Who was Si Spencer? Netflix's Bodies dedicates first episode to late author

Paul Tomalin wrote the series after being inspired by author Si Spencer, who he met on the Doctor Who spin-off show Torchwood. Check out our review here.

Here's everything you need to know about the late author.

Who was Si Spencer?

Si Spencer was a comic book and TV writer known for iconic graphic novel series including Judge Dredd, Harke and Burr, Hellblazer, Books of Magick and The Vinyl Underground - as well as, of course, the eight-issue miniseries Bodies.

Spencer started his career in the British comic book scene before moving to American publications. Most prominently, he was known as a writer for DC Comics under their Vertigo imprint, and is remembered for being an incredibly influential part of the sci-fi canon in the 1970s and 1980s.

As a TV writer, Sheffield-based Spencer also worked on shows including Grange Hill, Holby City, EastEnders, The Bill, and Torchwood.

Writer Tomalin was able to speak to Spencer briefly about Bodies but, tragically, Spencer died just after the script was green-lit, with Tomalin telling RadioTimes.com how he wanted to stay faithful to the story.

Tomalin said of Spencer: "I met him on Torchwood. I was a rookie and he was a more experienced writer on the show, and so I always remembered him as this very honest, very alive guy who wore this Hawaiian shirt.

"He never left my mind, so when I realised he wrote Bodies, I was like, 'Holy s**t, that guy!'

"We only met once the pilot had been commissioned by Netflix. He was over the moon that people were excited by it, and I don't know if he remembered me or not from the Torchwood days but I think he was really happy we were sticking to the characters, which we were, and sticking to the themes, and I hope by the enthusiasm he could see in me for the story, that he knew it was in, if nothing else, faithful hands.

"I wrote the pilot and he passed away just after the script was green-lit, so I was very much robbed of the chance to speak to him more about it.

"So what I ended up doing was going through the plethora of internet interviews he'd done about Bodies, so I got to kind of know him better just through research about the stuff he'd said and the seeds he's left just through references."

Tomalin added: "I didn't realise that Si was part of this incredible '70s and '80s pulp sci-fi canon and just one of the many rich branches from that family tree, so it was an honour getting to know Si through the work.

"Learning about his influences and absorbing [them] has really transformed me as a writer, because I'm interested in wilder stuff now!"

Who wrote Bodies on Netflix?

Bodies on Netflix is based on the eight-part comic book mini-series, written by Si Spencer and illustrated by Dean Ormston, Tula Lotay, Meghan Hetrick, and Phil Winslade.

The Netflix series was adapted by Paul Tomalin.

When did Si Spencer die?

Spencer died in February 2021 at the age of 60 from heart failure.

Friends, colleagues and fans of the writer shared their tributes from across the world at the time, with the first episode of Bodies being dedicated to the late author.

The dedication reads: "In memory of Si Spencer 1961-2021."

Bodies is available to stream on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £4.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on.

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