Thunderbirds

BEM! Bug-eyed monster, yay! Some wonderful colour work by the late-great Frank Bellamy. From TV21 dated 2nd December 2067. Er, I mean 1967. Amazing to think that Gerry Anderson's creation is still entertaining kids with a new, updated version recently airing on British TV. You can still find FB's run on Thunderbirds out there in reprinted volumes of TV21 comics. If you can, try and find original copies of TV21 because the strip was printed larger than it is in the reprints. Your eyes will explode with delight (maybe).

Shark Lagoon

Ron Embleton illustrates a text story from the Daily Sketch-Modern Boy's Annual. Not sure of the year but I'm guessing from RM's style (more illustrative/overly-detailed) that it's early 1960s?

A King Fled for Freedom

A lovely Gerry Embleton pen and ink illustration from Look and Learn, dated 3rd February 1973.

Ionicus

Two examples of the work of Ionicus (Joshua Armitage), published 34 years apart. The first is from 1954 and taken from A Century of Punch, published in 1956. I love the look on the guy's face sitting on the sofa. You can almost hear him thinking, "Hmmm...". The next page is from Spitting Image-The Giant Komic Book, published in 1988. Check out some more of his work here.

Thin Lizzy

Kinda, sorta, comic art-related. I'm showing my age but I really miss LPs. You'd get a really cool cover with a big bit of art. If you're lucky, it's a gate-fold with something on the inside too? Maybe a lyric sheet or a poster or stickers? And even something unique on the record's label as well? I wasn't really a Lizzy fan when they were popular, but I remember the TV ads and seeing the posters in shops for the Adventures of Thin Lizzy compilation. The art below is provided by Martin Asbury. I pilfered these images from here:

I think the artist who's most remembered for his relationship with Thin Lizzy is Jim Fitzpatrick. In the following series of images you can see the comic influence in his work. I can see some nods to Jack Kirby, or maybe early Barry Smith? Also, some Phillipe Druillet?

Back in the day, a mate of mine had the Chinatown dragon painted on the back of his leather jacket, which looked pretty cool. He did it with Airfix model paints. Being enamel, the paint cracked over time but it gave the image an antiqued look which worked too.

The final image: an unused album cover. You can't get more comic-y than that can you?

Neverwhere

Not exactly 'British Comic Art' but it's comic-related innit? It's basically an excuse to display the work of Chris Riddell. I hadn't quite twigged that Neverwhere was a TV show first, and then a novel. It's also been presented on the stage and more recently a version was made for radio by the BBC. Check out The Guardian feature on CR's illustrations for the re-release of the novel.

Art By Glenn Fabry.

The Cursed Earth: Uncensored

So, apparently this has already sold-out (Joe, you sell-out, you!). But, there's a paperback version coming out, so get saving those shekels/creds. Cover by Brian Bolland.

Ah, what the hell, some Mick McMahon art too:

 

Comicon '76

A lovely piece of Brian Lewis line-work. Well and truly pilfered from Dez Skinn's wonderful website.

A Giant from Mars

Roland Fiddy provides illustrations for a prose story in the Daily Sketch Modern Boys Annual (sometime in the early 60's).

Comics Interview

Cover by Brian Bolland, for the January 1985 edition of Comics Interview.

Muto Maniac

Art by Mick McMahon. This is from a preview for the first issue of Toxic sent out to wholesaler/retailers circa 1991.

Westminster Comic Mart June 4th 1983

A blast from the past, putting names to faces and what-not.

The Final Quest

Paul Neary again provides some nice art for this issue of Doctor Who Weekly, dated December 5th, 1979. I love the fluid line/brush work and the use of interesting angles (Page 1 final two frames. Page 2, final frame.). And the BEM in frame 2, page 2 is brilliant.

Garry Leach

This was a nice feature that appeared in a Marvel UK magazine named The Daredevils. This is from issue one from 1981.

Tales From The Rim

Paul Neary both writes and draws this strip for Starburst magazine issue 35 (1981?). I really enjoy PN's line-work, although I guess he's better known as an inker nowadays? He did a cool run of strips with Alan Moore in 2000AD later in the 80s.

 

Ro-Busters

Dave Gibbons provides the cover for this Titan Books collection, released in 1983.

Battlestar Galactica

First episode of a British version Of Battlestar Galactica. Colour art by Martin Asbury for Look-In, dated 10th October 1979. I love his use of texture and the way he portrays space behind Galactica in the opening frame.

 Here's a piece of original Asbury art from the same series.

Cover for the issue by Arnaldo Putzu. Some more covers here.

The Team That Went to War

Excellent adventure art by Mike Western. From Battle, dated 15th May 1976. I'd love to see this collected. Check out some extra episodes here.

Battle

Cover by Carlos Ezquerra for Battle, dated 19th April 1980.

Night-Raven

Art by David Lloyd from Marvel UK's Hulk Comic, issue number 4, dated 28th March 1979. Look out for a reprint edition from Marvel in April 2017. Hopefully, it'll remain in black and white?

Three Pines Mine

Eric Parker illustrations for a text story. Daily Sketch Modern Boys Annual. Early 60s I suspect?