Recently Therefore I Geek had the good fortune to poke the brain of David Leach, who is the writer, artist and creator of Psycho Gran, a wonderfully warped British comic that is making a return. Issue one came out just a few weeks ago. David provided us with some great insight into his creative process and the origins of Psycho Gran.
TIG: What was your personal introduction to comics?
David: When I was about six I was given a copy of the Tintin book, King Ottakar’s Sceptre, which I still have. When I was nine I saved up all my school bus fare to purchase the 1972 Beano annual, which I still have and my sister gave me a copy of the 1975 Giles annual for a Christmas present, which I still have.
As a reader, I started with the humour comics like Cor, Whizzer and Chips, Buster and Topper, then moved over to Battle, Warlord, 2000AD, Starlord and Action. I didn’t come to American comics until much later. I’d read Marvel UK titles like Tomb of Dracula, Planet of the Apes and Frankenstein’s Monster and I vividly remember reading several pivotal issues of both the Hulk and Spider Man as well as Super Man and Batman, but I didn’t start reading US comics properly until Mike Zeck’s run on Master of Kung Fu. Back then I read just three US comics, MOKF, Legion of Super Heroes and Frank Miller’s Daredevil. Then a whole new world opened up for me and I was hooked.
TIG: How did you get started in the comic industry?
David: To quote Mafia Gangster, Henry Hill, “Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a cartoonist.”
All through my early years, nothing drove me more than that desire. But I didn’t want to draw super hero comics. I wanted to draw funny stuff, kids comics. I have a pathological obsession to make people laugh. So, after leaving Art College, I got a job working for animation legend, Bob Godfrey (creator of Rhubarb and Custard). He employed me as his ghost artist and for the next year, I pencilled all of the Henry’s Cat comic strips that appeared in the Halifax Young Savers magazine, the New of the World’s Sunday magazine, and Buttons comic, as well as other stuff too. Then I went freelance. I got a four-week gig drawing for Whizzer and Chips comic, which lead to Oink! and the publishing of my first comic strip under my name and starring my own character, Psycho Gran. Then I went on to work on Toxic! Which lead to working for Marvel US on the Toxic Crusaders, followed by more British stuff. Continue reading →
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