Meet Grammarman!

Brian Boyd, UK

Brian Boyd has a BA(Ed) from Goldsmiths, University of London. He has been teaching English in Thailand for six years. He started writing and drawing Grammarman comic in 2005. He is also the author of a series of mathematics books for children. E-mail: brian@grammarmancomic.com, www.grammarmancomic.com

The word is out that there's a new hero in town, and he's here to put a stop to careless mistakes. In fact, Grammarman has been battling the never-ending tide of grammatical 'crimes' for almost two years, so there's a chance you've met him already.

Now, for the first time, the correction crusader himself meets Verbo City's talk show king, Mike Westyunz, as we find out...

Just Who Is Grammarman?

Mike Westyunz: Welcome, Grammarman. You are Verbo City's last line of defence against such menaces as sloppy spelling, poor punctuation and missing articles. Could you tell us a little about you story?

Grammarman: Thanks, Mike. As you mentioned, I'm a superhero, living and working in Verbo City, but I'm from a very distant place. My background and history have been shrouded in mystery until now... and I plan to keep it that way for the time being.

MW: I see... and since your arrival, what kind of problems has you faced?

GM: Well, Mike, I'm sure I don't need to tell you that bad grammar never takes a holiday. It's like a terminator robot - it can strike anywhere and at any time. Verbo City has no shortage of grammar bad guys either. Uncle Uncountable, Sammy Colon, King Wrong, Butch Clausidy and the Sentence Kid are just some of the vile villains I've had to tackle.

MW: It sound like you have your hands full. Do you work alone?

GM: Oh, no! I'd be lost without my friends, Alpha-bot and Syntax. The two of them have helped me out of some tight scrapes on more than one occasion. Alpha-bot is an advanced android whose brain capacity dwarfs the internet. Like me, Syntax is a visitor from the stars; telepathy and elasticity are just two of his useful talents.

MW: Is there archived chronicles of your adventures, Grammarman?

GM: Yes, Mike. Each case is recorded in comic strip form and published regularly in magazines and newspapers in China, Thailand, Malaysia and Argentina. Every 'episode' ends with a grammar puzzle that invites the reader to take a closer look at the story as they try to find clues and answers.

MW: I see... but what about people who don't live in any of those countrys?

GM: Some of the stories can be found at my online Head Quarters, www.grammarmancomic.com . The website includes lots of other resources for teachers and students: quizzes, jokes, reading games, listening activities... there's even a webquest for anyone interested in making their own comics.

MW: Sounds great! So how will you describe your mission in life, Grammarman?

GM: My ultimate goal is to rid the world of bad grammar, and that's no easy task; for every error I wipe out, another seems to appear. That's why I share my experiences with learners of English, so we can work together for a world free from mistakes.

MW: And what advise do you have for those learners of English?

GM: Be alert! Grammar villains will sneak up on you and strike when you're least expecting it. Check through your English and keep on practicing - and of course, check out my stories to stay ahead of the more persistent criminals!

MW: Wise words. That about wraps it up, Grammarman. Are you have anything else to add?

GM: Yes, Mike I do. It seems that even this interview isn't safe from the grammar gremlins. Every question you asked me has one error. Perhaps your eagle-eyed readers can spot and correct them.

MW: Thanks, Grammarman, and good luck!

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