Rebuilding The Time Rogues from Strip to Prose

[Perpetual Man]

A long time ago, when I was half the age I am now (maybe a little younger). I got involved in writing for the British Small press.

Back then there were very few digital publications, a lot was printed traditionally, and in the really small press side of things, cheap photocopiers were employed in order to get things out into the world.

Following an advert in a comic magazine (probably comics international) I submitted the idea for a comic strip - it ultimately became known as Time Rogues, which ultimately saw publication in the North London Comics: Union Jack.

The first story arc - Prelude and Prologue appeared (six 8 page parts) and the first major story arc, The Gods of Sand and Stone, was put together, written and about half of it was drawn. The later parts Scattered, City of Blood, Time of the Supermen and the final part which never got a title were all plotted out.

There was also two spin-offs, Dawn of the Supermen which was fully written and partially drawn and Parallax which I plotted out, but did little more with it.

Although over time I have left it all behind, I have always carried a place in my heart for the story and have recently gone back to it, trying to adapt it from strip to prose and it's not as easy a transition as I originally thought.

I rewrote Prelude: Original Thread

and it was not really what was intended, probably as I kept it too close to the comic book original. I rewrote again: Rewritten Thread This was a lot more satisfying.

Although my time is severely compromised at the moment, I'm going to continue playing with the story, and thought as it was something a bit different I would share the progress here.

Any one who wants to chip in with comments and advice or just observations feel free.

To start with I'm going to (hopefully) put some of the original bits and pieces that went into the creation of the strip up.

 

[Juliana]

That sounds like an interesting challenge! Looking forward to following your strip-to-prose journey.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks Juliana.

I'm going to start with a little bit of background. I've been rummaging through the Filing Cabinet. This is a real, solid steel thing that lurks in the cupboard under the stairs. It is filled with all kinds of things, but mostly material I have written or been involved with going as far back as the 'books' my best friend and I wrote for one another when we were kids (8 years up I'd guess!)

One of the big questions creative types get asked is where do the ideas come from? In this instance it is hard, I'm stretching back over a quarter of a century.

I know that I had an idea of having a Police Man who investigated crimes in different time periods, so there was an element of Doctor Who in it; and round about the same time I was working in a dead-end job and got quite a reaction one lunchtime when my cousin popped in. The guys in the front were rather intrigued as to who the strange woman was, so I just joked off the cuff that it was my wife...

The idea though stuck and those two threads were probably the starting point for the Time Rogues.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Looking back now a lot more effort went into the creation of the strip than I would have thought would have been the case for a small press title.

I had been submitting short stories to various magazines, and material to both Marvel and DC and had built up a fairly positive relationship with an editor at the latter. He'd been most helpful as I moved up the ladder, and I had come close to selling a story to them, only failing because I used characters that they had plans for.

Unfortunately DC had an internal reshuffle and the editor moved on and I'd have to start all over again, but he recommended that I look into the small press as it would really help if I could have a body of work behind me when I talked to the next batch of editors. As the Small Press was something that had been suggested by some of the 'positive' rejections from the prose magazines it seemed the most logical way to go.

 

[Perpetual Man]

By perusing the ads in Comics International I discovered that a guy named Charles Robinson was starting a small press publication. He was in the early stages of putting it all together and was looking for submissions.

I had been playing around with the above ideas and shot him off an idea. At that point I was working on something a lot different than the finished thing, a series called Time Cops, that would have been more traditional comic fare - individual stories, linking together perhaps with ongoing subplots. As one of my influences was almost certainly Chris Claremont's X-Men that would have been the template I was working from.

I think that what Robinson had in mind with his production was more suited to the modern day world of smallpress publishing. His values were really high, and he was looking to get grants/funding to make the best thing he could.

Back in the early 90's when the small press was produced by photocopier and spirit it certainly would have been a standout title in looks, and the effort he was putting into creating it was remarkable.

In doing something similar today with broadband internet, cheap printers and online printing facilities he would have had a much easier job.

 

[psychotick]

Hi,

Interesting journey. One thing that hit me immediately (actually two things but the first thing) was the name. I don't know if its just me but the instant I saw the title my mind went straight to Time Bandits. Don't know if that's a good thing or bad.

The other thing is that I'd suggest considering that it's been published in whatever format, that you make sure you have the rights to republish even as a book. Was there a contract signed? Do you have a copy?

Cheers, Greg.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Thanks for the input Greg, and for showing an interest in the thread. I had not really thought about the Time Bandits and an influence but the name has a strong familiar feel to it. Obviously the stories are going to be no where near alike, but the title might be something that causes a preconceived idea based on that.

As you'll see there are a few more complications along the way, but ultimately I own the Time Rogues, there is enough documentation to prove that, but it is a good question and one I'll try and answer as I proceed with the background detail. (I do realise I haven't got to any writing bits yet, I'll get there!)

 

[Perpetual Man]

The below is the earliest writing/idea I can find concerning the Time Rogues, very messily handwritten and a lot different to the finished thing. Many of the characters names are different, I still refer to them as cops and the actual construct of the time travelling is different. But there is the first thought of setting the thing off with a single part story - the basis for Prelude.

All of this was probably me jotting things down and playing with the idea before I got into contact with Charles Robinson.

 

[Gonk the Insane]

Looking forward to following your strip-to-prose journey.

I think I may have mis-interpreted this...

 

[Perpetual Man]

Possibly (and certainly the oldest surviving) sketch of Paul Redgrave with handwritten notes by myself. Some of the details are waiting to be changed, but the basic story of Prelude/Prologue is laid out with the dates first being set out.

 

[Perpetual Man]

When I first started to discuss things with Charles Robinson, I never had any doubt that I would be writing and drawing the strip. I felt that although my artwork might not be up to professional standard it would be good enough for Small Press, and that the ongoing experience would help me improve.

As we continued to discuss things I carried on, starting to design the characters (changing their names as well), and writing the first plot/script for Prelude.

What follows are those early sketches and the first completed script.

 

[Perpetual Man]

 

[Perpetual Man]

 

[Perpetual Man]

 

[Perpetual Man]

 

[Perpetual Man]

 

[Perpetual Man]

And just to show the work that went into it all, especially from the early stages, more of my sketches.​

A few designs from the principle villain​

 

[Perpetual Man]

My initial sketches of the standard gun and the Time Travel device used by the Time Cops, plus notes on how they would work.

The gun was designed so that in close quarters it could be used as a stabbing weapon.

 

[Perpetual Man]

Grogarns' hunter device

 

[Perpetual Man]

My view on how Time Travel could look on the page, lots of different perspectives.