Rich Johnston#Bleeding Cool

Johnston grew up in Pontefract, West Yorkshire. He subsequently moved to London.Johnston, Rich (4 July 2013). [http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/04/adi-granov-man-of-ilkley-yorkshire/ "Adi Granov: Man Of Ilkley, Yorkshire"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322013850/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/07/04/adi-granov-man-of-ilkley-yorkshire/ |date=22 March 2014 }}. Bleeding Cool.

Rich's Revelations was originally a simple relisting of British magazine comics news.{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |author1-link=Rich Johnston |title=What is Ramblings 98? |url=http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/features/columns/about_rrevs.html |website=Rich's Ramblings '98 |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981202170019/http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/features/columns/about_rrevs.html |archive-date=2 December 1998 |date=2 December 1998 |quote=Ramblings 98 has had a number of forms. Originally a simple relisting of British magazine comics news, Rich's Revelations, it has been praised, condemned, exhalted and threatened with libel suits. This culminated in a series of targeted attacks that led to the author conducting a vote. The final tally was 104:5 in favour of the continuing of the column with an advisory label, written by Greg Morrow and a name change to Rich's Rumblings. But that was then.}} Johnston began writing gossip on USENET newsgroups in 1994 as Rich's Ramblings.{{cite web |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14141 |title=Lying in the Gutters |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=1 July 2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616195237/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14141 |archive-date=16 June 2011 |df=dmy-all }} He then took the column, around onto the burgeoning World Wide Web, with "Rich's Revelations" on the now-defunct Twist And Shout Comics website.{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |author1-link=Rich Johnston |title=Rich's Ramblings 1999 |url=http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/features/ramblings.html |website=Twist and Shout Comics |access-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991012033836/http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/features/ramblings.html |archive-date=12 October 1999 |date=10 October 1999 |quote=Archives: Feb 1998 to Sep 1999 (Rich Johnston is an advertising copywriter, co-self publisher of Twist And Shout Comics, BBC comedy writer and comics columnist. He currently lives in South London, England.)}} He later started the comics gossip column "All The Rage" for Silver Bullet Comic Books, later Comics Bulletin.{{cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rich |date=31 July 2000 |title=It Lives! |url=http://www.comicsbulletin.com/rage/96503688615423.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723022604/http://www.comicsbulletin.com/rage/96503688615423.htm |archive-date=23 July 2012 |access-date=12 November 2010 |work={{Dead link|date=November 2024}}All the Rage |publisher=Silver Bullet Comic Books}}

Johnston wrote the column "Lying in the Gutters" for Comic Book Resources,[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=column&id=11 CBR's Lying in the Gutters Archives] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412144223/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=column&id=11 |date=12 April 2008 }}. Accessed 18 January 2008 posting rumours and gossip, with a traffic light icon imparting advisory caution as to the possible credibility of each rumour: a red light denoting the least likelihood of accuracy, a green light for the most credible reports, and a yellow light for those that fall somewhere in between.

Johnston's writing does not often impart sources. About that, Johnston said, "I often obfuscate sources to hide their identity—even deny that a story has sources on many occasions." Johnston sees himself as part of a tradition established by the "British tabloid press, one that seeks to entertain rather than inform."

On 27 March 2009, Johnston announced his launch of the website BleedingCool.com.

