http://secret-oranges.blogspot.com/2011/12/dredd-vs-big-two.html
Wow, never seen that before - was it ever actually used?
Love the fact that Howard the Duck gets a prominent place!
Lovely image by the two Dredd greats. This was used as the centre page splash in a Fanzine in the late 70's, (i forget which one, though).
brilliant. Just when you think you have seen it all in relation to old 2000ad stuff....
love the blog mr robocook, many thanks for keeping us up to date with it here too.
Good stuff.
Didn't someone (probably that Wells chappie) get a commission with Dredd killing off a bunch of capes?
(http://th02.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2011/097/f/a/who__s_next_by_kevlev-d3dfsfz.jpg)
Bang. It was the amazing Kev Levell - and from the look of the block it was our Burdis!
Ah, that's the realisation of a long-held dream ... to see Dredd consign those spandex nancys to the scrapheap. I never believed Batman could hold his own against Dredd for ten seconds in those crossover comics. What a happy start to the New Year :lol:
Great image. :) Unlikely this would have got the go ahead though. Shame really I'd have bought it!
I beleive this image comes from the 1978 UK comic convention booklet
You know, I wouldn't mind reading a Howard the Duck/Dredd team-up....
There shouldn't be a Howard/Dredd team-up so long as Steve Gerber remains dead.
Ah, true enough. I had forgotten about Gerber's passing.
Quote from: Leigh S on 02 January, 2012, 11:47:14 AM
I beleive this image comes from the 1978 UK comic convention booklet
Yes, thats the one. I know it had been printed in some kind of Fanzine, though the title of which escaped me until you posted. Quite rare to get hold of now, but it sometimes finds its way onto E-Bay. From January '78, i believe.
(http://i.imgur.com/NlxPX.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/0F4nY.jpg)
I doubt it was ever intended to be an offical image in anyway, though its certainly not alone in its use of mixing 2000ad with Marvel and DC characters.
(http://i.imgur.com/WTS22.jpg)
Perhaps the Cursed Earth controversy put a stop to this *ahem* relaxed attitude to copyright? Anyways, a brilliant image none the less.
With regard to it being an official ad, Alan McKenzie says...
Over on Bleeding Cool I commented on their report of this item "...this was a paid-for message by IPC. It occupied the centrespread of the 1978 UK Comicon booklet, which I edited. The cover was a Frank Bellamy cowboy. Brian Bolland also did all the colour separations for the book."
Though it was worth repeating here ...
Alan McKenzie
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.com/2011/12/dredd-vs-big-two.html?showComment=1326181799698#c5237351234812265785
When Another World opened in Leicester (Now taken over by Forbidden Planet) they had some brilliant design's on their bags. I wish I had kept them. They were all in a similar vein to the Forbidden Planet one above.
V
There's a beautiful unseen sketch by Brian Bolland on here today if anyone's interested.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.com/
Lovely stuff, such detail and only a rough.
Gibson's Robo-Hunter!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/sam-knows-score.html
Classic Ezquerra...
:D
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/death-to-empire.html
Lovely stuff. The Ezquerra Stainless Steel Rat covers are all fantastic, now I come to think of it.
Ace Trucking... ;)
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/any-space-any-time.html
Fantastic - I always liked that one... I have a page from the Prog before that, with Kleggs bursting out of sacks and GBH putting the smackdown on 'em. Interestingly, the first Ace Trucking cover was hand coloured (on the original art rather than just with an overlay, I mean).
How I love the glorious black and white first image of this topic!!!
Citizen of Mega-City One, every super-pukes will be arrested and ex-traded to the penal colony on Titan.
Any attempt to escape this order will be hereby sentenced by death with immediate execution. Thank you for your understanding.
Control, prepare the meat-wagons. Grud.
:o Vintage Kev O'Neill if anyone's interested...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/earth-side-eddie-and-anti-matter-kids.html
Quote from: robocook on 21 April, 2012, 09:06:55 AM
:o Vintage Kev O'Neill if anyone's interested...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/earth-side-eddie-and-anti-matter-kids.html
How could we not be!
Don't say this often enough (or at all before in fact!) but thanks for this wonderful Blog.
Glad you like it! ;)
Dredd by Cam Kennedy...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/this-week-26-years-ago.html
Fantastic stuff, Steve. Another one of my favourite stories. Flip Marlowe always was one of my favourite throwaway characters; I posted a comment with a link to the page I have from this. On the subject of Cam, did you dig up that Warlord cover yet?
What Warlord cover?
No, sorry, but I don't remember seeing that one. I don't think I have it.
More Ace Trucking...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/stab-in-dark.html
Early, early, early Thrills...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/top-thrill-mach-1.html
Early thrills indeed, lovely stuff though! That cover always made me chuckle - its such a fib!
Ahh, if only Mach 1 had fought Nazi Zombies in that issue, :D
That's what I was thinking - if he'd done more of that, he'd probably still be in the prog today. A hell of a cheekily misleading tagline though.
;) Ian Gibson - Robo-Hunter...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/robo-assassins.html
Classic Brett Ewins anybody?
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/another-for-squaxx-dek-thargos.html
Quote from: robocook on 27 May, 2012, 08:46:30 AM
Classic Brett Ewins anybody?
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/another-for-squaxx-dek-thargos.html
Well, if you're offering... And I'm happy to cover postage! ;)
Fantastic stuff. Again; thanks for sharing these. Keep 'em coming, Steve.
These pieces
really need to be compiled in a book - the quality of these is stunning and the art deserves to be shown off. I still can't get over the difference between the production art and the print versions I'm so used to.
Yeah hoping the Dredd covers book does something like that, showing these pieces in all their vivid glory.
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 27 May, 2012, 02:07:00 PM
Yeah hoping the Dredd covers book does something like that, showing these pieces in all their vivid glory.
Well it
should. But I don't think it will, unfortunately. Hope I'm wrong...
I've seen the pdf of cover choices for that actually. Was asked to chose and comment on my favourite. I chose a Bolland.
Were you asked in your capacity as art editorial droid or in a 'can we have a shufty at your production art collection to make sure we get the best possible quality in the book' way..?
I'll definitely pick the book up, but it'd be a crying shame not to see it take advantage of your Thrill Cupboard.
Just as art droid, I guess. No mention of my collection.
Aw, crap. I'd be surprised if existing colour reproductions come anywhere close to the quality available from your collection, at least for the majority of earlier stuff. Black and white is less of an issue I guess; the old Titan collections usually had decent B&W repros of covers, anyway.
So, Steve - book deal for your art collection, or a dedicated wing of the Tate?
It deserves proper appreciation, anyway.
Actually I was asked just after your question and my answer, but I don't have the ones featured in the book anyway - except for one, which is probably going to stick out like a sore thumb. There are ways to make the bog-paper covers look good, but it would take time.
Destiny's Angels - First episode in living colour!
