Scunnered Ink’s Gordon Tait on giving Still Game the graphic novel treatment

Gordon, thanks for making time. Before we dive into the Still Game graphic novel, can you tell us a bit about Still Game the TV series?
Comedians Ford Kiernan and Greg Hemphill had originally created a Still Game stage play in the late Nineties which was well received on the comedy festival circuit. The play featured three OAPs – Jack, Victor and Winston. Versions of the characters then appeared in a hugely successful TV sketch show called Chewin’ The Fat.

When time came for Ford and Greg to develop a sitcom, they decided Jack, Victor and their pals were ready to take centre stage, albeit on our small screens. The action takes place in the fictional town of Craiglang and the expanded cast created for the TV show have become household names in Scotland.

“Ford and Greg had been looking into having the show developed in the format for quite some time.”

I understand Still Game has run to nine series now. Why do you think it’s been so popular?
The characters and the world they inhabit are so well written and realised. Although Ford and Greg play the main characters, it really is an ensemble piece – with the other characters often at the forefront with fantastic dialogue and laughs.

The performances, coupled with the top notch writing from Ford and Greg, is absolute gold. It continues to find an audience today with youngsters not even born when it first started now enjoying the show. It’s available on the BBC iPlayer and on Netflix – but if you live in Scotland, it’s never off the telly anyway!

You have recently been involved in developing and publishing the first Still Game graphic novel. How did this come about?
Ford and Greg are big comic fans and had been looking into having the show developed in the format for quite some time. As I was about to exit my previous employment with DC Thomson and was looking for something to put my energy into, it seemed like the perfect project.

We formed the Scunnered Ink business primarily to look after the cartoon world of Still Game and set to work. Safe to say, not every show lends itself to the treatment, but Still Game was perfect! The reaction to our first publication has been overwhelmingly positive. The intention is to build and expand the cartoon versions of the characters through a series of books and hopefully other projects. Some animation would be nice!

For those of us not from the world of comics and graphic novels, can you describe the creative process?
It involved lots and lots of rewatching of episodes, as the books are adaptations of the actual TV show. If you look at the spine of the first book you will see an S at the top there… When all nine series are complete it will read as STILL GAME, so you could say we’re committed!

“We’ve used the comic format to expand on more cartoony aspects of the existing stories.”

Ford and Greg were also keen the characters were not just straight caricatures. We were to design characters that would become almost new versions of the originals. There are very strong resemblances of course, but they wanted the comic world to become its own thing – and eventually stand in its own light.

We’ve used the comic format to expand on more cartoony aspects inspired by the existing stories… If Jack and Victor are talking about something fantastical, then we can depict that on the page.

And in terms of the process, there’s pretty straightforward steps to making a comic. Scripts are written and – fingers crossed – approved, and pages are pencilled up by the artists. Once they are checked over they’re then inked, coloured up and then the text balloons are added!

We’ve been really fortunate to find a team of amazingly talented creatives to bring the book to life. It’s been the most rewarding comic book project I have ever had the privilege to work on… Without doubt!

Did you encounter any challenges that you’re pleased to have cracked?
Early on, a decision was made to not enforce ‘house style’ so to speak. This allowed the individual artists to bring something of themselves to each story. A bit of a gamble maybe, but it paid off. Again, the reaction from the readers and fans has been really lovely. The future looks bright for our cartoon version of Craiglang’s residents.

You mentioned having a terrific team. How do you keep the team aligned creatively?
It’s really not that difficult if you have a good team. Everyone brought something to the table and understood the direction we were heading. We had a pretty solid vision. And the source material was a gift.

I’m not saying making comics is easy – it is really hard work – but at its heart, it’s a simple process. The team knew what they were doing, and input from Ford and Greg along the way added some magic.

Where can our readers buy a copy of the Still Game graphic novel?
Waterstones, Amazon, jackandvictor.com, Forbidden Planet (Scotland), HMV, and lots of independents are stocking it too. Fortunately we have a product that can easily sit in Scottish gift shops, so we’re in a wide variety of outlets.

You mentioned plans for more. Is Book 2 already in development?
Book 2 is well underway, and we will be moving straight on to Book 3. We’re also looking to add other products featuring the comic book style and we’re also taking control of the core Still Game brand’s licensing opportunities. There is a lot of unofficial merch out there – and most of it not looking too good. We’ll be working with a number of partners to develop the official lines.

Exciting news! Now, switching more broadly to the wider UK comics and graphic novel market, what is your take on the sector at the moment? What are the highs and lows?
The comic scene is looking pretty, pretty good right now. Highlights for me are in the kids’ space. Kids seem to be loving comics, but they are consuming them in the book format these days rather than the old-school periodicals of my day. Look at the success of folks like Dav Pilkey and the UK’s very own Jamie Smart. We’re hoping to release something in this vein next year, working with a number of creators and under our SKIDS imprint.

Also, self-publishing and the ability to do so is so much easier now. Technology is such that you no longer need to do massive print runs to make your own comic. The Thought Bubble Comic-Con in Harrogate is a great place to go see all the amazing, diverse work people are doing in comics.

You have worked in comics for some time and have a great track record. What advice would you give to young creatives seeking to break into this world?
Make comics! Comics tend to be a labour of love and there are quite a few disciplines involved, so an understanding – without necessarily being expert in them all – is a good idea. If you do get a gig, then hitting the deadline is really important. Delivering a good job on time is essential.

Finally, can you give us a couple of names from the comic world who have inspired you?
Pat Mills. He created 2000AD back in the late 70s and transformed my childhood. He’s an incredibly influential creator in the field of comics and still making great comics today. Check him out on numerous YouTube interviews – he’s a fiery, passionate, opinionated creator.

Then there’s Mark Millar – a great Scot! Mark is a powerhouse when it comes to creating comics and his hit rate is incredible. What inspires me most though is his unwavering belief in the collaborative process of making comics and in sharing success.

Finally, I’d say David Law – because he drew it his way! The original Dennis the Menace artist, and still the best!

Thanks again Gordon.