Bleeding Cool was nominated for the "Favourite Comics Related Website" Eagle Award in 2010{{cite web|url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/05/24/2010-eagle-awards-nominations/ |title=2010 Eagle Awards nominations |publisher=The Beat |date=24 May 2010 |access-date=12 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530075157/http://www.comicsbeat.com/2010/05/24/2010-eagle-awards-nominations/ |archive-date=30 May 2010 }} and 2011 and won in 2012. It was named as one of PC Magazine{{'}}s top blogs of 2010.{{cite web |first=Eric |last=Griffith |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372438,00.asp |title=Our Favorite Blogs: 2010 |work=PC Magazine |date=11 November 2010 |access-date=12 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313204544/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2372438,00.asp |archive-date=13 March 2016 |df=dmy-all }} and Technorati gave it a perfect 1000 score for influence in the comics category.{{cite web |url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/21/wednesday-runaround-going-to-bat-law-school/ |title=Bleeding cool |date=21 September 2011 |access-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111227052743/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/09/21/wednesday-runaround-going-to-bat-law-school |archive-date=27 December 2011 |df=dmy-all }} Johnston was awarded the Shel Dorf Award for Best Comics Blogger for his work on Bleeding Cool in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/27/bleeding-cool-wins-shel-dorf-award-for-best-blogger/|title=Bleeding Cool Wins Shel Dorf Award For Best Comic Blogger (Other People Win Things Too) - Bleeding Cool News And Rumors|date=27 October 2012|website=bleedingcool.com|access-date=25 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203072938/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/10/27/bleeding-cool-wins-shel-dorf-award-for-best-blogger/|archive-date=3 February 2018|df=dmy-all}} He was also nominated in 2011{{Cite web |last=MacDonald |first=Heidi |authorlink=Heidi MacDonald |date=August 10, 2011 |url=http://www.comicsbeat.com/shelf-dorf-award-nominees-announced/ |title=Shel Dorf Award nominees announced |website=The Beat}} and 2013.{{Cite web |last=Armitage |first=Hugh |date=September 17, 2013 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/comics/a516210/2013-shel-dorf-awards-announce-shortlist/ |title=2013 Shel Dorf Awards announce shortlist |website=Digital Spy}}

Johnston has written a number of comics, mainly consisting of one-shots and graphic novella. The first consists of parodies, such as Watchmensch{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Ekstrom |url=http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030905-Watchmensch.html |title=Who Skewers the Watchmen? Rich Johnston on Watchmensch |publisher=Newsarama |date=5 March 2009 |access-date=16 December 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309235435/http://www.newsarama.com/comics/030905-Watchmensch.html |archive-date=9 March 2009 |df=dmy-all }} and Civil Wardrobe (alluding to Marvel's 2006 story Civil War).{{cite web |first=Arune |last=Singh |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com:8080/?page=article&id=7859 |title=Rich Johnston Changes Minds In "Civil Wardrobe" |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=14 August 2006 |access-date=16 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708180723/http://www.comicbookresources.com:8080/?page=article&id=7859 |archive-date=8 July 2011 |df=dmy-all }} The second include his original work, both creator-owned and those based on licensed properties, like Doctor Who: A Room With A Deja View,{{cite web |first=Rick |last=Marshall |url=http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/04/17/exclusive-doctor-who-room-with-a-deja-view-writer-rich-johnston-talks-tardis-and-time-lords/ |title=EXCLUSIVE: 'Doctor Who: Room With A Deja View' Writer Rich Johnston Talks TARDIS And Time Lords |work=Splash Page |publisher=MTV |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=16 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329093156/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2009/04/17/exclusive-doctor-who-room-with-a-deja-view-writer-rich-johnston-talks-tardis-and-time-lords/ |archive-date=29 March 2010 |df=dmy-all }} The Flying Friar (based on the life of Joseph of Cupertino){{cite news |first=Tim |last=Dowling |author-link=Tim Dowling |url=https://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,2220813,00.html |title=A saint with the powers of Superman |work=The Guardian |date=3 December 2007 |access-date=16 December 2009 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110122536/http://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,2220813,00.html |archive-date=10 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }} and Chase Variant which started life at Mam Tor Publishing's Event Horizon.{{cite web |first=Josh |last=Wigler |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23994 |title=Johnston Pursues His "Chase Variant" |publisher=Comic Book Resources |date=10 December 2009 |access-date=16 December 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091215032847/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=23994 |archive-date=15 December 2009 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2007, he wrote the IDW trading card set George W. Bush and the Weapons of Mass Distraction.[http://www.idwpublishing.com/titles/bushcards.shtml Weapons of Mass Distraction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521072901/http://www.idwpublishing.com/titles/bushcards.shtml |date=21 May 2008 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008{{cite news|author=Maev Kennedy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,2108743,00.html |title=Report on George W Bush cards |publisher=Guardian |date= 21 June 2007|access-date=8 December 2011 |location=London}}

He wrote and drew a number of pages for the Popbitch book and curated the Harrods Comic Timing exhibition of original comic book artwork.[http://londonist.com/2008/10/review_comic_timing_at_harrods.php Harrods Comic Timing Exhibition 2008] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081020105401/http://londonist.com/2008/10/review_comic_timing_at_harrods.php |date=20 October 2008 }}. Accessed 17 October 2008

In 2009, he had a story scheduled for the Spearmint anthology from Image Comics with Sleaze Castle writer-artist Terry Wiley.[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18471 Image Comics Solicitations for January 2009] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018003347/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=18471 |date=18 October 2008 }}. Accessed 17 October 2008 He wrote a short story, "Rustlin Up Business," for the second volume of Outlaw Territory, published in February 2011.

