THOUSANDS of schoolchildren dream of smashing up their school.

But few grow up to see their wishes encapsulated in the vivid technicolour of their own comic book story.

Neill Cameron’s story, Mo-Bot High, told in the form of a Japanese-style Manga comic strip, features Asha, a new girl at a comprehensive school which looks uncannily like his former Cherwell School in Oxford.

Mr Cameron said it is dedicated to “anyone who’s ever daydreamed of having a giant robot to smash up their school”.

His studio at his home in Headington, is filled with dramatic examples of his work as a storyteller and illustrator.

The 33-year-old grew up in Wolvercote and admits that he must have been a difficult pupil.

He said: “I used to draw comics when I should have been working.”

Despite the graphics, his book is an old-fashioned girls’ school story, with sparky female characters.

It starts with Asha’s first day, when she runs into the school bullies who challenge her to a duel using giant robots which they summon from their mobile phones.

He said: “I had the idea that it would be in the best tradition of girls’ school stories, like Enid Blyton, but that everyone would have giant robots.

“It’s about self-esteem and social ranking. People want to be friends with someone, but perhaps they already have a best friend. There’s jealousy and revenge – that’s what stories are made of.”

His career took off four years ago when he was shortlisted for an international Manga award. Then Mr Cameron heard about the plan by Oxford publisher David Fickling for a weekly children’s comic called The DFC.

He sent in the outline of Mo-Bot High and shortly afterwards the first episode appeared in the new comic, alongside a story by Oxford children’s author Philip Pullman.

The DFC was a victim of the credit crunch, but the stories are now being reborn in book form, and Neill is delighted.

Book One ends on a cliff-hanger and he has roughed out a story that will last for six books, if they sell well.

l Mo-Bot High, published by David Fickling at £9.99, is launched with a build-your-own-robot session at 7pm on Friday, December 3, at Blackwells, in Broad Street.

Free tickets are available from the children’s department. For more information call 01865 333623.