Ozzy Osbourne to get his own comic book The Metal Madman

Ozzy Osbourne is making his debut in the comic book world.

The Black Sabbath frontman has long been a hero of heavy metal, although he's notoriously known for biting the head off a bat rather than being inspired by the winged creatures to become a Dark Knight avenging crime.

The band did release a song called Iron Man back in 1971 - long before Robert Downey Jr put on hi-tech armour to bring the Marvel character to life on screen.

But don’t expect any superhero adventures in the new comic.

Ozzy Osbourne: The Metal Madman, released this week by US publisher Bluewater Productions, will be a biography telling the rock icon’s story in vivid comic-strip format.

The graphic novel is part of the company’s series Orbit, which features the life stories of male celebrities.

Bluewater invites readers to "jump on board the crazy train and read about the artist who occupies a special place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

"As the Godfather of Heavy Metal, Ozzy Osbourne pioneered his dark sound as the front man for Black Sabbath.

"As a solo artist, he has forged a legacy, influencing modern rock, reality television, and more."

Ozzy Osbourne: The Metal Madman was written by Michael L. Frizell and Jayfri Hashim with art by Hashim, and features a cover by horror artist Stefano Cardoselli.

"Ozzy’s legacy is well-known,” said Frizell. "A lot of research went into creating the script. One misstep, and the fans will know.

"Jayfri (Hashim) and I wanted to respect that legend – and the fans – by giving them something both familiar and unexpected.

"Writing about real people is often difficult, and when it’s someone like Ozzy who’s made himself tough to define and is a mainstay in the tabloids, we are challenged to find new ways to tell that well-known story."

Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis said: “There are some celebrities we have featured that are just media sensations, then you have someone like Ozzy who defines media sensation.

"I have respect for him and his story after working on this comic book. We have done one with his wife Sharon Osbourne that did well. The Osbournes are fascinating people.”

Other stars to get a comic in the Orbit series include Keith Richards, Howard Stern and Stephen King.

The publisher’s series Female Force shines a spotlight on famous women - mainly those known for political roles and charity work - including Princess Diana, Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, JK Rowling, Angelina Jolie, Michelle Obama, Sarah Palin, Olivia Newton-John, Margaret Thatcher and Martha Stewart.

There’s also a series called Fame which tells the stories of pop culture celebrities such as David Beckham, 50 Cent, Justin Bieber, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, One Direction, Nicky Minaj, Taylor Swift and Robert Pattinson. Tiger Woods, Katy Perry and Robbie Williams have also featured.

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BBC1's The Voice live quarter finals were dull and lacked pace

It was great to see our local girl Sasha Simone secure a semi final place on The Voice UK after being picked by her coach Sir Tom Jones.

Eager to shake off her reputation as a tearful, shy singer, the 25 year-old from Handsworth certainly smashed it with an amazing rock ballad, belting out a version of Awolnation’s Sail.

She won a well deserved standing ovation from all four coaches, some feat given she was up against the bouncy and immensely talented Howard and the soul diva Lara, who delivered a great version of Coldplay’s God Put A Smile On Your Face.

Sasha’s rock goddess performance - complete with flowing black dress and hooded dancers - was a highlight of a TV talent show which over all lacked intensity and sparkle.

Yes the contestants are all talented - Lucy, Vikesh, Howard, Clarke - being my personal highlights but with a live final you would expect some fireworks and passion.

The judges are all a bit nicey nicey (no one ever gets a negative comment here) and quite frankly dull.

The format is boring and the general discussion that everyone is “amazing” gets a little tedious after a while.

There was an excruciating moment when Will.i.am couldn’t decide who to pick from his team (because they are all amazing).

While the three singers bit their lips in anticipation, he chose to judge it on how big the audience’s cheer was like some kind of crude Opportunity Knocks clap-o-meter.

The pace finally picked up in the results show which kicked off with the coaches bursting onto the stage singing Unbelievable.

We were then reminded of who won this show last year (yes I couldn’t remember either) with a performance from Jermaine Jackman, who is releasing a well-timed album next week.

This was followed by a more successful TV talent show contestant - X Factor runner up and international star Olly Murs.