He has also written Kate and William: A Very Public Love Story, a comic commemorating the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, published by Markosia.{{cite news |first=Oliver |last=Good |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jan/16/kate-william-public-love-story |title=Wills'n'Kate: the comic book |work=The Guardian |date=16 January 2011 |access-date=17 January 2011 |location=London |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110122536/http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jan/16/kate-william-public-love-story |archive-date=10 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}

In 2012, he wrote a comic serialised in Dark Horse Presents entitled The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne, with art from Simon Rohrmüller. He also wrote a series of parody comics for Boom! Studios, taking on Marvel Studios films, with Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers reinterpreted as "Iron Muslim", "Scienthorlogy," "Captain American Idol," and "The Avengefuls," respectively.

Johnston writes and draws weekly cartoons for the UK blogger Paul Staines, appearing each Monday and collected at RichAndMark.com.[http://www.richandmark.com RichAndMark.com site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608060049/http://www.richandmark.com/ |date=8 June 2010 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008

Johnston wrote briefly for newspapers like The Guardian[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/feb/28/internetnews.g2 The Guardian, Feb 28th, 2001] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170511010633/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/feb/28/internetnews.g2 |date=11 May 2017 }} Accessed 27 January 2008 and magazines like PlayStation World.[http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/f/all-the-write-moves/a-2007071911468272068/g-20060313151238825080 PlayStation World UK] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080709011012/http://www.gamesradar.com/ps2/f/all-the-write-moves/a-2007071911468272068/g-20060313151238825080 |date=9 July 2008 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008 The now-closed publication Punch magazine named him Young Writer of the Year Award in 2001.[http://www.sequart.com/interviews/?interview=740 Sequential Tart interview, November 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404174836/http://www.sequart.com/interviews/?interview=740 |date=4 April 2008 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008

His poster campaign for the Churches Advertising Network in December 2006 generated coverage,[https://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=times+churches+advertising+network+beer&um=1&sa=N&cid=8616803907404920 Google News Cache]. Accessed 27 January 2008 including a leader in the Times Newspaper[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article639683.ece Times newspaper, September 15th 2006]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}. Accessed 27 January 2008 and an appearance on BBC's The One Show.

He was an advertising copywriter until 2009.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

Johnston contributed to the British Channel 4 sketch show Smack the Pony as well as for BBC Radio 4's satirical sketch show Week Ending and the stage/TV show The Sitcom Trials.

He appeared as an interviewee in After the Chalk Dust Settled, a documentary included on the DVD release of Steven Moffat's sitcom Chalk.After the Chalk Dust Settled, featurette on Chalk Series 1 DVD, ReplayDVD.co.uk, prod. and dir. Craig Robins

He was a zombie extra in Shaun of the Dead and a congregation member in the movie Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.{{IMDb name|id=1262679|name=Rich Johnston}}. Accessed 18 January 2008

He wrote and directed a series of radio advertisements for telecommunications company TalkTalk starring Mark Heap. {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v42vC9QZcGA/|work=YouTube|title=Terry's Story, a series of radio ads for TalkTalk, starring Mark Heap, written by Rich Johnston|first=Rich|last=Johnston|date=18 June 2024}}

In 2006, he appeared as a character in the comic book CSI: Dying in the Gutters as a source of "inside joke" humour by featuring him as the victim in a murder mystery set at a comic book convention and using other notable real-world comics creators as suspects in the crime.[http://www.idwpublishing.com/dyinggut.shtml IDW's Dying In the Gutters' site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080804032618/http://www.idwpublishing.com/dyinggut.shtml |date=4 August 2008 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008 He also appeared as a character in the Jodie Picoult novel, The Tenth Circle[http://filmick.blogspot.co.uk/2006/03/jodi-picoults-tenth-circle-hidden.html Film Ick] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111193426/http://filmick.blogspot.co.uk/2006/03/jodi-picoults-tenth-circle-hidden.html |date=11 November 2013 }}. Accessed 2 April 2013. and made a more major appearance in the Leverage novel The Con Job.[http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/01/15/getting-more-leverage/ Bleeding Cool] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218125926/http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/01/15/getting-more-leverage |date=18 February 2013 }}. Accessed 2 April 2013.

