We’re sorry to report the passing of Catalan comics artist and illustrator Jose Luis Ferrer (José Luis Ferrér Rozalen), whose credits included 2000AD, Starlord and many other British comics.
His agent, Esteve Dalmau, told downthetubes he finally succumbed to an aggressive brain tumor.
Signing his work as, simply, Ferrer, Jose studied Fine Art but was basically self taught and had been drawing professionally for more than 30 years, half of which have been spent doing comics for various publishers, mostly in Spain.
More recently, he also drew the web comic, “Horrifying Hijinks at the Haunted Hotel”, for the adult comics site Pulp Toons.
“Ferrer created some simply brilliant art and his passing reminds us of the terrific talent and craftsmanship he brought to his skill,” a member of the Pulp Toons commented. “It’s sad to lose someone, but I’m glad to know that we got to share in his wonderful gifts while he was still with us.”
Lambiek notes he began his career drawing for the action comics published by Galaor and Toray in the 1960s. He drew for collections like Batallas Decisivas de la Humanidad, Hazañas del Oeste and Hazañas Bélicas, before turning to agency work.
He was affiliated with studios like Bulls Press, Union Studio (1975-79) and Recreo (1979-82) and worked for publishing houses in France, Britain, Germany, Sweden and the USA.
He worked for several British publishers in the 1970s and 80s: firstly, IPC and Fleetway, drawing strips such as “Ants” and “Robo-Hunter” for early issues of 2000AD, and “Ro Busters” for Star Lord.
His first credit for 2000AD was a Tharg Future Shock, ‘Times Past’, written by Martin Lock for Prog 42.
“I also worked with DC Thomson through Norma Comics on war and science fiction stories, and also in Germany (mainly with Bastei),” he once told me. “Here, I basically did children’s comics, horror comics, and adaptations for TV series such as The Real Ghostbusters and Captain Future.” He worked on this last series for five years.
Jose subsequently had worked with TV3 and was published with Norma Comics, and also worked with the principal publishing houses in Spain on projects such as encyclopedias, text books and more.
Prior to his death, Ferrer had been working on a strip for STRIP Magazine, “Savant“, written by Jim Alexander. Two episode were drawn before work was curtailed due to his illness and other issues.
WEB LINKS
• Tebesfera: Jose Luis Ferrer Biography (in Spanish)
• Lambiek: Jose Luis Ferrer
• Ferrer’s Future Shocks – A List
• Ferrer: A Flickr Gallery
• The Complete Future Shocks Volume 1
Includes a number of strips drawn by Ferrer
“Tharg’s Future Shocks” are one-off, twist ending, sci-fi thrills that have introduced many of the biggest names in the comic book industry through the pages of 2000AD.
From Alan Moore to Al Ewing, Kevin O Neill to Jon Davis-Hunt, “Future Shocks” have been a staple of the UK’s best-selling comic 2000AD.
This exciting first volume takes us back to the earliest days of the strip and showcases the burgeoning, immense talents of such luminaries as Steve Moore, Alan Moore, Brett Ewins, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, John Cooper, Carlos Pino, Jesus Redondo, Steve Dillon, Peter Milligan and many, many more.
• Savant by Jim Alexander and Will Pickering (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
Published by Planet Jimbot in March 2022
“I am not a harbinger of death; but it is death nevertheless that draws me in like a moth to a flame.”
Introducing Lode from the planet Savant. Lode has gone walkabout around the universe. There she seeks out warzones, choosing to chronicle the lives of the dying.
Her travels bring her to Hubris, a world ripped apart by war. Here, she is recruited by government forces to help hunt down a war criminal. It is a journey that will ultimately take her to the mouth of madness. The End of Days itself.
Ground-breaking science fiction by Jim Alexander (GoodCopBadCop, Ororo: Before the Storm), Will Pickering (Burke & Hare, Wolf Country), Fin Cramb (White Ash, JM Barrie’s Peter Pan) and Jim Campbell (2000AD, Firefly).
This tribute was updated on 20th July 2023 to add additional images and include a link to the final version of Savant
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Obituaries
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One of Jose’s sons, Lluis, sent us the following comment:
“Thank you for posting this memorial. You can imagine my deep sorrow. We’ve lost a very good artist and a better family man. “
If fans of Jose’s work would like to know more about Jose’s work, we will forward emails sent.