Who can resist a list.

22/02.2011
I came across a list of The Greatest 50 Comic-book Characters.  It was wrong. Here is my list. Not ‘Greatest’ which is a little too butch for me, but ones I happen to like ‘Best’. It is sooo subjective, and no doubt influenced by nostalgia. In alphabetical order ( sort of ) rather than ranking. I make no excuse for including some I just happened to draw.

more...

Interfaith Harmony

01/02/2011
On 20th October 2010 the UN assembly passed an unanimous resolution that the first full week each February would be World Interfaith Harmony Week.

more...

Fact File No.3

26/01/2011
An occasional series.The comic with the longest continuous run is The Dandy. Published by Scotland’s D.C.Thompson it has been going since December 4th 1937.

more...

Alfred Bestall / Rupert Bear

09/01.2011
Alfred Bestall (1892-1986)  trained at London  Central School of Art before the first world war.

more...

Rockwell's America

15/12/200
Norman Rockwell (1894-19780) was and probably still is the United States of America’s best known illustrator. Dulwich Picture Gallery are presenting the first exhibition in the UK of his original works from 1916 into the 60s.

more...

Fact File No.2

02/12.2010
An occasional series.The first comic strip.Comic strip definition - graphic medium in which sequential images convey a narrative. Often accompanied by text in either captions or speech balloons.

more...

Fact File. No.1

14/12/2010
An occasional series.Burglars in cartoons always wear horizontally striped jumpers because . . .

more...

And for the Ladies?

26/10/2010
This week I had my first contact  from a female fan. There are a couple of comments from women on the site but they are all friends who left a message more from affection for me than an interest in comics. For Andrea, who used the email connection, I am the man who drew Danger Mouse of whom she is a devotee.

more...

Do you know these men?

16/10/2010
On the biography page a picture from 1979 of the Society of Strip Illustration and the Cartoonist Club trip to New York. It is also clear the names of four of the happy crowd are missing. If you recognise any of them it would be nice if you were to let me know who they are. They are (were?) all cartoonists. I am also pursuing other means of enquiry but it was quite a while ago.

more...

R.I.P. Victor de la Fuente

04/08/2010
Victor de la Fuente 12th April 1927 - 2nd July 2010

more...

Megacover

26/07/2010
One of the perks of writing or drawing comics is that you get free issues whenever your work appears. By fortunate coincidence , , ,

more...

R.I.P. Harvey Pekar

12/07/2010
Harvey Pekar October 8th 1939 - July 12th 2010
Writer of comic books he was at the forefront of a new treatment of comics when in 1976 he started 'American Splendor'

more...

R.I.P. Al Williamson

17/06/2010
Al Williamson. March 21st 1931 - June 12th 2010.Biographys and tributes to the highly respected Al Williamson are on many websites since his recent death. There are places to find details of the many titles he drew for, his industry awards and great images from his long career. This is just to give my personal appreciation.  

more...

R.I.P. Frank Frazetta

14/05/2010
News this week of the death of Frank Frazetta. There can be few illustrators or comic-book artists who have not been aware, influenced or envious of his imagination, drawing and technical skill.

more...

Look-interrogation

01/05.2010
The answers to John’s questions in the comment bit of Welcome blog seemed bit long to put there so here they are.What were you doing just before ( working for Look-in )?  Beginning to make a living as an illustrator.How did you come to meet Colin Shelbourn ?

more...

Studio vista

07/04/2010
There was a request from Jim for a picture my work place. Not sure why but am here to serve. The Guardian, on whom my journalistic standards are modelled, did this kind of thing for writers so it must make some sense.

more...

Where the BD is this ?

14/03/2010
You will of course recognise all or most of the people in the picture but can anyone tell me where it was taken?  BD 86 on the t-shirts is a clue but not enough to help me to recall in which town/country this photograph by Patrick Anderson was taken. Can you help?

more...

Now Look-here

11/07/2010
In the book Look-in, Best of the 80s I am reported by Graham Kibble-White and co-author Alistair McGowan as ‘chipping in’ to a conversation between Colin Shelbourn and the writer. The phrase conjures up a chummy get-together of the four of us. It never took place.

more...

Art's materials

11/07/2010
In response to a query.I used a Pentel propelling-pencil with 0.5mm H leads. Inked with a fine Gilliot knib in a`schoolboy' pen handle.

more...