Comics legend Martin Asbury sets up store

By John Freeman on October 2, 2014

Martin Asbury in his studio

British comic and movie storyboard legend Martin Asbury now has a new online store where fans can purchase his original artwork.

Martin is most famous for working on comics such as TV21, Look-In and the Daily Mirror‘s time travelling daily strip, “Garth”. He went on to become a movie storyboard artist in the 1980’s and to date, has gone onto work on a number of blockbuster hits, including, Labyrinth, Batman Begins, James Bond and Harry Potter.

Martin, who recently drew a “Captain Scarlet” strip for the special TV Century 21 publication being put out by Network as part of a collector’s edition of the Supermarionation documentary, tells us he’s wanted to sell his artwork for sometime but due to his busy schedule has never been able to get around to it in a serious manner.

“My friend Syd Jordan (of ‘Jeff Hawke’ fame) suggested to me that I should sell on my art and with the help and encouragement of Anthony Jones (the admin for the ‘Garth’ Facebook fan page) I have decided to ‘bite the bullet’ as it were,” Martin explains.

The new website,run by Anthony Jones, the admin of the Garth Facebook fan page, currently features original Garth artwork, including two strips from one of Martin’s favourite stories, “Legion of the Damned”, written by John Allard and Jim Edgar. This time travelling adventure was recently reprinted in full colour in the Mirror.

The strips are on a mix of CS10 and Bristol Board, with CS10 being Martin’s personal favourite.

“We’re planning on adding more art as time goes on including Martin’s work in Look-in magazine,” says Ant, “which is also painted and looks spectacular in the flesh.”

• Visit Martin’s store at http://martinasbury.bigcartel.com. There’s a Facebook page for Martin’s art, too: www.facebook.com/martinasburyart

John Freeman

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.