Perhaps there is a valuable lesson to be learned here. While X Factor stars have had a great deal more success (even if short lived) we have yet to see a big star come out of The Voice.

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Bournville schoolgirl Abbi Bennett so fragile she is blown over by a gust of wind

Bubbly Abbi Bennett loves singing and playing with her three sisters just like any other seven-year-old.

But the schoolgirl from Bournville is in fact a one-in-a-million child.

She is so fragile that she could be blown over by just a GUST OF WIND.

Abbi, a pupil at Bournville Infant School, suffers from Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy – a rare muscle-wasting disease which means she can’t run or jump or climb the stairs, and must spend time in a wheelchair.

The chatty schoolgirl, who loves joking with her sisters Ashleigh, 15, Amber, nine, and Ava, four, will become more dependent on her wheelchair as she gets older and the muscles in her lungs struggle to cope.

“Abbi loves singing and is very chatty and confident,” says mum Sarah Bennett. “But she gets very frustrated, and hates being in her wheelchair, especially as she gets older.”

Abbi was first diagnosed when she was two years old by specialist Helen Roper at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Parents Gary and Sarah noticed she was struggling to hold her own body weight, and had extremely flexible joints.

“She was never able to crawl,” says Sarah, 34. “When she did eventually start walking at 18 months old, it was more like a waddle, and then she’d fall over.

“When we first found out what was wrong, it was incredibly isolating.

“We didn’t know anything about it, and neither did anyone else we knew.”

Abbi’s UCMD was caused by a random mutation, rather than a genetic inheritance, which means that other family members are not carriers.

The disease can affect people in different ways, and while some people are able to walk, others suffer severe mobility problems and difficulty in breathing.

But despite the debilitating disease Sarah and Gary say that Abbi is a fighter, and has an amazing positive attitude that keeps her striving forward.

“Abbi loves life, and is incredibly caring,” says Sarah. “She hides any negativity.

“But the other day she told me the most touching thing as I put her to bed.

“She said ‘I’ve wished 100 times for my muscular dystrophy to go away, but it’s just not coming true.”

“It was heartbreaking.”

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Ashes of 24 unknown people found at fraud probe funeral directors

A SEARCH has begun to reunite loved ones with the ashes of a staggering 24 people, the remains found on the premises of a defunct funeral directors at the centre of a major fraud probe.

The ashes were salted away at the Acocks Green headquarters of Samuel James and Sons, a company immersed in a heart-breaking £150,000 fraud investigation. Boss Tony Johnson, died last October from a massive stroke.

Last month the Sunday Mercury revealed funeral plans sold at the parlour were found not to exist, despite pensioners paying thousands of pounds to ensure final farewells were paid for.

It is feared as many as 50 individuals may have been affected.

Bonbshell news of the unclaimed urns is the latest sickening twist in a saga that detectives have described as complex.

The hunt to find owners has been launched by Powell and Family undertakers, which moved into the empty Fox Hollies Road premises in 2013. They have absolutely no links with Samuel James other than the misfortune of moving into the shamed company’s old address.

Yet, in a show of compassion, Powell and Family have taken it on themselves to help those affected by the alleged scam. Catherine Powell has pored over documents, helped victims and even contacted police on their behalf.

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The Birmingham X-Files revealed - police receive 150 calls about paranormal encounters

IF there’s something strange in your neighbourhood, who you gonna call...?

West Midlands Police, apparently.

Because the boys in blue have received a staggering 152 calls about X Files encounters.

And they haven’t just been about little green men or UFO sightings.

Over the last five years there have been reports of ghosts, witches and zombies, too.

But if the truth really is out there, the cops have yet to uncover it.

A Freedom of Information request by the Sunday Mercury has revealed there are plenty of people who believe in things that go bump in the night.

Or sometimes even in broad daylight. Alien abductions can happen any time.

Most of the paranormal claims, stretching from 2009 to 2014, seem to be a load of warlocks, however. Most were filed under “no further police action required” or “advice given”.

But officers took a February 2010 report of a witch in Brierley Hill a little more seriously.

