Barrie Tomlinson – RIP
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UK comics creator, author and editor Barrie Tomlinson has passed away.
Barrie Tomlinson
February 1938 – April 21, 2026
We’re very sorry to report the passing of comics editor, writer and author Barrie Tomlinson, the genius who not only made TIGER a much-loved weekly sports comic, but who also brought us Roy of the Rovers weekly, cementing the character’s name in football legend, and the modern version of EAGLE, home to a revived Dan Dare and the unforgettable Doomlord, created by Alan Grant and John Wagner.
A lifelong comics fan, he joined the world of comics in 1961, as a sub editor on Lion. He then moved to Tiger in 1965 and eventually became editor. He launched Roy of the Rovers comic in 1976, and became group editor of the Sport and Adventure Department at IPC magazines, launching Speed comic in 1980 and what’s known as the New Eagle in 1982.
In 1989 Tomlinson created and with his son wrote the Scorer comic strip for the Daily Mirror.
Circumstances then saw him move on to other work, including the creation of the long-running “Scorer” strip for the Daily Mirror. He wrote the strip with son James, utilising the talents of artists like David Pugh, Barrie Mitchell, John Gillatt, David Sque and Martin Baines, for 22 years, running for some 6500 episodes.
The comic weekly and newspaper comic strip writer and editor is remembered by a number of other comic creators in John Freeman’s tribute.
Probably one of the most successful editors of his time, Barrie combined a deep knowledge of and passion for comics with a salesman’s eye for publicity. Thanks to him, Roy of the Rovers remains a household name while generations of readers have been thrilled, educated, and scared in equal measure by titles he launched and championed.
In 1976 the weekly Roy of the Rovers title launched with over 300,000 in sales, making it one of the best-selling titles at London-based publisher IPC. As part of his commitment to listening to his readers, he created a special phone line that readers could call and leave their comments about the comic — when it launched it was so popular that Barrie had to travel into London during the weekend to replenish the tapes. At a time when British football stadiums were being blighted by hooliganism, Barrie was all too aware that Roy was a positive role model for children.
Editor, writer, publicist — Barrie Tomlinson leaves behind an indelible legacy in comics. Committed to listening his readers, he had a deep affinity for the kinds of characters children wanted to read about, whether they were on the football field or in deep space. One of the industry’s unsung heroes, while his deft stewardship allowed 2000 AD to flourish and become a cultural powerhouse, his own achievements and writing should never be ignored or undervalued.
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