Battle cover

Another favourite Battle cover. By Ian Kennedy.

Star Death

Art by John Stokes. I think this is from Doctor Who Monthly number 47 1980?

The Road of Courage

By Frank Hampson. From Eagle, dated 7th January 1961. This has been recently released by Titan if you're interested in seeing the whole story?  Even if the subject matter isn't your cup of tea the art is quite beautiful and well worth seeing. 

2000 AD

Art by Mike McMahon.

Robot Archie

Art by Ted Kearon. Lion, March 29th 1958.

The Hotspur

Cover art by Ron Smith.

I was quite taken aback when I originally saw this cover. The Union Jack Jackson I knew had 'originally' appeared in Warlord in the mid 1970s. Nothing like recycling an old character for a new generation-eh?

Muto Maniac

Art by Mike McMahon. It's interesting to see how MMM's style has evolved over the years. Most artists tend to streamline their workflow and simplify their styles. MMM's style literally mutates. This is from Toxic! issue 1, 28th March 1991.
Sorry about the quality of the scans: they're borrowed from elsewhere, but I just had to put them up.

The Tomorrow People

Art by John Burns. Look-In 28th July 1973.

Spaceship Away

This one's for fans of the original Dan Dare.

I'm probably preaching to the converted, but here's a plug for Spaceship Away. Subscription and back issue details are here. Immediately below is a rather spiffing wraparound cover by one of the original members of Frank Hampson's studio, Don Harley.

Original art

Over on the Comic Book Auctions site there's an interesting mix of original art for sale. I thought I'd put a few images up for you to peruse:

Ken Reid (above)

John Burns

Frank Bellamy. It's interesting how some artists go 'beyond the call of duty' with their art. That first frame would have looked perfectly fine with TB 2's shadow as a solid. But FB must have spent a while creating those squiggles to give the frame a bit of extra 'oomph'! Something extra for the eye to dwell on...

Mick Anglo

Martin Asbury. Anyone know how MA created that bubbly texture behind Apollo in frame one and the planet in the last frame? Would it be something like soap or washing up liquid mixed in with the colour?

Ted Rawlings

I was sorry to hear of the recent passing of Ted Rawlings.  I'll be putting some of his work up in the near future. Here's an illustration he provided for a text story that appeared in The Wizard dated February 15th 1975.

Laser Eraser and Pressbutton

Garry Leach, December 1985.

Warlord

Cover art by Ian Kennedy.

Doctor Who

Art by Gerry Haylock. From TV Action, May 5th 1973.

Thunderbirds

Frank Bellamy. TV21, January 15th '2066'.

I Spy

A bit of a change of pace. I like the semi serious/realistic tone of this strip and the use of Letratone to create texture. I think this is Brian Walker, can anyone confirm? Sparky, February 6th 1971.

Fighters of the Fleet

A nice Ian Kennedy illustration from the back page of Warlord, February 23rd 1980.  I've stripped the colour away for a b&w version below.

Battle

This is one of my favourite covers ever. It makes me wonder what Battle would have looked like with Mike McMahon as one of it's creators. I wonder what the story was behind MMcM drawing this cover? Maybe Rufus D could elaborate? There's another taste of WW2 art here and here from RD's collection of original comic art.

Wulf the Briton

Ah, b*gger it: shameless plug. Although, I'm not on commission or anything. I am SO looking forward to this one. Hope I can afford it when it does see the light of day. Link to original article here.

Frozen Summer

Mike Western art. Inspired by Quatermass I wonder? Buster, 12th May 1962.

Charley's War

A post Pat Mills Charley's War. Superlative art by Joe Colquhoun. Battle, 31st August 1985. Does anyone else feel that Titan should reprint this series after the WW1 episodes?

Action Force advertisement

One of a series of Action Force advertisements drawn by Garry Leach. Appeared in Battle, 14th September 1985.

Charlie Peace

Some nice art by Tom Kerr. I love the smug look on the private detective's face on the last frame of page two. Buster, 4th December 1965.

Jeff Craig Detective

Ian Kennedy. Buster, dated 15th August 1964. There are a couple of IK interviews over on my old site: here and here.