That led to an arrest – and we don’t think it was the witch.

In all, the force received 29 calls from members of the public who endured a Close Encounter of the Third Kind with aliens.

No fewer than 43 folk were spooked by ghosts, and 73 were the victims of witchcraft.

Other incidents are simply labelled “paranormal” because they were unexplainable.

The supernatural stampede has moved the force to issue some down-to-earth advice.

If you see lights in the sky or a headless horseman, don’t use the force.

Similarly, contact a clairvoyant, not your local constabulary.

Below: Gallery of images sent in by readers of ghostly images they've snapped

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Jayden Wright funeral fund reaches £3,000 target

A fundraising page that was set up to help fund a funeral for a 10-year-old Aston Villa fan who collapsed and died at home has already reached its £3,000 target.

Jayden Wright was found collapsed in a bedroom at the family property in Holloway, Northfield, last Saturday.

Paramedics spent more than an hour trying to revive the much-loved youngster but the Bellfield Junior School pupil was pronounced dead at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Heartbroken sister Elise, 19, paid an emotional tribute to her little brother after launching the online donation page to raise cash towards his funeral.

She said: “Jayden was a very happy, bubbly boy who loved his football. He was full of energy and full of life.

“I’m always going to miss him. He will be missed by all his family and friends.”

The fundraising page broke through the target just hours after the Mail told Jayden’s tragic story.

The target amount was reached on Saturday with a final anonymous donation of £392 taking it up to £3,000.

Tributes have been pouring in for the youngster from Villa fans. The club itself also tweeted: “We are saddened to hear of the death of 10-year-old Villa fan Jayden Wright. Thoughts are with his family. RIP Jayden. #AVFC.”

A post mortem has been carried out but a cause of death has not yet been determined by doctors.

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Robbers jailed for 14 years after snatching cashbox from supermarket

A PAIR of bungling Birmingham robbers have been jailed for 14 years after being found red-handed with a cashbox they had stolen just 30 minutes earlier.

Theodore Mullings-Fairweather and William Mooney were found hiding out on a Ladywood industrial estate less than an hour after they had snatched the cashbox from a security guard outside a Tesco Express store in Oldbury.

During the robbery outside the supermarket in Bristnall Hall Road last July, the security guard was rugby-tackled by Mullings-Fairweather who grabbed the box and made off in a getaway car.

Enquiries led police to the Ladywood industrial park where Mullings-Fairweather, 25, and 26-year-old Mooney were seen standing next to a Peugeot.

As the police helicopter circled overhead the pair sped off, pursued by a traffic car, before crashing and abandoning the car to roll dangerously down a road.

Only the swift actions of an officer, who jumped behind the wheel and pulled on the handbrake, stopped it causing more damage or injury.

Police said the pair fled the scene, but left behind plenty of evidence linking them to the robbery.

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Chelum Sharif memorial for Sufi Muhammed Abdullah Khan - as it happened

Thousands of mourners are expected at a gathering of remembrance for Sufi Muhammed Abdullah Khan in Birmingham on Saturday.

Mr Khan was the original founder of the Central Jamia Masjid Ghamkol Sharif mosque, in Small Heath in 1996. Thousands of people attended his funeral on February 14th.

Saturday's memorial gathering is known as "Chelum Sharif" which takes place approximately 40 days after burial. Many spiritual leaders and religious scholars from across the UK will address the gathering, the main part of which will run from 5pm until 8pm.

We'll be carry live updates from the event from about 6.30pm
6:28 pm

Welcome to our coverage of the Chelum Sharif memorial for Sufi Muhammed Abdullah Khan.

Around 5,000 people are expected to attended today's special remembrance event to pay their final respects to a Birmingham mosque founder and “pillar of the community”

The gathering, referred to as the “Chelum Sharif”, is taking place at Birmingham’s Central Jamia Masjid Ghamkol Mr Khan was the original founder of the mosque, located on Poets Corner, Small Heath.

The 92-year-old died last month and the thousands of people who are due to attend this evening's service will hear tributes about his life and work before a final prayer is due at 8pm.
6:29 pm

Spiritual leaders and religious scholars from across the UK are expected to attend to address the gathering and pay tributes to Sufi Sahib.