Script: John Wagner/Alan Grant, Artist: Carlos Ezquerra
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/destinys-angels.html
Mike McMahon - Dredd...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/i-think-i-smell-rat.html
Bloody brilliant that, :thumbsup:
Keep 'em coming Mr Robo.
Roger Wilco!
If you like Ian Gibson's art, you'll probably like this...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/heavy-metal-attack.html
Quote from: robocook on 15 June, 2012, 06:47:05 AMIf you like Ian Gibson's art, you'll probably like this...
I do and I do! Great stuff, as always, Steve.
There'll be a double dose of vintage production art thrills today. Carlos Ezquerra and Kev O'Neill.
Interesado?
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/
Nice Ezquerra piece, Steve, although for me, Carlos' Fink never quite matched the skeletal menace delivered by McMahon.
Meanwhile, I'm quietly pondering what O'Neill you dug up...
Quote from: ming on 23 June, 2012, 09:12:17 AM
Meanwhile, I'm quietly pondering what O'Neill you dug up...
Very nice, too! Pretty much every O'Neill cover's a classic but his Nemesis ones are the best of all.
Wow the colours on that first Nemesis cover are incredible. The printed version doesn't get close.
More...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/this-heres-hijack.html
Wouldn't know it was Ezquerra without his gritty lines.
Thats fascinating when compared to the final product, linkie here if ya fancy
http://www.2000ad.org/functions/cover.php?choice=284&Comic=2000ad (http://www.2000ad.org/functions/cover.php?choice=284&Comic=2000ad)
Sorry double post but my modify has gone. Anyway nice article based on Mr Cook's stuff over at Bleedingcool
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/06/24/steve-cooks-secret-2000ad-cover-archives/ (http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/06/24/steve-cooks-secret-2000ad-cover-archives/)
Thanks for posting that link, Colin. Those side-by-side comparisons make the case for some kind of quality publication based around these blindingly obvious.
I'm still a bit gutted that Tharg missed a trick and didn't include some of these in the forthcoming Dredd covers book, really.
Still, we're lucky that Steve rescued 'em from the bins, and even luckier that actually we get to see the cover art as it could have looked with decent reproduction.
Quote from: ming on 24 June, 2012, 05:10:17 PM
I'm still a bit gutted that Tharg missed a trick and didn't include some of these in the forthcoming Dredd covers book, really.
Yeah you gotta hope that that book has this level of reproduction. It really gives a different perspective on the images. A general covers books (as SBT has been championing for a long time) would be a delight, if they looked like these.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/no-gun-no-chance.html
Always nice to see more of these, Steve.
On the subject of the Dredd covers book, I got this from the Tweet Droid: "The book uses our original films, the odd scan, and a couple of Steve's films where ours are missing."
Good to see some use of the Thrill Cupboard is being made, but I'd still love to see a wider 2000AD (rather than just Dredd) covers collection including scans from the full-colour production art; the difference between what Steve's been posting and the bog-paper versions is phenomenal, after all. I can see why a Dredd book probably makes more financial sense with the upcoming film, but with so many other classic 2000AD characters and covers, it'd be great to see a broader-based collection.
Anyway, now back to Steve's blog!
:)
Talking of Steve's blog (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/dredd-vs-big-two.html), and thanks to David's comment on there, i see the original art for this
(http://i.imgur.com/dAT5t.png)
popped up on the Heritage Auction site recently.
(http://i.imgur.com/zipYU.jpg)
Sold quite cheaply for a Bolland piece (about £1,300), but i can breath a sigh of relief on missing out that it was even up for sale, because Mick's Dredd is a stat and not original, ;-)
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/breakout-on-block-666.html
The Biz!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/biz-does-fashion.html
More Biz, Cam Kennedy, etc, etc, etc...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/biz-does-fashion-pt2.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/talk.html
Quote from: robocook on 07 July, 2012, 11:55:44 AM
More Biz, Cam Kennedy, etc, etc, etc...
Biz and Jim Baikie, you mean (unless this is a Barney error).
http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=prog&page=profiles&choice=342
Not again!
Ive only just got my head around the last lot of 'mistaken identity' art. Just what is it, with Cam Kennedy? ;)
Quote from: Judge Jack on 07 July, 2012, 01:31:47 PM
Not again!
Ive only just got my head around the last lot of 'mistaken identity' art. Just what is it, with Cam Kennedy? ;)
Tharg wanted some artists to draw like Cam Kennedy and Cam Kennedy to draw like Mick McMahon, presumably :lol:
I'd always assumed that was a Cam cover, but having looked at it, it's subtly different in terms of style so I developed a niggling doubt over it. I can ask Cam about it; maybe he provided a pencil version that was inked by Jim Baikie... Either that or Tharg just wanted consistent art on the cover and the interior Dredd story (which was by Cam). The latter would fit with what Cam told me about the Slaine covers he was asked to do in a McMahon-style, anyway.
Quote from: ming on 07 July, 2012, 01:36:58 PM
Quote from: Judge Jack on 07 July, 2012, 01:31:47 PM
Not again!
Ive only just got my head around the last lot of 'mistaken identity' art. Just what is it, with Cam Kennedy? ;)
Tharg wanted some artists to draw like Cam Kennedy and Cam Kennedy to draw like Mick McMahon, presumably :lol:
I'd always assumed that was a Cam cover, but having looked at it, it's subtly different in terms of style so I developed a niggling doubt over it. I can ask Cam about it; maybe he provided a pencil version that was inked by Jim Baikie... Either that or Tharg just wanted consistent art on the cover and the interior Dredd story (which was by Cam). The latter would fit with what Cam told me about the Slaine covers he was asked to do in a McMahon-style, anyway.
That's
truly mental. The version of Dredd in "C Kennedy"'s interior art for
The Suspect is a little off-model compared to his later work on the character, so I'd just assumed that the variations on the cover image were a result of the same process of the artist finding his feet on a character he hadn't really drawn before.
Looking at that cover, though; the face of Henders (Kennedy's own creation) looks off too. The inking technique is spot on Kennedy; so if that is Baikie, he deserves credit for an even better burlesquing of his fellow Orcadian than Cam managed with McMahon.
Well I've asked Cam for clarification so I guess sooner or later we'll find out what the story is.
Just heard from Cam, and that cover is indeed one of his. Good to know! :)
Nice one, David.
That cover just screams Cam Kennedy, but once something is pointed out, and queried............, :D
Thanks, David!
A McMahon Dredd here...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/britains-no1-sci-fi-hero.html
Ahh, now were talking! Perhaps my all time favourite cover by Mick. Great stuff!
2000AD production art from Prog #294, 11th December 1982. Artists: Carlos Ezquerra and Ian Gibson
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/
Very nice, as always, Steve. Once again, thanks for digging these out and sharing 'em.
Thanks for the link, Steve. Following it also led to me seeing your post with that fantastic Brendan McCarthy Dredd artwork you hand-tinted, which has always been a favourite of mine- despite the fact I've only ever seen it in the version you re-worked for the cover of Best Of 2000ad Monthly.
