So as I’m not going anywhere exciting right now, I’m raiding my old photos to provide new stories for you. And today’s is one that covers many years.
In the early 90s I was injured badly and took several years to heal from a partial paralysis. During this time I got back into comics, and spent a lot of time hanging around a Hounslow comic store called Twilight Zone Comics, owned by a guy named Anis. For his 30th birthday, myself and an artist friend, Mark, who also hung out there created a special comic for him, photocopied together and with a felt-tip coloured cover.
Then, literally overnight Twilight Zone Comics folded. And I never saw Anis again.
Until 2008.
I was signing at Orbital Comics in London with Gary Russell – it was my first London signing for Doctor Who, and even my Dad had turned up. And while signing, a familiar comic was placed in front of me to sign. I looked up and saw Anis, smiling widely. We grabbed a photo and I promised to catch up with him later. And for the remainder of the signing I saw that Anis had been collared by my Dad, who spoke at him animatedly.
In the pub after the signing, I learned that after the store had closed, Anis had become a tech presenter on QVC, one of our home shopping networks. And, more importantly, my Dad recognised him, as he bought a lot of his tech from QVC. In fact, the camera that took this photo, by my Dad, was bought from QVC on a show that Anis had hosted.
Anis sold my Dad the camera that took the photo of me and Anis.
It truly is a small world, and more importantly the good people always come back into your life.
