Martin Lock (born 1950Willis, Russell
"AN INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN LOCK (PART THREE , THE HARRIER COMICS YEARS),"
''Under the Stairs'' (2013). Accessed Feb. 8, 2020. in the United Kingdom) is a British comic book critic, writer, and publisher. As publisher of the fanzines '' BEM'' and '' Fantasy Advertiser'', and then publisher of

Harrier Comics Harrier Comics (officially known as Harrier Publishing) was a British comic book publisher active in the mid-to-late 1980s. Harrier was notable for putting out black-and-white comics in a mold more similar to American comics than to typical Br ...

, he was an important figure in British comics fandom in the 1970s and 1980s. All during his publishing career, Lock had a day job in the sales department of a company in the

chemical industry The chemical industry comprises the companies that produce industrial chemicals. Central to the modern world economy, it converts raw materials (oil, natural gas, air, water, metals, and minerals) into more than 70,000 different products. The ...

, the income from which helped finance his printing bills. When his employer moved its offices from London to Worcester in the late 1970s, Lock relocated as well. By the time he started Harrier in the mid-1980s, he had returned to London, settling in

Northwood, Middlesex Northwood is an affluent area in northwest London, England. It is located within the London Borough of Hillingdon on the border with Hertfordshire and from Charing Cross. Northwood was part of the ancient parish of Ruislip, Middlesex and has f ...

Fanzines

Growing up as a comics enthusiast in the U.K., Lock became a reader of, and eventual a contributor to, British comics fanzines like

Nick Landau Nick Landau is a British media figure. He is co-owner of the Titan Entertainment Group, which publishes Titan Magazines and Titan Books, and owns the London Forbidden Planet store. In the 1970s, before starting up Titan Distributors, he pub ...

& Richard Burton's Comic Media properties and Alan Austin's ''Fantasy Unlimited'' (later known as ''Comics Unlimited''). He also worked as an editor for a time on Mark Ellis' fanzine ''Fantasy Trader''.

''BEM''

In November 1973, Lock launched his own comics fanzine, ''

Bemusing Magazine ''BEM'', originally known as ''Bemusing Magazine'', was a British fanzine focused on comic books which was published roughly five times a year from 1973 to 1982. The brainchild of Martin Lock, ''BEM'' featured American and British comics industry ...

'' (later known as ''BEM''). Billed as "The Comics News Fanzine," the fanzine featured industry news and gossip, interviews, comic reviews, essays, columns, and comic strips. Early issues of ''Bemusing Magazine'' were sold to customers waiting outside the frequent comic marts held in London, as well as the annual edition of the

British Comic Art Convention The British Comic Art Convention (usually known by the moniker Comicon) was an annual British comic book convention which was held between 1968 and 1981, usually in London. The earliest British fan convention devoted entirely to comics, it was als ...

("Comicon"). One of ''Bemusing Magazine'''s key features was its publication of U.S.-based comics industry news that Lock acquired from the long-running American fanzine '' The Comic Reader'' (''TCR''). ''BEM'' was generally published on alternate months of Burton's ''

Comic Media News Richard Burton is a British comic publisher and editor who had a lengthy career at IPC Magazines. While an assistant editor at '' 2000 AD'', he became known to readers as Tharg the Mighty's bumbling assistant Burt, who appeared in a number of s ...

'', which also used ''TCR'' news, thus providing a dose of monthly comic industry news for readers of both publications. (Lock served as features editor for ''Comic Media News'' from 1973 to 1977, even after he launched ''BEM''.) ''BEM'' was also famed for its lengthy letters pages, ''Reaction''. Lock became a member of the British Amateur Press Association, which was formed in 1977 in part due to a letter published in ''Reaction''. As time went, the fanzine also became more of a " strip-zine," with original comics content — some of it written by Lock — increasing year by year. Notable contributors over the years to ''BEM'' included

Brian Bolland Brian Bolland (; born 26 March 1951)Salisbury, Mark, ''Artists on Comic Art'' (Titan Books, 2000) , p. 11 is a British comics artist. Best known in the United Kingdom as one of the definitive Judge Dredd artists for British comics anthology '' 2 ...

