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Once More Unto The Breach…

Posted by admin On October - 29 - 2007 ADD COMMENTS

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Karen Wenborn of  Classical Comics has been in touch to let me know that 5th November is the release date for the Henry V graphic novels. 

Some of you may recall the feature a while back based on the preview copies?  Well,I thought they looked impressive but the 144 page editions are superb! 

But a little info first. 

Henry V by William Shakespeare  “Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;Or close the wall up with our English dead!” This historic tale of war and peace between England and France in the reign of Henry V is presented just as Shakespeare intended…only much more exciting!

See and experience the Battle of Agincourt as never before - and fully appreciate a decisive chapter in the history of the realm. 

Script Adaptation:  John McDonald

Pencils:  Neill Cameron

Inks:  Bambos

Colouring:  Jason Cardy & Kat Nicholson

Lettering:  Nigel Dobbyn For ordering:

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For Original Text the ISBN is: 978-1-906332-00-6 

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For Plain Text the ISBN is:  978-1-906332-01-3 

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For Quick Text the ISBN is:  978-1-906332-02-0 

And each book is only £9.99  Graphic Novel format  Full colour and 144pp in length 

What I never fully realised from the 16pp previews was just what the books would look like and contain. 

For one thing there is a two page spread at the beginning titled Dramatis personae –these are head shots of all the main characters so that when  you start reading you know “who is who”,a very nice touch. 

A brief synopsis then follows,again,useful and a nice touch. The skullduggery and plotting is well balanced and the battle scenes are what you’ll find the youngsters going over endlessly -kids haven’t changed that much over the decades! 

The art pages were so gorgeous I contemplated wearing gloves so as not to ruin them with my dirty fingers!   So it isn’t all talk and no action;the adaption into comic –sorry,”graphic illustrative”- format cannot be faulted. 

But there is more! 

After the story there is a very concise bio of William Shakespeare himself –as well  as one on Henry V. 

Not enough?  Okay,there is a summary,again quite accurate [was I expecting anything else?!],of The Battle Of Agincourt and even a small “battle plan”. And more!!  A look at how the pages of art were created…a look at Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre and,finally,a  summary of current interest and fascination in Shakespeare. 

All three of the books are just superb. 

If you want your child to read Shakespeare but the books are all too wordy [and even I can’t wade through them these days!] buy the Quick Text version.   I do know that at school we often had those lessons where teacher asked us “What do you think he/she meant when they wrote this?”  To most of us wordy text was just that but I think any school interested in  educating its pupils in English literature should buy a copy of each book.   

Kids are more likely to read books that are illustrated — the basics of learning to read if you think about it:in the “old days” we learnt to read before we got to school through comics.  Once in school we had “Peter And Jane” books –illustrated to keep a child interested and demonstrate what they were reading about.  Suddenly,at a later age the pupil is asked to read Shakespeare and understand what is going on when the subject matter probably hasn’t even been taught in History classes. Having pupils read the Quick Text version is a great way to encourage reading and help them understand the Original Text version –the scope for projects using all three books in the school environment are huge,but then,I’m no teacher. 

Parents would be doing their children a favour buying one or all the versions as part of their library –or even as presents.   

And I’m just hoping  Public Libraries will order copies. Apart from the old Look And Learn which educated and entertained,I cannot think of any other such project in the UK or elsewhere. 

The superb quality from cover-to-cover and for such a low price is almost stunning.  I just hope that these books sell as well as they deserve to! 

And,looking forward to Summer 2008,Classical Comics will be giving us another great…. Frankenstein

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 “Cursed be the hands that formed you!”  True to the original novel (rather than the square-headed Boris Karloff image from the films!) Declan’s naturally gothic artistic style is a perfect match for this epic tale.

Frankenstein is such a well known title, yet the films strayed so far beyond the original novel that many people today don’t realise how this classic horror tale deals with such timeless subjects as alienation, empathy and understanding beyond appearance. Another great story, beautifully crafted into a superb graphic novel. 

Script Adaptation:  Jason Cobley

Pencils:  Declan Shalvey

Inks:  Declan Shalvey

Art Direction:  Jon Haward

Colouring:  TBA

Lettering:  TBA    

UK Publication Date: Summer 2008

Format: 132 pages (approx)

full colourpaperback246×168mm

Versions:Original Text (abridged)Quick Text(2 different books)

Price: £9.99 

And with genius Jon Haward in charge of art can they go wrong?  I got a mail from Jon recently where he refers to his work at Classical..and Panini:

“..twenty years ago you published my first comic strip ‘DEMAN’ -can’tbelieve where the time has gone and what a long road it’s been.

