The latest issue of the thoroughly enjoyable art quarterly illustrators, issue 51, is available in July from Book Palace Books, spotlighting the stunning art of Mœbius, Alfonso Font, and more.
Regularly presenting the world’s finest illustrators, this issue offers an insightful look at the work of Mœbius Production, leading with an interview with Raphaël Giraud, the son of the late influential, still much admired artist, Jean Giraud, aka Mœbius. Raphaël reveals how his father’s inspired creativity in his children, and outlines work of the Mœbius legacy company.
The issue also offers insights from comic creators Brian Bolland, Bob Fingerman, Dave Gibbons, Frank Kelly Freas, Das Pistorius, William Stout, and the late Dave Taylor, on the influence Mœbius has had on them, and their own work. Dave Gibbons, for example, reveals he has only ever once asked for a sketch from a fellow artist, and that it was Mœbius; such was, and still is, his remarkable impact on many creators.
As if these tributes weren’t enough, there’s plenty more on offer in this issue, including a celebration of the work of the pre-eminent maritime artist Geoff Hunt, one of the world’s finest painters of 18th and 19th-century ships. Through his research for paintings, Hunt, who was President of Britain’s prestigious Royal Society of Marine Artists between 2003 and 2008, is a leading authority on naval history and ship architecture of the period and has a special interest in the ships and commands of Lord Nelson.
While the work of Mœbius is surely the selling point of this spectacular issue I, for one, am looking forward to reading this issue’s look at the work of artist Alfonso Font, one of the best full spectrum artists that Spain has ever given birth to. An influence on artists such as Richard Corben and Monsieur Le Chien, he’s worked across a great variety of genres and styles for publishers across Europe and the United States over his long and hugely successful career.
This issue also includes a profile of the celebrated nineteenth century French painter and sculptor, Jean-Léon Gérôme, offering a trip through Greek mythology, Ancient Rome and the Orient; and spotlights the art of Arturo del Castillo, a regular contributor to British comics through the 1960s and 1970s, drawing strips for EAGLE, Lion, Top Spot and Look and Learn, illustrators presenting his art for “Horatius Hero of Rome”, featured in the latter title in 1972.
Wrapping with the story behind the creation of the iconic poster for the film, Jaws, this edition looks to more than live up to its deserved description of being more like a book than a magazine, and well worth checking out now, issues available either singly or on subscription from the Book Palace direct now.
• Due for release in July illustrators 51 is available to preorder now from Book Palace Books
Authors: Diego Cordoba, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, Das Pistorius, Bob Fingerman, David Taylor, William Stout, Frank Kelly Freas
Artists: Geoff Hunt, Mœbius, Alfonso Font, Jean-Léon Gérôme, Arturo del Castillo
Publisher: Book Palace Books, due July 2026
Number of pages: 112
Format: Soft Cover; Full Colour illustrations
Size: 9″ x 11″ (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548902
Condition: New
Code: ILLUSTRATORS51
This item was updated on Friday 29th May 2026 to correct the misleading impression it was already published. Our apologies to the publisher for our error
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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, British Comics - Current British Publishers, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Magazines, Other Worlds
Hi, John. First of, the issue will be available this Summer. And secondly, and it’s not your fault, it’s Das Pastoras one of the contributors to the Visions of Moebius section where various artists share with us an anecdote about the great French artist. Das Pastoras will also be featured this Autumn/Fall in Illustrators.