, Mike McMahon, Bryan Talbot, and Dave Gibbons. By the late 1970s ''BEM'' had become the UK's leading comics zine;"Fan Press," ''The Comics Journal'' #50 (Oct. 1979), p. 19. Lock's efforts with led to him winning two Eagle Awards — the 1977 Eagle for Favourite British Fan PersonalityPrevious Winners: 1977
at the official Eagle Awards website, archived at the Wayback Machine. (Retrieved 9 September 2018.) and the 1978 Eagle for Favourite British Writer. (Lock was also nominated for the 1977 Eagle for Favourite British Comics Writer.) ''BEM'' was thrice nominated for the Eagle Award for Favourite Fan Publication, winning the award in 1980"The Eagle Awards 1979," ''BEM'' #31 (Dec. 1980), p. 32. and 1981."Marvel's X-Men Sweep British Eagle Awards," ''The Comics Journal'' #69 (Dec. 1981). ''BEM'' was acquired by the U.S.-based

New Media Publishing New Media Distribution/Irjax Enterprises was a comic book distributor and publisher active from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s. In 1978, the company's legal actions against the dominant distributor of the era, Sea Gate Distributors, widened the fi ...

(NMP) in 1981, ostensibly to distribute ''BEM'' in the U.S. and widen its readership. But production delays and the emphasis on British comics prevented the magazine from gaining a foothold. NMP produced only two issues before ''BEM'' faded away.Willis, Russell
"AN INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN LOCK (PART 1 , THE BEM YEARS),"
''Under the Stairs'' (2013). Retrieved Jan. 8, 2020. In the end, ''BEM'' publishes 36 issues from 1973 to 1982.

''Fantasy Advertiser''

Quickly pivoting, Lock revived '' Fantasy Advertiser'', a popular British fanzine dating back to 1965 which had been dormant for a years. He edited ''Fantasy Adveriser'' from 1981 to 1985,Gavin Burrows
"Bookmark this, comic fans! The return of sweet 'FA'"
Lucid Frenzy Junior, 8 November 2010 putting out 20 issuesWillis, Russell
"AN INTERVIEW WITH MARTIN LOCK (PART TWO , THE FANTASY ADVERTISER YEARS),"
''Under the Stairs'' (2013). Retrieved Feb. 8, 2020. before handing over the editorial reins to Martin Skidmore,Gavin Burrows
"Comics & My Life part 2"
, ''Vicious'' #5, July 1996, hosted at BugPowder in order for Lock to focus on his next venture,

Harrier Comics

From 1984 to 1989, Lock ran Harrier Publishing, popularly known as

. The success of Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's '' Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' led to a short-lived explosion of black-and-white independent comics in the United States in the mid-1980s. Harrier's titles followed the same mold, unlike most British comics publishers, who favored the comic magazine format. Lock himself wrote the company's first few titles, ''Conqueror'' and ''Swiftsure''. (''Conqueror'' traced its roots back to 1979, when Lock and artist Dave Harwood created the first stories for ''BEM''.) A number of top UK comics professional gave their support to Harrier by contributing covers and introductions to the company's various titles. Harrier's alternative comics imprint, New Wave, featured a number of notable creators, including Eddie Campbell, Phil Elliott,

Glenn Dakin Glenn Dakin (born 1960) is a British cartoonist and author of children's books. He is the author of the ''Candle Man'' book series, and he contributed to a number of British comics magazines including ''Escape'' and ''Deadline'', and was part of ...

Paul Grist Paul Grist may refer to: * Paul Grist (actor) (born 1939), British actor * Paul Grist (comics) Paul Grist (born 9 September 1960) is a British comic book creator, noted for his hard-boiled police series '' Kane'' and his unorthodox superhero s ...