Brum Con 2 was fantastic and there was great interest in CLASSICAL COMICS HENRY 5TH and MACBETH . 

I’m also art directing the Eagle award winning Declan Shalvey on FRANKENSTEIN for CLASSICAL COMICS ;this is a trueadaption of the novel and I think it will make Declan a star here in the UK and in the US!.

I’m near finishing MACBETH  which has been a huge job ,it looks great thanks to Nigel Dobbyns great colouring and lettering.

I’m also still regular artist on the Panini MARVEL pocket book range which I enjoy doing as they are reprints of classic marvel with art byKIRBY,BUSCEMA,TRIMPE,ROMITA,KANE,BYRNE,COLAN all my childhood heroes of American super hero art. Any way terry great news site and thanks for your support of CLASSICALCOMICS.”

And to prove how good the art work looks…

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As I’ve pointed out before,Cinebook have produced quality European BD in English and with Classical Comics another huge leap forward has taken place. 

PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE BUY A COPY!!!

UDON -Manhwa!

Posted by admin On October - 29 - 2007 ADD COMMENTS

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Got some preview copies of The Dorothy Of Oz series,volumes 1 & 2,which makes me happy and should make those fans of Manhwa out there more than happy!

 

 

 DOROTHY OF OZ 1 & 2

 

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When Mara Shin’s dog Toto gets lost one fateful day, she goes in search for him along a yellow brick road and ends up in the wonderful land of Oz! Everyone starts calling her Dorothy, but these aren’t the cowardly lion, scarecrow and tin man adventures you remember!

 

 

This fantastic fairy tale features familiar characters…but with a definite Asian twist!

 

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CHARACTERS:  

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Mara-Shin - AKA: DorothyShe WAS just an ordinary school girl… but, since she’s become lost in the land of Oz, Mara-Shin has had to grow up fast! As the only person able to see the magical yellow brick road, could Mara actually be the legendary Dorothy?   

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Toto -Toto is Mara’s pet and constant companion. He may be a tiny pile of fluff, but this little pup has one heck of a bark!   

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Abee-Codename: Scarecrow. Despite his gentle demeanor, ordinary appearance, and an annoying habit of mixing up his vocabulary, Abee can definitely take care of himself. He’s a human clone who’s telekinetic powers make him a force to be reckoned with.   

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Namu-Codename: Tin Woodsman. The cybernetically enhanced Namu is fast, strong, and has more tricks up his sleeve than a Swiss army knife. Though he lacks emotion, and can sometimes be logical to a fault, he’s always ready to protect his friends.   

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Tail -Codename: Cowardly Lion. Don’t’ let his codename fool you, because this cat definitely has claws! Impatient and quick-tempered, Tail has a knack for getting our heroes into trouble…   

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Pillanin -Lieutenant Pillanin is an officer in the Oz Military, but he has a sinister agenda of his own. As if his unauthorized genetic experiments weren’t bad enough, Pillanin has allied himself with a deadly force that could threaten all of Oz…   

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Shine

Another officer in the Oz Military, it’s tough to tell who’s side Secret Agent Shine is really on. One thing is certain, he has taken a personal interest in Mara and her new friends… 

So that is the company info out of the way -what is the comic really like?

Well,the first thing that has to be said is that Son Hee-Joon is a good artist and if you want to see the differences between Manga,Manhua and Manhwa this is a good example. 

And,of course,you are not getting the traditional “Wizard Of Oz” style story here.  The characters are fun and well characterised -Abee certainly is not the traditional Scarecrow and has some really cool abilities.  The same can be said for the almost [Star Trek TNG] Data-like Namu -nice advice on not using a dry hard stick to hit someone as it would break but using a more flexible piece of wood…have to make a note of that!

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Tail,I suspect,may have a case of worms!  Never seems to get enough food.  I can see Tail and Namu turning into the most popular characters,though Toto has a rather cutesy insane enough look to make him in the running for “most popular character”!

The action,street scenes and backgrounds are all well handled and the good use of tone adds to the atmosphere in many scenes -and some snappy lines such as: “Oz will belong to the Devil.  I am the Devil now!”,this is going to be enjoyable for both male and  female readers!

And how can the dynamic foursome [uh,sorry,Toto!] survive if Oz’s soldiers have all been scientifically altered so that they become monstrous creatures?

