Dave Cook is an author of
comic books
A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...
,
video game history books and
video game scripts, living in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has previously worked as a
video game journalist
Video game journalism (also called games journalism or video game criticism) is a specialized branch of journalism that covers various aspects of video games, including game reviews, industry news, and player culture, typically following a core ...
and
PR consultant
In 2014, he founded independent comic production house ''
Card Shark Comics''
Killtopia
In 2016, Cook released the first book in the cyberpunk comic series ''
Killtopia'' through publisher BHP Comics, which in 2018 won a Creative Edinburgh Award for Creativity. In 2024, the series was compiled as a complete edition and distributed worldwide by publisher, Titan Comics.
In 2021, Cook and BHP Comics sold the TV adaptation rights for ''Killtopia'' to Los Angeles animation studio Voltaku Studios
In 2024, Cook successfully curated, edited and self-published the comic anthology, Killtopia: Nano Jams. The book contains over 20 stories that look at how today’s media technology (video games, social media, virtual reality, movies and more) could evolve in our warped cyberpunk future. It features contributions from over 50 creators, including Skylar Patridge, Steve Gregson, Jason Loo, Liana Kangas, Stipan Morian, Gustaffo Vargas, Scott Bryan Wilson and Gamespot’s Lucy James
Other Comic Book Works
Under Card Shark Comics, Cook wrote and published post-apocalyptic comic series ''
Bust'', dark fantasy series ''
Vessels
Vessel(s) or the Vessel may refer to:
Biology
*Blood vessel, a part of the circulatory system and function to transport blood throughout the body
*Lymphatic vessel, a thin walled, valved structure that carries lymph
*Vessel element, a narrow wat ...
'' and the six-part serial ''
Feather
Feathers are epidermal growths that form a distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on both avian (bird) and some non-avian dinosaurs and other archosaurs. They are the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates and an exa ...
'' for UK anthology ''
Comichaus''
Cook also writes comic books with long-time collaborator, Steve Gregson. Their releases include BPM: Beatdowns Per Minute and Ninja Baseball Spirits - an adaptation of the 1993
IREM
is a Japanese video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher and manufacturer of pachinkos. The company has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo.
The full name of the company that uses the brand is Irem Software Enginee ...
arcade beat 'em up game
Ninja Baseball Bat Man, created in collaboration with the game's original creator,
Drew Maniscalco
In 2024, Cook appeared in issue #1 of the
Boom! Studios
Boom! Studios (stylized as BOOM! Studios), is an American comic book and graphic novel publisher. They are headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States. The company is a subsidiary of Random House division of Penguin Random House sin ...
horror anthology, Hello Darkness. with the short story 'Stay In Your Lane,' featuring artist
David Cousens, colourist
Angel De Santiago and letterer
Nathan Kempf.
Video Game History Books
In 2021, gaming book publisher
Bitmap Books announced it would be publishing Cook's coffee table book ''Go Straight: The Ultimate Guide to Side-Scrolling Beat 'Em Ups'' in February 2022.
Cook's second Bitmap Books project was released in 2024 - Run 'n' Gun: A History of On-Foot Shooters.
Video Game Writing
In 2019, Cook began work on writing the video game ''
Unbound: Worlds Apart'' with independent developer Alien Pixel Studios.
The game launched on July 28, 2021 for Steam and Nintendo Switch.
In 2021, Cook announced he was writing for the early access version of rogue-like video game, Loot River, developed by independent developer Straka Studio.
In 2021, Cook self-published the non-fiction guide book, ''Crowdfunding Comics: A Guide to Marketing, Running and Fulfilling a Comic Book Kickstarter''.
Video Game Journalism
He has written game reviews and features for online and print publications, including ''
Vice
A vice is a practice, behaviour, Habit (psychology), habit or item generally considered morally wrong in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhe ...
'' ''
Lost in Cult
Lost or LOST may refer to getting lost, or to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Television
* ''Lost'' (TV series), a 2004 American drama series about people who become stranded on a mysterious island
* ''Lost'' (2001 TV series), a short-lived Ameri ...
'' ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming and culture website, bimonthly magazine, and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a "Rock music, rock inkie", the ''NME'' would be ...
'' and ''
BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed, Inc. is an American Internet mass media, media, news and entertainment company with a focus on digital media. Based in New York City, BuzzFeed was founded in 2006 by Jonah Peretti and John Seward Johnson III, John S. Johnson III to ...
''. His previous work includes writing for ''
GamesTM
''GamesTM'' (styled as ''gamesTM'') was a British multi-format video games magazine. The first issue was released in December 2002 and the magazine was still being published monthly in English and German up until the last edition was published on ...
'', ''
The Escapist'', as well as
SquareGo
''SquareGo'' was an independent publication founded in Scotland in 2006 and publishing until 2015, which reported on video game news, reviews and previews.
History
''SquareGo'' originated as an offshoot from the digital section of '' The Skinny' ...
, Ready Up, The List and The Skinny.
From January 2009 to April 2010, Cook was managing director of video game public relations firm Ink Media. He wrote a weekly gaming column in ''
The Scotsman
''The Scotsman'' is a Scottish compact (newspaper), compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh. First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until ...
'' which has earned him a Games Media Award in 2008, 2010 and one in 2011 for best regional newspaper writer.
Between April 2010 and July 2012, Cook served as games editor at UK-based multiformat gaming site NowGamer. He wrote for video game website
VG247
Gamer Network Limited (formerly Eurogamer Network Limited) is a British digital media company based in London. Founded in 1999 by Rupert and Nick Loman, it owns brands—primarily editorial websites—relating to video game journalism and ot ...
as Deputy Editor.
In October 2012, Dave Cook received criticism by video games writer Rab Florence and video game journalist
John Walker for participating in a competition to win a PS3 by tweeting about a specific company's game.
On Boxing Day 2013, Cook and author Matthew Drury released collaboratively-written sci-fi novel Drifting.
References
External links
Dave Cook's author page at NowGamerCollection of Dave Cook's articles for SquareGoCollection of Dave Cook's articles for ''The Scotsman''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Dave
Writers from Edinburgh
Video game critics
1983 births
British public relations people
Living people
Scottish comics writers