It started at 5pm and runs until 8pm where a final prayer will be performed.

The service will also include tributes about the life and work of Sufi Sahib, which is due to start at 6.45pm

Around 15,000 mourners, including Muslim leaders from across the country, were in Birmingham last month to pay their final respects to the mosque founder for his funeral on February 14.
6:33 pm

The streets around Central Jamia Mosque are completely filled with parked cars as thousands of people arrive at the Poets Corner building to pay their respects to Sufi Sahib in time for the final prayer.
6:41 pm

Today's gathering marks the end of the 40-day period of mourning and will be marked on an annual basis in tribute to Sufi Sahib.

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Man stabbed near Villa Park, police close roads

 Pharmacy on the corner of Frederick Street and Bevington Road, where the man is believed to have been attacked

DETECTIVES have launched an investigation into a knife attack after a man was found collapsed with stab wounds in Aston on Saturday afternoon

Emergency services were called to Upper Thomas Street shortly before 12.30pm after a man in his 20s was found with serious injuries.

The man has been taken to hospital where his condition is believed to be serious but stable.

Officers think the man was attacked outside a pharmacy on Bevington Road a short time earlier.
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Antonio Boporan jailing: Angry dad of tragic Cerys Edwards says: 'He'll never learn his lesson'

The father of Cerys Edwards has revealed she nearly died recently because of disabilities caused by speeding driver Antonio Boparan – who is now starting his second jail sentence.

Gareth Edwards spoke to the Mail as the man who left his daughter brain damaged and paralysed was jailed for another 12 months for his involvement in a Birmingham bar fight, which left one man blind.

Boparan was just 19 when his dangerous driving nearly killed Cerys in November 2006. He crashed a powerful Range Rover Sport into her parents’ car as he drove at more than 70mph on the wrong side of the 30mph Streetly Lane in Sutton Coldfield.

The family had been returning home from delivering Christmas presents with the youngster, who was about to celebrate her first birthday.

Now Boparan has been jailed for his part in an attack on two men at Brindleyplace’s Nuvo Bar last April. The victims were hospitalised after being punched, kicked and hit with broken bottles.

Builder Gareth said: “Before Christmas Cerys was very poorly and was on the edge of life. Thankfully, new medicines appear to have worked and Cerys is 100 per cent better than she was, but she remains in hospital.

“Although her condition has now improved I’m fully aware she will die from the injuries that were caused by Antonio Boparan and I know there’s no medical cure for the serious brain and spinal injuries she suffered.

“Cerys is nine-years-old now and the experts have always given her a life expectancy of 14. It is likely that she will not reach that age. She has deteriorated a lot in the last 18 months and it breaks my heart to know that there is nothing I can do.
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Tributes to 10-year-old Birmingham schoolboy, who died after collapsing at home

A 10-year-old schoolboy has died after collapsing at his Birmingham home, despite medics spending an hour trying to save his life.

Aston Villa fan Jayden Wright was found collapsed in a bedroom at the family property in Holloway, Northfield, last Saturday.

Paramedics spent more than an hour trying to revive the much-loved youngster but the Bellfield Junior School pupil was pronounced dead at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Heartbroken sister Elise, 19, paid an emotional tribute to her little brother after launching an online donation page to raise cash towards his funeral.

She said: “Jayden was a very happy, bubbly boy who loved his football. He was full of energy and full of life.

“I’m always going to miss him. He will be missed by all his family and friends.”

A post mortem has been carried out but a cause of death has not yet been determined by doctors, said Elise.

“They said it’s looking most likely to be heart-related because it was large and they are doing more tests,” she said.

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Hottest 'croc curry' restaurant holds contest to find champion eater

 The Crocodile Inferno is prepared in the Dilshad kitchen. Inset: Omid Djalili

An Indian restaurant which serves the world’s hottest crocodile curry is staging a competition to find the ultimate curry-eating champ.

