He started his career as sub-editor for DC Thomson before leaving them to work free-lance as a writer. But he also used his editing skills: he was the first editor of 2000 A.D and founded Battle, Crisis, Action and his own failed comic Toxic.
As a writer he was responsible for many of the most popular series in the British industry, including Slaine, Nemesis, Marshal Law and Third World War, as well as co-writing ABC Warriors and in the US - The Punisher, Ravage and Zombie World. His stories are subversive, darkly funny and often extremely violent.