View source for Tom Tully (writer)

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox comics creator
| name = Tom Tully
| image = Picture of Tom Tully the writer.jpg
| imagesize = 220
| caption = 
| birth_name = Thomas Tully
| birth_date = 
| birth_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland, UK<ref name=S&S>[https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Tom-Tully/177613336 Tully author page], Simon and Schuster website. Retrieved May 12, 2021.</ref>
| death_date = 2013
| death_place = U.K.
| nationality = British
| area = 
| cartoonist = 
| write = y
| art = 
| pencil = 
| ink = 
| edit = 
| publish = 
| letter = 
| color = 
| alias = 
| collaborators = [[Francisco Solano López (comics)|Francisco Solano López]], [[Eric Bradbury]], [[Mike Western]], [[Joe Colquhoun]], [[Dave Gibbons]]
| signature = <!-- very optional -->
| notable works = ''[[Roy of the Rovers]]''<br />''[[The Steel Claw (comics)|The Steel Claw]]''<br />''[[Kelly's Eye]]''<br />''[[Johnny Red]]''<br />''[[The Leopard from Lime Street]]''
| awards = 
| website = 
| nonUS = y
}}
'''Tom Tully''' (died 2013) was a noted British [[comics|comic]] writer, mostly of sports and action-adventure stories. He was the longest-running writer of the popular [[association football|football]]-themed strip ''[[Roy of the Rovers]]'', which he wrote for much of [[Roy Race]]'s playing career until the weekly comic closed in 1993. Other notable strips penned by Tully included ''[[The Steel Claw (comics)|The Steel Claw]]'', ''[[The House of Dolmann]]'', ''[[Janus Stark|The Incredible Adventures of Janus Stark]]'', ''[[The Leopard from Lime Street]]'', ''[[Robo Machines (comics)|The Robo Machines]]'', and ''[[Harlem Heroes]]''. During his three-decade career, Tully wrote exclusively for what became known as the [[International Publishing Company|IPC]] line of publishers: [[Amalgamated Press]]/[[Odhams Press|Odhams]]/[[Longacre Press (UK)|Longacre Press]]/[[Fleetway Publications|Fleetway]]/[[IPC Magazines]].

==Biography==
Tom Tully was born in [[Glasgow]], but grew up in [[Reading, Berkshire]] (where he became a supporter of [[Newcastle United]]). He worked as a telephone operator for the [[Royal Air Force]] as part of his national service. After a series of civil service jobs and earning a diploma in writing for children, he embarked on a freelance writing career. His first sale was at age 25 — a [[Buck Rogers]] story.

From 1963 to 1970, Tully was the principal writer on ''[[The Steel Claw (comics)|The Steel Claw]]'' for ''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]'' with artist [[Jesús Blasco]], taking over for the fourth serial from [[Ken Bulmer]], and later returning from 1971 to 1973 for the sequel strip, ''Return of the Claw''. In the early 1960s, he wrote ''Heros the Spartan'' with art by [[Frank Bellamy]] for ''[[Eagle (comic)|Eagle]]''. Another one of his most notable strips for ''Valiant'' was ''[[The Wild Wonders]]'', drawn by [[Mike Western]], about a pair of wild boys, brought up by animals, who turn out to be fantastic athletes. He also worked on ''[[Kelly's Eye]]'' and ''[[Janus Stark]]'' (both with [[Francisco Solano López (comics)|Francisco Solano López]]) in the 1960s.<ref name="BA">Steve Holland, [http://bearalley.blogspot.com/2008/05/mike-western-1925-2008.html Mike Western (1925-2008)], Bear Alley, 20 May 2008</ref>{{efn|According to the first printing of Paul Scoones' ''The Comic Strip Companion'' (2012), Tully was also the regular writer on the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' strip in ''[[TV Comic]]'' prior to 1966; however, subsequent research suggests that Scones had confused Tully with another comics writer of this period, [[Thomas Woodman]].<ref>Scones, Paul. [https://paulscoones.wordpress.com/the-comic-strip-companion-1964-1979-errata/ "ERRATA (1964-1979,"] ''THE COMIC STRIP COMPANION: A GUIDE TO DOCTOR WHO IN COMICS'' website. Retrieved May 12, 2021.</ref>}}

Tully wrote his first scripts for ''[[Roy of the Rovers]]'' in 1969, and wrote the comic sporadically until 1974 when he was given the permanent job as lead writer, a position he held for nearly 20 years. During that time, the strip moved from ''[[Tiger (Fleetway)|Tiger]]'' to its own [[Roy of the Rovers (comic)|self-titled comic]].