The Dilshad restaurant, in Cannock, which featured on Sky’s Hot and Dangerous show with comic Omid Djalili, is offering fans the opportunity to wrestle the Crocodile Inferno for top cash prizes. The dish, made out of crocodile meat, is rated twice as hot as police pepper spray.

It is so hot that chefs at the Dilshad have to wear gas masks while they prepare it because of the overpowering chilli fumes.

Customers have travelled from all over the country to try the dish but only a handful have managed to finish it.

Comedian Djalili famously took on the Crocodile Inferno in a Man v Food challenge but crashed and burned.

Afterwards he gasped: “I never ever want to go through that experience ever again.”

Sunday Mercury columnist Mike Lockley also took on the dish but only managed two mouthfulls.

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Man convicted of stabbing to death man in flat fight tries to clear his name

A MAN who was jailed for life for the murder of a man stabbed to death at a flat in Worcester has won the first stage in a fight to clear his name.

Rikko Marks, 22, from Birmingham, was jailed with his friend, Micah Golding, for the knife murder of 39-year-old Adrian Locke in Teme Road, Tolladine, in January 2013.

Marks was not accused of wielding the knife, but of lending support and encouragement as Golding stabbed Mr Locke.

But he is now trying to overturn his conviction and last week was granted permission for a full appeal as three top judges ruled that his complaints about his trial were ‘arguable’.

His lawyers had argued that the way the trial judge directed the jury might have led to them being confused about how to consider the case.

“In our view, this does raise an important point,” said Lady Justice Macur.

“We take the view that leave to appeal should be granted.”

The Court of Appeal heard how Adrian Locke, of Wyche Road, Droitwich, was stabbed several times and found dead outside a flat allegedly used for drug dealing.

Prosecutors alleged he had gone there to buy heroin and was killed when a scuffle broke out in the property.

Marks denied involvement in the killing. He said he had seen a fight going on when he went to the property, but had seen no knife or wound.

Upstairs afterwards, Golding was panicking and getting things together to leave, he claimed.

It was only on the way back to Birmingham that his friend admitted he had stabbed Mr Locke, Marks said.

Lawyers for Marks argued the way the trial judge directed the jury how to come to verdicts on the two defendants might have been confusing.

In particular, the legal instructions had effectively removed the possibility of the jury finding Marks guilty only of manslaughter, it was argued.

Lady Justice Macur, sitting with Mr Justice Cranston and Judge Francis Gilbert QC, granted permission for a full appeal.

No date was set for the appeal to be heard.


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Postman hands back Kelly Sotherton her Commonwealth gold medal that he found

Heptathlete Kelly Sotherton has been reunited with her Commonwealth Gold medal which was stolen during a burglary at her Sutton Coldfield home.

She picked up the medal at her local police station and also met the postman who found it.

The medal, which she won in the heptathlon in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, was found in a Sutton Coldfield postbox by postman Martyn Siviter after an appeal was made on the BBC’s Crimewatch.

Yesterday Kelly met Martyn and Det Con Mindy Mahil at Sutton Coldfield police station to have the medal returned.

She said: “When I first noticed my empty medal case and realised it was gone, that’s what hit me the most.

“I’m really thankful that Martyn found it and I’ve got it back. I was over the moon to find it in a postbox and so near my house!”

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Tunisia terror attack strikes at the heart of quiet Shropshire village

Behind the buttermilk wash cottage, a flag of St George – the 10ft pole planted by patriotic neighbours – flutters defiantly.

This is England, sticky with jam and fortified by the rousing strains of Jerusalem.

This is England, where skylarks hovering above teased and furrowed fields, not stereos, provide the soundtrack.

This is a secret slice of Shropshire, a land so green and pleasant that P.G. Wodehouse, creator of quintessential bumbling toff Bertie Wooster, briefly called it home. This is a yesteryear England so seductive that rock stars and football idols have hidden under its rural robe.

Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, sickened by showbusiness, retreated to this hidden, cornfield cordened corner of the countryside. David and Victoria Beckham reportedly viewed The Big House, but found the postcode too remote after Real Madrid.

This is Caynton, a hamlet studded by mansions and chocolate box cottages where the owl-eye warnings of Rural Watch posters decorate verges and walls.

