When the Reading Champions were visited at Priestfield Stadium by top teen author Bali Rai, he told them many things about the importance of reading. He also told them that graphic novels are a great way of accessing stories and building an appetite for reading. He pointed out that the literacy rate in Japan has not been damaged by a love of such literature.

The boys took this on board and have included graphic novels in their increasing diet of reading and have also created some characters themselves.

So they were delighted when the school was visited by Marvel graphic novelist and former editor of Spiderman, Tim Quinn.

A group of graphic novel enthusiasts that included various reading intervention groups took part in a workshop where Tim exhibited some of his work through the years and gave advice on how to create exciting plots, characters and settings.

We all marvelled at his stories of spending time in Stan Lee’s garden, sitting in trees and discussing ideas for the Incredible Hulk.

Tim has kindly offered to judge the efforts of the students when they submit their own ideas for comics.