Does anyone know in which prog that artwork was originally published? And was it originally reproduced in colour or black and white? I seem to remember it being used inside another reprint title as b/w line art:
THE NEW(ish) MCCARTHYISM (http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o_gygN_GYZE/UAp9yhWvY7I/AAAAAAAAEu0/_X0945rftB4/s1600/O_2000PAD.jpg)
Quote from: bikini kill on 21 July, 2012, 04:58:52 PM...despite the fact I've only ever seen it in the version you re-worked for the cover of Best Of 2000ad Monthly.
Does anyone know in which prog that artwork was originally published? And was it originally reproduced in colour or black and white? I seem to remember it being used inside another reprint title as b/w line art:
I can only remember it being on the cover of that Best of 2000AD issue... Nothing else pops up in Barney (usually pretty reliable). Not sure if this was reproduced in any other publications; maybe one of the Titan reprints? Nothing springs to mind, though.
http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=reprint&page=profiles&choice=BO2K49
I wish there was an edit function...
Anyway, having another look I noticed that the date of the artwork is 1984 and the BOK issue is from 1989, so it either got published some years earlier (I still don't remember it) or it just lay around for a few years before being used.
The latter suggestion may be given some weight by the McCarthy cover for BOK 246; again published in 1989 but the art is from 1983 and is another one I don't recall seeing elsewhere.
http://www.2000ad.org/covers/reprints/hires/BO2K46.jpg
Hopefully someone with better brain-function than I have today will come along to clarify soon.
Gah - switch the the 1984 and 1983 on those two... Nyaarrrrggghhh....
Quote from: ming on 21 July, 2012, 06:05:45 PM
Quote from: bikini kill on 21 July, 2012, 04:58:52 PM...despite the fact I've only ever seen it in the version you re-worked for the cover of Best Of 2000ad Monthly.
Does anyone know in which prog that artwork was originally published? And was it originally reproduced in colour or black and white? I seem to remember it being used inside another reprint title as b/w line art:
I can only remember it being on the cover of that Best of 2000AD issue... Nothing else pops up in Barney (usually pretty reliable). Not sure if this was reproduced in any other publications; maybe one of the Titan reprints? Nothing springs to mind, though.
http://www.2000ad.org/?zone=reprint&page=profiles&choice=BO2K49
Was pretty sure id seen this before, though my recollection was that it was a B&W interior pin-up, but a quick look through my back issues reveals it was in fact the coloured back cover to prog 327.
Quote from: Judge Jack on 21 July, 2012, 06:21:13 PMWas pretty sure id seen this before, though my recollection was that it was a B&W interior pin-up, but a quick look through my back issues reveals it was in fact the coloured back cover to prog 327.
Good work, Iain! I knew there'd be
someone competent around here.
:D
Quote from: ming on 21 July, 2012, 06:12:40 PM...the McCarthy cover for BOK 246; again published in 1989 but the art is from 1983 and is another one I don't recall seeing elsewhere.
http://www.2000ad.org/covers/reprints/hires/BO2K46.jpg
Finally! Pin-up from Prog 397 (colour).
Barney seems to be missing a few Star-Scan / pin-up credits... (I know Cam only has one listed).
No probs, David!
Back in the day i was probably a bit sniffy about this, thinking as i did then, that it was just somebody aping McMahon's style, but you live and learn! its all kinds of loveliness isnt it.
(http://i.imgur.com/I5sEx.jpg)
Wouldnt mind one of those sketch books - they do look great. E-Bay scouting it is, then.
Thanks for the diligence, Ian; thanks for the laugh, David. My desultory and entirely opportunistic efforts at filling in back issues that I don't have end around 200 and don't pick up again until around 380, so I've never seen that issue in the flesh. Thanks again for your hard work.
Judge Dwedd!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.fr/2012/07/judge-dwedd.html
Quote from: robocook on 28 July, 2012, 08:37:21 AM
Judge Dwedd!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.fr/2012/07/judge-dwedd.html
Sorry to hear about the missile batteries, but the colour on that cover is extraordinary. I always thought the colour in the pre-litho days was produced using colour separations, but that's clearly hand-painted. Would that have been done by Gibson or Tom Frame?
I have it on good authority that all of these covers were painted by Tom, back in the day.
A Dave Gibbons cover...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.de/2012/08/2000ad-star-lord.html
Crime Swoop!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.nl/2012/08/crime-swoop.html
BOLLAND.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bolland-does-dredd.html
Quote from: robocook on 18 August, 2012, 09:21:07 AM
BOLLAND.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bolland-does-dredd.html
Wow a better example of how the true colours really make a difference I'd struggle to imagine. The intensity of the blacks in contrast with the explosion really make that pop... well pop rather understates it!
But more importantly, what about Barbi Benton? :)
Quote from: robocook on 18 August, 2012, 01:29:40 PM
But more importantly, what about Barbi Benton? :)
Am I going to expose a vast lack of cool if I admit to being lost there???
Having just done a quick search on previous unknown Ms. Benton I feel I really should have known more about her!
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 18 August, 2012, 02:22:36 PM
Having just done a quick search on previous unknown Ms. Benton I feel I really should have known more about her!
Had to google that too, and I have to agree that the contrasting colours
really make those pop (http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m80ioiPW4a1qc2p2qo1_500.jpg). Thanks for posting the Bolland image,
Steve, and if it's not an awkward question, [spoiler]is the stuff you're posting taken from the original repro film, or is this actual artwork that you managed to liberate from the Nerve Centre? And if that's an impolitic question, I'd be grateful if some helpful mod could remove it on my behalf[/spoiler].
Very nice, as is Ms Benton.
I know you was asking Robocook about these covers Bikini Kill, but these are production art, so not actual original artwork.
Im sure Robocook can expand on this further.
Yes, Line art is printed black on the acetate overlay and blue (which doesn't repro) on the base. The original art of these is the colour paint which is applied to the blue line. Acetate is then placed on top for repro.
I have a strange feeling that Ms Benton will make further appearances.
Quote from: robocook on 18 August, 2012, 05:41:03 PM
Yes, Line art is printed black on the acetate overlay and blue (which doesn't repro) on the base. The original art of these is the colour paint which is applied to the blue line. Acetate is then placed on top for repro
Thanks (both of you) for your replies; it's good to know someone preserved this stuff for posterity.
Steve, at the risk of being a nuisance, have you ever thought of doing something similar to David Bishop's
Thrill-Power Overload? That was a publishing history of the comic, but I'd be incredibly interested in something that traced the development of the art, reproduction and design history of
2000ad; from black and white line art printed on bog paper, with a hand-drawn logo and dodgy type-setting, to full colour art with a bespoke typeface that's drawn, assembled and read digitally.
You're doing a lot of the groundwork necessary for such a project already, and it'd make a great feature in
The Megazine, especially if Kev O'Neil and Robin Smith were involved.
Not a nuisance in any way. I have already discussed such a project with Rian Hughes, seeing as we've both designed a few comics over the years. I can't imagine it would need to be restricted solely to 2000AD though.