And for the good folk of Caynton things may never be the same.

Four days ago they were plunged into the media spotlight.

Four days ago they lost one of their own. Unthinkably, to terrorism.

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Man City 3 West Brom 0: Stats, report and pictures with Bill Howell

 Referee Neil Swarbrick made a horrible gaffe in sending off the wrong man after just 90 seconds as West Brom crashed to a heavy defeat at the champions.

Gareth McAuley was shown the red card despite Craig Dawson being the last man.

Dawson missed the ball and Wilfried Bony thundered through.

Swarbrick blew his whistle as McAuley made a tackle inside the box and awarded the free-kick outside the area.

Then ten men battled gamely enough but were simply out-played and could have been on the end of a cricket score.

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Cardiff City 2 Birmingham City 0 - report, stats and pictures

Birmingham City's unbeaten run stalled in South Wales with two second half goals enough to condemn Blues to their first defeat in five.

A 50th minute strike from Eoin Doyle and Peter Whittingham’s penalty with a quarter of an hour to go were enough to give Cardiff the three points.

And few could have argued they weren’t deserved. Russell Slade’s men hardly put on a vintage display but it was considerably better than Birmingham’s.

The visitors managed just four shots all game - and only one on target, in a display that will once again give rise to suggestions they have clocked off for the season.

Thankfully they have built up enough of a cushion not to have to worry about the relegation shake-up but Gary Rowett - who was sent to the stands for protesting about a throw-in he felt had been wrongly awarded, will demand better from his players.

The Blues boss tried to inject some interest into the match by changing his system and starting with 4-1-4-1 for the first time in his tenure.

That meant an instant recall for Stephen Gleeson who had served out his three match ban following his sending off against Brentford.

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Aston Villa 0 Swansea 1 - match report, pictures and stats

It was late heartbreak for Tim Sherwood and Aston Villa as Bafetimbi Gomis struck late to hand Swansea all three points.

It could have been a heavier score-line; both Brad Guzan and Ciaran Clark came to Villa's rescue, notably preventing Gomis from scoring on a number of occasions in the first half.

The hosts awoke following a half-time seeing to from Sherwood, and in the second half they shaded proceedings.

Ultimately their efforts were in vain.

Agbonlahor had the best chance of the match for the Villans when he collected Christian Benteke's knock down in the penalty area, but he didn't make sufficient contact when he should have done better.

Scott Sinclair, too, came close to netting against his former employers, both before and after Gomis' goal, but Sherwood's mini-revival has been, temporarily at least, cut short.

Swansea, intricate in their passing and movement, carved the first chance of the match when quick feet from Gylfi Sigurdsson allowed Neil Taylor to pull the ball back for Gomis, but Guzan stood up to the test.

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Tony Pulis on THAT refereeing decision at Manchester City

West Brom boss Tony Pulis has expressed his frustration at Gareth McAuley's 89 second red card against Manchester City at The Etihad Stadium.

He spoke out against the decision on two levels, firstly because he did not believe the offence was worthy of a red card and then because Swarbrick got the wrong man.

After the game, Pulis called for greater use of video technology to assist officials.

He said: "Refereeing is not easy, especially at the level we are at now and how quick the game is.

"This product is one of the greatest products this country now sells all over the world, but it is no good moaning about referees. What we have to do is find a way to help referees out. news from http://www.birminghammail.co.uk


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Kevin Summerfield hopes Cardiff defeat will give Blues a boost

Birmingham City assistant manager Kevin Summerfield admitted Blues couldn’t take much out of their 2-0 defeat at Cardiff - other than the fact it could act as a ‘kick up the backside’.

Blues put in one of their poorest performances under Gary Rowett and produced just one shot on target in a frustrating afternoon that saw their manager end the game in the stands.

Second half goals from Eoin Doyle and Peter Whittingham were enough to win a low quality match - one that contained few positives for the visitors.

“It’s probably come at not a bad time,” Summerfield said.

“We have got eight games left, we’re not considered safe so we have still got to roll our sleeves up and put decent performances in like we have done over the last two or three months.

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