N.L. artist living childhood dream with new graphic novel published by Image Comics

A St. John'sartist's latest work has been published by one of the world's largest publishers of comic books and graphic novels Image Comics.

Paul Tucker illustratedStringeralongside writerPatrick Kindlonand Wallace Ryan. The graphic novel follows Tim, a 1980sracquet stringer and tennis circuit drug dealer who falls under the watch of a Colombian drug cartel.

"I'm interested in, like, these interesting jobs that people don't think about," Tucker saidTuesday.

"I'm a huge tennis fan, so I was looking for an angle.I really liked the idea of approaching it from thisthird party that nobody thinks about. And I think the book even makes a joke about that at some point."

Image Comics released the novel in June. The company isthe third-largest comic and graphic novel publisher, behind Marvel and DC Comics.best known for publishing the Spawn series and The Walking Dead.

Tucker said the opportunity to pitch to Image came before the COVID-19 pandemic, butthe book was shelvedin favour of another project.

"Image is very important to me. They arrived on the scene around 1992, so I was like 10 or 11. And what they represent is a company that was founded by creators, for creators. So they have always remained a publisher where when you work for them, you own your work," he said.

"I love the spirit of the company. I love a lot of the books that they've published over the years. I'm so glad thatwe're amongst them."

Tucker remembers the release of Savage Dragon in 1996 as the moment that really drew him into Image Comics.

He said his younger self would probably beexcited to know he'd one day be published by the company.

"I've been published many times by other fabulous publishers, but yeah, [it has] definitely a journey," Tucker said.

"It's definitely something that I can kind of breathe easier now that I've landed there with a book. And yeah, I think I'd be totally stoked to know."

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