That would be a very interesting read be great if you and Rian could get that done.
Bolland again.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/bolland-does-dredd-2.html
Very nice as always, Steve.
I seem to recall somebody had the original art for this up on the CAF website, but i cant seem to find it at the moment.
Anyway back to more pressing matters - no Barbi Benton updates this week? ;)
Having a bit of a nosey around your Blog its nice to see the Oh Wicked Wanda piece. Just sublime (and mucky) art from the great Ron Embleton.
There's far more Barbi now! :)
There have been a few 2000AD related posts this week.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/
That Monkey Business (well ape but I'll not let one of my personnel bugbears spoil the fun) cover is one of my favourites, its chuffin' wonderful. Also very nice to be reminded if that fantastic Shaky Kane Doom Patrol cover.
Thats another cracker, Steve. Always nice to see these, especially the McMahon ones.
Oh and by the way, i notice you recieved a thank you in the art of Judge Dredd covers book, can you say which covers you helped out with?
Y'know, I can't actually remember which ones. I'll wait 'til I get a copy and remind myself. It wasn't many though, most of the wanted issues weren't ones that I had in my collection. Having said that, I still keep finding stuff that I'd forgotten all about.
McMahon / Dredd
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/mcmahon-dredd.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/tharg-judge-diggle.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/prog-300.html
Interesting to see these, Steve!
Books like Thrill-Power Overload would have benefited from behind-the-scenes stuff like this.
Thanks! I've got plenty more...
Bubba Better Beat It!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/bubba-better-beat-it.html
A couple of 2000AD gems if you can be arsed! :)
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nemesis-vs-torquemada.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/zenith-2.html
That Masterman one is brilliant.
Quote from: robocook on 13 October, 2012, 09:37:01 AM
A couple of 2000AD gems if you can be arsed! :) http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/nemesis-vs-torquemada.html
I can always be arsed,
Steve. Fnar. Speaking of filth, there's just something really perverted about everything O'Neill's ever drawn, isn't there? The idea of a spiral staircase winding its way up to someone's arse, and of that being the object of monumental statuary is just ... troubling and very subversive, when you consider the purpose and typical subjects of such commemoration in our own time. Maybe the Comic Code had a point.
The way architecture, furniture, vehicles and the supporting cast of characters all seem to take on the physical characteristics and design aesthetic of the two major protagonists really emphasises the way Torquemada and Nemesis were the physical embodiment of two conflicting ideologies, two entire civilisations, and of two inimicable world views. Brilliant, brilliant stuff
Steve. Thanks so much for sharing the treasures of your hoard.
You are very welcome! Good comments. Feel free to post stuff like that on the blog if you like, it's good to get comments up there. Thanks!
Quote from: CrazyFoxMachine on 28 December, 2011, 03:31:13 PM
(http://th02.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2011/097/f/a/who__s_next_by_kevlev-d3dfsfz.jpg)
Bang. It was the amazing Kev Levell - and from the look of the block it was our Burdis!
That is drokkin' AWESOME! :D
I'm so happy you've shown the cover to Prog 239, if I was ever forced to pick my favourite ever cover it'd be this one. Bloody love it.
The first appearance of Ace Trucking Co.
Here...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/new-thrill-ace-trucking-co.html
Quote from: robocook on 21 October, 2012, 12:08:38 PM
The first appearance of Ace Trucking Co. http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/new-thrill-ace-trucking-co.html
You can tell that strip was created specially to cater to Belardinelli's strengths and enthusiasms. That cover's a distillation of the technology of his work on
Dan Dare and the odd character design of his
Meltdown Man and
Slaine strips. Thanks for posting,
Steve.
I saw the post you made yesterday on Rian Hughes (
LINK (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/are-you-ready.html)). Now he's got his
Cult-ure book (http://www.cult-ure.net/) published, any chance of you two working on the book you were thinking about doing together, which you said might feature your decades of work on
2000ad and other Fleetway titles? Since Tom Frame's sad passing you must be the person who's spent most time in the Nerve Centre, and no-one's better able to tell the design history of the comic than yourself. They're knocking out
The Art of Judge Dredd for £50, you know.
Quote from: robocook on 21 October, 2012, 12:08:38 PM
The first appearance of Ace Trucking Co.
Ah, the memories of reading this strip (along with the space truckers dictionary!) for the first time.
Massimo's art could be an acquired taste at times, but suited this strip perfectly. Just brilliant stuff, Steve!
Thanks, folks - glad you like!
I'll have a little chat with Rian about that - though, of course it won't be an instant outcome.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/return-to-armageddon.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/early-hewlett-2.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-power-and-gory.html
Quote from: robocook on 11 November, 2012, 11:33:38 AM
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/early-hewlett-2.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-power-and-gory.html
Cheers,
Steve. Does the big 'R' initial on the catalogue stamp (Slaine cover) denote Robin Smith or Robocook? If I've got my history correct, this would have been round about the time Robin was clearing his desk and you were coming aboard. Also, have you seen the
Valiant and One-eyed Jack book Mary and David have put together (it has its own thread). There's a feature on all 2000ad's early art editors, and the logo design, etc
Great to see these, as always, Steve. Especially the Return To Armageddon cover by the superb Redondo.
Havent read that strip in years, so i think its high time i did!
"Does the big 'R' initial on the catalogue stamp (Slaine cover) denote Robin Smith or Robocook?"
I reckon that was Robin, it's quite a few progs before my time.
Valiant and One-eyed Jack - sounds interesting, but I can't find the thread you mention...
Quote from: robocook on 12 November, 2012, 12:35:21 AM
Valiant and One-eyed Jack - sounds interesting, but I can't find the thread you mention...
I forgot nternet rule number one, a link in every post: http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,37410.msg725004.html#msg725004 (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,37410.msg725004.html#msg725004)
Sections of it sound a lot like the the look at the changing design of 2000ad I've been pestering you to get round to producing ...
Thanks!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/demolition-derby.html
etc, etc...
Thats great, the detail he manages to cram in, no blank space on his page.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/demolition-derby.html (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/demolition-derby.html)
Cheers, Steve. That's a pretty good illustration of why I think Ron Smith was the perfect artist for that period of Dredd. Artists like Kev O'Neill and Ian Gibson were great at selling the comedy and outrageous exaggerations of situations like that shown above, while Bolland and Steve Dillon were absolutely fantastic at selling the reality of the city and the character. Every week, Ron Smith's clean and expressive style managed to walk a line between those two poles, providing a consistency and clarity that allowed the reader to understand that there was absolutely no contradiction between MC1 being the kind of place where Blockmania happened and the kind of place where Citizen Snork happened.
Perhaps not the most striking, or best, of covers - always bugged me when they included space-taking-up stuff like that Future Flight offer, but always a treat to see Ron's work.
More Ron!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-hotdog-run.html
Oh yes. That'll do, :thumbsup:
One of my fave (amongst many!) Ron Smith Dredd stories.
