobe download

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