Candy Jar Books has announced a limited edition release of Kklak!: The Doctor Who Art of Chris Achilléos featuring his covers for the official Target novelisations, which began in the early 1970s.
Chris Achilléos is a Greek Cypriot born British illustrator, painter and movie conceptual artist.
Over the past 40 years, he has created some of the best loved fantasy and glamour art and is acknowledged as one of the top fantasy artists in the world.
The artist’s work defined a generation’s image of the Doctor and his adventures at a time when Target Books represented the only available re-telling of the Doctor’s adventures, when video releases had yet to even happen, let alone today’s saturated world of Blu-Ray, DVD and streaming services.
Lavishly detailed, with psychedelic overtones and an unapologetically pulpy sensibility, Chris Achilléos covers perfectly captured the eccentric appeal of the classic series.
Kklak!: The Doctor Who Art of Chris Achilléos, collects the entirety of the world renowned artists’s Doctor Who work in chronological order, along with commentary from Achilléos himself, as well as some fans – presenting the definitive guide to his seminal work.
The book also includes a small contribution from Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi and a foreword from Achilléos’ long-time friend and collaborator, the late Terrance Dicks.
“I go to a lot of conventions, and the enduring affection of the fans for those Target novelisations is such a compliment,” says Chris Achilléos of the motivation behind this limited edition book.
“As an artist you’re always wary of being pigeonholed – you want all your work to receive the same amount of attention! But Doctor Who is such a phenomenon, and the commitment of the fans so pure, you have to be grateful. I hope they enjoy this special book.”
As the home of the Lethbridge-Stewart series, one of only a handful of fully licensed Doctor Who ranges outside of the BBC, Candy Jar was the natural home for Achilléos’ new title.
“The Target novels were a huge part of our childhood,” notes Candy Jar’s head of publishing, Shaun Russell, “and when it came to our own range of Doctor Who books, they were an inspiration.
“You could always tell that they were produced by people who cared,” he continues, “There was an attention to detail, and a level of quality, which quite frankly, went above and beyond what was necessary. Doctor Who will sell regardless, but as a series it means so much to people – and to us here at Candy Jar – that you want to do repay that. And from the first moment you picked up a Target title, with one Chris Achilléos’ brilliant designs on the cover, you knew that you were in for something wonderful.
“His work manages to capture everything that makes Doctor Who special, and stand alone as works of art in their own right. When Chris first spoke with us, I jumped at the chance to work with him.”
Featuring every one of Achilléos’ Doctor Who designs, as well as never before seen material giving insight into his creative process, Kklak: the Doctor Who Art of Chris Achilléos is released in the late spring 2020 by Candy Jar Books.
The book will be available as paperback and deluxe hardback editions only from Candy Jar Books.
On his official Facebook page, Chris says there is still time for fans to contribute their memories of the books for possible inclusion in the new collection, and that he’s currently working on a new painting to be included in it.
“We are asking for quotes from fans so if you would like to PM me or Candy Jar Books a fond memory of your childhood experience of the Target range you may have your quote published…”
• Chris Achilléos Official Web Site: chrisachilleos.co.uk
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: Art and Illustration, Books, Doctor Who, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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