Ed Hillyer Ilya, Iliya, Ilia, Ilja, or Ilija (russian: Илья́, Il'ja, , or russian: Илия́, Ilija, ; uk, Ілля́, Illia, ; be, Ілья́, Iĺja ) is the East Slavic form of the male Hebrew name Eliyahu (Eliahu), meaning "My God is Yahu/ Jah. ...

, Rian Hughes,

Trevs Phoenix Woodrow Phoenix is a British comics artist, writer, editorial illustrator, graphic designer, font designer and author of children's books. Phoenix is best known for ''Rumble Strip'', published in 2008, a non-fiction look at the difficult social ...

, and Warren Pleece. By the spring of 1989, low sales forced Harrier to shut down. During Harrier's short existence, the company published more than 120 issues of over 30 titles.

Awards

* 1977 Eagle Award for Favourite British Fan Personality * 1977 (nomination) Eagle Award for Favourite British Comics Writer * 1978 Eagle Award for Favourite British Writer * 1978 (nomination) Eagle Award for Favourite Fan Publication — UK for ''BEM'' * 1980 Eagle Award for Favourite Fan Publication — UK for ''BEM'' * 1981 Eagle Award for Favourite Fan Publication — UK for ''BEM''

Bibliography

Comics writing:Martin Lock credits
Grand Comics Database. Retrieved Jan. 9, 2020. * '' 2000 AD'' (

IPC Media TI Media (formerly International Publishing Company, IPC Magazines Ltd, IPC Media and Time Inc. UK) was a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the United Kingdom, with a portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year. Most of its tit ...

): ** “Space Prospector” (

Tharg's Future Shocks ''Tharg's Future Shocks'' is a long-running series of short strips in the British weekly comic '' 2000 AD'' in 1977. The name originates from the fictional editor of 2000 AD and the book titled ''Future Shock'', written by Alvin Toffler, publi ...

), #40 (26 Nov. 1977) — with

Trevor Goring Trevor Goring (born 1949, London, England) is a visual artist, author, publisher, lecturer and consultant. Early life and career Trained in Montreal at the École des Beaux Arts, Université du Québec (1968-1972) in print-making with Pierre ...

** "Time Past” (Tharg's Future Shocks), #42 (10 Dec. 1977) — with

Jose Luis Ferrer Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods. *Jose ben Abin *Jose ben Akabya *Jose the Galilean ...

** " ime Was�� (Tharg's Future Shocks), #46 (7 Jan. 1978) — with Ramon Sola ** "The Illusion Man” (Tharg's Future Shocks) #76 (5 Aug. 1978) — with Pierre Frisano s Frisano* "Unicorn on Winchester” (Marvel Showcase), '' The Mighty World of Marvel'' #16 ( Marvel UK, Sept. 1984) — with Dave Harwood * ''Conqueror'' (

): ** “The Intruders,” #1 (Oct. 1984) — with Dave Harwood ** “Kidnap,” #3 (Dec. 1984) — with Dave Harwood * "Open Planet” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #4 (Feb. 1985) — with Dave Harwood ** "Ball Game” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #4 (Feb. 1985) — with Dave Harwood ** "Let's Be Frank," #5 (Apr. 1985) — with Dave Harwood ** "New Boots,” #5 (Apr. 1985) — with Dave Harwood ** "Interlude,” #5 (Apr. 1985) — with

Kevin Hopgood Kev Hopgood (born 25 August 1961) is a British comic artist who has been drawing comic books since 1984. He specialises in artwork for science fiction and fantasy comics. Biography Hopgood started his career in British comics getting work at ...

