2000AD Forum Sketch Comp #4: SPECIAL BOLT-01 EDITION

[Steven Denton]

Dave was one of the first people I met when making comics and Although my relationship to comics changed I always had time for Dave and never stopped contributing to FQP. Comics went from a potential job to a way to socialise and Dave was a big part of that. Friendships became the most important part of making comics for me and being friends with Dave was a huge part of that. I will miss working with him but I will miss seeing him at shows most of all.

[CrazyFoxMachine]

My own tribute, not particularly good I'm afraid. Quick headsketches across little notes like I used to watch him squirrel away at endlessly at cons, like what would fall out of your envelopes when he sent you comics, he was brimming with these little square drawings and they were like his creativity really. Boundless, endless. And he would always just give them away for nothing, like his time. I'd amass so much of them but I kept each one - they're priceless to me. I'll keep these too.

[TordelBack]

I've put off reading this thread for reasons, but I dove in this morning.

What a tribute to an inspiring man this is. You are all magnificent.

[Barrington Boots]

What an incredible thread this is.

[Jim_Campbell]

What an incredible thread this is.

It is. I reached out to the pro community to see if anyone wanted to be included and I was, well, not exactly surprised, but certainly humbled by the responses. There will be a few bonus entries in the tribute book when I start to pull it all together.

[Conor]

I owe Dave so much. I'll miss his kindness, his friendship and his sheer bloody enthusiasm. All our love to his amazing family.

Conor & Lizzie

[Woolly]

I wish I'd made the effort to go to a con and meet Bolt. Rest assured I will do everything my bank account allows to make sure I attend future cons and meet the rest of you.

I'm so sorry for those of you who knew Dave.

[Link Prime]

A very bittersweet thread.
Still can't get me noggin around the fact Bolt was an entrant himself in the previous month's art comp.

Great work all contributors.

[Dark Jimbo]

Still can't get me noggin around the fact Bolt was an entrant himself in the previous month's art comp.

And always so enthusiastic and supportive of everyone's entries.

[Jim_Campbell]

Another lovely one here… this time from frequent art comp champion Uwe de Witt (who was having trouble with uploading to the forum):

[Dog Deever]

Bittersweet as it's been, it has been a pleasure watching this thread unfold amidst everything. Fantastic work straight from the heart from all.
And Uwe's Alpha Dog is a proper Strontium Dog.

This is for Dave from me and my friend Alec Robertson, FQP scriptbot. I’m not really the words guy, so I’ll just submit this drawing of a couple of characters we worked on for Dogbreath- ‘Big’ Harry McShane and La Perra Estroncio, ‘Noseless’ Laura Gonzalez. They wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Dave.
They may not be Strontium Dog canon, but they are Dogbreath canon and that’s pretty damned cool too- though there is that panel in Dogs of War with a tantalisingly familiar noseless-looking girl in the background just behind Dave’s Whistler...

Two very old friends getting the opportunity to work together on their own S/D strip was like a dream come true- that also wouldn’t have happened but for Dave.
There are some things you can never repay, but it would have been great to have a little longer to try. Goodbye Dave and thank you for everything.





*Gonzalez should be saying ‘carajo!’ but for once we washed her potty-mouth out.

[CrazyFoxMachine]

There are some things you can never repay, but it would have been great to have a little longer to try.

Ohhhh this really got to me - and you say you're not the "words guy" indeed!

Beautiful picture, they've all been really lovely but this one feels deeply personal.

[Dark Jimbo]

I remember McShane and Gonzalez! I loved those guys.

Uwe's literal strontium dog made me chortle, too.

[Dog Deever]

Beautiful picture, they've all been really lovely but this one feels deeply personal.

Thanks CFM, yes it is and it has had me choked up trying to get it done and trying to write something that can't even hope to do anymore than scrape the surface.

I remember McShane and Gonzalez! I loved those guys.

Thanks Jimbo, that's very much appreciated by both myself and Alec.

[Dark Jimbo]

I remember McShane and Gonzalez! I loved those guys.

Thanks Jimbo, that's very much appreciated by both myself and Alec.

It felt like there was a really great story that deserved to be told. I love Stront stories that dive into the history of the kreelers and the war.