Tom Tully was born in Glasgow and grew up in Reading as a supporter of Newcastle United. After leaving school he did his National Service in the RAF as a telephonist, and then worked as a clerical officer in the civil service and as a tally man, and gained a diploma in writing for children, all the while trying to write freelance. Finally, aged 25, he sold a Buck Rogers story.
He was a prolific writer for Fleetway/IPC, beginning in the early 1960s. His earliest notable work was Roman epic "Heros the Spartan", drawn by Frank Bellamy, in the original Eagle in 1962-1964. The lead writer on Roy of the Rovers from 1974 to 1993, Tully was the go-to guy for sports strips for numerous titles, and also wrote WWII aviation strip "Johnny Red" for Battle Picture Weekly in the 1970s. He was known for his ability to spin out a serial.
Among the strips he wrote were:
- "Adam Eterno" (Thunder, Lion, Valiant, 1970-76)
- "The Avenger" (drawn by Mike Western, Eagle, 1987-)
- "Buster's Ghost" (Roy of the Rovers, 1992-93)
- "Dan Dare" (2000 AD, Eagle)
- "Death Game 1999" (Action, 1976-77)
- "Football Family Robinson" (with Joe Colquhoun, Jag, Tiger, Roy of the Rovers, 1968-79)
- "Goalmouth" (Roy of the Rovers)
- "Harlem Heroes" (drawn by Dave Gibbons, 2000 AD, 1977)
- "Heros the Spartan" (drawn by Frank Bellamy, Eagle, 1960s)
- "Inferno" (drawn by Massimo Belardinelli, 2000 AD, 1978)
- "Janus Stark" (Smash!, Valiant, 1969-)
- "Johnny Red" (drawn by Joe Colquhoun, John Cooper, Battle Picture Weekly, 1977-86)
- "Kelly's Eye" (Knock-Out, later Valiant, Vulcan, 1962-76)
- "The Leopard from Lime Street" (Buster, 1976-85)
- "Look Out For Lefty" (Action, 1976-77)
- "Master of the Marsh" (Smash!, 1969-71)
- "The Mean Arena" (2000 AD, 1982)
- "The Mind of Wolfie Smith" (Tornado, 2000 AD, 1978-79)
- "Mytek the Mighty" (Valiant, Vulcan)
- "The Nightcomers" (Scream!, 1984)
- "Nipper" (Scorcher, Tiger, Roy of the Rovers)
- "Operation Shark" (Battle Picture Weekly)
- "Raven on the Wing" (Valiant
- "Roy of the Rovers" (Tiger, Roy of the Rovers, 1969-1993)
- "Spinball" (Action, 1976-77)
- "The Spinball Slaves" (Action, 1976-77)
- "The Spinball Wars" (Battle Picture Weekly, 1977-83)
- "The Steel Claw" (Valiant, Vulcan)
- "The Team That Went to War" (drawn by Mike Western, Jim Watson, Battle Picture Weekly, 1976)
- "Thunderbolt and Smokey" (Eagle, 1982-83)
- "The Wild Wonders" (drawn by Mike Western, Valiant)
After the closure of Roy of the Rovers Tully left the comics industry and ran a pub, the Farrier's Arms, in Pewsey, Wiltshire, and later moved to another pub near Devizes.
References[]
- The Creators: Tom Tully, Falcon Squadron
- Behind the Scenes: The Writers, Roy of the Rovers
- Creator profile at Barney's Droid Zone
- Comic writer resources, Down the Tubes
- Bio at DanDare.info