Mr. T is probably one of the most recognized pop culture icons of all time. It has been nearly twenty years since The A-Team ended it's original run and Mr. T is just as popular as ever. This May, AP Comics will be premiering the debut issue of a brand new Mr. T monthly comic book.

Chris Bunting is the writer for the Mr. T comic book series. The first issue debuts in the United States in May of 2005. Check out our original interview below.

1) How long have you been writing for comic strips?
CHRIS BUNTING: Well, my first professional comic work was accepted in 2003, but it’s really this year that everything’s started to come together, with the release of my writing in such titles as Action Man, The Lexian Chronicles and, of course, Mr.T.

2) What was it about the Mr. T project that inspired you to come on board with the project?
CHRIS BUNTING: Being a professional comic book writer and also a huge Mr.T fan, what was more logical than a Mr.T comic? I approached publisher APComics with the idea, they loved it, and we went from there. Mr.T was born to be a comic book star, and he’ll bring a real excitement and energy along with him. Great stories with this great character have been going untold, but that’s all set to change with this all-new ongoing comic series!

3) How much creative control do you have with the storyline of the strip? Do you work with a team of writers? CHRIS BUNTING:As is the case with most comic books, I’m the only writer, so really, as long as Mr.T approves of what we’re doing and how we’re doing it (he personally acts as Creative Supervisor), I pretty much have total creative freedom.

4) Were you a fan of Mr. T prior to starting this project?
CHRIS BUNTING: Oh yeah, I’ve always been a huge fan and admirer of Mr.T and his work, so this comic really is a dream job for me! I think that my enthusiasm, love and respect will really come through in my work on the series.

5) What is it about Mr. T that you think has garnered him such a huge international fan base?
CHRIS BUNTING:So, so many things! Mr.T, he’s one tough guy, but he offers much more. This is why you see all these celebrity hard men come and go, but Mr.T remain popular. He promotes very positive messages and beliefs, and in this day and age that’s a rarity. People respond to it on the occasions that it does appear, and with Mr.T it always appears.

He’s also so larger than life, and gives off this fantastic energy and vibe that people watching him get caught up in. And he’s exciting to watch. You know the T in Mr.T stands for “trouble” for the bad guys, but “tenderness” to the good guys. He has a real no-nonsense attitude, and people respond to that equally. In an age of increasingly superficial celebrities, either through forced expressions for the paparazzi or going as far as appearance-altering cosmetic surgery, a genuine star like Mr.T really stands out. This is what help makes Mr.T so special, and in turn will help make the Mr.T comic book so fresh and exciting.

6) What can you tell us about the early plot of the comic strip?
CHRIS BUNTING:The first issue of Mr.T is very much a mystery thriller, so I won’t say too much as I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. What I can tell you is this: A lot of bad stuff has been happening to an inner city neighborhood. So bad in fact that it’s close to complete social breakdown. There is one man who could put things right … but he’s not been seen for quite some time.

7) Will there be any special guests that readers might recognize?
CHRIS BUNTING:: You never know. We like to keep readers guessing, so expect the unexpected!

8) Prior to working on the Mr. T project what were you working on?
CHRIS BUNTING:Lots of stuff, including Action Man, which for those of you who don’t know is very literally the British counterpart of G.I. Joe. I’ve also been working on some manga projects for American publisher, Antarctic Press, which will see publication later this year. There’s other writings too, info on which can be found on my personal website www.writing.me.uk

9) Did you read comic books growing up? If so were you a collector?
CHRIS BUNTING:Yeah most definitely, I’ve always been a huge comic reader, and I think that automatically makes you into a collector. You keep the comics you love, much the same way as you would a book or a DVD or a music album.

10) Will you be making a trip to the US to promote the project?
CHRIS BUNTING:: Definitely. I’ll be joining the Mr.T comic publisher, APComics, at the awesome San Diego ComicCon (14-17 July 2005), so come along and say hi. We’ve some great stuff lined up for that show and we’re even hoping to have Mr.T himself join us at our booth. Although I must point out that this has yet to be confirmed, keep checking www.apcomics.com for the latest updates and news on this and the Mr.T comic. And don’t forget to ask your local comic retailer for your copy of Mr.T #1. It ships 21 May 2005 … which is Mr.T’s birthday!

FURTHER INFO ON THE MR.T COMIC BOOK:
· MR.T: 22-PAGE / FULL COLOR.
PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY APCOMICS.
· WRITER: CHRIS BUNTING
· ARTIST: NEIL EDWARDS
· INKER: RANDY EMBERLIN
· COLORIST: DON MACKINNON
· CREATIVE SUPERVISOR: MR.T
· MR.T #1 SHIPS WORLDWIDE 21st MAY 2005 (to coincide with Mr.T’s birthday)
· APComics’s DEDICATED MR.T PAGE: www.apcomics.com/mrtpage.htm
· MY PERSONAL WEBSITE: www.writing.me.uk


Mr. T can also be found on DVD. Season Two of The A-Team is now on DVD. Visit our sister site imissthe80s.com and view our review and find out how you can win a copy of season two on DVD.