The Strangeness of Brendan McCarthy

[TordelBack]

Oh man.  I love The Specials, and I love McCarthy, together they're almost too wonderful.  And that Lydon is magnificent too.  You do have the nicest things to share Ming!

[Frank]

The character find of 1976! It's extraordinary how that image manages to be both a near-photographic likeness and the very essence of great comic art. Thanks for that Ming - I can't help wondering what other surprises you have in your drawers.

[Dandontdare]

I've just read McCarthy's Spider-man: Fever, which I picked up cheap at cardiff.  McCarthy channels Ditko with a totally mental Dr Strange team up, loved it

[darnmarr]

If you can pass along a pic I can run it by Brendan...  Either way, it'd be interesting to see it!

I'll post it up here monday.

[Skullmo]

http://www.2000ad.org/functions/cover.php?choice=SCIFI96&Comic=specials

I always thought this was by Brendan McCarthy working with someone else - and yet it is unknown. Anyone know the secret of 'Loaf' ?

[Colin YNWA]

http://www.2000ad.org/functions/cover.php?choice=SCIFI96&Comic=specials

I always thought this was by Brendan McCarthy working with someone else - and yet it is unknown. Anyone know the secret of 'Loaf' ?

I've never thought about that but now you've said it and looking at it I can certainly see exactly where you're coming from. Even the way its signed 'loaf 96' seems to be in Mr McCarthy's style.

So what I'm saying really (and annoyingly) is no idea, but bloody good question.

[Skullmo]

Ming will know!

[ming]

Ming will know!

Indeed!

Loaf was one of Brendan's pseudonyms; not sure when this first cropped up or how widely this was used but I remember seeing 'The Meaning of Loaf' in Deadline back in the day (#10; 1989) and there was no doubt in my mind who was behind it.  A few more Loaf contributions followed in later issues of Deadline and there's that previously mentioned Mean Machine Sci-Fi Special cover (1996?).  Other than that, I don't recall much.

[darnmarr]

Sorry 'bout the delay... anyhoo whatcha reckon? or is it all in my head?

[Skullmo]

For me, it seems a bit too subdued to be Brendan. Plus the body proportions are a bit off, and he is a master at long legs!

It reminds me more of Philip Bond.

[hippynumber1]

I agree - looks very much like Philip Bond, especially the girl on the far right...

[Frank]

For me, it seems a bit too subdued to be Brendan. Plus the body proportions are a bit off, and he is a master at long legs! It reminds me more of Philip Bond.

Aye, it instantly put me in mind of Bond's run on The Invisibles (bald fella, Union Flag, girls in leathers and fishnets), although it's obviously not him either. As skullmo says, the relative proportions of heads and bodies in that picture are only really seen in characters like Martin Athcet and Tutu, and the composition is very straightforward. Also, I'd expect a fish with the face of a dog saying "plastic in peanut butter kit-kats?" (or something) to make its way into anything touched by the hand of Bren'.

Sorry, darnmarr, but thanks for sharing.

[darnmarr]

Nae bother, and thanks for informing,- I've been wondering about it so long.

[Skullmo]

Ming will know!

Indeed!

Loaf was one of Brendan's pseudonyms; not sure when this first cropped up or how widely this was used but I remember seeing 'The Meaning of Loaf' in Deadline back in the day (#10; 1989) and there was no doubt in my mind who was behind it.  A few more Loaf contributions followed in later issues of Deadline and there's that previously mentioned Mean Machine Sci-Fi Special cover (1996?).  Other than that, I don't recall much.

I knew Ming would know! Now we need to got this cover attributed!

[Frank]

Pat Mills has (inadvertently) published Milligan and McCarthy's Summer of Love on his blog: http://patmills.wordpress.com