A new publishing phenomenon is to take the internet by storm at the end of May in the form of a brand new comic for young people. David Fickling Books, an imprint of publishers Random House, is creating a new comic for 8 to 12 year olds that will initially only be available by subscription.

A public launch, which took place at the British Film Institute in London last week, featured members of Oxford Youth Theatre (OYT) dressed (and acting) as characters that will appear in the weekly strips. Members of the public were able to meet the celebrated writers and artists of the cartoon adventures alongside their 'real-life' creations for the first time and take part in animation and drawing workshops.

David Fickling, a well-established and successful children's publisher, has attracted notable writers and artists as contributors to the periodical including Paul Stewart, Chris Riddell and Philip Pullman.

Oxford Youth Theatre members, whose impressively accurate costumes were made by Pegasus Theatre designer and technician Nomi Everall, had spent time developing and rehearsing their characters with Yasmin Sidhwa Head of Arts Education at Pegasus and were a highlight of the event:

"It was fun becoming one of the characters of The DFC I really enjoyed meeting my creator."
Rhaea Russell-Cartwright (OYT) - Cora from Cora's Breakfast by Nick Abadzis

"The animation workshop was really cool because we got to make plasticine characters and a film. Kids kept smiling at me as my character of Sid!"
Callum Morris (OYT) - Sid from Monkey Nuts by The Etherington Brothers

"I felt proud of the young people. Proud because of Pegasus and enormously pleased that they shone at this prestigious event and showed a flavour of what they can do."
Yasmin Sidhwa, Head of Arts Education at Pegasus Theatre

David Fickling hosted a fundraising event on behalf of Pegasus Theatre at the end of last year when he hosted a talk with Philip Pullman and introduced him reading an extract from his recently published mini-book "Once Upon A Time In The North".

The comic, called The DFC will be available from 30th May from www.thedfc.co.uk where interested young readers can download activities and see a sneak preview of the publication.