** "Shadows,” #5 (Apr. 1985) — with Dave Harwood ** "With Your Musket, Fife and Drum,” #5 (Apr. 1985) — with Dave Harwood * ''Swiftsure'' (Harrier): ** "Arrival” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #1 (May 1985) — with Dave Harwood and Mark Farmer ** "The Assassin” (Ram: Assassin), #1 (May 1985) — with R. F. O'Roake ** "The Rescue” (Ram: Assassin), #3 (Aug. 1985) — with Jeff Anderson ** "Strike Point!” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #4 (Sept. 1985) — with Mike Collins ** "Pressure Point” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #5 (Nov. 1985) — with Mike Collins ** "The Castle” (Ram: Assassin), #5 (Nov. 1985) — with Jeff Anderson * ''Conqueror Universe'' #1 (Harrier, Dec. 1985) ** "Castle in the Air” — with Dave Harwood ** "Sacrifice” — with Tony O'Donnell ** "The Naming” — with Mike Collins and David A. Roach ** "Captain Thunder” — with Kevin Hopgood ** "A Short History of the Conqueror Universe” — with

Graham Bleathman Graham Bleathman is a Bristol-based artist who draws and authors cutaways for several Haynes Manuals The Haynes Owner's Workshop Manuals (commonly known as Haynes Manuals) are a series of practical manuals from the British publisher Haynes P ...

** "The Conqueror Universe Story Chronology, 2470 to 2492” — with Dave Harwood * ''Swiftsure and Conqueror'' (Harrier): ** "Entrapment” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #8 (May 1986) — with Steve Yeowell ** "The Dungeon” (Ram: Assassin), #8 (May 1986) — with Tim C. Perkins ** "Fair Exchange” (Redfox), #9 (July 1986) — with

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelv ...

; C. Cropley (art assist) ** "Fl'ff's Story Part One” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #9 (July 1986) — with Dave Harwood ** "Points of View” (Lieutenant Fl'ff ), #10 (Sept. 1986) — with Dave Harwood ** "Ice Winds” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #11 (Nov. 1986) — with Steve Yeowell ** "Assault on Valley Thirteen” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #11 (Nov. 1986) — with Dave Harwood ** “The Foundation” (Ram: Assassin), #12 (Jan. 1987) — with Dave Harwood ** "Nowhere to Run” (Lieutenant Fl'ff ), #13 (Mar. 1987) — with Steve Yeowell and Ashley Watkins ** "Wild One” (Lieutenant Fl'ff), #14 (May 1987) — with

Art Wetherell Art is a diverse range of human activity, and resulting product, that involves creative or imaginative talent expressive of technical proficiency, beauty, emotional power, or conceptual ideas. There is no generally agreed definition of ...

and Tem Latham * ''Barbarienne'' (Harrier): ** "Memree: The Girl in the Iron Gag” (Charol), #1 (Marc. 1987) — with

Nick Neocleous Nick may refer to: * Nick (given name) * A cricket term for a slight deviation of the ball off the edge of the bat * British slang for being arrested * British slang for a police station * British slang for stealing * Short for nickname Places ...

** "Captives of the Churmuk," #2 (1987) — with Nick Neocleous ** "Escape Clause" (Charol), #3 (1987) — with Nick Neocleous ** "Fever Dream” (Charol), #4 (Nov. 1987) — with Nick Neocleous ** "The Slavers," #5 (1988) — with John H. Marshall ** "Cold Vengeance” (Charol), #6 (Apr. 1988) — with John H. Marshall and Darrell Andrews ** "Crossover with Cuirass, Part 2 of 3: Night in Castle," #7 (1988) — with John H. Marshall ** "Crossover with Cuirass, Part 3 of 3: Red Dawn," #8 (1988) — with John H. Marshall * "The Fallen Star” (Cuirass), ''Harrier Preview'' #1 (Harrier, March 1988) — with Cam Smith * "Compact of Fire” ''Nightbird'' #1 (Harrier, May 1988) — with Cam Smith * ''Sabina'' (Fantagraphics/ Eros): ** " I'd seen the advertisement in The Stage…” #1 (Dec. 1993) — with Paul Naring ** " This was my first appearance as Sabina's assistant…” #2 (Jan. 1994) — with Paul Naring ** "The Big Picture!”, #3 (May 1994) — with Paul Naring

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lock, Martin British magazine editors British comics writers Comic book publishers (people) Comics critics 1950s births Living people