Has anyone asked before Steve but what size are these? Same size as the prog, or larger?
I know original art is mahoosive compared to the printed page.
S/S - Same size!
More classic 2000AD production art by the inimitable Kev O'Neill...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-alien-pit.html
Great stuff, colours by Frame again? Was Tom Frame part of the staff at IPC or was he freelance?
Not sure if it was Tom, but most likely. I didn't mention him on this one as it may have been Kev. Tom was always a freelancer.
Wishing you a...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/a-thrill-powered-christmas.html
Dave Gibbons - New Year 1981
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/in-orbit-1981.html
They are great Steve, Thanks for posting. I love how 2000ad did random covers, like that Gibbons, The McMahon wraparound scene from the war and Belardinelli wraparound with giant scaceships come to mind too.
Great stuff as usual.
Yeah, thanks again for keeping up the drip-feed of classic Thrill-Power last year, Steve. The covers, sketches and photos are a real treat and much appreciated by a lot of people, I'm sure (not to mention the rest of the blog, which throws up a huge amount of interesting stuff).
Looking forward to seeing what falls out of the Thrill-Cupboard in 2013!
Aye, Great to see these covers, as well as all the other stuff on your Blog. Lovely stuff Steve, keep 'em coming!
Thanks, everyone - and a Happy New Year!
Quote from: robocook on 01 January, 2013, 09:35:18 AM
Dave Gibbons - New Year 1981
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/in-orbit-1981.html
"Hot pink at present". Thanks for that and all the other fascinating stuff you've flung our way over the last twelve months,
Steve. I don't know how I managed to live this long without coming across Barbi Benton before.
Haha! - Yeah, BB gets a few hits on there. I'll see if I have more of her...
Quote from: robocook on 02 January, 2013, 02:17:22 PM
Haha! - Yeah, BB gets a few hits on there.
Those
Vampirella (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/vampirella-2.html) pics arent too shabby, either ;)
Okay, so I'm getting the vibe that glamour on the blog is generally acceptable, so I'll continue in that manner... ;)
Quote from: Judge Jack on 02 January, 2013, 04:36:58 PM
Quote from: robocook on 02 January, 2013, 02:17:22 PM
Haha! - Yeah, BB gets a few hits on there.
Those Vampirella (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/vampirella-2.html) pics arent too shabby, either ;)
Jayses...!
Steve's latest blast of Thrill-Power: classic Gibbons Rogue Trooper. Lovely stuff.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.no/2013/01/your-gateway-to-future.html
Thanks, David!
Quote from: robocook on 14 January, 2013, 08:57:16 AM
Thanks, David!
You're welcome!
A couple more of Steve's recent 2K-related posts here (Bisley Slaine):
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.no/2013/01/the-digital-cupboard-1-slaine.html
..and here (Belardinelli Ace Trucking cover):
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.no/2013/01/uckpuckers-plucked.html
Classic Cam Kennedy -
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/the-long-long-arm-of-law.html
Quote from: robocook on 23 January, 2013, 09:03:18 AM
Classic Cam Kennedy -
It is indeed, though is there any other kind!
What Colin said. Such a striking image; Cam on very fine form.
Just recently been re-reading the Warlord strip, Steve.
Lovely stuff!
A quick question (one ive asked before, but had no joy with) - So who, or what was 'Euroman comics'? Ive seen it pasted onto a lot of original art before. Was it a shop/collector who sold original art back in the day?
Quote from: Judge Jack on 23 January, 2013, 11:41:07 AMA quick question (one ive asked before, but had no joy with) - So who, or what was 'Euroman comics'? Ive seen it pasted onto a lot of original art before. Was it a shop/collector who sold original art back in the day?
I always assumed it was something related to the printing / publication process.
Id never thought of that! That could well be the answer.
Always thought it was a seller's name/shop, for some reason.
Yes, I think it was to do with the reproduction house.
Today's 2000AD production art is for Prog #465, 12th April, 1986. Cover art by Cam Kennedy. Colours by Tom Frame.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/flab-fever.html
TTTT! Another corker, Steve.
Grooooooooooooooovy!
Nice! And I didn't know that Tom Frame did colouring. The man was even more awesome than I realised.
A smashing cover, and the colours by Tom are especially nice on this one!
Good stuff, Steve - as always.
Quote from: robocook on 02 February, 2013, 09:48:43 AM
Today's 2000AD production art is for Prog #465, 12th April, 1986. Cover art by Cam Kennedy. Colours by Tom Frame. http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/flab-fever.html
I mutilated the progs to get those Cam Kennedy Tony Tubbs covers on my wall, nobody made MC1 and the sometimes incredibly silly stuff that went on in it seem more solid and real. I can't believe how much more vivid the colours look in the production art too. Cheers again,
Steve.
More great stuff, cheers Steve
No problem!
Actually, this Dave Gibbons one is worth checking out...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-digital-cupboard-rogue-trooper-by.html
Very nice to see this, in all its glory Steve. Loved that Rogue Trooper action special.
Dave coloured the first Rogue episode for it, didnt he. It would be glorious if he would re-do all his strips like that, and for a oversized collection to be released.
Quote from: robocook on 09 February, 2013, 09:05:04 AM
No problem!
Actually, this Dave Gibbons one is worth checking out...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-digital-cupboard-rogue-trooper-by.html
Dang! That's so fine.
As a follow-up, Rogue Trooper by Colin Wilson...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/rogue-trooper-by-colin-wilson.html
That's beautiful, and almost Pop Art. Cheers, Steve.
Yeah, that's lovely - and far more striking now than when it was first published, I think. Maybe my old eyes can just appreciate it better. Anyway, as I just commented, no-one does future tech better than Colin Wilson. Or Westerns, for that matter!
Quote from: ming on 10 February, 2013, 09:58:24 AM
Yeah, that's lovely - and far more striking now than when it was first published, I think. Maybe my old eyes can just appreciate it better.
Aye, that's what's struck me about getting the opportunity to see this production art too. I'm assuming that Tom Frame was compensating for the way the bog paper on which
2000ad was printed just sucked up and dulled the impact of colour. I was always impressed that
2000ad seemed to use a more subtle and subdued palette than the four color horrors from across the Atlantic, but it seems like that might have been a by-product of the production process, rather than an aesthetic choice or indication of greater sophistication.
Death to the Norms!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/mutant-army-on-march.html
Ha! A glorious cover. And highlights one of the best things about Stronty; Carlos' depiction of Mutants.
Unique is the word that springs to mind.
That's fantastic and a little weird. When I look at these its normally quite how vivid the colours are compared to the final Prog bog paper finished product that strikes me. In this case its how clean and bright the white is that stands out.
Quote from: Colin_YNWA on 17 February, 2013, 01:46:42 PM
That's fantastic and a little weird. When I look at these its normally quite how vivid the colours are compared to the final Prog bog paper finished product that strikes me. In this case its how clean and bright the white is that stands out.