I think this is liable to be one of Udon’s best-sellers because it has everything -and might even tempt to odd Trekkie or super hero fan to buy a copy!

The only negative point from me is that the copies I have are all advance reading copies and there are,obviously,pages missing which I assume is to prevent illegal scanning and piuracy,which is all well and good but until I realised this I thought it had all been badly edited!

Dorothy Of Oz vol.1 is available in stores from November 2007.  It’s by,obviously,Son Hee-Joon,200 pages and in the Manhwa format [that’s 8 1/4″ x 5 3/4″].  $11.95  US  -in the UK try your local Forbidden Planet store as they tend to stock a good supply of this genre.

Dorothy Of Oz  vol.2

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Selluriah -Witch of the East is introduced and….”She morphed into a pin-up girl?!” oh boy,you have to buy the book to get the joke but then again,Oz soldiers dealing with  a Cyclopean terror controlled by the evil Sepia-!!

The fight in the library is quite nice -books flying everywhere!  This book still shows the elements  that should attract male and female readers and it’s certainly given me the taste to look out for other projects by Son Hee-Joon.

Volume 2 is out in February 2008,same specifications as before and it might be worthwhile advance ordering via Forbidden Planet.

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Star Project Chiro by Beak Hye-Kyoung looks interesting and the story synopsis:Eun-Yo Song has beauty, popularity – everything a girl could want! After a chance encounter with pop-singer Nan Lee, Eun-Yo finds herself getting caught up in the world of super stardom. But little does she know that Nan Lee has plans of his own for her…and she’s about to fall into his trap!

The art on this is what I once described as “souvenir-doll” style.  That said,there is some fantastic work going on here -though I’ve only see the online preview pages.

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If you want to find out more about Udon,future projects,ordering online or more,go to:

www.koreanmanhwa.com

Well worth checking out.

Defining The Ages of British Comics

Posted by admin On October - 23 - 2007 ADD COMMENTS

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 The late Denis Gifford spent many decades chronicling the history of British comics.  It was a never-ending task and at least we still have his books to rely on –these have been so plagiarised by new ‘experts’ that it shows just how valuable any Gifford book is. For this reason,I am relying solely on Denis’s and the “Tel’s From The Crypt” feature from vol.1 no.1 of COMIC BITS [1999]. 

Of course,there are some who would argue that comic strips go back further than the dates I give.  This is debatable and,hopefully,one day theUK will have a symposium on the subject!   In the meantime,if you want to learn more there is an excellent and highly recommended site worth visiting

http://bugpowder.com/andy/ 

You will find some great treats there! According to Denis,the first comic magazine was actually titled…The Comick Magazine!  The magazine appeared on 1st April,1796.  The publisher was Mr Harrison of 18 Paternoster Row,London who describe the title as “The compleat Library of Mirth,Humour,Wit,Gaiety and Entertainment”.   

Most purists would argue that The Comick Magazine was wholly text,however,it did come “enriched with  William Hogarth’s Celebrated Humorous,Comical and Moral Prints”. –one per monthly issue!  These prints formed the series “Industry and Idleness” and when put together in their “narrative sequence”,argued Gifford,”they could be described  as an early form of omic strip”  –again,check out Andy’s Early Comics.   

Thomas Rowlandson  provided plates for The Caricature Magazine [1808].  On the 1st May,1809 came The Poetical Magazine and it was in this –Rowlandson the artist once more—that what is arguably the first British ‘comic’ super star was born:Dr Syntax!   The serial by William Combe,”The Schoolmaster’s Tour” was Dr Syntax’s first,uh,outing and in 1812 was reprinted in book form [graphic novel?] as “The Tour Of Dr Syntax in Search of The Picturesque”.  This featured 31coloured plates. 

Dr Syntax spawned merchandise spin offs,as any comic star does,such as Syntax hats,coats and wigs!! 

Inspired by the French funny paper Figaro,on 10th December,1831,the four page weekly Figaro In London appeared.  Cover and interior cartoons were by Robert Seymour.  This first funny weekly went on for eight years and was to inspire [imitation] spin-offs such as Figaro In Liverpool and Figaro In Sheffield.    We can see the future shape of the comic industry appearing here! 

Punch In London  appeared on 14th January,1832 –this weekly lasted 17 issues and the last featured  17 cartoons!   

