Comic Books

The Club welcomed Colin Maxwell from Maximized Comics as their guest speaker this week, where he shared insights into his journey as a comic book creator and historian.

Introduction to Comic Creation

Colin began his career in comic book production in 2013, working alongside illustrator Michael Philp. Their debut publication, 'King Robert the Bruce and the Wars of Independence', was strategically released in 2014 to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, demonstrating Colin's commitment to connecting historical events with contemporary storytelling.

Historical Military Comics

A significant portion of Colin's work focuses on military history, particularly stories from the Second World War. His comic 'Raid on the Forth' tells the historically accurate account of the first air raid over Britain during WWII. The story details how twelve Junkers aircraft searched for HMS Hood, marking the first combat mission for both the German pilots and the defending Spitfire pilots. The raid was notable for several reasons: HMS Hood was actually stationed on the west coast rather than at the targeted location, other vessels including HMS Repulse were present, and Hitler had specifically ordered that no civilian casualties should occur.

The raid connected to local history through the testimony of Richard De Marco of the Traverse Theatre, who witnessed the aircraft flying over Portobello beach on their return journey and observed bullet marks in the sand left by the pursuing Spitfires. The engagement resulted in damage to HMS Southampton and HMS Edinburgh, while two enemy aircraft were shot down by a convoy heading to Rosyth. The captured prisoners of war were subsequently held at Edinburgh Castle.

Colin also discussed 'Flight of the Eagle', which chronicles the dramatic true story of the Polish submarine Orzel and its daring escape.

Local History and Community Connection

'The Dunfermline Story' represents Colin's contribution to local heritage, presenting an illustrated history of Scotland's newest city written in Scots. Dunfermline achieved city status in 2022 through Queen Elizabeth II, becoming Scotland's eighth city. The publication celebrates both famous figures such as Andrew Carnegie, once the world's richest man, and Robert the Bruce, Scotland's warrior king who is buried there, as well as ordinary citizens including weavers, grocers, merchants, and even local legends of thieves, witches, and ghosts.

The book explores Dunfermline's historical significance as Scotland's former capital city, detailing the kings and queens who resided there. Notably, the publication includes artwork created by local schoolchildren, depicting iconic buildings and objects throughout the city, demonstrating Colin's commitment to community engagement and education.

Professional Recognition and Distribution

Colin's expertise has been recognised through various achievements and publications. He won the Dundee Comics Prize in 2017 for short story writing and has contributed to numerous anthologies including Comicscene Annual 2021, Bite Me, Swift at 350, Time & Space: An H.G. Wells Comics Anthology, 13th Moon, and Scrieve.

In 2020, Colin received a significant commission to write for DC Thomson's long-running Commando comic series. His first story for the series, 'Five Little Soldier Boys', was published on October 1st, 2020, marking his entry into one of Britain's most established comic publications.

Colin's publications reach a global audience through his website at https://maximized.co.uk, making his historically-focused comics accessible to readers worldwide.

Summary

The presentation concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Donald Mackay. Colin Maxwell's talk demonstrated how comic books can serve as an engaging medium for preserving and sharing historical narratives, combining meticulous research with accessible storytelling to bring Scotland's heritage to new audiences both locally and internationally.