I don't own the original issue, but the colours look
exactly like those on the cover of the tattered second hand copy of the
2000ad Monthly in which I first read that story. Usually, as
Colin points out, the colours on these bits of production art are much more intense than the printed product - maybe the glossy paper on which the covers of the monthlies were printed offered greater fidelity.
Thanks for such a timely posting,
Steve - those muties are still revolting in the current prog.
You're welcome!
Here's one from this week 32 years ago - yikes!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/assassination-run.html
Always really loved Ian's work on Dredd from this period. His best time on the strip?
(Been lucky enough to have snagged a original art page of his, from the Stookie Glanders story - a personal fave).
But 32 years ago, you say? Gulp..
It's interesting to see how much Gibson was using not just McMahon's redesign/development of the judge uniform and the city as his entry point back into a strip which had changed almost beyond recognition in the time since he had last drawn an episode, but manages to imbibe McMahon's scratchy inking style and distressed aesthetic too. The characters' faces, the hover vehicle, and the composition are recognisably Gibson's own; but the helmet flash, the chunky figures, even the big boots evoke Mick McMahon.
I remember being conflicted about the way Henry Flint was obviously using McMahon's back catalogue (i) to give his own sophomore work an easy visual fluency, since it seemed like more of the trading on nostalgia for past glories which was evident in the prog at the time. Looking at Flint's work in the last decade, it's clear to see that he was using McMahon's art in exactly the same way Gibson did - as a means of understanding the character and the strip, and as a stepping stone to his own original, influential and instantly recognisable take on the material.
Thanks for posting, Steve.
(i) particularly the old annual colour strips
Carlos Ezquerra - Strontium Dog...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/hang-ya-high.html
A nice piece of Kev O'Neill artwork today...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/young-nemesis.html
Quote from: robocook on 16 March, 2013, 10:26:05 AM
A nice piece of Kev O'Neill artwork today ... http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/young-nemesis.html
Ooh, that is just
revolting! The tortured anatomy, the pubic hair and warts, even the bits of what are supposed to be humans look distorted and degenerate - classic O'Neill. I love how he creates an entire landscape and understandable environment from what's essentially a Rorschach blot running horizontally across the page.
Am I right in thinking that this was coloured by O'Neill himself,
Steve? The violent contrast of the palette seems radically different to that of Tom Frame, and O'Neill choosing to colour the recently republished Eagle editions of Nemesis suggests he saw that as an important part of the process.
I believe it was coloured by Kev. Judging by the colour mark-ups too. It looks like his handwriting, though I could be wrong. I cropped that off for better impact of the image itself. I have an idea this was originally in one of the progs when Kev was art director, hence the mark-ups. Stickers relating to 'Best-of 2000AD' are on the back of the artwork and could have been added later because the handwriting is clearly different.
Quote from: robocook on 16 March, 2013, 10:26:05 AM
A nice piece of Kev O'Neill artwork today...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/young-nemesis.html
No other comic, anywhere, could touch the prog - or come even remotely close, during this period, could they?
I do sometimes ponder just what exactly went into the makeup of this generation of artists.
The stars were most definitely aligned for several birth dates, i think.
Classic Cam Kennedy!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-seven-samurai.html
Ah man I love that story. After 'The Big Sleep' this is the Cam Kennedy story I'd most like a page from... well a man can dream!
Quote from: robocook on 16 March, 2013, 12:05:53 PM
I believe it was coloured by Kev. Judging by the colour mark-ups too. It looks like his handwriting, though I could be wrong. I cropped that off for better impact of the image itself. I have an idea this was originally in one of the progs when Kev was art director, hence the mark-ups. Stickers relating to 'Best-of 2000AD' are on the back of the artwork and could have been added later because the handwriting is clearly different.
Cheers,
Steve - I completely missed your polite and very thorough response to my drooling fan inquiry last week.
Cam brings such a weight and solidity to the more fanciful stuff he illustrates that even when his images tend toward abstraction, the strength of his composition holds everything together beautifully. Much of what makes that page work so well is the uniformity of the repeated pattern created by the brushstrokes which only indicate the armour, and the stark lines and kinetic sweep of Shojan's kimono, which trail off into the negative space which actually makes up more than half of what appears to be a bustling and detailed page.
I don't think any other artist in the history of 2000ad has such an innate understanding of how the simple placement of lines on a flat page creates dynamic, three dimensional,
moving images in the mind of the reader. I've just spent about ten minutes letting the artful construction of that image bounce my eye around the page and marveling at how the quality which makes one figure or texture work is entirely dependent on its relation to another part of the picture for its effect. That's not just great comic art, that's great art - thanks very much for posting,
Steve.
Nicely put!
It would be great to have this comment next to the post on the blog. Have you thought about that?
Also, I just noticed you've got exactly 1977 posts - a good year!
Steve
Cheers, Steve, will do. Since your post, I've tumbled headlong through time (like Gil Gerard) to the year of Adam Ant, the Yorkshire Ripper and Dangermouse.
Haha! Well you might want to check this too...
Purple wigs, silver mini-skirts and Gabrielle Drake! Gerry Anderson's UFO.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-far-flung-future-of-1980-pt2.html
Quote from: robocook on 24 March, 2013, 10:22:30 AM
Purple wigs, silver mini-skirts and Gabrielle Drake! Gerry Anderson's UFO.
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-far-flung-future-of-1980-pt2.html
Brilliant! I'm with Tomlinson on the aesthetics overcoming the logical underpinning of
UFO - if the cast of
Prometheus had been wearing lamé underwear the film would never have attracted so much nitpicking. Your site's a treasure trove for fantastic images from the Avengers/Anderson/Batman/Barbarella axis which taught my eyes what beauty was in the cultural desert of the eighties. That axis includes your transformation of the prog into something that was a pleasure to look at as well as read,
Steve.
Nice to get good feedback - Thanks!
I was never truly pleased with the logo 'til I drew the one at the top left of this page. Glad they still use it.
Mentioned it here a while ago...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/555-alive.html
Quote from: robocook on 24 March, 2013, 01:12:04 PM
I was never truly pleased with the logo 'til I drew the one at the top left of this page. Glad they still use it. Mentioned it here a while ago ... http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/555-alive.html
Cheers,
Steve; I'd had a root around
Secret Oranges to see if you'd written on the subject of your design work for Fleetway as well - my research skills are crap. I drew a connection between what you were doing and the way Neville Brody was influencing style mags at that time (i), so it's interesting to discover that
Nova was uppermost in your thoughts. And it's fascinating to discover that prog 622 wasn't the only time you drew Dredd for the cover of the prog; strong Cam Kennedy influence there:
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/555-alive.html (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/555-alive.html)
(i) especially with the typography in the late eighties/early nineties specials
Quote from: sauchie on 23 March, 2013, 05:00:45 PM
I don't think any other artist [than Cam Kennedy] in the history of 2000ad has such an innate understanding of how the simple placement of lines on a flat page creates dynamic, three dimensional, moving images in the mind of the reader. I've just spent about ten minutes letting the artful construction of that image bounce my eye around the page and marveling at how the quality which makes one figure or texture work is entirely dependent on its relation to another part of the picture for its effect. That's not just great comic art, that's great art - thanks very much for posting, Steve.