The longest lived comic magazine,of course,was Punch from 17th July,1841 until its demise in 2002!  It is a fact that Punch,on 1st July,1843,introduced the word “cartoon” into the English language;on that date the magazine announced the publication of “several exquisite designs to be called Punch’s Cartoons”.   Two weeks later the first appeared,the artist being John Leech.  [for more info on Punch see http://www.punch.co.uk/]  

Leech also drew “The Pleasures Of Housekeeping” [28th April,1849] –described as a slap-stick strip aboutr a suburbanite called Mr Briggs which,ten years later,was published in book form as Pictures Of Life And Quality.

In 1905 Mr Briggs was still being reprinted in six penny paperbacks.             

Judy~The London Serio-Comic Journal started on 1st May,1867 and,on 14th August of the same year introduced a character  who became one of the greatest comic heroes of the day…….Ally Sloper!    

Ally Sloper [so called because,when a debt collector turned up he Sloped off down the Alley!] was a bald headed,bulbous nosed figure with a rather battered hat. ..often described as a Mr Micawber type [as played by W.C.Fields and others over the years].  Ally was constantly trying to make money but more often than not never quite succeeded. 

 Merchandise abounded,Sloper Pewter mugs,figurines,bottles and much,much more.  And you can learn a great deal more on a wonderful web site –

 http://www.imageandnarrative.be/graphicnovel/rogersabin.htm    

There was an Ally Sloper comic in 1948 and some might think that was it.  However,Walter Bell drew the old lad in Ally Sloper,a British comics magazine published by Denis and Alan Class in the 1970s and soon to reappear in Ally Sloper’s Comic Bits [successor to Comic Bits]. 

Ally has certainly lived longer than his creator,Charles Henry Ross,could probably ever have imagined!    

Into the 20th Century and there was the rise of many illustrated text stories and comic strips with text under each panel. 

D.C. Thomson had titles like ADVENTURE and ROVER.  Alfred Harmsworth’s,and later his Amalgamated Press’, COMIC CUTS was the first comic though.  Issue 1 was published on 17th May,1890 and the final issue was published on 12th September,1953 with issue number 3006!      

But the 1930s saw a virtual explosion in comics from small publishers outside London.  These included Merry Midget,no.1 dated Saturday,12th September,1931 and published by Provincial Comics Ltd.,

Bath –and the other  title from this publisher was Sparkler.  Also publishing from

Bath were Target Publications who produced Rattler and Target.   

Now these were traditional humour strips and gags along with text adventure stories.  But in 1939 something happened that ended the Diamond Age and saw the beginning of the Golden Age.   

On the 8th July,1939,the Amalgamated Press published,in Triumph,the strip “Derickson dene”,drawn by that mysterious comic great Nat Brand.  Gifford described the strip as “a four page serial strip that established him [Dene] as the first British super hero in the American comic book style”.   

And then,on the 5th August,1939,in Triumph no.772,compilations of the Siegel and  Shuster Superman newspaper strips started.  On the front cover,flying through space and drawn by John “Jock” McCail was The Man of Steel.     

These two very significant strips,in my opinion,ushered in the British Golden Age.   

There was only one little problem.  Across the English [or French] Channel,a little twerp with a silly moustache started a “bit of a tiff” we know as World War Two.  Paper restrictions and the banning of imported goods such as comic books,meant that British publishers had to use whatever they could.      Comics were printed on brown wrapping paper,silver paper[!] and other inferior stocks.  Many comics simply vanished.  No new ongoing titles could be published so smaller publishers began to issue one-off eight pagers.   

The best known publishers  remembered today are the Amalgamated Press and D.C.Thomson,at the latter not just Lord Snooty and his Gang but also Eggo and Desperate Dan took on the Germans. 

But Gerald G. Swann deserves a mention for books such as War Comics,Topical Funnies Special Autumn Number,Thrill Comics,and Slick Fun. .  Swann gave us Krakos the Egyptian and Robert Lovett:Back From The Dead.   

A.Soloway produced All Fun and after the war Comic Capers[1942] and  Halcon Comics[1948].  R & L Locker published Reel Comics and Cyclone Illustrated Comic.  Newton Wickham published Four Aces and Martin & Reid produced Grand Adventure Comics. 

Gifford himself,later to work on Marvelman,produced Mr Muscle.  Cartoon Art Productions of Glasgow published Super Duper Comics [1948].  W. Daly gave us Crasho Comic [1947].  Cardal Publishing of Manchester gave us the Gifford drawn Streamline Comics [1947]……..   