In the 1970s and '80s, Tully worked on ''[[Johnny Red]]'' for ''[[Battle Picture Weekly]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://comicsalliance.com/ennis-burns-johnny-red-titan/|title=Garth Ennis And Keith Burns Revive 'Johnny Red' At Titan|website=[[ComicsAlliance]]|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-28}}</ref> He worked on many ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'' projects including ''[[Dan Dare]]'', and the sports-related ''[[Harlem Heroes]]'' and ''[[Mean Arena]]''. He also created ''[[The Mind of Wolfie Smith]]'' for ''[[Tornado (comics)|Tornado]]'', which later transferred to ''2000 AD''.

Tom also wrote three cricket-themed short novels in 1986 and 1987 - [https://www.amazon.com/Magnificent-11-Dragon-Books/dp/0583309216 The Magnificent 11] (ISBN-10 0583309216, ISBN-13 978-0583309219), Dangerous Game, and [https://www.amazon.com.au/Showdown-at-Seabank-Tom-Tully/dp/0583309224 Showdown at Seabank] (ISBN-10 0583309224, ISBN-13 978-0583309226). These books followed the adventures of a young teenager Terry Mason and his friends who started their own cricket club after losing a season at their school. The first and last book are available, however Dangerous Game appears very difficult to find. 

Tully wrote the ''Roy of the Rovers'' strip until the main comic's demise in 1993, with the final incident of Roy's playing career coming when he lost control of his helicopter and crashed into a field.<ref>Acton, P.; Jarman, C. M. (1994), ''Roy of the Rovers: The Playing Years'', Queen Anne Press, {{ISBN|978-1-85291-548-3}}, p. 214.</ref> After the closure of ''Roy of the Rovers'', Tully had very few comics credits. He retired to [[Wiltshire]] in the [[West Country]]. 

He died in Autumn 2013.<ref name=DD>[http://www.dandare.info/artists/tully.htm Tom Tully], DanDare.info. Retrieved May 12, 2021.</ref>

==Bibliography==
Comics work includes:

=== Action/adventure strips ===
* 1962–1971 ''[[Kelly's Eye]]'':
** in ''[[Knockout (UK comics)|Knockout]]'' (with artist [[Francisco Solano López (comics)|Francisco Solano López]], 1962–1963)
** in ''Valiant'' (1963–1971)
* 1962–1964 ''Heros the Spartan'' (with art by [[Frank Bellamy]], in ''[[Eagle (British comics)|Eagle]]'')
* {{circa}} 1962 ''The Guinea Pig'' (in ''Eagle'')
* 1963–1973 ''[[The Steel Claw (comics)|The Steel Claw]]'' (with art by [[Jesús Blasco]], in ''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]'')
** ''Return of The Steel Claw'' (in ''Valiant'', 1971–1973)
* 1963–1964 ''Pike Mason'' (in ''[[Boys' World]]'')
* 1964–{{circa}} 1969 ''[[Mytek the Mighty]]'': (with [[Bill Lacey (Illustrator)|Bill Lacey]] and [[Eric Bradbury]], in ''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]'', first appearance September 26th, 1964)<ref>''Mytek the Mighty'', [http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/m/mytek.htm International catalog of superheroes], consulted on April 8th, 2021.</ref>
* 1966–1970 ''[[The House of Dolmann]]'' (with art by [[Eric Bradbury]], in ''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]'')
* 1969–1971 ''[[Janus Stark|The Incredible Adventures of Janus Stark]]'' (with art by [[Francisco Solano López (comics) |Francisco Solano López]], in ''[[Smash! (comics)|Smash!]]'')
* 1970–1971 ''[[Adam Eterno]]'' (in ''[[Thunder (British comics)|Thunder]]'', 1970–1971)
* 1971–1973 ''Raven on the Wing'' (in ''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]'')
* 1971 ''Von Hoffman's Invasion'' (in ''[[Jet (comic)|Jet]]'')
* 1976–1985 ''[[The Leopard from Lime Street]]'' (with art by [[Mike Western]]<ref name="DTT">Ian Wheeler, [http://www.downthetubes.net/features/tributes/mike_western_remembered.html Mike Western remembered] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015072437/http://www.downthetubes.net/features/tributes/mike_western_remembered.html |date=2011-10-15 }}, Down The Tubes, 21 May 2008</ref> and [[Eric Bradbury]], in ''[[Buster (comics)|Buster]]'', 27 March 1976 to 18 May 1985)
* 1977–1987 ''[[Johnny Red]]'' (with art by [[Joe Colquhoun]], in ''[[Battle Picture Weekly]]'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.falconsquadron.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=104 |title=A Brief History of Johnny Red |website=Falcon Squadron |date=22 February 2010 |access-date=3 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402234111/http://www.falconsquadron.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=104 |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref>
* {{circa}} 1978 ''Operation Shark'' (''[[Battle Picture Weekly]]'')
* 1979–1980 ''[[The Mind of Wolfie Smith]]'':
** "The Mind of Wolfie Smith" (with art by [[Vanyo]], in ''[[Tornado (comics)|Tornado]]'' #1–11, 15–22, 1979)
** "The Evil of Matthew Hobb" (with art by [[Ian Gibson (comics)|Ian Gibson]], in ''2000 AD'' #127–130, 1979)
** "Night of the Carnivore" (with art by [[Vanyo]] (1–12) and [[Mike White (comics)|Mike White]] (13–14), in ''2000 AD'' #131–134, 136–145, 1979)
** "The Mind of Wolfie Smith Book 2" (with [[Jesus Redondo]] [1–14] and [[Mike Dorey]] as J. Clough [15], in ''2000 AD'' #162–175, 177, 1980)
* 1979 ''[[Dan Dare]]'': "Servant of Evil" (with art by [[Dave Gibbons]], in ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'' #100–126)
* 1982–1983 ''Thunderbolt and Smokey'' (in ''[[Eagle (British comics)|Eagle]]'')
* 1984–1985 ''[[Robo Machines (comics)|The Robo Machines]]'' (with [[Mario Capaldi]] and [[Kim Raymond]], in ''Eagle'', 10 November 1984–27 July 1985)
* 1984 ''The Nightcomers'' (with art by John Richardson, in ''[[Scream! (comics)|Scream!]]'')
* 1987 ''The Avenger'' (with art by [[Mike Western]], in ''Eagle'')