Johnston has two daughters.{{cite web| last=Johnston|first= Rich|date=7 June 2005|url = http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14947 |title=Lying In The Gutters|publisher=ComicBookResources.com| access-date= March 30, 2016| archive-date=4 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060313/http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14947|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2019/03/23/joyce-chin-chicago-hospital-arthur-adams-c2e2/|title=Joyce Chin Admitted to Chicago Hospital With Arthur Adams, Not at C2E2|last=Johnston|first=Rich|date=March 23, 2019|website=Bleeding Cool|access-date=March 23, 2019}}

• Dirtbag (Twist and Shout Comics, 1995)[http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/titles/dirtbag.html Official Dirtbag site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028160715/http://twistandshoutcomics.com/titles/Dirtbag.html |date=28 October 2007 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008
• The X-Files (Twist and Shout Comics, 1997)[http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/titles/xflies.html Official X Flies site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028160735/http://twistandshoutcomics.com/titles/xflies.html |date=28 October 2007 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008
• Rich Johnston's Holed Up (Avatar Pres, 2004)[http://www.holedup.net Official Holed Up site] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080220080228/http://www.holedup.net/ |date=20 February 2008 }}
• The Flying Friar (with Thomas Paul Nachlik, Speakeasy Comics, 2005){{cite web |url=http://www.flyingfriarcomic.com |title=Official Flying Friar site |publisher=Flyingfriarcomic.com |access-date=8 December 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106051522/http://flyingfriarcomic.com/ |archive-date=6 January 2012 |df=dmy-all }}
• Civil Wardrobe (with various artists, including Darick Robertson, Ashley Wood and Frazer Irving, Brain Scan Studios, 2006)[http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1354 Civil Wardrobe download] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306065906/http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1354 |date=6 March 2008 }}. Accessed 27 January 2008
• Watchmensch (with Simon Rohrmüller, Brian Scan Studios, 2009)
• Doctor Who: A Room With A Deja View (with Eric J., IDW, 2009)
• "A Trip into Space" (with Terry Wiley, in This Is a Souvenir: The Songs of Spearmint & Shirley Lee, Image Comics, 2009)
• Chase Variant (with Saverio Tenuta and Edmund Bagwell, Image Comics, February 2010, forthcoming)
• Kate and William: A Very Public Love Story (Markosia, April 2011, {{ISBN|1-905692-45-5}}) collects:
• William Windsor: A Very Public Prince (with art by Gary Erskine, 36 pages, Markosia, April 2011, {{ISBN|1-905692-44-7}})
• Kate Middleton: A Very Private Princess (with art by Mike Collins, 36 pages, Markosia, April 2011, {{ISBN|1-905692-43-9}})
• The Many Murders of Miss Cranbourne, with Simon Rohrmuller, Dark Horse Presents (Dark Horse Comics, 2012)
• The Avengefuls (Boom! Studios, 2012)

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• {{gcdb|type=credit|search=Rich+Johnston|title=Rich Johnston}}
• [http://www.bleedingcool.com Bleeding Cool]
• [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=column&id=11 Lying in the Gutters], Johnston's Comic Book Resources column.
• {{comicbookdb|type=creator|id=2649|title=Rich Johnston}}
• [http://www.dynamicforces.com/htmlfiles/tommy.html?showhistory=ok Waiting For Tommy], Johnston's Dynamic Forces column (largely interviews).
• [http://www.richandmark.com RichAndMark.com], Johnston's collection of non-commercial performance work.
• {{IMDb name|id=1262679|name=Rich Johnston}}
• Darius, Julian (4 November 2002). [http://www.sequart.com/interviews/index.php?interview=740 "Rich Johnston on Comics Gossip"]. Sequart Research & Literacy Organization.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090106035212/http://www.2000adreview.co.uk/features/interviews/2006/johnston/rich-johnston.shtml "Rich Johnston"]. 2000AD Review. 15 June 2005

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Rich}}

Category:Alumni of Newcastle University

Category:Comics critics

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:People from Gloucester

Category:British comics writers

Category:British parodists

Category:People educated at The King's School, Pontefract