There were so many publishers and titles and these titles included Ally Sloper,Ensign Comic,Speed Gale Comics,Whizzer Comics,Super Duper,The Three Star Adventures,The Atom,Prang Comic,Marsman Comic,Big win comic,Big Flame Wonder Comic,Evil Eye Thriller,The Forgers and many,many more –super heroes,science fiction,humour,detective,war comics the lot.    

However, there was soon to be a revolution.  Publishers started declining and the big companies continued on.  Then,on 14th  April,1950, ”launching British comics into the new Elizabethan Age,and the Space Age” appeared The Eagle,starring Dan Dare.  This date can be seen as the start of the Silver Age of British comics.   

New characters would appear who would engrave themselves on the new generations of comic readers.   

In the Amalgamated Press’  Lion no.1,23rd February,1952 Robot Archie made his debut.  In 1953,rivals D. C. Thomson featured General Jumbo in The Beano.  Miller,of course,brought us Marvelman and his family of comics.   

More uniquely British characters followed and into the 1960s we saw “The House of Dollman”,”The Spider”,”Steel Claw”,”Rubberman” appear.     

In the mid –to- late 1970s titles began to get cancelled more and more frequently with Thomson and Fleetway/IPC seemingly not sure just where they were going comic –wise.In February,1977,2000 AD made its debut and it was a pivotal point for British comics [not to mention for the US industry which later  recruited many of the talents involved to help its rapidly sinking comics in the mid-1980s.    And though some comics continued few survived.  Beano and Dandy continue but British comics as an industry seem almost dead.   

 From all of this we can define the ages of British comics.  

The Diamond Age ~ 1796-1938 

The Golden Age     ~ 1939-1949 

The Silver Age        ~  1950-1976 

The Bronze Age      ~  1977—–  

And there you have it;a brief breakdown and definition of the Ages. of British comics.   

MARIE SEVERIN

Posted by admin On October - 16 - 2007 ADD COMMENTS

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Eric Reynolds over at Fantagraphics posted this sad item.

 

 

“My pal Greg Sadowski just passed on news that legendary EC and Marvel Comics’ cartoonist/colorist/designer Marie Severin suffered a stroke last Thursday. Direct your get-well cards to her at: 

Marie Severin, patient

c/o Huntington Hospital

270 Park Ave.

Huntington,

NY 11743 

On behalf of everyone at Fantagraphics, we wish a speedy recovery to Ms. Severin, one of the all-time greats.”

 

 

This is sad news but I’m sure everyone wishes Marie well. 

In my youthful days there were a number of artists who really hooked me on comics.  Kirby,obviously,Ditko and,via the black and white pages of  Alan Class Marvel reprints and Odhams TERRIFIC,Marie Severin and Gene Colan.  The strip was,obviously;Prince Namor The Sub-Mariner!

 

 

I loved Marie’s work on Sub-Mariner –and this can still be seen in the Marvel Essentials and I’m hoping that Marvel gets its problems sorted and the Essential Sub-Mariner will show Marie’s great work!   Looking at the old Terrifics now that Sub-Mariner artwork is still…terrific!

 

 

For todays generation,even for our overseas friends who see the name but have no fan press,”Marie Severin” may mean nothing.  So how to get a quick education?

 

 

Sequential Tart has a nice interview with Marie at:

http://www.sequentialtart.com/archive/may02/severin.shtml

 

 

And a bio at a tribute page:

http://www.fortunecity.com/tatooine/niven/142/talentpo/tp20.html

 

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Then there are ten Great Marie Severin covers at:

http://www.samcci.comics.org/_artists/severin_m.htm

 

 

HOLY MOLEY interview Marie at:

http://www.comicartville.com/emuseverin.htm

 

 

The photograph of Marie by Jonah Welland is taken from that site.

 

 

Marie’s art has also graced the covers of Alter Ego,in which she has also been featured and you can track down the issues at Twomorrows site:

 

http://twomorrows.com/

 

 

 

 

 And one of my  all time favourite covers

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Here’s hoping Marie has a speedy recovery. 

Terry

 

David Gray -Artist

Posted by admin On October - 9 - 2007 ADD COMMENTS

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Many years ago,the last century in fact [yes,Kiddies,Unkie is that old!],I wrote a comic titled Power Women that was intended for AC Comics.  The artist back then was David Gray….the years rolled on.

You can imagine my surprise when,looking in my over-full Bulk file,I saw the name “David Gray” and thought “could it be?”  It was!