=== Sporting strips ===
* 1968–1979 ''Football Family Robinson'' (with art by [[Joe Colquhoun]]):
** in ''[[Jag (comics)|Jag]]'' (1968–1969)
** in ''[[Tiger (Fleetway)|Tiger]]'' (1969–1976)
** in ''[[Roy of the Rovers (comic)|Roy of the Rovers]]'' (1976–1979)
* 1968–1973 ''The Wild Wonders'' (with art by [[Mike Western]], in ''Valiant'')
* 1969–1993 ''[[Roy of the Rovers]]'' (from 1969; continuously 1974–1993)
** in ''[[Tiger (Fleetway)|Tiger]]'' (1969–1976)
** in ''[[Roy of the Rovers (comic)|Roy of the Rovers]]'' (1976–1993)
* 1969–1971 ''Master of the Marsh'' (with art by [[Francisco Solano López (comics)|Francisco Solano López]], in ''[[Smash! (comics)|Smash!]]'')
* {{circa}} 1970–{{circa}} 1980s ''Nipper''
** in ''[[Scorcher (magazine)|Scorcher]]'' (with art by [[R. Charles Roylance]], {{circa}} 1970–1976)
** in ''[[Tiger (Fleetway)|Tiger]]'' (with art by Roylance, 1976)
** in ''[[Roy of the Rovers (comic)|Roy of the Rovers]]'' (with art by Roylance, 1976–{{circa}} 1980s)
* 1976–1977 ''Death Game 1999'' / ''Spinball'' (with art by [[Ian Gibson (comics)|Ian Gibson]] and [[Massimo Bellardinelli]], in ''[[Action (comics)|Action]]'')
* 1976–1977 ''Look Out For Lefty'' (with art by [[Barrie Mitchell]] and [[Tony Harding]], in ''[[Action (comics)|Action]]'')
* 1976–1977 ''The Spinball Slaves'' (in ''[[Action (comics)|Action]]'')
* 1976 ''The Team That Went to War'' (with art by [[Mike Western]] and [[Jim Watson (artist)|Jim Watson]], in ''[[Battle Picture Weekly]]'')<ref>[http://www.bestofbattle.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=134 The Team that Went to War] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321135311/http://www.bestofbattle.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk/?p=134 |date=2012-03-21 }} at Captain Hurricane's Best of Battle</ref>
* 1977–1983 ''The Spinball Wars'' (in ''[[Battle Picture Weekly]]'')
* 1977 ''[[Harlem Heroes]]'' (with art by [[Dave Gibbons]], in ''2000 AD'' progs 2–27)
* 1978 ''Inferno'' (a sequel to 'Harlem Heroes') (with art by [[Massimo Belardinelli]], in ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]'')
* 1980–1981 ''[[Mean Arena]]'' (with art by John Richardson, in ''2000 AD'', progs 178–202)
* 1990–1992 ''Goalmouth'' (with art by [[Francisco Solano López (comics)|Francisco Solano López]], in ''Roy of the Rovers'')
* 1992–1993 ''Buster's Ghost'' (with art by [[Francisco Solano López (comics)|Francisco Solano López]], in ''Roy of the Rovers'')

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}
=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
*[http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=droid&page=profiles&choice=TOMT Tom Tully] at 2000 AD online
*{{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=9694|title=Tom Tully}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101214113556/http://www.royoftherovers.com/behindthescenes/writers.aspx#tully Tom Tully] at the official Roy of the Rovers site

{{Buster}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:2013 deaths]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing]]
[[Category:British comics writers]]
[[Category:Writers from Glasgow]]