Some years back, Jim Campbell made this great post breaking down the way the illusion of movement is created in one of Cam's Rogue Trooper pages. I think it was in contrast to the stiffness evident in some of the newer artists' work at the time but that's not really relevant. I'd try to find it but I can't.
Quote from: The Cosh on 26 March, 2013, 01:58:53 PM
I'd try to find it but I can't.
Very kind of you to mention it. It was this (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,26974.msg502959.html#msg502959) post.
Cheers!
Jim
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 26 March, 2013, 02:24:27 PM
Quote from: The Cosh on 26 March, 2013, 01:58:53 PM
Some years back, Jim Campbell made this great post breaking down the way the illusion of movement is created in one of Cam's Rogue Trooper pages. I think it was in contrast to the stiffness evident in some of the newer artists' work at the time but that's not really relevant. I'd try to find it but I can't.
Very kind of you to mention it. It was this (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,26974.msg502959.html#msg502959) post.
Cheers,
Jim. Like Yoda and Socrates,
you are old, but learned.
Quote from: Jim_Campbell on 26 March, 2013, 02:24:27 PM
It was this (http://forums.2000adonline.com/index.php/topic,26974.msg502959.html#msg502959) post.
That's a simply superb panel - a real favourite, and show's you all you need to know about Cam's style.
(Ming has the original art for this, as shown in that post - jammy bugger!)
Calling all artists!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/calling-all-artists.html
Ace Trucking!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/when-going-gets-tough.html
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/fiend-power.html
Despite that story being set in the familiar milieu of the battlefield, which Ezquerra was comfortable working in from his Battle days, he really had to reinvent almost everything about his work to capture the atmosphere of that strip. The lines and textures in that cover are so different from the work we'd seen from him at that point, although I suppose the guignol of Kostanza & Co has some precedent in the Strontium Dog story Journey Into Hell (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S0pJKk90SUE/Tf5s8IozjHI/AAAAAAAAJvs/aMNewEn3yFY/s1600/030.jpg). Thanks for posting, Steve.
A very memorable cover that. Cheers for posting, Steve.
I dont know if this has been discussed before, but was this strip originally destined for another comic?
On the face of it you'd think it wouldnt 'fit' into the prog - though i love the strip from the get go.
Carlos always seemed very much at home drawing WW2 stuff.
Why had the text been covered over on the Fiends art? Has it ever been used with different text in the speech balloon?
'Fraid I don't know the answer to that one. It was before my time.
Meanwhile Mean Arena by Dave Gibbons
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/mean-arena.html
I loved that story, and I don't even have the excuse of being ten when I read it, since I only came across it after buying the back issues of a pal at secondary school who'd discovered the delights of drinking White Lightning cider and screwing shell-suited girls underneath the swings in the local park.
There's something really appealing about the way Gibbon's figures look like burnished Silver Age characters, inexplicably torn from the pages of a sixties Marvel comic and dropped into the milieu of dilapidated tenement housing and hair-netted housewives which was the drab default setting during that period for any British comic story which wasn't about the second world war. The Slayers' matches could have been taking place in Pat Mills's fictional amalgam of Northpool or the Dundee/Anywhere construct of Dennis the Menace's home town.
Which, I suppose, reflected how the strip (and 2000ad in general) was seeking to disrupt and transform the stuffiness, complacency and morbidity that had afflicted British boys comics in that period by introducing what were perceived at the time as subversive American influences (Tallon was a Yank), such as excitement, colour and glamour. Once again, the colours on that art seem so much more vivid (and lurid) than the copy I have; there must have been a real art to laying down hues that would achieve the desired effect once they'd gone through the primitive printing process, and onto crappy paper. Thanks for posting, Steve.
Love it!
Good stuff, Steve. Mean Arena was a fave of mine, as well - and needs digging out for a re-read, at some point.
The prog was firing on all cylinders, around this period.
More Dave Gibbons art for your delectation!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/super-charged-sci-fi.html
I only came here to sell some progs, but all that Gibbons art is lovely.
Thanks a lot!
Jesus! I wouldn't worry about not being able to locate the other sheet for that one, Steve, it works even better without colour obscuring the great line work. I can see the economic argument for recolouring those old strips for the North American market, but that artwork demonstrates how the different styles developed by artists like Gibbons, Bolland, McMahon and Kennedy during that era were specifically designed to work in monochrome.
Thanks for posting, Steve.
Erm... Ian Gibson - Ace Trucking...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-great-mush-rush.html?showComment=1368897278605
The Power of Random!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-power-of-random.html
Shaky Kane!!!
Cowboys and Insects!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/the-house-of-kane.html
Loving that latest post, Steve. Boxes of frogs have a saying involving Shaky, I'm sure.
Cheers! :D Glad to hear!
Ian Gibson...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/return-to-armageddon.html
2000AD from 1979...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/monsters-and-magic.html
Scrotnig, Steve. I loved Massimo's work on Black Hawk - he delivered some stunning art and some of my favourite alien character designs (especially Batak and Beezelbub*).
* Never named in the story itself, but featured in the text story in the 1982 Annual.
My birthday prog, ;)
Good stuff from Massimo, and Disney's The Black Hole reviewed. Loved that film at the time....
Old school Ezquerra from 1979!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/tharg-terrorises-london.html
Lulu Romanov invites you to join the Cadre Infernale . . .
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/lulu-romanov-invites-you-to-join-cadre.html
Lots of Lulu Romanov posts...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/
Quote from: robocook on 23 June, 2013, 12:34:37 PM
Lots of Lulu Romanov posts...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/
Brilliant Steve!
A Rogue Trooper beauty by Colin Wilson!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/jailbreak-at-glasshouse-g.html
Now that looks incredible. It's a cover I always liked a lot (it's Colin Wilson, why wouldn't I?) but it looks incredibly good there... As always, thanks for putting these on view, Steve!
You're very welcome. It's a good'un isn't it!
Quote from: robocook on 29 June, 2013, 10:26:13 AM
A Rogue Trooper beauty by Colin Wilson!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/jailbreak-at-glasshouse-g.html
Just a heads-up for anyone that might be interested; that latest post has been updated by Steve with some words from Colin Wilson.
Quote from: ming on 05 July, 2013, 09:39:57 AM
Quote from: robocook on 29 June, 2013, 10:26:13 AM
A Rogue Trooper beauty by Colin Wilson!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/jailbreak-at-glasshouse-g.html
Just a heads-up for anyone that might be interested; that latest post has been updated by Steve with some words from Colin Wilson.
Colin Wilson's insecure about his artistic ability?
"Print me like one of your French covers, Jack"
Love Colin Wilson's work...
Quote from: sauchie on 05 July, 2013, 05:12:09 PM
Colin Wilson's insecure about his artistic ability?