What surprised me was that David’s artwork had improved incredibly and I assumed that he must have been published -the 2000 AD based art was so good I thought it had been published in those pages.  So the biggest surprise was when David told me he had been turned down by 2000 AD -as have many high quality artists [and Rebellion wonders why it struggles?!].

So,for you delectation,here are a few sampler illoes and if you are interested in a quality artist [no time wasters,please!] you can contact David via email at:

cylons@hotmail.com

all artwork [c] D. L. Gray 2007 

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JOHN ERASMUS -Comic Genius!

Posted by admin On September - 24 - 2007 ADD COMMENTS

 John Erasmus I got into contact with in 1985,which is when he began to show his talent in the Small Press and magazines -covers for the “Zoo Vet” books,strips like Spring-heeled Jack for Fantazia,”Buck ‘n’ Ears”,Denizen Ark:Unemployed Crime-Fighter,the wonderfully insane “Home Front” for The Damage and more but here is a rather cut down CV:

2006-2007-Storyboard work for feature films Amini (dir. Yousaf Ali Khan) and Hush (dir. Mark Tonderai) and book covers for French publishers Leduc s. Editions

  

2005-Desperate Dan (Dandy, DC Thomson)

2003-2004-Freelance illustration for various clients including OUP, Mark Stewart Productions, BBC TV. Also Director on short video productions for Ghost Film Company

  

2001-2002-Storyboard work and production work for Independent Film Companies including Omniversal, Ghost, Solaris, Fathom and Roundtable

  

2000-Illustration work for OUP and Gecko Books and storyboard work for independent British film productions

  

1999-Star Reporter, Graphic Novel (Oxford

University Press), Weekly Goosebumps Comic (Funday Times, Sunday Times Supplement)

  

1996-1997- Book Cover art for Sheldon Press (UK) and Calderini (Italy), graphic work for various Agencies and Companies including Uli Meyer, Mathew Graham and Aardman Animation. Also work for Funny Comics Zit & Sweet FA

1995-Space Precinct (Manga Comics - Graphic Novel)

 

1993-Terrarists (Marvel)

  

1992-Special Agent Smegg (UT - Won Best Artist, British Funny Comics Awards   ‘92)

  

1992-Sex Warrior (Dark Horse - inking and colour only)

  

1991-Accident Man (Toxic)

Of course,John has contributed work to my own publications and circa 1987 this included Turkish Locomotive and Dervish Ropey And The Maximin Sword!   Now,years later,Dervish is set to return!!

The following is a brief synopsis followed by art pages that,if you viewed then at the size they were sent to me look even more incredibly wonderful!

        DERVISH ROPEY IN THE AMAZON

    SYNOPSIS 

Dervish Ropey, Freelance Explorer and Archaeologist, is commissioned by private Museum owner Dickens Twyford to investigate evidence of script on newly discovered artifacts from the Amazon basin, an area not know to have developed a written language.

In so doing Dervish and his flying extra-terrestrial sidekick Freeto become entangled in a devilish scheme to install a new military regime and nuke the entire rainforest, masterminded by Colonel Navalha, the country’s leading counter-terrorist expert.

  

Yanomami Indians, illegal goldminers, the Russian mafia and a mystery subterranean civilization are all drawn into the action.

  

Dervish Ropey in the Amazon is a three part series of 44 pages each, 132 pages in total.

  

                                                        BACKGROUND

  

The years of research that have produced Dervish Ropey in the Amazon have included interviews with experts in the field, including John Hemming, former Director of the Royal Geographic Society, William Milliken, botanist and Amazon explorer and Mark O’Shea, snake expert and TV personality.

  Some of the information here is comparatively new to publication; for example the details of life in the garimpos (goldfields) courtesy of Gordon Macmillan who made a six month field study of these mostly illegal places and the Graesser Contactor, a real machine designed to remove mercury from river systems but never used in the Amazon for political reasons. 

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And should some publisher recognising real talent be interested in an artist who works hard,keeps to deadlines and is -have I said this already?- TALENTED.  Well,contact John at:

 lightsource@talktalk.net

And he’ll be at the October Birmingham Comic show!!

oh. And he’s a nice guy!

Geralt Finlay

Posted by admin On September - 20 - 2007 ADD COMMENTS

A warm welcome to new interviewer Geralt Finlay!  Hopefully I’ll have a few bio details for the About Us page soon.  But what an interview to start off with -or,more accurately,what a set of questions -and look who’s being asked them!