Birdman and Chicken: The Krazy Crusaders

Yorkshire born Trevor Metcalfe had an interest in cartooning from an early age, inspired by the work of sports cartoonist Tom Webster and comic arts such as Reg Parlett and Dudley D. Watkins. At art school he studied alongside fellow future comics artist, Robert Nixon. The two became friends and collaborated on several strips. After finishing his National Service, Metcalfe found work with DC Thomson on strips including The Smasher in The Dandy. After a brief period away from comics, he returned to work for Fleetway/IPC both drawing and writing several strips including, Jasper the Grasper (Buster), Sweet Tooth and Junior Rotter (Whizzer & Chips), Doughnut and Rusty (Monster Fun) and Birdman and Chicken and The Amazing Three (Krazy). In the 1990s he returned to DC Thomson where he illustrated the adventures of Billy Whizz in The Beano. As a freelancer illustrator he has also produced strip work for a Thomas the Tank Engine comic, McDonalds and worked on a guide for African farmers that was commissioned by The World Health Organisation.