That's how people stay good at what they do!
Carlos Ezquerra! ABC Warriors! Vintage Action!
All in Saturday's Soaraway Secret Oranges!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/beastie-bother.html
Mind well and truly blown. I always assumed those old covers and centre spreads were put together using colour separations until I saw your blog, but I'd got used to the idea of them being painted colour applied to reproductions of the line artwork (with a separate overlay of the line art on top). Am I right in thinking that's poster paint applied to the rear of the black line acetate overlay? If so, it's incredible the colour bodger who produced that cover managed to stay inside the lines while painting directly onto acetate. It's amazing how the addition of the black line flattens the colour and obscures the texture of the paint too.
That's a fascinating and invaluable insight; cheers for sharing, Steve.
certainly looks like poster paint!
Cam Kennedy and the Future War Fiasco...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/future-war-fiasco.html
One thing I love about that cover, which is probably not a good thing, is the fact you have all those troops running into deadly conflicit and it looks like Rogue's telling the reader all about fruit gums and a free poster!
Quote from: robocook on 20 July, 2013, 09:00:21 AM
Cam Kennedy and the Future War Fiasco...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/future-war-fiasco.html
The secret of Fruit Gums is that Fruit Pastilles taste the same but don't pull your teeth out when you chew them. That cover's a great example of how so much of Cam Kennedy's great work on Rogue Trooper relied on the interplay of abstract shapes for its effect, like the dynamic explosions and white blast effects there, the repetition of the ovals in Rogue's helmet, or those incredible suns with rays emanating from them which dominated the composition of Kennedy's Nu-Earth landscapes.
All of which reminded me of the Kirby-esque visual language of cosmic apocalypse Edmund Bagwell's been employing in
The Ten Seconders (http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/07/a-brief-chat-with-edmund-bagwell-about-the-ten-seconders/) this week.
A multi-themed 2000 AD cover...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/robotsfuture-warmonstersblack-holes.html
You should definitely feel free to pimp this here (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Sophie%27s%20World) nearer the time of the exhibition, Steve:
(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTIXF3T2EZNRiHdXyVD5rEfVH4ALuBSMWPODdFjhlhIe2Pw9wAr)
I remember the spoof Face cover the Megazine ran around the time of Necropolis and thinking it was odd that Sophie Aldred appeared to be the model. Then I found out the editor, David Bishop, was a big Dr Who fanboy and it all made sense. I didn't realise you worked for Dr Who magazine (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/watch-this-space-time.html) too.
Thanks! Didn't know if there was a crossover or not.
Feel free to spread the word!
Yes, I worked on Doctor Who magazine when I was at Marvel UK, but because I was also a freelance photographer I did a fair bit of photography on set which is where I met Sophie. We were doing a few photo sessions for fun around the time I was at 2000AD, and you're right about David being a Who fan, which is how the Megazine cover came about.
Kev O'Neill fans may well appreciate this...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/largin-it-74.html
Quote from: robocook on 02 August, 2013, 08:38:33 AM
Kev O'Neill fans may well appreciate this...
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/largin-it-74.html
Glorious!
Lardin' it!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/lardin-it-76.html
Loving these close-ups, Steve - really worth spending the extra time spent revisiting these!
Also great to see this cover used for the recent Fatties collection; did Rebellion use your production art for that (I guess so, and hope to see more use made of your archive).
The original art for this cover is with me these days: http://www.comicartfans.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=986617
:)
Gorgeous - one of my fave Dredd stories by Cam.
I haven't seen that, David. I don't recall giving them a scan of it, but then my memory is not as it used to be... I think...
Good to see you have the art!
Quote from: robocook on 11 August, 2013, 12:02:27 AM
I haven't seen that, David. I don't recall giving them a scan of it, but then my memory is not as it used to be... I think...
Good to see you have the art!
Here it is...
http://imgur.com/jOaQwb9
D'Oh! Or even...
(http://imgur.com/jOaQwb9)
Thanks, David! Looks to me like they've re-coloured it digitally. They probably still had the black film of the original. These were usually kept in the archives.
Quote from: robocook on 11 August, 2013, 09:46:59 AM
Thanks, David! Looks to me like they've re-coloured it digitally. They probably still had the black film of the original. These were usually kept in the archives.
Yeah, looking again at the Fatties cover, it does just look like it's been re-coloured. The hand-painted production art version looks a lot better, really; a shame no-one thought to approach you to use this but there y'go.
I've got to kill you, Scott! If I don't, Lamrox will enslave the galaxy!
Another of Steve Cook's 2000AD-related 'largin' it' posts:
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.no/2013/08/largin-it-79.html
Dredd by Trevor Hairsine
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/the-digital-cupboard-dredd.html
Judge Anderson by Arthur Ranson
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/judge-anderson-shamballa.html
Quote from: robocook on 27 August, 2013, 09:06:29 AM
Judge Anderson by Arthur Ranson
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/judge-anderson-shamballa.html
Love that image!
Classic Dredd, Classic Carlos!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/lawmaster-vs-rad-sweeper.html
So much good stuff on your blog, Steve. In fact, I only spotted this Halo Jones curiosity (http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/the-digital-cupboard-halo-jones.html) because it was thumbnailed at the bottom of your latest Carlos post...!
Cheers
Jim
Quote from: robocook on 31 August, 2013, 10:53:29 AM
Classic Dredd, Classic Carlos!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/lawmaster-vs-rad-sweeper.html
Classic sound FX - PZZOOO!
The joy of thumbnails.
Cheers, Jim!
Definitely worth a look:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/09/05/sophie-aldred-as-judge-dredd-and-more/
See also: http://www.orbitalcomics.com/sophies-world-the-unseen-photographs-by-steve-cook-2/
Classic Ian Gibson A/W!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/sam-slade-hangs-loose.html
Quote from: ming on 06 September, 2013, 09:10:20 AM
Definitely worth a look:
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/09/05/sophie-aldred-as-judge-dredd-and-more/
I remember her as Ace, although I didn't watch much Doctor Who back then. I didn't recognise her in that first picture though. It's not just the hair (although that's a large part of it). Her whole expression makes her look like a different woman!
That's called acting! ;)
Quote from: robocook on 14 September, 2013, 12:34:40 PM
Classic Ian Gibson A/W!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/sam-slade-hangs-loose.html
That's the first prog I bought. Lovely.
Any chance you have the production art for prog#169's double-spread?
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/mediumres/169.jpg)
Quote from: JOE SOAP on 14 September, 2013, 01:37:22 PM
That's the first prog I bought. Lovely.
Any chance you have the production art for prog#169's double-spread?
(http://www.2000ad.org/covers/2000ad/mediumres/169.jpg)
My brother got in trouble in trouble for backing his maths book in that cover... I know no ones cares but its always been something I remember...
Sorry, I don't have that one for sure.
Nemesis!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/nemesis.html
Anderson!
http://secret-oranges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/london-film-comic-con-2013.html
And if you scroll down, Judge Death!